better than we thought

How the Gospel Heals You - Hannah's Story - Episode 47

Sun, 06 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0600

Join Hannah as she opens up about her story, and shares how the Gospel doesn't just save you, it heals you.

Does Grace Make You Lazy? - Episode 46

Sun, 30 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0600

So you come to believe the Gospel---the only message that says performance, striving, trying has nothing to with your salvation or standing before God. He totally loves you and accepts you as you are, and just asks you to put your faith in Him! But then what? What about learning, progress, getting better, growing? What happens next? Join Ian on a car ride as he explore this and more!

God's Not Disappointed In You - Episode 45

Sun, 23 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0600

Is God disappointed in you? How would you answer this question? Join Ian and Hannah as they dive into what they're learning about who God is in their own lives!

Carolyn's Cancer Journey - Episode 44

Sun, 16 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0600

For the last year, Carolyn has been fighting cancer. Join us as we talk about her story, how God has gotten her through it, and how the Gospel has made the difference—all over dinner!

Biblical Headship, Roles in Marriage? - S2 E3

Sun, 09 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0700

Is "headship theology" biblical? What about roles in marriage? Join Ian and Hannah as they discuss how the Gospel impacts marriage and frees us from both the lies of culture, and bad theology.

From False Religion to Freedom in Jesus - Lexie's Story - S2 E2

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 01:00:00 -0700

In this episode Lexie shares her journey of overcoming anxiety and unhealthy religion. She discusses the way the gospel transformed her life as she came to understand what the Bible really teaches and left the Adventist church. She shares how she went from dealing with anxiety to being full of a deep peace, joy, and fire for God. The power of understanding freedom from offense has changed her relationships, particularly with her boyfriend. This episode explores her story of how the Gospel changed her life, led her out of Adventism, freed her from anxiety, and strengthened her faith and relationships.

Forget the Filter - S2 E1

Sun, 23 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0700

To kick off season 2, we reflect on season 1 and discuss what it means to remove filters and just let yourself be seen.

0:00 Intro
4:30 Reflecting on Season 1

UPDATE: Season 1 Finale!

Sun, 09 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0700

After 40 episodes, season 1 is coming to a close!

Becoming a Dad, Biblical Masculinity (feat. Timothy Oliver) - Episode 40

Sun, 02 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0700

When you become a Dad, there's a lot of things people don't tell you. Join Ian and Timothy as they dive into what they're learning about fatherhood and the Gospel.

0:00 Intro
5:45 Tim's story
22:00 Real worship
27:40 Becoming a Dad; things they don't tell you.
32:00 Biblical masculinity
44:20 1. Your desires will change
50:00 2. Healthy self-care
1:03:20 You are the perfect Dad for your kids.
1:05:00 Grace and fatherhood
1:09:00 3. You're going to grow . . . ALOT
1:13:00 4. You can't do it alone.
1:17:00 5. The joy of fatherhood!

Giving Jesus Everything - Sermon by Ian Reyes - Episode 39

Sun, 26 Jan 2025 06:00:00 -0700

In this sermon, Ian invites us to give Jesus everything—not just our money, but our time, relationships, and the rest of our lives.

Message originally delivered in November, 2023, in Denver, CO.

Breaking Generational Patterns - Episode 38

Sun, 19 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0700

Are you "sick and tired of being sick and tired?" Join Hannah and Ian as they explore what it looks like to break generational patterns.

0:00 Intro
4:55 How do you break generational curses?
5:30 Why are you cutting the meatloaf?
6:30 Not parent bashing . . .
10:00 Choosing something different
12:15 Default vs Intention
13:30 Where does change start?
16:30 Starting when you're single
18:00 Self-awareness
19:00 The Enneagram
20:20 There's not a shallow person in this world
26:20 Patterns in marriage
18:10 Preparation as a key
33:30 Community
35:00 Making choices with Spirit
39:00 Being curious about your feelings
41:35 Just because you start somewhere, doesn't mean you have to stay there.

3 New Mindsets for a New Year - Episode 37

Sun, 12 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0700

In this episode, Ian invites us to embrace three new mindsets in 2025!

0:00 Intro
0:30 Autopilot
5:10 "I'm not enough"
8:00 Christ is in me, I am enough.
11:45 Believe what God says about you.
13:45 "I'll never get there." or "I'm going to get there TODAY!"
15:40 Today, I will take a step.
21:20 "Resilience means ignoring your feelings"
22:50 Acknowledging your feelings is a part of resilience.
26:40 BONUS

Q&A with Ian & Hannah - Episode 36

Sun, 05 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0700

Join Ian & Hannah as they dive into your questions!

