A short clip from the March 16, 2026 episode, Solitude: The Secret to a Healthy Spiritual Life.

God sends us into the wilderness because there is nothing there for us to exploit. There, we must learn to be satisfied with God alone.

This is part two of an ongoing series titled The Spiritual Rhythms of Jesus.

Most people avoid the wilderness because it is empty, quiet, and seemingly useless. Yet in Scripture, the wilderness appears again and again at the most decisive moments.

Before Jesus public ministry began, the Spirit of God led him to the wilderness. Why would the Spirit lead someone there?

In this episode, we explore Matthew 3:1–2 and 3:13–4:1, tracing a pattern that runs through the life of Jesus and throughout the biblical story. What happens in the wilderness? Why does it matter? And why does it keep showing up before the most important moments?

The answers may challenge the way we think about silence, solitude, and preparation.

Sometimes the most important work happens where no one else wants to go.

Scripture: Matthew 3:1-2; 3:13-4:1

Links: www. sanberto.com/links

Slides: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/at3g02n0972mvfqsr2fyg/Solitude.pdf?rlkey=kdd5jibjtcz9liajm02t51msw&st=ie0uhzze&dl=0

Accompanying Essay: Not published yet

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This is part one of an ongoing series titled The Spiritual Rhythms of Jesus.

This episode studies Jesus' pattern in the Gospels of escaping to be with God. This episode seeks to answer the question: why do I feel unsatisfied, and what do I do about it?

Scripture: Mark 1:35

Links: www. sanberto.com/links

Slides: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/2cvhc2fyzqdmkprqf0ptx/Coming-to-God.pdf?rlkey=rdn90ukyuw5cn0ml4jh0375uc&st=8zcsxb6f&dl=0

Accompanying Essay: Not published yet

Donate: www.buymeacoffee.com/sanberto

What's in a name? And what does it cost to leave behind everything you know for something better? In this teaching, we meet a man whose name told the world God had abandoned him. When Jesus passes by, the beggar faces a question that sounds simple but cuts to the heart of faith itself: "What do you want me to do for you?"

Passages explored: Luke 18:35–43, Mark 10:46-52

Links: www. sanberto.com/links

Slides: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/165gm3xh0si07l6inaj2l/Son-of_.pdf?rlkey=b7lvxic1j10e8pv84qj2cd6ql&st=96wsb1zf&dl=0

Accompanying Essay: https://www.sanberto.com/single-post/son-of

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Ancient maps warned travelers at the edges of the known world with a simple phrase: here be dragons. It was a way of naming fear, uncertainty, and everything no one could control. This New Year’s message invites you to stand at the edge of your own map and consider what lies beyond what feels safe.

Drawing from Acts 20–28, this episode traces the final movements of Paul’s life and the unfinished ending of the book of Acts. The story closes with a single word that reframes danger, obedience, and the unknown.

As a new year begins, this sermon asks a quiet but unsettling question. What territory have you avoided naming as too risky to enter? And what might faith look like when the future remains uncharted?

Scripture focus: Acts 20:22–23; Acts 21:11–13; Acts 28:30–31; Hebrews 11:8

Links: www. sanberto.com/links

Slides: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/yhby0luwb20k1adc7bpvb/Here-be-Dragons.pdf?rlkey=frhgctgyb7dfnfg885wkdtp6q&st=fb36swsu&dl=0

Accompanying Essay: https://www.sanberto.com/single-post/here-be-dragons

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In this teaching, Pastor Alex explores the role of memory in the life of faith. Scripture repeatedly calls God’s people to remember—but just as often, it invites us to forget, to release, and to let go. Why does God care so much about what we hold onto in our minds and hearts? And how does memory shape the way we see the present moment?

This episode reflects on how memory can either ground us in truth or trap us in the past, and how God reshapes our remembering so we can discern what he is doing right now. Rather than living stuck in nostalgia, regret, or fear, this teaching invites listeners to develop a faithful memory—one that clears our vision and opens us to God’s present work.

Links: www. sanberto.com/links

Donate: www.buymeacoffee.com/sanberto

Slides: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/i2799cyes7vsr4lt7rmdq/New-Things.pdf?rlkey=r6ldj362epm0p4uhda1j76o6p&st=ydn0n7cy&dl=0

Waiting is easy when it’s inconvenient. It’s much harder when it hurts.

In this Advent reflection, Alex sits with one of Scripture’s most uncomfortable questions: How long? Drawing from the opening lament over Jerusalem, this episode explores the kind of waiting that doesn’t come with quick resolutions. The kind marked by silence, loss, and longing.

Rather than rushing to hope, this conversation lingers in the ache, examining why Scripture makes space for mourning, why Advent begins in the dark, and what it means to wait with courage in a culture that avoids both grief and stillness.

Scripture: Lamentations 1:1

Links: ⁠www. sanberto.com/links⁠

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In this conversation, Alex Portillo discusses the relationship between Christianity and religion, emphasizing the importance of recognizing Christianity as a religion rather than merely a relationship with God. He critiques the common phrase that Christianity is not a religion, arguing that it undermines the complexity of faith and the role of religion in shaping beliefs and practices. Portillo encourages Christians to engage with secular criticisms thoughtfully and to embrace their religious identity without shame.Here are some resources that can help you in creating a devotional practice: Logos Bible Software- www.logos.com/sanbertoInstagram - www.instagram.com/sanbertoalejandro Donate- www.buymeacoffee.com/sanbertohttps://www.amazon.com/shop/sanbertoalejandroDonate- https://www.buymeacoffee.com/alexportilloCHAPTERS0:00 Introduction and Context1:45 Financial Audit with Kaleb Hammer Video 2:20 Hot Take: Christianity is a religion 4:04 What is Religion? 4:27 Why do Christians say Christianity is not a religion? 6:25 Why does this Matter? 7:40 A way forward -#Bible #Biblescholar #christianity #Jesuschrist