Reality Boston: Recent Episodes
Reality Church Boston
Reality Boston is a community of Jesus-followers desiring to advance joy in the city of Boston through the good news of Jesus Christ. For more information visit realityboston.com.
Teacher: Rashad Clemons
Text: Luke 18:9-14
Jesus' Parable of The Pharisee and The Tax Collector teaches us about the posture of heart that gets God's attention: humility. In this sermon, Rashad talks about the allure and danger of self-righteousness in the spiritual life, and God's invitation to come before him as we are, in need of His mercy and grace.
Teacher: Josh Wilson
Text: Luke 10:25–37
Who is my neighbor? Pastor Josh unpacks the story of the Good Samaritan, explaining why this is actually the wrong question to be asking. Instead, Jesus calls us to a total devotion to God which expresses itself in love for neighbor and asks the question: “Who can I neighbor?”
Text: Luke 16:1-15
Teacher: Josh Wilson
Pastor Josh unpacks the Parable of the Shrewd Manager, explaining that we should steward our money shrewdly in light of eternity, just like the manager who strategically plans for his future after being fired. Josh emphasizes Jesus’ warning that we cannot serve two masters and challenges us to invest now for later.
Teacher: Josh Wilson
Text: Matthew 25:1-13
Jesus’ Parable of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25 challenges us to be prepared for Jesus' return. In this teaching, Pastor Josh unpacks the cultural context of Ancient Near Eastern weddings to highlight the gravity of the bridesmaids' lack of preparation, drawing parallels to how we should ready ourselves for Christ's return. Ultimately, the sermon challenges us to live intentionally and righteously in light of eternity.
Text: Luke 18:1-8 (NRSV)
Teacher: Mandi Paszek
Jesus tells the Parable of the Persistent Widow so that his disciples would “pray always and not… lose heart.” Mandi Paszek explores how our ability to persist in prayer is connected to how we view the character of God—and our willingness to let ourselves be reshaped by the experience of prayer.
Text: Matthew 13:1-23
Teacher: Josh Wilson
Jesus’ Parable of the Soils invites us to consider the receptivity of our hearts. Pastor Josh explores how these soil types show up in our souls and exhorts us to cultivate hearts that are fertile places for the Kingdom of God to grow.
Text: Matthew 13:44-46
Teacher: Christine McEvoy, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship
Guest teacher Christine McEvoy uses Jesus' parables of The Hidden Treasure and The Pearl of Great Price to describe not only what the Kingdom of God is like—costly, precious, and deeply worthwhile—but also what kind of people are found in the Kingdom—those who have been captured by its goodness and respond with great joy. How will you prioritize the Kingdom of God today?
Text: Matthew 13:31-33
Teacher: Josh Wilson
The Kingdom of God is like… a mustard seed? Pastor Josh shows us that God uses unassuming things to generate unprecedented results and challenges us to grapple with the tendency to abandon our integrity in the effort to achieve our goals.
Text: Luke 15:1-10
Teacher: Rashad Clemons
Pastor Rashad begins a new series on the Parables of Jesus. Does God condemn us for our lostness? Rashad invites us to meet the God who relentlessly pursues us until we are found.
Text: John 20:11-18
Teacher: Josh Wilson
Did you know there’s an Easter Egg in the Easter story? Pastor Josh takes us on a hunt to reveal how John’s reference to “the gardener” helps us make sense of the resurrection and our own stories too.
Text: Philippians 4:10-13
Teacher: Josh Wilson
“I can do all things!” Pastor Josh takes on the most misunderstood text in Scripture, explaining how God gives strength to receive our limits.
Text: Philippians 3:16-4:9
Teacher: Josh Wilson
What comes first: Behavior or belonging? Pastor Josh invites us beyond shame-driven striving into a journey of transformation where we live from our identity imitating others who model the character of Christ.
Text: Philippians 3:7-14 Teacher: Steve Coble, Renewal Church of Chicago Guest Pastor Steve Coble preaches about how God's gift of righteousness in Christ frees us from striving for our worthiness, and instead invites us into a joyful journey of being formed more and more by the truth of our belovedness.
Text: Philippians 2:3–18
Teacher: Josh Wilson
What does humility look like? Pastor Josh unpacks how the way of Jesus differs from both conceit and low self-esteem and calls us to truly honor others.
Text: Philippians 1:20-30
Teacher: Mandi Paszek
As we continue our journey through Philippians, Mandi teaches on the Apostle Paul's profound statement "To live is Christ, and to die is gain”. She discusses how Christ's presence changes the way we experience trials and suffering, and how it frees us from a life led by anxiety.
Text: Philippians 1:1-19 NIV
Teacher: Josh Wilson
Join us this Lent as we journey through the book of Philippians. Pastor Josh begins the series by inviting us to consider: What if we were so grounded in a bigger story—in a deeper reality—that even when things don't go our way, we could still find joy?
Text: Exodus 4:1-7, 18
Teacher: Josh Wilson
Pastor Josh closes our series on calling with the powerful reminder that God always leads us in the peculiarities of our own stories and situations. As we see in the story of Moses, God doesn’t waste anything. We are perfectly designed for the calling He has for us, and He intends to use not only our strengths and gifts, but our weaknesses and wounds as well.
For reflection:
• What is your unique story?
