VISIT US:
36 East Victoria St.
Santa Barbara
FOLLOW US:
 

Honor God Because Everything Matters

Bible Text: Ecclesiastes 12:9-14 | Preacher: Roy Bennett | Series: Guest Preacher

Ecclesiastes 12:9-14

[9] Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care. [10] The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth.

[11] The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. [12] My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

[13] The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. [14] For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

Salt & Light

Bible Text: Matthew 5:13–16 | Preacher: Anthony English | Series: Guest Preacher

Because of what Jesus has done for us, we are salt & light & are called to live in light of that reality.

Matthew 5:13–16
13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Psalm 67

Bible Text: Psalm 67 | Preacher: Chad Brewer | Series: Guest Preacher

Our God is a missionary God. He sent his Son to die for us. He sends his Spirit to restore us. And he sends us, his people, to the nations.
This prayer from Psalm 67  asks God to bless the nations through us.
May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us, Selah
2 that your way may be known on earth,
your saving power among all nations.
3 Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you!
4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth. Selah
5 Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you!
:6 The earth has yielded its increase;
God, our God, shall bless us.
7 God shall bless us;
let all the ends of the earth fear him!

Hospitality

Bible Text: Luke 14:12-24 | Preacher: Adam Feichtman | Series: Guest Preacher

We often have the narrow view of hospitality as just tea parties, entertainment, hotels, etc. In this passage in Luke, Jesus is addressing the quid pro quo practice of the day (favor for a favor in hosting.) Here we see that Jesus is the host, guest, and servant and the gospel sets the pattern and gives us the power to practice Christian hospitality.
 

Luke 14:12-24 He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. 13 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

15 When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” 16 But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. 17 And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ 19 And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ 20 And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ 21 So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ 22 And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ 23 And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’”

Come With Thanksgiving

Bible Text: Psalm 95:1-11 | Preacher: Reed Jolley | Series: Guest Preacher

Most of us were taught as children to say “please” and “thank you.” When someone gives us a gift or compliment, the giver’s generosity deserves to be acknowledged. But what happens in us when we acknowledge the abundance of good gifts that God gives us everyday? Join us this Sunday as we learn about the joy that comes from gratitude.

The Light, Life and Love of the Triune God

Bible Text: John 14:1, 15-31 | Preacher: Johnathan Keenan | Series: Guest Preacher

Stress, anxiety, worry—this seems to be the stuff of life. And yet Jesus says that there is something about him—who he is, what he does—that can bring peace. A peace he freely gives. Come this week as we learn more of how to receive this most practical and necessary gift.

Our Thirst

Bible Text: John 7:37-52 | Preacher: Marc Choi | Series: Guest Preacher

“I still haven’t found what I’m looking for” was a very popular song for a very important reason—we all find desires within us that seem unquenchable. The writer C.S. Lewis said, “If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.” The good news of Christianity is that this other world has come to us and is available for us in the person of Jesus Christ. Come out this week as we listen to the good news.

Praying in the Prolonged Delay

Bible Text: Luke 18:1-8 | Preacher: Paul Kim | Series: Guest Preacher

We just celebrated the triumph of life over death accomplished by Jesus’ resurrection at Easter. Yet we don’t have to look very far to see that death still operates in the world. How do we reconcile this contradiction and what do we do? This Sunday we look to a story Jesus told about justice.

Thank You, God, For The Fleas

Bible Text: Luke 17:11-19 | Preacher: Eddy García Solís | Series: Guest Preacher

After dealing with severe quarantine restrictions all we want is to get back to normality. But at times, we take this well-intended desire to such an extreme that it ends up affecting our gratitude and how we worship. This Sunday we look and learn from one leper who ran to Jesus’ feet to worship him in thankfulness after being healed by him instead of rushing to return to normality.