0:00 Intro
2:20 Q1 - End times, Deconstruction, & Revelation?
15:00 Great Controversy & Investigative Judgment?
37:40 Seventh-day Sabbath?
49:00 SDA is a cult?

REFOCUS - Christmas Homily by Ian Reyes - Episode 35

Sun, 29 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0700

Join Ian as he invites us to refocus on what matters most in this Christmas season.

Revelation is Actually Awesome! (feat. Paul Rayne) - Episode 34

Sun, 22 Dec 2024 02:00:00 -0700

Join Ian and Paul as they re-examine what the book of Revelation is actually about!

0:00 Intro
3:30 Fit for the Fight - YouVersion plan
8:00 How I used to see Revelation . . .
10:00 Revelation according to SDA's
12:20 The Revelation of the Pope?
16:30 Worship
23:30 Why theological controversy happens . . .
27:20 "Dogmatic-ness"
30:00 Reading the Sabbath into the book . . .
32:00 Contextual reading
39:00 My testimony
43:00 Living for heaven now
47:30 Living in assurance
50:30 Revelation is better than we thought
56:00 MVMNT Conference
59:00 Revelation is relevant

Gritty Faith - Episode 33

Sun, 15 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0700

Join us as we dive into what faith looks like in our real, everyday lives!

0:00 Intro
2:50 "Faith isn't pretty, it's gritty."
4:10 Hannah's take
10:40 Working through feelings
17:00 Living by faith
18:38 Ian's take
24:00 Fighting the good fight of faith
28:00 Is your faith based on your circumstances?
35:00 Living in hope
39:00 Resilience

Saying Yes to Jesus in Your Twenties (feat. Christian Burres) - Episode 32

Sun, 08 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0700

Join Ian and Christian as they get into what it looks like to follow Jesus in your twenties.

0:00 Intro
6:30 Christian's why
10:50 Roles in ministry
14:00 Saying yes to Jesus in your 20's
16:00 Christian's testimony
24:00 Getting into the mess
31:00 Identity
39:00 Impact
42:00 What it really means to die to yourself
45:00 Humility
48:30 Getting practical
50:40 The role of Holy Spirit
55:30 Letting go of judgment
1:00:00 Saying yes to Jesus
1:02:50 Final words

A BTWT Thanksgiving (feat. Paul & Carolyn Rayne) - Episode 31

Sun, 01 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0700

Join us and our family in thanking God for all He did in 2024!

Perspective in God's Presence - Sermon by Ian S. Reyes (07/23) - Episode 30

Sun, 24 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0700

Need some perspective? God has it for you. Join Ian as he breaks down how the perspective we need for any situation in life is found in God's presence!

Sermon originally shared July, 2023 in Denver, Colorado.

0:30 Psalm73
1:00 Perspective is found in the presence of God
3:15 Don't feel it?
5:25 About Asaph
6:30 Psalm 73
11:30 What do we do when we don't feel it?
15:00 God's presence
16:30 God's judgment
18:00 Knowing yourself
21:00 Who God is . . .
24:30 God wants to lead you to glory
26:00 God got you through!
27:30 Nothing can separate you from the love of God
29:00 My testimony
32:40 The secret place
35:00 God has your answer!
36:45 Will you go into the secret place?

Why What You Believe About EGW Matters - Episode 29

Sun, 17 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0700

Join Hannah and Ian as they reveal the deception in Ellen G. White's writings and explain how theology affects our everyday lives.

0:00 Intro
1:30 Why we're doing this episode
3:00 Theology matters
6:20 Double speak of Adventism
7:35 Who this episode is for
9:40 For the Christians listening
10:20 Does this really matter?
13:35 Spirit of God or the devil?
14:30 "Not one heretical sentence"
19:20 "[God] will not love you if you do wrong."
27:20 Investigative Judgment summary
32:00 You're on your own
35:30 SDA is a cult
38:15 Why EGW is dangerous
39:15 For the neo-Adventists
44:29 Working with anxiety
48:05 Lost the Savior?
52:20 Pharisees
55:00 Butter equals God won't hear your prayers?
59:50 Steps to Christ?
1:02:00 Final words

False Gospels vs. THE Gospel (reflections from last week!) - Episode 28

Sun, 10 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0700

Join Ian as he continues the conversation about why the SDA church is not a Christian denomination, and why it is so important to understand the true message of the Gospel.

