Christ Focused Podcast

Month 7 - Parenthood & Friendships | Week 1: Home as the First Mission FieldLink to M7 W1 initial expositional dispatch: M7 W1 IntroductionThis week, we’ve grounded ourselves in a simple but weighty truth:Faith is not meant to live at the edges of our lives.It is meant to live at the center of our homes.Through Deuteronomy 6:6–7 and Joshua 24:15, we see that spiritual formation is not an event. It is a rhythm. It is built into the everyday life of the household.But Scripture gives us the “what.”This panel gives us the “what does it actually look like?”This conversation brings together women in the midst of real life:Raising children across different agesBalancing work, home, and faithServing in their communities and churchesNavigating the daily “beautiful mess” of family lifeAs shared in the session, these are not theoretical voices. These are women actively building homes in real time, carrying responsibility, joy, pressure, and growth all at once.The Overarching QuestionThis panel explored one core question:What does it actually mean to build a Christ-centered home in real life?Not ideally.Not perfectly.But faithfully.Questions explored:What role does a woman play in shaping the spiritual life of the home?Where do you see your greatest influence day to day?What are the unseen burdens women carry in the home?Where do women most often feel stretched or overwhelmed?How do you respond when leadership is inconsistent or absent?What has been personally challenging in building a Christ-centered home?What does building a spiritually healthy home look like in a normal week?What rhythms or habits have made the biggest difference?How do you disciple children in everyday life?How do you maintain your own relationship with God while pouring into others?Where do women need to guard their hearts spiritually?What encouragement would you give to a woman carrying a lot right now?What does faithfulness look like when it feels unseen?Core Insights from the Panel1. A Woman Shapes the Spiritual Fabric of the Home2 Timothy 1:5One of the most powerful insights was the idea that women are weavers of the home.Not controlling everything.Not doing everything.But taking what is in front of them and forming something meaningful from it.Creating spiritual atmosphereBringing life to what God is doing in othersHolding the family in a space where faith can growAs one panelist described, this is about “taking everything at your fingertips and creating something beautiful, good, and useful out of it.”Another described it as being a “bearer of life”, not just physically, but spiritually within the home.2. Influence Happens in the Everyday, Not the ExtraordinaryProverbs 14:1The greatest influence is not found in big moments, but in daily patterns:Tone of the homeEmotional steadinessHow conflict is handledHow connection is maintainedOne key theme: connectionConnection to GodConnection within the familyModeling love, accountability, and repairAnother core thread was character formation:Modeling humilityApologizing when wrongPutting others firstLiving out what is being taughtChildren don’t just listen.They watch.And over time, they mirror.3. The Weight is Real (And Often Unseen)Galatians 6:2The panel spoke honestly about the unseen burdens carried in the home:The desire to “do everything well”The pressure to raise children who thriveThe feeling of “one shot” at getting it rightThe constant mental and emotional loadOne described it as the tension of wanting:“to do well in everything… spiritually, practically, emotionally… all at once”Another captured it simply:“It feels like I get one shot.”And yet, this weight consistently pushed them back to one place:Dependence on the grace of God.4. Overwhelm is Real — But So is Access to PeaceLuke 10:41–42The tension of Martha and Mary came alive in the conversation.There are moments where:Everything feels chaoticEveryone needs somethingThe plan falls apartAnd in those moments, the shift is not always external.It is internal.One panelist described stepping away in the middle of chaos and simply praying:“God, I’ve reached the end of myself… give me wisdom.”And in that moment, everything didn’t change, but her posture did.Another described this as a life of constant surrender:Plans changeExpectations shiftControl is limitedAnd the invitation is not control.It is presence with God in the moment.5. Faithfulness Matters — Especially When Leadership is Absent1 Peter 3:1–2One of the most important insights:You cannot change your husband.But you can:Pray for himWalk faithfully yourselfModel Christ consistentlyAs shared:“Regardless of whether your husband is following the Lord… you still have a call to follow Him.”And Scripture affirms that:Influence is not always through words, but through conduct.There was also a practical encouragement:Seek communityInvite other voices into your children’s livesFind godly role models where neededBecause formation doesn’t have to happen in isolation.6. Spiritual Formation Happens in Normal LifeDeuteronomy 6:7A major theme across the panel:Don’t overcomplicate it.Spiritual formation looks like:Talking about God in the carUsing everyday moments as teaching opportunitiesAnswering children’s questions honestlyLiving out the gospel in real timeOne example:Using sunlight in the car to explain Jesus as the light of the worldTurning worship songs into conversationsAnother key pattern:“I share the gospel most days… and then I live it out by asking for forgiveness.”That’s discipleship.Not perfection.Consistency.7. Your Life is the Loudest Teaching ToolColossians 3:17Perhaps the clearest takeaway:Children will become what they see.They watch how you prayThey watch how you respondThey watch your joyThey watch your strugglesAs one panelist said:“At the end of the day… they’re just going to stand back and watch me.”So the question becomes:Not just what are you teaching…but what are you modeling?8. Your Relationship with God Must Be Real (Not Rigid)John 15:5A powerful theme was the shift from structure to relationship.Before children:Long quiet timesStructured rhythmsAfter children:Fragmented timeConstant interruptionAnd the realization:God is not limited to structure.Prayer throughout the dayScripture in small momentsOngoing conversation with HimAs one said:“We’re just going to have to talk all day long.”And another:“It’s not a checklist… it’s a relationship.”9. Guarding the Heart is CriticalProverbs 4:23One specific warning stood out: jealousy and comparisonComparing rolesComparing freedomComparing seasonsAnd the shift:Recognizing itSurrendering itRefocusing on eternal valueBecause the work being done is not small:“Caring for human souls that will last for eternity.”Practical Takeaways (From the Panel)Here are simple, actionable insights drawn directly from the conversation:Don’t try to do it all alone → give it to GodPray consistently → something happens every time you prayRead with your children daily → even 5 minutesMake eye contact → connection changes everythingIntegrate faith into normal life → don’t overcomplicate itStay faithful in your season → don’t compareModel your faith → don’t just teach itClosing ThoughtYou do not need a perfect home.You need a faithful one.Because what is being built in the quiet, unseen moments…is shaping something that will last far beyond today.I’m glad you’re here.Let’s run the race - Eyes Up, Chin Up!Grace and peace,Sam JohnstonYoutube Channel | Spotify | Instagram | Christ Focused Business Course This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christfocused.substack.com

Month 7 - Parenthood & Friendships | Week 1: Home as the First Mission FieldLink to M7 W1 initial expositional dispatch: M7 W1 IntroductionThis week, we’ve anchored ourselves in a clear biblical reality:The home is the first mission field.Through Deuteronomy 6:6–7 and Joshua 24:15, Scripture makes it unmistakable that faith is not peripheral. It is central. It is lived, formed, and passed on in the rhythms of daily life.But for men, the call carries a particular weight.Ephesians 5:25 raises the standard beyond preference or personality. It is not passive. It is not optional. It is sacrificial responsibility.This panel exists to answer one question:What does that actually look like in real life?Not in theory.Not in perfection.But in the reality of work, pressure, distraction, and family life.The men in this conversation are not removed from the world. They are in it:Raising familiesLeading in their homesWorking full-time jobsNavigating the pressures of modern lifeThis is real discipleship, in real homes.The Overarching QuestionAt the center of this panel:What does it actually mean for a man to lead his home spiritually?Questions explored:What does it actually mean to lead your home spiritually in practice?When did you personally realize that responsibility sat with you?Where do men most commonly drift or become passive in the home?What does passive leadership actually look like day to day?What has been hardest for you personally in trying to lead your home well?How do you lead when you feel spiritually dry or inconsistent yourself?What does spiritual leadership look like in a normal week for you?What rhythms have actually worked in real life?How do you bring Scripture or prayer into the home without it feeling forced?How do you lead your wife and children in distinct ways?Where do men need to step up right now?What would you say to a man who knows he’s been passive but hasn’t changed?What is at stake if men don’t take this seriously?Core Insights from the Panel1. Leadership Starts with Personal FoundationDeuteronomy 6:5–7The first and clearest insight:You cannot lead where you are not going yourself.Leadership in the home is not strategy first.It is overflow.Your relationship with ChristYour understanding of ScriptureYour daily walk with GodAs one panelist put it:“Everything you do as a parent flows out of your relationship with Christ.”Children are not shaped by what you say alone.They are shaped by what overflows from your life.2. Your Family is Your First Ministry1 Timothy 3:4–5A strong theme emerged:The primary calling of a man is not external success. It is internal leadership.Not just workNot just provisionNot just ambitionBut:HusbandFatherSpiritual leader of the homeAs one said:“Your family is your first ministry.”This reframes everything.Success is not defined first by what you build outside.But by what you build inside your home.3. Responsibility is Realized in the Small MomentsLuke 16:10There was no single dramatic moment where responsibility “arrived.”Instead, it showed up in:ConvictionReflectionBeing mirrored by childrenOne powerful insight:“When your kids reflect you back to you… that’s when it hits.”Leadership is not realized in theory.It is revealed in:ToneReactionsPatterns4. Passivity is the Greatest Threat1 Corinthians 16:13One of the clearest warnings:Men don’t usually fail through rebellion. They drift through passivity.This shows up as:DistractionLack of intentionalityAvoidance of responsibilityMental disengagementAs described:“If there’s no plan… and life just goes by… that’s a recipe for disaster.”Modern culture amplifies this:Constant distractionNoiseEaseComfortAnd without intentional resistance, drift is inevitable.5. Passive Leadership is Often SubtleJames 1:22Passivity doesn’t always look obvious.It can look like:Knowing Scripture but not applying itConsuming content but not changing behaviorWanting to lead, but avoiding actionAs highlighted:“You can be in the Word… but not applying it.”Or even more practically:“Wanting to change the world… but not doing the dishes at home.”Spiritual leadership is not abstract.It is deeply practical.6. The Hardest Part is Consistency, Not KnowledgeGalatians 6:9A repeated theme:The challenge is not knowing what to do.It is doing it consistently.Leading devotionsStaying presentBuilding rhythmsMany expressed:Feeling inadequateStruggling with consistencyFighting discouragementBut the insight was clear:“Even 4 out of 7 days matters.”Faithfulness beats perfection.7. Spiritual Leadership is Built Through Simple RhythmsDeuteronomy 6:7The most effective practices were not complex.They were simple:Dinner table conversationsDaily check-insSharing highs and lowsInviting prayer into real lifeThe dinner table stood out as a key environment:“When all else fails… we eat together.”Because it creates:ConsistencyConnectionOpportunity for spiritual conversation8. Scripture Must Become the Authority of the HomePsalm 119:105One of the most powerful shifts:Moving from “because I said so” → “because Scripture says so.”This looks like:Memorizing ScriptureApplying it in disciplineUsing it in decision-makingAs described:“Our whole home falls under the authority of Scripture.”This changes everything:Removes egoEstablishes truthCreates shared accountability9. Leadership Requires Humility, Not ControlJames 4:6Leadership is not dominance.It is:ResponsibilityRepentanceHumilityA key insight:“Repentance is the lifeblood of a healthy marriage.”Practical leadership looks like:Being first to apologizeOwning mistakesChanging behaviorChildren and wives don’t just hear leadership.They feel it.10. The Greatest Risk is Drift Toward CultureJoshua 24:15The context of Joshua’s declaration came alive:It was spoken in a moment of comfort, not crisis.And that’s the danger.EaseStabilityCultural influenceThese create drift.As highlighted:“If you don’t fill the space… the world will.”Leadership requires:IntentionalityWatchfulnessDecision11. Shame is a Silent Barrier to Change2 Corinthians 12:9A powerful and honest insight:Many men know they need to change.They just don’t.Why?ShamePressureFear of failureAs shared:“Shame is a silent killer of men.”The answer is not trying harder.It is:Humbling yourselfRunning to GodReceiving graceBecause:“His grace is what empowers change.”12. What’s at Stake is GenerationalHosea 4:6This is not just about today.It is about trajectory.Your childrenTheir childrenThe culture they inheritAs stated clearly:“This moment can be an inflection point for your family line.”If men do not lead:Others willCulture willThe world willAnd that cost is not small.Practical Takeaways (From the Panel)Simple, actionable steps from the discussion:Be present → no one can replace youServe your family intentionallyStart small → consistency matters more than perfectionEstablish rhythms → especially around mealsBring Scripture into real situationsBe the first to repentStay watchful → limit distractionSurround yourself with strong menFinal ChargeThis is not about perfection.It is about ownership.Because leadership in the home is not given.It is taken.And the decision is simple:“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”I’m glad you’re here.Let’s run the race - Eyes Up, Chin Up!Grace and peace,Sam JohnstonYoutube Channel | Spotify | Instagram | Christ Focused Business Course This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christfocused.substack.com

Month 7 - Parenthood & Friendships | Week 1: Home as the First Mission FieldWe often think of mission as something “out there.” Across the street. Across the city. Across the world.But Scripture doesn’t begin there.It begins at the home front.Not as a suggestion, or a secondary priority, but as the first place where faith is formed, tested, and lived. Before platforms, before pulpits, before any form of public witness, there is the home. There is the table, the marriage, the children, and the unseen rhythms of daily life that quietly shape what we truly believe.And if we are honest, this is where things are most easily neglected. It is possible to be outwardly engaged and inwardly passive. It’s possible to speak about faith publicly and yet fail to cultivate it privately. But Scripture neither allows nor condones that separation.The question is not simply whether we believe, but what is being built in the place closest to us.Because the home is not neutral, it is always forming something.The Biblical Design: A Faith That Lives in the HomeDeuteronomy 6:6–7“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”This is one of the clearest pictures in Scripture of how faith is meant to function in everyday life. It is not structured around events or confined to specific moments. It is woven into the fabric of daily living. Sitting, walking, resting, running & rising. The ordinary becomes the context for the eternal.What God is describing here is not intensity, but consistency. Not performance, but presence. Faith is not something that visits the home occasionally. It is something that defines the environment over time, through the proof of our convictions found within our actions.This means that discipleship is not primarily a church activity. It is a household reality. The church supports and equips, but the home forms it. It is where beliefs are reinforced, where behaviors are modeled, and where truth is either embodied or quietly contradicted.That is why Scripture speaks not only to individuals, but to households.Joshua 24:15“But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”Joshua speaks here with clarity. He doesn’t separate his personal faith from the direction of his home. He understands that leadership carries responsibility, and that a household must be oriented toward something.A home will always move in a direction. The only question is whether that direction is intentional or accidental. If you are directing it, or if the world and the enemy are.Make the decision today, plant your flag in your home, and declare it for the Kingdom.Roles, Responsibility, and the Reality of FormationEphesians 5:22–33“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.”Ephesians 6:1–4“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”Scripture here doesn’t present the home as a loose collection of individuals surrounding similar desires. It presents it as a structure with responsibility, order, and purpose. Within that structure, roles are given, but not given to restrict, but to assign weight correctly.Men are called to lead, not in dominance, but in sacrificial responsibility. To sacrifice and to lay themselves down for the family, and if necessary, to death, as Christ demonstrated. A leadership that reflects Christ isn’t passive, and it’s not self-serving. It’s intentional, steady, strong, and accountable before God for the direction of the home. The Husband takes on the responsibility and accountability for those under his protection. Women are called to build, not as a secondary role, but as a deeply formative one. Scripture consistently shows the influence of women shaping the spiritual atmosphere of the home with strength, wisdom, and endurance. Often this work is perceived to be less visible, but in reality, the outcomes of their work are visible for the entire world to see, and are foundational. These roles are not in competition. They are designed by God to function together. Equal in value, different in role, but unified and complementary. And when either side withdraws, avoids responsibility, or becomes misaligned, the effect is felt across the entire household.Beyond the daily acceptance of these roles, there is also a deeper generational reality of that felt effect. Whether for the better or worse, our actions today echo through eternity into our children and through into time. 2 Timothy 1:5“I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice…”Faith and family strength move through repetition. Through example. It is passed down not only through what is taught, but through what is consistently lived generation to generation, through time itself, honor of God’s order passing through our blood into the ever-moving current age.You don’t drift into a godly home, and your ancestors won’t know of one unless you choose to build one - today, ahead of them.And what you build is not revealed in your intentions, but in your patterns. In what is repeated. In what is prioritized. In what is modeled day after day.This is where the weight of this week’s topic lands.You can be spiritually active and still neglect your home. You can know Scripture and fail to embody it. You can lead publicly and be passive privately.But God is not forming a public image. He is forming a people.And that formation begins in the home.From Scripture to Lived RealityWe have seen what the Word of God says. But discipleship is not proven in theory. It is revealed in practice.In conversations that do not go as planned. In days that feel repetitive. In moments where faith must be lived, not just understood.So this week, we are stepping into lived experience.Below are the questions we explored with two panel groups, one panel of men and one of ladies. As you watch and listen, use these not just as prompts for them, but as mirrors for your own home. The full panel dispatches will be going out this week in two separate videos. Panel One: The Men - Leading the HomeThis conversation explores what it actually means for men to take responsibility for the spiritual direction of their home.It moves beyond theory into the realities of leadership, consistency, pressure, and accountability before God.Questions explored:What does it actually mean to lead your home spiritually in practice?When did you personally realize that responsibility sat with you?Where do men most commonly drift or become passive in the home?What does passive leadership actually look like day to day?What has been hardest for you personally in trying to lead your home well?How do you lead when you feel spiritually dry or inconsistent yourself?What does spiritual leadership look like in a normal week for you?What rhythms have actually worked in real life?How do you bring Scripture or prayer into the home without it feeling forced?How do you lead your wife and children in distinct ways?Where do men need to step up right now?What would you say to a man who knows he’s been passive but hasn’t changed?What is at stake if men don’t take this seriously?Panel Two: The Women - Building the HomeThis conversation brings forward the perspective that is often less visible, but deeply formative.It explores the shaping of the home through consistency, influence, endurance, and spiritual attentiveness.Questions explored:What role does a woman play in shaping the spiritual life of the home?Where do you see your greatest influence day to day?What are the unseen burdens women carry in the home?Where do women most often feel stretched or overwhelmed?How do you respond when leadership is inconsistent or absent?What has been personally challenging in building a Christ-centered home?What does building a spiritually healthy home look like in a normal week?What rhythms or habits have made the biggest difference?How do you disciple children in everyday life?How do you maintain your own relationship with God while pouring into others?Where do women need to guard their hearts spiritually?What encouragement would you give to a woman carrying a lot right now?What does faithfulness look like when it feels unseen?This is not secondary work.It is foundational work.Bringing It Back to YouThis is not something to simply observe, read, or listen; it’s not just information. It is something to respond to.Take a moment and consider the direction of your home. Not what you intend, but what is actually being formed.What rhythms are shaping your household right now? What is being repeated, reinforced, and modeled on a daily basis?Where have you been passive in a place where God is calling you to be intentional?And what needs to change this week, not someday, but now?Start small, but start deliberately.Establish one daily moment where faith is made visible. A short prayer, a passage of Scripture, a simple conversation. Not as a performance, but as a pattern.Because over time, it is not intensity that shapes a home.It is consistency.Closing ThoughtYou do not need a perfect home.You need a directed one.Because direction, over time, determines outcome.I’m glad you’re here.Let’s run the race - Eyes Up, Chin Up!Grace and peace,Sam JohnstonYoutube Channel | Spotify | Instagram | Christ Focused Business Course This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christfocused.substack.com

Month 6 - Evangelism | Week 4: Bold & Loving WitnessAnchor Scriptures“In your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience…” - 1 Peter 3:15–16 ESV“And also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel.”- Ephesians 6:19 ESVToday, we will be asking the question: How do we speak about Jesus boldly without becoming harsh, argumentative, or defensive?We will be looking at the early church in the book of Acts, we will see how the apostles carried both courage and compassion as they proclaimed the gospel. Because the most powerful witness is not simply loudness.It is truth spoken with love and anchored in Christ. We will be covering the following topics: Bold & loving witnessWhy this mattersThe pattern of Scripture: boldness and love togetherBoldness is not a personality traitLove is not the removal of truthWhat makes witness go cold?Removing the anger of manWhat bold and loving witness actually looks likeBold & loving witnessWe aren’t going to be declaring boldness as simply volume today. We’re not mistaking love for hesitation, or witness as confrontation.Instead, we are acknowledging the counter-cultural example of Jesus. An example that is neither cowardice nor cruelty. It’s not compromise nor aggression. It is truth, with tears in its eyes. It is love with a backbone. It is conviction clothed in gentleness. It is the kind of witness that stands clearly, speaks faithfully, and still reflects the heart of God.This not the way of the world. Ideas in the world are often pushed through aggression, deception, force, and coercion. The truth of Christ stands outside of the parameters of the worldly approaches, so we must understand how, so we can wield it.This week, we close our month on evangelism by looking at one of the most needed tensions in the Christian life: a witness that is both bold and loving.Because the unfortunate truth is that many believers lean too far one way or the other.Some are bold, but not loving. They speak true things in the wrong spirit. Their witness may be factually correct, but relationally distorted. The hearer does not encounter the fragrance of Christ. They encounter irritation, pride, or performance.Others are loving, but not bold. They are kind, warm, approachable, and sincere, but the actual name of Jesus never seems to come out. The gospel remains implied but not declared. They are pleasant to be around, but their witness never crosses the line into proclamation.Scripture doesn’t call us to choose one or the other. Scripture calls us to both.The gospel itself is both.God’s holiness is bold.God’s mercy is loving.The cross is the most confrontational and compassionate act in history.It tells us the truth about our sin, and it offers us the mercy of God at the same time.Truth and Mercy.So if we are to be gospel people, then our witness must carry both the clarity of truth and the tone of Christ.Not loud for loudness’ sake.Not soft for comfort’s sake.But faithful.Why this mattersMany disciples, maybe you reading or listening to this today, don’t struggle with whether the gospel is true. But struggle with what it will cost socially to speak it.Will people think I’m strange?Will they assume I’m judging them?Will I damage the relationship?Will I say it badly?Will I sound forced?Will I lose influence?Will I be rejected?These are real concerns. They aren’t imaginary. The fear of man is powerful, and often because approval feels like safety. But the gospel calls us forward all the same.Jesus doesn’t call us to be reckless.And He certainly doesn’t call us to be hidden.He said, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden” - Matthew 5:14 ESVNotice that carefully. He didn’t just say, “Try to shine.” He said, you are light. In other words, witness is not just a task you perform. It is the overflow of what you now are in Christ. The question is not whether a Christian has something to witness with. The question is whether we are willing to let that light be seen and whether the manner of our shining resembles Jesus. And we covered this in Month 6 Week 1 - Salt and Light if you want to go back and take a look.The pattern of Scripture: boldness and love togetherThe New Testament is full of this pairing.Paul asks for prayer that he would speak boldly as he ought to speak - Ephesians 6:19-20 ESV.Peter tells believers to be ready to give a reason for the hope within them, but to do it with gentleness and respect - 1 Peter 3:15 ESV.Paul tells the Colossians to let their speech be gracious, seasoned with salt, so they may know how to answer each person - Colossians 4:6 ESV.He tells the Ephesians that growth in Christ looks like speaking the truth in love - Ephesians 4:15 ESV.That combination matters.Truth without love often becomes a weapon. Love without truth often becomes sentimentality. But truth in love becomes a channel through which God often works deeply.The world doesn’t need Christians who are simply reactive to the motions of the world. It needs Christians who are rooted. It needs believers whose words have both substance and spirit. Believers who are not ashamed of Christ, but who also don’t forget that the people in front of them are image-bearers, not projects.Boldness is not a personality traitLet’s take off some burden and pressure here for a moment. One of the mistakes many disciples make is assuming that bold witness belongs to extroverts, preachers, and naturally strong communicators.But biblical boldness isn’t a personality type. It is a Spirit-shaped courage.In Acts 4, Peter and John speak openly about Jesus under pressure. The authorities are astonished, and the text says they perceived that these were “uneducated, common men,” yet they recognized that they had been with Jesus - Acts 4:13 ESV. That is an extraordinary verse because it reminds us that power in witness does not ultimately come from polish, credentials, or rhetorical skill. It comes from communion with Christ.Later in that same chapter, the believers pray not for safety, but for boldness:“And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness” - Acts 4:29 ESV.And what happens?The place where they are gathered is shaken, they are filled with the Holy Spirit, and they continue to speak the word of God with boldness - Acts 4:31 ESV.This is important. Boldness is not self-generated bravado. It is often the fruit of being freshly filled with the Spirit of God. Or said another way, a fresh revelation of the full measure of the spirit of God dwelling within you. That means you don’t need to become someone else in order to witness well. You just need to become more yielded. Boldness is not pretending to be naturally fearless. It is deciding that Christ is worthy of obedience even while you still feel the trembling in your chest. And I can assure you, I have felt that trembling roaring through me many times before I speak, before I get up to preach, or when I hear an opportunity to share the Gospel in a difficult environment. But walking through that trembling to the other side, regardless of the fear, that is a victory for the Kingdom of its own. Love is not the removal of truthNow let us look at the other side.In some modern settings, “love” is often redefined as non-disruption. It means not saying anything that might make someone uncomfortable. It means affirming people wherever they are and never naming what is false, destructive, or eternally serious.But that’s not biblical love.Biblical love doesn’t flatter people into destruction.Biblical love doesn’t smile while someone walks toward a cliff.Biblical love isn’t allergic to truth.Biblical love moves toward people with compassion while refusing to lie to them.Jesus is the perfect picture of this.He welcomes sinners.He eats with outcasts.He touches lepers.He defends the shamed.He weeps over cities.He is astonishingly compassionate.And yet, He also says things like:“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” - Matthew 4:17.“Go, and from now on sin no more” - John 8:11.“Unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins” - John 8:24.Jesus is not divided within Himself. His love does not cancel His holiness, and His holiness does not diminish His mercy. They meet perfectly in Him.So if we think love means muting the truth, we are not becoming more like Jesus. We are becoming more acceptable to a culture that prefers comfort over salvation.John 1:14 says that Jesus came “full of grace and truth.” Not half grace and half truth. Not alternating between the two. Full of both.That phrase is one of the clearest descriptions of how Christian witness should look.Grace means we do not approach people with superiority.Truth means we do not approach people with compromise.Grace means we remember we too were lost.Truth means we remember people must actually hear the gospel.Grace means patience.Truth means clarity.Grace means compassion.Truth means content.A bold and loving witness is a witness that carries both.This means the Christian doesn’t speak as though he has risen above the need for mercy. He speaks as one who has been rescued by it. There is a world of difference between saying, “You are beneath me,” and saying, “I was dead too, and Christ made me alive.”Evangelism that forgets grace becomes arrogance.Evangelism that forgets truth becomes vagueness.But evangelism shaped by grace and truth becomes honest, courageous, and beautiful.What makes witness go cold?There are several reasons witness can go cold in the life of a believer.1. Fear of manWe have discussed this before, but it remains one of the great silencers. We want to be approved of. We want to remain unthreatening. We want to keep social equilibrium. Proverbs 29:25 says, “The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.”Fear of man always overestimates the power of people and underestimates the power of God.2. Loss of wonderWhen the gospel stops astonishing you, witness becomes harder. People rarely speak boldly about what no longer moves them. But when Christ is precious to you again, when the mercy of God feels fresh again, witness begins to rise more naturally because your heart is no longer cold.3. Confusion about loveAs we have said, many believers now confuse love with permanent non-confrontation. But real love is willing to risk misunderstanding for someone’s eternal good.4. A purely event-based model of evangelismSome Christians assume witness only happens in dramatic moments, on stages, in mission trips, or in one-off presentations. But most witness in Scripture and in life happens relationally, conversationally, and repeatedly. If you only look for dramatic openings, you may miss the ordinary ones God gives you.5. Disconnected livingWhen our lives do not align with our message, we naturally lose confidence. Hypocrisy weakens witness. We do not need perfection to speak, but we do need honesty and repentance. A clean conscience matters. Peter links our witness with having a good conscience in 1 Peter 3:16 for a reason.Removing the anger of manLet us be honest. Some forms of Christian witness have harmed people, not because the gospel is harsh, but because the messenger was harsh. Some Christians have spoken with contempt, reducing the image-bearer in front of them to an opponent, stereotype, or moral case study.This is not the way of Christ.James 1:20 says, “the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”That should sober us. A heated spirit, sarcastic tone, mocking posture, and hunger to dominate do not display Christ well. There are moments for firmness, yes. There are moments for rebuke, yes. But even then, the heart must remain governed by God, not ego.We must ask ourselves:Do people feel my urgency because I love them, or because I like being right?Do I grieve over the lost, or mainly get frustrated by them?Do I want to be faithful, or do I want to be seen as courageous by my tribe?These are serious questions. Witness can easily become a place where the flesh disguises itself as conviction.But if you can remove these things from your evangelism then will should relieve you the burden of performance.You are not the Holy Spirit.You are not responsible for manufacturing conviction.You are not responsible for converting the soul in front of you.You are responsible for faithfulness.Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3:6, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.”This means some conversations are planting.Some are watering.Some are reaping.Your task is not to obsess over which one it is. Your task is to obey.What bold and loving witness actually looks likeLet’s make this practical.Bold and loving witness does not always look like a sermon on a street corner. Sometimes it looks like asking a friend if you can pray for them right there. Sometimes it looks like naming Jesus clearly in a conversation where you could have kept things vague. Sometimes it looks like gently disagreeing with an assumption that everyone else is nodding along with. Sometimes it looks like staying present in a hard conversation instead of escaping into silence. Sometimes it looks like telling your own story of rescue with honesty and humility.It may sound like:“I really believe Jesus has changed my life.”“Can I tell you why this matters so much to me?”“When I went through that season, prayer became real to me.”“I do think God has something to say about that.”“I say this because I care about you, not because I think I’m better than you.”“Would you be open to reading one of the gospels with me?”“Can I pray for you now?”“When you say that, I think it gets to a deeper question about who Jesus is.”Notice that none of those lines are theatrical. They are simple, human, and direct. That matters. Many believers do not need a script as much as they need permission to be plain.Bold witness is often less polished than people imagine.Loving witness is often more direct than people imagine.Peter’s instruction: ready, gentle, respectful1 Peter 3:15 gives us a compact framework for witness:“In your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. Yet do it with gentleness and respect.”There is so much in that one verse.In your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holyWitness begins inwardly. Before it is verbal, it is devotional. Christ must be set apart in your heart. If He is small in our hearts, He will be silent on our lips. If He is holy to us, witness becomes an extension of worship.Always being preparedPreparedness matters. It is not unspiritual to think ahead. Know your testimony. Know the gospel. Know a few core passages. Know why you believe. You do not need an answer to every question, but you should be prepared to give a reason for your hope.To anyone who asksWitness is not only announcement. It is also response. Our lives should raise questions. Our peace, endurance, joy, patience, and convictions should make the world curious.Yet do it with gentleness and respectThis is where many fail. Gentleness is not weakness. It is strength under control. Respect means you do not speak to people as enemies to crush, but as souls to love. You do not need to belittle someone to be faithful.A sharp answer may win an argument and still lose the spirit of witness.WatchFrancis Chan: For Those Who Don’t Enjoy EvangelismConvicting and pastoral message, addressing fear and hesitation around evangelical witness and the state of the western church.How to Share Your Faith Without Being AwkwardPractical level-setting for respectful conversations and honoring the calling set before us.📅 This Week’s 30-Min Rally PointWe’ll meet for our first 30-minute rally point this Thursday at 7:00 PM EST via Zoom.This is a space for reflection, encouragement, and activation, a rhythm of checking in, praying together, and pressing forward.🕖 Zoom Time: Thursday @ 7:00 PM EST🔗 Click to join the Zoom call - Zoom URLBring a Bible, a journal, and any wins or wrestles you want to share. This is a safe space to grow.Sneak Peek at Month 7: Parenthood & Friendships - Week 1: Home as the First Mission Field.Anchor Scripture:“But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” - Joshua 24:15Scripture shows us that faith is not only expressed in big moments, but formed through steady, everyday rhythms, and this is our focus over the coming months. How to embed all of the program to date into our daily activities, with those closest to us.In conversations.In habits.In the way we love, speak, and live with those closest to us.Next week, we will explore what it means to:See your home as a place of discipleship, not just comfortLead and influence those closest to you with intentional faithLive a life that is not only heard, but seenBecause we want to ensure the work we do in our own garden, has a lasting impact.God is with us!Father,we thank You for the gift of the gospel and the privilege of bearing Your name.Teach us to be faithful witnesses.Not harsh, and not hidden.Not reactive, and not silent.Give us courage where we have been afraid.Give us gentleness where we have been sharp.Give us clarity where we have been vague.Fill us with Your Spirit, that our words would carry both truth and love.Help us to see people the way You see them, not as interruptions, but as souls in need of grace.Open doors for us this week.And when those moments come, help us to step into them with faithfulness, humility, and peace.Let our lives reflect Jesus.And let our lips not be ashamed to speak His name.Amen.I’m glad you’re here.Let’s run the race - Eyes Up, Chin Up!Grace and peace,Sam JohnstonYoutube Channel | Spotify | Instagram | Christ Focused Business Course This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christfocused.substack.com

Month 6 - Evangelism | Week 3: Everyday EnvoysAnchor ScriptureJesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”"- John 20:21This week, we are discussing an approach to Evangelism that everyone can apply. Not evangelism as an event.Not evangelism as a sales pitch.But evangelism as story.Your story.The honest account of what Jesus has done in your life.We remind ourselves this week that testimony is not about having THE MOST impressive past or THE MOST dramatic rescue story. It is simply about telling the truth of what God has done.Because once you understand the value of your story, something becomes clear.You were never meant to keep it. God Making His Appeal Through UsScripture uses powerful words to describe followers of Jesus.Ambassadors.Envoys.Representatives of a kingdom.Paul writes:“Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us.”- 2 Corinthians 5:20Notice something important here, God makes His appeal through us.That means evangelism is not primarily about technique.It is about identity.You are not just a Christian who occasionally shares the gospel.You are someone through whom God Himself chooses to speak. The dwelling place of his Holy Spirit.A real comprehension and revelation on this, can change how we see everyday life.The grocery store.The office.The school pickup line.The neighbor’s driveway.These are not random places; they are mission fields placed in front of you by God.Evangelism Is Not an EventFor many believers, evangelism feels intimidating.Why?Because it has been framed as a special event.Something that requires a microphone, a stage, or a perfectly rehearsed presentation. Crowds, stadiums, and large LED screens. But when we look at the New Testament, we see something different.The first Evangelism happened along the road.Jesus spoke to:• fishermen• tax collectors• Roman soldiers• women at wells• travelers on dusty roadsMost gospel conversations were ordinary moments that became holy encounters.And the same is still true today. There is nothing wrong with actively going out to hunt for opportunities to evangelize, but we should also accept the fact that God himself, places us into times and places in his will for his Glory. So our goal is to not deny the mundane, the humble interactions, the Holy speech of the Father in the normal happenings of day. The Power of Faithful PresenceJesus describes His followers this way:“You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world.”- Matthew 5:13–14Salt works quietly and powerfully.Light simply existing forces darkness into retreat.This gives us permission for evangelism to not always be loud.Evangelism through example, through reputation, and through identity are powerful tools. Sometimes it is simply living differently enough that people begin asking questions. Why do you have peace when things fall apart?Why do you forgive when others hold grudges?Why do you treat people with dignity when others dismiss them?When people see something different, rather than just hearing it from empty voices, inescapable curiosity opens the door.And curiosity often leads to conversation.Prepared, But Not PressuredPeter gives us a practical instruction for these moments.“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”- 1 Peter 3:15Notice what Peter doesn’t say.He doesn’t say:Be aggressive.Be forceful.Be argumentative.Instead, he says:Be ready.Ready to explain the hope that lives inside you.And do it with gentleness and respect.This is the posture of an envoy.Confident.Peaceful.Unashamed.Evangelism Begins With AwarenessOne of the most impactful shifts within evangelism for disciples is not necessarily learning new methods - It is learning to notice people.Every day, we pass dozens of individuals carrying invisible burdens.The coworker hiding anxiety behind professionalism.The neighbor quietly struggling in their marriage.The parent overwhelmed with responsibility.The stranger struggling to make it through the day.Behind polite smiles are often deep spiritual needs and questions.But those questions rarely come out immediately.They surface when someone finally encounters a believer who is present, kind, and attentive.Evangelism often begins with something simple.Listening.The Spirit Is Already WorkingAnother important truth: You are never starting from zero.The Holy Spirit is already at work in people’s hearts long before you speak.Jesus said:“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.”- John 6:44That means when someone begins asking spiritual questions, it may be because God has been working in their heart for months or even years.Your role is not to force the process.Your role is to participate in it.Sometimes you plant seeds.Sometimes you water them.Sometimes you witness the harvest.But the growth belongs to God.Practical Ways to Live as an Everyday EnvoyHere are a few simple practices I am humbly putting forward. I pray that they will help make evangelism a natural part of your daily life.1. Pray for AwarenessAsk God each morning: “Lord, show me who needs encouragement today.” You will often find that He answers.2. Learn People’s StoriesAsk real questions. People are often more open to spiritual conversations once they feel genuinely known. This starts with wider open questions, giving space for people to guide the conversation into the areas where they need to be heard.3. Speak About God NaturallyInstead of forcing conversations, simply let faith be part of your normal speech.“I was praying about that.”“Our church has been studying this.”“God really helped me through that season.”Small statements can open big doors. Don’t let other people’s lack of spirituality prevent you from being honestly confident in your own, as a natural overflow of an authentic relationship with God.4. Trust the Spirit With the OutcomeYour responsibility is faithfulness.The results belong to God. Let that sink in a minute before you move on here.The results belong to God.You Are Already SentOne of the great misunderstandings of evangelism is that it requires a special calling. But Jesus made the mission universal and clear.“As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”- John 20:21Not a few.All disciples.Every believer becomes a messenger of reconciliation.Not because we are impressive.But because God chooses to work through ordinary people and ordinary situations.Practice for the WeekAsk God where in your life your character and His courage through you, could be a light to others.Pay attention to where obedience costs you - that is often where salt is working.Refuse to hide what God has illuminated in your life.Evangelism begins not with speaking louder - but with standing faithfully where Christ has placed you, and speaking in general.We build from here.Read/ Listen/ WatchListenJoshua Luke Smith - The Poet That Made 600,000 People CryJoshua Luke Smith delivers a powerful spoken word piece about faith, doubt, grace, and the quiet pursuit of God. It captures something many believers experience but rarely articulate: the tension between our weakness and God’s relentless mercy.As you listen, reflect on how honesty about our own journey often becomes the doorway through which others begin to encounter Christ.Evangelism does not always begin with preaching.Sometimes it begins with truth spoken vulnerably and beautifully.WatchBibleProject - The Gospel of the KingdomThis short animated teaching explains how the message of Jesus is the announcement that God’s kingdom has arrived, and how followers of Christ participate in that mission.Read2 Corinthians 5:14–21 - LINKBelievers are described as ambassadors for Christ, entrusted with the message of reconciliation.Matthew 5:13–16 - LINKJesus calls His followers salt and light, influencing the world around them through faithful presence.Acts 8:26–40 - LINKPhilip’s encounter with the Ethiopian official shows how the Spirit can orchestrate specific moments where the gospel is meant to be spoken clearly.📅 This Week’s 30-Min Rally PointWe’ll meet for our first 30-minute rally point this Thursday at 7:00 PM EST via Zoom.This is a space for reflection, encouragement, and activation, a rhythm of checking in, praying together, and pressing forward.🕖 Zoom Time: Thursday @ 7:00 PM EST🔗 Click to join the Zoom call - Zoom URLBring a Bible, a journal, and any wins or wrestles you want to share. This is a safe space to grow.Sneak Peek at Month 6 | Evangelism - Week 4: Bold & Loving WitnessNext week we will finish Month 6 by exploring one of the tensions many believers feel:How do we speak about Jesus boldly without becoming harsh, argumentative, or defensive?Looking at the early church in the book of Acts, we will see how the apostles carried both courage and compassion as they proclaimed the gospel.Because the most powerful witness is not simply loudness.It is truth spoken with love and anchored in Christ.God is with us!Father,Thank You for the mercy that found us and the grace that continues to transform us.You did not only rescue us, You also sent us.Open our eyes this week to the people You have placed around us. Help us to notice the quiet burdens, the searching hearts, and the opportunities You are preparing.Give us courage to speak when the moment comes, humility to listen well, and wisdom to carry Your truth with gentleness and love.Let our lives reflect Your kingdom in the ordinary places we walk each day. May our words, our actions, and our presence point people toward the hope that is found in You alone.Use us, Lord, as faithful envoys of Your grace.Amen.I’m glad you’re here.Let’s run the race - Eyes Up, Chin Up!Grace and peace,Sam Johnston This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christfocused.substack.com

