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better than we thoughtHow the Gospel Heals You - Hannah's Story - Episode 47Join Hannah as she opens up about her story, and shares how the Gospel doesn't just save you, it heals you.2025-04-0626 minbetter than we thoughtDoes Grace Make You Lazy? - Episode 46So 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!2025-03-3048 minbetter than we thoughtGod's Not Disappointed In You - Episode 45Is 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!2025-03-2348 minbetter than we thoughtCarolyn's Cancer Journey - Episode 44For 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!2025-03-1648 minbetter than we thoughtBiblical Headship, Roles in Marriage? - S2 E3Is "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.2025-03-0957 minbetter than we thoughtFrom False Religion to Freedom in Jesus - Lexie's Story - S2 E2In 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...2025-03-022h 16better than we thoughtForget the Filter - S2 E1To 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 Intro4:30 Reflecting on Season 12025-02-2342 minbetter than we thoughtUPDATE: Season 1 Finale!After 40 episodes, season 1 is coming to a close!2025-02-0902 minbetter than we thoughtBecoming a Dad, Biblical Masculinity (feat. Timothy Oliver) - Episode 40When 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 Intro5:45 Tim's story22:00 Real worship27:40 Becoming a Dad; things they don't tell you.32:00 Biblical masculinity44:20 1. Your desires will change 50:00 2. Healthy self-care1:03:20 You are the perfect Dad for your kids.1:05:00 Grace and fatherhood1:09:00 3. You're going to grow . . . ALOT1:13:00 4. You can't do it alone.1:17:00 5. The joy of fatherhood!2025-02-021h 28better than we thoughtGiving Jesus Everything - Sermon by Ian Reyes - Episode 39In 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.2025-01-2630 minbetter than we thoughtBreaking Generational Patterns - Episode 38Are 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 Intro4:55 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 Intention13:30 Where does change start?16:30 Starting when you're single18:00 Self-awareness19:00 The Enneagram20:20 There's not a shallow person in this world26:20 Patterns in marriage18:10 Preparation as a key33:30 Community 35:00 Making choices with Spirit39:00 Being curious about your fee...2025-01-1944 minbetter than we thought3 New Mindsets for a New Year - Episode 37In this episode, Ian invites us to embrace three new mindsets in 2025!0:00 Intro0:30 Autopilot5:10 "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 BONUS2025-01-1229 minbetter than we thoughtQ&A with Ian & Hannah - Episode 36Join Ian & Hannah as they dive into your questions!0:00 Intro2:20 Q1 - End times, Deconstruction, & Revelation?15:00 Great Controversy & Investigative Judgment?37:40 Seventh-day Sabbath?49:00 SDA is a cult?2025-01-051h 12better than we thoughtREFOCUS - Christmas Homily by Ian Reyes - Episode 35Join Ian as he invites us to refocus on what matters most in this Christmas season.2024-12-2912 minbetter than we thoughtRevelation is Actually Awesome! (feat. Paul Rayne) - Episode 34Join Ian and Paul as they re-examine what the book of Revelation is actually about!0:00 Intro3:30 Fit for the Fight - YouVersion plan8:00 How I used to see Revelation . . .10:00 Revelation according to SDA's12:20 The Revelation of the Pope?16:30 Worship23:30 Why theological controversy happens . . .27:20 "Dogmatic-ness"30:00 Reading the Sabbath into the book . . .32:00 Contextual reading 39:00 My testimony43:00 Living for heaven now47:30 Living in assurance50:30 Revelation is better than we thought56:00 MVMNT Conference59:00 Revelation is relevant2024-12-221h 01better than we thoughtGritty Faith - Episode 33Join us as we dive into what faith looks like in our real, everyday lives!0:00 Intro2:50 "Faith isn't pretty, it's gritty."4:10 Hannah's take10:40 Working through feelings17:00 Living by faith18:38 Ian's take24:00 Fighting the good fight of faith28:00 Is your faith based on your circumstances?35:00 Living in hope39:00 Resilience2024-12-1545 minbetter than we thoughtSaying Yes to Jesus in Your Twenties (feat. Christian Burres) - Episode 32Join Ian and Christian as they get into what it looks like to follow Jesus in your twenties.0:00 Intro6:30 Christian's why10:50 Roles in ministry14:00 Saying yes to Jesus in your 20's16:00 Christian's testimony24:00 Getting into the mess31:00 Identity39:00 Impact42:00 What it really means to die to yourself45:00 Humility48:30 Getting practical50:40 The role of Holy Spirit55:30 Letting go of judgment1:00:00 Saying yes to Jesus1:02:50 Final words2024-12-081h 05better than we thoughtA BTWT Thanksgiving (feat. Paul & Carolyn Rayne) - Episode 31Join us and our family in thanking God for all He did in 2024!2024-12-0104 minbetter than we thoughtPerspective in God's Presence - Sermon by Ian S. Reyes (07/23) - Episode 30Need 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 Psalm731:00 Perspective is found in the presence of God3:15 Don't feel it?5:25 About Asaph6:30 Psalm 7311:30 What do we do when we don't feel it?15:00 God's presence16:30 God's judgment18:00 Knowing yourself21:00 Who God is . . .24:30 God wants to lead you to glory26:00 God got you through!27:30 Nothing can separate y...2024-11-2438 minbetter than we thoughtWhy What You Believe About EGW Matters - Episode 29Join Hannah and Ian as they reveal the deception in Ellen G. White's