0:00 Intro
2:04 Thank you for watching last week
2:40 We love y'all
3:30 There are several Christians in the SDA church
4:55 SDA beliefs are not Christian
6:45 The double-talk of the SDA church
7:30 Why we're saying this . . .
9:15 I wish someone had told me
9:30 Why Christian freedom is awesome
11:00 Freedom from EGW
11:30 Freedom from double minded living
12:25 Exiting the SDA bubble
13:40 Jesus plus nothing
14:40 Clear conscience
15:00 Pay attention if you were offended
16:00 Jesus is better
17:00 Being a Christian is way better than being a SDA
17:45 Why we said things so clearly
18:30 Why the SDA church is guilty of judiazing (Galatians)
20:30 Any other gospel is under a double curse
22:20 Mixing law and grace
24:40 All who rely on the law are cursed
27:50 What will you choose to believe?
29:35 Adventism is sharing a cursed gospel
30:20 Get out!

Why the SDA Church is NOT a Christian Denomination (feat. Chris Mindanao) - Episode 27

Sun, 03 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0600

Chris Mindanao returns to the podcast as we discuss why the Seventh-day Adventist church is not a Christian denomination, and how the authority of Ellen G. White influences SDA beliefs.

Live Like You're God's Kid (because you are) - Episode 26

Sun, 27 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0600

Join Ian and Hannah as they explore God's heart as a parent, and what it means to embrace your identity as His child.

You're Righteous Right Now (Sermon by Ian S. Reyes) - Episode 25

Sun, 20 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0600

Are you righteous? Are you right with God, right now? How would you answer these questions? Join Ian as he dives into these questions in a sermon preached in February, 2024.

Freed from Checkbox Christianity (feat. Elizabeth Gonzalez) - Episode 24

Sun, 13 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0600

Elizabeth grew up as the good Christian girl---always following the rules, striving to be good enough for God. Everything looked fine on the outside. The problem? She was miserable---seeing Christianity as a list of to-do's was not delivering what it promised to. Eventually she gave up . . . she surrendered to God and His grace . . . and she found "life and life abundant!" Join us as we talk about her story and more on the Better Than We Thought podcast!

God's Presence: Way More Than a Quiet Time (feat. Markus Adrian) - Episode 23

Sun, 06 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0600

What does it mean to be in God's presence? Is it something you go in and out of? Is it about worship music? What about devotionals---do quiet times make you closer to God? Join Markus and Ian as they do an honest exploration of what it means to live in God's presence.

It's Impossible to "Out-Sin" God's Grace (Sermon) - Episode 22

Sun, 29 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0600

Sermon by Ian S. Reyes, preached in February, 2024.
Is it possible to sin yourself out of God's grace? Is it possible to mess up so many times, or in such a terrible way that God would give up on you? If you've wrestled with these questions, if you've struggled with shame, if you're living with a constant sense of religious guilt, you're not alone . . . and this episode is for you! There's good news for all of us---God's grace really is enough.

Ember's Birth Story - Episode 21

Sun, 22 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0600

Join us as we talk about how our daughter Ember came into the world, and discuss what God taught us through it!

Don't Believe End Time Lies (feat. Pr. Chris Mindanao) - Episode 20

Sun, 15 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0600

Join Chris and me as we discuss how the clear message of the Gospel dismantles the errors of Adventist theology, and how the Gospel leads us to live a life of joy and confidence in Jesus.

Worship and the Gospel - Episode 19

Sun, 08 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0600

How does understanding the Gospel affect the way we worship God? Is there a right style or way to worship? What even is worship? Join Ian and Paul as they explore this and more on this episode of Better Than We Thought.

Is God Testing You? (feat. Edgar Delgado) - Episode 18

Sun, 01 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0600

Is God testing you? Does God test people? What does testing say about God's character? What do you do if you're in a test right now? Join me and Edgar as we discuss this and more on the Better Than We Thought podcast!

Enjoying God's Grace - Episode 17

Sun, 25 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0600

Jesus said He came to give us abundant life. If that's true, then why is it that Christians can be some of the most crotchety people out there? Join us as we discover how good life can be when we let go of religious expectations and live in God's grace.

Freedom from Addiction - Episode 16

Sun, 18 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0600

Are you stuck in addiction? Is a pornography habit killing your confidence? Do you want to live in freedom? Join us as we talk about how the Gospel releases us from addiction and how you can walk in freedom in your everyday life.

You, Marriage, and the Gospel - Episode 15

Sun, 11 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0600

In this episode we dive into what we've learned about ourselves, relationships, and the Gospel through our first year of marriage. Join us as we discover how the Gospel informs, shapes, and leads to a life to a life that is "better than we thought!"

Faith in the Middle - Episode 14

Sun, 04 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0600

Do you feel like you're waiting on God? Have you been holding on to hope even though it's hard to see how things are going to work out? Are you in the "middle" of it? Then this episode is for you. Join us as we talk about what it looks like to live by faith when your feelings aren't lining up, and how to live in peace even when you're experiencing anxiety.

