The whole world celebrates holidays surrounding the incarnation (Christmas), death (Good Friday), and resurrection (Easter) of Jesus Christ, but very little attention is given to Jesus’ ascension, even in the Church. But the ascension is kind of a big deal.  Hebrew Scripture prophecies it. The New Testament’s most quoted Old Testament verse is about Jesus’ ascension. Peter’s Pentecost sermon cites the ascension as proof of Jesus as Israel’s exalted messianic king. When we say “Jesus is Lord”, or “Jesus is King” we mean, Jesus has ascended!  But why does the ascension matter to you, right here and right now as a 21st century follower of Jesus? Let’s talk about that.

The whole world celebrates holidays surrounding the incarnation (Christmas), death (Good Friday), and resurrection (Easter) of Jesus Christ, but very little attention is given to Jesus’ ascension, even in the Church. But the ascension is kind of a big deal. Hebrew Scripture prophecies it. The New Testament’s most quoted Old Testament verse is about Jesus’ ascension. Peter’s Pentecost sermon cites the ascension as proof of Jesus as Israel’s exalted messianic king. When we say “Jesus is Lord”, or “Jesus is King” we mean, Jesus has ascended! But why does the ascension matter to you, right here and right now as a 21st century follower of Jesus? Let’s talk about that.

What Jesus' Heavenly Ascension Has to Do with Our Earthly Mess

Guest Speaker Dominic Balli preaches over Psalm 126 and God's Faithfulness

Remember What God Has Done

The Great Commission has catalyzed tens of millions of Jesus followers to share their faith over the centuries. Christians have been compelled to share the good news of Jesus to family members, friends, and coworkers, to people in their communities and beyond, to other cities, states, nations, and continents. Countless vulnerable, exploited and abused children have been rescued, millions of hungry have been fed, desperately poor communities have been given resources, water wells have been dug, and education has been provided all in the name of Jesus and His command to “go”. Still, some Christians feel guilt around the idea of “going” (or not going, as it were). Others question some of the unintentional negative consequences of well-meaning Christians whose efforts caused complications or even harm to people in other parts of the world. What’s did Jesus mean when He told His disciples to “go”? What do these words mean to us in 21st century Santa Barbara, California? Let’s talk about the good news of the Great Commission.

The Great Commission has catalyzed tens of millions of Jesus followers to share their faith over the centuries. Christians have been compelled to share the good news of Jesus to family members, friends, and coworkers, to people in their communities and beyond, to other cities, states, nations, and continents. Countless vulnerable, exploited and abused children have been rescued, millions of hungry have been fed, desperately poor communities have been given resources, water wells have been dug, and education has been provided all in the name of Jesus and His command to “go”. Still, some Christians feel guilt around the idea of “going” (or not going, as it were). Others question some of the unintentional negative consequences of well-meaning Christians whose efforts caused complications or even harm to people in other parts of the world. What’s did Jesus mean when He told His disciples to “go”? What do these words mean to us in 21st century Santa Barbara, California? Let’s talk about the good news of the Great Commission.

The Good News About the Great Commission

Followers of Jesus have an easy time believing God loves the whole world,  but we sometimes struggle to believe that God really does love us.  In this prophecy from Isaiah, God expresses a love so supreme He invokes the strongest  relational metaphor—that of relationship between a mother and her nursing infant—  a love so supreme it transcends a mother’s love.

Followers of Jesus have an easy time believing God loves the whole world, but we sometimes struggle to believe that God really does love us. In this prophecy from Isaiah, God expresses a love so supreme He invokes the strongest relational metaphor—that of relationship between a mother and her nursing infant— a love so supreme it transcends a mother’s love.

A Love Supreme (Mother's Day)

Stephen Posey shares a short sermon on the pursuit of joy

The Reality of Joy

In the first century a woman’s testimony was only half as credible as a man’s. A woman with a bad reputation would have been less credible still.  Regardless of its inclusion, or lack thereof in the canon, the verses in the last half of Mark 16 present a truth that all the gospels agree—Mary Magdalene, a formerly demon-possessed woman, was among the first witnesses of the resurrection. Why would the authors (and most devoted apprentices of Jesus) want us to know that the first person to proclaim the resurrection testimony upon which the entire substance of saving faith derives its credibility, was a woman? What might we learn about belief itself in an age of easy unbelief?

The Reality of Belief

God’s faithful son is finally enthroned as king, but in the most surprising way. He is exalted through a shameful execution reserved for only for the most unconscionable criminals. Faithful disciples quietly give Jesus a lavish burial in a tomb fit for the affluent. A faithful disciple quietly show up at his tomb. A faithful divine messenger asks, “What are you doing here?”

What Are You Doing Here?

Jesus stands before the local Roman prefect, accused of being a messianic insurrectionist. When Pilate finds no fault in Jesus he offers to free “the king of the Jews”. Will the people #FreeJesus and receive him as king? Or will they be swayed by the loudest voices to choose a lesser alternative? In this sermon we consider what truth this passage has on offer when we face the Jesus vs. a lesser messiahs choices in our daily lives.

#FreeJesus

Guest Speaker Blake Zimmerman takes a break from Jesus is King series to preach on Acts 28v17-31

The Kingdom Continued

Jesus shares his final meal with his disciples, one of whom will betray him,  most of whom will abandon him, all of whom He offers the cup of redemption.

Naked and Unashamed

These are the sermons from the teaching ministry of Reality Santa Barbara, led by pastor Stephen Posey. We exist to create space for people to follow Jesus.For more information on our church, visit www.realitysb.com

As we close in on the last couple of days before Jesus’ death,  there is little neutral ground in the hearts of humankind. In light of Jesus’ love, tender hearts can’t hold back their lavish worship, and hard hearts grow harder still.

