Better News Podcast

Paul writes as an old soldier of the gospel, finishing his race, and coaching Timothy for the miles ahead. Friends drift, others are called elsewhere, and yet God supplies tough friends for tough times and even writes surprising restorations into the story. This isn't cynicism. It's clarity that frees us to love people wisely while placing our greatest expectations on the Lord. In the world of transient loyalties and weary hearts, this passage steadies our pace and renews our courage.

We live in a world filled with noise. There's a constant pull towards what entertains, affirms, or distracts. But Paul calls Timothy, and every believer, to something deeper, to hear the word when it's hard, to stay anchored in truth when others wander, and to let God's voice cut through the clamor of the age. In today's message, we'll learn how to listen safely and wisely so that our hearts stay grounded in what's clear and life-giving.

Paul's charge to Timothy wasn't just to preach but to do so with character, courage without arrogance, conviction without cruelty, and with patience wrapped in truth. Today, we'll see what kind of man God entrusts with His word and how the church can discern faithful preaching from mere performance. This message reminds us that every listener shares in the work—to lean in, to endure truth when it's hard, and to love the Word more than comfort.

Paul is nearing the end of his race. Writing from a cold prison cell, with eternity in view, his words to Timothy carry both urgency and tenderness—a passing of the torch to keep preaching the truth when the world grows tired of hearing it. In today's message, we are reminded that faithful preaching still matters deeply today, not as performance but as the means by which God's Word speaks, corrects, and comforts His people.

Every generation needs courage to hold what holds us. We've been learning that the God-breathed Word is not one more book in the stack but the compass for life. Today we're invited to begin as beginners—opening the Bible, thinking, and praying so truth can shape our loves, steady our steps, and train us for every good work. When the winds rise and voices multiply, we don't drift. We hold fast to what is enough.

Paul's final letter to Timothy carries the weight of a dying man's words. Every line is meant to strengthen the next generation. From a cold prison cell, he writes to his spiritual son— urging him to stand firm when others fall away, to remember the faith handed down through his mother, his grandmother, and through their years of shared ministry. The world around them is unraveling, yet Paul's call remains steady and timeless. When trials come and truth is tested, don't let go.

Some warnings are mercy in disguise. Today's passage calls us to reorder our loves--loving God above self so compassion, integrity, and discernment flow from the heart. We are not to judge leadership by charisma, clicks, or crowds, but by character you can see up close. Look in the mirror first, then choose friends and guides who make you more like Christ. In a culture hungry for celebrities, Jesus forms servants.

Some passages lift our spirits. Others flash a warning light. Today is one of those merciful warnings. Today, Paul hangs a wanted poster, teaching us to discern appearances from the loves that steer a life. It's not about winning debates or spotting flaws, but examining our hearts, weighing leaders by character, and refusing quarrels that multiply. God calls us to truth with gentleness, courage with humility, and a faith that works.

When conflict flares and words fly faster than wisdom, Paul's words to Timothy cut through the noise. The call isn't to win the room but to look within—do I resemble Christ? Flee the heat of youthful reactions, pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace. Teach with clarity, correct with gentleness, and carry the measured strength of Jesus into hard spaces so people, not points, are won.

Paul writes to Timothy from his cell while Timothy faces a church brawl-- quarrelling controversies, counterfeit teaching. It feels less like a sanctuary and more like a saloon as chaos spreads. In moments like that, what does a servant of Jesus do? Paul aims Timothy's heart--see the goal, examine yourself, refuse foolish fights, and display the measured strength of Christ. Conviction with gentleness, clarity with patience, for the good of God's household and a watching world.

As Paul writes his final words to Timothy, his body may be chained, but his hope is free. Nothing can silence the gospel's advance. Empires crumble, leaders fade, yet Christ's work keeps moving forward, alive and unbound. Even in the fog of war, when faith feels fragile, we're called to remember the one we follow and the message we carry.

Paul's final letter to Timothy was written from a prison cell, a message born in the fog of war. Both men were weary and surrounded by uncertainty, yet Paul's words cut through the chaos with a single command: remember. When life feels cluttered by fear or suffering, remembering Christ rekindles our faith and helps us see through the storm. In this moment of deep clarity and conviction, Paul passes the torch once again.

In every generation, the gospel advances through ordinary people with extraordinary perseverance. Paul's words remind us that following Christ isn't polished work; it's patient, steady labor done with calloused hands and steadfast hearts. Like a soldier who won't abandon his post, an athlete who endures the strain, and a farmer who waits for the harvest, we are called to endure for what lasts forever. This is how faith is forged and passed on.

Paul reminds us that true strength doesn't come from effort but from grace, the kind that grows as we lean fully on the Lord. Like a climber trusting the rock beneath him, we find stability not in control but independence. Faith is shaped through daily reliance on God's strength rather than our own. The hands of a Christian are strengthened by grace, joined with others and marked by faithful work that carries the Gospel forward.

