What do the Beatitudes teach us about living a truly blessed life? Brady and Pastor Josh take a deeper look at Jesus’ words in Matthew 5 and the opening of the Sermon on the Mount. They unpack the meaning behind the Beatitudes, the difference between the world’s idea of blessing and Jesus’ way, and why living these kingdom principles requires more than our own effort.

What does it really mean to be blessed? As we begin our new series, Sermon on the Mount, Pastor Josh takes us to Matthew 5:1–12 and the Beatitudes. While the world often points us toward possessions, popularity, and success, Jesus paints a very different picture of the blessed life. As we walk through each of the Beatitudes, we’ll see that the truly blessed life is found in Jesus and His way, not the world’s way.

What’s the difference between biblical self-control and simply having more willpower? In this episode of Side Notes, Adam and Pastor Josh continue the conversation from the final week of Nine, looking at how the Holy Spirit forms self-control in us. Plus, meet The Ridge’s new Next Steps Director, Brady McDonald, as Adam passes the Side Notes mic, and we get ready to begin a new series on the Sermon on the Mount.

Self-control can feel like a matter of willpower—trying harder, doing better, or simply saying no. But biblical self-control isn’t something we have to produce on our own. As we wrap up our Nine series, Pastor Josh looks at the life of Joseph and how the Holy Spirit develops restraint in our thoughts, desires, words, and actions. We’ll see how staying connected to God, setting wise boundaries, and leaning on others can help us grow in self-control.

How we respond in difficult moments can say a lot about what’s happening in us. This week in Side Notes, Adam and Pastor Josh talk about the difference between our natural reactions and the gentleness the Holy Spirit produces in us. From responding to conflict to recognizing our own patterns of harshness, they explore how staying close to God can shape the way we speak, react, and treat the people around us.

When tension rises, it’s easy to answer harshness with more harshness. But Jesus calls us to a different way. Continuing our Nine series, Pastor Josh explains why gentleness isn’t passive or weak, but strength under God’s control—and how the Holy Spirit can help us respond with humility and care, even in difficult moments.

Biblical faithfulness is more than trying harder—it grows as we trust our faithful God and allow Him to work in us. In this episode of Side Notes, Adam and Pastor Josh continue their conversation on the Fruit of the Spirit, exploring the connection between faith, trust, and faithfulness. They look at Timothy’s example of lifelong faithfulness, how it shapes our relationship with God and others, and what it means to faithfully use the time, talents, and resources He has given us.

Faithfulness matters in our relationships with God and with others, but it isn’t something we can produce on our own. This week in Nine, Pastor Josh looks at the faithfulness of God and the example of Timothy to explore what it means to be trustworthy, dependable, and faithful over time. As we place our faith in Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to work in us, He forms a faithfulness that shapes how we follow God, trust His Word, and love and serve the people around us.

What does it really mean to be good? In this episode of Side Notes, Adam sits down with Pastor Tim to take a deeper look at goodness as a fruit of the Spirit. They unpack the story of Ruth and Boaz and how Boaz demonstrated goodness through the way he treated others, cared for those in need, and lived with integrity. They also explore some of the cultural context behind Ruth’s story and why understanding the details of Scripture matters.

Continuing Nine, Pastor Tim explores what it really means to live with goodness as a fruit of the Spirit. Through the story of Boaz and Ruth, we see that goodness goes beyond simply being nice—it’s choosing what is right and seeking the good of others, even when it isn’t required. Tim shares how the Holy Spirit produces this kind of goodness in us and how it can shape the way we work, lead, care for others, and respond to those in need. What would it look like for goodness to become more visible in your everyday life?