writings and explain how theology affects our everyday lives.0:00 Intro1:30 Why we're doing this episode3:00 Theology matters6:20 Double speak of Adventism7:35 Who this episode is for9:40 For the Christians listening10:20 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 summary32:00 You're on your own35:30 SDA is a cult38:15 Why EGW is dangerous39:15 For the...2024-11-171h 05better than we thoughtFalse Gospels vs. THE Gospel (reflections from last week!) - Episode 28Join 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 Intro2:04 Thank you for watching last week2:40 We love y'all3:30 There are several Christians in the SDA church4:55 SDA beliefs are not Christian6:45 The double-talk of the SDA church7:30 Why we're saying this . . .9:15 I wish someone had told me9:30 Why Christian freedom is awesome11:00 Freedom from EGW11:30 Freedom from double minded living12:25 Exiting the SDA...2024-11-1031 minbetter than we thoughtWhy the SDA Church is NOT a Christian Denomination (feat. Chris Mindanao) - Episode 27Chris 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. 2024-11-032h 19better than we thoughtLive Like You're God's Kid (because you are) - Episode 26Join Ian and Hannah as they explore God's heart as a parent, and what it means to embrace your identity as His child.2024-10-2745 minbetter than we thoughtYou're Righteous Right Now (Sermon by Ian S. Reyes) - Episode 25Are 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, 2024.2024-10-2041 minbetter than we thoughtFreed from Checkbox Christianity (feat. Elizabeth Gonzalez) - Episode 24Elizabeth 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!2024-10-131h 02better than we thoughtGod's Presence: Way More Than a Quiet Time (feat. Markus Adrian) - Episode 23What 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.2024-10-061h 23better than we thoughtIt's Impossible to "Out-Sin" God's Grace (Sermon) - Episode 22Sermon 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.2024-09-2948 minbetter than we thoughtEmber's Birth Story - Episode 21Join us as we talk about how our daughter Ember came into the world, and discuss what God taught us through it!2024-09-221h 14better than we thoughtDon't Believe End Time Lies (feat. Pr. Chris Mindanao) - Episode 20Join 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. 2024-09-151h 40better than we thoughtWorship and the Gospel - Episode 19How 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. 2024-09-081h 14better than we thoughtIs God Testing You? (feat. Edgar Delgado) - Episode 18Is 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!2024-09-011h 12better than we thoughtEnjoying God's Grace - Episode 17Jesus 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.2024-08-251h 09better than we thoughtFreedom from Addiction - Episode 16Are 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.2024-08-181h 08better than we thoughtYou, Marriage, and the Gospel - Episode 15In 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!"2024-08-111h 08better than we thoughtFaith in the Middle - Episode 14Do 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. 2024-08-0456 minbetter than we thoughtThe Simplicity of the Gospel feat. Gabe Kiakojori - Episode 13If 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!2024-07-281h 19better than we thoughtDon't Waste Your Singleness - Episode 12Are 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!2024-07-211h 03better than we thoughtLegalism Isn't the Gospel feat. Paul Rayne - Episode 11Paul 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!2024-07-141h 10better than we thoughtMental Health - An Honest Conversation - Episode 10What 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! 2024-07-071h 05better than we thoughtWhy You're Not a Sinner - Episode 9In 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!2024-06-301h 14better than we thoughtHow to Stop Living Offended - Episode 8People 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.2024-06-2356 minbetter than we thoughtGrace is What Grows You - Episode 7Does 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!2024-06-161h 04better than we thoughtSex, Purity Culture, and the Gospel - Episode 6Culture 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!2024-06-091h 15better than we thoughtThe Holy Spirit Told Me to Marry You? - Episode 5If 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.2024-06-021h 10better than we thoughtLife in the Spirit - Episode 4What 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!2024-05-261h 06better than we thoughtThe Law Won't Save You - Episode 3Do 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.2024-05-1952 minbetter than we thoughtIs Adventism Attacking God's Church? - Bonus EpisodeHave 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.2024-05-1532 minbetter than we thoughtFiguring Out Feelings - Episode 2Stuck 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."2024-05-1254 minbetter than we thoughtWhy We Left Adventism - Episode 1In 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! 2024-04-291h 17
Inspiring Adventures with Melissa ReyesThoughts From A Few of My Friends on SMILEI asked the guests on Last Night's Show to tell me what they thought of the word of the week, SMILE. Here are their thoughts. Thanks so much to Stephanie Liu, Hannah and Charlie Lucas, Lynn Monahan, Ian Anderson Gray, and Michael C. Voice!
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/melissa-reyes/support2018-05-0906 min