Better News Podcast

Our culture generally doesn't align with what the Bible teaches us. Many people in our current culture believe that supporting those around us means supporting every choice that somebody makes, whether it's a good one or a bad one. But the Bible tells us that we should call each other out as brothers and sisters in Christ. When you see your friends doing sinful or harmful things you should lovingly help them get out of that sin. Today Pastor Ricky is going to encourage you to keep your friends accountable.

Are you sitting idle in your walk with God? The Bible's definition of idle might not be as obvious as it seems. Being idle in God's view doesn't mean sitting still and doing nothing. It also isn't a competition to see who can be the busiest or the best at what they do. You can be distracting yourself with social media, video games, or anything else. What you're involved in should reflect what God has put in your heart. Today Pastor Ricky is going to teach us what it means to be idle in the view of God.

Are you using the church as a convenience store? Maybe you walk into church and you go through the motions every week. You raise your hands in worship, you go through an offering and you listen to a sermon then you go throughout your week and repeat every Sunday. There's so much more to be involved in. God wants you to be close to one another so that you can care for one another. Today Pastor Ricky will give us some practical ways that we can care for one another as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Have you ever felt lonely, like there's nobody that can understand the pain that you've been through? Or the hardships that you've endured, the sin that you felt burdened by for so long? Well, Jesus cares about you. He cares so much that He died on the cross so that you could be set free from sin and so that you could have an eternal relationship with Him. Today Pastor Ricky is going to encourage you that Jesus cares about you. He cared for His people throughout the Bible and He cares about you now.

Do you have the tendency to want to do things in your own power? In today's teaching, Pastor Ricky encourages you to check your motives. We often get caught up in trying to do the right things like developing a system of things to do that keep us “churchy”. Being sure to go on dates with our spouse, or read books on dating, or attending every service that is available can become what drives us. It can become religion. Check your motives today as you listen in and let the Gospel be the answer.

In today's teaching, Pastor Ricky walks us through people's tendency to use works to earn their salvation. You may be one of those people who doesn't feel close to God unless you're serving in a certain capacity, reading the right books, etc…You're sure to have the boxes checked on your list of things to do to be a good Christian. The reality is you don't need to do anything. Faith is it. While having the desire and serving the Lord isn't wrong, making it about works is.

There are a couple of guarantees that people jokingly make, death and taxes. And while that's true, Pastor Ricky will remind us of another guarantee in relation to reconciliation in this message. You see, just when you think that all the conflicts in your life have been resolved and everything is going well, the next hurdle magically appears before you. You see, we can be sure that we will sin again and the people around us will sin again and thus we will have conflict and the need for reconciliation throughout our lives.

It's so easy to lose focus on what God has done in our lives. It's easy to forget just where we've come from, especially when it comes to conflict in the body of Christ. The pain that comes from being betrayed by a close friend, or the discovery of infidelity by a church leader, reconciliation can be the farthest thing from our minds. Today Pastor Ricky will remind us to always keep our own cleansing front and center in the midst of conflict. When we remember what Jesus forgave us of, it becomes much easier to forgive and be reconciled to others.

Reconciliation is a term that we are all familiar with it yet each of us probably has our own definition of what that means. Today Pastor Ricky will delve into this subject of being reconciled. We'll learn the sinful tendencies that so many of us fall into when it comes to being reconciled with ourselves, or allowing someone who sinned against us to be reconciled to us. Pastor Ricky will focus on the most important reconciliation of all, being reconciled to God through Jesus Christ.

Many churches across America today are filled each week with committed Christians seeking to hear from God and to worship God. As we'll hear from Pastor Ricky, this is wonderful but should the church only be filled with Christians? We'll learn today that a healthy church will have people in it that don't know God but are seeking Him. The communion table is a powerful way to show those around us that our God is real and that He gave His one and only son for their lives as well.

