A Little Better

Northridge Church
  • 5.0 (12)
  • CHRISTIANITY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

We want to see more and better followers of Jesus in Rochester, NY, and around the world. So listen along as some of our team take a little deeper dive to help us know Jesus better to do better and ultimately be a little better. Have any thoughts, comments… or criticisms? Email us at podcast@northridgerochester.com

  1. 16H AGO

    212 | In The Face Of Fear | Good and Bad Responses to Fear

    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 address what is holding us back in our spiritual maturity. Sunday’s Message: https://youtu.be/VRLzodE00Ic Resources: Addicted to Drama: Healing Dependency on Crisis and Chaos in Yourself and Others by Dr Scott Lyons https://a.co/d/3QTXoTq

    48 min

  2. 12/16/2025

    211 | In The Making | Practicing Maturity

    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 something that will move you forward. Resources: Insane for the Light by Roland Rolheiser The Critical Journey by Janet Hagberg and Robert A. Guelich Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer The Promise of Paradox by Parker J. Palmer Loneliness study in seniors Willow Creek Reveal Study Federal Reserve Wealth by Age

    1h 9m

  3. 12/09/2025

    210 | In The Making | Presence

    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 Lawrence https://a.co/d/afUkvW5 Faithful Presence: Seven Disciplines That Shape the Church for Mission by David E. Fitch https://a.co/d/ho0dvjj Move: What 1,000 Churches Reveal About Spiritual Growth by Greg L. Hawkins and Cally Parkinson https://a.co/d/5X1KoYb Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence by Sarah Young https://a.co/d/gWvAhUu Strange Situation Study https://www.simplypsychology.org/mary-ainsworth.html The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer https://a.co/d/20A0vtd Practicing the Way: Be With Jesus. Become Like Him. Do As He Did by John Mark Comer https://a.co/d/03T1LWf Journal of Happiness Studies, Vol. 21, No. 3, 2020 Science Advances, Vol. 5, No. 7, 2019

    1h 8m

  4. 12/02/2025

    209 | In The Making | Purpose

    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? Resources: Garden City: Work, Rest, and the Art of Being Human. https://a.co/d/24p1Yml Find Your Leadership Voice In 90 Days: How to show up, speak up, and stand out with confidence by Kadi Cole https://a.co/d/bLMDqmo The Boy Crisis: Why Our Boys Are Struggling and What We Can Do About It by Warren Farrell https://a.co/d/90Rx6vS Purpose, Calling, Assignment - Terrella Omaña https://a.co/d/dU6HjFZ NT Wright on Theology in The Raw Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theology-in-the-raw/id1018952191?i=1000736559223 Dan Fagin on Monarch Butterflies https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/science/monarch-butterfly-migration-tracking-sensor.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

    1h 3m

  5. 11/25/2025

    208 | In The Making | Pain and Maturity With A Christian Psychologist

    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 react to pain differently, stemming back to our childhood experiences. They discuss how we can heal and redeem those painful experiences so we don’t allow them to stunt our maturation. Resources: Be Mature by Warren Wierrsbe https://a.co/d/19UUid5 Embodied Hope: A Theological Meditation on Pain and Suffering https://a.co/d/6KFicow Good Boundaries and Goodbyes: Loving Others Without Losing the Best of Who You Are by Lysa TerKeurst https://a.co/d/0rKKBzI Relational Spirituality: A Psychological-Theological Paradigm for Transformation by Todd Hall https://a.co/d/hxVPg79 Maturity: Growing Up and Going on in the Christian Life by Sinclair Ferguson https://a.co/d/dF5Fybq

    1h 15m
  6. 207 | In The Making | Give and Receive

    11/18/2025

    207 | In The Making | Give and Receive

    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 mystery and beauty of mutual, give-and-take relationships. Listen in as we unpack what it means to both give and receive in community. Resources: The Expectation Gap: The Tiny, Vast Space between Our Beliefs and Experience of God by Steve Cuss https://a.co/d/7JRj1zk NYT Article Lord Acton’s Famous Remark by Sydney E Ahistrom (1974) https://www.nytimes.com/1974/03/13/archives/lord-actons-famous-remark.html?smid=url-share Boundaries for Your Soul: How to Turn Your Overwhelming Thoughts and Feelings into Your Greatest Allies by Alison Cook and Kimberly Miller https://a.co/d/bTi1oWu Becoming Whole: Why the Opposite of Poverty Isn't the American Dream by Brian Fikkert and Kelly M Kapic https://a.co/d/0nig2fX You're Only Human: How Your Limits Reflect God's Design and Why That's Good News by Kelly Kapic https://a.co/d/6LsUDWH

    1h 21m

  7. 11/11/2025

    206 | In The Making | The Journey of Spiritual Maturity

    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 how the church treated them. Some are comfortable being ok with being ok. Others think they are more mature than they actually are because they have been a Christian for a long time, give a lot of time or money, or just know more.  It’s time to take an honest look at whether we are growing up or not.  Mentioned resources: The Critical Journey: Stages in the Life of Faith by Janet O. Hagberg, Robert A. Guelich https://a.co/d/hdW7Vh1  The Holy Longing: The Search for a Christian Spirituality by Ronald Rolheiser https://a.co/d/572x0Of  Practicing the Way: Be with Jesus. Become like him. Do as he did. By John Mark Comer https://a.co/d/e7bj4iN  Be Mature: Growing Up In Christ by Warren W. Wiersbe https://a.co/d/hoh2BiP  Invitation to a Journey: A Road Map for Spiritual Formation by M. Robert Mulholland https://a.co/d/aToKRR2  A Long Obedience in the Same Direction: Discipleship in an Instant Society by Eugene Peterson https://a.co/d/3UzCMCl

    1h 16m

  8. 11/04/2025

    205 | Nineveh | Do You Do Well To Be Angry?

    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 justice and mercy at the same time. Mentioned resources: The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom https://a.co/d/dOuVn4R The Gospel Comes with a House Key: Practicing Radically Ordinary Hospitality in Our Post-Christian World by Rosaria Butterfield https://a.co/d/c2Thlcp Undeceptions Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/undeceptions-with-john-dickson/id1478239058?i=1000731480378 Sunday’s Message: https://youtu.be/YfLvN-aJF8o

    1h 2m
See All (218)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

We want to see more and better followers of Jesus in Rochester, NY, and around the world. So listen along as some of our team take a little deeper dive to help us know Jesus better to do better and ultimately be a little better. Have any thoughts, comments… or criticisms? Email us at podcast@northridgerochester.com

Information

  • Creator
    Northridge Church
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    218
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © northridgerochester.com
  • Show Website
    A Little Better