The Simplicity of the Gospel feat. Gabe Kiakojori - Episode 13

Sun, 28 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0600

If you think the Gospel is complicated . . . you may not know the Gospel. Join us as we explore Gabe's story of faith and discover how the Gospel is so much simpler, and better, than we thought!

Don't Waste Your Singleness - Episode 12

Sun, 21 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0600

Are you single? Waiting for "the one"? Singleness is generally frowned upon in our culture. It's seen as an awkward time most people are dying to get out of. But the Gospel gives us a very different perspective on singleness. Rather than a time of wasted waiting, singleness can be a time of development, deepening, and even joy! Join us as we talk about this and more on episode 12 of Better Than We Thought!

Legalism Isn't the Gospel feat. Paul Rayne - Episode 11

Sun, 14 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0600

Paul Rayne realized something . . . he was a legalist—trusting in his own effort rather than Jesus. The problem was that during his twenty+ years of being a Christian, he didn't even know it! Join us as we dive into Paul's journey of faith and discover that any mixing of law and grace is legalism, and how the Gospel leads us into a Christian life that is so much better than we thought possible!

Mental Health - An Honest Conversation - Episode 10

Sun, 07 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0600

What does the Gospel have to do with mental health? How does understanding who we are in Jesus change our daily experience? Is medicine and therapy in opposition to the Gospel? Join us as we discuss this and more!

Why You're Not a Sinner - Episode 9

Sun, 30 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0600

In this episode we dive into one of the Bible's most controversial chapters--Romans 7. Are Christians "sinners?" Are Christians sometimes in the "flesh" and sometimes in the "Spirit?" Is "doing what we don't want to do" the Christian life? Join us as we explore these questions and more, and discover that the message of Romans 7 is actually so much better than we thought!

How to Stop Living Offended - Episode 8

Sun, 23 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0600

People say and/or do hurtful things. Attack, injury, offense happens. But does that mean that we have to be offended? Just because we feel hurt, does that mean we have to live hurt? Join us as we explore how the Gospel sets us free from living offended, and leads us into a life of real peace.

Grace is What Grows You - Episode 7

Sun, 16 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0600

Does hard work help you grow in your relationship with God? What about devotionals? Or prayer? Or fasting? Have you ever done all of these things and still felt like you weren't closer to God?
Join us in this episode as we discuss how growth in Christ is actually supposed to happen, and discover how grace is not just what saves you, it's what grows you too!

Sex, Purity Culture, and the Gospel - Episode 6

Sun, 09 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0600

Culture portrays sex as mere transaction. Religion often paints sex as evil. But what does the Gospel have to say about sexuality? If you're tired of typical conversations about purity, if you have some regrets from your past, if you're wondering if their's a better way, this episode is for you!

The Holy Spirit Told Me to Marry You? - Episode 5

Sun, 02 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0600

If you're looking for our relationship story, this one's for you!
In this episode we talk about how the Gospel has changed our lives, affected our relationship, and how the Holy Spirit can guide and lead all of our relationships.

Life in the Spirit - Episode 4

Sun, 26 May 2024 00:00:00 -0600

What does it mean to "walk in the Holy Spirit?" How do you have a relationship with the Holy Spirit? How can you learn to "hear God's voice?" The Bible is clear, the Christian life is supposed to be lived in, through, and with the Holy Spirit. But what does that mean? In this episode we get practical, talking about what life with the Holy Spirit looks like for us, and what it could be for you!

The Law Won't Save You - Episode 3

Sun, 19 May 2024 00:00:00 -0600

Do Christians need the Law? Is the Christian life just about doing your best to keep the Ten Commandments? Join us as we start our new series, What We Left and What We Found, and discover how trusting in Jesus leads you to a beautiful life of love and righteousness that the Law could never give.

Is Adventism Attacking God's Church? - Bonus Episode

Wed, 15 May 2024 09:00:00 -0600

Have you been taught that the Sabbath will save you in the End Times?
Have you believed that Protestants are the evil "Babylon" referenced in the Bible?
Have you called non-Adventists "Sunday Christians?"
If any of this applies to you, join me as I talk about how I've repented from these mindsets and how we can trust Jesus completely---not a day (Sabbath), or a "prophet" (Ellen G. White)---for our salvation.

Figuring Out Feelings - Episode 2

Sun, 12 May 2024 00:00:00 -0600

Stuck in your feels? This one's for you. In this episode we talk about how we can better handle feelings in light of the Gospel, and give some practical tips that help us live out "feelings aren't Lord, Jesus is."

Why We Left Adventism - Episode 1

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 10:00:00 -0600

In this episode we share about how we lost our job, how we got to Montana, and why life is still so much better than we thought, all because of the Gospel!