Envoy Rally Point - Month 6, Week 2Theme: Story of GraceM6 | W2: Story of GraceGuest Speaker: Pastor Byron Wicker – RiverLife Fellowship ChurchResources: Links to Follow Pastor Byron: Pastor’s BlogLinks to RiverLife Fellowship: WebsiteOur anchor scriptures for the week:“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ - by grace you have been saved.”- Ephesians 2:4–5Grace within The Evangelism ApproachThe meeting focused on the topic of grace and its role in evangelism as part of the 12-month Envoy Discipleship Program. Sam introduced the session, explaining that the program is in month 6, week 2, and emphasized the importance of understanding grace as a foundational element before discussing tactical evangelism.Sam highlighted the collaboration with Pastor Byron for the week’s dispatch, which explored the relationship between grace, righteousness, and the believer’s identity in Christ. The session included a prayer, an introduction to Pastor Byron for those unfamiliar with him, and a brief overview of the key points from the dispatch.The conversation ended with a plan to delve into five core questions related to grace and its implications for believers.Here are those 5 questions:How does grace actually empower a believer to break real sin patterns in everyday life, and what does it look like practically to apply grace in the middle of temptation or failure?Where do you most often see believers quietly drifting from reliance on grace into self-effort, and what are some practical ways we can return to living from grace rather than striving?What are some practical ways believers can learn to live from their identity in Christ rather than constantly evaluating themselves by performance?What does it look like in real conversations to communicate both grace and truth in a way that reflects the heart of Jesus?What are some signs that grace is actually reigning in a person’s life, and how can we cultivate that kind of transformation over time?Grace in Everyday Life DiscussionSam and Byron discussed the concept of grace and its practical application in everyday life. Byron shared his understanding of grace as an empowering instructor that helps believers break sin patterns and live righteously.They explored how grace transforms a person’s identity and position, allowing them to overcome temptation and sin. Sam highlighted the contrast between the grace-based approach and other philosophies like Stoicism, emphasizing that grace provides a new position of identity and acceptance for overcoming sin.They also discussed how grace removes shame and empowers individuals to walk in peace and courage.Grace vs Self-Effort BalanceSam and Byron discussed the challenge of drifting from reliance on grace into self-effort, highlighting how subtle this shift can be, especially in ministry and family contexts.Byron emphasized the importance of recognizing and avoiding false yokes and responsibilities, while Sam explained the difference between righteousness, which is a position earned by Christ, and self-righteousness, which is a result of human effort.They concluded by encouraging individuals to focus on their position in Christ and to allow His peace, Word, and mind to dwell within them, rather than striving to achieve righteousness through their own efforts.Christian Identity and Evangelism DiscussionSam and Byron discussed the importance of understanding one’s identity in Christ rather than focusing on performance. Byron shared insights from the book of Ephesians, emphasizing the need to rest in Christ’s finished work and the importance of obedience as alignment with one’s true identity.They also explored how to communicate grace and truth in evangelism, emphasizing the need for a listening heart and speaking the truth in love. Byron shared a personal story about the importance of timing when sharing difficult truths. Sam agreed with Byron’s perspective, highlighting the need to address identity rather than just morality when helping others.Grace and Identity TransformationByron shared his personal experience of discovering grace and how it transformed his identity from being an addict to a new creation in Christ. He emphasized the power of approaching others with love and understanding rather than judgment, and discussed signs of grace in a person’s life, including humility, quick repentance, decreased defensiveness, gratitude, patience, and increased confidence.Sam highlighted the importance of viewing grace as the power and means to live out one’s faith, not just as permission to act.They discussed the idea of recognizing mission fields in everyday environments and the potential for powerful evangelism in daily life. The conversation ended with Byron praying for a deeper revelation of grace for all participants.God is with us.Thank you for drawing near. May the Lord bless you with a powerful revelation of Grace as you walk in His ways this week.I’m glad you’re here.Let’s run the race - Eyes Up, Chin Up!Grace and peace,Sam Johnston This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christfocused.substack.com

Month 6 - Evangelism | Week 2: Story of GraceA Collaboration with Pastor Byron Wickers - RiverLife Fellowship ChurchAnchor Scripture“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ - by grace you have been saved.”- Ephesians 2:4–5The Crisis of Grace in the Modern ChurchGrace is one of the most celebrated words in Christian vocabulary.It is sung.It is quoted.It is defended.Yet it is rarely understood in its full apostolic weight.In many circles, grace has been reduced to emotional comfort.In others, grace has been weaponized, attacked, and seen as theological permission.In some, grace is acknowledged but functionally replaced by striving.But the New Testament doesn’t present grace as background doctrine.It presents grace as reigning power.Romans 5:21 declares:“so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”That is governmental language.Sin once reigned.Now grace reigns.The question for disciples, especially those stepping into evangelistic witness, is this:Are we proclaiming reigning grace, or diluted grace?Grace and Faith: The Pattern of the KingdomEphesians 2:8 establishes the order:“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,”Grace is the provision of God in Christ.Faith is the response that receives it.Grace does not originate in us.Faith does not generate salvation.Faith receives what grace has already accomplished.This pattern continues throughout the Christian life.We do not move from grace to self-effort after conversion.We remain in grace, accessed by faith.Romans 5:2 says we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand.“Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”We stand in grace.We access it by faith.The Christian life is not sustained by white-knuckled self-dependence.It is sustained by participation in and submission to what Christ has already finished.The Law Exposes. Grace Empowers.To understand grace, we must understand what it replaced.Paul writes that the Law entered so that transgression might increase. Not because God desired sin, but because He desired revelation.The Law exposes weakness.It commands but doesn’t empower.It reveals the disease but doesn’t cure it.And here lies one of the most important truths for disciples:You can’t defeat sin by returning to Law principles.Trying harder will never produce holiness. That doesn’t mean we don’t lean into His ways; it doesn’t mean we don’t desire to become more like Jesus or learn more of what pleases God.What we are talking about is the how.Grace is the how.The Law says: Do.Grace says: Done.But grace doesn’t say “Done” so that we may relax into sin.Grace says, “Done”, so that we may live from a new identity.The Dangerous Question of Romans 6.Paul anticipates the distortion of this idea of Grace immediately. If grace abounds where sin increases, why not continue in sin?His answer is abrupt: Certainly not.The Apostle Paul doesn’t argue from morality.He argues from identity.“How can we who died to sin still live in it?”Notice what he doesn’t say:He doesn’t say sin is less serious.He doesn’t say grace makes sin irrelevant.He says the believer’s relationship to sin has fundamentally changed.The old man was crucified. The sinner by nature died.This isn’t metaphorical encouragement.It’s an ontological transformation.In Christ, something definitive happened to your nature.You are not a sinner trying to become righteous.You are righteous in Christ, learning to walk consistently with who you now are.The Ongoing Battle & the MisdiagnosisSomething that can be confusing to many believers is that disciples still experience temptation.Why?Because while sin’s authority has been broken, its presence still attempts influence through the body and the patterns of the soul.Romans 6 makes this distinction carefully.Sin shall not have dominion over you.Dominion speaks of rule. Of governing authority.Temptation may knock.Habits may linger.Thought patterns may resist renewal.But authority has shifted.Grace reigns now.This is why Titus 2:11–12 says grace teaches us to deny ungodliness.“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,”Grace is not passive tolerance.Grace is instructive power.It reshapes desire from the inside out.Righteousness: The Channel Through Which Grace ReignsRomans 5:17 reveals the mechanism:“For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.”Grace reigns through righteousness.Righteousness is not moral achievement.It is positional reality.It is being rightly aligned before God because of Christ’s obedience, not ours.Philippians 3:9 makes this explicit.“and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith.”The enemy constantly attempts to shift believers back to performance metrics.Measure yourself.Evaluate your standing.Compare your obedience.The moment righteousness becomes performance-based, grace loses its channel. Grace cannot reign where self-effort dominates. But when righteousness is received as a gift, grace flows freely. And when grace flows freely, believers reign in life.Evangelism and the Integrity of GraceThis matters profoundly for evangelism.If we preach grace without righteousness, we create moral ambiguity.If we preach righteousness without grace, we create religious burden.But when grace reigns through righteousness:Sin is neither minimized nor sensationalized.Repentance is neither coerced nor diluted.Holiness is neither optional nor oppressive.It becomes natural overflow.Jesus was full of grace and truth.Not alternating between them.Not balancing them as opposites.Full of both.Grace without truth becomes indulgence.Truth without grace becomes cruelty.But reigning grace produces transformed people.And transformed people are the most compelling evangelistic witness on earth.The Hard Question for EnvoysAs representatives of Christ, we must wrestle honestly:Have we treated grace as emotional reassurance rather than governing power?Have we attempted to conquer sin through discipline while neglecting identity?Have we quietly drifted back into self-righteous performance?Do we believe we are righteous in Christ, or do we secretly measure ourselves by behavior?Evangelism is not merely proclamation.It is embodiment.The world doesn’t need softer Christians.It needs sons and daughters who know who they are, and live it out.Grace that tolerates sin has no authority.Grace that reigns produces holiness.Pastoral Vantage PointSin reigned in death.Grace now reigns through righteousness.Receive grace.Receive righteousness.Reign in life.This is not triumphalism.It is alignment with reality.Grace is not permission. Grace is power.And when power is rightly understood, sin loses its throne.Read | Listen | Watch📖 ReadThe Discipline of Grace – Jerry Bridges - LINKA deeply practical work on how grace fuels holiness rather than replacing it. Bridges dismantles performance-based Christianity while refusing to soften the call to obedience. A helpful corrective for both legalism and license.The Whole Christ – Sinclair Ferguson - LINKA masterful theological exploration of the relationship between grace, law, assurance, and sanctification. Ferguson shows how separating grace from transformation leads to distortion.Romans 5-8 (Slow Reading) - LINKNot a skim. Sit in it. Trace the language of reign, righteousness, death, life, flesh, Spirit. This is the apostolic architecture of grace.ListenGrave Greater Than Our Sin - Billy GrahamRomans 5-8: The Secret To Living Free in Christ📅 This Week’s 30-Min Rally PointWe’ll meet for our first 30-minute rally point this Thursday with Pastor Byron Wickers at 7:00 PM EST via Zoom.This is a space for reflection, encouragement, and activation, a rhythm of checking in, praying together, and pressing forward.🕖 Zoom Time: Thursday @ 7:00 PM EST🔗 Click to join the Zoom call - Zoom URLBring a Bible, a journal, and any wins or wrestles you want to share. This is a safe space to grow.Sneak Peek at Month 6 | Evangelism - Week 2: Story of GraceAnchor Scripture“As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”John 20:21This week we leaned into grace remembered and grace spoken. Next week we widen the lens. You are not simply someone who has a testimony. You are someone who is sent. “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” John 20:21. Evangelism is not an event or a personality type. It is identity lived outward in ordinary places. Boardrooms, dinner tables, job sites, neighborhoods. You are already on assignment. Next week we learn how to live like it.You are not waiting for mission.You are already in it.God is with us!Father,Thank You for grace that found us when we were dead and made us alive in Christ. Keep our hearts tender toward what You have rescued us from, and humble in how You are still shaping us.Guard us from performance and pressure. Let our testimony flow from gratitude, not striving. Give us courage to speak simply and truthfully about what You have done.May our story always point to Your mercy, not our strength.In Jesus’ name,Amen.I’m glad you’re here.Let’s run the race - Eyes Up, Chin Up!Grace and peace,Sam Johnston This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christfocused.substack.com

Envoy Rally Point - Month 6, Week 1Theme: Recovering a Supernatural WorldviewM6 | W1: Salt & LightGuest Speaker: Luke RodgersResources: Links to Follow Luke: YouTube Link - Spotify Link - Instagram LinkLinks to the Blurry Creatures Show: Website - Episode 57 (Tim Alberino) Genesis 6This week’s rally call brought us into a deeper clarity about the unseen conflicts Scripture actually describes. Not to foster fear. Not to misalign our focus. But to ground our evangelism in the full story God reveals - a story where Christ has already won, and we are sent as His envoys into a world that desperately needs light.As we continue through Month 6: Evangelism, we were reminded that evangelism is not a strategy. It is spiritual warfare enacted through the proclamation of the gospel - God’s most potent offensive weapon.Our anchor scriptures for the week framed everything that followed:“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness…” – Ephesians 6:12“You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world.” - Matthew 5:13–14“As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” - John 20:21“Always be prepared to give an answer… with gentleness and respect.” - 1 Peter 3:15When we see the world through Scripture’s supernatural lens, our prayers, witness, and obedience take on a renewed shape.The Bible’s Supernatural BackboneLuke reminded us that the Bible we often inherit is truncated - capturing moral truth but losing narrative depth. Too often, Western Christianity has treated the supernatural in the Bible like a curiosity instead of the context. The angels, principalities, and cosmic realities recorded from Genesis through Revelation are not footnotes, but cues to a broader story God is telling about His victory and our place in it.This reframing doesn’t stir obsession with angels or demons. It places Jesus squarely at the center: “the one who disarms powers and authorities.”“He disarmed the rulers and authorities, making a public example of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” – Colossians 2:15The cross is not only forgiveness for sin; it is the announcement of cosmic defeat of the powers that oppose God.Evangelism: The Offensive WeaponOne of the clearest highlights of our time was Luke’s emphasis that evangelism is the greatest weapon in spiritual conflict. Not debates. Not cultural agendas. Not even prayer alone - though prayer is essential.Proclaiming Christ turns hearts.It weakens darkness’s influence.It pulls territories back into God’s kingdom.This is not symbolic language. It is the worldview Scripture operationalizes when it tells us to:pray for the lost,proclaim the gospel boldly,and go wherever we are sent.Luke reminded us that the enemy tries to limit evangelism to optional spirituality or good advice. But Scripture presents sharing the gospel as the primary offensive action against darkness - the way light invades night.A Biblical Lens for Modern DisruptionThe conversation also touched on how a biblical supernatural worldview steadies believers in an age of rapid cultural upheaval - whether the topics are geopolitical tension, technological fear, or disclosures in public discourse. When Scripture already accounts for an unseen realm, conflict between good and evil, and divine sovereignty over every power, modern surprises lose their power to destabilize faith.The witness of Scripture is not fractured.It is coherent.It tells one story: From Creation to Christ to consummation - and places us right in the middle of it.Christ at the CenterThroughout the evening, Luke anchored every conversation in Christ.Understanding the supernatural is not an end in itself.Understanding our role in God’s story is.And that role is simple at its core:Proclaim Jesus.Walk with courage.Live with awareness of God’s kingdom advancing.We closed the hour in prayer, for our voices, for clarity, boldness, and faithful obedience in proclaiming the gospel as Christ’s ambassadors.God is with us.Thank you for drawing near. May the Lord bless your obedience, steady your heart, and fill you with joy as you walk in His ways this week.I’m glad you’re here.Let’s run the race - Eyes Up, Chin Up!Grace and peace,Sam Johnston This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christfocused.substack.com

Month 6 - Evangelism | Week 1: Salt & lightAnchor Scriptures“You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world.” - Matthew 5:13–14“As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” - John 20:21“Always be prepared to give an answer… with gentleness and respect.” - 1 Peter 3:15This week begins our movement into Evangelism.Before the Church ever debated methods, strategies, or approaches, Jesus named identity.“You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world.”- Matthew 5:13–14Not a task to complete.Not a role for the gifted few.But a state of being for all who belong to Him.The early Church understood this instinctively - long before evangelism was professionalized.Salt - Presence That Restrains DecayIn the ancient world, salt wasn’t symbolic - it was essential. It was even used to pay salary back then, a word derived from the Latin salarium, referring to the allowance given to Roman soldiers in salt. A substance so essential for preservation and survival that it became a unit of value, reminding us that salt was never symbolic, but understood as vital.It preserved foodIt prevented corruptionIt slowed decayScripture consistently frames humanity’s problem not as ignorance, but as corruption.“The whole world lies in the power of the evil one.”- 1 John 5:19“Their throat is an open grave.”- Romans 3:13Jesus isn’t suggesting the world needs seasoning.He is declaring that without His people embedded within it, decay accelerates.This is why He warns:“If salt has lost its taste… it is no longer good for anything.”- Matthew 5:13Salt that blends into its environment ceases to function.Church History - Quiet Faith That Held the LineIn the second century, Christians were accused of being atheists, subversives, and unpatriotic - not because they rebelled violently, but because they refused to worship Rome’s gods, refused to “not-live” for Christ. Tertullian famously wrote:“We are but of yesterday, and we have filled every place among you - cities, islands, fortresses, towns, marketplaces.”The Church didn’t seize power.It outlived corruption.Their faith preserved moral clarity in a decaying culture - quietly, faithfully, relentlessly.Salt works this way.Light - Truth That Reveals RealityLight in Scripture is never neutral.“God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”- 1 John 1:5Light reveals the truth of what already exists.“Everyone who does wicked things hates the light…but whoever does what is true comes to the light.”- John 3:20–21Jesus doesn’t tell His disciples to create light. He tells them not to hide it.“Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket.”- Matthew 5:15Light exposes truth not through aggression, but through clarity.Church History - Light Without LoudnessThe early Christians didn’t argue Rome out of paganism. They didn’t put on “light shows” to attract them as the pagan ceremonies did. They didn’t mimic or reflect the prevailing culture of the day. They lived differently.They rescued abandoned infantsThey cared for the sick during plaguesThey buried the dead when others fledDuring the Antonine Plague (2nd century), while many escaped cities, Christians stayed - and died - serving the sick.This visible love made the gospel undeniable. This visible sacrifice shone the light of Christ into the dark of the day.As the historian Rodney Stark later noted, Christianity spread not primarily through preaching events, but through observable faithfulness under pressure.Light shines most clearly when darkness is undeniable. And we do indeed live in a time again where darkness is undeniable.Evangelism - Before WordsScripture is unambiguous here:“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”- John 13:35Words matter - but Scripture doesn’t place them first. What you say is not as important as what you do. Peter instructs persecuted believers:“Always be prepared to make a defense… yet do it with gentleness and respect.”- 1 Peter 3:15Notice the order:ConductCharacterThen confessionThe early Church father Augustine of Hippo summarized it simply:“The gospel is believed when the life proclaims what the tongue confesses.”Evangelism collapses when words run ahead of witness. And as we have seen in modern times with the fall of churches and idolatrous leaders, this was allowed to happen because believers forgot this truth, seeking loud, entertaining confessing tongues rather than demonstrated character, sacrifice, and biblical foundations. Our generation is reclaiming this inheritance. A City That Can’t Be HiddenJesus says:“A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”- Matthew 5:14This is not instruction.It is diagnosis.Faith that is alive will eventually become visible.The Church has always grown fastest when it was most faithful, not most fashionable. Persecuted and pressured rather than comfortable and complacent. “We cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”- Acts 4:20Visibility is the result of obedience, not marketing.The Aim - Glory to GodJesus closes with motive:“That they may see your good works and give glory to your Father.”- Matthew 5:16Not admiration for Christians.Not applause for morality.Not likes on instagram. Not the applause of compliance.But fearful and reverent recognition that God is present among His people here today.This has always been the Church’s task:“Live such good lives among the pagans… that they may glorify God.”- 1 Peter 2:12The Question Before UsEvangelism doesn’t begin with effort or even courage.It begins with humble yet firm - placement.“As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”- John 20:21So the question for this week is not who should I reach?It is:“Where has God already placed me to renew what is decaying - and reveal what is true?”Not later.Not elsewhere.Here.Practice for the WeekAsk God where in your life your character and His courage through you, could be a light to others.Pay attention to where obedience costs you - that is often where salt is working.Refuse to hide what God has illuminated in your life.Evangelism begins not with speaking louder - but with standing faithfully where Christ has placed you.We build from here.Read/ Listen/ WatchReadChrist and Culture - H. Richard Niebuhr: LINKA classic framework exploring how Christians relate to society.Helpful for thinking through what it means to be “in but not of” the world.“The Patient Ferment of the Early Church” - from The Rise of Christianity: LINKA sociological look at how early Christian presence, not political takeover, reshaped the Roman world through lived faithfulness.“The Missional Nature of the Church” (Article) - Lesslie Newbigin: LINKNewbigin argues that the Church does not have a mission; it is a sign, instrument, and foretaste of the Kingdom. That is salt and light theology.ListenSamuel Barber’s Agnus Dei, performed by The Dale Warland Singers, carries a restrained, luminous intensity that mirrors Jesus’ call to be salt and light. It does not strive or shout - it endures - embodying a steady, holy presence in a world longing for mercy and peace.Psalm 48 | City of Our God layers beneath a psalm that celebrates the visible, unshakable dwelling place of God. It echoes Jesus’ image of a city set on a hill - worship that feels grounded yet anchored in eternal stability.Psalm 2 | A Psalm of Kings and Trust - by The Christ Focused Music Collective captures the tension of rebellion and trust. It reminds us that light shines brightest in defiance of earthly powers - and that true salt-like steadiness flows from confidence in the enthroned King.📅 This Week’s 30-Min Rally PointWe’ll meet for our first 30-minute rally point this Thursday at 7:00 PM EST via Zoom.This is a space for reflection, encouragement, and activation, a rhythm of checking in, praying together, and pressing forward.🕖 Zoom Time: Thursday @ 7:00 PM EST🔗 Click to join the Zoom call - Zoom URLBring a Bible, a journal, and any wins or wrestles you want to share. This is a safe space to grow.Sneak Peek at Month 6 | Evangelism - Week 2: Story of GraceNext week we shift from presence (salt and light) to testimony - not polished narratives, not “sales pitches,” but the simple, Spirit-weighted practice of telling the truth: What God has done, what He’s rescued you from, and what He’s bringing you into.We’ll press into the difference between sharing information about Jesus and bearing witness to grace, because the gospel doesn’t start with “try harder,” it starts with dead made alive, debt cancelled, and mercy given to the undeserving. And when you truly see that, evangelism becomes less about pressure… and more about overflow.Anchor Scripture“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.”- Ephesians 2:4–5 God is with us!Father,You have called us salt and light.Forgive us for hiding, for softening, for blending in where You meant us to stand.Place courage in us where decay surrounds us.Place clarity in us where darkness presses in.Make our lives consistent with our confession.Let our presence preserve.Let our obedience shine.And may all glory return to You.In Jesus’ name,Amen.I’m glad you’re here.Let’s run the race - Eyes Up, Chin Up!Grace and peace,Sam Johnston This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christfocused.substack.com

Envoy Rally Point - Month 5, Week 4Theme: In The QuietThis week’s rally call marked a transition point for us.We are closing the first six months of this journey, a season intentionally shaped around inward formation and alignment with Christ. Before we move outward into witness and mission, Scripture draws us one last time into a posture that is easily overlooked, but never optional.Quiet.Not silence as absence.Not withdrawal as avoidance.But stillness, as disciplined attentiveness.As we gathered, we acknowledged that formation always precedes sending. Jesus doesn’t send the disciples before calling them to be with Him. The Spirit doesn’t come before waiting. Mission follows formation, never the other way around.It is fitting then, that the final discipline before we turn outward is quiet.Below is the video I was discussing in the Rally call: Stillness Is Our Posture, Not God’sWe anchored the evening in three familiar passages:“Be still, and know that I am God.” - Psalm 46:10“And after the fire, the sound of a low whisper.” - 1 Kings 19:12“Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” - Luke 5:16One thing worth noticing is that all three of these passages place stillness on the human side of the relationship, not God’s.In Psalm 46, God doesn’t say, “I will become still, so that you can know I am God,” but “Be still, and know that I am God” - the command is for us to cease, not for Him to act.In Elijah’s story, God is fully present in the storm, the fire, and the earthquake, but His voice is only recognized when Elijah stops looking for God to arrive in power and learns instead to discern Him in the quiet.And with Jesus in Luke 5, the withdrawal isn’t because his Father has gone quiet - it’s because Jesus intentionally creates space to remain aligned with the Father while ministry is loud and demanding. In all three cases, God isn’t changing His posture; the human posture is what shifts.Stillness doesn’t summon God. It recalibrates us to perceive the God who is already there.What Quiet RevealsQuiet has a way of exposing us.When noise fades and activity slows, what rises is often not peace at first, but restlessness. Impatience. The subtle anxiety of not producing. The discomfort of being present without explanation or outcome.We reflected honestly on how this inward season has revealed more about our reflexes than our strengths. How easily spiritual practices can be turned into productivity metrics. How activity can quietly become a way of avoiding vulnerability, uncertainty, or dependence.Noise gives us control.Activity gives us identity.Silence strips both away.That stripping is not punishment. It is formation.Stillness places us face to face with God - without props, without performance, without commentary.And that is often where real alignment begins.Quiet as Preparation, Not EscapeWe also spoke candidly about balance - particularly the tension between spiritual “doing” and presence with family, friends, and the people closest to us. Faithfulness is not measured by how full our calendars are, but by whether our lives are being shaped in love, patience, and attentiveness.Quiet is not an escape from obedience.It is preparation for it.What is formed in silence becomes what we carry when we are sent.Turning OutwardAs we closed, we looked ahead to what comes next.Month 6 will focus on Evangelism - not as pressure or performance, but as overflow of something within us, something that is exemplified in us. Not an external expectation of others without personal demonstration. Jesus’ words frame the transition clearly:“As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”- John 20:21We are not sent to manufacture something we don’t have.We are sent to carry what has been formed.Presence precedes proclamation.Formation precedes mission.The invitation remains simple, and important:Let the quiet continue to shape us - so that when we move outward, we do so grounded, attentive, and present.God is with us.Father,Thank You for meeting us in the quiet - whether we felt it or not. Thank You that Your presence does not depend on our volume, our emotion, or our certainty.As we prepare to move outward, ground us in what has been formed inwardly. Let what we carry be presence, not pressure. Let our witness flow from communion, not effort.Teach us to remain with You as we are sent. To listen before we speak. To walk faithfully, even when the path is quiet.We entrust what You are doing in us to You. Carry it forward in Your time.In Jesus’ name, Amen.I’m glad you’re here.Let’s run the race - Eyes Up, Chin Up!Grace and peace,Sam Johnston This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christfocused.substack.com

Month 5 - Spiritual Disciplines | Week 4: In the QuietAnchor Scriptures“Be still, and know that I am God.” - Psalm 46:10“And after the fire, the sound of a low whisper.” - 1 Kings 19:12“Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” - Luke 5:16Month 5 hasn’t been about mastery, intensity, or religious achievement. It has been about availability.W1 - Prayer.W2 - Scripture.W3- Hunger.W4 - Quiet: This week!As we move into this final week, if last week’s look at fasting removes what fills us, silence reveals what remains.Quiet has a way of exposing us. When distraction fades, when input slows, when the background hum finally drops, what rises is often not peace at first, but restlessness. Thoughts we’ve avoided. Longings we’ve dulled. An ache we didn’t know how to name.Scripture doesn’t treat stillness as passive or empty.It treats it as relational.Elijah doesn’t meet God in wind, earthquake, or fire, but in a whisper.Jesus doesn’t withdraw because He is weak, but because intimacy requires space.Stillness is not where God becomes silent.It’s where we finally stop competing with His voice.If we think about it for a second, space is not the absence of things, it is the removal of things, to reveal God already present. He is always present, always near. We are here today to learn to create the quiet, so that we can Behold him. It is not about drawing closer to God; it is about acknowledging his already-here-ness. Sometimes, quiet can feel threatening. Noise gives us control. Activity gives us identity. Silence strips both away. It places us face to face with God - without props, without performance, without commentary.And yet, again and again, Scripture shows us that this is where formation happens.Not because God is distant.But because we are finally present.As we close Month 5, resist the urge to use quiet as another productivity tool.Don’t rush to “feel something.”Don’t measure success by clarity or emotion. Don’t trust your emotional response more than the word of God. Feeling is not as important as beholding. Simply make room.Sit.Wait.Listen.However you choose to do it. Let stillness do its slow, honest work.Next month, we move outward again, but only after learning how to remain rooted when nothing is happening, nothing is loud, and nothing is rushing us along.The discipline of quiet is not an escape from life.It is training for faithful presence within it.Quiet & Space In ScriptureFrom Genesis to the Gospels, we see God repeatedly forming His people by creating space before He gives direction. Rather than silence being an interruption to God’s work, it is actually often the precondition for it.Moses first encounters God not in Egypt’s noise but in the wilderness. Exodus 3 places him “keeping the flock… on the far side of the wilderness” when God speaks from the burning bush. Forty years of obscurity precede a moment of clarity.The Psalms consistently frame silence as trust, not passivity.“For God alone my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation” (Psalm 62:1).Waiting quietly is not inactivity; it’s resistance against self-determinism. Elijah’s encounter at Horeb makes the point unmistakable. God bypasses spectacle and speaks in “a low whisper” (1 Kings 19:12). The text emphasizes not emotion, not volatility, not the storm, the fire, not a big worship band, high speakers, or LED screens, but space, quiet, discernment. Elijah had to be still enough to recognize that God is already speaking. Jesus follows the same pattern. Before choosing the Twelve, “He went out to the mountain to pray, and all night He continued in prayer to God” (Luke 6:12). Before confronting the cross, He withdrew to the garden. Before major movements, Jesus creates space, not because He lacks resolve, but because obedience flows from communion.There is a teaching moment here, that if we arent careful, we will miss. God’s presence is not dictated by your emotions; he doesn’t wait for the crescendo of the worship song to arrive, he isn’t any more present in your fervent loudness or the bright lights than he is in your quiet loneliness. He is speaking in your car, when you close your eyes at night, in the steady plod of your solitary walks, he is as close when your dispair turns into tears, as he is in your praise. If you can meet him in the silence, in the quiet, in the space, you will have an intimacy that outlasts any event or emotional experience. Stop trying to add experiences to draw God to you, and start removing experiences to draw nearer to him. Scripture does not treat quiet as emptiness.It treats it as alignment.Creating Space: Practices From The Church Across HistoryFrom the early church to our modern renditions, Christians have consistently recognized that God is not forced into the margins of a busy life. Space must be intentionally made.The Desert Fathers withdrew not out of world-hatred, but out of attentiveness. Abba Arsenius famously prayed, “Lord, lead me in the way of salvation,” and received the answer: “Flee, be silent, pray always.” Silence was not avoidance - it was a way of staying awake to God. One of my favorites by him is: “I have often repented of having spoken, but never of having been silent.”John Cassian wrote in the 4th century that silence trains the soul “to listen for God rather than to speak at Him.” The early monastic tradition understood that unguarded speech and constant activity fragmented attention long before modern technology ever did. They chose the practice of space, quiet, and attentiveness. The Rule of St. Benedict formalized this wisdom into daily life. Benedict insisted on ordered rhythms of silence, especially at night, believing that quiet protected the heart for prayer. His aim was not withdrawal from obedience, but stability of soul. Silence created space for discernment.During the Reformation, Martin Luther, despite his public intensity, seems from his writing to have been focused and disciplined about solitude. He warned that constant activity without prayer “turns the soul into a marketplace.” Luther believed Scripture could only be rightly heard when the heart was first stilled before God.The Quaker tradition took this further by practicing corporate silence. Meetings often begin without speech, waiting for God to initiate. George Fox wrote: “Be still and cool in your own mind and spirit from your own thoughts, and then you will feel the principle of God to turn your mind to the Lord God.”More recently, Henri Nouwen wrote that modern Christians fear silence because it exposes our inner poverty. He wrote:“In silence we discover that we are not what we do, but who we are before God.” For Nouwen, solitude was not retreat from ministry, but the ground from which meaningful ministry could grow.Across traditions, monastic, Reformed, charismatic, contemplative, the conclusion is the same: space is not accidental. It is purposefully cultivated.Practical insights drawn from these streams:Treat silence as a practice, not a moodAnchor “quiet” to a time and place, not convenienceExpect resistance before clarityStay even when you perceive that nothing “happens.”Let silence expose before it comfortsGod has always spoken.The question has never been volume, only “beholding”.Practice For The WeekThis week, your practice goal is intentional quiet.Not silence as an escape.Not quiet as a productivity hack.But stillness as attentiveness.Below is a beautiful technique offered from the Orthodox stream.Suggested rhythm (adapt as needed):Set aside 10–15 minutes, once a day if possibleRemove input: no phone, no music, no readingSit or walk comfortably, but alertBegin by acknowledging God’s presenceThen say nothingWhen thoughts come, don’t chase them away.Notice them. Release them. Return to attentiveness.If prayer emerges, let it.If nothing emerges, remain anyway.This is not about achieving peace.It is about making room.Reflection QuestionsUse these slowly. Don’t rush to answers.What rises in me when the noise stops?What do I instinctively reach for when silence stretches on?Do I trust God enough to remain without clarity?What might God be forming in me through quiet rather than action?Closing The MonthMonth 5 hasn’t been about mastery, intensity, or religious achievement.It has been about availability.Prayer.Scripture.Hunger.Quiet.Each discipline has pointed us toward the same reality:God forms us not through constant doing, but through faithful presence.As we move into the next month, carry this with you:Stillness is not withdrawal from obedience.It is preparation for it.What is formed in the quiet shapes how we walk when the noise returns.📅 This Week’s 30-Min Rally PointWe’ll meet for our first 30-minute rally point this Thursday at 7:00 PM EST via Zoom.This is a space for reflection, encouragement, and activation, a rhythm of checking in, praying together, and pressing forward.🕖 Zoom Time: Thursday @ 7:00 PM EST🔗 Click to join the Zoom call - Zoom URLBring a Bible, a journal, and any wins or wrestles you want to share. This is a safe space to grow.Sneak Peek at Month 6 | Evangelism - Week 1: Salt and LightAnchor Scriptures“You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world.” - Matthew 5:13–14“As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” - John 20:21“Always be prepared to give an answer… with gentleness and respect.” - 1 Peter 3:15Evangelism in Scripture is the natural overflow of a life shaped by God’s presence.Jesus doesn’t call His disciples to become salt and light. He tells them that they already are. The question is not whether we are sent, but whether our lives are present enough, distinct enough, and grounded enough to be recognizable.Throughout Scripture, God forms His people inwardly before sending them outward. Calling precedes commissioning. Presence precedes proclamation. When the church skips formation, evangelism becomes pressure. When formation is rooted, witness becomes inevitable.Next week, we will explore what Jesus meant by salt and light, why evangelism is first about who we are before what we say, and how Scripture reframes witness as faithful presence rather than forced outcomes.God is with us!Father,We acknowledge that You are present even when You are quiet.We confess how quickly we rush to fill space, with words, plans, noise, and effort, rather than remain with You.Teach us to be still before You, not as an escape from obedience, but as the place where obedience is formed.Where our motives are revealed.Where our hunger is clarified.Where our trust is tested.Like Elijah, train us to recognize Your voice without spectacle.Like Jesus, give us the courage to withdraw without guilt and to return without fear.We offer You our waiting, our silence, and our unfinished thoughts.Form us in the quiet so that when we are sent, we carry Your presence, not just our words.In Jesus’ name,Amen.I’m glad you’re here.Let’s run the race - Eyes Up, Chin Up!Grace and peace,Sam Johnston This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christfocused.substack.com