• What is your unique situation?
• What is your unique contribution?
Text: Exodus 4:29-5:1 NIV
Teacher: Kristian Anderson, Grace Hill Community Church
RCB was honored to have guest teacher Kristian Anderson of Grace Hill Community Church in East Boston join us for the third sermon in our series on calling. In the fourth chapter of Exodus, we find Moses feeling incapable to do what God has called him to do. In response, God not only reminds Moses that He is the one who has given him his mouth and his calling; He also meets Moses in his weakness by providing Aaron. Who is God calling you to go with?
Text: Exodus 3:9-12a
Teacher: Josh Wilson
In this week's sermon, Pastor Josh describes the two "ditches" we easily fall into when it comes to living our calling: We either play too small because of fear and insecurity, or we play too big to serve our ego. So what is God's way? Attune to Him, stay close to Him, and put our trust in Him—every step of the way.
Text: Exodus 3:1-10
Teacher: Josh Wilson
Have you ever wondered, “Why am I here?” or “Is there more?” The stirrings in our souls come from the God who expands our horizon and invites us to join Him on a great adventure. In the Called series, we’re looking at the story of Moses and unpacking the encounter with God that changed his life and an entire people’s destiny. In this first sermon of the series, Pastor Josh explains how we discover the call of God much in the same way Moses did when he stopped to look at the burning bush—when we slow down and pay attention to what God is doing and the places in the world that are not as they ought to be.
Text: Mark 1:1-8
Teacher: Mandi Paszek
In this guided devotion, we are invited to enter the new year in a way that orients us toward the Lord
Text: Luke 2:8–20
Teacher: Josh Wilson
Over the four weeks leading up to Christmas, we come together to celebrate the coming of Jesus our King and share the hope He brings to a watching world. In this first sermon of the series, Pastor Josh invites us to reorient our thoughts and actions this Christmas season around the wonder of Jesus' arrival. What might it look like to model our own worship after the embodied, foolish, vulnerable response the shepherds had to hearing the good news that the Messiah had been born?
Text: Isaiah 53:3-9
Teacher: Josh Wilson
In the second movement of the book of Isaiah, we find the people of Israel returning from exile and wrestling with how to make sense of what God’s doing in a season of disorientation. After years of barrenness, God makes a surprising proclamation: He will bring about renewal for His people. In this sermon, Pastor Josh invites us to consider the provocative truth that God brings redemption not through domination, but through sacrifice and suffering—and that he invites us to the same life of surrender and nonviolence as followers of Jesus.
Text: Isaiah 43:18-25 & 44:9-22
Teacher: Mandi Paszek
In the second movement of the book of Isaiah, we find the people of Israel returning from exile and wrestling with how to make sense of what God’s doing in a season of disorientation. After years of barrenness, God makes a surprising proclamation: He will bring about renewal for His people. In this sermon, Mandi Paszek discusses two major themes in Isaiah 43 and 44—the people’s idolatry and God’s plan of renewal— and the surprising ways they are interconnected.
Text: Isaiah 40:27–31
Teacher: Josh Wilson
In the second movement of the book of Isaiah, we find the people of Israel returning from exile and wrestling with how to make sense of what God’s doing in a season of disorientation. After years of barrenness, God makes a surprising proclamation: He will bring about renewal for his people. In the opening sermon of this series, Pastor Josh explains how God restores our strength when we turn and put our hope in Him.
Text: Genesis 12:1-9 NIV
Teacher: Rashad Clemons
Rashad Clemons completes our series on hearing God's voice with an invitation and exhortation to live life in response to God's leading. God's call requires a response, and the mark of one who hears is that they also respond.
Text: John 14:16-20; 25-27
Teacher: Josh Wilson
Pastor Josh continues our series on Hearing God's Voice with an encouraging message about how God speaks to us through impressions of the Holy Spirit. He explains how we might experience this, and how we can discern whether something is the voice of God versus our own gut instinct or the burrito we had for lunch.
Text: Acts 16:6-10
Teacher: Josh Wilson
In the third week of the Hearing God series, Pastor Josh leads us in answering the question: How do we make sense of how God may be guiding us through the events, opportunities, and situations of our lives? He closes by leading us through a reflective prayer practice called the Examen.
Text: 1 Samuel 3:1-10
Teacher: Mandi Paszek
Mandi Paszek picks up our series on Hearing God's Voice with a practical invitation to slow down in order to make space to hear from God. She introduces a simple yet powerful prayer practice called Breath Prayer that can help us direct our attention to God on a daily basis.
Text: Genesis 3:1-11 Teacher: Aly Wilson
Aly Wilson begins our series on Hearing God explaining why God speaks and why It matters. She explains that Scripture is a story of a God who reaches for us again and again for the sake of relationship and invites us to open ourselves up to a conversational relationship with our Creator.
Text: Romans 12:9-16
Teacher: Josh Wilson
Josh finishes our One Another series by exhorting us to mutual devotion. The devotion that he envisions inevitably contributes to the flourishing of our communities and our spiritual lives.
Text: John 13:1-8
Teacher: Damaris Taylor
Damaris continues our One Another series by inviting us into practices of hospitality in being both host and hosted.
Text: Colossians 3:12-14
Teacher: Mandi Paszek
Mandi continues our sermon series by expounding upon the principles of patience and forgiveness bound in love.
