Podcast appearances and mentions of rich villodas

Acts 16 recounts the gospel's advance into Europe and demonstrates God's power to free people from oppression and exploitation. The Good News of Jesus brought deliverance to those trapped by injustice then, and it still transforms lives today. This message explores this remarkable story and considers how God continues to call us to proclaim the Good News of freedom and hope. Scripture Referenced: Acts 16:16-24

A pivotal moment in the early church sets a powerful trajectory that continues to shape and challenge followers of Jesus today. As we continue our journey through the book of Acts, we discover how God expands His people's understanding of who belongs in His family and calls us to remember what is truly central to following Jesus. Scripture Referenced: Acts 10:1-15

Sometimes we hold so tightly to our own plans that we miss what God wants to do in and through us. As it has been said, “Clenched fists cannot receive what God wants to give.” This message explores how Saul, also known as Paul, learned to release his own agenda and make room for God's mission. Scripture Referenced: Acts 1:1-19

What does it mean to be empowered as a witness in your everyday life? In Acts 8, we see Philip sharing the gospel in two very different contexts—but what can we learn from his example? Discover how the Holy Spirit guided Philip's conversation with the Ethiopian official and how God can empower us to share the gospel wherever we go. Scripture Referenced: Acts 8:26-35

The historical Jesus is a remarkable story - but what about the meaning of Jesus and how the early church understood Jesus? Hear what Jesus has to say about himself and how the early church gained unflinching hope by understanding his meaning. Scripture Referenced: Luke 4:14-21

What does it mean to stand firm in faith when following Jesus brings opposition and adversity? This message reexamines the courage of the early church in Acts as a present-day call to bold and Spirit-filled living. We will be invited to move from admiring their courage to embracing a faith that remains steadfast, fearless, and faithful under challenge.

Carey caught up with Rich Villodas backstage at Exponential to talk about the learnable skills that keep leaders and congregations non-anxious in an angry age, and the unique challenges and gifting needed to lead a church you didn't plant.

What does it mean to have faith in Jesus' name, not as a formula, but as active trust in his power? This message reexamines a familiar miracle as a present-day sign. We will be invited to move from observing the story to living it, embracing a faith that restores and transforms now. Scripture Referenced: Acts 3:11-20

This message continues our journey through the book of Acts, where the first followers of Jesus experienced remarkable depth and growth as they embraced a new way of life. Together, we explore four practices God uses to shape us—practices that lead us into the kind of authentic, life-giving community we long for. Scripture Referenced: Acts 2:42-47

As we continue our journey through the Book of Acts, we turn to Acts 2 to explore the filling of the Holy Spirit. Together, we discover why this gift is vital for every believer and how Jesus empowers His people through the Spirit for bold, Spirit-led mission. Scripture Referenced: Acts 2:1-13

This message is Part 1 of our new sermon series on the Book of Acts that will take us through the summer. As a companion to our series on Mark, Acts shows us how Jesus invites ordinary people to carry on His mission and live out what He began. Scripture Referenced: Acts 1

Easter is powerful—but what happens the day after, when life quietly returns to normal? This message explores the disciples' journey on the road to Emmaus in the Gospel of Luke, examining how Jesus Christ reveals himself not only in the miraculous but also in the quiet, everyday moments we often overlook. Scripture Referenced: Luke 24:13-35

We celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and remember that the story doesn't end where it seems. What looked like the end was only the beginning. We wrap up our six-month journey through the Gospel of Mark with a message on three powerful lessons Easter teaches us about life with God. Scripture Referenced: Mark 16:1-7

Good Friday 2026 at New Life Fellowship

At the beginning of Holy Week, we journey with Jesus from the joy-filled procession of Palm Sunday, through the sorrow of the Cross, and ultimately to the victory of the resurrection. This message reflects on Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem—riding on a humble donkey while the crowds waved palm branches. In it, we discover a powerful truth: the King has come, but not in the way people expected. These familiar symbols invite us to consider how our own expectations of Jesus compare with who He truly is, and what it means to follow Him in our everyday lives. Scripture Referenced: Mark 11:1-10

