In this message from our One Generation series, Pastor Josh Slautterback takes us to Mark 10, where parents bring their children to Jesus and the disciples rebuke them. Jesus is indignant: “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.” In a culture obsessed with self-improvement, it’s easy to become so focused on our own growth that we miss the mission Jesus gave us—to go and make disciples. Jesus welcomed the ones who had nothing to offer, and He reminds us that the kingdom is received, not earned. We come to Him like children, with empty hands, and receive the gift of salvation through His death and resurrection. We are all called to bring the next generation to Jesus. As parents and as a church family, we’re challenged to prioritize them, to remove the obstacles in their way, and to invest our time and resources in them—because one child who follows Jesus can change an entire family tree.

In the final message of our Who We Are series, Pastor Robey Barnes takes us to Revelation 22, the last chapter of the Bible, where John sees the river of the water of life flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb, with the tree of life on its banks and leaves for the healing of the nations. This is Eden in full bloom. From the garden in Genesis 2 to Ezekiel’s vision of a river that makes the Dead Sea fresh, Scripture has been building toward this moment—and at the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus stood up and cried out that rivers of living water would flow from the heart of everyone who believes in Him. Through the Holy Spirit, that river is already welling up in us. So we don’t have to fight our way to the top of the hill. His name is written on us, and we will reign with Him forever. We’re not working for an identity—we’re working from one. Filled with His Spirit, we’re sent to engage our city—our homes, our communities, our workplaces—and pour out the life of Jesus.

In this message from our Who We Are series, Pastor Robey Barnes takes us to Revelation 21, where John sees a new heaven and a new earth and hears the One seated on the throne declare, “Behold, I am making all things new.” This is the picture on the cover of the box. God Himself will wipe away every tear, and death, mourning, and pain will be no more. Creation isn’t waiting to be destroyed—it’s waiting to be renewed, and that renewal began when Jesus rose from the dead as the firstfruits of the new creation. If we are in Christ, we already belong to what is coming. We are citizens of heaven, sent on mission so that God’s kingdom comes on earth as it is in heaven. That means the everyday pieces of our lives—our work, our studies, our homes, our families—are not wasted. Whatever we do for the glory of God matters for eternity. The future is in our Father’s hands. So whatever you do tomorrow, do it all for His glory.

In this message from our Who We Are series, Pastor Robey Barnes takes us into Revelation 19, where John hears a great multitude cry out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.” Heaven is celebrating the marriage supper of the Lamb, and the bride has been granted fine linen, bright and pure. We could never make ourselves worthy of Jesus—it had to be given to us through the sacrifice of the Lamb. Then, in the middle of that worship, John falls at the feet of an angel and is told, “Worship God.” If even John needed that reminder, none of us are exempt. We can be consumed by a relationship, a goal, or a circumstance—even by worship itself—instead of Jesus. Revelation reveals Jesus as the groom we were made for, the judge who gives us our validation, and the King who returns crowned with many crowns. When we keep Him at the center, we are being made ready for Him.

In Part 2 of our Who We Are series, Pastor Robey Barnes takes us into Revelation 5 and a breathtaking vision of heaven, where one question echoes through the throne room: Who is worthy? When John sees that no one can open the scroll, he weeps. But then comes the announcement of hope—the Lion of Judah has conquered. Yet when John looks, he sees not a conquering beast, but a Lamb who was slain. Jesus is worthy because of what He has accomplished. Through His sacrifice, He conquered sin and death, secured our redemption, and holds the authority over the story of history—and our lives. When our circumstances feel uncertain, broken, or hopeless, our identity doesn’t have to be. We can anchor who we are in who Jesus is and what He has already done. And when we truly understand His worth, despair gives way to worship.

As City Rev Church celebrates 25 years of God’s faithfulness, Pastor Robey Barnes begins our new series, Who We Are, with a reminder that this has never been a story about us. It’s a story with Jesus at the center. In Revelation 1, John—exiled on the island of Patmos for bearing witness to Jesus—hears a voice like a trumpet and turns to see the risen Christ in dazzling glory. He falls at His feet as though dead, but Jesus lays His right hand on him and says, “Fear not, I am the first and the last,” the living one who holds the keys of death and Hades. Revelation is, above all, the revelation of Jesus. He is the centerpiece of the whole story God is writing—over our city, our church, our families, and our lives. Who we are is only because of who He is. As we look back on 25 years and ahead to what’s next, we’re called to belong to Jesus, bear witness to Him, and reveal who He is to the city around us.

Have you ever wondered if God is speaking—but struggled to recognize His voice? In Answering God’s Call, Pastor Craig Stephens walks through the story of Samuel in 1 Samuel 3, a time when God’s Word was rare and spiritual darkness surrounded His people. Yet in the middle of that darkness, God called Samuel by name. Through Samuel’s story, we discover what it looks like to recognize God’s voice, position ourselves to hear from Him, and respond with a heart that says, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” God is still speaking. The question is: are we ready to hear Him—and willing to respond when He calls?

In part four of A Day in the Life, Pastor Robey Barnes explores what it looks like to build a life saturated in prayer and fueled by passionate praise. From the early church’s devotion to prayer in Acts 2 to powerful moments throughout Scripture, we see that prayer isn’t about giving God a to-do list or trying to control the outcome—it’s an act of surrender rooted in knowing who God is. When praise reminds us of His power, goodness, and authority, our perspective begins to change. Discover how a daily rhythm of prayer and praise can deepen our dependence on God, stir our awe of Him, and teach us to confidently call on the name of the Lord in every season.

In this message from A Day in the Life, Pastor Robey Barnes walks through the book of Philemon to show how the Gospel transforms the way we respond when we’ve been hurt. Forgiveness doesn’t mean ignoring the pain, excusing what happened, or automatically restoring a relationship—it means releasing the debt and refusing to let bitterness keep us imprisoned. Through the story of Philemon and Onesimus, we discover that when our lives are bound to Jesus, we can find the freedom to forgive, let go of the past, and see others through the transforming power of the Gospel.

In Part 2 of our A Day in the Life series, Pastor Robey Barnes explores the powerful, countercultural reality of Koinonia—the selfless, shared life that defined the early church. Looking at Acts 2 and the stories of Barnabas, Ananias, and Sapphira, this message challenges us to loosen our grip on temporary things so we can fully embrace God’s eternal mission. Following Jesus was never meant to be about consuming church or simply attending services. It’s about belonging to a community, contributing to the body of Christ, and living generously as people transformed by the resurrection.

What does it actually look like to follow Jesus every day—not just on Sundays? In the first message of our new series, A Day in the Life, Pastor Robey Barnes walks through Acts 2 to show how the early church built their lives around daily rhythms of faith, community, prayer, and God’s Word. Rather than treating faith as something we “fit in” when we have time, Scripture invites us into a lifestyle where Jesus becomes the foundation for everything we do. Using the S.O.A.P. Method (Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer), Pastor Robey challenges us to replace occasional spiritual moments with a consistent habit of meeting with God each day. Just as our bodies need constant hydration, our souls need the daily nourishment of God’s Word to bring clarity, wisdom, and strength. Whether you’re just beginning your faith journey or have followed Jesus for years, this message will encourage you to build habits that lead to lasting transformation.