Texts: Ephesians 5:21; 1 Peter 5:5-6
Teacher: Caleb Harris
Caleb continues our One Another series by calling us to practice subversive, countercultural community like that which is modeled in the New Testament.
Text: 1 Corinthians 12:24b-26
Teacher: Josh Wilson
Josh continues our One Another series by teaching that love looks like support for one another.
Text: 1 Thesselonians 5:8-11
Teacher: Mandi Paszek
Mandi continues our One Another series by exhorting us to carry a posture of encouragement over complaint.
Text: Galatians 6:2; Romans 12:6-8
Teacher: Josh Wilson
During this week's continuation of our One Another series, Josh teaches that love looks like solidarity by using our gifts to serve others.
Text: Romans 12:4-5
Teacher: Josh Wilson
Josh begins our One Another series by delving into Romans 12. He helps bring into focus that we are members of one-another in God's design for His body.
Text: Isaiah 58:13-14
Teacher: Josh Wilson
Josh continues our series on Reimagining Rest by beckoning us into healthier practices than our typical cultural overindulgence. Rather than getting caught in the mindset of "work hard; play hard" (which can often lead to spiritual/consumptive gluttony), we are invited into practices that honor God's creation as that which is to be delighted in.
Text: Genesis 3:8
Teacher: Rashad Clemons
Rashad continues our Reimagining Rest series by encouraging us to abide in our connection with God. He reminds us that God makes space for us to rest because he wants to be with us. Without slowing down to rest, we are disconnected from our souls, bodies, and one another. We rest and Sabbath in order to connect relationally and spiritually.
Text: Exodus 16:23-30
Teacher: Josh Wilson
Josh continues our Reimagining Rest series by discussing some of the ways that unhelpful mindsets and habits hinder us from finding true rest. In the sermon, he explains that the practice of rest invites us to surrender to a good God who is working even when we are not.
Text: Genesis 1:26-2:3
Teacher: Mandi Paszek
Mandi begins our series on Reimagining Rest by exploring the origins of שַׁבָּת ("Shabbat," or Sabbath) in Genesis. She casts a theological vision that helps us move from finding identity in what we do to finding identity in being God's beloved.
Text: Acts 1:1-9
Teacher: Josh Wilson
In this sermon, Josh wraps up our series, Encounters With Jesus. In examining Acts 1, we catch a glimpse of the uncertainty the disciples faced as they witnessed Jesus ascend into heaven. Similarly, when we are disoriented or confused about the next steps or stages of life, we can revert back to old patterns. But what does the ascent of Jesus truly mean for his disciples, and more broadly, for the church today? As Jesus sits down at the right hand of God, we receive the Holy Spirit, and a commission: to represent the kingdom of God to the world.
Text: John 12:9-11
Teacher: Rashad Clemons
When Jesus resurrected Lazarus, the chief priests and Pharisees resented and plotted to kill Him. They were afraid that if they let Jesus continue, everyone would believe in Him. Moreover, these religious leaders also began to target Lazarus. In this teaching, Rashad explains how the story of Lazarus points to a greater reality; In Christ, death is not final. Likewise, our stories matter greatly because they reveal God to the world and challenge the status-quo.
Text: Matthew 14:22–31
Teacher: Josh Wilson
This Sunday, we celebrated a significant moment for our community, two churches (RCB + The Table) came together as one body. In this message, Josh shares on what it means to step into a moment of uncertainty. Despite our natural instinct to grasp for control or manufacture comfort, we learn, by way of Peter's example, that if we fix our eyes on Jesus, the outcome is more profound than merely reaching the other side of a journey. Instead, it leads us to walk on water, experiencing His power, presence, and goodness in the middle of the storm.
Text: Luke 24:13-35
Teacher: Rashad Clemons
The God of the Bible is in the business of surprising His people. In this message, Rashad discusses the story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. The two had been radically impacted by Jesus' life and ministry, but when He was crucified, they became hopeless and disillusioned—"we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place" (Luke 24:21). We often think that God will work according to our own logic, but God works according to His logic. In other words, God's ways are often surprises because God's way are not our ways. But an encounter with the Risen Christ reminds us that God will surprise us for our good and for His glory.
Text: John 21:15-19
Teacher: Rashad Clemons
A defeated Peter returns with the disciples to an old routine, until the resurrected Christ intervenes. In this sermon, Rashad reminds us how Jesus sought out Peter to graciously remove the shame and guilt he carried after denying Him. The resurrection power stands as a reminder that God's love covers everything. To put it simply, failure isn't final. Indeed, His power and His love for us are far greater than our sin and shame.
Text: John 20:24-29
Teacher: Josh Wilson
In this message, Josh kicks off a new series titled, "Encounters with Jesus." In it, he asks us the important questions, what does faith look like and how does it grow? Through the example of Thomas' encounter with the Resurrected Jesus, we see that doubt doesn't negate faith and that Jesus is worthy of our trust. *Our apologies, technical difficulties hindered the quality of this audio recording.
Text: Matthew 28:1-10
Teacher: Rashad Clemons
This Sunday we celebrate the joy and victory of Christ’s resurrection! Rashad reminds us that while the Gospels conclude with the Resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday, this is not the end of the story. Acknowledging the Risen Christ means that His Resurrection is only the beginning. Hope is alive!