Quick fixes sound appealing, but ultimately, the pace of meaningful growth in leaders or ministries is slow and deliberate. In this conversation, Kara Powell and Rich Villodas discuss Rich's latest book, "The Narrow Path," and the impact that our spiritual formation has on our leadership.   1:00 - Are we scuba diving or snorkeling in our spiritual formation? 6:40 - The importance of our hidden life and spiritual practices 15:40 - How do we keep the long-view in mind in the midst of the urgent, everyday challenges? 20:00 - A healthy church culture 25:16 - A need for integration for the next generation & encouragement for youth leaders About this Season: The Future-Focused Leadership podcast season is hosted by Dr. Kara Powell, author and executive director of FYI. Kara invites pastors and leading voices to share leadership principles, lessons, and skills that will keep us future-focused and rooted in Christ. Every episode brings practical ideas and encouragement.  Sign up for our email list: https://fulleryouthinstitute.org/subscribe Related FYI resources: BOOK: Future-Focused Church: Leading Through Change, Engaging the Next Generation, & Building a More Diverse Tomorrow.  BLOG: "What you need to know about Gen Alpha in 2026"  

This message continues our journey through the Gospel of Mark. As we approach Good Friday and Easter, we turn our attention to Jesus's teaching on what it means to live as His servants in the world. In Mark, we meet the Servant King, who shows us that true greatness is found not in power, but in humility, sacrifice, and love. Scripture Referenced: Mark 10:35-45

This message explores one of the most significant events in Jesus' journey to the cross. In the transfiguration, Jesus reveals his true identity and glory. This powerful moment was meant to strengthen and assure the Church, reminding us who Christ truly is—especially in times of hardship and uncertainty. Scripture Referenced: Mark 9:2-8

Rich Villodas is the Brooklyn-born lead pastor of New Life Fellowship, a large, multiracial church with more than seventy-five countries represented in Queens, NYC. His award-winning book, The Deeply Formed Life, was released in September 2020, followed by his second book, Good and Beautiful and Kind. His most recent book, The Narrow Path, released July 2024. He and his wife, Rosie, have two beautiful children and reside in Long Island, New York. You can connect with Rich through his website, www.richvillodas.com. We live in a culture that wants it all. More is seen as better – whether it’s more money, social media fame, more choices, or power. For those chasing this way of life, ‘narrow’ seems negative. Who wants to narrow their options, or be seen as narrow-minded? Which is why the most well-known talk in history – the Sermon on the Mount – is also the most paradoxical. In it, Jesus holds up the narrow path as the most spacious … and the broader path as the more confining one. Rich Villodas, bestselling author of The Deeply Formed Life, helps us to diagnose whether we are following the broad or narrow path, in order to help us pursue the way of Jesus more deeply. The Narrow Path reintroduces the counterintuitive wonder of Jesus’s timeless wisdom for this age, one fraught with anxiety, depression, polarizing politics, and online vitriol. The path of Jesus is most certainly narrow, but it is the only one filled with the ever-expanding life of God . . . and it is available now for all who want it! Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout on Apple Podcasts Get 40% off Shane's book Go and Do: Nine Axioms on Peacemaking and Transformation From the Life of John Perkins.

As we continue our series through the Gospel of Mark, we encounter Jesus' challenging words about the true cost of following him. In this passage, Jesus calls his disciples to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow him—a Messiah whose power is revealed not through domination, but through sacrifice. Together, we explore what it means to lose our lives for his sake and discover the life that can only be found in him. Scripture Referenced: Mark 8:34-38

We long for a life characterized by goodness, beauty, and kindness, but the fractures and hostility in our world get in the way. What can we do? On today's episode, pastor and author Rich Villodas speaks with Tim about some of these themes in his book, Good and Beautiful and Kind. They discuss the role of empathy and the slippery slope of emotional engagement, the danger of depersonalization and the reality of supernatural battle, recall how Jesus would meet people where they are when speaking about the good news.Show notes and a full transcript are available.

This second week of Lent, we continued our series through the Gospel of Mark, focusing on Peter's pivotal confession in Mark 8 and the intense conversation that followed. We learn what it means to follow Jesus with the concerns of God in mind rather than our own. Scripture Referenced: Mark 8:27-33

As we continue our series through the Gospel of Mark during this Lenten season, we reflect on Jesus' powerful teaching about what truly makes a person right with God. In a world focused on outward actions and appearances, Jesus directs our attention inward and toward the condition of our hands and our hearts. Scripture Referenced: Mark 7:1-23

Ash Wednesday 2026 at New Life Fellowship

Matthew 5:21-48 What does this revolution actually look like in real life? Torah Law was always about love — love of God, self and neighbor — but somewhere along the way it had became something to manage, manipulate, and weaponize. In six startling case studies, Jesus takes Israel's Law, and traces the trajectory from the seed in the heart to the fruit in the world, and brings his focus to the image of God in every one of us. Jesus goes after contempt, objectification, power abuse, image-management, retaliation and tribal loyalty. This is not moral tightening or any sort of new rules: it is relational restoration, the root of all kingdom justice! With bonkers (and so misunderstood!) contextual wisdom, turning cheeks and walking extra miles actually become ways of expressing agency, calling out injustice and inviting even our enemy into relationship. Challenging teaching, for our challenging times! By Hannah Flint Books referenced in talk The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God by Dallas Willard⁠ ⁠ The Narrow Path: How the Subversive Way of Jesus Satisfies Our Souls⁠ by Rich Villodas

