Building a Better Future
How do you restart after a season of loss and change, and build the foundation for a better future? In this eight-message series, Saddleback Pastors Tom Holladay, Buddy Owens, and Rick Warren look at the examples of leaders from the Bible who followed God’s calling to rebuild after a time of captivity. You’ll discover how God wants to help you restart and build a better future.
Messages include:
- The First Steps to a Restart (Tom Holladay)
- Rebuilding the City of Your Soul (Buddy Owens)
- Making a Plan to Improve Your Life (Rick Warren)
- Enlisting Support for Your Dream (Rick Warren)
- Getting People to Work Together (Rick Warren)
- How to Handle Insults and Ridicule (Rick Warren)
- When You Feel Like Giving Up (Rick Warren)
- How to Earn the Respect of Others (Rick Warren)
This resource includes:
- MP3 audio of the message for easy listening on an iPhone, Android, or any other MP3 player.
- Transcripts to read while listening to the audio and to highlight passages that stood out.
- Outlines (blank and with fill-ins) to understand the structure of the message and give to your members to take notes on.
- Message slides (.jpeg and PowerPoint) that can be used as a visual display as you preach this message.
- Talk It Over Discussion Questions to give to your small groups to discuss what they learned from your message.
NOTE: The DVD set includes only the video for each sermon, not the additional resources listed above.
Sermon Series
Purchase Individually
The First Steps to a Restart
Delivered on 04/25/2021
Part 1 of Building a Better Future
The past year has brought hardship and grief to most of us, if not everybody. How do you restart after a season of loss? In this message, Pastor Tom Holladay uses the example of Nehemiah to show the three-step journey of mourning, fasting, and praying to God for help, resulting in a renewed mind and restored soul.
This resource includes:
- MP3 audio file
- Transcript; Word document format
- Outlines: Blank and filled out; Word document format
- Message slides (.jpeg and PowerPoint)
- Talk It Over: Sermon discussion points for Small Groups; Word document format
Delivered on 04/25/2021
Part 1 of Building a Better Future
The past year has brought hardship and grief to most of us, if not everybody. How do you restart after a season of loss? In this message, Pastor Tom Holladay uses the example of Nehemiah to show the three-step journey of mourning, fasting, and praying to God for help, resulting in a renewed mind and restored soul.
This resource includes:
- MP3 audio file
- Transcript; Word document format
- Outlines: Blank and filled out; Word document format
- Message slides (.jpeg and PowerPoint)
- Talk It Over: Sermon discussion points for Small Groups; Word document format
Rebuilding the City of Your Soul
Delivered on 05/02/2021
Part 2 of Building a Better Future
The Christian life is so much more than being saved and surviving until you get to heaven. God wants to bring wholeness to your spirit, soul, and body. In this message, Pastor Buddy Owens uses the example of Nehemiah to show you God’s restorative process for rebuilding the city of your soul.
This resource includes:
- MP3 audio file
- Transcript; Word document format
- Outlines: Blank and filled out; Word document format
- Message slides (.jpeg and PowerPoint)
- Talk It Over: Sermon discussion points for Small Groups; Word document format
Delivered on 05/02/2021
Part 2 of Building a Better Future
The Christian life is so much more than being saved and surviving until you get to heaven. God wants to bring wholeness to your spirit, soul, and body. In this message, Pastor Buddy Owens uses the example of Nehemiah to show you God’s restorative process for rebuilding the city of your soul.
This resource includes:
- MP3 audio file
- Transcript; Word document format
- Outlines: Blank and filled out; Word document format
- Message slides (.jpeg and PowerPoint)
- Talk It Over: Sermon discussion points for Small Groups; Word document format
Making a Plan to Improve Your Life
Delivered on 05/15/2021
Part 3 of Building a Better Future
Whether we like making plans or not, the truth is that it’s impossible to build a better life for ourselves without a plan. We need to make plans for our lives because God makes plans. In this message, Pastor Rick Warren gives us Nehemiah’s seven-step planning model to partner with God as we make plans to improve our lives.
This resource includes:
- MP3 audio file
- Transcript; Word document format
- Outlines: Blank and filled out; Word document format
- Message slides (.jpeg and PowerPoint)
- Talk It Over: Sermon discussion points for Small Groups; Word document format
Delivered on 05/15/2021
Part 3 of Building a Better Future
Whether we like making plans or not, the truth is that it’s impossible to build a better life for ourselves without a plan. We need to make plans for our lives because God makes plans. In this message, Pastor Rick Warren gives us Nehemiah’s seven-step planning model to partner with God as we make plans to improve our lives.
This resource includes:
- MP3 audio file
- Transcript; Word document format
- Outlines: Blank and filled out; Word document format
- Message slides (.jpeg and PowerPoint)
- Talk It Over: Sermon discussion points for Small Groups; Word document format
Enlisting Support for Your Dream
Delivered on 05/22/2021
Part 4 of Building a Better Future
What dreams are you dreaming today? Maybe your dreams seem small and insignificant, or maybe they seem so out of reach that you feel discouraged. Or perhaps you are currently running after that God-given dream of yours! In this message, Pastor Rick Warren shares about how you can enlist support for your dream and withstand opposition.
This resource includes:
- MP3 audio file
- Transcript; Word document format
- Outlines: Blank and filled out; Word document format
- Message slides (.jpeg and PowerPoint)
- Talk It Over: Sermon discussion points for Small Groups; Word document format
Delivered on 05/22/2021
Part 4 of Building a Better Future
What dreams are you dreaming today? Maybe your dreams seem small and insignificant, or maybe they seem so out of reach that you feel discouraged. Or perhaps you are currently running after that God-given dream of yours! In this message, Pastor Rick Warren shares about how you can enlist support for your dream and withstand opposition.