Text: Matthew 5:9
Teacher: Rashad Clemons
Description: This week Rashad continues in the beatitudes and discusses what peacemaking means for believers.
Text: Matthew 5:8
Teacher: Josh Wilson
Description: Josh Wilson continues our series in the beatitudes, and this week discusses the pure in heart. He goes over what purity looks like in the context, and invites the congregation into a time and life of integrity.
Text: Matthew 5:7
Teacher: Rashad Clemons
Rashad continues in our series on the Beatitudes, this week he speaks on the significance of mercy.
Text: Acts 15:1-33
Teacher: Josh Wilson, special guest teacher from The Table in Dorchester
This Sunday we approached the mid-way point of our year-long Advancing God's Mission series, we pause to reflect on God's faithfulness in & through the church through the first 14 chapters of Acts.
This Sunday, we celebrate 9 years of Reality Church Boston. We are thankful for God's faithfulness for the past nine years. In this week's sermon, our pastor, Rashad Clemons preached about the vision Jesus has for our church. We believe that Jesus wants bring his kingdom to Boston, giving us purpose for this city. We can discover what God is doing and our hearts want to follow his plan when we respond to him. Listen to hear how God gives us a vision to love others in this divided, hostile world.
Text: Acts 10:23-48
Teacher: Rashad Clemons
God reminds us that we have a part to play in his plan to bring restoration into the world. In this part of Acts, we meet Cornelius, a centurion, who was a devout, God-fearing man. Through the story of Cornelius we see how God invites us into his plan when our hearts seek him in faith. Then we hear about Peter and realize that our hearts are not always in agreement with what we think, believe or pray. Often being in line with God's Spirit is inconvenient with our preferences. Facing our disobedience allows us to see God showing us when we aren't in line with his ways. It is through the power of God that Jesus can take hold our hearts and bring reconciliation to the world. God has called you to this city with purpose, is your heart earnestly seeking him?
Text: Acts 10:1-23a
Teacher: Rashad Clemons
Where are you longing for things to change? In the book of Acts, the Spirit of God works transformation in everyday moments through ordinary people. Listen as Mandi Paszek shares with us the vision God has to transform our lives and bring transformation to others.
Text: Acts 9:31-43
Teacher: Mandi Paszek
Calling isn’t comfortable, we are not promised smooth sailing, what we know for sure is that Jesus will make himself known to the world through our obedience to his call.
Text: Acts 9:19b-30
Teacher: Rashad Clemons
Text: Acts 8:26-40 [Phillip and the Ethiopian Eunuch]
Teacher: Guest Sarah Cowan Johnson
Guest Teacher, Pastor Adam Mabry, from Aletheia Church in Cambridge teaches on Acts 8:3-25, highlighting the contrast between Philip and Simon the Sorcerer to show us that we cannot advance the mission of Jesus without the heart of Jesus.
God uses persecution, hardship, & opposition not only form us, but to accelerate and advance the gospel!
Text: Acts 7:1-8:2 [Stephen’s speech and martyr]
Teacher: Rashad Clemons
This Sunday, we heard from guest teacher, Justin Ruddy, pastor at Resurrection Church in East Boston.
Text: Acts 6:1-15 [choosing the 7]
Text: Acts 4:1-37 [Peter before Sanhedrin, Filling of Holy Spirit]
Teacher: Rashad Clemons
In all the hype and amazement of the lame man healed, Peter addresses the crowd of Jewish worshipers with a call of repentance. We are once again reminded that the true miracle lies not in the physical but the spiritual. In a time where someone's physical ailment was an outward sign of personal or generational sin, Peter turns the tables and points, not to the lame man but the crowd of temple worshipers. The lame man's healing was a bridge to the Good News of the Gospel, healing the hearts of the onlookers. May we be a church that sees miracles as a mirror to our own need for repentance and healing that can only come through the Good News of Jesus Christ and his sacrifice.
Text: Acts 3:12-26 [Peter speaks to onlookers]
Teacher: Janelle Ibaven
Jesus’ activity in the world continues through his followers. Through the example of Peter and John we see that when we make space to be interrupted, truly see people, and steward the gifts that God has given us, the healing power of Jesus has the power to transform. What is God's spirit doing in you? Around you? Through you? What is your response to God's spirit?
Text: Acts 3:1-11 [Peter heals lame beggar]
Teacher: Austin Baten
Jesus has called us His church to community, not as an elective, but an imperative for Christian flourishing. We are God’s spiritual house here on earth, God meets us in community and the way we do community is a demonstration to the world who God is.What is God's spirit doing in you? Around you? Through you? What is your response to God's spirit?
Text: Acts 2:42-47
Teacher: Rashad Clemons
The rejection of God’s son doesn’t have to be the end of the story, if our hearts are open to the Holy Spirit, we can change directions towards a God who longs to reconcile with humanity. What is God's spirit doing in you? Around you? Through you? What is your response to God's spirit?
Text: Acts 2:37-41
Teacher: Rashad Clemons
Peter preaches a bold urgent message on the good news of Jesus and the power of the Spirit as proof of Jesus' resurrection. What is God's spirit doing in you? Around you? Through you? What is your response to God's spirit?
