A Little Better | Podcast in RSS.com

A Little Better

A Little Better

di Northridge Church

233 | The Christian Citizen

What happens when your faith collides with your passport? As believers, we live with a unique tension: we are residents of an earthly nation, but our ultimate allegiance belongs to the Kingdom of God. So how do we navigate the messy world of politics, voting, and cultural division without compromising our higher calling? In this episode of Christians and Politics, Calum Shaw and Matt Sones dive into what it truly means to be The Christian Citizen. We challenge the status quo, look at how our faith should inform our civic engagement, and discuss how to keep the Kingdom first in a deeply divided world. LINKS & RESOURCES Companion PDF Guide: Single | Spreads Submit a Question: Got a question you want answered on the show? Submit it here: https://forms.gle/faT1hp7kngFv1NkA6

232 | The Kingdom of God and Government

What is the true purpose of government, and how should Christians engage with political powers? In this second episode of the Christians and Politics series, Calum Shaw and Matt Sones dive into one of the most tension-filled topics of our time: the relationship between the Kingdom of God and earthly governments. Every day, we are pulled by competing loyalties. We pay taxes, follow laws, and participate in a political system, yet our ultimate allegiance belongs to a completely different Kingdom—one led by Jesus, whose blueprint for power and authority looks nothing like human politics. This creates a natural, ongoing struggle for believers: How do we live as faithful citizens of our country while keeping our hearts entirely devoted to the Kingdom of God? Is it possible to engage in politics without losing our way, or should we pull back entirely? In this episode, we tackle the big questions: The Purpose of the State: Why does government exist, and what is it fundamentally designed by God to do? The Temptation to Withdraw: Should Christians completely pull away from earthly politics to focus solely on God’s Kingdom? The Divine Order: What is the actual role of earthly governments within God’s grand, global design? The Breaking Point: How do Christians respond when a government becomes corrupt, evil, or fails to live up to its purpose? Whether you are trying to navigate your own political anxieties, feeling exhausted by the cultural divide, or simply looking for a grounded, biblical perspective on citizenship, this conversation will challenge you to re-examine where your ultimate loyalty lies. LINKS & RESOURCES Companion PDF Guide: Single | Spreads Submit a Question: Got a question you want answered on the show? Submit it here: https://forms.gle/faT1hp7kngFv1NkA6

231 | Can Christians Talk About Politics?

With cultural tribalism, division, and anxiety at an all-time high, public life has become incredibly fraught. Too often, the Christian witness is tarnished when the allure of power and the desire to be on the "winning team" overshadow our primary allegiance to Jesus. In this first episode, Calum Shaw and Matt Sones launch a new stand-alone series aimed at evaluating what a mature political witness looks like for a Christian. Together, they break down a working definition of politics, address the paradigms of pursuing change through law or love, and introduce the 7 Layers of Political Discourse to help us have healthier, more humble conversations In this episode: What is “politics”? Moving past simple voting to understand how communities organize power, resources and rules. Law and Love: The paradigm of how change happens and our tendency to misplace our expectations. 7 Layers of political discourse: Why political conversations collapse when we view complex issues through a single, reductionistic lens. LINKS & RESOURCES Companion PDF Guide: Single Page, Spreads Submit a Question: Got a question you want answered on the show? Submit it here: https://forms.gle/faT1hp7kngFv1NkA6

Bonus: Can We Even Be Here? | Nate Bantle | The Egypt Trip

In our final bonus episode of The Deliverer, Nate Bantle and Drew Kaschner reflect on the highs, lows, and everything in between from the Egypt trip. Tune in to hear the tense moments, the unexpected lessons, and how they learned the lessons of the series they were about to teach on. Sunday’s Message

230 | The Unlikely Road to Freedom and the Struggle to Embrace It.

What happens after you’re finally free? In this episode of the Deliverer series, host Calum Shaw and Drew Karschner dive into the complex reality of life after liberation. We often think of freedom as a destination, but the transition can be overwhelming, confusing, and even harder to embrace than the struggle itself. Drawing from the journey of the Israelites leaving Egypt, we explore: The Muscle Memory of Sin: Why our minds and bodies often cling to old patterns even after the chains are broken. The "Other Side" of Deliverance: Navigating the instability and regression that can happen on the road to redemption. Finding Jesus in the Mess: Understanding that the path to true freedom is rarely a straight line. Sunday’s Message

Bonus: Falling Off The Mountain | Javi Torres | The Egypt Trip

Less than half of Americans have a passport. Much less travel transatlantically. For Javi, this was his first time out of the country. How does someone who hasn’t experienced a foreign country’s culture and food do on an intense filming trip? Let’s just say hummus is a takeaway. Sunday’s Message

229 | How Does God Get Your Attention?

Is God still "flexing" today, or have we just stopped paying attention? In this episode of A Little Better, Drew and Calum dive into one of the most intense showdowns in history: God vs. Pharaoh. We often think of the ten plagues as random natural disasters, but they were actually a calculated, direct assault on the false gods of Egypt. We’re asking the hard questions: If the plagues struck modern-day America, what would those "gods" look like? How do we know if we are accidentally playing the role of Pharaoh in our own lives by ignoring God’s wake-up calls? In this episode, we discuss: The Collision of Power: Why God appeared to be "toying" with the most powerful man on earth. The Hardened Heart: How to identify when you’re ignoring God and what Moses teaches us about interacting with difficult people. The Firstborn Plague: Wrestling with the "meanness" of the final plague and seeing it through the lens of eternity. Freedom’s Cost: How a 430-year wait ended in a release that foreshadowed the ultimate Passover Lamb—Jesus. Whether you’re in a season of waiting for your own "430-year" relief or you’re trying to understand the character of God in the Old Testament, this conversation explores how the God of the Exodus is the same God pursuing your heart today. Sunday’s Message

Bonus: A Cat For Comfort | Drew & Meg Davidson | The Egypt Trip

Can God really use a cat? In this episode, videographers Drew and Meg share their take on their trip to Egypt. What did it take to capture the beautiful scenery of The Deliverer? Sunday’s Message

228 | Excuses: When God Calls Us

We often think God only uses the young, talented, or perfect but the story of Moses being called by God tells a different story. We’re digging into the complex moments when God calls us–those often long stretches where you feel sidelined, forgotten, or "past your prime." Why does God wait until we feel least capable to give us our biggest assignments? If this episode encouraged you, please leave a review and follow the podcast to stay updated on new episodes! Sunday’s Message

227 | The Wilderness Phase: Why God makes you wait

Ever feel like you’re stuck in a "holding pattern," waiting for a breakthrough that feels like it’s never coming? In this episode of the A Little Better podcast, host Calum Shaw and Nate Miller dive into the uncomfortable reality of the wilderness season. You know those moments where you don’t have the answers, but somehow, things resolve in the most unexpected way. Together, they explore: The Theology of Waiting: Why does God often use wilderness seasons to prepare us? The Meaning of 40: From Moses to Jesus, why does Scripture use this number to signify a full period of preparation? Finding Purpose in the Pain: How God uses our most difficult circumstances to shape our character and prepare us for what’s next. Faithfulness in Limbo: Practical ways to maintain your faith when you are in a situation that feels like it’s going nowhere. "God often teaches us the things we need to learn in the place we don’t want to be." Whether you are currently facing a "visceral, real wilderness" or looking back at how past struggles prepared you for your present, this conversation will offer perspective on trusting God’s timing. Sunday’s Message

1 di 25