Paul's final instructions to Timothy paint a vivid portrait of Christian discipleship: strength that comes from grace, a trust that passes truth to others, and a willingness to suffer for Christ. In just a few verses, he calls us to the kind of rugged faith you can feel in the hands—hands strengthened by Christ, linked to others, and ready to work the field God assigns. This is not a theory, it's the shape of a life.

Paul writes from death row, but his words burn with unshakable confidence. Awaiting the executioner's call, he proclaims that Jesus has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel. For Paul, the cross is not defeat, it's victory. Shame may come with the message, but eternal gain far outweighs it. His charge to Timothy still calls to us today: hold fast to the gospel that gives life.

Paul's final letter carries the weight of a man who knows his time is short. From a Roman cell, he writes with urgency, handing Timothy the sacred trust of the Gospel, a message to be guarded, proclaimed, and lived. This charge echoes across centuries, reminding us that the faith we hold was preserved at a great cost. The call is the same today: tighten your grip on the Gospel and hold fast to the truth that saves.

Paul was the purest of the pure, a Pharisee of Pharisees, trained by the most prominent scholars. Timothy, by contrast, came from a mixed home, uncircumcised, belonging to neither side. By every natural measure, their paths should not have crossed, but Christian relationships are forged by the gospel of Jesus Christ. In Christ, barriers fall, lives are rewritten, and strangers become brothers. That is the heartbeat of 2 Timothy and our series, Pass the Torch.

For generations, the flame of the Olympic torch has been passed from hand to hand, symbolizing endurance and unity across the world. In the same way, Paul's final letter to Timothy calls us to carry forward something far greater, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Today, Pastor Ricky begins our new series, Pass the Torch, walking through the book of 2 Timothy. Together, let's discover how the good news is entrusted to us— to live it, love it, and pass it on to the next generation.

The approaching judgment can make us a bit uncomfortable as Christians. Even though we can have confidence in our salvation by the blood of Christ, the idea of hell might sound a bit harsh. But as Pastor Ricky points us today, Revelation tells us that we will actually be rejoicing at the coming judgment. God will enact justice for all the evil deeds of humanity. Furthermore, we'll rejoice in the salvation that we received, knowing that we too deserve to be thrown into hell, but have been saved by Jesus' sacrifice.

What the Bible says about hell tends to make us uncomfortable. It's a difficult teaching to accept but that doesn't stop Jesus from talking about it. While some label Jesus' words about hell as unkind, the reality is that warning about hell is an act of love. As Pastor Ricky points out today, knowing the truth about hell allows us to be adequately warned to know the true consequences of our actions. Jesus didn't tell us about hell and then leave us to suffer, He sacrificed Himself to provide salvation.

What the Bible says about hell tends to make us uncomfortable. It's a difficult teaching to accept but that doesn't stop Jesus from talking about it. While some label Jesus' words about hell as unkind, the reality is that warning about hell is an act of love. As Pastor Ricky points out today, knowing the truth about hell allows us to be adequately warned to know the true consequences of our actions. Jesus didn't tell us about hell and then leave us to suffer, He sacrificed Himself to provide salvation.

In America, people love to say, “Don't judge me”. The irony is that Americans also love to judge others. Whether it be family members, coworkers, or the celebrities on tv, judgment is a common American pastime. Today Pastor Ricky reminds us that our hope is in the one that judges justly. In this life we may get worried about the ways others are judging us, maybe a boss or a peer, maybe even a family member, but in the end, only God's judgment really matters and He'll judge righteously and perfectly.

Jesus warned us that the Christian walk would involve suffering but He also gave us the book of Revelation and today, Pastor Ricky reminds us of the encouragement that this book gives us. The day is coming when Christ will return and set everything right. Although we might feel like we're losing in life, the reality is that followers of Jesus will win in the end. As Pastor Ricky explains, we don't know what the next chapters of our lives entail but we do know how the story ends, with the victory of Christ.

The Bible declares that Jesus is King over every king, and Lord over every lord. Yet all over the earth, people are fighting for power. Pastor Ricky reminds us today that no matter how strong someone seems, their power is insignificant compared to that of King Jesus. The book of Revelations shows us that one day, Jesus' reign and sovereignty will be total and every knee will bow to His authority. For those of us that follow Jesus, this is great news. Our King will reign with justice and goodness.

Pastor Ricky reminds us today that we are at war. While life might seem peaceful and mundane at times, as Christians we recognize that there is a spiritual war taking place and it's important that we keep this in mind because otherwise, it's easy to get sidetracked. While there are many important things in our lives like careers and relationships, and politics, we need to keep everything in perspective. As the apostle Paul points out, soldiers don't get caught up in civilian affairs, and neither should we.