Envoy Rally Point - Month 5, Week 3Theme: Hungry For GodThis week’s rally call invited us to sit with something many of us feel, but rarely know how to interpret rightly.Hunger.Not manufactured desire.Not spiritual ambition.Not comparison against imagined standards of devotion.But the honest experience of wanting God - and sometimes feeling that want acutely.As storms passed through our region and routines were disrupted, we began by acknowledging a simple truth:Hunger often becomes clearer when comforts are stripped away.The question before us was not how to make ourselves hungry for God, but something more searching:What does biblical hunger actually mean - and why does God allow it?Hunger at the Level of SurvivalWe anchored the evening in familiar words, but words that resist being treated casually:“As the deer pants for flowing streams,so pants my soul for you, O God.”- Psalm 42:1This is not poetic preference language.It is survival language.A deer panting for water is vulnerable. Exposed. Near the edge.It cannot control its environment.It cannot manufacture relief.The image names desperation - not spiritual intensity, but need.And that distinction matters.Hunger in Scripture is not framed as a failure of faith.It is framed as the posture of those who know where life actually comes from.Hunger as a Blessing, Not a DefectWe held Psalm 42 alongside Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount:“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,for they shall be satisfied.”- Matthew 5:6Jesus does not say blessed are the full, or the settled, or the spiritually resolved.He blesses hunger.Not because hunger feels good - but because hunger implies relationship.Ongoing dependence.Continued pursuit.Faith, in Scripture, is not a one-time transaction.It is a lived, daily orientation toward God.To hunger for Him is not to lack faith - it is to be alive to it.Why God Allows HungerA central question surfaced naturally:If God is good, why does He allow us to feel this way?Here, Scripture offers clarity without rushing us to comfort:“He humbled you and let you hunger… that He might make you know that man does not live by bread alone.”- Deuteronomy 8:3Hunger teaches.It reveals what sustains us - and what never could.Drawing from experiences in the military, professional sport, and moments of personal extremity, we reflected on how clarity often comes at the bottom. When excess is stripped away. When distractions fall silent. When only what truly matters remains.Jesus Himself entered this space.Forty days in the wilderness.No control.No excess.No shortcuts.And it is there - in hunger - that He names where life is actually found.What Dulls Our HungerAs the conversation opened, we asked honestly:What in our lives might be numbing this hunger?Not in accusation.Not in moral inventory.But in discernment.Hunger is often not lost through rebellion, but through saturation.Too much input.Too many comforts.Too little quiet.This led us into a careful conversation about fasting - not as a rule, not as severity, not as spiritual currency.But as space.Fasting as Attention, Not AchievementAcross Christian history, fasting has never been about proving seriousness to God.It has been about humility and attention.St. Basil described fasting as a way to reorder desire — not to harm the body, but to quiet competing appetites so that deeper hunger can speak.Fasting, rightly understood, is not the goal.It is a question.What do I reach for without thinking?What fills the space where God is inviting me to wait?What might need to be removed, not added?The invitation was gentle, not prescriptive:Create space.Lower the noise.Let hunger surface without panic.A Shared Orientation for the WeekWe did not leave with a mandate, a method, or a measurable outcome.Only an orientation:To notice hunger without shame.To resist filling it too quickly.To ask what it is teaching us about God - and about ourselves.We closed in prayer, asking not for instant satisfaction, but for clarity, humility, and trust - that God meets hunger not with irritation, but with provision.Looking AheadNext week, we will stay with this theme - but turn the question slightly:Not just what we hunger for…but what may be consuming us.And whether satisfaction is being delayed or displaced.Until then:Hunger is not the enemy.It is often the invitation.God is with us.God is with us.Father,teach us not to fear hunger,but to listen to what it reveals.Strip away what distracts,and form in us a deeper dependence on You.Meet us - not with pressure, but with presence.Amen.I’m glad you’re here.Let’s run the race - Eyes Up, Chin Up!Grace and peace,Sam Johnston This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christfocused.substack.com

Month 5 - Spiritual Disciplines | Week 3: Hungry for GodAnchor Scriptures For M5 | W3“As the deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.”- Psalm 42:1 (ESV)This week, we will be covering the following topics:- Hunger Is Biblical Language- What Hunger for God Is, Practically- Fasting Makes Space for Hunger- What Fasting Means Biblically- Does Jesus Assume Fasting- Fasting Trains Desire, Not the Body- How Different Christian Traditions Have Practiced Fasting- Eastern Orthodox Christianity- Monastic Christianity- The Early Church- Western Protestant Traditions- The Danger of Constant FullnessHunger Is Biblical LanguageScripture speaks of desire for God using the language of hunger and thirst, not only as metaphor but as lived experience for us to contemplate.“My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” (Psalm 42:2)“I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.” (Psalm 143:6)“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” (Matthew 5:6)Hunger of this kind isn’t treated in Scripture as spiritual immaturity.It is treated as spiritual health.A soul that longs for God is alive.A soul that never feels hunger is often overfilled elsewhere… and potentially for the religious hearts amidst us, even just filled with - pride.God repeatedly allows hunger in order to teach His people where life actually comes from:“He humbled you and let you hunger… that He might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.” (Deuteronomy 8:2–3)Hunger is the soul recognizing that it was made for communion with God and cannot be sustained by substitutes (Isaiah 55:1–2).Biblically, hunger is what arises when false sources of fullness are removed and the heart is allowed to tell the truth (Hosea 5:15).What Hunger for God Is, PracticallyHunger for God shows up in ordinary life as:A growing dissatisfaction with shallow substitutes (Psalm 73:25–26)A longing to be with God rather than merely informed about Him (Luke 10:39–42)A desire for Scripture to nourish rather than decorate belief (Jeremiah 15:16; Matthew 4:4)A restlessness that draws us toward prayer instead of distraction (Psalm 27:4; Psalm 63:1)It is not anxiety (Philippians 4:6–7).It is not striving (Psalm 127:1–2).It is not spiritual ambition (Luke 18:9–14).It is the ache of dependence waking up again.This is why Scripture treats hunger not as spiritual immaturity, but as spiritual health.“O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you.” (Psalm 63:1)A soul that longs for God is alive.A soul that never feels hunger is often overfilled elsewhere, with religious familiarity, or self-sufficiency (Revelation 3:15–17).Fasting Makes Space for HungerHunger itself can be stifled.Scripture consistently shows that when life is crowded with constant intake, the soul loses its sensitivity.“One who is full loathes honey, but to one who is hungry, everything bitter is sweet.” (Proverbs 27:7)Noise, comfort, control, and distraction quietly dull desire (Amos 8:11).Making space for God is not about effort necessarily, but it is about removal.“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)What is keeping you from being still, so that you can know that He is God?Making space might mean:Removal of what keeps us perpetually full (Luke 12:15)Removal of what keeps us constantly stimulated (Ecclesiastes 5:10–12)Removal of what numbs attentiveness (Hebrews 5:11–14)Space allows hunger to surface.Hunger reorients the heart.And a reoriented heart becomes attentive again to God (Isaiah 30:15).This is where fasting enters the biblical story.Biblically, fasting doesn’t manufacture holiness. It creates space.Space for the body to feel lack.Space for the soul to surface desire.Space for prayer to become necessity rather than routine.Moses fasted before receiving the Law (Exodus 34:28).Elijah fasted before encountering God at Horeb (1 Kings 19:8).Jesus fasted before beginning His public ministry (Matthew 4:1–2).The early church fasted before sending leaders and making decisions (Acts 13:2–3).In Scripture, fasting regularly precedes clarity, obedience, and encounter.What Fasting Means BiblicallyThe primary biblical word for fasting in the Old Testament comes from the Hebrew tsum, meaning “to abstain” or “to withhold” (Ezra 8:21). In the New Testament, the Greek word nēsteuō literally means “to not eat” (Matthew 4:2).But biblically, fasting isn’t defined merely by the absence of food.It is defined by intentional dependence.Fasting is the chosen interruption of normal provision in order to awaken hunger for God.“Return to me with all your heart, with fasting…” (Joel 2:12)It is not self-denial for its own sake (Isaiah 58:3–7).It is not spiritual severity (Colossians 2:20–23).It is not punishment of the body.It is, as we have already said, a way of creating space.In Scripture, fasting often accompanies prayer because hunger sharpens attention.“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said…” (Acts 13:2)Fasting slows us down (Daniel 10:2–3).It exposes what we instinctively reach for (Matthew 4:3–4).It reveals humbly whether we live by the bread of the world alone, or by the word that comes from the mouth of God (Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4).This is why fasting is consistently connected to listening, discernment, repentance, or longing (Nehemiah 1:4; Acts 14:23).It is not an end.It is a means of reorientation.Before Scripture ever commands fasting, it reveals why fasting matters.Not to make God near, but to make us attentive (James 4:8).Not to earn favor, but to recover desire.Only once hunger is understood does fasting make sense.Does Jesus Assume FastingJesus doesn’t introduce fasting as a novel discipline. He assumes it as part of the normal life of His disciples.“And when you fast…” (Matthew 6:16)Not if.Not should.When.Fasting appears alongside prayer and generosity as a quiet discipline, meant to be unseen, not performed. Its purpose is not display but as we have covered, a personal reorientation.Later, when questioned about why His disciples were not fasting, Jesus responded:“The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.” (Matthew 9:15)Again, “and then they will fast.” Not - And then if they want to they can, or they would have the option, but they will.Fasting isn’t rooted in rule-keeping or severity. It is rooted in longing. It is the embodied language of desire when presence feels distant.Fasting Trains Desire, Not the BodyFasting in Scripture isn’t self-punishment. It is self-honesty.“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)Fasting reminds both body and soul that life is sustained by God, not merely by provision. It reveals what we reach for when comfort is removed and what quietly sustains us when ease is taken away.Fasting doesn’t aim at control. It aims at awareness.How Different Christian Traditions Have Practiced FastingAn Awareness, Not an InstructionAcross the history of the Church, fasting has never taken only one form. Practices differ widely, but the direction remains the same. Hunger is used to orient the heart toward God.What follows here is not a prescription for you to follow. It is an awareness of how the wider Body of Christ has stewarded hunger as a spiritual discipline.Eastern Orthodox ChristianityFasting as Rhythmic Formation.In Eastern Orthodox Christianity, fasting is not primarily an individual choice. It is communal, calendar-based, and formative.Orthodox fasting often involves abstaining from certain foods during weekly fast days and longer seasons such as Great Lent. The aim is not deprivation for its own sake, but simplicity that allows prayer to deepen and life to slow.St. Basil the Great wrote in the fourth century:“Fasting gives birth to prophets, strengthens the powerful, makes lawgivers wise. Fasting is a safeguard for the soul, a steadfast companion for the body.”Orthodox teachers consistently warn that fasting without humility becomes harmful. Hunger is meant to soften the heart, not harden the will.A common Orthodox saying summarizes the posture well:“Do not fast from food alone. Fast from anger, pride, and distraction.”The discipline is not about mastery, but freedom.Monastic ChristianityFasting Within a Whole Way of LifeIn both Eastern and Western monastic traditions, fasting doesn’t stand alone as a separate practice. It exists within a broader rule of life that includes prayer, Scripture, silence, work, and simplicity.St. Benedict, whose Rule shaped Western monasticism for centuries, warned against excess and spiritual heroics:“Let all things be done with moderation, so that the strong may have something to strive for, and the weak nothing to run from.”Monastic fasting was intentionally unremarkable. It was steady, ordinary, and sustained. Its power came not from intensity, but from consistency over time.Hunger was not meant to dominate attention, but to quietly redirect it toward God again and again.This reminds us that fasting was never intended as a shortcut or technique, but as a support for a life already oriented toward God.The Early ChurchFasting for Discernment and DependenceIn the book of Acts, fasting appears most often in moments of discernment.“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said…” (Acts 13:2)The early church fasted before sending missionaries, appointing leaders, and stepping into unknown obedience.Fasting functioned as a confession of dependence. It slowed decision-making and made space to listen.Western Protestant TraditionsFasting as Intentional ReturnIn many modern Western churches, fasting is less structured and less communal. It often takes the form of skipping meals, fasting for a day or season, or abstaining from media, entertainment, or comforts.Reformers like John Calvin emphasized a focus on purpose over form:“Fasting is not a matter of form, but of purpose, that the flesh may be subdued and the spirit raised to prayer.”In these traditions, fasting often functions as a reset. A way of interrupting constant fullness and returning attention to God in a sharp return.Its strength lies not in uniformity, but in intentionality.A Shared ThreadAcross these traditions, one theme remains consistent.Fasting is not about absence.It is about attentiveness.Not about earning.But about remembering.Not about control.But about clarity.We havent covered these practices for you to become a “hyper-monk” with a thousand new models to copy, but rather so that we can be witnesses to the Church’s long understanding that hunger can be a teacher.The Danger of Constant FullnessScripture repeatedly warns about the subtle danger that comes with fullness.“Take care lest your heart be lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God.” (Deuteronomy 8:14)“Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry.” (Luke 6:25)Fullness will dull memory and alterness.Hunger sharpens attention.Fasting, whether from food, noise, media, or comfort, allows us to feel truthfully again.This Week’s InvitationMaking Space. This isn’t a command to fast in a specific way. It’s an invitation to make space.Choose one form of restraint.A skipped meal.A simplified meal.A fast from media.A fast from constant noise.A fast for whatever creates space.Pair it intentionally with prayer or Scripture. Don’t rush to fill the discomfort.Ask:What do I notice when this is removed?What desire surfaces?What am I actually hungry for?Watch/ Listen/ ReadWatchDo you hunger for God? - John BarnettA short visual teaching on longing for God Himself rather than His gifts. This video helps bring the theme of desiring God into felt reality rather than an abstract concept.3 Levels of Fasting - and Why Most Christians Stop at Level 1Read & Listen“The Place of Fasting in the Christian Life” - Article & PodcastRead: The Place of Fasting in the Christian Life (C.S. Lewis Institute)A balanced, historically grounded overview of fasting’s role in Christian discipleship, showing (with biblical examples) how fasting has been understood as a way to draw near to God.John Piper, A Hunger for God: Desiring God through Fasting and Prayer - LINKDo you have that hunger for Him? As John Piper puts it: “If we don’t feel strong desires for the manifestation of the glory of God, it is not because you have drunk deeply and are satisfied. It is because we have nibbled so long at the table of the world. Our soul is stuffed with small things, and there is no room for the great.”Arthur Wallis, God’s Chosen Fast - LINKIt is not so much a how-to manual, but a reference that explains the purpose of fasting, details accounts of fasting in the Bible, and includes a comprehensive biblical index.ListenPsalm 57 | “Under the Shadow” | UK Lo-Fi / Ambient Garage | The Christ Focused Music CollectivePsalm 57 is a prayer prayed from hiding. David is not in comfort or control, but seeking refuge beneath God’s protection. This makes it especially relevant for a week focused on hunger and fasting, because it captures what remains when strength, certainty, and self-reliance are stripped away.Psalm 88 | “Unanswered Prayer” | Lo-Fi / Ambient Lament | Christ Focused Music CollectivePsalm 88 is one of the darkest prayers in Scripture. It contains no resolution, no visible deliverance, and no movement toward comfort. And yet, it is prayed.This matters for a week focused on hunger because Psalm 88 shows us what remains when comfort, reassurance, and easy answers are removed. It is the sound of a soul refusing distraction and choosing honesty before God. There is no performance here, only presence.📅 This Week’s 30-Min Rally PointWe’ll meet for our first 30-minute rally point this Thursday at 7:00 PM EST via Zoom.This is a space for reflection, encouragement, and activation, a rhythm of checking in, praying together, and pressing forward.🕖 Zoom Time: Thursday @ 7:00 PM EST🔗 Click to join the Zoom call - Zoom URLBring a Bible, a journal, and any wins or wrestles you want to share. This is a safe space to grow.Sneak Peek at Month 5 | Spiritual Disciplines - Week 4: In the QuietAnchor Scriptures“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)“And after the fire, the sound of a low whisper.” (1 Kings 19:12)“Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” (Luke 5:16)If fasting removes what fills us, silence reveals what remains.Scripture shows us again and again that God does not force His voice over noise. He waits for attentiveness. Quiet unsettles us because it removes distraction and leaves us face to face with our thoughts, our desires, and our need. What remains in the silence often tells the truth about what has been shaping us.In the Bible, stillness is not emptiness but encounter. Elijah hears God not in spectacle but in a whisper. Jesus regularly withdraws from the crowds to be alone with the Father. Silence becomes the place where formation happens, not because God is distant, but because we are finally present.Next week, we will explore why stillness is so difficult, how Scripture treats quiet as a spiritual discipline, and why God so often speaks when we stop filling the air.God is with us!Father,Teach us again how to hunger for You.Remove what dulls our desire.Restore what comfort has numbed.Meet us in the removal of our excess,as we venture into honest need.Amen.I’m glad you’re here.Let’s run the race - Eyes Up, Chin Up!Grace and peace,Sam Johnston This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christfocused.substack.com

Envoy Rally Point - Month 5, Week 2Theme: Daily Bread In The WordThis week, our rally call invited us to revisit something deeply familiar, and to discover how easily familiarity can drift into distance.We were not gathered to create new religious techniques or optimize our Bible habits. The invitation was quieter and more searching:To examine our actual relationship with the Word of God.Not what we believe about Scripture.But how we come to it.What posture we bring.And whether we are receiving it as nourishment, or merely as content.As one theme surfaced again and again throughout the evening, it was this:agreement with Scripture is not the same thing as appetite for it.Scripture as Sustenance, Not ContentWe anchored our conversation in Jesus’ words:“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”- Matthew 4:4Jesus is not offering a metaphor for spiritual enrichment.He is describing how life itself is sustained.Bread is ordinary.Daily.Easily overlooked.And without it, strength fades, even when belief remains intact.Jeremiah gives language to this posture when he says:“Your words were found, and I ate them.”- Jeremiah 15:16He does not say he admired the Word, studied it deeply, or fully understood it.He says he ate it.The Word was received as sustenance, something necessary for survival, not optional for growth.This framed a central insight from our time together:Many believers are well-informed, but quietly undernourished.Appetite, Attention, and the Shape of Our DaysAs the discussion opened, the group reflected honestly on how Scripture is often displaced, not by sinful things, but by many things.Noise.Notifications.Constant commentary.The pressure to always keep up.Several participants shared practical wisdom born out of lived experience.One simple but powerful practice offered was the habit of keeping a notebook nearby while reading Scripture, not to take notes on the passage, but to write down distractions as they arise. Naming them, rather than chasing them, created space for attentiveness to return.Others shared the importance of intentionally choosing quiet, undistracted spaces—recognizing that hunger for the Word is often dulled not by disinterest, but by fragmentation.What emerged was a shared recognition:Scripture is not resisted so much as it is crowded out.The discipline, then, is not force, but making room.Translation, Trust, and Returning to the SourceWe also spent time discussing how translation choice affects daily engagement with Scripture.The encouragement toward a clear, readable translation, such as the ESV, was not about preference or superiority, but about sustainability. A translation that can be read slowly, clearly, and repeatedly supports Scripture as daily bread rather than an occasional feast.Beneath this conversation lay a deeper concern voiced by the group:In an age of endless explanations - commentary, podcasts, summaries, even AI-generated insights - it is easy to replace direct encounter with secondary voices.But nourishment cannot be outsourced.No explanation, however helpful, can substitute for coming directly to the Word and receiving it as God’s living address.The group named this clearly: tools can assist, but they cannot replace feeding.From Obligation to HungerOne of the most significant shifts we named together was this:Scripture is often approached out of obligation.Bread is approached out of need.God is not irritated by our hunger.He is patient with it.And He does not meet us with pressure - but with provision.The invitation of the Word is not performance, but return.Again.And again.A Shared PracticeWe closed the evening by naming a simple, shared intention for the week ahead:To come to Scripture not asking, “How much should I read?”But asking, “What obedience is being invited here?”No plans to complete.No streaks to maintain.No productivity to measure.Just daily bread, received slowly.Looking AheadNext week, we will turn our attention from feeding to hunger itself.Not what we consume - but what consumes us.Not what we add - but what may need to be removed.As Jesus says:“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”- Matthew 5:6Until then, the table remains set.The Word will not return empty.And nourishment will come, often quietly, often unseen, but always faithfully.God is with us.“Father,Teach us to return - not out of guilt, but out of need.Give us today our daily bread,and form in us lives marked by stability, fruitfulness, and endurance.Amen.”I’m glad you’re here.Let’s run the race - Eyes Up, Chin Up!Grace and peace,Sam Johnston This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christfocused.substack.com

Month 5 - Spiritual Disciplines | Week 2: Daily Bread in the WordAnchor Scriptures For M5 | W2“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”- Matthew 4:4Most Christians would say, without hesitation, that the Bible matters.And they would be right.But agreement is not the same thing as appetite.You can believe bread is essential to life and still skip meals.You can affirm its importance and yet live undernourished.And over time, the effects show - not suddenly, but surely.Jesus doesn’t speak of Scripture as an optional supplement for the spiritually ambitious.He speaks of it as bread - necessary, ordinary, daily.Not admired as objective art.Not analyzed from a distance.But eaten.Belief Without FeedingOne of the quiet background tragedies of modern discipleship is that many believers are well-informed, yet poorly nourished. What do we mean by that?Well, we know verses.We recognize biblical language.We are familiar with themes.And yet, when pressure inevitably comes, when temptation presses, when suffering lingers a little too long for comfort, and when discernment is required, we find ourselves strangely weak and lacking the mental fortitude to overcome the situation.Not because we have rejected the Word.But because we have neglected it.This isn’t a dramatic rebellion.It is a slow omission. Something that seeps into our lives too easily.And Scripture has long warned us that omission can be just as dangerous as rebellion.When God led Israel into the wilderness, He allowed them to hunger, not to harm them, but to teach them.“He humbled you and let you hunger… that He might make you know that man does not live by bread alone.”- Deuteronomy 8:3The lesson was simple and severe:Life is sustained by more than what fills the stomach.Bread Is Meant to Be Consumed DailyBread works quietly.No one eats breakfast and immediately marvels at the miracle of digestion.The strength comes later, when it’s needed, when its tested.The nourishment is often unnoticed. So it is with Scripture.The Word of God does sometimes shock us, leave us in awe, and create dramatic moments in our lives. However, you will also find that it most often doesn’t transform us through dramatic moments of insight, but instead through faithful repeated exposure over time.This is why the psalmist doesn’t describe the blessed man as one who studies furiously, but one who delights and meditates.“His delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night.”- Psalm 1:2And the result?Stability.Fruitfulness.Endurance.A tree doesn’t strain to grow.It simply remains planted within God’s grace.Information Is Not the Same as NourishmentWe live in an age that prizes efficiency, productivity, and mastery. Of accolades and certification, grades and scores.It’s no surprise, then, that we often approach Scripture asking, “How can I finish this in a certain timeframe?” “What can I get from this?”But hear me out, Scripture isn’t necessarily given to be used.It is given to be received.“Sam, what does that actually mean, though?”Jeremiah doesn’t say, “Your words were found, and I studied them carefully.”He says:“Your words were found, and I ate them.”- Jeremiah 15:16Eating implies dependence.It implies humility.It implies trust.The Hebrew verb used is: אָכַל (ʾāḵal) - to eat, consume. This is the ordinary, concrete verb for eating food.It is used for:Eating bread (Genesis 3:19)Eating meat (Exodus 12:8)Eating manna (Exodus 16:12)Physical consumption necessary for survivalJeremiah could have chosen metaphorical verbs:To receiveTo considerTo learnTo acceptHe doesn’t.He chooses the most bodily, animal, inescapable verb available.This isn’t “I appreciated Your words.”It is “I took them into myself as sustenance.”You don’t dissect bread before consuming it.You eat, and you trust nourishment to follow.The Word works the same way. It’s okay to dissect and enjoy the word, but not at the cost of it being used as bread daily. Why Neglect Weakens EnduranceNeglecting Scripture doesn’t usually lead to immediate collapse.It leads to gradual erosion. Obedience becomes selectiveConvictions become negotiableDiscernment becomes cloudyEndurance becomes brittleThe soul, like the body, compensates for a time.But eventually, weakness shows.This is why Jesus ties life itself to the Word.Not growth.Not maturity.Life.If you are acting actively as the custodian of your own soul, and treat your life with that gravitas, then this will be impactful reading. If you are less incentivized for your own good, then disciple to disciple, I pray that you will look to those around you, those in your care. Do they deserve your selective obedience, your negotiable convictions, your cloudy discernment, and what happens to them when your endurance turns brittle?The bread is for them as much as it is for you, and through your nourishment is their provision and protection. Whatever flock you tend to, they deserve a shepherd with stability, fruitfulness, and endurance. When the Word Feels DryThere will be seasons when Scripture feels vivid and alive. Seasons of AWE.There will also be seasons when it feels dry, familiar, or even distant.This isn’t failure.Often, it’s training.God is teaching us to walk by faith rather than sensation, to trust His Word rather than our response to it. It’s the same as if you’ve only ever felt the Holy Spirit when the worship band gets your heart beat to a certain bpm or chorus, then you aren’t prepared for the valleys and quiet dark nights of despair and temptation. Your Father is just as much with you in the silence of the mundane, in the unknown of your questions, as he is in the hysteria, euthoria, or desperation of your worship. Discipline and endurance in things like treating the Word as bread will produce patterns in your life that become the parapets and defences of your soul.The discipline is not found in emotional reaction.It is found in faithful return. Faithful return to the word.Again.And again.And again.“The word of God is living and active.”- Hebrews 4:12Living things usually work deepest where we cannot see.A Simple Practice for the WeekThis week, we aim for faithfulness.Choose a short passage.Read it once each day.Read it slowly.Sit in silence afterward.Ask one question of the word:“What obedience is being invited through this word today?”No plans to complete.No targets to hit.No performance to measure.Just daily bread.Watch/ Listen/ ReadWatch“Living on the Basis of the Word of God Alone” - R.C. SproulA clear, short teaching on the authority and life-giving nature of Scripture.“Cherishing God’s Word” - Alistair BeggShort encouragement on returning to Scripture with affection and devotion (Truth For Life).ReadA.W. Tozer - “The Pursuit of God” (classic devotional book) - LINKThis book isn’t fully free online, but it’s widely available in print and ebook (“The Pursuit of God”). Tozer’s reflections on seeking God through devotion to His Word are excellent.“Scripture and the Authority of God” - N. T. Wright. Dense but nourishing on what Scripture is and how it functions - LINKListen“Living on God’s Every Word” - John PiperA searching exhortation from John Piper on why God’s Word must be fed upon, not merely affirmed, pressing listeners to see Scripture as essential sustenance for spiritual life rather than optional instruction for the already mature.Poor Bishop Hooper - Psalm 2 (EveryPsalm)A simple, Scripture-sung setting that lets the Word speak for itself, helping the listener receive the psalm as nourishment rather than commentary.Pavel G. Chesnokov - To Thee We SingA reverent soul churner from the Russian liturgical tradition that invites us to receive truth before attempting to explain it, training the soul in attentiveness rather than analysis. 📅 This Week’s 30-Min Rally PointWe’ll meet for our first 30-minute rally point this Thursday at 7:00 PM EST via Zoom.This is a space for reflection, encouragement, and activation, a rhythm of checking in, praying together, and pressing forward.🕖 Zoom Time: Thursday @ 7:00 PM EST🔗 Click to join the Zoom call - Zoom URLFormat:Welcome & Opening Prayer (2 min)Scripture Reading (3 min)Teaching Recap (5 min)Discussion Questions (12 min)Heart-Level Questions:Head-Level Questions:Hands-Level Questions:Practice Together (5 min)Closing Encouragement & Prayer (3 min)Bring a Bible, a journal, and any wins or wrestles you want to share. This is a safe space to grow.Sneak Peek at Month 5 | Spiritual Disciplines - Week 3: Hungry for GodMost of us don’t struggle with desire.We struggle with misdirected desire.We are rarely empty - just overfed on the wrong things.Noise.Comfort.Certainty.Distraction.And in all of it, we quietly lose the ability to recognize what true hunger feels like.Jesus does not assume His disciples will never fast.He assumes they will.“When you fast…” - not if.(Matthew 6:16)Why?Because fasting, restraint, and holy denial do not make us holy -they make us honest.Next week, we will explore a searching question:What if much of our spiritual dullness is not God’s absence - but our fullness?We’ll consider:Why hunger is not a problem to be solved, but a gift to be stewardedHow Scripture treats fasting as training, not punishmentThe difference between denying the body and disciplining desireWhy God often meets us most clearly where we have stopped numbing ourselvesThis is not a call to extremes.It is a call to attentiveness.To feel again.To notice again.To want God more than His gifts.“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”- Matthew 5:6Next week, we will not ask how to get more from God.We will ask what needs to be removed so we can finally want Him.God is with us!Gracious Father,We confess that we have often treated bread like decoration.Forgive us for believing without feeding.Give us today our daily bread.And teach us to return to the table, not to analyze, but to eat.Amen.I’m glad you’re here.Let’s run the race - Eyes Up, Chin Up!Grace and peace,Sam Johnston This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christfocused.substack.com

Envoy Rally Point - Month 5, Week 1Theme: The Lifeline of PrayerGuest Speaker: Sam McCabe Resources: Links to Follow Sam: YouTube Link - Spotify Link - Instagram LinkThis week’s rally call created exactly what it was meant to: Space.Not space for content, not space for performance, but space for listening, reflection, and abiding with God.As we continue through Month 5: Spiritual Disciplines, we returned to the foundational truth that prayer is not an accessory to discipleship. It is the lifeline that sustains it.Our anchor scripture for the week framed everything that followed:“Abide in Me, and I in you.” - John 15:4Prayer, we were reminded, is not primarily about asking God to bless what we are already doing. It is about remaining close enough to be formed, so that our desires, rhythms, and obedience are shaped by Him rather than pushed by us.Hidden Obedience & Real FormationSam shared honestly from his own journey as both a preacher and a musician, roles that naturally place someone in visible ministry spaces.Yet some of the most formative seasons of his discipleship, he reflected, came not through platforms or momentum, but through hidden obedience.He spoke about recent decisions to step back from social media and metrics, choosing instead to prioritize family, faithfulness, and attentiveness to what God was actually asking of him. Not because those things were sinful - but because they were quietly crowding out presence.The question that surfaced repeatedly was simple and unsettling:Who are we becoming when no one is watching?Faithfulness, Sam reminded us, is often forged away from applause, where obedience is quiet, costly, and unseen.Prayer When the Feeling FadesA central theme of the evening was honesty about spiritual dryness.What happens when:Prayer feels flatWorship feels costlyMinistry feels heavyInspiration doesn’t comeSam spoke candidly about learning not to measure faithfulness by emotional intensity. Drawing from both Scripture and church history, he emphasized that prayer is not always spontaneous or expressive, and it doesn’t need to be.Sometimes prayer is simply showing up.He shared how structured prayer rhythms - such as using The Daily Office, have helped him remain grounded during seasons when motivation is low. Not as a replacement for heartfelt prayer, but as a way of pressing into obedience when feelings aren’t leading.Prayer, in this sense, becomes an act of trust rather than expression.The Fruit God ValuesAs the conversation turned toward fruitfulness, Sam named something the modern church often struggles to count:Humility.Not self-deprecation, but a growing contentment with obscurity, collaboration, and faithfulness without recognition.Drawing from Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians on the temporary nature of earthly success, Sam reminded us that much of what the world, and even the church, celebrates does not last.The fruit God forms most deeply is often invisible:PatienceHumilityAttentivenessFaithfulness over timeThese are not easily measured, but they endure.Prayer as a Way of LifeOne of the clearest takeaways from the night was this:Prayer is not something we schedule.It is something we live.Sam described prayer as continuous orientation rather than constant speech, a steady alignment of life with the Spirit of God.Jesus Himself, Sam noted, modeled this rhythm:Public ministryPrivate retreatVisible obedienceHidden dependencePrayer sustains that balance.Closing and What’s AheadWe closed the evening in prayer with Sam and his two Sons, grateful for honesty, humility, and the reminder that abiding is often quieter than we expect, but far more formative than we realize.If you weren’t able to join live, the recording will be shared here via Substack and it will be on our YouTube channel catalogue and on Spotify.Next week, we move into Month 5, Week 2: Daily Bread in the Word, where we’ll wrestle with a searching question:What happens to a disciple who believes in Scripture - but doesn’t feed on it as bread?An email will also be sent shortly, inviting the group to share prayer requests, both those that can be shared openly and those you’d like carried quietly.Know that they will be prayed over diligently.God is with us.Thank you for drawing near. May the Lord bless your obedience, steady your heart, and fill you with joy as you walk in His ways this week.I’m glad you’re here.Let’s run the race - Eyes Up, Chin Up!Grace and peace,Sam Johnston This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christfocused.substack.com

Month 5 - Spiritual Disciplines | Week 1: The Lifeline of PrayerThe Disciplines We Will Walk Through This MonthMonth 5 focuses on Spiritual Disciplines, not as rigid routines, but as ancient pathways of abiding that the Church has walked for centuries.Each week will build on the last:Week 1 - The Lifeline of PrayerPrayer as communion, conversation, and continual abiding - not performance or transaction.Week 2 - Daily Bread in the WordScripture, not as information to master, but as nourishment that sustains life over time.Week 3 - Hungry for GodFasting, longing, and rightly ordered desire - learning to recognize what actually satisfies.Week 4 - In the QuietSilence, solitude, and attentiveness - making space for God rather than filling it with noise.These disciplines are not meant to impress anyone.They are meant to keep us alive.They do not earn intimacy with God.They protect it.Anchor Scriptures For M5 | W1“Abide in Me, and I in you.” - John 15:4There comes a point in every discipleship journey where knowledge alone, without communion, will no longer carry you.Month 5 exists for that moment.Everything we have walked through so far, identity, obedience, servanthood, endurance - assumes a living, active relationship with God. Spiritual disciplines are not an advanced layer of Christianity reserved for the especially devout. They are the infrastructure that ensures faith to survive contact with real life.Without disciplines:Identity drifts into abstractionObedience becomes willpowerEndurance turns into grit aloneService quietly burns us outSpiritual disciplines aren’t religious weight.They are relational practices.Prayer stands first not because it’s performative, but because it is essential. It is the discipline that allows everything else to compound instead of collapse.Prayer Before Religion: Communion From the BeginningPrayer didn’t begin as you may think, as humanity frantically reaching up to God.It begins with God dwelling with humanity.Before sin, before law, before sacrifice, Scripture tells us:“They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day.” - Genesis 3:8The first human experience of God wasn’t ritual - it was presence.Conversation was normal. Communion was assumed.Prayer wasn’t scheduled.It wasn’t performed.It was simply life with God.Sin fractured that communion - but it didn’t erase God’s desire for it. From Genesis onward, the story of Scripture is the story of God reopening access.From Garden to Covenant: Prayer as Conversation, Not ControlAs Scripture unfolds, prayer takes new forms - but not necessarily a new purpose.God speaks.Humanity responds.Covenant shapes the relationship.From Abraham’s intercession (Genesis 18), to Moses speaking with God “face to face” (Exodus 33:11), to David’s raw prayers in the Psalms, prayer remains relational speech, not transactional spiritual management.“The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.” - Psalm 145:18Even Israel’s sacrificial system was never meant to replace the relationship:“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit.” - Psalm 51:17Prayer was never about transactions or controlling outcomes.It was about remaining near.Christ Restores AbidingJesus gives us the blueprint, but He doesn’t introduce the Lord’s prayer as just a new religious technique.He is completely restoring the communion and conversation that was lost in the garden.“Abide in Me, and I in you… apart from Me you can do nothing.” - John 15:4–5Abiding isn’t really about intensity or short-burst emotional feelings.It is about remaining. Mountain high, valley low, and all the experiences in between.Jesus prays constantly - not to appear spiritual, but because communion with the Father is the source of His life (Mark 1:35, John 5:19).And when He teaches prayer, He begins with a warning:“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites…” - Matthew 6:5Prayer isn’t a religious performance.It is not spiritually transactional.It is a relationship sustained.The Lord’s Prayer: The Shape of All PrayerWhen the disciples ask how to pray, Jesus gives them a prayer that carries the entire biblical story in miniature:“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name…” - Matthew 6:9–13This prayer is not meant to be rushed or reduced.It is a framework for abiding:Our Father - relationship before requestHallowed be Your name - worship before needYour kingdom come - surrender before agendaDaily bread - dependence over excessForgiveness - reconciliation over imageGuidance and deliverance - trust over controlAcross church history, this prayer has been treated as the baseline, not the aspirational.Augustine of Hippo taught that prayer forms our desires before it fulfills them. An honest question:Do your prayers form your desires, or do they push your desires?The Rule of St. Benedict anchored daily life around short, repeated prayers, not to earn holiness, but to keep God near throughout the day. C.S Lewis gave us that “Prayer doesn’t change God; it changes me.” Teresa of Ávila called prayer “an intimate sharing between friends.” Different centuries.Same conviction.“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.”- Psalm 23:1“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”- Psalm 51:10“Teach me Your way, O LORD, that I may walk in Your truth.”- Psalm 86:11“Search me, O God, and know my heart…and lead me in the way everlasting.”- Psalm 139:23–24All orienting our hearts and minds to the will of God, rather than to the will of our flesh.The Many Forms of Prayer - One CommunionWhilst one of our core goals of prayer is to get to know our Father’s heart, scripture doesn’t limit prayer to a single expression.“I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people.” - 1 Timothy 2:1Prayer takes different forms because life does.Petition - “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11)Intercession - “I have prayed for you” (Luke 22:32)Confession - “If we confess our sins…” (1 John 1:9)Thanksgiving - “Give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)Lament - “How long, O LORD?” (Psalm 13)Praise - “Let everything that has breath praise the LORD” (Psalm 150:6)None of these forms are secondary.None are optional to the walk of a Disciple.They are the language of relationship.Prayer as Watchfulness: A Vocation, Not an EscapeThroughout the rich halls of Christian history, prayer has not only been practiced as a personal discipline, it has been carried as a vocation of watchfulness.Long before modern evangelical activism, media, or even widespread literacy, the Church recognized that some work that couldn’t necessarily be seen, measured, or applauded was actually the most essential.In monastic and cloistered communities, prayer was organized, disciplined, and sustained around the clock, often with specific intentions assigned to specific hours. This was not petty piety. It was intentional labor.Orders such as the Poor Clares, founded in the 13th century alongside Franciscan reform, committed themselves to lives of enclosure, not to withdraw from the world, but to stand before God on its behalf. Their days and nights were structured around the “Divine Office” fixed hours of prayer that ensured unceasing intercession.Similarly, Benedictine communities ordered life around the principle of ora et labora - prayer and work - with prayer understood as real work, not preparatory work.By the early Middle Ages, monasteries functioned as spiritual watchtowers across Europe. While armies marched, plagues spread, and kings rose and fell, there were communities that believed their primary calling was to remain awake before God.Prayer: Bearing the World’s WeightSome of these prayer watches were assigned specific burdens/ honors:Intercession during childbirth (when maternal and infant mortality were high)Prayers during epidemics and faminePrayers during war, when those fighting couldn’t pray themselvesThere are documented practices, especially among cloistered nuns, of night vigils specifically dedicated to mothers laboring in childbirth, a moment historically associated with extraordinary risk. While families slept, these women remain awake, praying Psalms and petitions for lives they would never see.This was not sentimentality.It was theology lived out.They believed that someone must remain before God when others could not.Watchmen in ScriptureScripture doesn’t treat this kind of prayer as symbolic or even optional.God uses military language to describe it.“I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem;all the day and all the night they shall never be silent.You who put the LORD in remembrance, take no rest.” - Isaiah 62:6Watchmen don’t decorate walls.They guard them.They stay awake so others can sleep.Jesus echoes this same language on the night of His arrest:“Watch and pray, that you may not enter into temptation.” - Matthew 26:41This is not poetic imagery.It is a command shaped by danger. “That you may not enter into temptation.”Prayer, in Scripture, is alertness in contested territory.Prayer As Active VigilanceThe modern church seems to have embedded an instinct to treat prayer as private reflection or emotional regulation. A sort of meditation or secular soft mindfulness.Scripture doesn’t.Prayer is described as:Wrestling (Genesis 32:24–30)Standing in the gap (Ezekiel 22:30)Laboring (Colossians 4:12)Keeping watch (Luke 21:36)Paul describes Epaphras this way:“Epaphras… is always struggling on your behalf in his prayers.” - Colossians 4:12That word struggling is athletic and combative.Prayer costs something.It requires attention, endurance, and resolve.Prayer Is The Root of All MinistryWe sometimes treat prayer as support work. Something that is done to back up other “more real, tangible” works and efforts.Scripture doesn’t.When pressure increases in Acts, the apostles guard prayer deliberately:“We will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” - Acts 6:4Prayer isn’t what happens instead of ministry.It is what keeps ministry aligned. It is equal in value and two of the same.That scripture in Acts 6: 4 doesn’t say “We will devote ourselves to the ministry of the word and then do some prayer too”, it clearly prioritizes, clearly directs us - “We will devote ourselves to prayer…” First. Prayer is primary, it is breath, it is sanctuary, it is the foundation of our lives.Without prayer:Preaching becomes performanceService becomes self-relianceLeadership becomes control“Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.” - Psalm 127:1Prayer is both a calling in itself and the common ground of every disciple.Not everyone will preach.Not everyone will lead publicly.But every disciple abides, every disciple prays.What Prayer Looks Like PracticallyPrayer isn’t measured by eloquence, so lets get off our churianity pedestal for a minute. A simple, historic rhythm:Begin with presence and reverence to align - “Our Father…”If in doubt, pray Scripture slowly - Psalms, the Gospels, Romans 8Short prayers, often - “Lord, have mercy.” “Keep me near.”End with trust - “Into Your hands…” (Luke 23:46)This is how we learn to:“Pray without ceasing.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:17Invitation for the WeekDon’t aim for impressive prayers.Aim for honest presence.Let prayer become the place where striving quiets, performance dissolves, and communion begins and resumes.“Abide in Me… and you will bear much fruit.” - John 15:5Weekly Rally Call - Guest Speaker Sam McCabe This week’s theme will be carried further in our weekly rally call, where we’ll be joined by Sam McCabe.📅 Thursday · 7:00pm ESTSam will help us explore:prayer as a way of life, not an eventobedience and endurance sustained through abidingwhat fruit actually looks like when prayer is lived, not performedIf you can’t make it live, you can still receive the recording and invite - just reach out, or sign up here on Substack, and we’ll make sure you’re included.Sneak Peek at Month 5 | Spiritual Disciplines - Week 2: Daily Bread in the WordMost Christians agree the Bible matters. Far fewer treat it like bread.Scripture wasn’t meant to be consumed occasionally, studied competitively, or quoted selectively to support our opinions. Jesus doesn’t call the Word supplemental. He calls it daily bread.“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” - Matthew 4:4Next week, we will wrestle with a hard but honest question:What happens to a disciple who believes in Scripture, but doesn’t feed on it?We’ll explore:Why Scripture forms us more through slow, repeated exposure than intense study aloneHow the early church treated the Word as nourishment, not informationThe difference between reading Scripture to use it versus reading Scripture to be shaped by itWhy neglecting the Word quietly weakens endurance, obedience, and discernmentThis isn’t about reading plans, streaks, or spiritual productivity.It’s about survival.Because just as the body weakens without food, the soul slowly starves without the Word, often without realizing it.“Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart.” - Jeremiah 15:16Next week, we return to the table - not to analyze the bread, but to eat!God is with us!Father,restore prayer to what it was always meant to be,life with You.Teach us to remain,to listen,to trust.Let prayer be our lifeline again.Not a moment we visit,but a place we live.Amen.I’m glad you’re here.Let’s run the race - Eyes Up, Chin Up!Grace and peace,Sam Johnston This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christfocused.substack.com

