Reality San Francisco

In this episode, through the lens of two real-life stories, we highlight the important practice of forgiveness that we are called to as Christ-followers.

David McKinney follows up on Sunday's teaching, "Jesus & the Garden," with some practical applications on creating your own garden and finding intimacy with Jesus.

Tobi Grunick teaches from Luke 21:37 on Jesus’ intentional rhythm of spending time in the Garden of Gethsemane and the invitation for us to have environments for deeper rest and connection. At the end of this teaching, Tobi reads a prayer by Dietrich Bonhoeffer in German; find the English version below: “O God, early in the morning I cry to you. Help me to pray and to concentrate my thoughts on you; I can’t do this alone. In me there’s darkness, But with you there’s light; I’m lonely, but you don’t leave me; I’m feeble in heart, but with you there’s help; I’m restless, but with you there’s peace. In me there’s bitterness, but with you there’s patience; I don’t understand your ways, but you know the way for me. O Heavenly Father, I praise and thank you for rest in the night; I praise and thank you for this new day; I praise and thank you for all your goodness and faithfulness throughout my life. You have granted me many blessings; Now let me also accept what’s hard from your hand. You will lay on me no more

Jessica Gracewski reflects on the virtue of love, and Dave Lomas has a conversation with Preston Sprinkle on loving our enemies. Preston is a Biblical scholar, professor, speaker, and bestselling author of books such as "Fight: A Christian Case for Non-Violence." Praying for our Enemies, from the "Book of Common Prayer:" O God, the Father of all, whose Son commanded us to love our enemies: Lead them and us from prejudice to truth; deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Dave Lomas checks in and reflects a little bit more on Sunday’s teaching about suffering as a pathway of our discipleship to Jesus.

Dave Lomas teaches from Mark 8:27-37 on the differences between the Jesus of our own making and the real Jesus who calls us into radical discipleship. Teaching slides available at https://bit.ly/3atiFyd Video version available at https://vimeo.com/448367165 This teaching is part of our series "Strangely Dim." As the old hymn goes, we “turn our eyes upon Jesus” and “look full in His wonderful face.” And in doing so, we hope to become less overwhelmed by all the brokenness around us and more energized to carry out Christ’s work of renewal in the world.

Dave Lomas and Matt Barrios have a conversation on the history of virtue.

Dave Lomas interviews a member of our community, Hooman Khalili, on his experience over the last several months.

Dave Lomas teaches from Mark 8:22-26 on our common experience of spiritual blindness and how we can seek healing from Jesus. Teaching slides available at https://bit.ly/2XA97Mz Video version available at https://vimeo.com/445731258 This teaching is part of our series "Strangely Dim." As the old hymn goes, we “turn our eyes upon Jesus” and “look full in His wonderful face.” And in doing so, we hope to become less overwhelmed by all the brokenness around us and more energized to carry out Christ’s work of renewal in the world.

Dave Lomas begins a new series on virtues; what they are, why they're vital to live well in our contested world, and how to begin to develop them.

Dave Lomas reflects on our current season of life through the lens of a fledgling sparrow and Matthew 6.

Jessica Gracewski teaches from John 11:1-16 on five ways that God uses the process of waiting to purify our lives. Teaching slides available at https://bit.ly/318ufKJ Video version of this teaching available at https://vimeo.com/443857931 Jessica Gracewski is the Leadership Care & Support Director at Reality SF.

Eugene Cho teaches from John 21:1-14 on Christ’s loving invitation to be with Him when we are feeling tired and defeated. Teaching slides available at https://bit.ly/339sUpR Video version of this teaching at https://vimeo.com/441672897 Eugene Cho is the Founding Pastor of Quest Church in Seattle, Founder & President of One Day's Wages, and the President & CEO of Bread for the World.

Ruthie Kim teaches from John 6:1-15 on all that can happen when we expand our perspective beyond our own limitations and depend on God to do things only He can do. Teaching slides available at https://bit.ly/39bxzZm Video version of this teaching available at https://vimeo.com/439591731 Ruthie Kim is part of the Reality SF teaching team and the Founder & Executive Director of Because Justice Matters.

Dale Gustafson teaches from Luke 7:36-50 on the nature of grace and forgiveness as seen in the story of Jesus, the Pharisee Simon, and the unnamed sinful woman. Teaching slides available at https://bit.ly/3fmas0n Video version of this teaching at https://vimeo.com/437460248 Dale Gustafson is the Executive Director of Reality SF.

Kevin Cooke teaches from Mark 4:35-41 on what we can learn from Jesus in the storms of life and what He is inviting us into during these times. Teaching slides available at https://bit.ly/2VClF5b Video version of this teaching available at https://vimeo.com/434178334/50f21bd1b0 Kevin Cooke is the Marriage & Family Pastor and an elder at Reality SF.

As we prepare to take a break from this podcast, Dave Lomas reflects on the importance of blessing one another.

Starting off our new teaching series, "Strangely Dim," Melissa Weinisch teaches from Luke 19:1-10 on what happens when we turn our eyes upon Jesus — and more importantly, what happens when He turns His eyes upon us. Teaching slides available at https://bit.ly/3i6SwIM Video version of this teaching at https://vimeo.com/433161605 Melissa Weinisch is the Youth Minister at Reality SF.

Dave Lomas reflects on Malachi 4 through the practice of Lectio Divina.

Danielle Stowaway reflects on Jeremiah's words of advocacy and justice, and how they still apply to us today. Danielle is the Justice & Outreach Coordinator at Reality SF.