The Bible refers to Christians as members of a larger body, the church, and the church is also referred to as the bride of Christ. Today Pastor Ricky reminds us of the implications of these truths. The Christian walk isn't designed to be taken alone. As followers of Jesus, we need the church just as a hand is useless if not attached to the body. It's not always easy. The church is full of sinful people and serious wounds take place within the church but even still, the church is Christ's bride.

Pastor Ricky points out today that many Christians want Jesus but don't want the church. The problem is as Pastor Ricky explains, having Jesus without the church isn't an option. Christ loves the church so much that He shed His blood for it. The church is constantly referred to throughout the scriptures as the bride of Christ. Jesus chooses to pour His love into the church, broken as it might be, so if we love Jesus we can't then hate the very church that Jesus loves and gave Himself for.

The book of Revelation sheds light on some deeply ingrained lies in this world. As Pastor Ricky points out today, Revelation speaks of the ways the world promises to fulfill us but the truth is the world can't deliver on these promises and that genuine fulfillment for now, and all eternity, can only be found in Jesus Christ. True joy doesn't come by indulging our flesh but by dying to it and pursuing Christ instead. He's the one that satisfies us and in the end, the corrupt world will only experience His judgment.

The world offers us what it can't deliver. No matter what society tells us will bring satisfaction, it never lasts. This is one of the points that Pastor Ricky makes today as he teaches from the book of Revelation. Ultimately, God will judge the world. Sometimes it seems like people get away with doing wicked things but the truth is that God will bring justice and while many people will reject God and choose to indulge in their flesh, thinking that this is going to bring fulfillment only leads them to destruction.

As Pastor Ricky teaches from the book of Revelation today, he shows us how these passages are relevant for us. Much of the symbolism of Revelation seems to be referencing ancient civilizations as well as civilizations in the last days but it also refers to civilizations in our day. The warnings about Babylon are simultaneously warnings to Christians in the 1st century, in the 21st century, and in the future. The point is, we need to take heed of these warnings rather than passing them off as wisdom for somebody else.

The enemy is a master of deception and it's only going to get worse as the days become darker and we wait for our rescuer to come and take us home. He's even manipulated branches of the church using a message that sounds really appealing. He says, you just need to be you, you were born with these desires and identities so they must be good and right. But as Pastor Ricky will explain in today's message, we were born in sin and the feelings of our hearts can't be trusted.

As we look back over history, there are some truly atrocious leaders and governments that have inflicted oppression that we can't even imagine. If you think the violations on people's rights have been these past few years, an in-depth look at history can offer a helpful perspective. As Pastor Ricky will warn us in today's message, things are going to get bad before the end but ultimately God has already secured the victory for His kingdom and wickedness will be put down.

Prayer is powerful. Singing worship songs inspires your heart and draws you closer to your father in Heaven. Meeting together to listen to God's Word and fellowship is essential to our growth and health as believers. They are all important factors for believers but as Pastor Ricky continues to examine the book of Revelation, he's going to draw our attention to a vital truth that it reveals. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the most powerful weapon we have as we face the attack of our enemy.

If you're the type that really enjoys apocalyptic stories, then today's message is going to be right up your alley. We've come to the part of Revelation where things get really intense. We've got dragons and imagery of spiritual warfare in cosmic proportions. It sounds made up but this vision was given to John as prophecy of real events to come. As Pastor Ricky will explain in today's message, this chapter isn't meant to frighten. As believers, we'll find that it contains hope for us as evil incarnate comes to its end.

Jesus dreaded the suffering of the cross as He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night of His arrest. He knew it would mean separation from His father and unimaginable physical and emotional pain, yet He still went through with it because He knew the results it would bring. In today's message, Pastor Ricky is going to challenge us to face suffering with that in mind. When you suffer in the name of Jesus, it will bring life to those who witness it and it's worth the temporary pain.

Many believers are under the misunderstanding that when you've become a Christian, you've side-stepped the suffering this world has to offer. While salvation does relieve you from the oppression of sin, there's still plenty of suffering for those who truly follow Jesus. As Pastor Ricky continues our study in the book of Revelation in today's message, he's going to point out the way this book clearly outlines suffering as a necessary and inevitable part of every believer's journey.

Johnny Cash was a living example of the destruction of sin and the restorative power of grace and he knew firsthand how sin tears down your soul as well as the people around you that you care about most. We all deserve judgment for our choice to rebel against God and serve self. In today's message, Pastor Ricky will address the wrath that's to come but not without reminding us of us the incredible grace that wants to rescue us from the immediate and eternal destruction that sin brings in our lives.