Month 4 - Endurance | Week 4: Fruitful EnduranceAnchor Scriptures For M4 | W4“Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”- Galatians 6:9The journey of Endurance is not only about what we give to God. We also get to talk about what God graciously gives back to us along the way.So much of the Christian life is framed in terms of faithfulness, obedience, and perseverance - and rightly so. But Scripture also invites us to notice and recognize something tender and deeply sustaining: God doesn’t ask us to endure without allowing us to enjoy some of the fruit of His work, in and through us, along the way.Endurance has a promise.And often, God, as the loving father he is, lets us taste that promise before the journey is even finished.This month, we have wrestled with trials, weakness, and the long road of faithfulness. We have learned that endurance forms us and that God meets us where strength runs out. Scripture this week is continuing to shift our gaze forward - not just to the finish line, but to the life that begins to grow along the path.“Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”- Galatians 6:9This is not a call to grind for grinding's sake.It is an invitation to trust that God is already at work, and to recognize, receive, and even enjoy the fruit that faithful endurance produces in and through you as you proceed.What a shame it would be to finally reach the presence of the Father one day, and turn around and see all the things you could have enjoyed, that would have powered you through, that would have elevated you above the circumstances, that may have produced more fruit if you had the mind to see it in the moment, that may have made that yoke lighter. This week, we explore fruitful service not only as a delayed reward or spiritual transaction, but as present evidence of God’s grace at work in and through us. Small obediences, quiet acts of service, and unseen faithfulness begin to bear fruit that strengthens us, gladdens us, and reminds us that our labor in the Lord is never wasted.Endurance continues - but now with joy.The Lost Field of EnduranceBetween sowing and reaping lies the field of endurance.One of the quiet dangers in prolonged seasons of endurance is eventually thinking and slipping into the lie that your faithfulness is unnoticed, disappearing into the ground unseen, like yourself, that your obedience somehow is just evaporating without effect. Long seasons, long waits, and long endurance are incredible teachers of faith. Scripture directly confronts it.Paul doesn’t say, “you might reap.”He says, “you will reap.”“Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”- Galatians 6:9But Paul also names and recognizes the tension here: there is a due season.Between sowing and reaping lies the field of endurance.Scripture consistently affirms that God works in these unseen intervals. That God is always at work, present and actively engaged. Isaiah reminds us that God’s word never returns empty (Isaiah 55:10–11). The psalmist declares that those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy (Psalm 126:5–6). And Jesus Himself assures us that the Father who sees in secret will reward openly (Matthew 6:4).Endurance, then, is not waiting in vain, it is waiting in strength with God.Augustine of Hippo reflected on this hiddenness when he wrote that God is often at work “where we cannot yet see the fruit, but where faith itself is already being enlarged.” For Augustine, delay was not denial; it was formation. And if we are honest, if faith itself is being enlarged, then that is fruit worthy of celebration in itself. And it is often here - long before the harvest - that God allows us to see early signs of fruit:A softened heart where hardness once livedA quiet obedience that strengthens resolveA small act of service that brings life to anotherA renewed awareness that God is present and activeThese moments are not distractions from endurance.They are God’s mercy within it. God’s work and the fruit of this race present here and now. Fruitful Service Grows From Faithful PresenceFruitful service is rarely loud.It rarely arrives with worldly recognition.So we must switch our calibration on fruit, adapt and grow our perception into God’s garden, so that we can see what he calls fruit, what flourish he enjoys. Most often, it looks like:Showing up again without applause - That is fruit.Obeying when the work feels small - That is fruit.Loving people without immediate return - That is fruit.Continuing to serve when strength feels thin - That is fruit.The unregenerated heart is incapable of these, if you are experiencing these along the way - What a Victory! Praise be to God for the work he has done in your life that you now get to observe and celebrate with him! That Abiding in him has shown such fruit in your life. Jesus taught repeatedly that fruit doesn’t come from striving, but from abiding.“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself… neither can you, unless you abide in Me.”- John 15:4Endurance keeps us rooted. Service becomes the overflow. Fruit is then inevitable.John Chrysostom observed that God often hides the visible reward of obedience so that love itself might remain pure. I would put forward that what is hidden is really hidden from the world, not from us. The world, the flesh, they can’t apprehend it, they cannot perceive the value of the fruit when it doesn’t taste like the world. It is hidden from them. Thus, when service and our endurance are stripped of worldly recognition, what remains is devotion. Beautiful, pure, love and devotion.When we remain with Christ, not rushing ahead, not lagging behind, but in step, in stride, we discover that God uses even our weakest offerings. What feels ordinary becomes formative. What feels unseen becomes sustaining.Fruit does not prove our importance.It reveals God’s faithfulness.Why God Lets Us See Fruit Along the WayGod doesn’t always show us fruit, but when He does, it is a gift.Scripture suggests this is an act of grace and kindness. Hebrews tells us that God encourages endurance by reminding us of what He has already done among us (Hebrews 10:32–36). Paul speaks of rejoicing not only in future glory, but in present evidence of grace at work (Philippians 1:6).A glimpse of fruit along the path:Reassures us that obedience mattersRekindles love when weariness sets inReorients us from outcomes back to faithfulnessStrengthens our resolve to keep walkingBenedict of Nursia shaped an entire spiritual tradition around this rhythm. His Rule teaches that faithfulness in small, repeated acts - prayer, labor, presence - gradually forms joy, stability, and peace. The fruit appears quietly, almost imperceptibly, but it is real.These moments steady us.They remind us that endurance is not empty waiting; it is participation in God’s work.The fruit along the road becomes fuel necessary for the road ahead. Holding Both Hope and TrustI don’t want you to get me wrong here, fruitful service doesn’t always mean constant visible results. We should be mature enough to recognize that.There will still be seasons of silence.There will still be days when the soil feels hard.Jesus Himself taught that some seed falls on rocky ground, some among thorns, and some on good soil, and that the sower continues faithfully regardless (Mark 4:1–20). Perhaps then it is us, our hard soil, perhaps our perceptions, perhaps our blindness in the moment, and that the Father actually does continue to sow amidst us, continuously, even when we are too deep staring at our feet, or too far staring into the future of our path, to recognize it and its fruit in the moment. I do not believe that the Father has left you, I do not believe that he has stopped sowing seeds around and ahead of you, I do believe that the weight and sacrifice you are sustaining could be immense, that the only option may seem to be to focus on the end goal, but that view of it is getting fainter, I do believe however, that even if you are not seeing it, your Father has blessed you, has produced fruit behind, ahead and now, and that is good news brothers and sisters. Our endurance then shouldn’t collapse when fruit feels hidden.It must learn to trust the Gardener.“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”- 1 Corinthians 15:58Faithfulness remains our calling.Fruit remains God’s work.Invitation for the WeekAs we close this month, take time to reflect slowly and honestly:Where have you seen even small signs of fruit during this season of endurance?What quiet acts of service have strengthened you more than you expected?Where might God be inviting you to notice, not rush past, the life and fruit He is already producing?Don’t despise small harvests.Don’t dismiss early fruit.They are signs that God is near, and that He is not finished.Watch / Listen / ReadReadFrom the Early ChurchConfessions – Augustine of HippoDate written: circa 400 CEAugustine reflects on delayed fruit and hidden formation, showing how God often works beneath the surface long before change becomes visible. A timeless companion that I pray will support you for seasons to come when endurance feels quiet and slow.The Rule of St. Benedict - LINKDate Written: c. 530 CEA profound witness to fruitful service through small, repeated acts of obedience. Benedict’s vision of stability and faithfulness reinforces that fruit grows through presence, not prominence.Homilies on Matthew - LINKDate written: circa 390 CEChrysostom consistently emphasizes that unseen obedience refines love and purifies motive. His preaching offers clarity on why God often withholds immediate reward.The Way of Perfection - St. Teresa of ÁvilaA demanding but clarifying guide to endurance through obedience, humility, and disciplined prayer. - LINK to free readSneak Peek at Month 5 | Spiritual Disciplines - Week 1: The Lifeline of PrayerAfter a month of learning to endure, through trials, weakness, and fruitful service, we now turn to the disciplines that quietly and powerfully support to sustain the Christian life. Not as religious habits. Not as spiritual achievements. But as daily dependence.Prayer is not meant to be occasional.It is meant to be continual.“Pray without ceasing.”- 1 Thessalonians 5:17Not a call to constant words, but to constant communion.Scripture presents prayer as the atmosphere of a faithful life. Jesus taught His disciples “that they ought always to pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1), directly linking prayer to endurance. When prayer fades, weariness follows. When prayer is restored, strength returns.Next week, we begin Month 5 by returning to this foundation: prayer as lifeline, not ritual. We’ll explore why prayer is not about convincing God to act, but about remaining connected to Him who already is. Why prayer sustains love, sharpens discernment, and keeps the heart soft when the road is long.Endurance carried us this far.Prayer is how we keep breathing.God is with us!Father,Thank You that endurance is not empty, and obedience is never wasted. Teach us to serve faithfully, not from striving or fear, but from trust and love. Give us eyes to see the fruit You are growing, hearts that receive it with gratitude, and strength to continue when the way is long. Help us to endure with joy, to serve with humility, and to trust You fully with the harvest.Amen.I’m glad you’re here.Let’s run the race - Eyes Up, Chin Up!Grace and peace,Sam Johnston This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christfocused.substack.com

Month 4 - Endurance | Week 3: Run With EnduranceBy Week 3 of this month, Scripture has already dismantled two common illusions:Week 1: Trials are not interruptions - they are instruments of joy and formation.Week 2: Weakness is not failure - it is the very place where God’s power is revealed.Now Scripture presses us further.This week asks a harder question:What do you do after the trial begins…after, the weakness is exposed…after, the cost is no longer theoretical?This is where endurance becomes movement.This is where faith learns to run.Anchor Scriptures For M4 | W3“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely,and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.”- Hebrews 12:1–2This isn’t just beautiful poetic encouragement (which it is!).It is the rally call of those who have gone before, it is the roar of a pre-battle captain to his men in the midst of the enemy, it is the Father’s word reaching through to time to grasp you… today.It is clear instruction; it’s the dispatched orders.We concentrate this week on the running topic because, regardless of what you may hear from some pulpits, the Christian life is not a sprint.It is not a casual walk.It is a race marked by resistance, and it requires alignment, intention, discipline, and focus, and in return, receiving grace, power, and sanctification. Many new believers hear that Christ’s victory means you have no battles to fight, that now that you have raised your hand, all the gifts of the earth are going to be opened to you, wealth, health, prosperity, and entertainment await! Then, once the first brick wall or chasm of reality hits, they are left unequipped, unprepared, unarmed, and disappointed. So let’s gird our loins, ground our feet deeply in the dust of reality, and prepare for the endurance necessary to run our race. Endurance Has a DirectionNotice what Hebrews does not say.It does not say:Run faster than everyone elseWin at all costsProve your strengthOutcompete othersInstead, it says:Lay aside weightLay aside sinFix your eyesThese are not focused on others, other people’s race, other people’s performance, it’s talking to you, about your race, to be critical of, and focused in the mirror of your own race. So don’t be so eager to throw the first stone at someone else’s situation.With this new introspective view of running and the race, Hebrews offers us that endurance fails most often not because suffering is too heavy - but because we are carrying what God never asked us to carry.Some weights aren’t necessarily sinful.They are just unnecessary.Old identities.False expectations.Approval-seeking.Fear-driven control.Bitterness disguised as realism.These things don’t stop the race immediately.They simply make it impossible to finish well.Visualize your own personal “unnecessary” weights as heavy chains trailing behind you. Untethered… maybe, but heavy, possible to move within the short term, possible to start the race - Yes, but easily snagged as you go, and limiting in the distance you can actually cover, and ultimately impossible to finish what the Lord has laid ahead for you. So if you find yourself pondering on some weights, if the spirit has brought to mind some elements of real correction to you whilst reading or hearing this. Now is certainly the time to bring them to the foot of the cross, and pray for the strength to overcome them early, now, in this very minute, to burn up these weights of the flesh as offerings to Him. So that He may be glorified through your run of endurance. The Race Is “Set Before You”These words matter more than we may realize at first.“The race that is set before us…”Not the race you chose.Not the race someone else is running.Not the race you wish you were running.Your race.We touched on this already, but if you are also a human as I am, it is so important that we compound our discipleship with the truth on this topic. Comparison is one of the most effective endurance killers in the Church.When we fixate on another person’s calling, timeline, gifting, or fruit - we lose clarity for the path God actually placed under our feet. We stumble over the sideline tracks of our path into the darkness between ours and others. We miss the gifts and growth occurring in our own, and the Kingdom misses out on more of you in the midst of your distractions. Lucifer and his weapons only have to distract you 1 degree off track through sideward glances, and over time, you will find yourself lost and out of alignment with God’s path. Endurance requires agreement with God about where He has you -even when you don’t yet understand why.Endurance Is Sustained by SightHebrews doesn’t say look inward.It doesn’t say look ahead to relief.It doesn’t say look around for validation.It says:“Looking to Jesus.”Endurance is not sustained by willpower.It is sustained by vision.When Jesus becomes blurred, endurance collapses.When Jesus is central, endurance becomes possible - even joyful.Jesus is described here as:Founder - He started this workPerfecter - He will finish itWhich means:Your endurance is not holding the work togetherYour faith is not self-generatedYour race is not resting on your performanceYou are running within a finished story, and he will provide the strength to complete it if you submit to him.Week 3 - Personal PracticeGet Ready To Run Lighter This WeekThis is a simple, self-guided practice to support your endurance.You can complete it anytime this week in 30 minutes or less.1. Take a Short Walk: 10–15 minGo alone. No music. No phone engagement Hold this question before God as you walk:“Lord, what am I carrying that You did not ask me to carry?”Don’t force an answer. Listen.2. Lay It Aside: 5 minWhen one weight becomes clear, write it down.This doesn’t need to be a sin - it may be an expectation, fear, comparison, or distraction.Physically lay it down:Place the paper under a BibleTear it upLeave it somewhere symbolicLet the spiritual become physical and let it participate in obedience.3. Fix Your Eyes: 5 minRead Hebrews 12:1–3 slowly.Ask:Where has my gaze drifted?What does looking to Jesus look like right now?Stay present. No pressure to journal or study, this a conversation with your Father.4. Take One Step: 5 minChoose one small act of obedience for this week:Return to prayer…Limit a distraction…Have a needed conversation…Resume a faithful habit…Nothing dramatic. Just faithful agreement with God.Join The Group This Week In PrayerJesus, I choose to run the race You’ve set before me.Help me lay aside what weighs me down.Fix my eyes on You.Teach me to endure with faith. Amen.Remember:Endurance isn’t about running harder - it’s about running lighter.Watch / Listen / ReadListenPodcast: Ask Pastor John - Episode: How Do We Keep Going? - LINK to listenA concise Baptist/evangelical meditation on endurance rooted in future hope and God’s sustaining grace. John Guerra - “Citizens”A pilgrim song shaped by Hebrews imagery - waiting, patience, and faith that refuses shortcuts.WatchMetropolitan Anthony Bloom - Perseverance in PrayerA sober Orthodox reflection on staying faithful when prayer feels dry, unanswered, or repetitive. A corrective to emotionally driven spirituality.Voddie Baucham - Enduring Faith Under PressureClear, Scripture-forward teaching on perseverance when conviction is costly, and obedience is misunderstood.On the Road With Thomas Merton - LINKA reflective portrait of Merton as a pilgrim running his race rather than a recluse - showing how travel, encounter, and ordinary movement became places of deep attentiveness to God. The film challenges hurried spirituality and frames endurance as faithful presence, learned by staying awake to God in the midst of everyday life, not escaping from it.ReadThe Roots of Endurance - John PiperA tightly focused exploration of how suffering, joy, and perseverance are inseparable in the Christian life. - LINK to free readThe Way of Perfection - St. Teresa of ÁvilaA demanding but clarifying guide to endurance through obedience, humility, and disciplined prayer. - LINK to free readSneak Peek - Month 4, Week 4: Finishing WellEndurance isn’t just an abstract virtue.It has a promise - and often signs of that promise appear along the way.We’ve seen this month that trials form us, weakness reveals God’s power, and endurance requires us to choose to keep moving with our eyes fixed on Christ. But Scripture also shows us something hopeful: God does not ask us to endure without purpose. Endurance produces fruit.Next week, we will explore how faithful endurance gives rise to fruitful service - not as a delayed reward at the finish line, but as evidence that God is already at work today in and through us. Small acts of obedience, hidden service, and quiet faithfulness begin to bear fruit that strengthens us to keep going.We’ll look at why seeing even a glimpse of God’s fruit - changes hearts, sustains love, grows us - becomes fuel for endurance, reminding us that our labor in the Lord is not in vain.“Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”- Galatians 6:9God is with us!Father,You see the weariness in Your people - not with disappointment, but with compassion.Teach us how to run with endurance, not by striving, but by fixing our eyes on Your Son. Strip away every weight that entangles us. Realign our hearts with the race You have set before us. When strength fades, remind us that You are both the beginning and the end of our faith. We choose to run again - not alone, but held by grace.Amen.I’m glad you’re here.Let’s run the race - Eyes Up, Chin Up!Grace and peace,Sam Johnston This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christfocused.substack.com

Envoy Rally Point Call- Month 4, Week 2Theme: Strength in WeaknessThis week we continued our journey through Endurance, but we slowed down long enough to confront a truth most of us instinctively resist:Endurance is not built by avoiding weakness.It is formed by meeting God inside it.From the opening prayer on the rally call, the invitation was simple but weighty: To engage this topic honestly, without pressure, performance, or pretending. Not to rush past discomfort, but to let the Lord speak into the places where strength feels absent.Because Scripture does not deny weakness.It redeems it.Grace That Meets Us Where We FailWe anchored the conversation in Paul’s words:“My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”- 2 Corinthians 12:9“For when I am weak, then I am strong.”- 2 Corinthians 12:10Paul does not minimize his thorn. He names it. He pleads for its removal. And God’s response is not explanation, but presence.Grace does not erase weakness.Grace reframes it.Isaiah echoes the same truth:“He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength.”- Isaiah 40:29“God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.”- 1 Corinthians 1:27God does not wait for strength to appear.He supplies it where none exists.When Weakness Becomes the Place of God’s WorkOne of the central themes we explored is how upside-down the Kingdom truly is.The world equates strength with control, safety, dominance, and certainty. Scripture consistently reveals something else:God draws near to the brokenheartedGod lifts the humbleGod resists the proudGod perfects power where self-reliance diesWeakness strips away illusions—especially the illusion that we were ever holding things together ourselves.And this is not abstract theology. It is revealed most clearly at the cross.What looked like defeat was victory.What looked like weakness was power.What looked like loss was the defeat of sin and death.The cross did not contradict God’s strength.It revealed it.Weakness: Despair or DependenceWe reflected together on a sobering question:Weakness will always lead somewhere.Either into despair - or into dependence.When weakness drives us inward, it corrodes.When weakness drives us toward God, it sanctifies.During the call, we invited reflection on three levels: HeartWhere do you feel weak right now?Where have you felt tempted to hide or compensate?What do you fear would happen if you stopped trying to look strong? HeadWhy do you think God so often works through weakness instead of removing it?How does the Cross reshape what ‘strength’ really means?What lies have we absorbed about what faith is supposed to feel like?HandsWhat would leaning in look like this week instead of pushing through?Where might God be inviting surrender rather than effort?Who could you invite into your weakness instead of isolating?Endurance is not passive waiting.It is active trust.A Practice of ReleaseWe ended with a simple but profound practice.Each person was invited to silently name an area of weakness—something real, current, and costly—and to release self-reliance in that place.Not asking God to fix it immediately.But asking for grace to walk through it faithfully.“Jesus, I release the need to prove myself. I lay down self-reliance over this. I receive Your sufficient grace over this. Teach me to abide and stay with You. Amen.”This is how endurance is formed, not by powering through, but by staying present with God in the places we’d rather escape.Endurance Through Sanctified WeaknessWeakness is not an interruption to spiritual growth.It is often the means of it.Sanctification rarely happens in seasons of ease. It is forged in surrender, humility, and trust, eyes fixed on Christ when the path is unclear and strength feels thin.As we move forward through this month, the call remains the same:Do not despise weaknessDo not hide itDo not idolize strengthTrust the sufficiency of graceGod is not asking you to be strong enough.He is asking you to stay close enough.A Final WordWe’ll be pausing our Thursday rally calls over Christmas and New Year’s, but weekly dispatches will continue as normal. This rhythm of rest is intentional, and good.Thank you for walking this journey faithfully.Thank you for your honesty, presence, and hunger for formation.May we learn to endure - not by avoiding weakness - but by discovering God’s power within it.Grace is sufficient.Power is perfected.Endurance is being formed.God is with us.“Father, Teach us to trust You where we can’t trust ourselves. Strip away pride and self-reliance. Form endurance in us through humility and dependence. And help us finish the course You’ve given us - faithfully. We fix our eyes on you Jesus. Amen.”I’m glad you’re here.Let’s run the race - Eyes Up, Chin Up!Grace and peace,Sam Johnston This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christfocused.substack.com

Month 4 - Endurance | Week 2: Strength in WeaknessEndurance isn’t forged in ideal conditions. If you’ve been on this mortal plain of existence long enough this won’t be news to you. But if you are fresh of the world, or if you are actively drowning in the mud of relentless challenges, I’ve got some good news my friend. Endurance isn’t built when the body is strong, the path is clear, or the outcome is guaranteed. Endurance is formed when strength fails - and we discover that God has not.This week, Scripture confronts one of the most countercultural truths of the Christian life: God doesn’t remove weakness - He redeems it.Anchor Scriptures For M4 | W2“My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”- 2 Corinthians 12:9“He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength.”- Isaiah 40:29“For when I am weak, then I am strong.”- 2 Corinthians 12:10“God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.”- 1 Corinthians 1:27The Theology of WeaknessThe Apostle Paul pleaded three times for relief from weakness.The thorn was real.The suffering was persistent.The prayer was sincere.And yet God did not remove it.Instead, God reframed it.Paul learned through his suffering that weakness is not an obstacle to power - it is the environment where divine power is displayed most clearly. That is easy to say and write, but not so easy to actualize in your spiritual and physical walk in the world.The world sees weakness as failure.God sees it as fertile ground.Rebuke the prosperity nonsense of shame, and pick up the consecrating strength of the Lord demonstrated through suffering, through weakness, in the midst of the valley, it is there, right there, that he prepares a seat at his table for you, right there, feet smouldering from the fire, smoke in your nostrils, battered and bruised, there, in the presence of, in the face, of your enemy, you are fully acknowledged as an heir to the kingdom of creation. It is there on the ocean floor of your misery and suffering that you find… his footprints, his hand reaching for you, a welcoming seat of paternal and eternal acknowledgment ready for you take. You experience that Victory, and that victory will carry further than a mountain top, further than any emotional worship experience, of earthly provision; it is that gospel truth of my lack of self-sufficiency that powers me through the time and space I have been given to push through. The gospel does not promise self-sufficiency.It promises Christ-sufficiency.Weakness as a Pattern, Not an ExceptionThis isn’t isolated theology. It is the consistent pattern of Scripture.Moses stuttered - yet spoke for God before Pharaoh. Exodus 4:10–12, Exodus 7:1–2Gideon was fearful - yet delivered Israel with 300 men. Judges 6:11–16, Judges 7:2–7, Judges 7:19–22David was overlooked - yet anointed king. 1 Samuel 16:6–13, 1 Samuel 16:7Jeremiah wept - yet faithfully spoke truth to a rebellious nation. Jeremiah 1:6–8, Jeremiah 9:1, Jeremiah 20:7–9Jesus himself overcame all bodily weakness at his crucifixion - and through it conquered sin and death. 2 Corinthians 12:9–10, 1 Corinthians 1:26–29, James 4:6, Psalm 51:17God doesn’t wait for your strength. But he will work through your surrender.The Hidden Gift of WeaknessThere is a holy relief, in being stripped of your own strength, when you find yourself placed in weakness for his sake. Weakness that strips away the illusions and idols we have built around ourselves. Weakness removes our defenses:Self-relianceReputationControlPride disguised as competenceAnd in that stripping, something holy happens.We learn to lean.We learn to listen.We learn to abide.Weakness teaches us what strength never could.Endurance Is Staying Present, Not Staying PowerfulMany believers endure poorly because they believe endurance requires constant emotional or spiritual strength. As if proximity to our Father is measured by experiential highs and euphorias. Scripture teaches the opposite.Endurance is remaining faithful when strength fluctuates, and when the “feeling” is gone.It is staying obedient when confidence is low, and the crowd is gone.It is trusting God when prayers feel unanswered, and the worship music stops.God doesn’t ask you to be strong today, when you can’t. He asks you to stay with Him, regardless.A Note on Finishing StrongWithin the RiverLife School of Ministry Pastor Byron pointed out something easy to miss: The Book of Acts ends in confinement, not expansion.Paul doesn’t finish with public momentum or a visible breakthrough. He finishes under house arrest - preaching, teaching, and welcoming all who came to him.“With all openness, unhindered.” - Acts 28:31The strength of Paul’s finish wasn’t found in physical worldly freedom, but in faithfulness. His strength was countercultural; to die was to gain, and his earthly weakness was power in the Kingdom. This is where endurance and weakness meet. Scripture gives more attention to Paul’s restrained final years than to all his missionary journeys combined - reminding us that God is just as present in physical limitation as in acceleration.Pastor Byron contrasted this with King Uzziah, who began strong but finished poorly -not because of weakness, but because pride replaced dependence. Strength became entitlement, and grace was resisted rather than received.To finish strong, Scripture repeatedly calls us not to power, but to patience, humility, and perseverance (Gal. 6:9; 1 Cor. 15:58; Heb. 6:12).Endurance, then, as we have repeated this week, is not the absence of weakness.It is remaining surrendered when weakness remains.As Paul later testified:“I have finished my course.” - 2 Timothy 4:7Not someone else’s course.Not an idealized version of success.But the one God entrusted to him - kept by the power of the Holy Spirit.Watch / Listen / ReadWatch God’s Best-Kept Secret by Mark MauldingThis is especially relevant this week because it reveals how God’s power is released not through self-effort or visible strength, but through surrendered lives that learn to depend fully on the Holy Spirit in seasons of weakness and endurance.Here is a free link to some of the book - LINKBilly Graham - When I Am Weak, He Is Strong | 2 Corinthians 12:8-9 - LINKListen“Bloom” by Austin Sebek Bloom reminds us that God brings life and growth not through visible strength or ideal conditions, but through quiet faithfulness, where endurance takes root and fruit emerges in unseen ways.Psalm 50 - Aramaic: Trio Mandili“Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being,And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom.”Man of Suffering” (Isaiah 53) Isaiah 53 centers our endurance in Christ Himself, the One whose weakness was not failure but obedience, reminding us that God’s redemptive power is most fully revealed through suffering faithfully borne.“Тело Христово примите” -Receive the Body of ChristThis beautiful rendition anchors us with steady methodical beauty, for endurance not in personal strength, but in humble participation in Christ’s broken body, the quiet, sustaining grace that carries us when weakness remains.Psalm 121 - Blues“Psalm 121 Blues” is a powerful, road-worn prayer wrapped in twelve bars, performed by the legendary AI blues artist Arbogast Mills. With a voice that sounds like it’s carried the weight of every storm and still found hope on the other side, Mills turns this ancient psalm into a soul-deep blues testimony.ReadJohn Piper - “Don’t Waste Your Cancer” - LINKA sober meditation on suffering, weakness, and God’s sovereignty, deeply aligned with power made perfect in weakness.A Grief Observed - C.S. Lewis - LINKUnfiltered honesty in suffering; faith spoken through pain rather than polished answers.The Cross of Christ - John Stott - LINKAnchors weakness, suffering, and victory firmly in the cross - not sentiment, but substance.📅 This Week’s 30-Min Rally PointWe’ll meet for our 30-minute rally point this Friday at 7:00 PM EST via Zoom.This is a space for reflection, encouragement, and activation, a rhythm of checking in, praying together, and pressing forward.🕖 Zoom Time: Friday @ 7:00 PM EST🔗 Click to join the Zoom call - Zoom URLFormat:Welcome & Opening Prayer (2 min)Scripture Reading (3 min)Teaching Recap (5 min)Discussion Questions (12 min)Heart-Level Questions:Head-Level Questions:Hands-Level Questions:Practice Together (5 min)Closing Encouragement & Prayer (3 min)Bring a Bible, a journal, and any wins or wrestles you want to share. This is a safe space to grow.Sneak Peek - Month 4, Week 3: Run With EnduranceNext week, we move into Week 3 of Endurance: Run With Endurance, where Scripture calls us not to escape difficulty, but to keep going faithfully through it.“Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus.”- Hebrews 12:1–2We will explore what sustains believers when the race feels long, the path unseen, and obedience costly - learning why endurance is not powered by intensity or momentum, but by a steady gaze fixed on Christ, who both initiates and perfects our faith.God is with us!Father,We confess that we often resist weakness and mistake it for failure.Teach us to trust Your grace where our strength ends.Form endurance in us through humility, patience, and dependence on Your Spirit.Help us remain faithful to the course You have set before us,keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus - not on outcomes, relief, or recognition.Carry us when we are weary,and finish in us the good work You have begun.Amen.I’m glad you’re here.Let’s run the race - Eyes Up, Chin Up!Grace and peace,Sam Johnston This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christfocused.substack.com

Envoy Rally Point - Month 4, Week 1Theme: Joy in TrialsGuest Speaker: Zach MeerkreebsResources: Pastor Zach’s Book: Lower - Igniting Spiritual Awakening Through Radical HumilityOverviewThis week we stepped into Month 4: Endurance, and we opened with one of the most paradoxical truths of the Christian life:Joy is not found after the trial - it is discovered in the midst of it.“Count it all joy … when you meet trials of various kinds.” - James 1:2To help us wrestle with this upside-down Kingdom reality, we were joined by Pastor Zach Meerkreebs, one of the humble shepherds who served quietly behind the scenes during the Asbury outpouring. What became clear throughout the session was not simply what Zach saw at Asbury - but what God has done in him over nearly two decades of hidden obedience, costly surrender, and resilient joy.Below is the full summary of our session.Setting the Stage: From Servanthood to EnduranceWe began with prayer and a reminder of where God has brought us so far:Month 1: Identity - learning that we serve from sonship, not for approvalMonth 2: Obedience - surrendering our will to His voiceMonth 3: Servanthood - discovering that greatness in the Kingdom is found in hidden placesNow in Month 4, the theme shifts:Will we continue to stand, continue to serve, and continue to trust when the pressure increases?Zach was welcomed as one who knows that terrain well - not because of a public platform, but because of a long apprenticeship in humility.A Journey Marked by Humility & ObedienceZach shared pieces of his 19-year walk with Jesus, including the hidden years before Asbury. His reflections centered on a Kingdom truth we often underestimate:Hiddenness is holy — when it is rooted in humility rather than passivity.He distinguished two forms of obscurity:Humility: Serving unseen because God is worthyPassivity: Avoiding responsibility out of fearThe difference is heart posture.Serving God, Zach reminded us, is never about self-protection or self-promotion. It is always about honoring Jesus and ministering to others with purity of intention.And obedience is rarely convenient:God’s call often requires stepping beyond comfort, reputation, and our preferred pace.When Humility Meets Judgment: The Pressure of PlatformsZach spoke candidly about the tension many feel in ministry:How do you remain humble while being visible?How do you resist criticism without becoming defensive?How do you stay faithful when success is measured in numbers, influence, or growth?Zach’s answer was simple, biblical, and disarming:Fruit is God’s responsibility. Faithfulness is ours.He quoted Richard Foster’s teaching on the spiritual discipline of hidden service - how serving without applause becomes a crucible where the flesh is crucified and supernatural fruit quietly grows.The Kingdom is not built on metrics, but on purity, intimacy, and quiet faithfulness.The Crucified Life: Practices That Form HumilityTogether, Zach and Sam explored what it means to actually live a crucified life - not romantically, but rhythmically.Zach shared several practices he uses to stay grounded:Consecrated ConfidenceBefore you speak, lead, or serve - consecrate the moment.“Lord, this gift is Yours. Purify it. Use it.”Regular ConfessionConfession breaks pride.It reminds us we are always dependent, always receiving mercy.Writing Your TestimonyRegularly rewriting your testimony keeps gratitude fresh and refocuses the heart on grace.Spiritual FriendshipsPeople who can speak truth, call out pride, and remind you of your calling.Each of these are slow, hidden, and ordinary.And that is the point:Endurance is not built in intensity but in rhythm.Scripture in the Heart & Service in the ShadowsZach testified to how memorizing Scripture and practicing unseen sacrificial service become twin anchors in trials.Hidden acts of obedience - uncelebrated and unknown - become places where:God sanctifies the heartPride is crucifiedJoy becomes resilientWeakness becomes strengthCuriosity is awakened in othersHe reminded us that feeling “small” or “ordinary” is not a spiritual failure - it is the human condition. What we do with that smallness matters.God meets the humble not by shaming them into strength,but by covering them in compassion.Closing Prayer & ChargeZach closed by praying over our community - asking for:Compassion for ourselves and othersHumility that chooses hiddenness when God invites itEndurance rooted in the love of ChristJoy discovered in the very places we thought would break usWe left with a Kingdom reminder:The treasures of endurance are almost always found in the hidden and humble places - the places where only the Father sees.God is with us.Thank you for drawing near. May the Lord bless your obedience, steady your heart, and fill you with joy as you walk in His ways this week.I’m glad you’re here.Let’s run the race - Eyes Up, Chin Up!Grace and peace,Sam Johnston This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christfocused.substack.com

