There are two kinds of people: those who think the world is changing for the better, and those who think things are only getting worse. The first group reflects on the atrocities of history and cheers the slow march of progress. The second group are those who look back on the good old days with fondness, concerned that our world is going to hell in a hand-basket. So, which is it: is humanity's arrow speeding toward a utopian bullseye, or are we spiralling off target? And as Jesus-centred people,...
Nov 20, 2022•25 min•Ep. 436
Our culture has grown increasingly intolerant of judgmental attitudes. Still, there seems to be no escaping evaluation. From the report card at school and the performance review at work, to the number of friends, followers, and likes on social media, to the rating a business, employer, restaurant or movie gets online, we're quick to rate, rank, critique and cancel just about everything and everyone. And sadly, it's often worse in the church. Whether in the name of "holding people accountable" or...
Nov 13, 2022•27 min•Ep. 435
One of life's biggest questions is, "What is God's plan for my life?" What's the ideal job for which I was created? Am I called to move another part of the world and be a missionary? Is there only one right person for me? Even scarier, what if I've intentionally or even accidentally taken a wrong turn and stepped off God's path for my life? Am I now living in God's Plan B, C, or even worse, living outside of God's will altogether?!! Many of us have felt trapped by these questions, wondering if i...
Nov 06, 2022•20 min•Ep. 434
Have you ever known someone who acted like they had all the answers, always knew everything, and were never wrong? Chances are, that person was a Christian! What is it about religious belief that makes us think we have to always be right about everything? It almost seems sometimes like questioning, doubting, and un-knowing are viewed as incompatible with a life of faith? But what if being "right" all the time is the quality that's actually incompatible with a Jesus-centred life? How can we move ...
Oct 30, 2022•22 min•Ep. 433
We live in a world increasingly defined by camps: the political party we support, the team we cheer for, the brands we're loyal to, whether you're wealthy or working-class, outdoorsy or a homebody, and the list goes on and on. Whichever camp you’re in, the one thing that's clear is that there is, in fact, a camp with clearly defined borders. And this same kind of thinking has crept into the world of faith as well. We talk about "crossing the line of faith", as if being a Christian boils down to ...
Oct 23, 2022•24 min•Ep. 432
"Sin" is an ugly and unpopular word these days, and for good reason. So much harm has been done, by Christians arguing over what is and isn't sin. We preach about it, sing about it, pray about it, and warn others to avoid it all costs. But, when it really comes down to it, what exactly is sin? To sin is actually an archery term (yep, bows and arrows!) from Old English, meaning to "miss the mark" or "fail to hit the bullseye". But is it possible that we've missed the mark entirely when it comes t...
Oct 16, 2022•26 min•Ep. 431
These days, perhaps more than at any other time in history, sincere-hearted Jesus-followers are increasingly engaging in the practice of deconstructing and renovating their faith. And for those on this journey of re-evaluating previously held beliefs and convictions, all roads appear to inevitably lead to one foundational question: What do you do with The Bible? Is it the once-and-for-all, full and final answer to all of life’s questions and challenges? And, if so, why does it seem to leave us w...
Oct 09, 2022•27 min•Ep. 430
When the church began over 2,000 years ago, despite being an illegal, underground movement, early eye-witness accounts claim that Christians were “highly regarded” (Acts 5:13) by outsiders, and “enjoyed the favour of all the people” (Acts 2:47). These days, Christianity has a very different reputation. By many, Christians are viewed as judgmental, hypocritical, sheltered, anti-homosexual, anti-intellectual, and overtly political. When you add to that the torrent of sexual and spiritual abuse sca...
Oct 02, 2022•27 min•Ep. 429
With religious participation in significant decline, why do some people still choose to be part of a church? For some, it may be the community and sense of belonging they hope to experience, while for others, it’s the uplifting music and messages. Some may see it as an important part of raising their kids with certain values, or a way to find meaning and purpose. Whatever the reason, we participate in church because of some perceived benefit it brings to our lives. But what if, after giving chur...
Sep 25, 2022•21 min•Ep. 428
Although people come through the doors of a church for many different reasons, one of the most common motivations/draws/aspirations is the belief that the church is a place of refuge, hope, and healing care through the storms of life. A place where one’s heart will be safe. But what happens when the place that was supposed to be a refuge, turns into the source of your pain? When those you thought you were in heart-to-heart community with, turn and trample your heart underfoot? When you are misun...