All the way back to the first few months following Christ's ascension, believers have been waiting for His return. At many times, including right now, world events have felt like His return was imminent, yet here we are still waiting. Why is it so hard to judge when the time is really at hand? As Pastor Ricky will clarify in today's message, the prophecies contained in Revelation have been and are currently in the process of being fulfilled and the problem is more our interpretation of the timeline.

God does not grow weary or get tired. That applies to His dealings with you, even the thousandth time you stumbled off and sinned. The love that He expressed in Jesus still goes strong and He'll welcome you back in grace. It also applies to how he deals with humanity across the arch of time. His creation on the other hand, including us, does grow old and weary. As Pastor Ricky will point out in today's message, only God is steadfast and sure and He'll remain so even after everything we see has fallen apart.

Our ruler is a different kind of ruler than you're going to find in any kingdom of man. Men who seek office and take it are often the furthest thing from servant-like. Their decisions are almost always tempered by the question of whether it's going to serve them and their agendas well or not. You would never find them washing the feet of even their closest friends. As Pastor Ricky continues our study in the book of Revelation, he'll remind us how different Jesus is and how differently He rules over our hearts.

As Pastor Ricky begins our study in the book of Revelation today, he'll lead us through an overview of the book in its entirety, with a focus on the characteristics of Jesus that it reveals. We like to think that we can squeeze Jesus into the box of our understanding and reason but actually, we can't. His power is unrivaled and He has complete authority to wipe us out. Yet instead He's decided to redeem us in grace and prepare us for an eternal reign over creation with us at His side.

Jesus wasn't just a really good teacher with some supernatural capabilities. He didn't just know a lot about God, he knew God because He was and still is God. He held within Himself the power and authority that only belongs to the Creator of the Universe yet he walked humbly among mankind, touching the lives of everyone that He interacted with. In today's message, Pastor Ricky will remind us of the unmatched power of Jesus as we look forward to His triumphant return for His church.

Do you ever feel like there are times that God is distant when you're going through trials? Pastor Ricky will be reminding us that God is never distant but He is extremely present. He's working within us a greater depth of godliness and character as we walk through trials. Jesus Himself went through severe tribulations and hardships. It was meaningful suffering that worked out a greater good for all mankind. In the same way, God is using the hardships you're facing in your life for a greater good.

In our text today, the Apostle Peter exhorts the church not to be surprised when they experience fiery trials. Fiery trials are not just hardships of inconvenience but they're painful and can give extreme anguish to the soul. Pastor Ricky will be encouraging us to rejoice during trials as well as fiery trials because God will use them to work within us something great. As a Christian, God will work all things out for good in your life, even the worst of tribulations.

As a Christian, you are an essential part of the body of Christ. You've been given by God specific spiritual gifts and talents that He wants you to use in order to bring Him glory and help further His kingdom here on earth. If If you're not sure what your spiritual gifts are, pray to the Lord and ask Him to reveal them to you. God desires you to know what His will for your life is so when you pray, expect an answer. Whatever your gifts may be, purpose to use them, get involved in the church.

As Pastor Ricky continues his teaching series through the book of 1st Peter, he'll be teaching us the most important aspect of building relationships with others. The key to building relationships is unconditional love. As the Apostle Peter encourages the church through his letter he tells them that above all, love one another. The most important thing you can do to show the world that Jesus lives within you is to have unconditional love toward others.

The time is short. Jesus can return at any moment because there are no more prophecies that need to be fulfilled in order for Him to return. As the end draws near, the world will become more and more angry with Christians. If you are living for the Lord, the world will mock you for not partaking in the same wickedness that they are indulging in. Pastor Ricky will be encouraging you to take heart because one day you will be with Jesus in paradise and He will judge those who rebelled against Him.

Have you ever gone through a season that caused you to think that perhaps you've done something to upset God because of all the trials you've experienced? Pastor Ricky will be continuing his teaching through 1st Peter explaining that Jesus Himself went through severe trials and tests so you, as His servant, shouldn't be surprised when you go through them as well. Jesus said if the world hated me, it will hate you also. No servant is greater than his master.

In this life you will suffer through trials and tribulations. Jesus said that if you want to live a godly life, you will be persecuted. These are promises we don't like to name and claim. We like to place our faith in happy promises that will give us joy and blessings in our lives. Pastor Ricky will be explaining that when we go through persecutions because of simply being a Christian, we can rejoice because we will receive a blessing in eternity. As you obey God, you're storing up for yourself treasure in heaven.

Did you know that there are two kinds of blessings that the Bible talks about? Pastor Ricky will be explaining how there are blessings that belong to us and are secure because we are God's children but there are also blessings that are conditional based upon our obedience to our Father in heaven. If you're choosing to disobey God in a certain area, you can't expect Him to reward your disobedience by giving you blessings in that area of your life. Don't rob yourself of experiencing the best life you can live.