Month 4 - Endurance | Week 1 - Joy in TrialsScriptural anchors for us through M3 - Week 4:James 1:2–3 (ESV)“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”Hebrews 12:2 (ESV)“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith…who for the joy set before Him endured the cross.”Entering Month 4: The Long ObedienceWe now step into Month 4 - Endurance, the moment in our discipleship journey when the Lord shifts our thoughts from serving well to serving long.From obedience in the moment to obedience that can withstand the highest pressure, longest delay, the most disappointment, and build impenetrable spiritual resistance.We pray you never have to meet the endurance of violent martyrdom, but ultimately, that is the call we are answering and preparing for.If Month 3 revealed the hidden posture of a servant, Month 4 reveals the holy spine of a disciple.Scripture insists again and again that endurance doesn’t begin with determination, grit, or inner resolve.Endurance begins with joy.Not the joy of circumstances.Not the joy of comfort.But the joy of Christ formed within us - a joy that remains even when harsh trials rise.The Upside-Down Beginning: Joy in TrialsJames opens his epistle with a command, up front and center, a command that our flesh would instinctively revolt against, that the world would view as foolishness, and that could even be offensive to those walking through trials themselves:“Count it all joy… when you meet trials.”Not joy after.Not joy beyond.Joy in. Joy when.This doesn’t mean emotional pretending.It is spiritual perceiving.James teaches us that trials aren’t interruptions to spiritual formation - they are the very forge of it.The “testing of faith” is the ancient word dokimion - the refining of metal (Silver) under heat. The metal (Silver) is heated until impurities rise and the craftsman can see His reflection.This is what God does through our trials:He heats the life of his disciple until Christ’s likeness begins to shine.Joy, then, is the recognition:“God is forming something in me right now.”Joy is not a feeling.Joy is revelation. It is an acknowledgment, so deep that the enemies’ whispers and taunts begin to pale in comparison to the truth and calling of God.Examples of Joy-Fueled TrialsWe aren’t short of martyrs and saints to be inspired by and learn from within the Kingdom of God, and it feels almost cheap and frivolous to type, speak, and walk through this part of the program without grounding this perspective in the reality and awe of what fellow believers have walked through before us. It is easy to speak of Joy through trials, hard to read others’ journeys through it, and even harder then to put it into practice. So I encourage you to saturate yourself in the wealth of others’ experiences of this Joy, to humble yourself before the weight of their suffering, and to be pulled up by the strength of their Joy for Christ, regardless and in the face of the most severe of trials. There is an endless list, plenty you have likely heard of, and plenty from within scripture. However, below is a selection of 5 from the Post-apostolic Era that you may not have heard of, who showed unfathomable Joy through extreme trials: Perpetua & Felicity (c. 203 AD) - Thrown to wild beasts in CarthageA noblewoman and a slave who faced martyrdom with supernatural courage, encouraging believers for centuries.Blandina of Lyon (d. 177 AD) - Tortured repeatedly during Roman persecutionA young slave girl who endured unimaginable torture joyfully, astonishing even her executioners.Athanasius of Alexandria (296–373 AD) - Exiled five times for defending Christ’s divinityStood joyfully “against the world,” unwilling to compromise the truth of the Incarnation.Jan Hus (1372–1415 AD) - Burned at the stake for preaching reformFaced the flames singing, believing truth would outlive his death.Richard Wurmbrand (1909–2001) - Tortured for 14 years in communist prisonsTestified that he met more joyful Christians in prison than anywhere else on earth.What can we learn from these awe-inspiring stories and examples? Let’s explore some of it below.The Pattern of Christ: Endurance Fueled by JoyHebrews 12:2 gives us the blueprint:It doesn’t say that Jesus endured the cross through raw willpower.He endured “for the joy set before Him.”The joy of redeeming His peopleThe joy of obeying the FatherThe joy of resurrectionThe joy of kingdom victoryThe joy of opening the way back to GodJoy fueled endurance.Joy pulled Him forward.Joy strengthened His suffering.And now, through our union with Christ,His endurance becomes our endurance.What Christ conquered “for the joy,”We now face “through the joy.”What Scripture Teaches Us About Joy in Pressure1. Joy is a weapon, not a mood (Nehemiah 8:10)“The joy of the LORD is your strength.”Joy pushes back despair.Joy resists fear.Joy anchors the soul when circumstances shake it.2. Endurance is formed through pressure, not ease (Romans 5:3–5)Paul reveals a holy chain reaction:Suffering → Endurance → Character → Hope.Ease cannot produce what holy pressure forms.3. Joy is different from optimism (John 16:22)“No one will take your joy from you.”Optimism needs conditions.Joy needs only Christ.4. Christ’s strength becomes ours (Colossians 1:11)“Strengthened with all power… for all endurance and patience with joy.”Endurance isn’t self-produced.It is Spirit-given. It is a gift, and if so, then so are the trials, and thus - JOY.The Formation Work of TrialsFor some reason, across churchianity, there is a stigma attached to trials. A great misunderstanding of what trials and blessings actually are. The prosperity gospel disease has crept into our pews, and the enemy has established a stronghold of pride and a self-sufficiency culture. There is a floating mist around us of miscomprehension that a trial is somehow attached to a sin, that a trial is the punishment or absence of God. When in reality and scripturally, it is THE EXACT OPPOSITE. A trial is not evidence of abandonment.It is evidence of intimacy and deep formation. It is the silver furnace of God, a gift for those he can trust to grow.Trials reveal to us:Where our joy has been misplacedWhere our hope has been shallowWhere our strength has been self-madeWhere our faith has been untestedTrials expose the false foundations so the True Foundation can be built.God doesn’t waste pressure.Pressure is His chisel.Trials are His tools.Endurance is His masterpiece.This Week’s PracticeHere are 5 practices for the week to kick off this new formation of endurance:1. Name your trial before GodIf you feel you are facing a trial. Bring it into the light.Do not hide it or harden around it. Bring it to The Father.2. Ask the Spirit for joy, not escapePray:“Lord, show me the joy set before me.”3. Fix your eyes on Jesus, not the pressureSet your gaze where Christ set His, on God’s victory.4. Begin to identify what God may be forming in youEndurance?Humility?Patience?Trust?5. Share a burden with a brother or sisterEndurance is also cultivated in community, not isolation. “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” James 5:16 (ESV)Reflection QuestionsWhere am I currently facing pressure or trial?How have I been interpreting this trial - as interruption or as formation?What joy does Christ set before me in this situation?What part of Christ’s endurance do I need Him to impart to me today?How can I practically “count it joy” this week?A Pastoral Word: Joy Makes You UnshakeableThe Kingdom doesn’t produce disciples who never face storms.It produces disciples who learned to rejoice in the midst of them.Joy won’t make your life trouble-free.It will make your faith stronger.Joy arms you with endurance.Endurance shapes you into Christlikeness.Christlikeness prepares you for glory.This is the work of Month 4:To become a people who rejoice under pressure because we see Christ in the fire.Watch / Listen / ReadWatch Corrie Ten Boom Interview on Suffering & TrustA short but powerful testimony of why joy survives even in the deepest darkness.ListenThough You Slay Me - Shane & Shane (feat. John Piper excerpt) Starting 03:22A song of honest suffering that leads to worship, reminding believers that every trial is producing “an eternal weight of glory.”“The Furnace and the Fourth Man” - sermon clip from Alistair BeggA clear, biblical picture of endurance in trials and the presence of Christ in the fire.I Know - Austin Sebek “I Know” is a declaration forged for endurance. It doesn’t ignore pain, pressure, or uncertainty - it sings through them. The song anchors us in the unshakeable truth that even when circumstances are confusing, God is constant, present, and working.“Trust” by Jonathan Ogden“Trust” is a song built for the moments when your strength runs thin and all you have left is dependence. Ogden writes with a simplicity that feels like Scripture whispered back to God - a reminder that endurance doesn’t come from trying harder, but from leaning deeper.ReadC.S. Lewis - The Problem of Pain, Chapter on Divine Goodness - LINKOne of the clearest explanations of why God forms His children through trial.Richard Wurmbrand - Tortured for Christ - LINKA firsthand account of joy and endurance forged in persecution.A sobering but strengthening companion for M4.📅 This Week’s 30-Min Rally PointPastor Zach was unfortunately unable to meet last wee,k so we are looking forward to the session during our 30-minute rally point this Thursday at 7:00 PM EST via Zoom.🕖 Zoom Time: Thursday @ 7:00 PM EST🔗 Click to join the Zoom call - Zoom URLSneak Peek - Month 4, Week 2: Strength in WeaknessNext week, we move deeper into the formation of endurance by confronting a truth that reshapes the entire Christian life:God doesn’t wait for you to become strong before He uses you -He reveals His strength precisely where you are weak.We will explore:Why God allows weakness so that His power may rest upon you (2 Corinthians 12:9–10)The difference between natural strength and spiritual strengthHow weakness makes room for intimacy, dependence, and supernatural powerWhy true endurance is never self-reliance, but Spirit-relianceThe world despises weakness.God inhabits it.Next week, we will learn how.God is with us!Father, You are the God who meets us in the fire, the God who forms endurance in the places we would never choose, and the God who gives joy where the world expects despair. Teach us to “count it all joy,” not because the trial is pleasant, but because You are present. Fix our eyes on Jesus - the One who endured the cross for the joy set before Him. Form in us the same joy, the same endurance, the same steadfastness.Strengthen us with all power according to Your glorious might so that we may endure with patience and with joy. Purify our motives, Fortify our hearts, and make us a people who stand firm through pressure, fire, testing, and time. Make endurance our worship. Make joy our strength. Make Christ our focus. In His holy name we pray, Amen.I’m glad you’re here.Let’s run the race - Eyes Up, Chin Up!Grace and peace,Sam Johnston This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christfocused.substack.com

Month 3 - Servanthood | Week 4 - Finishing WellScriptural anchors for us through M3 - Week 4:“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 (ESV)“…your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:58 (ESV)Jesus isn’t just teaching effectiveness here - He is revealing the importance of dependence.True fruitfulness and finishing well are not the result of our effort, talent, or strategy.It is the byproduct of abiding - staying, remaining, clinging to Him as our source and King.That is the core word for us this week, that we need to pray, think and research on; “ABIDE”Service that is detached from the Vine becomes performance.Service that flows from the Vine becomes perseverance, purity, and power.Abiding forms the inner life (Psalm 1:2–3).It purifies our motives (John 15:2).It roots us in His love (John 15:9–10).And it strengthens us to finish well (Hebrews 12:1–2).Finishing Well - In Scripture & the Story of the ChurchWhen God highlights those who finish well, He rarely points to the spectacular. He points to the servants. This is the pattern in Scripture, and this is the pattern across the 2,000+ years of Christianity. Today, we will take a look at 5 examples from across Church history to see what we can learn about finishing well.1. St. Macrina the Younger - The One Who Shaped Giants (c. 330–379)Macrina was the older sister of Basil the Great and Gregory of Nyssa - two of the greatest theologians in church history.As far as we know, she never wrote a treatise.She never led a movement.She never preached.Instead, she served her widowed mother,trained servants in Scripture,and discipled her siblings in holiness.Gregory said she was “the teacher of teachers.” St. Macrina is responsible for some of the greatest church leaders. She finishes well because her hidden servanthood became the soil for some of the greatest minds of early Christianity.2. Brother Lawrence - Practising the Presence of God in the Kitchen (1614–1691)Brother Lawrence was a limping monastery cook.No title.No status.No education.But he saw and served across economical and social lines, and then washed dishes with more joy than kings ruled kingdoms.He said:“We can do little things for God.I turn the cake that is frying on the pan for His love.”His entire life was servanthood through simplicity, devotion, and nearness to God in the mundane.His letters became the spiritual classicThe Practice of the Presence of God.He finishes well because he served God: not in the sanctuary, but in the scullery aligned and abiding with God.3. St. Elizabeth of Hungary - A Princess Who Served the Poor (1207–1231)Elizabeth was royalty.But she spent her life feeding the hungry,tending to lepers,giving away wealth,and using the castle kitchens to serve orphans and beggars. Chosing to abide in the heart of God instead of the heart of the world.Her court thought she was wasting her position.Heaven thought she was fulfilling it.She dies young but finishes well, spending her last years personally caring for the sickin a hospital she founded with her dowry.4. St. Moses the Black - From Violent Gang Leader to Humble Servant (330–405)Once a feared criminal,Moses encountered Christ and became a monk in the Egyptian desert.He served the brothers:carrying water,tending the monastery at night,and showing radical forgiveness to intruders and thieves.His humility became legendary. His ability to remain abiding with God amidst challenging scenarios was unmatched.At his martyrdom, he refused to flee, saying:“For many years I have been waiting for this moment.”He finished well because he traded violence for servanthood and became one of the saints of the desert. 5. Fabiola of Rome - Founder of the First Christian Hospital (d. 399)A wealthy Roman noblewoman,after repenting from a broken life,Fabiloa devoted herself completely to serving the sick.She:built the first-ever Christian hospitalpersonally nursed the dying regardless of the risks to her own healthspent her fortune on medical careserved refugees, the homeless, and the abandonedJerome (the Bible translator) wrote:“She made the streets of Rome her church.”She finished well because she turned privilege into a basin and towel.The PatternMacrina disciples giants in obscurity.Brother Lawrence turns kitchen work into worship.Elizabeth pours out royal privilege for the poor.Moses the Black exchanges violence for humility and forgiveness.Fabiola spends her wealth to heal the suffering.Different centuries.Different cultures.Different stories.Same posture:Servanthood is how the Kingdom finishes well.Not through brilliance.Not through status.Not through visibility or earthly crowns.But through abiding obedience,faithful, quiet, hidden, and steadyall the way to the end.These lives remind us that the fruit God values most is grown in the soil of surrender.And every servant who abides in Him bears fruit that will last.The Hidden Furnace Where God Forms ServantsThe unseen places of obedience are where the foundations of “finishing well” are laid.Greatness in the Kingdom is not measured by:productivityvisibilityefficiencyor applauseIt is measured by the long obedience of a surrendered heart.Scripture shows again and again that God invests the most in those who seek Him when no one else is looking.Elijah learned to hear God not in the wind or fire, but in the silence (1 Kings 19:11–13).Jeremiah carried the agony of prophetic ministry not from crowds cheering but from lonely faithfulness (Jer. 15:17).Paul spent three silent years in Arabia before preaching a single sermon (Gal. 1:17–18).They didn’t become servants because they were strong.They became servants because God met them in solitude and reshaped them there.The hidden furnace is where God forges steel into the soul.Obscurity Is Often God’s First AssignmentWe often imagine the calling of God as a dramatic commissioning.In reality, most servants begin in obscurity - not punishment, but preparation.Joseph’s shaping did not begin in Pharaoh’s court but in Potiphar’s house and a prison block.Esther’s preparation for destiny happened long before the throne - in a quiet year of hidden formation (Esther 2:12).John the Baptist grew in strength in the wilderness, not in Jerusalem’s spotlight (Luke 1:80).Obscurity is not the absence of God’s calling - it is the workshop of His calling.It is in the unremarkable places that God prepares remarkable people. It is in abiding that he establishes.Those who finish well do not rush out of obscurity.They allow themselves to be shaped by it.The question isn’t, “Am I being used by God?”The question is, “Am I letting God form me where no one else sees?”The Weight of Glory Requires the Weight of HumilityEvery servant God trusts with influence must first be trusted with humility.Influence will weaken you if humility has not strengthened you.Richard Baxter said:“Pride is the enemy of every ministry, and humility its greatest armour.”C.S. Lewis wrote:“Humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less.”Humility is not self-reduction.It is God-exaltation.It is the posture that says:“Father, not my will, but Yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)The Kingdom does not advance through impressive people,but through yielded people.Abided-Servanthood is the only posture capable of carrying the weight of gloryFinishing Well Requires the Long ViewMany start well.Few finish well.Why?Because finishing well requires:long obediencelong endurancelong humilitylong faithfulnesslong repentanceThe Christian life is not a sprint - it is a slow, sacred tread toward Christlikeness.Paul didn’t say, “I sprinted well.”He said:“I have finished the race.” (2 Tim. 4:7)Finishing well means:staying faithful when emotions fadestaying humble when influence growsstaying surrendered when comfort temptsstaying obedient when no one else noticesThe great cloud of witnesses (Hebrews 12:1) is full of saints who simply refused to quit serving Jesus.Finishing well is not about brilliance.It is about steadfast, servant-shaped endurance.Practice: Three Secret Acts of Service This Week1. Serve Someone Who Cannot Repay YouFind someone outside your circle of influence who cannot strengthen your brand, reputation, or comfort. Serve them with joy and no expectation.“Do good… expecting nothing in return.” (Luke 6:35)2. Choose the Lower Place on PurposeAt work, at home, at church - take the low seat. Pick the role no one wants. Do the job no one sees.“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled…” (Luke 14:11)3. Pray for a Servant’s Heart, Not a Successful OutcomeAsk the Spirit to prune comparison, ambition, image-management, or hurry. Ask Him to cultivate gentleness, meekness, and joyful obedience.“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus…” (Phil. 2:5)Reflection Questions For Week 4Which part of your life has God been trying to shape in the hidden place?What assignment feels “too small,” and could that actually be your training ground?Where has ambition or self-promotion crept into your discipleship?Who can you serve this week who couldn’t possibly repay you?What rhythms of humility is the Spirit asking you to adopt for the long journey ahead?Watch / Listen / ReadWatch This week are bringing other voices to the same topic via short sermons. Below is a selection of intriguing perspectives and thoughts on our theme this month.Greatness, Humility, Servanthood - Desiring GodThis sermon explores the paradox of Christian greatness: the world seeks power; the Kingdom values humility and servanthood. It’s a strong complement to your teaching on finishing well by serving quietly, faithfully, humblyLeading As A Servant - Voddie BauchamIn this sermon, Voddie Baucham unpacks what it means to lead as a servant, emphasizing humility, sacrificial love, and putting others first.Philip Anthony Mitchell – “ENTRY & END TIMES | Don’t Waste Your Talents”This teaching from 2819 Church challenges listeners to steward their gifts faithfully and warns against burying what God entrusted to them.📅 This Week’s 30-Min Rally PointWe’ll meet for our 30-minute rally point this Thursday at 7:00 PM EST via Zoom.This week, we have Pastor Zach Meerkreebs joining us as a guest speaker.🕖 Zoom Time: Thursday @ 7:00 PM EST🔗 Click to join the Zoom call - Zoom URLNext Week's Topic: M4 - Endurance | W1 - Joy in TrialsAs we conclude our month on Servanthood, we now step into Month 4: Endurance -where we learn not only to serve well, but to keep serving, keep trusting, and keep standing through the pressures of life.Week 1 begins with a truth that feels upside-down to the world, but perfectly consistent with the heart of Jesus: Endurance begins with joy - not the joy of circumstances, but the joy of Christ in us.Our anchor scripture for M4 W1 is:“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”- James 1:2–3 (ESV)And paired with:“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith…who for the joy set before Him endured the cross.”- Hebrews 12:2 (ESV)Next week, we’ll explore:Why joy is a weapon in trials, not a feeling (Nehemiah 8:10)How endurance is formed through pressure, not ease (Romans 5:3–5)The difference between optimism and biblical joy (John 16:22)How Christ’s endurance becomes our endurance through union with Him (Colossians 1:11)Month 3 taught us to serve with humility.Month 4 will teach us to endure it with hope.As you go through this week, remember:Nothing done for Him is wasted.No sacrifice unseen.No labor forgotten.No obedience lost in the dark.Heaven measures greatness in the hidden places of abiding, where servants are sustained by the Vine and strengthened to endure to the end.God is with us!Jesus, our Vine and our strength, teach us to abide in You so that every act of service flows from Your life within us. Purify our motives, steady our hearts, and let our hidden obedience bear fruit that lasts. Help us finish well, not by striving, but by remaining in You, and trusting that nothing done in Your name is ever in vain.Amen.I’m glad you’re here.Let’s run the race - Eyes Up, Chin Up!Grace and peace,Sam Johnston This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christfocused.substack.com

Month 3 - Servanthood | Week 3 - Serving In SecretScriptural anchors for us through M3 - Week 3:“But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” - Matthew 6:3–4 (ESV)Jesus isn’t merely forbidding pride; He’s forming purity of motive (Psalm 51:10).He is reshaping His disciples from the inside out so their service flows from love, not applause (1 Corinthians 13:3).The Hidden Places & The Holy OnesAdvancements in the Kingdom rarely begin on the stage.They begin in the shadows.Jesus didn’t say, “When you serve, announce it.” He said, “When you give… when you pray… when you fast… do it in secret.”(See Matthew 6:1–6, 16–18)This is the same Jesus who taught, “The kingdom of God is like leaven… hidden in flour” (Matthew 13:33).The Kingdom grows in hidden places long before it appears in visible ones.Month 3 has confronted our obsession with visibility and recognition. But Week 3 cuts deeper:The real test of a servant is this: Will you serve God when no one is watching except Him?This week is about the quiet yes.The unnoticed obedience.The hidden faithfulness that forms Christlike greatness.Quiet, Unnoticed, Hidden. Yes, Obedience, Faithfulness.God does His loudest work in the quiet places.Just ask Elijah, who heard God not in the wind, earthquake, or fire, but “in the low whisper” (1 Kings 19:11–12).The Secret Place Is Where God Measures GreatnessHeaven’s scoreboard isn’t public.It’s hidden, and far more valuable. The world measures success by output.God measures it by obedience (1 Samuel 15:22).Serving in secret burns away every false motive:No egoNo platformNo recognitionNo transactionNo earthly reward but Him - The only reward worth having.When David was anointed king, he smelled like sheep.No crowds.No ceremony.Just faithfulness in the field (1 Samuel 16:11–13).God saw him long before Israel did, just like He sees the one who “walks blamelessly and does what is right… in his heart” (Psalm 15:1–2).And Jesus reminded us in last week’s dispatch that,“The greatest among you shall be your servant” (Matthew 23:11).The secret place is the crucible of every servant God raises.The Story of Ruth: Fidelity in the ShadowsRuth’s entire discipleship began in obscurity.She gleaned in the fields behind harvesters (Ruth 2:3).She cared for Naomi when no one was watching (Ruth 1:16–17).She worked from sunrise to sunset with no applause, praise, or platform.Yet every act was seen by the Lord who weighs the heart (Proverbs 21:2).Boaz eventually says to her:“All that you have done… has been fully known.”- Ruth 2:11 (ESV)Her hidden faithfulness led to:Redemption (Ruth 4:13–15)Provision (Ruth 2:14–16)Legacy (Ruth 4:18–22)Her place in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:5)Ruth teaches us this:God sees what man overlooks.Obscurity is not God hiding you - it is God forming you.Those who humble themselves will be exalted (Luke 14:11).Your quiet yes is building something eternal.Secret Service Purifies the HeartJesus isn’t saying, “Don’t do good.”He is saying, “Don’t do it just to be seen.” (Matthew 6:1)The Pharisees served publicly to gain social status (Matthew 23:5).The disciples were tempted to do the same.And so are we, often, if we are honest with ourselves.But Jesus cuts through the noise:“Your Father who sees in secret…”This is the reward:He sees you (Genesis 16:13 - “El Roi,” the God who sees)He knows the cost (Hebrews 6:10)He delights in your obedience (Psalm 147:11)He transforms you through service (Philippians 2:3–8)The world shouts for attention.The Kingdom grows in silence - like seeds in the soil (Mark 4:26–29).Attention and the desire to be seen by anyone other than our Father, our King, our Saviour, the Creator of All Things, seems a bit silly when we take a second to recalibrate the feeling. Who else could be worthy of our desire to be seen? Has visibility become an idol of its own in our lives? It doesn’t say that when Christ returns, he will do something to get recognition from the World. It says that when Christ returns, and he will, every knee WILL bow. That is the King, the external-universal strength and power that we are being seen and loved by. Let the Glory of that truth, the light of his love, flood and settle with you; let that acknowledgment settle. That if every human turned away from you, his gaze alone, those golden fiery eyes would set you forward towards higher glory through lower service. Practice: Three Secret Acts of Service This Week1. Hidden generosity“When you give… do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.”Buy groceries.Bless someone quietly.Give without your name attached (2 Corinthians 9:7).2. Unseen intercessionPray for one person daily without telling them.Jesus often withdrew to pray alone (Luke 5:16).God moves powerfully through secret intercession (Colossians 1:9–10).3. Quiet sacrificeDo the unglamorous job.Wash feet the way Jesus did (John 13:14–15).Serve without expectation of return (Luke 6:35).Your Father sees.He rewards (Hebrews 11:6).And He forms Christ in you (Galatians 4:19).Reflection QuestionsWhere do you feel the tension between wanting to be seen and wanting to serve?What’s one secret act of obedience God is prompting in your spirit (James 1:22)?Which part of your walk with God has drifted into performance rather than presence?When have you seen God use a small, unseen act in a big way later on (Galatians 6:9)?How can hidden service protect your heart from pride, comparison, or burnout (Philippians 2:3)?Watch / Listen / ReadWatch Francis Chan - The Power of a Quiet LifeIn this impactful message, Francis Chan calls believers back to the quiet, hidden life of devotion that pleases God, not the loud, performance-driven spirituality our culture rewards. He contrasts the noise of public religion with the depth of a private walk with God, reminding us that the most meaningful fruit often grows where no one else can see but the Father.ReadHiddenness: The Furnace of Formation - LINKIf you are looking to deepen your grasp of serving in secret, spend time in this short reading from Andrew Murray’s classic Humility - chapter 2 and 3 in particular. Murray argues that humility is the very root of Christlikeness, and that the way God shapes humility is not through public triumphs but through hidden surrender.He writes:“Humility is simply the disappearance of self in the vision that God is all.”And that disappearance almost always happens in the places no one sees.Murray points to Jesus’ 30 silent years - no miracles, no sermons, no crowds.Just faithfulness.Just obedience.Just hiddenness.ListenJonathan Ogden - Set Me FreeThis song is a tender, intimate prayer of returning to the quiet place where only God sees and to things only God can do. Ogden sings about the longing for closeness with the Father, not in public expression, but in the hidden room of the heart. The lyrics draw you into stillness - into the space where worship is unpolished, unseen, and deeply personal.It’s a reminder that the truest devotion is not the loudest, but the most surrendered.Choir of the Sretensky Monastery - “Cherubic Hymn” (G. Lvovsky)This hymn is one of the most profound expressions of hidden worship in the Eastern Church. Sung slowly and reverently, the “Cherubic Hymn” draws the listener into a holy stillness, an atmosphere where the heart bows low before the mysteries of God.The lyrics, “Let us who mystically represent the Cherubim,” call us to participate in heavenly worship with reverence, humility, and unseen devotion.It is the sound of the hidden life Jesus describes in Matthew 6, a life lived before the Father’s eyes, not the world’s.📅 This Week’s 30-Min Rally PointWe’ll meet for our first 30-minute rally point this Thursday at 7:00 PM EST via Zoom.This is a space for reflection, encouragement, and activation, a rhythm of checking in, praying together, and pressing forward.🕖 Zoom Time: Thursday @ 7:00 PM EST🔗 Click to join the Zoom call - Zoom URLFormat:Welcome & Opening Prayer (2 min)Scripture Reading (3 min)Teaching Recap (5 min)Discussion Questions (12 min)Heart-Level Questions:Head-Level Questions:Hands-Level Questions:Practice Together (5 min)Closing Encouragement & Prayer (3 min)Bring a Bible, a journal, and any wins or wrestles you want to share. This is a safe space to grow.Next Week's Topic: M3 - Servanthood | W4 - Fruitful ServiceOur anchor scripture for W4 is;“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 (ESV)“…your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:58 (ESV)If Week 3 is about the hidden work of servanthood,Week 4 is about the harvest that only God can bring from it.We’ll explore:How God multiplies what is offered in secret (John 12:24)Why faithfulness always precedes fruitfulness (Luke 16:10)How the Spirit empowers every act of service—seen or unseen (1 Corinthians 12:4–7)What it means to bear “fruit that will last” (John 15:5,16)This week, don’t aim for visibility - aim for Jesus. Your Father sees in secret. And in His Kingdom, the hidden places are where greatness is born.God is with us!Father, train our hearts to love the secret place. Strip from us the craving to be noticed, celebrated, or affirmed by others. Make us like Jesus, who “did not come to be served but to serve”. Form humility in us. Form purity in us. Form Christ in us. May our unseen obedience rise as worship to You alone.Amen.I’m glad you’re here.Let’s run the race - Eyes Up, Chin Up!Grace and peace,Sam Johnston This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christfocused.substack.com

Month 3 - Servanthood | Week 2 - Upside-Down GreatnessScriptural anchors for us through M3 - Week 2:“But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” - Matthew 20:26–28 (ESV)Kingdoms Turned Upside-DownA request was made quietly, and it carries the echo of human ambition through the ages. James and John’s mother knelt before Jesus with her plea, and said - “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit at Your right and left in Your kingdom.” - Matthew 20:21 (ESV)It’s the kind of thing a mother says, out of love, but it reveals something deeper: a world still obsessed with hierarchy, title, and recognition, as if that was still how you got things done. Well, the other disciples were furious. I don’t think they were necessarily mad at the arrogance of it - perhaps really they were mad that they just didn’t ask first.And into that competitive ego battle, Jesus redefined greatness.He didn’t scold their ambition; He redirected it.He didn’t crush the desire for influence; He purified it.“It shall not be so among you.”- Matthew 20:26 (ESV)With those seven words, the values of heaven collided with the values of earth. In the kingdoms of men, power flows downward - authority is claimed through domination, followers serve leaders, and the strong are served by the weak. But in the Kingdom of God, power flows upward. The greatest descends, the leader stoops, the strong bend their knees to lift the lowly. This is the Kingdom’s economy of grace - where crowns are traded for towels, and thrones are built from acts of love. The strong serve the weak.“That word ‘serve’ in Greek is diakonos - from which we get deacon. It means ‘one who waits on tables.’Jesus isn’t painting a poetic hypothetical picture here - He’s making it practical.Greatness in His Kingdom means meeting real needs, with real humility.And He grounds it in Himself:‘Even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve.’ Mark 10:45 & Matthew 20:28Think about that for minute. Stop being distracted for second whilst you listen, pay attention here. The One through whom all things were made - galaxies, oceans, angelic beings - came not demanding worship but from the lowest place, and washing feet, to save us and to give us an example to follow. To flip the world from the weak serving the strong, to the strong serving the weak.John 13 captures it . On the very night He would be betrayed, Jesus kneels. The Creator of all things, with armies of unnumbered angelic ranks waiting for him to give the order to defend him, is there, washing the dust from His creation’s feet.He takes off His robe, picks up the towel, and does the task no one else would touch. Let’s not pretend that this is a group of highly pedicured individuals here, if youv’e got some guy friends, you can picture this, this is not a glamorous view or smell.And then to drill this in, He says, ‘Do you understand what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, You also ought to wash one another’s feet.’ - John 13:12-15That’s not a metaphor - it’s a model.The Servant’s EchoEarly church fathers understood this radical paradox well.Ignatius of Antioch, on his way to martyrdom in Rome, wrote:“He who is greater among you, let him be as the younger; he who governs, as one who serves. For it is not by commanding but by serving that one becomes truly great.”John Chrysostom, the “golden-mouthed” preacher of Constantinople, went further:“To serve others is to be like God, for He serves all - even those who deny Him. When you wash the feet of another, you do what Christ has done, and there is no greater throne than that.”And St. Francis of Assisi, a millennium later, echoed the same heart:“A man has only as much knowledge as he puts into practice, and only as much greatness as he serves in secret.”The Church - in every age and across denominational lines - has echoed this truth:Greatness in Christ’s Kingdom is not measured by how high you climb, but by how low you are willing to go in love.The Practical Path of Downward GreatnessHow, then, do we live this out - not as sentiment, but as daily reality?Most of us won’t physically be washing feet this week, but we will have moments where we can humble ourselves - at home, at work, in conversations, in conflict, in situations where our default maybe used to be dominant or aggressive or unthoughtful, lets move into thoughtful.1. Choose the Towel Over the TitleIf you ask God, and look for it, every day will offer a moment to serve when no one’s watching - a coffee cup left in the sink, a child’s outburst met with gentleness, a co-worker’s task quietly carried.“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” - Philippians 2:3 (ESV)Ask: Where can I serve today without needing credit?2. Lead from the KneesLeadership in the Kingdom begins on the floor. Meet Jesus, wrapped with a towel around His waist on the floor, ready to clean his followers’ feet with him.Whether you lead a business, a team, a family, or a small group, or if you are just leading yourself, authority is stewardship, not status.“If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” - John 13:14 (ESV)Ask: Who am I called to wash the feet of this week - figuratively or literally?3. Surrender the ScoreboardWe live in a culture obsessed with outcomes, metrics, likes, follows, views, and applause. But Christ measures greatness differently - in faithfulness, not fame.“Your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” - Matthew 6:4 (ESV)Ask: What part of my life still measures worth by the world’s applause?The Hidden Power of the Servant LifeEvery movement of true revival or new sparks and movements in history has begun not with celebrity but with servanthood, and was often later tarnished by those seeking the lesser.The Moravians who sparked global missions sold themselves into slavery to reach the lost.The Celtic monks of Iona called themselves peregrini - wanderers for Christ - carrying the gospel in humility across pagan lands.Even in modern times, revival burns hottest where leaders embrace the towel, not the throne.As A.W. Tozer wrote, “A true and safe leader is likely to be one who has no desire to lead, but is forced into leadership by the inward pressure of the Holy Spirit.”This week, may we resist the world’s pull toward prominence - and lean into the hidden way of the cross. For the King we follow did not ascend to glory until He first stooped to wash feet, bear wounds, and shoulder a cross.Practice This Week: The Servant’s ChallengeSecret Service: Each day, do one act of unseen service. Don’t tell anyone. Let it stay between you and God.Encouragement Fast: This week, instead of seeking affirmation, give it. Send messages, prayers, or small notes that lift others up.Foot-Washing Reflection: Take time one evening to pray with John 13 open. Physically kneel. Ask God to show you who you’ve avoided serving. Then ask Him for the courage to move toward them.Watch / Listen / ReadWe are looking back at examples we can follow this week, that we may not have dug into before. We often hear the incredible demonstrations of the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:1 and his direction follow his example as he follows Christ’s example, however, its a great opportunity to compound on that message and to learn from others that have come before attempting to do so, across denominational lines. In this watch section, we explore the lives of the three characters we covered in the The Servant’s Echo section. Watch Ignatius of Antioch: The Martyr Who Defined Early ChristianityIgnatius of Antioch embodied the heart of upside-down greatness. As one of the earliest church fathers, he wrote letters on his way to martyrdom that still echo through the centuries, not pleading for rescue, but urging believers to follow Christ in humility, obedience, and love for others. His life is a living picture of this week’s theme: true leadership through servanthood, true victory through surrender.John Chrysostom: Golden MouthJohn Chrysostom - “the Golden Mouth” - preached a Gospel that inverted the world’s understanding of greatness. From the pulpit of Constantinople, he challenged emperors and elites alike with the call to humility, generosity, and justice. He lived what he preached, enduring exile rather than compromise.This video is a powerful reflection of our M3 W2 theme: Upside-Down Greatness. Chrysostom shows us that to follow Christ is to use influence not for self-promotion, but for service. His words remind us that true authority is moral, not political; spiritual, not self-seeking. Watch to see how his courage, compassion, and unwavering commitment to truth model the heart of the Servant-King we follow.The INSPIRING Life of Saint Francis of AssisiFew lives capture the beauty of upside-down greatness like that of Saint Francis. Born into wealth, he chose poverty. Surrounded by privilege, he chose simplicity. Honored by men, he chose obscurity - and in doing so, revealed the radiant humility of Christ.This film shows how Francis turned the values of his age on their head: trading luxury for love, prestige for peace, and comfort for compassion. His life reminds us that the way up in the Kingdom is always down - to serve, to give, to love without return.ReadMoravians - They Sold Themselves Into Slavery - LINK This captures upside-down greatness in action - the Moravian missionaries who sold themselves into slavery to reach the enslaved with the gospel. Their radical humility and love echo the heart of Christ, showing that true servanthood costs everything, yet changes eternity.The Celtic monks of Iona - LINKThe monks of Iona lived the hidden strength of upside-down greatness — choosing exile, simplicity, and service to bring light to dark lands. Their quiet faith shaped nations, reminding us that the Gospel advances not through power, but through humble, steadfast devotion.📅 This Week’s 30-Min Rally PointWe’ll meet for our first 30-minute rally point this Thursday at 7:00 PM EST via Zoom.This is a space for reflection, encouragement, and activation, a rhythm of checking in, praying together, and pressing forward.🕖 Zoom Time: Thursday @ 7:00 PM EST🔗 Click to join the Zoom call - Zoom URLFormat:Welcome & Opening Prayer (2 min)Scripture Reading (3 min)Teaching Recap (5 min)Discussion Questions (12 min)Heart-Level Questions:Head-Level Questions:Hands-Level Questions:Practice Together (5 min)Closing Encouragement & Prayer (3 min)Bring a Bible, a journal, and any wins or wrestles you want to share. This is a safe space to grow.Next Week's Topic: M3 - Servanthood | W3 - Serving in Secret“But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” - Matthew 6:3–4 (ESV)Next week, we’ll go deeper into the quiet work of the Kingdom - where true greatness grows unseen. In a world obsessed with recognition, Jesus calls us to a hidden life of love. To serve without spotlight. To give without applause. To live for the eyes of the Father alone.We’ll explore how God shapes character in the shadows, how secrecy becomes sacred when it’s born of devotion, and how unseen obedience can shake eternity.God is with us!Lord Jesus, teach us to love what is hidden. Form in us a heart that seeks no credit, only communion. Let our unseen acts of service become worship rising to You.I’m glad you’re here.Let’s run the race - Eyes Up, Chin Up!Grace and peace,Sam Johnston This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christfocused.substack.com