This resource includes:
- MP3 audio file
- Transcript; Word document format
- Outlines: Blank and filled out; Word document format
- Message slides (.jpeg and PowerPoint)
- Talk It Over: Sermon discussion points for Small Groups; Word document format
Getting People to Work Together
Delivered on 05/29/2021
Part 5 of Building a Better Future
God wired us to need each other—you can’t succeed on your own! Being able to work together with others is one of the most important skills you’ll ever develop. In this message, Pastor Rick Warren walks you through a biblical, 7-step process for getting people to work together in pursuit of a God-given dream.
This resource includes:
- MP3 audio file
- Transcript; Word document format
- Outlines: Blank and filled out; Word document format
- Message slides (.jpeg and PowerPoint)
- Talk It Over: Sermon discussion points for Small Groups; Word document format
Delivered on 05/29/2021
Part 5 of Building a Better Future
God wired us to need each other—you can’t succeed on your own! Being able to work together with others is one of the most important skills you’ll ever develop. In this message, Pastor Rick Warren walks you through a biblical, 7-step process for getting people to work together in pursuit of a God-given dream.
This resource includes:
- MP3 audio file
- Transcript; Word document format
- Outlines: Blank and filled out; Word document format
- Message slides (.jpeg and PowerPoint)
- Talk It Over: Sermon discussion points for Small Groups; Word document format
How to Handle Insults and Ridicule
Delivered on 06/12/2021
Part 6 of Building a Better Future
When you build a better future, not everyone’s going to like it. In fact, one of the biggest ways God tests your character is through how you respond to critics. In this message, Pastor Rick Warren describes five ways people will try to stop you with ridicule, and gives you five biblical ways to handle opposition.
This resource includes:
- MP3 audio file
- Transcript; Word document format
- Outlines: Blank and filled out; Word document format
- Message slides (.jpeg and PowerPoint)
- Talk It Over: Sermon discussion points for Small Groups; Word document format
Delivered on 06/12/2021
Part 6 of Building a Better Future
When you build a better future, not everyone’s going to like it. In fact, one of the biggest ways God tests your character is through how you respond to critics. In this message, Pastor Rick Warren describes five ways people will try to stop you with ridicule, and gives you five biblical ways to handle opposition.
This resource includes:
- MP3 audio file
- Transcript; Word document format
- Outlines: Blank and filled out; Word document format
- Message slides (.jpeg and PowerPoint)
- Talk It Over: Sermon discussion points for Small Groups; Word document format
When You Feel Like Giving Up
Delivered on 06/19/2021
Part 7 of Building a Better Future
Are you feeling discouraged lately? Discouragement is one of the primary reasons we feel tempted to give up on our God-given dreams. In this message, Pastor Rick Warren explores four common things that discourage you, as well as God’s cures for your discouragement.
This resource includes:
- MP3 audio file
- Transcript; Word document format
- Outlines: Blank and filled out; Word document format
- Message slides (.jpeg and PowerPoint)
- Talk It Over: Sermon discussion points for Small Groups; Word document format
Delivered on 06/19/2021
Part 7 of Building a Better Future
Are you feeling discouraged lately? Discouragement is one of the primary reasons we feel tempted to give up on our God-given dreams. In this message, Pastor Rick Warren explores four common things that discourage you, as well as God’s cures for your discouragement.
This resource includes:
- MP3 audio file
- Transcript; Word document format
- Outlines: Blank and filled out; Word document format
- Message slides (.jpeg and PowerPoint)
- Talk It Over: Sermon discussion points for Small Groups; Word document format
How to Earn the Respect of Others
Delivered on 06/26/2021
Part 8 of Building a Better Future
We all desire to feel valued, appreciated, and respected. But being respected doesn't come automatically. Respect is something we earn by the way we talk and the way we act toward others. And God wants you to work on earning the respect of others because the world needs more people who have credibility and who are worthy of respect. In this message, Pastor Rick Warren looks at four common causes of conflict in your life and gives you five ways to earn the respect of others as modeled by Nehemiah.
This resource includes:
- MP3 audio file
- Transcript; Word document format
- Outlines: Blank and filled out; Word document format
- Message slides (.jpeg and PowerPoint)
- Talk It Over: Sermon discussion points for Small Groups; Word document format
Delivered on 06/26/2021
Part 8 of Building a Better Future
We all desire to feel valued, appreciated, and respected. But being respected doesn't come automatically. Respect is something we earn by the way we talk and the way we act toward others. And God wants you to work on earning the respect of others because the world needs more people who have credibility and who are worthy of respect. In this message, Pastor Rick Warren looks at four common causes of conflict in your life and gives you five ways to earn the respect of others as modeled by Nehemiah.
This resource includes:
- MP3 audio file
- Transcript; Word document format
- Outlines: Blank and filled out; Word document format
- Message slides (.jpeg and PowerPoint)
- Talk It Over: Sermon discussion points for Small Groups; Word document format
Rick Warren's Ministry Toolbox
All leaders are learners. As soon as you stop learning, you stop leading.
The Ministry Toolbox is designed to help you learn from Rick’s 40+ years in ministry. It’s a weekly shot in the arm of wisdom that will help you develop and deepen your passion for ministry and ability to serve others.