Text: Acts 2:14-36
Teacher: Rashad Clemons
Waiting and prayer are met with the wind and fire, the fearful followers of Jesus are filled and emboldened by the Spirit of God and thus Pentecost is now the day the New Testament church was birthed. How have you experienced the Spirit's filling in your life? What keeps you from experiencing this?
Text: Acts 2:1-13
Teacher: Rashad Clemons
What new thing do you sense God doing in this community and how might God be inviting you to participate? In what ways does this scare and/or excite you?
Larry Kim, pastor of Central Square Church in Cambridge shares with Reality Boston about how we as a church are stepping into a new season.
What hinders you from fully embracing your belovedness and calling into God’s family in your everyday life?
Text: 1 Peter 2:10
Teacher: Rashad Clemons
Jesus is the chosen and precious cornerstone of God and should be ours as well. We will explore what it means, as living stones being built into God's dwelling place, for Jesus to be the cornerstone of our lives. How does having Christ as the foundation of our individual and collective lives shape the way we engage with the world around us?
Text: 1 Peter 2:6-8
Teacher: Austin Baten
The temple, the place where God dwells is no longer a building made with hands that we go to, it is now built through the people of God, and is where HE resides. We are the temple and the priests of the temple offering our lives to one another for the glory of God. Have you really taken into consideration that part of your identity is that you are the dwelling place of God? How can that truth affect our expectations of Christian Community? How do we live as a Tabernacle?
Text: 1 Peter 2:5
Teacher: Rashad Clemons
We were created for intimacy, which is the DNA of a priest, to draw close to God and make our home within His divine hospitality/presence.
Question to Consider: What fears or reservations do you have about really drawing near to God? What holds you back?
Text: 1 Peter 2:4
Teacher: Rashad Clemons
EASTER SUNDAY MESSAGE // Have you had a dream buried, left for dead, that you thought was inspired by God? The process of a seed planted in the ground to become a plant, has to go through a death process for them to reach their full potential. The same goes for Jesus' death, which felt like the end, actually was the necessary process for life to come for all of humanity.
Text: John 20:1-10
Teacher: Rashad Clemons
We might have the best intentions with our promises of faithfulness, but promised obedience isn't necessarily obedience. The good news is that it’s never too late to change our hearts.
Text: Matthew 21:28-32
Teacher: Rashad Clemons
How has a failure in your life been formative in your relationship with Christ? How has Jesus shown himself faithful in that moment?
Text: Luke 22:31-34, 54-62
Teacher: Janelle Ibaven
How does a half-hearted commitment to prayer prevent you from living into God’s way?
Text: Matthew 26:36-46
Teacher: Austin Baten
Our past is not our future. Repentance + Generosity is what we seek. What if your family fasted denial? How can shame intimidate our worship?
Text: Luke 7:36-50
Teacher: Rashad Clemons
We will look at John the Baptist's response to the growing popularity of Jesus, he simply humbled himself, knew his role, died to self & comparison, and ultimately recognized that Jesus is worthy of all the glory.
Text: John 3:22-30
Teacher: Rashad Clemons
Question to Consider: We will look at John the Baptist's response to the growing popularity of Jesus, he simply humbled himself, knew his role, died to self & comparison, and ultimately recognized that Jesus is worthy of all the glory.
Fasting is not reduced to just withholding from our physical urges, but there is also a fasting of our expectations of Jesus, to get the full life of Jesus.
Text: Luke 5:33-39
Teacher: Rashad Clemons
Question to Consider: In what ways might you be asking Jesus to fit into your expectations/paradigm of God in this season?
More sermon slides visit: http://www.realityboston.com/teachings
Passage: Matthew 5:6
Teacher: Rashad Clemons
Our hunger & desire for God’s closeness & justice is the vehicle. He uses to reveal himself. How can you leverage your hunger in this season? Do you want your hunger quenched or satisfied?
For sermon slides, visit http://www.realityboston.com/teachings
Jesus’ death opens the door for all people to see and know Him. Question to Consider: What might Jesus want to rearrange in your life so that others can see and know Him through you? How would this reveal Jesus to you and others?
Sermon Slides: realityboston.com/teachings
Passage: John 12:20-26
Teacher: Austin Baten
God knows what we need and longs for us to long for Him. Question to Reflect On | What do you find yourself running after most in your daily life? What assurances do you need from Jesus in this season?
Sermon Text: Matthew 6:25-34
Preacher: Rashad Clemons
For sermon slides, visit realityboston.com/teachings
True worship is costly and happens only when we recognize the worth of the one who is worthy of our worship. From Mark 12:41-44, we see a widow willing to give all she has to God, and Jesus stands in awe of her faith.
For sermon slides, visit realityboston.com/teachings.
What gift might be wrapped in this season of isolation? Most of us aren't leaping to answer such a question though it's probably an important one. From Mark 1:35-39, we'll take a look at how Jesus intentionally withdraws to be with God, regardless of what's happening around him.
For sermon slides, visit realityboston.com/teachings.
When reflecting on your deepest longing, what would you ask the Lord to do for you? In Mark 10:46-52, we see a blind man named Bartimaeus desperately cry out to Jesus as he is passing by. Jesus hears him, stops, and in his mercy, asks Bartimaeus what he'd like him to do. From this passage, we explore God's response to our desperation, and perhaps his eagerness to do so.