Month 3 - Servanthood | Week 1 - The Servant KingScriptural anchors for us through M3 - Week 1:“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” - Mark 10:45 ESVThe Servant KingThe crown He wore was not of gold, but of bloodied thorns.The throne He chose was a cross.And the hands that shaped the universe bent low to knowingly wash the feet of men who would soon butcher and betray Him.This is our King.This is the way of the Kingdom.The more you read the Gospels, the closer you draw to him, the clearer it becomes: Jesus did not come to display power as the secular world defines it. He came to redefine power altogether - by love, by humility, by sacrifice, by service.When the disciples argued about who was greatest amongst them, Jesus didn’t rebuke their desire for greatness - He redirected, redefined it:“But whoever would be great among you must be your servant.”- Matthew 20:26 ESVIn His Kingdom, leadership looks like servitude.Glory looks like grace.And authority looks like kneeling before others to wash the dust of the world covering their feet, in full humble recognition of the sinner you were saved from being, to bring Glory to the cross and King himself alone.To serve is not a downgrade; it’s the truest reflection of the divine.Every time we choose to love without being noticed, to give without being thanked, or to help without being asked - we draw nearer to the likeness of Christ Himself, and stumble in step with the stride and footprints of the King.The World and the WayThe world tells us that greatness is found in power, status, Gold, and recognition.Jesus shattered that illusion.This is radical stuff, and will take some recalibration of the indoctrination that the enemy has established among us. Let’s start as we mean to end, focused and fixed on Christ.He took up the towel instead of the throne, washed feet instead of commanding armies, and crowned His life with the jagged wooden spears of the crown of thorns.In doing so, He redefined leadership forever - revealing that true greatness is measured in humility and love, expressed through service.The Servant King doesn’t just model servanthood; He invites us into it.To follow Him is to lower ourselves so that we may lift others.To bear the basin and towel.To see people, his children, not as interruptions, but as assignments. To begin to wear the position and view the flock through the eyes of a Father. And to pour out our lives in quiet, costly love - the kind that mirrors His own.Stepping ForwardThis week begins the new movement of servanthood in our journey.We’re learning not just what it means to serve, but how we are to serve, and who we are serving through it.In the Gospels, every act of Christ’s ministry, healing the sick, feeding the hungry, comforting the broken, all flowed from the heart of a King who came to serve.Our foundation of identity and obedience now finds its truest form in service: When our hands, words, and resources become extensions of His compassion.“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant…”- Philippians 2:5–7 ESVThis is the pattern of our Savior - emptying to fill, bowing to lift, dying to give life.ReflectAsk yourself this week:Where am I trying to be seen instead of serving?What title or comfort might God be asking me to lay down so I can pick up a towel?Who in my daily life could I love quietly this week, with no expectation of being noticed?Remember: Jesus didn’t call us to lead through status but through sacrifice.Scripture to Memorize“It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” - Matthew 20:26–28 ESVPastoral Encouragement for the WeekServanthood isn’t glamorous, so don’t be surprised or afraid if things get messy; you are entering into worldly situations, and you are here to bring the light and salt into them.It rarely trends, and it shouldn’t flatter the ego, there may not be a pat on the back.But in the quiet places where no one’s watching - the moments of unseen obedience, the everyday sacrifices of love - heaven takes notice. Generations of your ancestors, and the choirs and armies of heaven are on the edge of their seats in anticipation of what you will choose to do next. Give them a show worth cheering for!The Servant King our God reigns through servants, who will say Yes.And the Kingdom still advances through those willing to lower their own ego.So, as you move through your week, remember this:Every act of hidden service echoes the humility of Jesus.Every small kindness ripples eternity.Every towel in your hand is a crown in His.May He teach us to serve with joy, to love without recognition, and to live as those who know that the lowest place in His Kingdom is still higher than the highest throne of this world.Watch / Listen / ReadReadLower: Igniting Spiritual Awakening Through Radical Humility – Zach Meerkreebs - Link to free previewIn Lower, pastor and Bible teacher Zach Meerkreebs reminds us that revival begins where pride ends. Drawing from Scripture and the recent move of God at Asbury, he calls us back to the only posture that invites God’s presence - humility.This isn’t a call to think less of yourself, but to think rightly of God.Meerkreebs shows that the way up in the Kingdom is always down - the same path Jesus walked when He took the towel and washed His disciples’ feet.A fitting companion to our Week 1 theme, Lower reawakens the truth that spiritual power flows through surrendered hearts.“If we want revival, we must first go low.” Zach MeerkreebsListen along here:WatchChapel Service that Launched the Asbury Revival – Zach MeerkreebsThis is the humble message that sparked a movement — a simple call to encounter the love of God without pretense or performance.Pastor Zach Meerkreebs reminds us that revival doesn’t start with noise, but with surrender.It begins when hearts go low before the Lord.📅 This Week’s 30-Min Rally PointWe’ll meet for our first 30-minute rally point this Thursday at 7:00 PM EST via Zoom.This is a space for reflection, encouragement, and activation, a rhythm of checking in, praying together, and pressing forward.🕖 Zoom Time: Thursday @ 7:00 PM EST🔗 Click to join the Zoom call - Zoom URLFormat:Welcome & Opening Prayer (2 min)Scripture Reading (3 min)Teaching Recap (5 min)Discussion Questions (12 min)Heart-Level Questions:Head-Level Questions:Hands-Level Questions:Practice Together (5 min)Closing Encouragement & Prayer (3 min)Bring a Bible, a journal, and any wins or wrestles you want to share. This is a safe space to grow.Next Week's Topic: M3 - Servanthood | W2 - Upside-Down Greatness“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” - Philippians 2:3-4 ESVWe’ll explore how God measures greatness not by how far we climb, but by whom we lift - and how the Kingdom turns ambition into adoration.God is with us!Lord Jesus, teach us to walk the low road. Make us humble in heart, quick to serve, and slow to seek praise. May every act of love point back to You - our King.I’m glad you’re here.Let’s run the race - Eyes Up, Chin Up!Grace and peace,Sam Johnston This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christfocused.substack.com

Envoy Rally Point - Month 2, Week 4Theme: The Blessing of Obedience Guest Speaker: Rich GrahamQuick RecapThis week’s Rally Point closed out Month 2: Obedience and prepared us to step into Month 3: Servanthood in our 12-month Envoy journey.Over the past two months, we’ve learned that identity is our foundation and obedience is our response, that to follow Christ truly means to trust before we understand and to love through action.This week, we were joined by guest speaker Rich Graham former U.S. Navy SEAL and founder of Full Spectrum Warrior and a number of other epic organizations. He is a man passionate about developing leaders who live with integrity, resilience, and purpose.Rich has trained warriors, law-enforcement officers, and everyday men and women to lead with discipline and humility, helping to build the muscle across our nation of strength under control.Rich shared powerful insight from his years of military and leadership experience, speaking on what it means to lead with strength that serves, courage that submits to God, and humility that builds others up.Through stories of training, warfare, and faith, Rich reminded us that true greatness isn’t found in power or recognition, but in surrender - in taking up the towel instead of the throne, following the example of the Servant King.Highlights from the sessionServant Leadership Program OverviewThe meeting began with Sam introducing the format and purpose of the call, including a prayer and overview of the 12-month program. Rich shared his background as a former U.S. Navy SEAL and his passion for developing leaders with integrity. The group discussed the transition from months one and two to month three, which focuses on servanthood and mimicking the servant king. Sam highlighted the importance of serving others for the glory of God, referencing Matthew 23. The conversation ended with Sam introducing Rich’s experience and expertise, setting the stage for a discussion on leadership and servanthood.Journey to Authentic Christian IdentityRich shared his journey from a high-achieving background in sports and the Navy SEALs to finding his identity in Christ after a life-changing medical incident. He described how his achievements in the military initially left him empty and angry, but his experience with a blood clot led to a spiritual awakening. Rich emphasized the importance of character traits over titles and accolades, drawing parallels between mining for gold and discovering one’s true worth. He concluded by explaining how God uses even low points to build and shape individuals into their best versions.Divine Guidance and Personal PurposeRich shared his personal experience of how God’s guidance helped him recognize his true potential and purpose, using the analogy of how the Navy identifies and trains individuals for specific roles, similar to how God shapes and refines people to fulfill their divine calling. He emphasized the balance between recognizing individual worth and understanding that all people are equally valued in God’s eyes. Rich also recounted a challenging personal experience where he had to make a difficult decision, highlighting the cost of obedience and the importance of aligning one’s life with God’s will.Mountain Dream and Faith JourneyRich shared a personal story about a transformative experience at a Colorado retreat with Operation Restore Warrior, where another guest had a dream about him climbing a mountain and then the story of Rich going to climb a mountain where he encountered God through a series of reflections and revelations. The story culminated in a powerful moment at church where Rich overcame his fear and sang with his hands raised, leading to an emotional breakthrough with his atheist mother-in-law.Spiritual Growth and Effective CommunicationRich shared his personal journey of spiritual growth, emphasizing the importance of submission and obedience in allowing God to work through him. He challenged the group to focus on being effective rather than always being right in their communication of God’s word, especially on social media. Rich encouraged understanding others’ spiritual journeys and finding ways to communicate that are less confrontational. Sam agreed, highlighting the importance of casting seeds efficiently and trusting God to do His work.Spiritual Warfare and Warrior MindsetRich shared his experience with Operation Restored Warrior, explaining how they frame spiritual warfare in military terms and helped him develop a warrior mindset to combat spiritual attacks. He described how acknowledging attacks, understanding enemy tactics, and breaking free from spiritual bondages lead to stronger relationships with God and better decision-making. The discussion concluded with Rich accepting the invitation to close the meeting with prayer, which he did, focusing on discernment, guidance, and building God’s kingdom.Closing Prayer“Father, thank You for this time together, thank you for the example of Jesus, our Servant King. Teach us to lead with humility, to serve with love, to love what you love and to hate what you hate, and to find strength in surrender. Lord Bless Rich on his mission and his team and the people he coaches, and every person here tonight, we have members here going through struggles, going through cancer treatment, may they feel you close to you Father, draw them near - and give us the strength so that we may live lives that point others to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”God is with us.Thank you for drawing near. May the Lord bless your obedience, steady your heart, and fill you with joy as you walk in His ways this week.I’m glad you’re here.Let’s run the race - Eyes Up, Chin Up!Grace and peace,Sam JohnstonThanks for joining us! Subscribe to get the ENVOY program updates in your email inbox.https://christfocused.substack.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christfocused.substack.com

Week 4 - The Blessing of Obedience | Month 2 - ObedienceScriptural anchors for us through M2 - Week 4:“If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”- John 13:17 (ESV)The Blessing of ObedienceThere is a blessing reserved not for the hearer of the Word, but for the doer of it.James writes; “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves”- James 1:22 ESV. The blessing is promised not to those who listen, but to those who act: “The one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing”- James 1:25 ESV.Jesus’ words in John 13, within our anchor scripture, come not from a lofty position or high pulpit but from the floor, towel in hand, washing the dust from His disciples’ feet. It is there, on His knees, that He reveals the paradox of obedience: that the highest blessing flows from the lowest posture.We live in an age that prizes information and online presentation over transformation. Many know the teachings of Christ, but few live them. But Jesus makes it plain that knowledge without obedience is incomplete. It is not what we know that brings life; it is what we do with what we know.But don’t be mistaken, obedience is not a transaction for blessing; it is the path that leads into the blessing itself. When we walk in His ways, we do not earn His favor; we enter into it. Our position is already established; this is simply walking fully in it.As Deuteronomy 28 declares, “All these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God.” The blessing is not found in striving, but in abiding. From the very beginning, God has tied blessing to alignment with His will. Joshua was told;“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” - Joshua 1:8 ESV.Obedience has always been the hinge between revelation and reward - between hearing God’s Word and experiencing His promise.The act of obedience itself carries its own reward: peace that settles the soul, clarity that quiets confusion, and intimacy with the Father that cannot be manufactured any other way. To obey God is to move in rhythm with His heart, and that alignment brings a joy the world cannot provide.Dietrich Bonhoeffer once wrote, “Only he who believes is obedient; only he who is obedient believes.” The two are inseparable. Belief that stops short of obedience is mere admiration. But when faith takes form in our actions - forgiving, serving, surrendering, giving - grace flows freely, and our lives become channels of His blessing to others.This is the secret of divine reciprocity: What begins as obedience often ends as joy.We pour out, and somehow find ourselves filled.We surrender, and discover freedom.We lay down our will, and find His far greater.The blessings of obedience are not always immediate, but they are inevitable. For the One who calls us is faithful, and His reward is Himself.ReflectWhere might God be inviting you to turn knowing into doing?What small act of obedience could unlock greater peace or purpose in your walk with Him this week?Watch / Listen / ReadWatchGrace to You – “The Triumph of Obedience” by John MacArthur - LINKThis sermon tackles the doctrine of obedience head-on, addressing how many churches handle justification but shy away from sanctification and real obedience. It’s theological, serious in tone, and practical in application. MacArthur delivers this message as part of his expositional series on sanctification and holiness, calling believers to a costly, uncompromising obedience. “You never know what’s connected to a singular act of obedience.” - Philip Anthony MitchellThis short but piercing word from Philip Anthony Mitchell reminds us that obedience is never isolated - it’s generational, eternal, and catalytic. Every ‘yes’ to God ripples beyond the moment, unlocking doors we can’t yet see. In a world obsessed with outcomes, this message calls us back to the quiet power of simple obedience - the kind that shapes destinies and ushers in God’s Kingdom.@philipanthonymitchellYou never know what’s connected to a singular act of obedience… ENTRY & END TIMES | The Beginning of The End #2819church #weare2819church #UntilAllHaveHeard Tiktok failed to load.Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browserListenPsalm 50 by Father Seraphim Bit-Kharibi Duet with SoulpacificaPsalm 50 (known in Western numbering as Psalm 51) is David’s prayer of repentance: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” The simplicity of the unaccompanied voice strips away distraction, leaving nothing but raw devotion and humility before the mercy of God.As the melody ascends and fades, you can almost feel the echo of every heart that has ever bowed in surrender. It is a reminder that obedience is born not in strength but in repentance - that blessing begins where pride ends.Take a few moments to sit in it. What If David Played Guitar Instead of Harp? by Psalm in BluesThis piece reimagines the psalms through the soul of blues - raw, honest, and deeply human. It’s the sound of worship that wrestles, praises, and laments all at once. If David had a guitar instead of a harp, this might be what his psalms felt like - a cry of repentance, a song of deliverance, and a rhythm of redemption.Let it remind you that obedience isn’t sterile - it’s heartfelt, imperfect, and often sung through struggle.“Come On” – Brooke Poindexter & Believers“Come On” is a bold invitation, a call to rise, worship, and walk in the fullness of what God has already spoken. Brooke’s voice carries the urgency of revival and the warmth of surrender, bridging the distance between the altar and the everyday.Didn’t You Pray For This? One for those in the group looking for some fire in your belly. Excuse the overtly masculine attempt at visuals they added here, but on audio, the message is clear and relevant. Christ Be In My Heart – Sam McCabeEach line is a confession of alignment - a willingness for every thought, word, and work to flow from the life of Jesus within. A reminder that obedience is not about outward conformity but inward communion. Take a moment to be still. Let these words wash over you. May Christ fill your heart so that obedience becomes the most natural response to His love.ReadEugene H. Peterson - A Long Obedience in the Same Direction - LINKPeterson calls believers back to the steady, unglamorous work of discipleship in a world obsessed with instant results. Drawing from the Psalms of Ascents (Psalms 120–134), he paints obedience as a pilgrimage - a slow, faithful walk toward God rather than a sprint toward success.Alicia Britt Chole - Anonymous: Jesus’ Hidden Years…and Yours - LINKChapters 5/6 (the temptation and preparation years) are particularly impactful. These parts tie directly to how obedience (even when unseen) positions us for blessing.📅 This Week’s 30-Min Rally PointWe’ll meet for our first 30-minute rally point this Thursday at 7:00 PM EST via Zoom.This is a space for reflection, encouragement, and activation, a rhythm of checking in, praying together, and pressing forward.🕖 Zoom Time: Thursday @ 7:00 PM EST🔗 Click to join the Zoom call - Zoom URLFormat:Welcome & Opening Prayer (2 min)Scripture Reading (3 min)Teaching Recap (5 min)Discussion Questions (12 min)Heart-Level Questions:Head-Level Questions:Hands-Level Questions:Practice Together (5 min)Closing Encouragement & Prayer (3 min)Bring a Bible, a journal, and any wins or wrestles you want to share. This is a safe space to grow.Next Week's Topic: M3 - Servanthood | W1 - The Servant KingRead ahead with our M3 W1 Anchor Scripture:“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” - Mark 10:45 ESV.As we step into Month 3, we move from Obedience to Servanthood - from doing what Christ commands to becoming like the One who serves. In the upper room, Jesus knelt with a towel, redefining greatness forever. The King of Kings chose the lowest place, showing that true authority in the Kingdom flows from humility, not hierarchy.Next week, we’ll look at how servanthood isn’t weakness but power under control — how the life that bends to serve becomes the life God lifts to shine. The Servant King calls us to lead by love, to stoop in strength, and to find joy not in being honored but in honoring others.Remember: Obedience does not earn the blessing; it reveals it. The moment we choose to do what Christ says, heaven opens its hand. The hands that serve are the ones most like His. God is with us!Lord, teach us not only to hear Your Word, but to walk in it. Help us to trust that Your commands are not burdens but blessings, pathways to peace, and anchors for our wandering hearts. May we find joy in surrender, strength in submission, and life abundant in every step of obedience.I’m glad you’re here.Let’s run the race - Eyes Up, Chin Up!Grace and peace,Sam Johnston This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christfocused.substack.com

Month 2 - Obedience | Week 3 - Walking the Talk Scriptural anchors for us through M2 - Week 3:“If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”- Galatians 5:25 (ESV)“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” - James 1:22 (ESV)Tactical ObedienceObedience is not just agreement with God’s truth - it’s alignment with His will.It’s daily, practical, and tactical. And because sin is relentless, our obedience must be intentional.True discipleship happens in the unseen choices - in how we speak when we’re wronged, how we give when no one notices, how we trust when the outcome is unclear.Every act of obedience becomes a testimony that Christ’s Word is alive in you.Below, we will be covering five scriptural strategies to help you in your walk of Obedience, to prevent sin, prepare for temptation, and push back, to walk faithfully when the battle comes:* Build a Daily Defense Before the Battle* Know Your Weak Points and Fortify Them* When Temptation Knocks - Respond Immediately* If You Fall - Repent Fast and Return Fully* Walk in Ongoing SurrenderBe encouraged this week, everything that comes your way is also subservient to our God. As scripture reminds us below, you are not the first person to deal with it, and our Lord made you in such a way that you can bear and defeat it.“Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”— 1 Corinthians 10:12–13 ESV1. Build a Daily Defense Pre-BattleSin grows where vigilance fades. Start each day spiritually armed; the best fight is the one you prevent.* Put on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10–18) - I know it can feel cheesy, but try to visualize fastening the belt of truth, lifting the shield of faith, and standing firm. Those visuals do help.“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”- Ephesians 6:10–18 ESV* Feed your spirit first (Matthew 4:4) - spend time in prayer or the Word before social media, work, or news.“But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” - Matthew 4:4 ESV* Guard your inputs (Proverbs 4:23) - what you see and hear shapes what you crave. Fill your mind with what’s holy.“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” - Proverbs 4:23 ESVAction Step: Set a morning reminder titled Armor Up. Read a Psalm aloud and pray,“Lord, order my steps today and keep me steady in You.”2. Know Your Weak Points and Fortify ThemSpiritual maturity begins with self-awareness. Name your weaknesses before they name you.* Recognize your patterns (1 Peter 5:8) - temptation often follows familiar routes.“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” - 1 Peter 5:8 ESV* Set healthy boundaries (Matthew 5:29-30) - remove what leads you to stumble. That’s not legalism; it’s wisdom.“If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.” - Matthew 5:29-30 ESV* Invite accountability (James 5:16) - one trusted believer walking beside you can make all the difference.“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” - James 5:16 ESVAction Step:Write down two vulnerable areas and one boundary for each. Share them with someone you trust.3. When Temptation Knocks - Respond ImmediatelyThe longer we linger, the louder sin’s voice becomes.* Fight with Scripture (Matthew 4:1–11) - Jesus answered every temptation with “It is written.”“And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written,“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” - Matthew 4:1-11 ESV* Flee, don’t flirt (1 Corinthians 6:18; 10:14) - remove yourself quickly from what compromises your peace.“Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.” “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.” - 1 Corinthians 6:18; 10:14 ESV* Pray on contact (Matthew 6:13) - even a simple, “Lord, deliver me” realigns your spirit.“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” - Matthew 6:13 ESVAction Step:Choose one verse to speak when temptation hits. Make it your “sword verse.”4. If You Fall - Repent Fast and Return FullyFailure doesn’t define you - your response does.* Confess quickly (1 John 1:9) - hiding keeps you bound; confession sets you free.“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” - 1 John 1:9 ESV* Receive grace, not guilt (Romans 8:1) - shame is the enemy’s counterfeit of conviction.“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” - Romans 8:1 ESV* Learn and strengthen (Galatians 6:1–2) - ask, “What opened the door?” then close it.“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” - Galatians 6:1-2 ESVAction Step:Keep Psalm 51 bookmarked. When you fail, read it aloud as your restoration prayer.5. Walk in Ongoing SurrenderVictory is not a one-time event - it’s a daily posture.* Be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18) - sin thrives in emptiness.“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.” - Ephesians 5:18 ESV* Practice gratitude and worship (1 Thessalonians 5:18) - joy in Christ weakens sin’s appeal.“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV* Serve others (Galatians 5:13) - self-centeredness fuels sin; service starves it.“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” - Galatians 5:13 ESVAction Step: End each day with three questions:* Where did I obey?* Where did I resist?* What will I surrender before I sleep?Watch / Listen / ReadListen“Come On” – Brooke Poindexter & Believers:This song carries the fire of obedience - that moment when faith stops standing still and starts moving. “Come On” is a rally cry to rise up, step out, and follow where God is leading without hesitation. It’s raw, bold, and full of urgency - a reminder that obedience isn’t quiet compliance, it’s passionate pursuit.“Proverbs 4:23 (Interlude)” – trulah:Quiet but piercing, this rendition captures the heartbeat of Proverbs’ surrender - guarding what truly matters. It reminds us that obedience begins within, flowing from a heart fully yielded to God. Its reflective tone pulls us inward, calling us to examine the places we’ve let drift and to let Him realign our hearts before our actions ever flow.Read“The Imitation of Christ” – Thomas à Kempis - LINKThis 15th-century classic still cuts straight to the heart. Thomas à Kempis calls us back to the quiet, inner life where obedience is formed - away from noise, ambition, and pride. The Imitation of Christ reminds us that surrender isn’t weakness; it’s worship. Books I and III and in particular chapter 7, speak powerfully into this week’s theme, showing that following Jesus begins with humility, self-denial, and a heart willing to yield completely to Him.📅 This Week’s 30-Min Rally PointWe’ll meet for our first 30-minute rally point this Thursday at 7:00 PM EST via Zoom.This is a space for reflection, encouragement, and activation, a rhythm of checking in, praying together, and pressing forward.🕖 Zoom Time: Thursday @ 7:00 PM EST🔗 Click to join the Zoom call - Zoom URLFormat:* Welcome & Opening Prayer (2 min)* Scripture Reading (3 min)* Teaching Recap (5 min)* Discussion Questions (12 min)* Heart-Level Questions:* Head-Level Questions:* Hands-Level Questions:* Practice Together (5 min)* Closing Encouragement & Prayer (3 min)Bring a Bible, a journal, and any wins or wrestles you want to share. This is a safe space to grow.Next Week's Topic: M2 - Obedience | W4 – The Blessing of ObedienceRead ahead with our M2 W4 Anchor Scripture:“If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”- John 13:17 (ESV)Next week, we’ll close out Month 2 by exploring how obedience doesn’t just cost - it multiplies blessings. When we choose to walk God’s way, even when it’s hard or hidden, His favor follows. We’ll see how Christ connects obedience with blessing - not as a transaction, but as the natural overflow of walking in His will. True blessing isn’t found in knowing alone, but in doing what He says.Remember: Obedience is not about earning God’s favor - it’s about living from it. When we walk in His ways, blessing follows not by chance, but by design.God is with us!May the Lord meet you in your surrender, strengthen you in your weakness, and remind you that His grace is enough for every step. May He steady your heart, renew your spirit, and fill you with peace as you continue to walk in His ways this week.I’m glad you’re here.Let’s run the race - Eyes Up, Chin Up!Grace and peace,Sam Johnston This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christfocused.substack.com

Week 2 - Everyday Surrender | Month 2 - ObedienceScriptural anchors for us through M2 - Week 2:“And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.’” (Luke 9:23 ESV)“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:1-2 ESV)Removing The Chains of SinThis week is about getting real, getting aggressive, and purposeful. It’s about the most important war we will wage, the battle to conquer ourselves. It is about removing the chains of sin anchoring us to the past and to death, and to place on the new footwear of surrender that will give us the tread to run the race ahead. It is about the practical application of the call to obediently surrender to Christ.This call to obedient surrender is not reserved for extraordinary big once in a lifetime decisions and moments; it needs to be woven into the very fabric of daily living. Paul clearly tells us to present our whole selves, body, mind, and will, as a “living sacrifice.” That’s not a call to Sunday correction followed by 6 days of secularism that gets forgiven the following Sunday. Sacrifices in Israel’s temple that Paul is referring to here were placed on the altar of fire, once, and burnt to dust. The “living sacrifice” Paul describes is continual, daily, hourly, every second, every step and breath, is a living sacrifice to Christ, of our wishes, our desires, and the burning of all early signs of Sin, in place of His will, His thoughts, and His work. Every decision, every habit, every reaction becomes an altar where God’s will is chosen over our own, and sin is set aflame and burnt to the dust.Jesus didn’t mix his words and was very clear: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23, ESV). Obedience is not abstract spirituality; it is the gritty battlefield work of denying self-interest for God’s interest, daily. Augustine put it sharply: “To obey is better than to understand; the latter may be our glory, but the former is always our duty.”If you are stepping into a new movement of everyday surrender like this, it requires vigilance. The world will constantly try to press us into its mold (Romans 12:2), but obedience resists conformity. As Chrysostom observed, the Christian life is one of constant warfare: “It is not enough to have overthrown once; we must stand ready for fresh battles.” Each act of continued surrender is both a resistance and an act of rebellion against the dark powers that rule this world, as well as a renewal and growth in the Spirit’s power within you. A lot of good men who are hungry for a better world, and even ones who are skilled and experienced in the art of war and weaponry, often orient themselves for a fight beginning out in the world against the enemy ahead, and are then shocked at the realization of where Christ demands the battle begin, the battle begins against ourselves. And most are thoroughly surprised at their inability to win that fight at home in their own minds.This is why Paul links obedience to worship. True worship is not found in lofty words at the pulpit or stirring songs on a Sunday morning, but in continually yielded lives. Brother Lawrence, centuries ago, rediscovered this truth in a monastery kitchen: peeling potatoes with prayer, with a clarity and alignment of duty to Christ, humble actions became as holy as any liturgy, because his will was surrendered to God’s.Some of these battles may be won swiftly, some skirmishes could be ongoing. Paul speaks of a “thorn in the flesh” - something painful, persistent, and humbling - that he begged God to take away. But instead of removing it, God replied, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Paul came to see that this thorn, this ongoing battle, was not his downfall or a defeat, but his reminder: God’s strength shows up best in our struggle. Paul knew that God would continue to help him fight that battle and that through it, God would be glorified.Many of us carry our own thorns - ongoing internal battles we wish would end. Yet, like Paul, we find that God’s grace doesn’t always erase the pain or clear the battlefield; instead, it sustains us through it and empowers us to continue the fight. His grace is enough for today, enough for the fight, and enough to keep us standing when our strength runs out.Obedience is costly. Fighting these battles may strip us of comfort, recognition, and even sometimes our plans. But in its place comes something infinitely greater - the transforming presence of Christ, shaping us to discern and to do the will of God. Obedience is gain.In surrendering our will for his, we do not lose ourselves; we find our truest selves in Him, raised from the dirt of modern culture and false values, lifted above the clawing standards of sin, lifted as heirs to the Kingdom of God. To obey your King, is to choose life over death. Triumph over the world, by first conquering yourself. The Violence of SurrenderJesus wasn’t gentle in His language about sin. He didn’t suggest compromise, or slow weaning, or tolerance of sin in any form. Peace must be won, and as Jesus demonstrated in his own extreme gory suffering for our freedom, he commanded fairly extreme violence against sin. “If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell” (Matthew 5:29, ESV). Notice how Christ’s response is again not outward battle, not to make others act in a way that would prevent you from X, not to force others to X, instead it starts with you. Something is catching your eye? Cut out your own eye! This is shocking language - and deliberately so. Christ may not be calling for literal mutilation, but He is demanding ruthless, radical action.Why? Because sin is not a nuisance; it is a tyrant. * If we nurse it, it will devour us. * If we excuse it, it will enslave us. We will not be turning this discipleship movement into a sin-focused program, but we do need to audit ourselves humbly, and recognize the work and battles the Father wants to wage, and submit and surrender ourselves now and here, today, at this stage in our movement to commit to those battles. Jesus’ command shows the seriousness of the battle: better to cut off an avenue of temptation than to be destroyed by it. And this is what it is really about: defeating and preventing destruction and raising you up, so that you can go forth and raid hell for the Kingdom. In practice, this may mean deleting apps that fuel lust, cutting ties with relationships that lead you into compromise, restructuring finances to prevent greed, or silencing voices that stir anger and bitterness. To capture bad thoughts the very millisecond they arrive and burn them at the bronze feet of God, declaring his victory over them.To the world and perhaps to those around you, this may look excessive, but Jesus calls it wisdom. The same violent refusal that Christ applies to lust, must also be applied to all sin: Gossip, pride, envy, idolatry, and selfish ambition. If something causes you to lean towards any number of sins, better to enter Heaven without X than to enter Hell with it. Our Pastor at Riverlife Fellowship, Byron Wickers, said in today’s service, “Our future, impacts our present.” The war has already been won, that is the reality of the future, your present is to fulfill it, and to fight the battles along the way with him. Paul provides us with the order to commence the battle: “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you” (Colossians 3:5, ESV).Daily surrender is not polite trimming of sin’s edges - it is crucifixion. It is warfare against the flesh, in reliance on the Spirit’s power. Only through such radical obedience do we walk in freedom and holiness.The Grace of GodAlright, lets step out of the big picture for a moment here, if you just heard/ read Jesus’ call to gouge out the eye or cut off the hand, and are thinking, I can do that no problem, Ive done lots of things in life, and think you can do it by sheer willpower, or through a great 10 step program you’ve seen online, or an influencers guide to getting better you’ve been hearing about. I want to be very clear with you: You will not and cannot win these battles on your own. You will not win these brawls, scraps, and fights because of some steps or fancy words that your favorite influencer offered. You will need to surrender your ability, surrender your effort, and acknowledge humbly at the foot of the cross that you need Christ and his spirit to dwell within you; you will need to be armed with the Grace of God to win these battles. No law, and no rules will do it, only Christ. If you do it alone, you will collapse into either pride or despair; you may strive for a few weeks, maybe a few months…. but the end is usually the same: Despair, pride, and resentment. Human effort alone cannot uproot sin. Trying to fight in the flesh alone will always fail. You will end up with no eyes, no arms, a bloody mess, and still dealing with the same sin alone.The Christian life is not about white-knuckled striving; it’s about Spirit-empowered surrender. The new boots of surrender, as we said at the beginning. So what does that actually mean?Paul confesses this bluntly: “For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing… Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:19, 24–25, ESV). The answer here is not more of Paul’s effort, but more of Christ, more of the Holy Spirit’s supernatural power to bring light into the dark areas we are incapable of doing ourselves.Jesus Himself promised us the Helper: “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth” (John 14:16–17, ESV). The Spirit isn’t an accessory to your walk; He is the very power of our obedience, the direction, weight, and stride of your walk. Paul reminds us: “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16, ESV). Notice the promise - not that the flesh disappears, but that the Spirit wins the battle when we yield to Him. Do yourself a favor, and bring every sin, every temptation to the foot of the cross early on, bring it today, right now, get on your knees and throw open the doors to the throne room of the Father and lay it at his feet, and know that the Spirit will empower the victory on this, that the partnering of flesh and spirit is the weapnary neccesary for defeating this enemy.In practice, this looks like daily dependence:* When temptation rises, call on the Spirit in prayer before you continue to think any further, waaaay before you act. Catch it immediately and ambush it with the violence of spiritual action. * When anger burns, pause to ask the Spirit for gentleness. Let the steam vent instead on the burning offering of His will be done!* When pride whispers, be honest enough to also listen for the Spirit’s conviction and humble yourself quickly, so that God may be glorified instead of you.* When despair sets in, surrender the gut-drop feeling of falling to the Father, Fall into his throne room, and let the Spirit remind you of the Father’s promises in Scripture. Let his declaration of the future become the present truth.Paul’s own “thorn in the flesh” was never removed by striving. Instead, the Lord said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9, ESV). Grace is not permission to sin - it is the ultimate power to endure and overcome.Be encouraged: * No sin is too strong for the Spirit of God. * No habit is beyond His reach. * Every battle can be won, not by our might or determination, but by His power at work within us. * The same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead dwells in you (Romans 8:11). He is enough.This Week’s Scripture Reading PlanRead one passage each day. Ask: What battle shall we wage today Father, the Victory is surely yours.* 2 Corinthians 12:7–10: Paul’s thorn and God’s answer.* Romans 12:1–2: Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice.* Luke 9:23–25: Deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow Me.* Philippians 3:7–14: Pressing on, counting all else loss for Christ.* Galatians 2:20: It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.* Psalm 73:25–26: My flesh and heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart.The prayer we are petitioning over one another as we move through this week:“Father, we bring You our thorns, our current battles, and the battles to come. Remind us that surrender is not giving up, but giving over - trusting that Your grace is enough, to defeat all sin, to put to wreckage and ruin the old man, and to raise up a stronger soldier for your use. Where we are weak, be our strength. Where we resist, bend our hearts to yield. May Your power be made perfect in our weakness and Your glory shine through our perseverance. May you be Glorified in the victories to come. In Your sufficient grace we stand. Amen.”Practice for the WeekThis week, we’ve dropped a lot of scripture and some fairly heavy conversation. I want you to focus on the work above. It is that important. No distraction, just going to the foot of the cross in prayer and surrendering to the Lord. God Speed!Watch / Listen / ReadListenWe are keeping it short in this section this week, purposefully, to allow the focus to remain on the work above. Here is a playlist to build you up as you go through the week ahead:The Psalms are songs of the soul - cries of pain, hope, and surrender - and the blues captures that same honest tension. This playlist puts Scripture to melody in a raw, human way that meets us right in the struggle. As you walk through this week of surrender, let these blues-inspired psalms remind you that even in weakness and weariness, worship can rise.🎵 Tracklist:* Psalm 1 – Like a Tree by the River 00:00* Psalm 91 – Under His Wings 03:30* Psalm 19 – Heaven’s Blues 06:46* Psalm 121 – Keeper of My Steps 10:40* Psalm 32 – Covered by Mercy 14:05* Psalm 46 – River in the Ruins 16:38* Psalm 63 – My Soul Thirsts for You 20:23* Psalm 40 – Out of the Pit 24:10* Psalm 24 – Open Up the Gates 27:49* Psalm 139 – Known and Carried 31:07I have linked above each Psalm to the corresponding audio Bible App version, if you would prefer to hear the full Psalm without the music and blues. 📅 This Week’s 30-Min Rally PointWe’ll meet for our first 30-minute rally point this Thursday at 7:00 PM EST via Zoom.This is a space for reflection, encouragement, and activation, a rhythm of checking in, praying together, and pressing forward.🕖 Zoom Time: Thursday @ 7:00 PM EST🔗 Click to join the Zoom call - Zoom URLFormat:* Welcome & Opening Prayer (2 min)* Scripture Reading (3 min)* Teaching Recap (5 min)* Discussion Questions (12 min)* Heart-Level Questions:* Head-Level Questions:* Hands-Level Questions:* Practice Together (5 min)* Closing Encouragement & Prayer (3 min)Bring a Bible, a journal, and any wins or wrestles you want to share. This is a safe space to grow.Next Week's Topic: M2 - Obedience | W3 – Walking the TalkRead ahead with our M2 W3 Anchor Scripture:“If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”- Galatians 5:25 (ESV)Next week, we’ll focus on putting obedience into motion through practical, Spirit-led action. Together, we’ll explore how to translate conviction into conduct - how to take what we’ve learned about surrender and apply it to our daily habits, relationships, and decisions. We’ll look at biblical examples of obedience in action, and what we can learn where others weren’t obedient, and discuss simple, intentional steps we can take to live out Christ’s commands in our everyday lives.Obedience is not proven in words but in the quiet, consistent choices that reflect Christ’s character in our homes, workplaces, and communities.Remember: faith that listens but does not act is incomplete. True obedience walks - it doesn’t just talk.God is with us!May the Lord meet you in your surrender, strengthen you in your weakness, and remind you that His grace is enough for every step. May He steady your heart, renew your spirit, and fill you with peace as you continue to walk in His ways.I’m glad you’re here.Let’s run the race - Eyes Up, Chin Up!Grace and peace,Sam Johnston This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christfocused.substack.com