We continue our Gospel of Mark series by discovering how our perspective shapes the way we interpret life's challenges. As the winds rise and the exhausted disciples struggle forward, Jesus meets them with a powerful invitation to see through the eyes of faith, an invitation that still calls to us today. Scripture Referenced: Mark 6:45-56

We continue our journey through the Gospel of Mark with a powerful, multilayered story of two people urgently seeking Jesus's help. As their stories intertwine, we'll discover the kind of faith that truly gets Jesus's attention—and what that means for our own walk with Him. Scripture Referenced: Mark 5:21-43

Jesus invites all of his followers to participate in his ministry. We continue our series through the Gospel of Mark, as we reflect on what it means to be ready, get ready, and stay ready as we join Jesus in his work in our lives. Scripture Referenced: Mark 6:7-13

Matthew 5-7 Many of Jesus' most familiar teachings come from the Sermon on the Mount, the aim here is not to treat it as a list of moral instructions, but to understand the new day Jesus was announcing. Set against a deeply divided and oppressed Israel, Jesus' announcement that “the kingdom of heaven has come near” was not a threat of judgment, but a declaration that the long wait for God's action was over. The Sermon re-centers the Law, not as a path to salvation, but as a vision of life under God's reign—and Jesus' rhetoric shows it was never meant to be achievable through human effort. From the opening line of the Beatitudes onward, He makes clear that the kingdom is available to all who can admit they can't do this on their own (spoiler - that's all of us - that's the whole point!) Rather than driving us to despair over our shortcomings, the Sermon on the Mount trains us to live within a reality Jesus opened up to every one of us, through God's presence and the power of His Spirit. By Hannah Flint Books referenced: The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God by Dallas Willard The Narrow Path: How the Subversive Way of Jesus Satisfies Our Souls by Rich Villodas

This message explores one of the most powerful metaphors of the Kingdom of God—the mustard seed. Through Jesus's teachings on this tiny seed, we'll discover how God works in mighty ways in our lives, often starting in the smallest and most unexpected places. Scripture Referenced: Mark 4:30-32

We continue our journey through the Gospel of Mark by sitting with one of the most familiar and beloved stories in the Gospels. In it, we are invited to consider the storms we face in our own lives, personally, relationally, and as a community. Through this passage, we are gently reminded of the comforting and sometimes surprising presence of Jesus with us in every storm. Scripture Referenced: Mark 4:35-41

Episode 113: Rich Villodas on Finding the Spacious LifeNeed a bit of soul rest today? I'm offering you an hour that feels both like a deep breath AND a challenge to live differently. Rich Villodas is one of the few people who can pull off this refreshing combination, and we are blessed to have him on The GoodHard Story Podcast this week. He's been a source of inspiration and encouragement to me for many years now. In a world full of loud voices competing for the spotlight, Rich has remained a gentle, steady, and humble conduit of Jesus' wisdom and grace.During our conversation, Rich shared some vitally important “how to's” with me: how to examine your interior life, how to take your love for God out of its tidy compartment, how to be formed by Christ rather than your idea of Christ, and how to teach our kids to navigate complexity.Show NotesWhat we mentioned:The Narrow Path: How the Subversive Way of Jesus Satisfies Our Souls by Rich Villodas - https://a.co/d/dqVs2JWEpisode 85: My New Way of Understanding Beauty with Brook Hensley - https://podcasts.apple.com/nl/podcast/episode-85-my-new-way-of-understanding-beauty-with/id1496882479?i=1000689600342&l=en-GBThe Deeply Formed Life: Five Transformative Values to Root Us in the Way of Jesus by Rich Villodas - https://a.co/d/84WTasBScriptures we referenced:The Sermon on the Mount: Matthew 5 - 72 Corinthians 12:9Galatians 4:19 Romans 8:29Where to find Rich Villodas:@richvillodas on X@richvillodas on Instagramhttps://www.richvillodas.com/About Hope Heals:For more messages of hope, free resources, and opportunities to connect with me: https://hopeheals.com/Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopeheals/⁠Subscribe to The GoodHard Story Podcast!Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-hard-story-podcast/id1496882479Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/0OYz6G9Q2tNNVOX9YSdmFb?si=043bd6b10a664bebWant a little hope in your inbox? ⁠⁠Sign up for the Hope Note⁠⁠, a monthly digest of only the good stuff, like reflections from me and a curated roundup of the Internet's most redemptive content: http://eepurl.com/gGUnlfGet to know us:⁠⁠Hope Heals⁠⁠: https://hopeheals.com/spaces⁠⁠Hope Heals Camp⁠⁠: https://hopeheals.com/camp⁠⁠Mend Coffee⁠⁠: https://www.mendcoffee.com/Instagram⁠: https://www.instagram.com/hopeheals/

