A Little Better

Benjamin Franlkin’s famous quote, “Only two things are certain: death and taxes,” continues to ring true. While some people evade taxes, noone can bypass death. This week on A Little Better, Calum talks with Noah Bixby as they unpack our fear of death. It could be fearing the moment of death itself, fearing the provision and security of your loved ones, or fearing the concept of eternity, our exis...

Fear seems to stem back to the same place–the unknown. More specifically, the things we can’t control. This week on A Little Better, Drew Karschner is back talking with Calum Shaw on how we should deal with the fear of the unknown. We look at the practical ways that we can mature in our relationship with fear. While faith is an antidote, it’s not as simple as just having more faith. How do we turn...

This week on A Little Better, we talk about the fear of being known. Calum Shaw and Matt Sones get personal as they explore what it really means to be known and how our fear holds us back from belonging. The mask, or armor, we put up to protect us, only prevents us from being known. Our fear writes a narrative that easily warps our perspective and holds us back. It’s time to drop the mask. Resourc...

This week on A Little Better, we talk about something no one really wants to talk about…fear. Calum is joined by Drew Karschner as they kick off the first week of a new series called “In The Face Of Fear.” What does it mean to have a healthy response to fear? What is an unhealthy, negative, or even sinful response to fear? These are the questions we need to ask ourselves if we’re going to face and...

This week on A Little Better, Calum Shaw and Michelle Gerringer conclude the series on spiritual maturation by discussing practice. In the context of our relationship with God, others, creation, and self, what are the things we do that foster and express spiritual maturity? They outline some practices for each stage of the spiritual journey. If you’re feeling stuck or at a plateau, you might find...

This week on A Little Better, we explore how presence is a maker and marker of spiritual maturity. Showing up is one thing, but is it the same as being present? Calum is joined by Matt Sones and Michelle Gerringer to unpack a theology of presence and what being present looks like with out relationship with God, other, creation and self. Resources: The Practice of the Presence of God By Brother Law...

This week on A Little Better, explore how purpose is a maker and marker of spiritual maturity. Calum Shaw hosts Matt Sones and Carlie Shaw as they explore Purpose, Calling, and Assignment. Existential questions like “why are we alive?” or “what is my purpose?” can weigh heavily on minds. So why are we here? What about knowing and living out our true, God-given purpose, is a sign of maturity? Resou...

This week on A Little Better, we’re talking about the first maker and marker of spiritual maturity–Pain. No one likes difficult, painful experiences, but in God’s redemptive process, rupture and repair are inevitable in a broken world. Special guest Christine Jean-Jacques, an experienced Christian psychologist, joins Calum Shaw and Matt Sones. Together, they talk through some of the reasons we rea...

Continuing in our In The Making series, Calum Shaw, Matt Sones, and Michelle Geringer explore the importance of reciprocal relationships. Spiritual and emotional maturity don’t happen in isolation; God designed us for connection. One of the key reasons is that relationships are essential for our spiritual growth. We also see that God’s Kingdom is full of paradox. Growth often happens through the m...

No one wants to be or perceived as immature, but many seem to be stuck in their journey of maturation. We’re launching a new series that shares the biblical framework for spiritual growth and maturation. It’s time to take a look at where we’re at on our journey and what it means to be mature.  There are so many reasons why we can get stuck at a stage. Many are stuck deconstructing because of...

This week on A Little Better… Calum hosts Jason Degraaff as they unpack Jonah 4. We shift our perspective on Jonah from a failed prophet to someone who was trying their best. But, because of his anger, he acted in a way that wasn’t good for the mission or his well-being.  Follow along as the conversation explores what defines an enemy, how we deal with anger, and the balance of holding justic...

This week on A Little Better, Calum and Drew talk second chances. Jonah was given a second chance and preached to Nineveh. Nineveh was given a second chance as God relented from destroying them. Does that mean we can rely on a second chance? Somehow, it only took five Hebrew words to turn the whole city of Nineveh to God. One could say it was either the best or the worst message ever preached. Wha...

Calum Shaw hosts  Webster Campus Pastor, Nate Miller, as they take a deeper look into Jonah’s downward spiral and eventual deliverance. Despite how it appears, it was God’s grace that appointed a fish to swallow Jonah, and we see Jonah eventually turn to God, but did his heart change, or was it just perspective? His prayer seems to say all the right things, but at closer inspection, it reveal...