M2 - W1 - Envoy Rally Point Theme: The Heart of ObedienceGuest Speaker: Charlie BentonQuick RecapThis week’s Rally Point marked the start of Month 2: Obedience in our 12-month Envoy journey. Last month, we laid the foundation of Identity in Christ - chosen, named, and adopted as heirs of His Kingdom. This month, we move from who we are to how we live: obedience.As I shared at the start, obedience is not legalism but the natural overflow of love. Jesus said in John 14:15: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” Identity is the root; obedience is the fruit.This week, we were joined by guest speaker Charlie Benton.Charlie spent over a decade as a detective in the Carolinas, specializing in human trafficking cases, before stepping into his current role as Managing Editor at Field Ethos. He shared how faith shaped his journey through law enforcement, adventure, publishing, and fatherhood, always returning to the theme of listening to God and walking in obedience.Highlights from the session* Journey to Christ-like ObedienceWe emphasized how obedience flows from love, not duty. Month 2 will focus on aligning our steps with the King’s vision and drawing on the Spirit to empower us in the battle against ourselves.* Detective’s Faith-Driven Career TransitionCharlie shared how God led him from human trafficking investigations into publishing. He described how obedience required him to step into the unknown, trusting God with his career and calling.* Believe & Kudu Hunt in AfricaCharlie told the story of tracking a kudu in Africa for four days, after numerous failed hunts, a test of patience, perseverance, and faith. The moment of success became a symbol of God’s provision, even inspiring a Field Ethos hat design.* Personal Obedience and GrowthHe spoke candidly about decisions like quitting alcohol, pursuing contentment, and learning to be present as a husband and father. He pointed us to Philippians 4:11–13 as a reminder that true contentment is found in Christ.* Spiritual WarfareCharlie reminded us of 2 Corinthians 10:5. “take every thought captive to obey Christ.” He emphasized the need to guard our minds against a culture filled with darkness, sharing how even something as simple as wearing a hat that says “believe” can open conversations about faith.* Law Enforcement & RedemptionIn sharing about his years working on human trafficking cases, Charlie emphasized the power of obedience to God’s calling. He highlighted the importance of trust, redemption, and the support of his wife during those difficult years.* Internal DevelopmentNow in a new season, Charlie shared that he is focusing on spiritual and personal growth as a husband and father, stepping back from chasing titles to live faithfully in the role God has placed him in.Closing Prayer“Lord Jesus, we confess that obedience often feels costly, but You have shown us that it is the pathway to freedom. Root our obedience in love for You, not fear or duty. Holy Spirit, bend our wills toward Yours, and teach us to walk in joyful surrender each day. May our lives shine as living testimonies that we belong to Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.”God is with us.Thank you for drawing near. May the Lord bless your obedience, steady your heart, and fill you with joy as you walk in His ways this week.I’m glad you’re here.Let’s run the race - Eyes Up, Chin Up!Grace and peace,Sam JohnstonThanks for joining us! Subscribe to get the ENVOY program updates in your email inbox.https://christfocused.substack.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christfocused.substack.com

Week 1 - The Heart of Obedience | Month 2 - ObedienceScriptural anchor for us through Week 1:John 14:15 (ESV) – “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”Stepping Forward in ObedienceLast month, we dug deep into the foundational knowledge of our Identity in Christ - chosen, named, known, and loved by the Father. That foundation matters because who we are shapes how we live. But identity without obedience quickly becomes hollow. James warns us: “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22 ESV).Now we step into Month 2: Obedience. Obedience is not cold submission or lifeless duty. It is the living proof of love, and at some point, you have to face the reality of how your thoughts and actions are reflecting your real personal relationship with your Saviour. So take a moment to ask yourself now. Jesus said plainly: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15 ESV). Love and obedience are inseparable - love gives obedience its joy, and obedience proves love’s sincerity. Guilt and the gut feeling that “that was wrong”, that too is a sign of Love’s nudge to obedience, so heed its warning.The early church echoed this. Augustine wrote, “Love, and do what you will.” His meaning wasn’t license to continue in sin, but alignment: When we truly love God, our will bends toward His will, and obedience ceases to be burdensome. To put it in more modern language - “You do what you love.” The Apostle John said the same: “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3 ESV).So the question before us is this:If we know who we are in Christ, will we now live as His sons and daughters by obeying His word?Cultural Myth of FreedomModern Western culture exalts the word freedom, but often without responsibility, choice without consequence, you can be anyone, do anything, and have your own truth, leaving no tangible objective reality. We have dropped into subjective reality. We have lost the Rights & Responsibilities aspect of freedom within our personal and civic life. We have forgotten what we are free from and what we are free to do.As always, scripture has already provided the remedy and offers us a renewed appreciation for the dual nature of freedom; it implores obedience, but not as bondage, instead rightly as the pathway to true freedom. Freedom from sin, from death.Jesus said, “Everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin… but if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:34, 36 ESV).Freedom is not the absence of authority - it is life under the right authority.The psalmist declares: “I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart” (Psalm 40:8 ESV).True free obedience is not really all about external compliance, but rather inward desire - our hearts reshaped to want what God wants. That is why Ezekiel prophesied of the new covenant: “I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you… and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules” (Ezekiel 36:26–27 ESV).Personally, my own experience has shown me, that reason and facts alone can’t anchor us, especially within the ever-faster shifting times in which we live. Evidence changes, arguments twist, and truth is bartered online like currency for views and hits. I used to lean heavily on reason to make sense of life - proof to find truth, reality to reach the dream, starting at the subject and then expecting art, choreography to find the dance. It simply doesn’t work.And for a lot of people out there, perhaps you, reading or listening this, reason alone is feeling blank and void of truth. Facts have become unreliable guides especially when everyone shapes them to fit their own narrative. As Isaiah warned: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness” (Isaiah 5:20 ESV). And we do live in a time of clouded and murky virtue-signaled light, and the upcoming generation is seeing through it. So, where does this new generation and where do we turn? Even we as believers. For truth, for guidance on decisions, big life decisions, and daily small ones, how are we supposed to chart a course through these modern waters? Where do we turn? Well, not to current evidence or momentary facts or logic. We turn instead for all things to: Faith expressed through obedience. Obedience to pray into the world the word of God. We exalt our Lord into the fabric of our days instead of relying on the days to inspire the spirit within us. We use prayer and poetry to establish the truth, and to inspire the mundane around us. We bring the strength, love, music, and art of heaven down into the dust to chart a path of light for ourselves and others, to inspire ourselves with the Word of God, rather than be overwhelmed by the sad reality of man’s un-ambition around us.To admit the ugly realities around us, and yet still choose to believe and obey.To pray when prayer feels foolish. To obey when obedience feels costly.Prayer is the place where this obedience begins.As one of our group put it a few weeks back, “Life is one big continual prayer.”It is not a hollow ritual but a reorientation of our hearts. Prayer is where we breathe, surrender, and reset. Sometimes it is a sigh, sometimes a guttural scream. It anchors us without chaining us, it gives us a stable floor from which to rise, to pick up our cross, and move forward to follow Christ.Obedience is not about perfection. It is about surrender.Not trusting our own reason as final, but trusting the One who is truth itself. As Paul reminds us: “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7 ESV). Faith fuels obedience. Prayer fuels faith. And obedience, rooted in love, is the visible mark of discipleship in the world.To put this section succinctly: Obedience in faith, from a heart filled with the Love of the Father, is the foundation of all action. Obedience starts with choosing to believe God’s word over our own perceptions and perceived realities; from that starting position, we can operate within Christ’s commands.What Christ CommandsIf we are called to obey, we must ask: what exactly does Jesus command us to do? The Gospels are full of His clear instructions, not as heavy burdens but as invitations into life. We will be covering these ongoing throughout the Envoy Program, but here are some of the central commands to get us started:* Seek first the kingdom of God. (Matthew 6:33 ESV)* Repent and believe the gospel. (Mark 1:15 ESV)* Abide in His love. “Abide in me, and I in you.” (John 15:4 ESV)* Love God wholeheartedly. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37 ESV)* Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Him. (Luke 9:23 ESV)* Pray continually and do not lose heart. (Luke 18:1 ESV)* Forgive others. “Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” (Luke 6:37 ESV)* Love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:39 ESV)* Serve one another. “The greatest among you shall be your servant.” (Matthew 23:11 ESV)* Make disciples of all nations. (Matthew 28:19–20 ESV)These are not “life coach” suggestions; they are commands flowing from the heart of Christ, your King for your benefit and for the world’s benefit. And every one of them calls us into deeper love and surrender.As Dietrich Bonhoeffer said: “Only he who believes is obedient, and only he who is obedient believes.”How Christ Calls Us to ObeyJust as important as what Jesus commands is how He calls us to live out that obedience. His way is different from the heavy burdens of religion or the cold demands of our human proxy rulers:* With love, not fear. “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15 ESV). Our obedience flows out of relationship, not terror.* With faith. “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” (John 6:29 ESV). Belief fuels obedience; obedience strengthens belief.* With humility. “Learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:29 ESV). True obedience is marked by gentleness and surrender.* With joy. “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:11 ESV). Obedience is not grim duty but a doorway into joy.* With perseverance. “The one who endures to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 24:13 ESV). Obedience is a long walk of faith, not a single act.* Through the Spirit’s power. “The Helper, the Holy Spirit… will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (John 14:26 ESV). We obey not in our own strength but by His Spirit.This is the heart of Christian obedience: Not lifeless duty, but love-filled action. Not burdensome striving, but Spirit-enabled surrender. As Saint Augustine (354-430) preached, “Obedience is the mother of all virtues.”This Week’s Scripture Reading PlanRead one passage each day. Ask: What does this show me about obedience and how love fuels it?* John 14:15-24 - If you love me, keep my commands.* Deuteronomy 10:12-13 - What does the Lord require of you?* Matthew 7:24-27 - The wise man who builds on the rock.* Romans 6:15-23 - From slaves of sin to slaves of righteousness.* James 1:22-25 - Be doers of the Word, not hearers only.* 1 John 5:1-5 - His commandments are not burdensome.The prayer we are petitioning over one another as we move through this week:“Lord Jesus, we confess that obedience often feels costly, but You have shown us that it is the pathway to freedom. Root our obedience in love for You, not fear or duty. Holy Spirit, bend our wills toward Yours, and teach us to walk in joyful surrender each day. May our lives shine as living testimonies that we belong to Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.”Reflection Questions* Where in my life am I resisting God’s commands or delaying obedience?* Do I see obedience as a burden or as a response of love? Why?* How is the Holy Spirit prompting me to obey in a specific, practical way this week?* What would change in my relationships, work, or daily habits if I obeyed Christ wholeheartedly?* Am I trying to follow Christ in my own strength, or am I relying on His Spirit to empower obedience?* How can I turn prayer into a place of surrender, not just requests, this week?Practice for the WeekPractice Obedient Prayer: Each day, ask God not only for what you want but help to surrender to what He wills. Pray: “Lord, what are You calling me to obey today?”Journal Prompt: Write down one command of Christ that is honestly difficult for you to obey. Bring it humbly before Him in prayer, asking His Spirit to empower your obedience.Watch / Listen / ReadWatch“The Joy of Obedience” | Charles Stanley (In Touch Ministries)Link to the full video of the sermon - LINKIn this teaching, Dr. Stanley explains that obedience is not about rules but about relationship. He unpacks how God’s commands are expressions of His love, designed for our freedom and flourishing. Obedience, he shows, is both the pathway to intimacy with Christ and the evidence of genuine faith.Short snippet on Dr Stanley’s Reasons To Obey:ReadThe Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer – Chapter on “The Call to Discipleship”Link to PDF of book - Page 61Bonhoeffer presses us to see obedience as inseparable from faith. “Only he who believes is obedient, and only he who is obedient believes.” This timeless chapter calls us beyond cheap grace into costly, love-fueled obedience.Listen“Is Obedience Without Affection Still Love?” | John PiperA short but powerful reminder that obedience is not about legalism but love. Piper unpacks Jesus’ words in John 14:15, showing how obedience is the natural overflow of love for Christ.Link to the podcast - John Piper LinkHow Great Thou Art / This Little Light of Mine - Steph MacloedThis one gets me, not only because we sang it growing up and at my Grandfather’s funeral with the full might of the Welsh Male Voice Choirs in the old stone chapel of Ebbw Vale, but because of the declaration of it. The perspective, the singing of my soul.Obedience - Lindy & The Circuit RidersThis song reminds us that obedience is not about duty but about love - saying “yes” to God and stepping boldly into His calling.God is With Us (Appalachian style) A hauntingly beautiful Appalachian rendition of this Orthodox call to action for the nation that “ God is With Us.”, and indeed, he is!📅 This Week’s 30-Min Rally PointWe’ll meet for our first 30-minute rally point this Thursday at 7:00 PM EST via Zoom.This is a space for reflection, encouragement, and activation, a rhythm of checking in, praying together, and pressing forward.🕖 Zoom Time: Thursday @ 7:00 PM EST🔗 Click to join the Zoom call - Zoom URLFormat:* Welcome & Opening Prayer (2 min)* Scripture Reading (3 min)* Teaching Recap (5 min)* Discussion Questions (12 min)* Heart-Level Questions:* Head-Level Questions:* Hands-Level Questions:* Practice Together (5 min)* Closing Encouragement & Prayer (3 min)Bring a Bible, a journal, and any wins or wrestles you want to share. This is a safe space to grow.Next Week's Topic: M2 - Obedience | W2 - Everyday SurrenderRead ahead with our M2 W2 Anchor Scripture: “And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.’” (Luke 9:23 ESV)This passage takes us deeper into the heart of obedience by showing us that following Jesus is not a one-time decision but a daily surrender. Christ calls us to lay down self-interest, self-will, and self-reliance and to embrace the way of the cross.Remember: obedience is not just about the moments of big decisions - it’s about a life of continual surrender.God is with us!Thank you for drawing near. May the Lord bless your obedience, steady your heart, and fill you with joy as you walk in His ways this week.I’m glad you’re here.Let’s run the race - Eyes Up, Chin Up!Grace and peace,Sam Johnston This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christfocused.substack.com

Week 4 - Living from Identity | Month 1 - Identity in ChristScriptural anchor for us through Week 4:“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.” - Ephesians 4:1When Identity Becomes ActionOver the past three weeks we have:* Week 1: Chosen and Known: Discovered God knew us and chose us before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4–5). Link to W1* Week 2: From Orphan to Heir: Learned we are adopted into God’s family, fully accepted and beloved (Gal. 4:4–7).* Week 3: Beyond Labels: Replaced the false names given by culture, history, and self with the name God speaks over us (2 Cor. 5:16–17).This week, we turn the corner. If the first three weeks were about receiving, this week is about starting the journey of fulfilling.Paul says in Ephesians 4:1 that the way we live should be worthy of the calling we have received. Worthy does not mean “earning it.” It means aligning with it. Our actions should match our identity.The early church understood this deeply. The Greek word for “worthy” here is axios, used in the marketplace to describe scales being balanced, identity on one side, action on the other. John Chrysostom said the life of the believer should weigh as heavy as the gospel that called him. In Rome, axios could describe conduct worthy of citizenship. Paul redeems the word, showing that being worthy of Christ means living in a way that represents the Kingdom, that represents Him.Ignatius of Antioch once wrote, “It is better to be a Christian without saying so, than to say so without being one.” And Bonhoeffer echoed it centuries later: “Only he who believes is obedient, and only he who is obedient believes.”Living from Identity’s 3 DimensionsLiving from identity is not about perfect performance; it is about consistent alignment. When your root is secure in Christ, the fruit of your life will match the tree (Luke 6:43–45).1. Personal IntegrityIn a culture where self-promotion often outweighs self-examination, integrity means you are the same person in private as in public. David prayed, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight” (Psalm 19:14). Augustine’s Confessions show that integrity is only possible when God’s grace brings unity between our inner and outer life. Living from identity means you measure success by your personal and private faithfulness to Christ, not the applause or acknowledgment of people.2. Relational WitnessJesus said the mark of His disciples would be love for one another (John 13:34–35). Tertullian recorded that outsiders marveled, saying:“See how they love one another.” When you live from identity, you forgive without keeping score, serve without fear of being overlooked, and honor others even when, and especially when it costs you. Your relationships become signs of heaven’s culture breaking into the earth.3. Missional FaithfulnessPaul calls us Envoys for Christ (2 Cor. 5:20). Envoys do not live for themselves; they carry the interests of their King into foreign territory. N. T. Wright describes believers as: “Signposts of the Kingdom.”.Living reminders that Christ reigns. Living from identity means your workplace, your neighborhood, and your friendships are your mission field. You act and speak as if Jesus were present there, because He is, in you.The point is not just what you do, but why you do it. When your why flows from your true identity, your life becomes a living invitation for others to meet your Father, their King.The Role of the Holy SpiritYou can know your real identity in Christ and yet still struggle to live it out if you try to do it by your own power. Scripture is clear: identity-shaped living is Spirit-enabled living.The Spirit Confirms Your Identity“You have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” (Romans 8:15–16).Our flesh can still fail us, the world is still dark, and this is why our Father gave us the gift of the indwelling of his Holy Spirit, so that we could face the world together. The Spirit’s voice will continue to whisper and minister to our internal concepts of identity, “You are Mine”. Silencing other voices that try to tell us otherwise. Basil the Great said the Spirit “makes us like God” by forming Christ’s image in us. Without this inner witness, Christian living becomes an exhausting performance instead of joyful obedience.The Spirit Empowers TransformationGalatians 5:22–23 describes the fruit of the Spirit. These are not self-improvement projects; they are evidence that the Spirit is working within you. Dallas Willard taught that spiritual disciplines position us for this fruit to grow. Living from identity means cooperating with and agreeing to the Spirit’s work, instead of resisting it.The Spirit Convicts and Redirects When you drift from your identity, the Spirit convicts not to condemn (Romans 8:1) but to restore. John 16:8 says the Spirit: “will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.” J. I. Packer wrote that conviction is how God leads His children back into alignment with who they are in Christ.The Spirit Guides Your MissionActs 1:8 says: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses.” The Spirit equips you to live out your calling in the exact places God has sent you. Henri Nouwen reminded us that life in the Spirit doesn’t just make us beloved children, it makes us become beloved witnesses. You are not sent alone; the Spirit goes with you, leading you into relationships and opportunities you could never orchestrate yourself. Putting it another way, your identity is no longer… “you”. The identity of “you” is the dwelling place of Christ, who lives through you upon the earth. Stepping ForwardIdentity is the ground bed of discipleship. Before Jesus ever sent His disciples to preach, heal, or cast out demons, He called them to be with Him (Mark 3:14). Being comes before doing. If we miss this order, our discipleship becomes performance-driven religion instead of Spirit-filled transformation.Month 1 has been about laying that foundation, pouring it into the cracks and valleys left from our prior lives. We began by seeing that we are chosen and known by God before time itself. We learned that we are not spiritual orphans but adopted heirs, welcomed into His family. We faced the false labels that culture, failure, or history try to put on us, and received the new name spoken by God. Now in Week 4, we move from knowing to living, from receiving to embodying.This week is more than a month 1 conclusion; it is a priming, it is the driving of gunpowder behind the topics to come. Living from identity is the anchor that swings us into the rest of this journey. As roots drive deep, fruit begins to form. Month 2 ahead will move us from identity into practice, showing how abiding in Christ and adopting rhythms of prayer, Word, and Spirit activities anchor us for lifelong discipleship. Month 3 will press deeper into relationships, where our identity and practice spill outward into community. Month 4 will move into mission endurance, where all we have received is carried into the world as Christ’s Envoys.Everything ahead builds on this foundation: You are God’s beloved child, named and claimed by Him, and empowered by His Spirit. From this identity comes the life of a disciple, secure, steadfast, and sent.This Week’s Scripture Reading PlanRead one passage each day. Ask: What does this tell me about who God says I am?* Ephesians 4:1–6: Walking worthy of the calling.* John 15:1–11: Abiding in Christ to bear fruit.* Colossians 3:1–17: Putting on the new self.* Matthew 5:14–16: Living as the light of the world.* 2 Corinthians 5:18–21: Living as ambassadors for Christ.* Micah 6:8: Walking humbly and living justly.The prayer we are petitioning over one another as we move through this week:“Almighty Father, who called us out of darkness into the marvelous light of Your Son, grant that our lives may show forth Your praise not only with our lips but in our deeds. Let our words, actions, and thoughts reflect who we are in Christ. Holy Spirit, bear witness within us, fill us, and guide us so that the world sees You in us. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”Reflection Questions* Where is there a gap between your identity in Christ and your daily life?* How can you realign that area with God’s truth?* Which relationships could be transformed if you acted from your true identity?* Am I seeking to become someone through my actions, or am I acting because I already am someone in Christ?* How is the Holy Spirit prompting you to walk worthy this week?Practice for the WeekLet’s keep this simple this week. Choose one action, habit, or relationship this week where you will intentionally live out your God-given identity in a new way.Pair this with a daily examen: at the end of each day, prayerfully ask; “Where did I live as a child of God today, and where did I slip back into striving?”.Journal the results. What changed in your attitude, relationships, or opportunities when you acted from security instead of striving? Don’t overcomplicate this activity as you go through the week; One action is changing, pray over it at the end of the day, and take notes as you go, and just you see what God does through it. Watch / Listen / ReadWatchThe Weight of Our Calling (Ephesians Pt. 12) | Francis ChanAfter Francis had studied through the first 3 chapters of Ephesians and understood the incredible blessings and promises that we’ve received from God, he asks us what should our response be? How should we live in light of these truths? ReadBook: Dallas Willard: The Spirit of the Disciplines. Chapter 1 - The Secrets of the Easy Yoke - LINKListenBe Thou My Vision | Celtic Worship ft. Steph MacleodThis ancient hymn, beautifully reimagined by Celtic Worship, anchors us in the truth that our identity is found not in labels or achievements but in Christ alone. As we close Month 1 on Identity in Christ, the prayer “Be Thou my vision” is a declaration to see ourselves and the world through God’s eyes, aligning our hearts with His presence as our true source of worth and direction.📅 This Week’s 30-Min Rally PointWe’ll meet for our first 30-minute rally point this Thursday at 7:00 PM EST via Zoom.This is a space for reflection, encouragement, and activation, a rhythm of checking in, praying together, and pressing forward.🕖 Zoom Time: Thursday @ 7:00 PM EST🔗 Click to join the Zoom call - Zoom URLFormat:* Welcome & Opening Prayer (2 min)* Scripture Reading (3 min)* Teaching Recap (5 min)* Discussion Questions (12 min)* Heart-Level Questions:* Head-Level Questions:* Hands-Level Questions:* Practice Together (5 min)* Closing Encouragement & Prayer (3 min)Bring a Bible, a journal, and any wins or wrestles you want to share. This is a safe space to grow.Next Month's Theme: M2 - Obedience | W1 - The Heart of ObedienceRead ahead with our M2 W1 anchor Scripture: John 14:15–24This passage shows us that obedience is not about legalism but about love. Jesus links our love for Him with our willingness to keep His commands, and He promises the Holy Spirit as the Helper who makes this possible. As you read, ask the Spirit to reveal the connection between love, obedience, and His presence in your life.Thank you for dedicating this time to drawing nearer, to stepping forward, and to saying yes to what God has for you. I’m glad you’re here.Let’s run the race - Eyes Up, Chin Up!Grace and peace,Sam Johnston This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christfocused.substack.com

Week 3 - Beyond Labels | Month 1 - Identity in ChristScriptural anchor for us through Week 3:“From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” - 2 Corinthians 5:16–17 (ESV)In Chosen and Known (Week 1), we saw that before the foundation of the world, God knew us and set His love upon us (Ephesians 1:4–5). In From Orphan to Heir (Week 2), we learned that this choosing was not abstract - it was relational. We were adopted into God’s household, made heirs to His kingdom (Galatians 4:4–7).Now we face the next stage in this journey: What does it mean to fully receive God’s naming and refuse to be defined by anything else?From Genesis to Revelation, God does not merely work with people as they are - He calls them into something new, and that calling often comes with a new name:* Abram → Abraham (Genesis 17:5) – From “exalted father” to “father of many nations.”* Sarai → Sarah (Genesis 17:15) – From “my princess” to “princess” for many.* Jacob → Israel (Genesis 32:28) – From “deceiver” to “God prevails.”* Simon → Peter (John 1:42) – From “listener” to “rock.”These were not ceremonial rebrands. They were declarations of divine reality - new identities rooted in God’s promise, not in human performance.The Liturgical Echo of the New NameIn the early Church, baptism often included receiving a new name, symbolizing your new identity in Christ. White robes represented being clothed with Christ (Galatians 3:27).Revelation 2:17 captures the mystery of this promise:“To the one who conquers… I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.”Early commentators like Hippolytus of Rome saw this “new name” as both a present possession and a future revelation - an identity fully known to God now, and fully revealed in glory.Even today, every time we pray Our Father, we are speaking from our God-given identity - not as outsiders, but as family.God’s Naming vs. the World’s LabelingRome hung a label, hung a sign: “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” (John 19:19). A label nailed in mockery, a charge of treason. In divine irony, what they meant in scorn was one of the truest sentences ever written. Sometimes, the intent of a label, no matter how damaging its perceived purpose, God will put it to use for His glory and the enemies’ humiliation. The world will try to pin labels on you too: Failure, not enough, too much, outsider. But at the cross every false name dies. What remains is the Father’s voice: Chosen, beloved, mine (Galatians 3:26–28).Paul captures the transformation in 2 Corinthians 5:17:“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”The “old” in this verse includes not only sin but every identity marker and life-defining narrative that existed outside of Christ.Dietrich Bonhoeffer, imprisoned for resisting Hitler, wrestled with identity as the world labeled him a traitor, a criminal, and a condemned man. In his poem Who Am I?, he concluded:“Whoever I am, Thou knowest, O God, I am Thine.” (Letters and Papers from Prison, 1944)Bonhoeffer’s point was clear: God’s voice must be louder than the crowd’s in our own head.Billy Graham often reminded believers:“When God looks at you, He doesn’t see your past. He sees the righteousness of Jesus Christ.”This is not sentimental optimism - it is the legal reality of justification and the relational reality of adoption.The Weight and Wound of LabelsLabels can be inherited, earned, or imposed:* Inherited - family expectations, ethnic or cultural identity, social class.* Earned - career titles, degrees, awards, or conversely, criminal records or moral failures.* Imposed - insults, stereotypes, or narratives others assign without your consent.Some labels flatter but enslave, tying worth to performance. Others wound, binding us to shame. Both distort who we truly are.The gospel cuts through these illusions. In Christ:* We are sealed by the Spirit (Ephesians 1:13–14) - a mark that no human opinion can erase.* We are hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3) - meaning the truest part of us is secure beyond reach of accusation.We are renamed by the One who calls things that are not as though they were (Romans 4:17).Why This Matters Before We Live It OutTo be able to produce fruit as an ENVOY (Week 4’s focus), we must settle our identity first. Without this foundation, every attempt to serve God will be vulnerable to collapse under criticism, failure, or pride. With these vices being key tools for the prowling enemy (1 Peter 5:8), it is much safer to step out as a Son of the highest King, labeled with the authority of God. If we don’t replace false names with God’s truth, we will:* Slip back into orphan thinking → Striving to prove our worth.* Depend on performance-based worth → Fragile and exhausting.* Hide in shame-driven secrecy → Fearful of being “found out.”This week is about internal alignment:* Believing that God’s word over you is more authoritative than any other voice, even your own.* Renouncing labels that have no legal right over a child of God. Name the labels, and renounce them in prayer.Resting in your God-given name as your ultimate truth and identity as we move forward.This Week’s Scripture Reading PlanRead one passage each day. Ask: What does this tell me about who God says I am?* 2 Corinthians 5:16–21 – New creation in Christ.* Isaiah 62:2–4 – God renames His people with delight.* John 1:40–42 – Jesus renames Simon to Peter.* Revelation 2:17 – The promise of a new, hidden name.* Colossians 3:9–11 – Putting off the old self, putting on the new.The prayer we are petitioning over one another as we move through this week:“Lord, You are the only One with the right to name us. We lay down every false label - those given by others, those We’ve given ourselves, those born of shame or pride. Speak Your truth over us. Teach us to believe it. Let Your naming be our resting place and the wellspring of our joy. Amen.”Reflection Questions* Which label from your past has been the most persistent in shaping how you’ve seen yourself?* Whose opinion has been loudest in your self-definition, and how can you replace it with God’s voice?* Which Scripture from this week most directly speaks a new name over you that you may not have considered for yourself before?Practice for the WeekRenaming Exercise – Don’t roll your eyes, I know, I know…. group participation can feel a little high school-esque, but humor me for a few minutes today:* Take a sheet of paper. On one side, list every label you’ve carried - from childhood nicknames to professional titles to self-criticisms and earthly accolades.* On the other side, draw a line from each label and write the identity truths Scripture gives you in place of those earthly weights.Example:* “unworthy” → “chosen” – 1 Peter 2:9. * “failure” → “more than a conqueror” – Romans 8:37.If it helps you to see it visually, go ahead and passionately destroy the first side, as an act of renunciation. Keep the second side somewhere visible and speak it aloud this week. The truth of the Lord being spoken of yourself is far more powerful than my keys can type here in this format. New thoughts and labels will float by us, sometimes bad thoughts, sometimes about ourselves; those thoughts are not to be claimed or held on to, let them continue drifting by, fill your mind with the nourishment of what your King calls you. Watch / Listen / ReadWatchYou Must Lose Yourself to Find Yourself - Tim KellerThis episode explores the theme of where your identity comes from in Jesus. Tim challenges you to move past surface identities (like "good person," "religious," or "self-made"):* “Losing Yourself” becomes a metaphor for shedding these labels to discover one’s identity in Christ.* Nicodemus's journey parallels how religious labels or status can obscure spiritual surrender and deeper transformation.* Tim’s exploration of the John 3 passage encourages us to go beyond labels, embracing identity not as who we are on the outside, but who we are in Christ.ReadSpiritual Roots – RiverLife Fellowship: Pastor Byron WickerThis reflection reminds us that our identity in Christ is not something we invent or achieve, but something deeply rooted in God’s eternal purposes. It invites us to examine whether our lives are being nourished by the right labels and roots, faith, love, and trust in Christ, or by shallow substitutes that cannot sustain us.John Eldredge, Wild at Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man’s Soul - Link to Chapter 1This book has challenged many believers to step beyond a safe or “tame” faith and embrace a deeper identity in Christ. One that involves courage, risk, and trust. Chapter 1 alone has some gold to offer on our M1 W3 topic. While it is framed around the language of masculinity, its central message applies more broadly: God calls His children to shed cultural labels and live as His beloved. ListenThe Ramp Podcast: What Does It Mean To Find Your Identity in Christ?In this episode, Micah Wood and Josh Hollingsworth unpack the phrase “find your identity in Christ,” inviting listeners to delve deeper than surface-level spirituality. They explore:* What “identity in Christ” truly means, beyond a mantra or slogan.* How this identity shapes your daily life, faith, and decisions, not just what you believe, but who you are in Christ.* Practical reflections on aligning your sense of self with biblical truth, rather than cultural labels or personal insecurities.Father Serafim -Psalm 50 In Aramaic (Jesus’s language - Aramaic)This ancient Syriac rendition of Psalm 50 begins with a humble plea: “Have mercy on me, O God…” It models the spiritual posture of identity rooted not in self-performance, but in repentance and divine mercy. It's haunting melody carries the weight of our need for grace, and invites us to enter beyond all external and internal labels, into the quiet, eternal certainty of being deeply known by God.Noah Rinker - Save My SoulNoah weaves a heartfelt reflection on identity, challenging the notion of being lifted up on human church-made pedestals versus embracing the identity God has given.Lauren Daigle - “You Say”It’s a familiar song to most, but Lauren really hits on our weekly topic here:“I keep fighting voices in my mind that say I'm not enoughEvery single lie that tells me I will never measure upAm I more than just the sum of every high and every low?Remind me once again just who I am because I need to know…”📅 This Week’s 30-Min Rally PointWe’ll meet for our first 30-minute rally point this Thursday at 7:00 PM EST via Zoom.This is a space for reflection, encouragement, and activation, a rhythm of checking in, praying together, and pressing forward.🕖 Zoom Time: Thursday @ 7:00 PM EST🔗 Click to join the Zoom call - Zoom URLFormat:* Welcome & Opening Prayer (2 min)* Scripture Reading (3 min)* Teaching Recap (5 min)* Discussion Questions (12 min)* Heart-Level Questions:* Head-Level Questions:* Hands-Level Questions:* Practice Together (5 min)* Closing Encouragement & Prayer (3 min)Bring a Bible, a journal, and any wins or wrestles you want to share. This is a safe space to grow.Next week: Living from IdentityNext week in Living from Identity, we’ll move from knowing who God says we are to actually living out that truth - allowing our words, relationships, and mission to reflect our new life in Christ. If you’d like to prepare, read Ephesians 4:20–24, where Paul calls us to put off the old self and put on the new, created in God’s likeness in true righteousness and holiness.Thank you for spending the time on this topic with us, your week is busy, and I am sure there are a lot of pressures on you. Your commitment to drawing closer to God will bear fruit. I’m glad you’re here.Let’s run the race - Eyes Up, Chin Up!Grace and peace,Sam Johnston This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christfocused.substack.com

Week 2 - From Orphan to Heir | Month 1 - Identity in ChristLast week, in Chosen and Known, we saw that God set His love upon us before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4–5). But being chosen is not the end of the story, it is the beginning. God’s ultimate aim is not just to select us for tasks or mission, but to adopt us into His family. To show us to the chair that he has already prepared for us at his family table.In Christ, we are not merely pardoned servants or acquitted criminals; we are welcomed as sons and daughters, heirs of the Father’s household, secure in our inheritance. This adoption is not symbolic sentiment; it is legal, spiritual, and eternal.Legal - Spiritual - EternalAs we go through Month 1, we will be diving deep into the foundations of Identity to secure our position before we step off. A metaphorical drawing back of the arrow. Below is a recap of where we have been and where we are going. Let’s dive into - From Orphan to Heir.The Magnitude of “Our Father”When the disciples asked Jesus how to pray, His opening words were radical:Πάτερ ἡμῶν ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς, “Our Father in the heavens” (Matthew 6:9, Greek).In His native Aramaic, Jesus used Abba, an intimate, familial term for father, conveying closeness yet reverence. This was unlike the distant, formal titles for God common in Jewish prayers. By teaching His disciples to say Our Father, Jesus gave them permission to approach God with the same relational intimacy He Himself enjoyed.Theologian Joachim Jeremias notes that no evidence exists of Jewish prayers addressing God as Abba before Jesus, meaning He was opening a new and astonishing way to relate to God.The early Church Fathers grasped its magnitude:* Cyprian of Carthage (c. 200–258): “We say ‘Our Father’ not ‘My Father,’ because the Son of God has made us one family and one people with Himself.” (On the Lord’s Prayer, 8, https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0502.htm)* Tertullian (c. 160–220): Beginning prayer with “Our Father” is an act of confidence and faith, for we dare to call God what only the Son could call Him, yet Christ has shared that right with us (On Prayer, 2, https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0322.htm).By placing “Our Father” first, Jesus makes clear:* God is not only Creator, He is Father.* We are not only subjects, we are children.* Relationship comes before requests.Before we ask for provision (“Give us this day our daily bread”), forgiveness, or guidance, we first declare our identity: we belong to the Father. The Lord’s Prayer begins with adoption, and every time we pray it, we rehearse moving from the posture of an orphan to the confidence of an heir.Read and listen to the full dispatch on the Lord’s Prayer here: LORD’S PRAYERThe Biblical Story of AdoptionFrom the very beginning, God’s design was for humanity to be part of His family. Luke’s genealogy even names Adam: “the son of God” (Luke 3:38).Showing that our original identity was one of divine sonship. Yet sin fractured this relationship, leaving humanity estranged from God and living as spiritual orphans.Still, God’s Fatherhood echoes through Israel’s story. He told Pharaoh through Moses: “Israel is my firstborn son” (Exodus 4:22).Later affirmed through Jeremiah:“I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn” (Jeremiah 31:9). These were not sentimental phrases - they were covenant declarations pointing forward to a greater reality.That reality came “when the fullness of time had come” (Galatians 4:4–5), as God sent His eternal Son into the world so that we might receive adoption into His family. In the Roman world, huiothesia was a binding legal act. Once adopted, a person’s debts were erased, their old identity dissolved, and their new family name and inheritance permanently secured. Paul’s deliberate use of this term assures believers that their place in God’s household is just as final and unbreakable.In Christ, we do not merely regain what Adam lost; we are brought into a new covenant family, one that can never be undone.Adoption in the Worship and Liturgy of the ChurchThe early Church celebrated adoption most visibly in baptism, understood as entrance into God’s household. Baptismal candidates were clothed in white robes to symbolize being “clothed with Christ” (Galatians 3:27) and sealed with the sign of the cross as God’s children.The Apostles’ Creed, used in baptism and weekly worship, begins: “I believe in God, the Father Almighty…”, the first confession of a Christian’s new identity.* Irenaeus (c. 130–202): “The Word of God… became what we are, that He might bring us to be even what He is Himself.” (Against Heresies, 5, https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/01035.htm)* Cyril of Jerusalem (c. 313–386): “You have been called to be a child of God… you have entered into the inheritance of the kingdom of heaven.” (Catechetical Lecture 3, https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/310103.htm)Even today, whenever we pray Our Father, we step into this ancient stream, claiming the right given to us through the Son.Barriers to Embracing AdoptionIf the reality of our adoption into God’s family feels more like theology on paper than a truth that grips your heart, you’re not alone. Scripture affirms our sonship and daughterhood with certainty, yet many believers find it difficult to live from that reality. Often, it’s because certain barriers cloud our view of God’s fatherly love and the permanence of His adoption.1. Cultural Self-SufficiencyWe are shaped by a world that prizes autonomy: “Be your own person. Build your own life. Rely on no one.” From an early age, we’re told dependence is weakness. Yet Jesus turns this upside down, declaring, “Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it” (Mark 10:15). Children are unashamedly dependent, trusting, receiving, relying. Our adoption calls us to that same posture, which can feel unnatural in a culture that worships self-made strength.2. Suspicion of FatherhoodFor some, the word “father” is loaded with pain, absent fathers, abusive fathers, inconsistent fathers. These wounds distort our view of God’s character, making trust difficult. But the gospel assures us that God’s Fatherhood is unlike any earthly example: “Because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’” (Galatians 4:6). The Spirit’s cry within us is both the antidote to mistrust and the proof of God’s gentle, perfect fathering.3. Performance-Based IdentityMany of us live as if God’s approval is earned, through moral effort, spiritual discipline, or ministry output. But adoption is not a wage for good behavior; it is a gift given to the unworthy. Paul reminds us, “For by grace you have been saved through faith… it is the gift of God, not a result of works” (Ephesians 2:8–9). The Father’s love is not a paycheck, it is an inheritance, secured entirely by Christ.4. Historical DistanceWithout the backdrop of Roman adoption law, we can read Paul’s words as a loose metaphor instead of a legal reality. In the first-century world, adoption was permanent, no court could reverse it. The adopted person’s old debts and record were erased, their new name and inheritance guaranteed for life. Paul chose this image to assure us: our adoption into God’s family is irreversible. The historical context makes the gospel’s promise even more stunning.If you are facing any of these barriers, it may well feel heavy, but they are not immovable. The same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead is also the Spirit who bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God (Romans 8:16). He dismantles mistrust, silences self-reliance, and engraves the Father’s love deeper than circumstance or feeling can reach. The simple answer here is prayer, and drawing nearer to him. This Week’s Scripture Reading PlanRead one passage daily and reflect on it in prayer.* Galatians 4:4–7, From slaves to sons, from orphans to heirs.* Romans 8:14–17, The Spirit of adoption crying “Abba.”* John 14:18–20, Jesus promises not to leave us as orphans.* Ephesians 1:5, Predestined for adoption through Christ.* 1 John 3:1–2, The Father’s love making us His children now.Reflection Questions* Where do I still think and act like a spiritual orphan?* How would my prayer life change if I truly saw God as my Father?* What fears or lies keep me from fully trusting my place in His family?Practice for the WeekPray the Lord’s Prayer Slowly (Matthew 6:9–13), pausing after “Our Father” to reflect on your adoption. Pray it aloud throughout the week with the confidence of an heir.We can also come together this week as a group to offer this prayer to our Father:“Father, thank You that through Christ I am no longer an orphan, but Your child. Teach me to live in the freedom and joy of being Your heir. Let me rest in the security of my place at Your table, and help me invite others home to.”Watch / Listen / ReadWatchBibleProject – Firstborn: The Last Will Be First, Episode 8: “God’s Firstborn Son”This episode explores the theme of Jesus as God’s Son, linking genealogies, baptism, and his role as liberator. It builds on our theme of adoption by unpacking how Jesus fulfills and transforms familial identity.Teaching – What does Adoption Have To Do With the Gospel? by The Gospel Project:In his book Knowing God, J.I. Packer explored how to best summarize the entire message of the New Testament in three words. What words did he choose? Adoption through propitiation. And while that might sound like a mouthful, these three words describe something beautiful.ReadEastern Orthodox: Theosis: The True Purpose of Human Life by Archimandrite George (Kapsanis) http://orthodoxinfo.com/general/theosis-english.pdf This reflective work explores the Eastern Orthodox doctrine of theosis, divinization, and shows another alternative and somewhat complimentary perspective on how adoption isn't just a legal status, but also a transformation throughout our life into further uniformity with God, our true destiny. Ideal for grounding adoption within a holistic spiritual journey, and always good for iron to sharpen iron from different perspectives. ListenSeth Snider - In the Seems This song beautifully wrestles with the tension between brokenness and belonging, carries the ache of longing for home and the Father’s embrace. It reminds us to move from distance and dreaming about belonging, to living as true sons and daughters who are fully welcomed and loved.The Brilliance - “Brother” A simple yet profound reminder of what being an heir means for how we look at the world. The position of Son and Daughter should transform our view of others, that ancient echo of Christ’s “ OUR Father.”. The Brilliance nudge us on that reminder beautifully. United Pursuit – “Divinely Beautiful” (Live).A soul-stirring, ambient indie-worship track from the United Pursuit collective, whose roots are steeped in spiritual family and adoption stories. Capturing the longing and fulfillment of belonging in God’s family.Sam MccCabe & Kristene Dimarco - “Christ be in my heart”Sam McCabe’s prayerful song that echoes the truth of adoption, inviting Christ to dwell within us and root our identity in His love.Byzantine Chant – Тело Христово примите / Receive the Body of ChristDating back to the 4th–5th century and preserved in the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, this communion hymn has been sung for over 1,500 years. It’s call to “Receive the Body of Christ; taste the fountain of immortality”, is the voice of God’s children being welcomed to His table. It powerfully declares that we are no longer orphans outside the feast, but heirs invited to share in the family meal of communion and grace.📅 This Week’s 30-Min Rally PointWe’ll meet for our first 30-minute rally point this Thursday at 7:00 PM EST via Zoom.This is a space for reflection, encouragement, and activation, a rhythm of checking in, praying together, and pressing forward.🕖 Zoom Time: Thursday @ 7:00 PM EST🔗 Click to join the Zoom call - Zoom URLFormat:* Welcome & Opening Prayer (2 min)* Scripture Reading (3 min)* Teaching Recap (5 min)* Discussion Questions (12 min)* Heart-Level Questions:* Head-Level Questions:* Hands-Level Questions:* Practice Together (5 min)* Closing Encouragement & Prayer (3 min)Bring a Bible, a journal, and any wins or wrestles you want to share. This is a safe space to grow.Next week: Beyond LabelsNext week in Beyond Labels, we will see how identity in Christ frees us from being defined by our past, our failures, or the names others give us, and how the gospel renames us for God’s purposes.If you want to get ahead of next week, you could read - Colossians 3:1–17Thank you for spending some time with us this week, it blesses us, as we know it blesses the Father. I’m glad you’re here.Let’s run the race - Eyes Up, Chin Up!Grace and peace,Sam Johnston This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christfocused.substack.com