For sermon slides, visit realityboston.com/teachings.
As we embrace the blessing of a new year, we want to fix our hearts on the kind of faith Jesus wants us to have, his healing power, and compassion towards us. Join us as we re-discover the famous stories of Jesus' healing from Luke 8:40-60, taught by Amanda Hug.
For sermon slides, visit realityboston.com/teachings.
The arrival of the Magi to worship the newborn Jesus is a familiar story to the Christmas season. From Matthew 2:1-12, we see what it looks like to pay attention to God's revelation and respond to Him accordingly.
For sermon slides, visit realityboston.com/teachings.
On the last Sunday of Advent, we're going to take time to reflect on a popular passage of Scripture— John 3:16. If you grew up in church you know it well, and perhaps it's lost its meaning to you. But as we actively await the Messiah's second coming, we must do so by remembering his great love, humility, and lavish generosity towards us.
For sermon slides, visit realityboston.com/teachings.
Many of us know the story of Jesus' birth well, and we know that his conception was nothing short of miraculous. When the angel of the Lord appears to Mary, he tells her not to be afraid, but comforts her with a reason not to fear— great joy is coming! From Luke 2:1-12, Sarah Cowan Johnson reminds us that God is with us, and is as work.
As we continue our sermon series in the season of Advent in Luke 1, we see God choose to come to us in a vulnerable state— that of an infant. Not only that, but through an unlikely woman, carefully set aside to care for and raise him. We see God's faithfulness to go to great lengths to bring salvation to the children he loves.
For sermon slides, visit realityboston.com/teachings.
Each year we immerse ourselves in the story of Jesus' birth, the arrival of God-With-Us. We anticipate the arrival of what John 1 calls the "True Light", who shines into the darkness, illuminating with unsurpassed clarity who God is and what He thinks of us.
For sermon slides, visit realityboston.com/teachings.
Joshua recounts the history of God’s goodness to Israel, back to the call of Abraham until the present. He leaves them with a final decision to make: who will you serve? The people choose YHWH and Joshua renews the covenant with them and sets up a memorial stone as a witness to remind the people of this choice to serve God alone.
For sermon slides, visit realityboston.com/teachings.
After allotting each tribe their land inheritance, Joshua reflects on all that God has done in his lifetime. Not one single word had failed of all the good things God promised Israel. This reminder of God’s faithfulness is also a charge to the people to remain faithful to God.
For sermon slides, visit realityboston.com/teachings.
If God is victorious and keeps his promises, why should we fear loosing the battle? When we recall the many miracles of God, our faith rises, and this should be what fuels our obedience to trust his command not to fear.
For sermon slides, visit realityboston.com/teachings.
The sin of one man in Israel has greater consequences both for himself and for the whole community than he could have imagined. God exposes this breach of covenant faithfulness and Joshua acts to uphold the justice and holiness of God.
For sermon slides, visit realityboston.com/teachings.
Joshua trusts God’s unusual means and follows His instructions to capture Jericho. Without battle the city and everything in it is given to Israel. Rahab and her family are spared as promised.
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Rahab and the spies. Israel crossing the Jordan River. 12 Memorial stones. This is a story about a God who accomplishes His purposes and keeps His promises. And a people who bear witness and participate in this work, for their own sake and for the sake of the world.
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Joshua and the people of God find themselves in a very unfamiliar place. Moses, their leader is gone, and now they have to trust God through the leadership of Joshua to lead them to a place they have never been before. In unprecedented circumstances God calls on his people not to shrink back, but to take up the courage to step out into new places for the new season— all for His glory.
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Moses asks God to appoint his successor to shepherd the people. God tells Moses to commission Joshua, a man who possesses the Spirit, to lead His people.
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Pastor Rashad Clemons continues our sermon series on the life of Joshua picking up in the book of Numbers.
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Where we're headed in life is almost always tied to how we steward our present moments. The earliest recorded stories of Joshua, before he became the leader of the people of God, was of a young man who was faithful and obedient to Moses and the call of God. From Exodus 17, we explore how God calls us to steward the season we find ourselves in through the example of Joshua, the apprentice of Moses.
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In life we're always looking for solutions to the challenges we face. If we are fortunate, we may find something that works, but more often than not, we have to move on to find something new. If we're not careful this can creep into our posture toward prayer, though effective prayer is one of persistence and perseverance. In Colossians 4 Paul exhorts the church to commit to a life of prayer until doors are opened! From this passage, Rashad Clemons explores our need and call to a devoted prayer life.
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Arrest. Trial. Threats. This is the reality of Peter, John and the early Church for healing and proclaiming the Good News. Upon their release, they return to the community of believers and pray -- not for safety but for boldness. As followers of Jesus, we will be called to heal and to speak truth to power. We will be judged and threatened in spaces beyond our competency and influence. In these moments of confrontation and intimidation what will our response be? Will we turn inward, or will we run to our community of faith and collectively pray for BOLDNESS? Will we continue the work of restoration and reconciliation? "Speaking holy words has serious consequences." - Willie Jennings
In life it's so easy to fall into the trap of showing the best version of ourselves. This can also be true of our approach to God in prayer. In Luke 18 Jesus contrasts two different people and their posture to prayer, and in this parable, he points out that the calling of prayer is about brutal honesty with who we really are in the light of God's presence, and our great need for HIm.