Calum and Drew kick off a new series called Nineveh. Follow along as we learn from Jonah, an obscure prophet who repeatedly circumvented God's clear call to share a message of grace and truth with the Ninevites.   In reality, we are a lot like Jonah; we can so easily turn a blind eye on the call on all Christians, to proclaim the gospel, even to those who we don’t think deserve it, and c...

On this episode of A Little Better, Calum and Lead Pastor, Drew Karschner, talk with Christian psychologist and therapist Dr. Andy Hartman.  While suffering is inevitable, healing from it can take time and work. We dive deep into our backgrounds and how key relationships can shape our response to hardship, some practical tools to help start the healing process, and grappling with the concept...

On this episode of A Little Better, Calum is joined by Drew Karschner, Northridge’s Lead Pastor, and Matt Sones, Ministries Lead. They talk through the suffering we deal with as a result of the sin and brokenness in our world.  Mentioned resources: The Gulag Archipelago (Abridged Edition) - Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn https://a.co/d/j8Fc3li Harvard Human Flourishing Project: https://globalflourish...

Today on A Little Better, host, Calum and Lead Pastor, Drew are joined by Michelle Geringer, Executive Director of Groups and Outreach at Northridge. This episode navigates the consequences of our own choices. Listen to the conversation as they discuss: Sinful choices Silly choices Sincere choices Repentance and Confession Mentioned resources: Counterfeit Gods - Tim Keller https://a.co/d/8WJn4Wl W...

Today on A Little Better, host, Calum and Lead Pastor, Drew are joined by the Director of 441 Ministries, Josh Horn. Together, they wrestle through suffering as a result of doing the right thing. Just because you endure pain as a consequence for doing right, doesn’t mean it’s wrong. Listen to the conversation as they discuss: The difference between persecution and affliction. Are Christians being...

Today on A Little Better, host Calum, Drew, the Lead Pastor, and Brit, the Rochester Worship Director, discuss how to prepare for and embrace suffering. We can all expect suffering to come, but it’s what we do with it that matters. They discuss the five ways we should prepare for suffering: Expect suffering Embrace suffering Evaluate past suffering Employ God’s Word Environment of community Mentio...

Today on A Little Better, Calum is joined by Webster Campus Pastor, Nate Miller, and Rochester Worship Director, Brittany McCracken, to discuss the last of the ten commandments - coveting. When does desiring become wanting? How do you wrestle with the tension between trusting and trying in the waiting? What does it look like to desire God the most?

Today on A Little Better, Brad is joined by Bill Sones, a long-time member of Northridge and mentor to many, and Jason DeGraff, Webster Campus Director, to discuss the heart and implications of the 9th commandment: “you shall not bear false witness”. Is lying always wrong? Does God ever allow it? How can we prepare for those times when we are tempted to bear false witness? My words have done a lot...

Today on A Little Better, host Luan Souza, our Brighton Campus Director, is joined by Nate Miller, Webster Campus Pastor, and Jason DeGraff, Webster Campus Director, to discuss the heart and implications of the 8th commandment—“you shall not steal.” What are subtle ways we often steal but don’t realize that we are stealing?  Why do you think we steal in those ways? How do we make it right wit...

Today on A Little Better, host Kristin Shughart, our Kids Ministry Executive Director, is joined by Mark and Jaime, two of our Storytellers, to discuss how to honor our fathers and mothers and how we teach kids about Jesus. What does Kids Ministry look like at Northridge? Why do we do it the way we do? What does honoring our parents look like when we become adults? How can we make it easier for ou...

Today on A Little Better, host Brit Catlin, our Communications Director, is joined by Drew and Ashley Karschner to discuss the following questions on the commandment of adultery. What strategies have you used to both protect your marriage and strengthen your relationship? How can these strategies apply to those who are dating? How does this command apply to single people?  What about the broa...

Today on A Little Better, host Brad is joined by Matt, Ministries Lead, and Bailey, NYM Director, to discuss the following questions: Am I really guilty of violating the command not to kill? Does the Bible ever say killing is OK? How should we support women who are wrestling with abortion? Why is having contempt for someone such a serious issue? Additional Resources: Wisdom Within Laws About Murde...