We're told in the Bible that when we come together and partake of the communion table we are to “remember”. But remember what? For many, the communion table is simply a religious ritual that has become a monotonous duty. We learned last time that the communion table is so much more than that. Today Pastor Ricky will focus on some of the important elements of the communion table and why it's vitally important for the health of the body of Christ.

Every year we have annual dates set on our calendar that remind us of important events in our lives. For many of us, we remember the day that we were joined with our spouse in marriage. As parents, we remember the wonderful day that God gave each of our children to us. But today Pastor Ricky will remind us of another appointment that is even more important in our lives, it's the communion table. When we come together as a body of believers and partake, we remember what it took to save us.

Pastor Ricky has been sharing with us just how we exist in our own personal comforts, and how we generally don't give a second thought for that person that may not get invited to many dinner parties or other social events. We tend to only think about ourselves and what makes us happy. Jesus was and is so different than us. He spent time with anyone. Today Pastor Ricky will exhort us to follow our Savior's example and step out of our own personal comfort zone so that we might be used by God for His glory.

Today Pastor Ricky will show us a few characteristics of the divine economy and wow, it's very different from this kingdom's “get all that you can get” economy. You'll learn that because we all battle with our sinful nature on a moment-by-moment basis, we need to be purposeful in combating the tendency to exist where it's comfortable and to only spend time with those that we enjoy spending time with. Consider spending time with someone that isn't inside your circle of friends and watch what God will do.

You all know that person at the office or perhaps in your small group, that sort of awkward one who seems to say the most uncomfortable things at the wrong times, is that the person that you had over to play cards or watch the game this past week? Today Pastor Ricky will challenge our personal space and comfort by asking the questions, who did Jesus eat with, and who am I eating with? The answers to these questions will reveal a great deal about our spiritual maturity in Christ.

This morning when you woke up the sun rose just like it has for thousands of years and if the Lord causes it to do so, it will rise again tomorrow. This is the God that we serve. This is the God of unlimited resources, the amazing God described throughout the Bible. Yet, we oftentimes find ourselves wondering whether this all-powerful God we serve can provide for our basic needs. As Pastor Ricky will share today, our God is more than able.

How much faith do we actually have? Stop and think about what we say we believe. We say that we believe in a God we've never seen, that sent His only Son over two thousand years ago to die in our place for the penalty of sin and because of that, we will spend eternity in a place called heaven that no one has ever seen. And yet, when the unexpected hardships arrive we question whether God is able.

Insufficient. Unable. Incapable. These are all words that describe how we feel as followers of Christ from time to time. We all struggle with that nagging feeling that we're just not enough for the God that we serve. Today Pastor Ricky draws out a wonderful parallel in the story of The Feeding of the 5000. The truth is we are insufficient, unable, and incapable but the God that we serve is not. He can take the little that we are and multiply us to bring Himself glory.

The last time you were walking down the street and a dirty drunk homeless person thrust their empty change cup at you, do you remember your immediate response? If you're honest I'm sure you shrunk back like the rest of us have. Pastor Ricky is challenging us to consider that sin is sin, is sin. If God has made a place for us at His table by His grace, then shouldn't we be ready and willing to do the same for others?

Stop and think about this scene. You're at the gym and the professional bodybuilders are there lifting hundreds, upon hundreds of pounds in their workout. You've brought your 4-year-old with you to keep you company while you get a quick run in on the treadmill. He works his way over to the bodybuilders and climbs underneath the weight to try and lift it. While we think this is cute, it truly parallels what our response should be when we experience God's grace. Our hearts should long to do more than we're able because of God's love for us.

Have you ever thought of your works as currency or money? That scenario is pretty funny but it's so true. We do attempt to gain God's favor by doing this or that, so many times. Pastor Ricky reminds us again that God's grace is not something that we can earn, it's something that has been lavished upon us because God loves us beyond our understanding. The key is to receive God's grace and walk in the power that it provides.