Week 1 - Chosen & Known | Month 1 - Identity in ChristMaybe you’ve never really thought about the moment before the world began.The moment before the universe was spoken into being, before stars knew how to burn, before your parents met, before your first breath.Before all that… He chose you.That’s not sentiment. That’s scripture. That’s Ephesians 1.“He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world…” (v. 4)Chosen. Not tolerated. Not background noise. Not a project.Chosen in love, by name, for adoption.Chosen for what?What does it say we were chosen for?Not worldly success. Not a platform. Not a religious performance.We were chosen to be holy and blameless before Him in love.“he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him.” -Colossians 1:22 ESVThe world tells you to earn your identity.Build it. Prove it. Curate it. Monetize it.But Jesus says: Receive it.“To all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” - John 1:12This isn’t abstract theology. It’s personal.You are not who you think you are.You are not who others say you are.You are not who the voice in your head accuses you of being.You are who God says you are.And He says:* You are mine.“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.”- Isaiah 43:1* You are an heir of my Kingdom.“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs-heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ.”- Romans 8:16–17* You are known.“O Lord, you have searched me and known me! … Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.”- Psalm 139:1, 4Relaying the foundationsThis week, the invitation is not to do more.It’s to let this biblical truth rewire your foundations of belonging. To ensure that as we step forward in obedience to learn how to be His Envoys, we do so securely from a place of belonging, not striving.If your life is the house, identity is the foundation and frame.If the foundation and frame are cracked, the paintwork really doesn’t matter.So ask yourself:* Am I building from identity, or still trying to earn it?* Where am I hustling for attention, acceptance, or love that’s already mine in Christ?* Where am I wearing someone else’s name tag instead of the one Jesus gave me?Because when identity is settled, the mission becomes clear.We’re not tourists. Not spectators. Not freelancers for Jesus.We’re Envoys - chosen and known by the King.And through that relationship, sent into the world with His name, His message, and His love.Let that truth speak louder this week than anything else.To be knownScripture doesn’t stop at chosen. It pairs that word with something even more intimate: known.“For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” - 1 Samuel 16:7To be chosen is beautiful.To be known and still chosen - that’s grace.God isn’t surprised by your insecurities.He’s not shocked by your failures.He didn’t adopt a future version of you.He wanted you - flaws and all - from before your first heartbeat.Jeremiah 1:5 reminds us that God’s calling precedes our birth:“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you…” - Jeremiah 1:5 This isn’t generic love. This is targeted affection.The kind of knowing that sees through the mask.The kind of love that doesn’t flinch at your worst days.Romans 8 says, “Those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son…” (v. 29).Not just saved - reshaped.Not just accepted - refined.That’s the power of identity in Christ: It doesn’t just hold you; it changes you.This is why Paul says in Galatians 2:20: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” - Galatians 2:20You are not just seen. You are indwelt.Chosen. Known. And inhabited by God.That’s not a side note to your faith. That’s not a poetic flourish.That is the core claim of the Christian gospel. That is your foundation.And it is utterly revolutionary.Across most of the world's religious traditions, humanity is climbing towards God, hoping to be noticed, approved, and accepted. In Islam, Allah remains transcendent and unknowable, and relationship is tethered to submission and obedience. In Hinduism, the divine is often impersonal, a cosmic force to be absorbed into. In Buddhism, there is no personal god to know you at all, only the escape from suffering through detachment from the self.But in Christianity, in the truth?God descends.God moves in.“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?” - 1 Corinthians 6:19 The Spirit of God doesn’t just visit. He dwells.The temple is no longer a distant building - it’s you.“It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” Galatians 2:20That’s not a metaphor.That’s divine habitation.The God who thundered at Sinai… - Exodus 19:16The God who led Israel by fire and cloud… - Exodus 13:21The God whose presence made prophets fall trembling on their faces… - Numbers 16:22Now calls you His dwelling place.This flips the religious script. You don’t approach God on tiptoe, hoping your good outweighs your bad. You walk as a son or daughter, clothed in the righteousness of Jesus, filled with the Spirit who raised Him from the dead.Live from that place this week.Let that be the starting point - not the reward at the end of your effort.Let that be the foundation of this program. Watch / Listen / ReadRead📖 Scripture Reading:Whilst we have a lot of links within this week’s dispatch for you to click and dig into, here is a specific section: Ephesians 1:3–14: Read this passage as often as possible this week. Slowly. Out loud. Have your Bible app speak it to you. Let it soak into your soul so it becomes known rather than simply read. Ask the Spirit to highlight a phrase or truth each day that reminds you of who you are in Christ.📖 Blog - Shepherds After God's Heart - Pastor’s Blog: Byron Wicker Link In Shepherds After God’s Heart, Pastor Byron points us back to the God who knows us by name and raises up leaders after His own heart to care for His people. It’s a timely reminder that our identity and security flow not from titles or performance but from being chosen, known, and loved by the Shepherd Himself.📖 Bonus Reading – The J-Curve by Paul E. Miller (Book excerpt):Read sample chapter here - LinkIn his book, Miller unpacks how living in union with Christ reshapes our identity, moving from self-salvation to being conformed to the pattern of Christ.Watch📺 Inspiration – Finding Hope in a Fractured World | Joshua Luke Smith:Josh is a pastor, poet, producer, and published author. He founded Orphan No More, a record label and a creative community, and The Psalmists, a charity helping the lives of offenders. Find out more about Josh here: https://www.joshualukesmith.com📺 Sermon – Learning My True Identity In Christ with Rick WarrenThe way you see yourself influences every area of your life. Your identity determines whether or not you will be happy, successful, full of hope, and your proximity to the Father. Satan is hard at work using things such as the opinions of others, painful experiences, and even the media to conceal your true identity in Christ. In this message, Pastor Rick Warren takes a look at 1 Peter 2 and identifies the five fingerprints of your true identity. You’ll learn how to see yourself through God’s eyes and restore your true identity that was stolen by hurt, failure, damaged self-esteem, and mistakes.Listen🎧 Podcast – Inheritors of the Promise by The Bible Project) Min 48:43 Listen here: https://bibleproject.com/podcast/firstborn-creation/ The podcast here has some thought-provoking questions about the identity of Christ and our identity within him: "Even though he's like a new Adam, Jesus is actually the first real human. If what it means to be human is to be one with the love of the Divine Father, then there weren’t any humans before Jesus. That's putting it kind of facetiously and provocatively. But because Jesus is the image of God and the true image of humans as well, means that Jesus is the second Adam who is actually the first Adam. He's the first truly human one to be united to the divine love.” Take from it what you will, but its a fun mental exploration of identity.🎧 Bonus Podcast – How to Know You’re a Child of God by Tim Keller:Listen here - https://podcast.gospelinlife.com/e/dear-children/In Ephesians, Paul lays down the beauty and genius of the Christian life. What is unique about the Christian life is that the Christian lifestyle flows out of a new self-understanding. One of the new ways Christians understand ourselves is that we are children of God. This passage calls us to 1) Be imitators of God; 2) As dear children.🎵 Worship – United Pursuit: Heart Is My Home (Live).A soul-stirring, ambient indie-worship track from the United Pursuit collective, whose roots are steeped in spiritual family and adoption stories. Capturing the longing and fulfillment of belonging in God’s family.🎵 Worship – "God Be" by Chris Renzema Sing it over your doubts. Declare it over your week. You are chosen, not forsaken; you are who He says you are.🎵 Worship – Georgy Sviridov - Holy God by Credo Chamber Choir of Kiev - LINKAlso known as “Святый Боже” or “Sanctus Deus”, while this may not be your usual playlist material, it is a hauntingly reverent choral piece rooted in the Orthodox tradition. Its lyrics are drawn from the ancient Trisagion prayer (“Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us”), which has been sung by Christians since the early centuries of the Church. This timeless prayer proclaims the holiness and majesty of God, a central truth in understanding our identity in Christ. As Envoys, we are not defined by the world, but by our relationship to this Holy God, through Christ, who bridges the divine and human. The song’s rich, solemn tones remind us that being in Christ means being drawn into the sacred mystery of God’s presence and set apart as His people.📅 This Week’s 30-Min Rally PointWe’ll meet for our first 30-minute rally point this Thursday at 7:00 PM EST via Zoom.This is a space for reflection, encouragement, and activation, a rhythm of checking in, praying together, and pressing forward. If you have signed up to the program here on Substack with your email, you will receive a recurring calendar invite with the Zoom link. If you have not received it, then the information and link are also below:🕖 Zoom Time: Thursday @ 7:00 PM EST🔗 Click to join the Zoom call - Zoom LINKWeekly Rally Point Format:* Welcome & Opening Prayer (2 min)* Scripture Reading (3 min)* Teaching Recap (5 min)* Discussion Questions (12 min)* Heart-Level Questions:* Head-Level Questions:* Hands-Level Questions:* Practice Together (5 min)* Closing Encouragement & Prayer (3 min)Bring a Bible, a journal, and any wins or wrestles you want to share. This is a safe space to grow.Next week: From Orphan to HeirWe’ll walk into the next layer of identity - not just that you were chosen, but what you’ve inherited as a son or daughter of God.Pre-read: Romans 8:12–17Wow, our first Weekly dispatch is done. Everything we launch for and with the Father is a blessing. In this journey, we walk with His Word into our own personal unknowns, trusting in His perfect destination. Our prayer as step forward: “More of You, Father. More of You. Until nothing remains in our hearts and minds but You alone.”I’m glad you’re here.Let’s run the race - Eyes Up, Chin Up!Grace and peace,Sam Johnston This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christfocused.substack.com

We weren’t saved to sit.We were saved to be sent.From the foot of the Cross, straight into the world.Not only saved from something, but saved for something.You are Christ’s. You are an Heir of the Kingdom. You are called. You are sent.Become an Envoy of the Kingdom of God.What Is Envoy?Envoy by Christ Focused is a movement. It is a 12 month weekly and monthly discipleship journey for followers of Christ, launched from the heart of RiverLife Fellowship Church and open to people ready to take faith into action and their mission personally.This isn’t a standard Bible study group.This isn’t just another Zoom call.This is a movement, calling forward leaders to become Kingdom envoys in their families, workplaces, neighborhoods, and nations.“As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”— John 20:21 (ESV)Envoy is not a ministry innovation.It is a return to the New Testament normal.Why Now?Because the world will benefit when Followers assume their rightful roles.We need envoys, ambassadors, and heirs of the Holy Kingdom who:* Know who they are in Christ* Know how to handle the Word of God* Live with conviction, courage, and compassion* And walk in step with the Spirit, every day of the weekThe world is moving into a new era, one where AI implementations are taking traction, where bio-hacking and new advancements in science are pushing the mark on new discoveries, where younger generations are saturated in tech and social media from birth. But technology or advancement isn’t the problem.Silence from the Church is.Nothing in this world stands still, only forward or backward. We don’t need retreat.The Lord needs Envoys.“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations... teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”- Matthew 28:19–20 (ESV)The world needs now, more than ever, a new generation of Envoys, actively taking up their charge and forwarding the Lord’s voice into these spaces. Who Is It For?Followers of Christ eager to activate their part in the Kingdom and to join something bigger than themselves.The Bible doesn’t describe a divided life, sacred and secular, spiritual and practical.It describes a whole life, fully surrendered and strategically sent.This is for anyone who’s tired of passive faith and are now ready for purposeful obedience. For what’s next.“Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ...”- Philippians 1:27 (ESV)Whether you're 15 or 59, single, married, or mentoring others - Envoy is for you. If you are breathing…. you are in the good-fight.What to Expect:A 12-Month Discipleship Journey:Weekly Email Dispatch:Every week you’ll receive a study focused on scripture, commentary, practical action steps for the week, and curated resources (sermons, podcasts, music, reflection prompts). Take what serves you from the resources, no shame if you can’t get through it all, if you want to deep dive into all resources or simply respond to specific items, all will enrich your walk with Christ.Title: “Envoy Dispatch”Includes:* Theme of the Week: e.g., “Obedience in the Workplace,” “Integrity When No One’s Watching,” “Godly Leadership in Chaos” all tying into the Monthly theme ahead of the Monthly Envoy gathering. * Primary Scripture with devotional and exegetical breakdown* Sermon/Teaching Link (Video/audio by trusted teachers)* Podcast Episodes (optional & curated)* Questions to Reflect & Journal* Practical Action Step: mission-focused prompts for the weekWeekly Rallying Point (30 min):Zoom + in-person hybrid check-in weekly to process, pray, and push each other forward.* 5 min welcome & scripture reading* 10 min group sharing related to the weekly dispatch: “Where have you seen God this week?”* 10 min topical insight or encouragement from the month’s theme* 5 min prayer and charge for the week ahead* + Time allocated after for extended prayer and encouragement as neededMonthly Debrief & Ops Planning (1.5 - 2 hrs):Gathering of local and remote Envoy members for teaching, testimonies, worship, and practical mission planning. (Hosted at RiverLife locations and at other venues as necessary.)* Worship/Opening Word (10 min)* Teaching Deep Dive (25 min) led by rotation from within the group* Group Discussion & Reflections (30 min)Each Envoy shares:* 1 key takeaway from the month* How it impacted their daily walk* Where they struggled or succeeded* Mission Planning (20 min) - Led session with personal planning.* Personal/Family/Workplace Kingdom goals for next month* Prayer and accountability pairing* Time allocated after for extended prayer and encouragement as neededWhy the Name Envoy?An envoy is not a tourist.Not a spectator.Not even just a citizen.An envoy is a trusted representative,one who is sent on behalf of a greater authoritywith a mission to carry out and a message to deliver.Scripture gives us this identity plainly:“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.” 2 Corinthians 5:20 ESVThe word envoy captures the active, sent, and sacred identity of people who belong to Christ.They do not blend in.They do not wait for the church to catch up.They live as one commissioned.In every room they enter, every business they lead, every child they raise, every word they speak - they carry the presence, the authority, and the compassion of the King who sent them.This is who we are as Envoys of the Greatest Kingdom and of the Eternal King of Heaven, our Father. Envoy by Christ Focused at RiverLife is about reclaiming that identity.It’s about training everyday men and women to live as ambassadors of the Kingdom-in the ordinary, in the public square, and in the secret place.Because church is not the destination.It’s the launchpad.And the world needs God’s Envoy now more than ever. How to Join & Follow the MovementWe’re forming the first cohort now - The first dispatch launches in August, add your email to the subscription box below and we will ensure you get notified with further information. To Join The Envoy Movement and to Receive the Content, Subscribe Below.To Join The Envoy Movement and to Receive the content, subscribe below.I’m glad you’re here.Let’s run the race - Eyes Up, Chin Up!Grace and peace,Sam JohnstonFounder, Christ [email protected] Epistles Book LinkModern Epistles Audio Book Link This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christfocused.substack.com

Full Length Written Edition → https://christfocused.substack.com/p/what-to-do-with-the-gift-of-a-kingdom🔊 Episode DescriptionMany young men were raised in the rubble of older empires. Maybe you grew up in a post industrial community, your history and identity etched in coal, cotton and steel, maybe the mill closed before you were born, maybe the entire network, infrastructure and city planning surrounding you was founded around something now dead. Maybe Dad’s career collapsed in 2008, maybe Mom’s church split in 2014, maybe your world shutdown during the pandemic 2020s, maybe the world you see today is not the playing field you were trained for, or promised. It can seem that every institution that once felt solid, now trends on scandal and destruction.Into this void has seeped hustle culture: “No one is coming, build your own kingdom.” YouTube sells alpha-male blueprints, crypto, stoicism, right wing - left wing, extreme and devoid, Twitter shouts “Recession proof wealth!”, weight loss programs, weight gain programs, the latest style of gyms, side-hustle podcasts, and cage-fight pay-per-views promising a throne built on self-discipline and clenched fists. Culture has prepared men for a, no one is coming for you, survive, conquer, forcing yourself into and through class systems, and financial barometers. A ceaseless, restless, survival of the fittest, dog-eat-dog, cultural drum, against a wall and glass ceiling of pre-seated Kings and nobility classes, that have limited your abilities to scale from the start, with a hopeless reach towards the promised land.Even amidst this noise, we know deep down that the board is rigged, the dealt hand seems off, even among the driving and cultural spasms to success, the encouragement for force, the praise for conquer, the glorification of violence, it will be for most, completely out of reach.Yet the Carpenter from Nazareth walks up to us eye to eye, us empire-starved men, and offers a finished kingdom, free, completely offered, but one that is fatal to the ego.“Die to yourself, follow Me; inherit what you could never conquer.”This edition explores that collision:Ruins vs. royalty, DIY hustle vs. divine gift, sword-swing reflex vs. the cross-carrying call.Every generation crowns its conquering heroes. Rome paraded Caesar, Wall Street paraded the unicorn founder, Instagram applauds bloodied MMA champs breaking their competitors in slow-motion for all to see. We baptize hustle as virtue and weaponize talent for personal gain. Yet Jesus looks us straight in eye, and offers us, personally, eternally, more.A kingdom you build will bury you, the kingdom Christ gives will raise you.We’ll cover* Ruins & Royalty - Why post-industrial collapse and scandal-ridden institutions birthed the DIY-throne gospel.* Conquest Instinct - God-wired courage warped into domination; cardboard kingdoms vs. Christ’s finished one.* Muscle of Meekness - Peter’s blade, Jesus’ “Put it back,” and why genuine strength is bridled strength.* Christ’s Re-direction - From Caesar to modern influencers: same Babel code, new update; the cross breaks the loop.* Economics of Surrender - Loss→gain, seed-death→harvest, downward mobility→exaltation in kingdom math.* Enemy-Love Shockwave - How veterans, fighters, and founders praying for rivals can spark cultural tremors.* Practising Kingdom First - Lifestyle caps, enemy-prayer drills, and the “public-to-private” pivot that keeps ego on the altar.Reflection Questions1. Which “kingdom” am I still constructing to prop up my identity?2. Where have I used strength to dominate rather than serve?3. Who is one rival or critic I can bless in prayer this week?Full Length Written Edition → https://christfocused.substack.com/p/what-to-do-with-the-gift-of-a-kingdomI’m glad you’re here.Let’s run the race - Eyes Up, Chin Up!Grace and peace,Sam JohnstonFounder, Christ [email protected] Epistles Book LinkModern Epistles Audio Book Link This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christfocused.substack.com

Youtube Link🔊 Episode Description:Scrolling fatigue is not just an inconvenience, it’s a spiritual crisis. In this episode of the Christ Focused Network Podcast, Sam Johnston tackles the most counter-cultural practice in a dopamine-driven world: holy attention. Drawing from Psalm 46:10, Isaiah 30:15, and Luke 5:16, Sam explores why God’s “still, small voice” is so hard to hear amid pings and pushes, and how purposeful silence rewires both brain and soul for deeper communion with Christ.We’ll cover:Stillness –Why “Be still, and know that I am God” is a command, not a spa suggestion (Psalm 46:10).Attention = Love –How fragmented focus sabotages the Greatest Commandment, and why what we gaze at shapes who we become (Deut 6:4-6; Matt 22:37).Digital Detox –Jesus “often withdrew” (Luke 5:16); we’ll map screen-Sabbaths, push-notification fasts, and the neuroscience behind breaking dopamine loops.Rule of Life –Practical habits from Cal Newport, Andy Crouch, and Justin Earley that turn scroll-tired believers into presence-filled disciples (Romans 12:2).Expect a Scripture-rich program to craft your own “Screen Rule of Life,” a Scripture-before-phone challenge, and one hour of tech-free rest you can try tonight.Link To Full Edition - CLICK HERE This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christfocused.substack.com

🔊 Sneak Peek: The Vocational Calling MythNext week on the Christ Focused podcast, we’re taking on a quiet lie that’s shaped how many believers see their Monday-to-Friday lives: “Real ministry happens on Sunday. Everything else is just work.” In this short preview, Jessica introduces our upcoming edition:“The Vocational Calling Myth: How Your Skill Serves the Kingdom.”We’ll unpack why Scripture refuses to divide sacred from secular. From Bezalel’s Spirit-filled craftsmanship in Exodus 31, to Paul’s vocational faithfulness, to Colossians 3’s call to “work heartily, as for the Lord,” we’ll explore how your daily work is not only valid, it’s kingdom-critical.Next week’s full episode will include:✅ Created to Craft - Why the first person “filled with the Spirit” in Scripture was a blue-collar artisan (Ex 31:1-6).✅ Assigned, Not Accidental - How Paul’s counsel “let each person lead the life… assigned by God” (1 Cor 7:17) frees us from career envy.✅ Work as Worship - Practical habits to consecrate e-mails and meetings, not just quiet times.✅ Burnout Antidotes - Sabbath rhythms and identity anchors that keep calling from curdling into idolatry.Pre-Reading to Prime the Conversation* Colossians 3:23-24: LinkSets the cornerstone, your true Supervisor sits on heaven’s throne.* Exodus 31:1-6: LinkBezalel & Oholiab: proof that Spirit-anointed skill isn’t limited to pulpits.* 1 Corinthians 7:17: LinkPaul roots vocation in divine assignment, not social prestige.* Tim Keller, Every Good Endeavor (ch. 3 “Work as Cultivation”): LinkUnpacks Genesis vocation and modern application.* Dorothy Sayers, “Why Work?” (essay): LinkA bracing call to view work as co-creation, not mere pay-cheque.* Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God (Letter 1): LinkMonastic wisdom for washing dishes to the glory of God.* Jordan Raynor, Called to Create (intro): LinkEntrepreneurial perspective on faith-driven excellence.* Podcast: “Vocation and Calling: Isaiah 60; 65:21-25; Revelation 21:1-5, 22-27” – John Terrill, Former Director, Center for Integrity in Business, Seattle Pacific University (16 min): LinkBig-picture eschatology: Why what we build now echoes into eternity.* Song: “Backwards Kingdom” by Sam McCabe featuring Andy Squyres: LinkA musical meditation on upside-down kingdom values, perfect backdrop as you rethink ‘ordinary’ work.Dip into one or two resources; bring a note on how they reframed your nine-to-five.🎧 Subscribe now so you don’t miss the full release.And if you’re ready to see your job as part of God’s mission, not outside it, this is for you.Until then, listen to the short preview, reflect, and prepare to rediscover purpose in the place you work.🛠️ Your skill is not second-tier. It’s sacred.👉 Modern Epistles Book | Modern Epistles Audiobook💌 [email protected]🌐 Subscribe on Substack This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christfocused.substack.com

Youtube Link🔊 Episode Description:Lament isn’t the opposite of faith, it’s faith drawn close. In this episode of the Christ Focused Network Podcast, Sam Johnston walks through one of the most underutilized forms of worship in the modern Church: biblical lament.Too often, believers feel the pressure that "grief is not part of the proper Christian life" or that they should smile through their pain. But Scripture models something far more honest and healing. David, Jeremiah, Job, and even Jesus didn’t rush through their grief, they prayed it. This episode invites listeners to slow-walk through lament's four biblical movements, address, complaint, request, and trust, and rediscover how grief expressed with God becomes a form of sacred worship.We’ll cover:* Address – Why biblical lament starts with calling on God by name, even when He feels absent. This first move is faith, naming who you're talking to when your heart is breaking (Psalm 42:1–2).* Complaint – How lament permits you to say what's wrong. We’ll explore why expressing sorrow isn’t dishonoring but deeply biblical, and why sanitized prayers can stunt our spiritual life (Psalm 42:3–10).* Request – A faithful lament doesn’t just vent, it asks. This section covers how to make specific petitions even when you’re unsure if God will act immediately (Psalm 43:1–3).* Trust – Every lament is heading somewhere. It ends in surrendered confidence. “Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him” isn’t a platitude, it’s the kind of worship only sorrow can produce (Psalm 43:5).Expect a practical, Scripture-rich invitation to write your own lament. You'll receive a guided framework for crafting a Psalm 42-style prayer and a breakdown of why so many Christians are burned out, not because they feel too much, but because they never let those feelings breathe before God.Link To Full Edition - CLICK HERENext Week - Sneak Peek“The Vocational Calling Myth: How Your Skill Serves the Kingdom.”Somewhere along the way we inhaled a half-truth: “Real ministry happens on Sunday. Monday through Friday? That’s ‘just work.’” Scripture tells a different story. From Bezalel’s Spirit-filled craftsmanship in Exodus 31 to Paul’s tent-making and the sweeping command, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord” (Col 3:23-24), God insists the sacred–secular divide is an illusion. Your spreadsheets, design mock-ups, lesson plans, and patient charts are all potential altars. Next issue, we’ll dismantle the myth, trace a biblical theology of vocation, and offer tools to craft a personal purpose statement that resists burnout and turns daily skill into kingdom seed.What We’ll Explore* Created to Craft - Why the first person “filled with the Spirit” in Scripture was a blue-collar artisan (Ex 31:1-6).* Assigned, Not Accidental - How Paul’s counsel “let each person lead the life… assigned by God” (1 Cor 7:17) frees us from career envy.* Work as Worship - Practical habits to consecrate e-mails and meetings, not just quiet times.* Burnout Antidotes - Sabbath rhythms and identity anchors that keep calling from curdling into idolatry.Pre-Reading to Prime the Conversation* Colossians 3:23-24: LinkSets the cornerstone, your true Supervisor sits on heaven’s throne.* Exodus 31:1-6: LinkBezalel & Oholiab: proof that Spirit-anointed skill isn’t limited to pulpits.* 1 Corinthians 7:17: LinkPaul roots vocation in divine assignment, not social prestige.* Tim Keller, Every Good Endeavor (ch. 3 “Work as Cultivation”): LinkUnpacks Genesis vocation and modern application.* Dorothy Sayers, “Why Work?” (essay): LinkA bracing call to view work as co-creation, not mere pay-cheque.* Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God (Letter 1): LinkMonastic wisdom for washing dishes to the glory of God.* Jordan Raynor, Called to Create (intro): LinkEntrepreneurial perspective on faith-driven excellence.* Podcast: “Vocation and Calling: Isaiah 60; 65:21-25; Revelation 21:1-5, 22-27” – John Terrill, Former Director, Center for Integrity in Business, Seattle Pacific University (16 min): LinkBig-picture eschatology: Why what we build now echoes into eternity.* Song: “Backwards Kingdom” bySam McCabefeaturingAndy Squyres: LinkA musical meditation on upside-down kingdom values, perfect backdrop as you rethink ‘ordinary’ work.Dip into one or two resources; bring a note on how they reframed your nine-to-five.Thank you for entrusting me with your time, and perhaps today with your tears. The Father not only permits lament, He collects it. “For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd... and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Revelation 7:17 (ESV)). May that promise give you courage to pray your grief until grief itself becomes worship.I’m glad you’re here.Let’s run the race - Eyes Up, Chin Up!Grace and peace,Sam JohnstonFounder, Christ [email protected] Epistles Book LinkModern Epistles Audio Book LinkP.S. Forward this to a friend you think would love to dig in deeper on this topic. This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christfocused.substack.com

🔊 Episode Description:This is a special preview episode of the Christ Focused Network Podcast. We offer a brief look ahead to next week’s full edition and conversation:“The Lost Language of Lament – Turning Unspoken Pain into God-Honoring Prayer.”Many believers think lament is a sign of weak faith, but in the Bible, it’s a sign of honest, close proximity to God. In next week’s full episode, we’ll explore how lament shows up throughout Scripture, especially in the Psalms, and why it’s a vital part of a healthy spiritual life.The edition will guide listeners through the four biblical movements of lament:🗣 Address – Calling out to God in relational connection💔 Complaint – Naming the pain, not suppressing it🙏 Request – Asking boldly for help, healing, and clarity🤝 Trust – Ending with rooted confidence in God's characterWe share what to expect in the full release next week, including how lament can convert anxiety into worship, how to write your own Psalm 42-style prayer, and why ignoring grief can quietly erode your spiritual foundation.📚 Coming in the Full Episode (Next Week):* Psalm 42–43 Link* Lamentations 3:19-24 Link* Matthew 26:36-46 Links.* Mark Vroegop, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy (Introduction + Ch. 2 “Complaint”) LinkA pastor’s accessible roadmap to the four-step lament pattern, rich with pastoral stories and study questions at the close of each chapter.* Michael Card, A Sacred Sorrow (pp. 29-46 “The Lost Language of Lament”) LinkCombines musician’s storytelling with biblical exposition, highlighting how David, Jeremiah, and Jesus model tear-soaked faith.* N. T. Wright, “The Biblical Language of Lament” (podcast episode, around 28 min mark) LinkWright frames lament as vital for worship in crisis seasons, especially helpful for auditory learners or commuters looking to get in some prereading on the go.* Walter Brueggemann, Prayers for a Privileged People (Prayer #3 “Those Gripped by Grief”) LinkA short, poetic prayer that can be read aloud in less than two minutes, perfect for opening personal or group reflection.🧠 Reflection Prompts (Coming Next Week):– What grief have I edited out of my prayer life?– Where has silence become spiritual avoidance?– How can I bring complaint and trust into my walk with God📬 Subscribe and Share.Don’t miss the full release next week, subscribe now so it lands in your inbox the moment it goes live.👉 Modern Epistles Book | Modern Epistles Audiobook💌 [email protected]🌐 Subscribe on Substack This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christfocused.substack.com

🔊 Episode Description:Many believers mistake holiness for a heavy load. Yet Scripture calls it a gifted life, not an endless grind. In this episode of the Christ Focused Network Podcast, Sam Johnston unmasks three quiet saboteurs, perfectionism, comparison culture, and DIY sanctification, and shows how gospel-rooted holiness trades anxious performance for Spirit-powered joy. Guided by 1 Peter 1, Galatians 3, Philippians 3, and Hebrews 12, Sam reframes growth around grace, belonging, and abiding.We’ll cover:* Perfectionism – Why “God loves my flawless future self” is a lie, and how future-focused grace (1 Pet 1:13-16) silences the treadmill.* Comparison Culture – How leaderboards drain worship, and why fixing our eyes on Jesus (Heb 12:1-2) frees us to cheer others on.* DIY Sanctification – Why self-help stalls, and how vine-and-branch dependence (John 15:4-5; Gal 3:3) fuels real transformation.Expect field-tested practices, an evening Repent · Receive · Rejoice liturgy, a one-week digital reset, and a 30-second morning surrender prayer, to embed truth in daily life.📚 Resources Mentioned:* J. I. Packer – Rediscovering Holiness, ch. 2* Jen Wilkin – None Like Him, intro + ch. 1* Kevin DeYoung – The Hole in Our Holiness, ch. 3* John Piper – Sermon: “Did Christ Die for Us to Be Holy?”* Music: “Altar” – Taylor Armstrong (reflection track)🧠 5-Minute Heart Check (Reflection Questions):* Where did perfectionism whisper this week?* Whom did I catch myself ranking against, and how did it affect my joy?* Which struggle proves I’m leaning on will-power, not the Spirit?* What one metric can I Sabbath from to remember God’s “already” love?* How can I celebrate another believer’s win before the day ends?👀 Sneak Peek - Next Episode:“The Lost Language of Lament – Turning Unspoken Pain into God-Honoring Prayer.”We’ll walk the four movements of biblical lament, address, complaint, request, trust, and craft a Psalm 42-style prayer that converts anxiety into worship.📬 Subscribe and share.Join the movement to rediscover ancient rhythms and walk in Christ-focused formation.👉 Modern Epistles Book | Modern Epistles Audiobook💌 [email protected]🌐 Subscribe on Substack - https://christfocused.substack.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christfocused.substack.com

Youtube Link🔊 Episode Description:When Jesus said, “Pray then like this,” He gave more than a prayer to recite, He gave us a spiritual framework to live by.In this foundational episode of the Christ Focused Network Podcast, we explore The Lord’s Prayer not as routine, but as revival. Line by line, we unpack how this ancient prayer orients our hearts toward worship, aligns us with God’s mission, and trains us in daily dependence, forgiveness, spiritual warfare, and eternal perspective.With scriptural grounding and theological insight, Sam Johnston reframes the prayer into six life-shaping movements:* Orientation: Worship – “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name…”* Alignment: Mission – “Your kingdom come, Your will be done…”* Dependence: Provision – “Give us this day our daily bread…”* Reconciliation: Grace – “Forgive us… as we forgive…”* Protection: Warfare – “Lead us not into temptation…”* Position: Doxology – “Yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory…”This is more than teaching, it’s a call to transformation. We’re invited to pray not just with words, but with our lives.📚 Resources Mentioned:* Book: A Simple Way to Pray by Martin Luther* Article: “The Lord’s Prayer Is Meant to Be Lived” – The Gospel Coalition* Music Recommendation: “Spring” by Jonathan Ogden🧠 5-Minute Heart Check (Reflection Questions):* What part of your life needs to re-center around God’s holiness?* Where can your schedule yield to the Kingdom today?* Are you trusting God for enough, or clinging to excess?* Who needs to experience the forgiveness you’ve received?* What temptation do you need to name and resist, today?👀 Sneak Peek — Next Episode:“Three Lies We Tell Ourselves About Holiness”Perfectionism. Comparison. DIY Sanctification. Let’s expose these subtle frauds and replace them with gospel-rooted, Spirit-powered joy.📬 Subscribe and share.Join the movement to rediscover ancient rhythms and walk in Christ-focused formation.👉 Modern Epistles Book | Modern Epistles Audiobook💌 [email protected]🌐 Subscribe on Substack This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit christfocused.substack.com