On this first Sunday of 2026, we continue our Gospel of Mark Series by turning to a passage of Scripture that helps us lay a strong foundation for a fruitful spiritual year. Together, we explore Jesus' Parable of the Sower and reflect on what the four soils reveal about our hearts and our lives of faith. Scripture Referenced: Mark 4:1-9

As we return this Sunday to our Gospel of Mark series, we hear again Jesus' call to his disciples. Jesus became like us so that we might become like him. In Mark 3, Jesus calls his followers first to be with him and then to be sent out in his authority. As we prepare to begin a new year, hear Christ's call to every follower: come, dwell in his presence, and go in the power he provides. Scripture Referenced: Mark 3:13–19

Are you tired of feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and empty during the holiday season? Instead of getting caught up in the hustle and bustle, are you ready to slow down, catch your breath, and rediscover the true beauty of Christmas? Pastor AJ Sherrill shares from his book, "Rediscovering Christmas: Surprising Insights into the Story You Thought You Knew."  Originally aired November 24, 2025 Check out Susie's new podcast God Impressions on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts!  Faith Radio podcasts are made possible by your support. Give now: click here 

On this fourth week of Advent, we reflect on what it truly means to behold. We explore a familiar passage of Scripture that invites us to slow down, pay attention, and focus on what matters most. Scripture Referenced: John 1:29

We continue our Advent sermon series, “Waiting for Jesus,” by turning from the theme of Peacemaking to the theme of Rejoicing. In a season filled with both celebration and struggle, where can we find joy that truly lasts? We will explore the angel's announcement of “good news of great joy” and see how Jesus, our saving King, invites us into a joy that changes our lives. Discover how to receive and sustain real joy in every season. Scripture Referenced: Luke 2:9-12

The government of Israel has been criticized for building fences in Gaza and the West Bank, but now it's geofencing American churches. Will its plan reverse the decline of evangelical support for the Jewish state? Donald Trump says he's making the country more Christian, but data shows his immigration policy favors secular immigrants and rejects Christians. Rich Villodas is back to talk about his new book for Advent, "Waiting for Jesus." He says we should use this season to resist consumerism, commercialism, and Christian culturalism. Also this week, a giant flightless parrot has issues Down Under. Holy Post Plus: Ad-Free Version of this Episode: https://www.patreon.com/posts/144923335/   Advice-ish: https://www.patreon.com/posts/advice-ish-im-in-144823944   66 Verses to Explain the Bible:  https://www.patreon.com/posts/144916622/   0:00 - Show Starts   4:43- Theme Song   5:06 - Sponsor - BetterHelp - This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/HOLYPOST and get 10% off your first month!   6:05 - Sponsor - AG1 - Heavily researched, thoroughly purity-tested, and filled with stuff you need. Get the AG1 welcome pack when you order from https://www.drinkag1.com/HOLYPOST   7:35 - Toucan Butt Disease!   14:35 - Israel Geofencing Ads Around Churches   29:00 - Deportations Making America More Secular?   48:42 - Sponsor - World Relief - Start a monthly partnership with World Relief to help families in crisis at https://www.worldrelief.org/holypost   49:51 - Sponsor - Aura Frames - Need a Great Christmas Gift? Use code HOLYPOST at checkout to save $45-off the Carver Mat Aura Frame at https://www.AuraFrames.com   51:00 - Sponsor - Blueland - Just for this holiday season, Blueland has a special 30% off deal to help you keep your home clean this Christmas! Go to https://www.blueland.com/holypost   52:10 - Interview   54:06 - Church Calendar Explained   1:03:50 - Spirit of Herod   1:17:37 - End Credits   1:18:09 - Sponsor - The Pour Over - Stay informed while remaining focused on Christ with The Pour Over Today. Check it out at https://links.thepourover.org/holy-post   Links Mentioned in News Segment: Kakapo Crusty Butt Disease! https://www.popsci.com/environment/kakapo-antibiotics-crusty-bum/   Immigration Crackdown Making Us Less Christian? https://religionnews.com/2025/11/18/why-trumps-immigration-crackdown-may-make-america-less-christian/?utm_source=RNS+Updates&utm_campaign=506d68c8ac-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2025_11_19_01_03&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c5356cb657-506d68c8ac-387424458   Other Resources: Waiting for Jesus: An Advent Invitation to Prayer and Renewal: An Advent Christmas Devotional by Rich Villodas: https://amzn.to/3Me8e8v   Holy Post website: https://www.holypost.com/   Holy Post Plus: www.holypost.com/plus   Holy Post Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/holypost   Holy Post Merch Store: https://www.holypost.com/shop   The Holy Post is supported by our listeners. We may earn affiliate commissions through links listed here. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.  