Jesus came to be in the midst of sinners and call them to repentance. This type of thinking is foreign to us, be in the midst of sinners? Many of us have grown a bit too comfortable lounging in the church pew each Sunday that we have forgotten that Jesus has given us a mission to share His grace with the lost and dying around us, accepting them as they are yet loving them enough to challenge them to confess, repent, and change.

Grace is one of those terms in the body of Christ that has been thrown around quite a bit. Today we'll learn that grace is far more than the simple thought of unmerited favor. While it most certainly is unmerited favor, we'll learn that biblical grace is better described by the definition of the Greek word Charis which it is derived from, “The divine influence upon the heart especially seen in the life”. You see Jesus exhibited this kind of grace where on one hand He would break bread with anyone while on the other hand, He asked them to change.

Every time that you're in the presence of the Lord, you can have a taste of what heaven is going to feel like. We can have joy in the Lord because of the hope that we have in Jesus' return. He's going to return and save us from the corruption and sin that's in the world. You don't have to worry about tomorrow because God is in control. Today Pastor Ricky will encourage us to rejoice in God because He's already promised us the gift of eternal life and that's something to be thankful for.

It can be really hard to have joy in your life when everything seems to be falling apart around you. You lost your job, you lost your friends, the car is breaking down, your marriage is failing, it seems like things just can't go your way, so how do you find joy during those unfortunate circumstances? Well the Lord is the answer. He can provide joy that's everlasting. Today Pastor Ricky is going to use the story of Habakkuk to teach us how to have joy. Habakkuk understood how to rejoice in the Lord even when his circumstances weren't perfect.

The old prayer, “Lord, give me patience and give it now” has more truth than we would like to admit. As Pastor Ricky teaches today, learning to trust God requires a great deal of patience and waiting. We're learning in Habakkuk that God is squarely in charge. Another word for that is sovereign. Pastor Ricky reminds us that as we acknowledge that, it requires us to let go of forcing our own path and agendas in order to see progress the way we prefer it. Trust in God always pays off.

Have you ever wanted to be a part of a family, a company, or a club where everybody looked out purely for the best interest of each other? That sounds a little too good to be true sometimes, doesn't it? Well as Pastor Ricky teaches us today, God is always working and always including us in His victories. We never see God off doing something with disregard to what's going on back in our own lives. Somehow, God sees fit to include us and have us as co-victors with Him. That's the good news of the Gospel.

God has your best interest in mind. God's plan is for His glory and for your good. As Pastor Ricky teaches us today, God is about wholeness and restoration. The application from our scripture lesson is timely and relevant. Pastor Ricky reminds us that we might be confused with all of the bad things going on, and it seems to continue, and many seem to get away with it, so we're tempted to wonder, where is the justice? Habakkuk shows us that God is in charge. He hasn't lost control. He's not overwhelmed. He is big enough for what we're facing.

God's ways are higher than our ways. How many times have we found that to be true? As Pastor Ricky teaches us today, God uses unlikely people even an unfaithful country to bring about His plan. What can really be confusing is when justice doesn't seem to come fast enough. Pastor Ricky reminds us that even though we might feel that God isn't bringing about justice swiftly enough, or harsh enough, His ways are still higher and better than ours. We'll understand better one day but for now, we just have to trust Him.

With every day that passes, a couple of things seem to be an option for us to take. One is that we become more confident in what we've experienced and learned in life. If we're not careful that can lead to assumptions and reliance on our own knowledge. The other thing that could happen is that we realize just how much we don't know. As Pastor Ricky teaches today, trusting in the Lord is critical on our path with Jesus, even after many years of experience. So be open to where He leads today.

Have you ever thought about just how powerful faith is? Not just faith as a description of being religious but the deepest meaning of faith, trust and hope. As Pastor Ricky teaches us today, faith in Jesus brings salvation, receiving that gift, it's an amazing thing. Pastor Ricky reminds us that living a life in the power of the cross is crucial. Faith doesn't just end when you start your journey with Christ. You continue living, serving, and flourishing, in and through faith every single day.

