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In Week 2 of Something Real, Pastor Robey unpacks Ephesians 1:3–7 to reveal that the spiritual blessings we have in Christ aren’t distant or abstract—they’re real, present, and meant to be lived out today. From being chosen for holiness, to adopted as sons and daughters, to redeemed through the blood of Jesus, this message reframes our identity and reminds us of the freedom we already have. Challenging the “vault” mentality that pushes these truths to the background, Pastor Robey calls us to stop striving through religion, step into vulnerability, and seek Jesus as our source in every season.

What does it actually mean to be a “saint”—and where does your identity really come from? In the first message of our Something Real series, Pastor Robey Barnes walks through Ephesians 1 to show that our identity isn’t something we earn through performance, but something we receive by grace through Jesus. In a world full of pressure to prove yourself, this message invites you to stop chasing approval and start living from the truth of who God already says you are—set apart, chosen, and deeply loved.

In this Easter message, Pastor Robey Barnes unpacks the life-changing reality of the resurrection and what it means for us today. As we step into the story of the empty tomb, we’re reminded that Easter isn’t just something that happened—it’s something that still changes everything. The same power that rolled the stone away is still at work, meeting us in the middle of our struggles, fears, and the things we can’t move on our own. Whether it’s religion, success, or self-preservation, Jesus invites us into a new way of living—marked by freedom, hope, and transformation. If you’ve been feeling stuck or searching for a fresh start, this message is a reminder that the tomb is empty, Jesus is alive, and your story isn’t over.

In this Good Friday message, Pastor Robey Barnes leads City Rev Church through a powerful and reflective journey of Jesus’ final moments—from the surrender in the Garden of Gethsemane to the trial before Pilate and ultimately the crucifixion. This isn’t a typical celebration service; it’s an invitation to slow down and sit in the weight of what Jesus truly endured. As the contrast unfolds between Pilate’s self-preservation and Jesus’ self-sacrifice, we’re challenged to examine our own lives—are we holding on, or have we fully surrendered? The service concludes with communion, creating space to remember the broken body and shed blood of Christ and respond with hearts laid down before Him.

In this Palm Sunday message, Pastor Robey Barnes unpacks Jesus’ powerful response to a carefully crafted trap: “Render to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” What starts as a political question quickly turns into a deeper, more personal challenge about allegiance. Jesus shifts the focus from coins and government to something far greater—our lives. If a coin bears Caesar’s image, it belongs to him… but we bear God’s image, which means everything we are ultimately belongs to Him. This message invites us to examine what we’re holding back and calls us to fully surrender our hearts, lives, and identity to God.

In the first message of The Villains series, Pastor Josh Slautterback explores Mark 3:1–6 and the confrontation between Jesus and the Pharisees over healing on the Sabbath. While the religious leaders carefully watched for a reason to accuse Him, Jesus exposed the deeper issue—the hardness of their hearts. Instead of seeing a man in need, they saw a rule being threatened. Through this powerful moment, Pastor Josh challenges us to confront the subtle danger of self-righteousness—reminding us that it’s often easier to notice in others than in ourselves. The message ultimately points to the hope of the gospel: that Jesus came not for the perfect, but for those willing to lay down their pride and receive His grace and mercy.

In the first message of The Villains series, Pastor Josh Slautterback explores Mark 3:1–6 and the confrontation between Jesus and the Pharisees over healing on the Sabbath. While the religious leaders carefully watched for a reason to accuse Him, Jesus exposed the deeper issue—the hardness of their hearts. Instead of seeing a man in need, they saw a rule being threatened. Through this powerful moment, Pastor Josh challenges us to confront the subtle danger of self-righteousness—reminding us that it’s often easier to notice in others than in ourselves. The message ultimately points to the hope of the gospel: that Jesus came not for the perfect, but for those willing to lay down their pride and receive His grace and mercy.

In this message from The Epic of the City, Pastor Robey Barnes looks at Israel’s exile to Babylon and reveals how God used what seemed like defeat to accomplish His greater purpose. Rather than simply surviving in a foreign land, God called His people to settle in, build lives, and seek the Shalom—the peace and flourishing—of the city where they had been sent. In the same way, followers of Jesus today are called to live as faithful exiles in their own communities, praying for broken places and working for the good of the city around them. Even in difficult seasons, God’s promise remains true: He has plans to bring hope, restoration, and a future for His people.