As we close in on the last couple of days before Jesus’ death, there is little neutral ground in the hearts of humankind. In light of Jesus’ love, tender hearts can’t hold back their lavish worship, and hard hearts grow harder still.

The Worst Person in the World

This passage contains Jesus’ longest uninterrupted teaching in the gospel of Mark. In response to the disciples marveling at the magnificence of the Jerusalem temple, Jesus predicts its utter destruction, after which the disciples when that will happen and when will be the sign that it’s about to take place.

Seeking a Friend For The End of The World

After fielding a series of deceptive, adversarial questions with wisdom and grace, Jesus now asks a single powerful question, and reveals a prophetic truth, rattling the tenets of the religious core and their systemic manipulation, domination, and exploitation. The audience listens with delight as Jesus reveals Himself as the God who sees.

Is God Even Paying Attention?

We all take comfort in being right. “Being right” helps us justify our  wrongs and make sense of wounds. “Being right” protects us from villains and liberates us to pursue the good life, or so we think.  But happens when we find out our mind map of “being right” is off? What happens when we realize we don’t see life as clearly as we thought? Jesus eases the burden of our incessant needs of “being  right” and invites us to follow Him along the path to living well—truly liberated to live a life of love. In this sermon we explore what happens when the people most obsessed with being right confront the author of life.

We all take comfort in being right. “Being right” helps us justify our wrongs and make sense of wounds. “Being right” protects us from villains and liberates us to pursue the good life, or so we think. But happens when we find out our mind map of “being right” is off? What happens when we realize we don’t see life as clearly as we thought? Jesus eases the burden of our incessant needs of “being right” and invites us to follow Him along the path to living well—truly liberated to live a life of love. In this sermon we explore what happens when the people most obsessed with being right confront the author of life.

Being Right vs. Living Well

Marvelous Jesus

Lead Pastor Stephen Posey talks about three commitments on a short sermon over Mark 3:13–19.

A Jesus Kind Of Church

Pastor of Spiritual Formation &amp; Worship , Joseph Pfeifer continues the series Jesus is King with Mark 11:27-33 and Mark 12:1-12

A Jesus Kind of Response

The disciples marvel that Jesus’ words had such power; Everyone wants prayer that works, but no one seems to know  how prayer works. Jesus makes another astounding promise about prayer and invites them to experience a Jesus kind of faith for  themselves.

A Jesus Kind of Faith

Jesus disrupts the way access to God happens forever, making the meritocracy of religious achievement obsolete currency, and disarms the powers of religious exploitation.

A Jesus Kind of Mess

What does Jesus see when He looks at you? This week we are looking at a mysterious prophetic parable Jesus enacts in front of His disciples and what it means to us today.

A Jesus Kind of Judge

There are no easy fixes and no 3 steps to a better life. Just a practice of experiencing the presence of God.

Genuine Heartfelt battle Tested advice

Excellent messages.

These are the sermons from the teaching ministry of Reality Santa Barbara, led by pastor Stephen Posey. We exist to create space for people to follow Jesus.For more information on our church, visit <a href="http://www.realitysb.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.realitysb.com</a>

Reality Santa Barbara (Video)

A Savior who ate with sinners by Reality Santa Barbara

A Savior who ate with sinners

Put God First

Being raised with Christ is not an abstract theological concept. It is a reality that effects not only individual lives but also relationships and social structures, as we learn to follow Jesus together.

Gospel on the ground

Jesus Is The Waiting by Reality Santa Barbara

Jesus Is The Waiting

Never Stop Learning by Reality Santa Barbara

Never Stop Learning

Self Awareness and the Christian by Reality Santa Barbara

Self Awareness and the Christian

An Introduction to Emotional and Spiritual Health.

Though Love

Self-reliance rather than reliance of God is a trap that can lead to a “lukewarm”ness in our relationship with Jesus Christ &amp; fruitless living. This is distasteful to Him but rather than spitting us out, He lovingly calls us to repentance and intimate relationship.

Are you listening?

Complacency leads to spiritual decline, but there is always a remnant that must wake up!

Wake Up!

The Promise in the Panic by Reality Santa Barbara

The Promise in the Panic

Our worship and allegiance is for God alone--not worldly powers.

Don’t Compromise! (Pergamum)

Jesus gives comfort and hope in the midst of persecution and hostility.

Hope in Hostility (Smyrna)

In tumultuous times, we can experience hope by turning towards Jesus

Herod and the Magi

The gospel doesn’t just bring down spiritual walls, it brings down racial ones too.

The Gospel And Race

We’re messed up, but God is lavishly gracious towards us—and that’s the kind of recalibration we need to step forward in faith.

Watch out for the But!

God’s purpose is to unite everything in Christ, giving us an exciting framework to live from.

God has a “why”

The Unscratchable Itch by Reality Santa Barbara

The Unscratchable Itch

One of the great and foundational forms of spiritual formation is by memorizing Scripture. In this sermon, pastor Chris Lazo shows us the benefit as well as methods for internalizing God’s word.

Internalize It

We have old habits, thoughts, and behaviors that linger even after following Christ. We must learn how to replace these things with a new and better way of life in Christ.

Clean Out Your Closet

There are all sorts of ways we try to exert control over ourselves, others, even God. But freedom comes when we stop trying to fit our lives neatly into boxes that we can control, and instead, take a look inside the “box.”

Look in the Box!

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