Do you ever need a little extra motivation to go through something difficult? Even if it's just a reward at the end of a workout, or reaching a milestone towards a goal, a positive anticipation is good. As Pastor Ricky teaches today, the assurance that the Word of God increased and multiplied, was given before a difficult season as we'll hear in our text. Pastor Ricky reminds us that through it all, the Lord reigns and is doing a great work to keep us and His message until Christ comes again.

Aren't you glad that someone found a way to share the message of God's love in a language and way that you can understand? As Pastor Ricky teaches today, the good news spread to Antioch in a way that they could understand and that understanding came from a place of honesty, relatability, and realness. Pastor Ricky reminds us that we have fallen short. We've blown it big time and are all in the same need of forgiveness. That universal need carries us to the throne of grace. Christ is the answer for all of us.

Often in the English language, we have words with multiple meanings. The word “church” is one of those words. As Pastor Ricky teaches today, you'll learn that we casually refer to the meeting place, the building, its committees, systems and programs as church. Others define church by what we do at worship service but Pastor Ricky reminds us that the church of Jesus Christ is so much more than just a building or a weekly gathering. It's a living organism, universal, and alive with unity following our Lord.

You aren't alone. Hopefully, you've heard that as a Christ-follower but do you really believe it? As Pastor Ricky teaches today, you learn that we're a part of a larger family of God. Unity, therefore, is so important to the mission at hand. Pastor Ricky reminds us that living in unity and understanding that we were never meant to do life on our own, not only gives us hope and reassurance to make it through another day, it can also make our impact on the world powerful.

Jesus came to earth and went from here to there, crisscrossing the land, bringing good news. As Pastor Ricky teaches today, you'll learn that Jesus has become our example. We're commanded to spread the Gospel, to go as Christ went. So often we like to program our lives and churches in such a way that we might feel good but aren't really making disciples in all of the earth. Pastor Ricky reminds us that “go and tell” is a non-optional part of what it means to be God's church.

“Pick and choose” is the spirit of the age it seems. We love charting our own course. It's common today to live a life of a la carte faith, where only the attractive parts of faith are lived out. As Pastor Ricky teaches today, you'll learn how the commands of God, the plans that He has for you, aren't “pick and choose”. To be the church of God in the world today, we can't erase the true call that God has for us. Pastor Ricky reminds us that “go and tell others” is not optional.

Have you ever thought about what you would leave behind if you were to pass away today? For some, it might be a fortune. For others, it could be their family. However, Pastor Ricky invites you to reflect more deeply on that question. When you leave this world, what is the one thing that you can take with you? It's your salvation. Therefore, when you consider what you're leaving on this earth, remember that the most meaningful legacy you can leave isn't your possessions but the impact that you made during your life while walking with God.

What happens to us after we leave this world? Well, some believe that we simply cease to exist, while others think that we're reincarnated. However, the majority of people believe in an afterlife, a place of rest beyond this world, and they're right. Heaven is real. Unfortunately, due to sin, everyone is on a path that leads away from it. But that's why Jesus paid the price for our sins. He gives us the choice to live eternally with Him or away from Him. Today, Pastor Ricky encourages you to pick Jesus.

Isn't it amazing to know that we serve a God who could take even the darkest circumstances and turn them into blessings? In today's message, Pastor Ricky emphasizes that the God of Creation and the King of Kings holds absolute control over every aspect of our lives. Because He's in command, you can confidently rely on His promises to protect you and to lead you towards prosperity. Even when this world throws every storm towards you, you can trust in God that He'll deliver you through it.

All of us encounter unexpected challenges in life. And in these moments that are beyond our control, it's crucial to remember that they're never beyond God's power. In today's message, Pastor Ricky reminds us that nothing in our lives occurs by mere coincidence. Everything falls within the divine purpose of God. Even when we struggle to understand His plan, we can hold tight to the faith that God would never allow us to face harm. His promise to prosper us remains steadfast no matter the circumstance.