In The Epic of the City, Part 3, Pastor Robey Barnes walks through the story of King Hezekiah in 2 Kings 18, highlighting both his righteousness and his regret. Though God used Hezekiah to bring reform, defeat the Assyrians, and even miraculously heal him, a subtle but costly mistake followed—he exposed his treasures to Babylon and chose personal peace over generational faithfulness. Through this story, Pastor Robey challenges us to examine our own priorities and redefine what the Church truly is—not a platform for comfort or good advice, but a living body, a spiritual family called to grow together and pass down the fear of the Lord. This message calls every believer to surrender fully to Jesus, invest in the next generation, and take their place in God’s mission to reach the city.

In Part 2 of The Epic of the City, we explore one of the most powerful themes in Scripture: the battle between pride and humility. Using the unforgettable story of Larry’s lawn chair flight — a man who tried to soar 16,000 feet with weather balloons — this sermon illustrates the danger of self-elevation and the consequences of building our lives on our own glory. From Babylon to Jerusalem, the Bible presents two archetypal cities. Babylon represents self-glory, arrogance, and the pursuit of being “like God.” Jerusalem represents humility, worship, and lifting up the name of the true King. Through Isaiah’s vision, the fall of the king of Babylon, and Nebuchadnezzar’s humbling in the book of Daniel, we see a clear pattern: internal pride always leads to external collapse. As Augustine wrote in The City of God, the internal fall always precedes the external fall.

In the opening message of The Epic of the City, Pastor Robey Barnes takes us back to Genesis to look at the Tower of Babel and the human tendency to build our lives around making a name for ourselves. He contrasts that story with Abraham’s encounter with Melchizedek, showing how true worship isn’t about self-promotion, but about lifting up God and serving others. The message reminds us that everyone is always worshiping something—the real question is who gets the glory. The service closes with communion, inviting us to re-center our faith on Jesus and respond to His invitation to live for a greater name than our own.

In At the Well, Part 3, Pastor Craig Stephens explores a powerful pattern that shows up again and again in Scripture: a man meets a woman at a well, and a union is formed. From Isaac to Jacob to Moses, these stories point toward marriage and covenant—but then Jesus steps into the story and changes everything. When He meets the Samaritan woman at the well, the pattern takes a surprising turn, revealing that the deepest union we’re searching for isn’t found in romance or marriage, but in a relationship with Christ. This message invites us to see how every human love story ultimately points to a greater promise—living water that satisfies the soul and a spiritual union that lasts forever.

In At The Well, Part 2, Pastor Robey Barnes continues the story of Isaac and Rebekah in Genesis 24, challenging the way our culture defines compatibility in marriage. Instead of finding someone who fits a fixed version of ourselves, Scripture points us to a deeper truth: real compatibility is formed when two people fix their eyes on God and allow Him to transform them. Through honest stories from early marriage and the grace-filled example of Rebekah, this message speaks to both singles and married couples—inviting us to view our spouse, or future spouse, through God’s eyes. Whether you’re seeking marriage or growing within it, this sermon reminds us that grace, gratitude, and surrender to Jesus are what truly build a lasting, God-centered relationship.

What if forgiveness is the key to the freedom you’ve been praying for? In this message from the book of Philemon, Pastor Robey Barnes walks through a powerful and often overlooked letter that challenges how we hold onto hurt, debt, and broken relationships. Through personal stories and Paul’s appeal to forgive and reconcile, we’re reminded that freedom in Christ isn’t just about what He’s done for us — it’s about what we’re willing to release in others. This teaching invites you to examine unforgiveness, let go of what’s weighing you down, and experience the transforming power of grace in your relationships and your walk with Jesus.

In this message from the book of Philemon, Pastor Josh Slautterback explores the powerful and often challenging call to forgiveness. Through the story of Philemon and Onesimus, we see how unforgiveness can keep us trapped behind emotional and spiritual fences—much like prisoners who remained in POW camps even after freedom was declared. Paul’s appeal to Philemon reveals that forgiveness is not just a spiritual ideal, but a practical, costly, and freeing act of love. This sermon walks through three essential steps to forgiveness—releasing the offense, redeeming the relationship, and remembering the grace we’ve received—while exposing how bitterness, when left unchecked, takes root and spreads. Ultimately, this message calls us to live in the freedom Christ offers, become peacemakers in broken relationships, and extend the same grace we have been given.