Something Real

Stacey and Pastor Rich dive into Moses’ instructions for the people of God in Deuteronomy 6 to discuss the the kind of home God commands His people to build. In the process, we see that the primary goal of parenting is to raise fully formed lovers of God. In other words, successful parenting must be discipleship-oriented.   Psalm 34:11 (NIV) Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

Sunday sermon 1/16/2022

We're Back (like animated time-traveling dinosaurs)!  Returning for the first Something to Talk About of the new year, Stacey and Pastor Rich "prepare the site" for the new Parenting Foundations series by discussing Psalm 127. We learn that, whether building houses, nations, or families, our best plans and efforts only matter in God is behind them. Of course, all that comes only after we discover that Pastor Rich was embarrassingly wrong about Jaleel White's role in animated period fantasy films of the 1990s.     Psalm 127:1 (NIV) Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.

Sunday sermon 1/9/2022

In the final episode of our "Christmas Journeys" Advent series, Stacey and Pastor Rich discuss Matthew's account of God's active protection and deliverance of His promised Christ in the midst of a horrific event. They consider not only the event often referred to as the Slaughter of the Innocents, Herod's massacre of all Bethlehem's boys who were two and under, but how God--in the face of unspeakable evil--actively ensures that His glorious plan of redemption cannot fail.   Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Sunday sermon 12/19/2021

Mele Kelikimaka! Stacey and Pastor Rich embrace Bing Crosby, Five Guys burgers, Marie Condo, and Gilmore Girls along with the wise men who journeyed "from the east" to find the one who had been born King of the Jews. Burgers and bliss aside, we discover in Matthew 2:1-12 that God's King will be recognized by all who earnestly seek truth. Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV) You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Sunday sermon 12/12/2021

Stacey and Pastor Rich discuss the oh-so-familiar Nativity story from Luke 2:1-21 and the truly astonishing way God brings about His sovereign plans. We hope that during this Advent season you will read this familiar passage as if for the first time, letting your mind and heart be filled with the wonder of knowing that God uses the mundane and the remarkable to bring about His amazing plan of redemption!

Sunday sermon 12/5/2021

Stacey and Pastor Rich welcome special guest Dave DeHaan of Word Partners to discuss how the book of Ruth points to the Advent of Christ, as well as the ministry of Word Partners and sound principles of Bible study, interpretation, and preaching. Galatians 4:4-5 (NIV) "But when the set time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship." https://wordpartners.org/

Sunday sermon 11/28/2021 with special guest Dave DeHaan. 

Want to join the conversation? Email us at somethingreal@reallifeonline.org.

Sunday sermon 11/21/2021

Stacey and Pastor Rich discuss peppermint sundaes and church membership in light of 1 Corinthians 12 and the Protestant Reformation, recognizing that when we belong to Christ, we belong to one another.   1 Corinthians 12:27 (NIV) Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

That is the point of today's discussion after all the witty(ish) banter and pop culture meanderings. Eventually Stacey and Pastor Rich settle into looking at what Paul wrote to the Colossian church about keeping their focus on the person and finished work of Christ, rather than on rules, regulations, and experience. In light of this New Testament teaching, we consider how the continental Reformers of the 16th century reformed the church by rethinking Christian worship, which had been focused on special people doing special things in special ways to gain God's special favor.   Romans 1:17 (NIV) "For in the Gospel the righteousness of God is revealed--a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by faith.'" For the podcast Pastor Rich mentions in today's episode, check out 'The History of the Christian Church' with Pastor Lance Ralston wherever you listen to your podcasts!

Sunday sermon 11/7/2021

In addition to donuts, pizza, beef, and "Luther Burgers", Stacey and Pastor Rich discuss the heart of the Great Reformation, the principle of Sola Scriptura--Scripture alone as the final authority for faith and life.

Sunday sermon 10/31/2021

In this episode, Stacey and Pastor Rich welcome a special guest, Sarah Rabbers-Hannich, of Imagine Worship. Miss Sarah and Imagine Worship brought their dance ministry to Real Life Community Church on Sunday, October 24, so we took this opportunity to discuss the idea of worship through movement, the balance of the rational and emotional aspects of worship, and God's gift of artistic expression. Imagine Worship is an ambassador program for Dance Arts, Stevensvile, MI, in which their goal is to engage others in worship through movement and music. For more information about Imagine Worship, visit www.dancearts-sdt.com/imagine-worship/ . Psalm 149:3 (NIV) "Let them praise Him with dancing and make music to Him with timbrel and harp.