Sep 18, 2022•23 min•Ep. 427
Over the last few years, our world has been undone by a global pandemic, political unrest, societal polarization, and countless scandals, leaving many of our lives undone as well. As a result, many people are now saying they're “done” with everything from relationships, careers, cultural affiliations, and even with the idea of church, and sometimes even faith altogether. A recent study claims that the fastest growing religion is a group called the "nones" and "dones" - those who have no religiou...
Sep 11, 2022•25 min•Ep. 426
There's a reason why New Year's Resolutions almost never last: we simply aren't wired for overnight transformation. Real and lasting change doesn't come from grandiose intentions and one time commitments. Instead, we are shaped by the ongoing habits we form in our everyday lives. So how can we lovingly create the kinds of habits that form us into healthier people? What regular rhythms can help us sustain the health of our souls? How do we organize our lives around healthy routines and discipline...
Aug 28, 2022•21 min•Ep. 425
According to the World Health Organization, "Self-Care is what people do for themselves to establish and maintain health, and to prevent and deal with illness. It is a broad concept encompassing hygiene, nutrition, lifestyle, environmental and socio-economic factors, and self-medication." More than simply a cultural buzzword, the importance of self-care is routed in Biblical wisdom that, if we ignore, can plunge us into self-destruction. So what does the Bible say about the personal responsibili...
Aug 21, 2022•21 min•Ep. 424
Culturally, there are really only two appropriate answers to the question "How are you?" and they are: "Great" and "Fine". It's not generally the kind of question we ask, hoping for an honest, thoughtful response. But do we ever pause to ask ourselves, How am I... really? And how you do you answer that question accurately? If you were a car, you could stop at a service station to check your fluids, gauges, and tire pressure. But how do we check the gauges on our spiritual dashboard? And how migh...
Aug 14, 2022•21 min•Ep. 423
We all have people we care about, but how much energy and intentionality do we invest in caring about ourselves? Typically, people tend to fall into one of two groups: those who only care about themselves, and those who don't actively care for themselves at all. So how do we avoid these pitfalls, remaining unselfish while learning to truly and actively love ourselves as God does? And what can we learn from Jesus about the importance of self-care?
Aug 07, 2022•24 min•Ep. 422
It seems like our society has never been more divided and polarized than these days. Much of the recent influence includes a "Cancel Culture" that's quick to define and label what we're against. But what if, instead, we focused on clarifying what we're for? Could we actually learn to embrace the tension of living in unity-in-diversity, by emphasizing what we're commonly and collectively for, more than what we're against? How can we learn to embrace a faith that opens doors of commonality with ea...
Jul 31, 2022•18 min•Ep. 421
As connected as we are these days, one of the defining features of our culture is rampant aloneness. But what if we appreciated that, amidst our sense of isolation, there's a God who isn't just there for us, and doesn't just love us, but is actively pursuing us? Have we fully grasped the fierceness of the love of God, that chases after us even when we're not searching for Him? What would it look like to lean into that kind of love to a greater degree, both with God and with each other?
Jul 24, 2022•15 min•Ep. 420
In biblical culture, meals were significant. Sharing a meal said something about your relationship, and significant things happened through its intimacy. But what if the spiritual impact of sharing meals together wasn't just for their time, but for all time? How could our lives, pace and culture better capture the spiritual impact that the simple sharing of meals could provide? And who could we include around our table, to better leverage the impact of Jesus' power of hospitality?
Jul 17, 2022•18 min•Ep. 419
Especially as we come out of this season of COVID, there are plenty of reasons to say no to things - especially to God. But what can happen if we open our hearts to give God a, "Yes!" What happens when we're willing to embrace scary, uncomfortable and even unplanned opportunities that God might have for us? Hear the story of a re-directed trajectory, through turning spiritual no's into yes's. And consider where you could give God a, "Yes!" in this season of your life!
Jul 10, 2022•18 min•Ep. 418
It's assumed that wisdom comes from experience, but what happens when you take time to listen to younger voices? Hear from pastor John Garner, a long-time friend of Southridge and mentor to many of our church's current leaders when they first started in ministry, as he not only shares about what happened when younger voices were empowered a quarter century ago, but what he's doing to help empower the younger voices of our church today. Come celebrate the beauty of inter-generational ministry, as...
