Vida Church Podcast

Vida Church Podcast

by Vida Church

Christianity Religion

Season 9

How Do We Live in Partnership with The Holy Spirit? | Pastor Ben Diaz

12/7/2025 Vida Church

What Does It Really Mean to Be Holy? | Pastor Ben Diaz

This week, Pastor Ben continued his series on the difference between religion and true relationship with God, highlighting that the Christian life should not be a cycle of striving for approval. He emphasized that while obedience shouldn't be about earning God's love, it should reflect it instead. Using 1 Peter 1:13-14, he warned against slipping back into old patterns, reminding us that holiness is not based on our efforts but on the grace found in Jesus. Unlike the Old Testament's fear-driven practices surrounding the High Priest, Jesus empowered us to carry God's holiness into the world, making us living stones in His spiritual temple. As a chosen people and royal priests, we are called to serve with a king's heart and rule with a servant's heart, embodying both authority and humility. 11/30/2025 Vida Church

Complaining: The Attitude of Slaves | Pastor Ben Diaz

11/23/2025 Vida Church

Why Do We Give, Serve, and Even Go to Church? | Pastor Ben Diaz

Pastor Ben, in his sermon on the "Religion vs. Relationship" series, emphasized the importance of examining our motives behind spiritual practices. He likened the Old Testament command to drive out inhabitants to the need to address internal heart issues today, encouraging us to live wisely among unbelievers and to share God's goodness through acts of love. While spiritual disciplines like prayer, worship, and giving are valuable, he pointed out that the heart's motivation matters greatly; practices done out of obligation lead to bondage, whereas those stemming from love and relationship with God produce life. He urged us to reflect on whether our actions are driven by fear and duty or by gratitude and faith. 11/16/2025 Vida Church

How Is Joy Connected to Supernatural Peace? | Dr. Nick Castellano

Dr. Nick shared a powerful message during Sunday’s service about his three-year journey through a kidney transplant, which involved unexpected complications and a long recovery. He emphasized that while comfort comes from the outside, true peace arises from within, reminding us to trust in God rather than our own strength. He taught that joy fuels peace and encouraged us to choose joy over worry, as we are empowered through Christ. Dr. Nick also highlighted the importance of being mindful of our self-talk and invited us to find peace in the present moment by seeking God's presence, as everything else falls into place when we prioritize the Kingdom. 11/9/2025 Vida Church

How Is Forgiveness Connected to Kingdom Living? | Pastor Ben Diaz

This week at Vida Church, Pastor Ben continued our series on the differences between relationships and religion, emphasizing the importance of understanding the practices of faith. He encouraged us to reflect on why we say "hallelujah" or "amen" and the significance behind our worship and prayers. We are called to live out our new life in Christ, empowered to forgive others freely because we have been forgiven. Pastor Ben highlighted that we don't earn our salvation through our actions; rather, our actions stem from wanting to emulate our heavenly Father. 11/2/2025 Vida Church

How Do We Live Out of Relationship Instead of Religion? | Pastor Ben Diaz

This week, Pastor Ben continued his sermon series on the distinction between Religion and Relationship, emphasizing how the Christian life can often become a series of tasks rather than a heartfelt connection with God. He urged attendees to reflect on their motivations for attending church, highlighting that when participation turns into a mere checklist—rather than a desire for closeness with the Lord—they risk falling into a trap of man-made religion. True devotion arises from the heart, and if one's actions for God stem from obligation rather than love, burnout is inevitable. Pastor Ben reinforced that genuine love for God should drive our behaviors and transformation, not a mere adherence to rules. 10/26/2025 Vida Church

Who Has God Called You to Be? | Pastor Chad Nanke

Pastor Chad's message from Judges 6 highlighted Gideon's story, emphasizing how he was hiding and feeling weak while God saw him as a "mighty hero." Despite Gideon's fears and self-doubt, God recognized his potential and called him to lead. The turning point for Gideon was obeying God's command to tear down idols that represented self-limitation. Pastor Chad challenged us to do the same by removing negative thoughts and embracing our true identity as empowered by God. When we discard these lies and believe in our potential, we ignite purpose and strength within us, declaring that we are mighty heroes of the faith. 10/19/2025 Vida Church

How Does Grace Empower Transformation? | Pastor Ben Diaz

Pastor Ben continued his series on Religion vs. Relationship by emphasizing how God's grace and truth work together, as illustrated in Colossians 1. He highlighted that the transformative Good News leads to changed lives and encourages us to live in a way that honors God. Grace empowers us to break free from sin, while truth reminds us of our holy status before God. Pastor Ben warned against drifting from this assurance through neglect and small compromises, urging us to stay grounded in Scripture and connected to the church. He illustrated that our past, purchased by Jesus' blood, no longer belongs to us, as affirmed in Colossians 2:14–15. Ultimately, we are called to not only embrace grace but also share it with others, contributing to their growth in Christ. 10/12/2025 Vida Church

Can A Spirit of Religion Hold You Back from Breakthrough? | Pastor Ben Diaz

During His ministry, Jesus faced opposition primarily from religious leaders who expected the Messiah to fit their preconceived notions. While they believed adherence to the law was essential for reaching God, Jesus came to fulfill the law and introduce grace and truth, emphasizing a personal relationship with the Father (John 1:1, 1:17). This grace puts everyone on equal footing, reliant on Him rather than their own efforts, while truth without grace leads to judgment. Pride often blinds believers, hindering transformation and keeping them stuck in their ways. In light of this, we should reflect on areas where pride might be obstructing our growth and be willing to surrender our beliefs to allow for change. 10/05/2025 Vida Church

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