I am SO EXCITED to talk to Pastor Rich Villodas about Advent and the Christian calendar. Advent officially started yesterday and Rich is helping us better understand why the Christian calendar even matters and what Advent means to our relationship with God. We're going to talk about what it looks like to wait well (which I don't like to do!), and we unpack the reality of living in the middle of both pain and rejoicing. Advent is all of it, right?  If you're looking for a study to go through this Advent, it's not too late to start one. You can grab it today and jump right in. Our Stay Tuned series is available to download now at shopanniefdowns.com AND you're going to love hearing about Rich's Advent devotional, Waiting for Jesus, today. If you're following along in your TSF Seasons Guidebook, We're on page 127. As always, the guidebook is available for you at anniefdowns.com/seasons. . . . . .  Sign up to receive the AFD Week In Review email and ask questions to future guest If you enjoyed this episode, I think you'd also love: Advent Makes Space for our Grief, but Christmas Makes Space for our Joy with Lanier Ivester- Episode 943 Episode 500: She Reads Truth + Advent . . . . . Thank you to our sponsors! This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp: My friends get 10% off their first month at BetterHelp.com/THATSOUNDSFUN. Our Place: Our Place is having their biggest sale of the year right now! Save up to 35% site-wide through December 2nd. Shop the Our Place Black Friday Sale right now, no code needed at ourplace.com. Thrive Causemetics: Go to thrivecausemetics.com/TSF for an exclusive offer of 20% off your first order. AG1: If you go to drinkag1.com/soundsfun you'll get the welcome kit, a Morning Person hat, a bottle of Vitamin D3+K2, an AG1 Flavor Sampler, and you'll get to try their new sleep supplement AGZ for free! WayFair: Head to Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. Hiya Health: Receive 50% off your first order. To claim this deal you must go to hiyahealth.com/THATSOUNDSFUN. Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at Shopify.com/soundsfun⁠. Capstone Wellness: Learn more at ⁠capstonewellness.com/thatsoundsfun⁠. Helix Sleep: Go to helixsleep.com/thatsoundsfun for 27% off sitewide.  Wonder Project: Start your free trial and make sure to choose the annual subscription at watch.thewonderproject.com/thatsoundsfun. When you pick the annual plan, you save money and directly support their mission to bring more of these stories to the world.  NIV Application Bible: If you're looking for a new Bible or know someone you'd like to gift a Bible to, I highly recommend the ⁠NIV Application Bible⁠! Antique Candle Co: Use code “thatsoundsfun” to get a free Gift Set on any order of $40 or more through Dec 15 at ⁠antiquecandleco.com⁠.  NYTimes bestselling Christian author, speaker, and host of popular Christian podcast, That Sounds Fun Podcast, Annie F. Downs shares with you some of her favorite things: new books, faith conversations, entertainers not to miss, and interviews with friends. #thatsoundsfunpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The holidays often feel like a marathon, as we dash from one event, errand, or party to another. In the busyness, it's easy to neglect what really matters: reflecting on the glory of Jesus. Pastor Rich Villodas shares from his book, "Waiting for Jesus: An Advent Invitation to Prayer and Renewal."  Waiting on God by Andrew Murray Originally aired November 24, 2025 Check out Susie's new podcast God Impressions on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts! Faith Radio podcasts are made possible by your support. Give now: click here

The holidays often feel like a marathon, as we dash from one event, errand, or party to another. In the busyness, it's easy to neglect what really matters: reflecting on the glory of Jesus. Pastor Rich Villodas shares from his book, "Waiting for Jesus: An Advent Invitation to Prayer and Renewal."  Waiting on God by Andrew Murray Check out Susie's new podcast God Impressions on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts! Faith Radio podcasts are made possible by your support. Give now: click here