Have you ever been on a road trip and found yourself lost in an unfamiliar city without a map or a guide? That journey can quickly become overwhelming. In the same way, many people are wandering through life unaware that they're on a spiritual journey. In today's message, Pastor Ricky urges you to recognize that you were never meant to navigate this journey alone. You were designed to walk alongside God. He created you out of love, desiring a deep connection with you. So, the question is, will you take that step and walk with Him?

Life is a journey filled with shifting seasons, moments of peace and times of trial, calm waters and raging storms, periods of rest and intense labor. No matter where you find yourself right now, Pastor Ricky wants you to understand that you can wholeheartedly trust in God. He is steadfast and will guide you through every storm and challenge. The key lies in the choice that you make regarding your faith. Will you place it in the fleeting assurances of the world or in the unshakable truth of Jesus Christ?

Back in the Old Testament days, getting forgiveness for sins was quite the journey. They needed to make animal sacrifices with the help of priests. Have you ever stopped to think about how God flipped the script, just for you? Today, Pastor Ricky dives into the fascinating topic of the New Covenant. God sent His one and only son, Jesus, to be sacrificed on the cross just for you. When you acknowledge Jesus, it opens the door for you to ask God for forgiveness directly. Can you believe how much He loves you?

Isn't it a bit silly to count the moments that we choose to forgive others? It's pretty wild to think about how often God would need to forgive our sins, isn't it? God's abundant grace and mercy are always wrapping around our lives like a warm hug. Just like God has wiped the slate clean for you time and again, why not extend that same grace to those around you? In today's message, Pastor Ricky shares a heartfelt reminder of the power of embracing a forgiving attitude toward those around you. He'll always be by your side, guiding you along the way, even if you mess up.

As you dive into the stories of the Israelites in the Bible, you'll notice that God was always there for them, meeting their needs and showering them with love and guidance, even when they strayed from the path time and again. Have you ever wondered if God is still the same and that He's always there to answer your prayers just when you need them most? Well, today, Pastor Ricky tells you about the overflowing grace and love of God. He'll always be by your side, guiding you along the way, even if you mess up.

It's inevitable that sometimes, despite our best intentions, we can't always stick to the promises that we've made to others. Your focus on your own needs will always prioritize your interests over those of others. But have you ever thought about who always sticks to their promises? In today's message, Pastor Ricky shares some insights on the covenants that God has made. He's got a unique plan just for you, and you can bet that He'll definitely keep the promises that He's made along the way.

It's easy to believe that when you mess up with your spouse or your family, it's not going to really matter since it's not a sin against God. But let's dive into that thought a bit more. Have you ever thought about how the wrong you did to them is actually a wrong against God? After all, He's the one who brought your spouse into your life. Today, Pastor Ricky shares a heartfelt message encouraging you to turn to God with genuine repentance. Remember, there's always a chance to turn things around and find forgiveness through Jesus.

Sometimes a soldier finds themselves injured in the chaos of war. He'll need a little time to heal up, but soon enough he'll be ready to take on the enemy again. The journey of a Christian can be quite like that of a soldier, filled with challenges and battles to face. In today's message, Pastor Ricky encourages you to reconnect with the purpose that God has set for you. It'll help you feel better and provide the relaxation you need, but hey, it's time to jump back in and give it your all in serving Him.

Opening up to someone about your feelings can often feel like a real challenge, but holding on to those feelings can lead to anxiety and depression that creep into your life. So, what choices do you have? Well, today, Pastor Ricky pushes you to open up and share your sorrows with God. He gets what you're going through. He's the only one who knows just how to lift your spirits when you're feeling down and to help you find your way back up. So, feel free to share anything and everything with your Creator.

If you've accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then you have a profound hope that this world lacks. Like a beautiful violin solo floating over a tired and frustrated crowd, Jesus gives us peace. As Pastor Ricky illustrates in today's message, this is what sets us apart as believers. This world is headed towards destruction, with many people unaware of what's happening. Depression and anxiety are pervasive. Jesus alone offers hope, and it's our calling to share that with the world around us.