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There are few things we despise more in life than being asked to wait. Proverbs 13 says that hope deferred makes the heart sick. Throughout the scriptures and in our own experience we find ourselves and others waiting on God. Waiting is such a common part of life, but how, as followers of Jesus, do we wait well? In Luke 2 we are introduced to Simeon and Anna, two godly people who show us a path for what it looks like to wait faithfully upon God.
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When it comes to asking God for forgiveness, many doubt that God is willing to forgive them. Not only that, we likely mistake worldly sorrow with Godly sorrow and true repentance. From Psalm 51, a prayer of repentance from King David, Ruthie Kim shares about how passionate God is about forgiveness, and true intimacy with Him.
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What do you do when things in life seem to have taken a turn for the worse? God oftentimes strategically places us in a particular time and place to stand up in prayer and to petition the things that counter His kingdom. Nehemiah here in chapter 1 was in a time and place where he had the opportunity to stand in the gap for the people of God who were being exploited and oppressed. This Sunday we will explore how God's restoration in the world is released from a place of compassion, courage, and prayer.
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When we hear the words, "the last shall be first," it sounds like a promise that won't come to pass in our lifetime, or a platitude. In the Old Testament, the story of Hannah shows us something different-- God hears, and answers the prayers of the lowly, and it seems that he is very much so interested in raising us up from the ashes and restoring our joy. While the Lord will allow deep pain into our lives, he will also develop our character by showing us more of his character.
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We cannot talk about prayer without looking at the lives and prayers of those who came before us. In Exodus 33 we find Moses praying to God on behalf of the people of Israel, not for things, but for God's presence. Pastor Rashad explores this prayer and how God longs for us to desire Him. The shape and direction of our prayers ought to be rooted in presence, because that's the goal.
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Throughout scripture, God's word commands us to pray. When we consider how our relationship with the Father directly influences our prayer life, we see that the beginning stages look very different from the latter years as maturity comes. Our desires begin taking on the shape of the Kingdom, and our requests begin to look different as we surrender our lives to Christ. From Luke 22:39-46, Jon Tyson walks us through what it looks like to grow in prayer as children of God.
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Intercession is the action of intervening on behalf of another before God in prayer. How do we stand in the gap for a world ravaged by sickness, injustice, oppression and death? Hebrews 11:22-28 describes our perfect intercessor, Jesus Christ. We need him to show us how to pray and how to stand in the messy middle of our world. As we pray for people around us, is it possible that our perfect intercessor is acting on behalf of our prayers all while doing a work of transformation in our own heart?
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Throughout the Bible, God uses weak people for great works. In 1 Corinthians 1 we see that God uses the weak and foolish things of the world to bring to nothing the wise and powerful. In this message Austin Baten explores how the seemingly upside-down ways of God should lead us deeper into prayer and dependence on Him as we seek to engage in our world.
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Prayer was an integral part of Jesus' ministry and how he related to the Father, because Jesus knew who he was in relation to the Father. Rashad Clemons will teach from Hebrews 3 and explore our primary identity of being God's sons and daughters, and how our understanding of that will unlock the posture in which we approach God.
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Pastor Larry Kim preaches on the story of Noah’s Flood and encourages us to remain faithful and not lose hope even when things feel desperate.
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Right before Pentecost in Acts chapter 1, we find Jesus leaving his disciples, ascending to heaven, and promising them that they would be his witnesses. Jesus said he would send them his Spirit, and all they had to do was wait and receive. Through this text, we discover that waiting on God often precedes glory, and that Jesus sends all of us on 'mission' from a place of prayer and dependency.
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The end of Luke and beginning of Acts give us overlapping accounts of Jesus' final post-resurrection, pre-ascension appearance to his disciples. This is by no means the end of Jesus' work, but the beginning of a new way (a new body) through which He will work. He instructs the disciples to wait for the Spirit which will empower them to continue the work of Jesus even after he is physically gone away. In this final appearance, we discover with fresh clarity the resurrection purpose (mission) for ALL who are part of this resurrection culture.
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The resurrected power of Jesus appears to us in our greatest moments of need with more than enough provision for us to live out our calling.
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In John 20:26-29 we see Jesus once again appearing to his disciples huddled behind locked doors. As Thomas enters the story, he confronts the disciples with doubt of the resurrected Christ. We are immediately invited to witness Jesus engage Thomas' unbelief with the scars of his suffering. What if we trusted our community of faith with our doubt more than the locked rooms of isolation and fear? What if our skepticism was met with the grace of examine over debate? Jesus' encounter with Thomas' unbelief shows how resurrection responds to doubt in community.
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What if you lived as though the resurrection of Jesus were a Reality, today? What affect would it have on you, right now, in the midst of pandemic? From Luke 24:36-49 and John 20:19-22, Al Abdulla explores what often gets in the way of us living as though the Resurrection is a reality, as well as what can begin to make that shift in our lives.
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When tragic events happen in our world it can be hard to imagine a better day, or that anything good could come from it. This perspective was likely true for the disciples of Jesus— they thought that the crucifixion of Jesus meant the end of God's redemption plan. In Luke 24:13-32 we find 2 disciples in the midst of a long walk discussing the disappointment of their shattered dreams, and Jesus joins them and gives them a renewed perspective on the events that just occurred.