Jul 03, 2022•28 min•Ep. 417
People often say they go to church (i.e, attend weekend services, participate in community events, or volunteer in a ministry) to recharge their spiritual batteries. But do these programs actually have the kind of battery-charging capacity that can fuel all 168 hours of our week? Can a song sung on Sunday equip me to face what life throws at me on Tuesday? Can coffee and conversation on Wednesday evening compensate for the loneliness I feel on Friday night? How can we approach our spiritual live...
Jun 26, 2022•16 min•Ep. 416
Life is made up of choices, big ones and small ones. Every day, we make decisions that affect the course and trajectory of our lives. At times, we're all only one bad decision away from total disaster. But the impact of making good choices can be equally significant. So what is the very best choice we can make for our lives? And how do we make that choice not just a one-time thing, but a daily decision? Join us as we celebrate baptism this morning, and are inspired by the choices of people acros...
Jun 19, 2022•16 min•Ep. 415
Show me your friends and I'll show you your future! The truth is, we are shaped more by the relationships we choose than by any other thing. That's why around here we often say, "Life change happens best in relationship." But depending on the relationships we choose, they may or may not be bringing out the very best in us. How do we make sure we're investing our best relational energy into the very best of friends, whom God can use to form His very best life in us?
Jun 12, 2022•24 min•Ep. 414
It's said, You are what you eat. Beyond our diet, our lives are increasingly defined by the content we consume. It's never been easier to scroll, stream, and shop for anything our hearts desire. But how has this affected they way we think about our spiritual lives? Is faith just another product and service to be enjoyed? What if, at our best, our lives are meant to be defined, not by how much we consume, but by how well we contribute? And if, according to Jesus, it's better to give than to get, ...
Jun 05, 2022•21 min•Ep. 413
Xunzi, a Confucian scholar who lived 300 years before Jesus, once said, “What I hear, I forget. What I see, I remember. What I do, I understand.” Modern science confirms that humans learn best through active participation and experience. But does this also apply to how we grow spiritually? Can true discipleship happen in an exclusively classroom-style environment, or does Jesus invite us into something far greater? If we desire a life of faith at its best, what kind of experience, according to J...
May 29, 2022•21 min•Ep. 412
There's an old joke that asks, "How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice. Practice. Practice." The simple truth is that in order to be good at anything, you need to work at it. But there's a huge difference between the kind of practice it takes to play Mozart, and the kind of practice it takes to be a Mozart. Even in our faith, there's a difference between learning how to emulate the behaviours of a Jesus follower, and actually training ourselves to actually follow Jesus. So how do we make sure...
May 22, 2022•8 min•Ep. 411
It is said that the opposite of courage is not cowardice, but conformity. Whether you're part of a friendship group, a family, a workplace, or ethnic community, it can feel like you've got to "fit in" to be "in". And too often, the church has behaved in much the same way. If you don't believe exactly what everyone else believes, you've gotta buy into the group think, or go somewhere else. And so we have thousands of denominations, churches organized around ethnicity, and churches adhere to stric...
May 15, 2022•20 min•Ep. 410
Every car has a user manual and every dish has a recipe. Every subject has a textbook, every building has a blueprint, and every IKEA bookshelf has assembly instructions that are undeniably impossible to follow. And every religion too has its own manual or religious text - the Qu'ran, the Bible, the Torah, the Four Vedas, the Gita, etc. But we are not cars or bookshelves. Our lives are impossibly complicated in ways that no book can ever comprehensively address. So how should we view the Bible, ...
May 08, 2022•25 min•Ep. 409
We live in a world increasingly defined by camps: the political party we support, the team we cheer for, the brands we're loyal to, whether you're wealthy or working-class, outdoorsy or a homebody, and the list goes on and on. Whichever camp you’re in, the one thing that's clear is that there is, in fact, a camp with clearly defined borders. And this same kind of thinking has crept into the world of faith as well. We talk about "crossing the line of faith", as if being a Christian is something e...
May 01, 2022•27 min•Ep. 408
In 1965, a folk band called The Byrds turned the words of Ecclesiastes 3 into an international hit single called, “Turn! Turn! Turn!” To everything, there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, a time to die. A time to plant, a time to reap. A time to kill, a time to heal. A time to laugh, a time to weep. Perhaps its popularity stems from the universality of the idea that seasons come and seasons go. The only constant in life is change. Here at Southridge, we t...
Apr 24, 2022•25 min•Ep. 407
