Messages

Jesus' vision for reciprocity, instead of just charity, is compelling. But what does it take to not just be a part of a community that lives that out, but to actually experience that for yourself? What kind of special skills does it require to participate in a "missional"-style adventure of a life? And what do you have to do in order to engage in it for yourself?

Around Southridge, we believe that Jesus invites us to be his friends, and even family, by choosing to daily live as a community with the same mission: transformative friendships with the most vulnerable people around us. So how can we be a community that lives this adventurous lifestyle Jesus envisioned, and how can our friendships make a difference in the systems around us, in others, and in our...

It's been said that nothing does so much harm as good intentions. Through the centuries the Church has embodied this by often causing harm, even when out of an intent to help. But what is Jesus’ vision for believers and churches moving from harmful good intentions to becoming the transformative force for actual good in the world? 

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 arr...

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 everyon...

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...

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"...

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...

"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" o...

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 an...

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-int...

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 participat...

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...

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...

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...

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 ign...

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...

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 l...

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...

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 l...

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 in...

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...

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...

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...

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 dec...