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We continue our sermon series in Eastertide focusing on the appearances of Jesus after his resurrection, and we find that the followers of Jesus are skeptical about this news. Not only that, they were not expectant, and certainly not filled with wonder. From Luke 24:9-12, Rashad Clemons talks about what it means to live in awe and wonder of God, knowing that Christ is still risen, no matter the circumstances.
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Things often don't go as we expect. The same could be said for the disciples, though Jesus foretold about His death, burial, and resurrection. Like the disciples, we often experience disappointment and failed expectations in life, and often believe that this is just how things will be. But if we view the events of life through the prism of Jesus' life it might just wake up the Resurrection Hope within us. From Mark 16:1-8, Rashad Clemons teaches that disappointment and failed expectations don't have the final word, because 'He is Risen!'
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In times of uncertainty sometimes hear, "All you can do is trust God.” But how do we know we can really trust God? And is that really all we can do? From the Palm Sunday text of Matthew 21:1-11, Al Abdulla addresses what’s needed to trust God, and what active trust looks.
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As we adapt to meeting online and engaging in community, we're still observing what it means to make space to listen in this Lenten season. To do that, we're going to look at Jacob's dream in Genesis 28:10-17.
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Our world has changed drastically since the COVID-19 epidemic. Still, Jesus' Church is on the move. As we adapt to meeting online and engaging in community, we'll take a look at 1 Kings 19:9-12, and pay attention to how God has still called us to make space to hear Him in this season.
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In our world and in our city so many things demand our attention— business, chaos, and other distractions. As a community following Jesus, one of our core values is to live lives that are postured to hear from God, which is a counter-cultural act. In Psalm 46 God says to his people, "be Still and know that I am God". From this passage, Rashad Clemons explores what it means to make space, quiet our souls, and hear from the Lord.
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After Jesus reappeared from the dead, he commissioned his disciples to go into all the world and make disciples. It was a mission with meaning. Little did the ancient church, and the modern church for that matter, know that the great commission would often be at the expense of their comfort. From Acts 8:1-8, Al Abdulla explores our purpose and promise we have in participating in God’s modern day mission.
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Everything begins in the mind— our thoughts shape our reality, and our thoughts lead to actions. If Jesus embodies what is true, good and beautiful, our thoughts should be centered on Him, but the wrong mindset can rob us of Christ's eternal joy and peace. In the final chapter of Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi, we see how a thought life centered in Christ reframes how we see the world.
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What is it that we’re really hoping for in an election year? Perhaps it’s vindication. We want someone to finally represent our needs, our views, and our values. Election year gives is the possibility of hope. From Philippians 3:15-21, Al Abdulla explores why our citizenship in heaven is perhaps the fulfillment of our deepest longing.
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In life we are often taking hold of things that we believe will bring us joy, fulfillment, and status. Here in Philippians 3:1-14, Paul teaches and exhorts the church to take Hold of true Joy by pursuing a life with Jesus— that pursuing Jesus will challenge us to let go of the things we once thought would bring us fulfillment.
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Community and relationships can be difficult, and the church in Philippi was experiencing the difficulty of unity and affection in the midst of trial. From Philippians 2:12-18, Rashad Clemons shares how Paul admonishes this young church— Paul explains that the love of Jesus that's been worked into our hearts is also meant to be worked out in our difficulties with one another for the advancement of the Gospel!
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Humble confidence is the sweet spot of loving others as you also love yourself. Yet, there are two enemies to humble confidence: Fear and self-doubt. Both are rooted in the ego. From Philippians 2:1-11, Al Abdulla explores the antidote we need to become truly humble and confident.
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The joy found in the good news of Jesus is not only found in good times, but also in times of trials and hardship. This young Philippian church's joyful unity was in jeopardy, and the Apostle Paul gives them a word of encouragement on how to holdfast for the sake of the gospel. From Philippians 1:27-2:4, Rashad Clemons shares how tests are meant to galvanize a community to live from a place of humility and love.
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“He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how” —Nietzsche
Suffering is universal. A metaphor often used for our affliction is ‘Chains.’ In Philippians 1:12-26, Paul finds himself in a dark Roman prison and in literal chains. In this talk, Al Abdulla explores what it is that allows Paul to have joy in the midst of his chains, and how our lives might be affected when we find ourselves chained to painful circumstances.
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In a world searching for fleeting happiness, the book of Philippians points to an indestructible Joy found in the good news of Jesus. Paul begins his letter with thanksgiving and prayer, filled with joy, on behalf of all of God's people in Philippi.
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Colossians 1 and John 1 both tell us that before the cosmos began, Christ existed in perfect love, power and faithfulness. His story might seem like a myth-- too good to be true, but the prophets tell us of the good news of a coming King who is just, and shepherds his people into hope and life. From verses in Micah 5 and 6, Al Abdulla illustrates what it looks like to believe in this Shepherd King from eternity.
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What does God see when he sees me? The answer to that question can determine the deepest part of our identity. From Zechariah 3:1-10, show us how God sees us when we’re we’re given a behind the scenes look into the spiritual realm. Al Abdulla shows why we tend to have difficulty seeing ourselves as God does and the difference it makes when we do.
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