Podcast Summary:

Deepen with Pastor Joby Martin – "Strength Redefined" (S24E4)
Date: November 10, 2025
Host: Pastor Joby Martin, with Charles Martin and team

Episode Overview

This episode explores Christian strength through a biblical lens, challenging conventional understandings and reframing greatness, resilience, and service in light of Jesus’ teaching and example. The discussion weaves together practical stories, theological insights, and personal confession, focusing on how men and women are called to be strong in different but complementary ways. Special emphasis is given to how calling, self-awareness, and rhythm shape a life lived for God.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Desire for Greatness & Jesus’ Redefinition

• The Human Drive for Greatness:
  • Pastor Joby opens by acknowledging that the desire for greatness is “hardwired inside of every man and woman… because we are image bearers of God and God is great. And so if we're like him, then we rightly ordered, want to be great. Jesus just redefines it.” (00:59)
• Upside Down Kingdom:
  • Referencing Matthew 20, the crew discusses how Jesus does not rebuke this desire but redefines it—with true greatness being about submission and service, not position or power.
  • Quote: “In my kingdom, it's an upside down kingdom.” – Pastor Joby (01:13)

2. Strength, Humility, and the Example of Jesus

• The Ultimate Strength of Christ:
  • Charles Martin paints a vivid image of Jesus as both divine and humble: “He upholds all things by the word of his power… all of heaven is on their face… And yet, he shows up here… and he tells them the gospel… Jesus Christ did not come to be served, but to serve.” (01:30 & 02:25)
• Submission Within the Trinity:
  • Discussion of how Jesus willingly submits to the Father, though all authority is given to him. “He just is like, I stay in my lane. I’m the Son, that lane’s the Father. I willfully submit…” (03:37)
• Humility and Serving:
  • “If the thing that would hit my cranium in my heart was, who am I going to serve today? My life would be very different.” – Charles Martin (02:25)

3. Strength in Men and Women: Not a Zero-Sum Game

• Biblical Equality of Strength:
  • “This is not a zero sum game... Women are also called to be strong. There's no doubt about it.” (05:46)
• Distinct But Complementary Strengths:
  • Examining Proverbs 31 and the physical/psychological strengths women embody, especially in childbirth: “There's nobody stronger than a woman when it comes down to that.” (06:33)
• Fine China, Not Tupperware:
  • “Treat your wife as the weaker vessel” actually means delicate, to be handled with care, not inferiority. (05:46)

4. Strong For, Tender With: The Lion and the Lamb Model

• Jesus as Lion and Lamb:
  • “Jesus is both lion and lamb… He just always rightly knows which foot to lead with. And that’s what a godly man does.” (08:20)
• Misapplied Strength:
  • “The trap we fall into is… [being] tough with them (family) and soft with the world, when it should be the opposite.” (08:45-10:34)
• Turning Point:
  • This episode marks a pivot in the series: “You think greatness as defined by you is power, prestige, possession, position, passion. And Jesus is like, actually, it's not any of those things… It's about service.” (10:34)

5. Resilience over Strength and the Stages of Manhood

• Resilience & Endurance:
  • “Resilience is time under pressure… Strength over time will wane… But resilience is, in my limited nature, I am pressing forward towards the prize.” (14:30)
  • Strongest physiologically in mid-30s, but true growth is in resilience and humility over time.
• Warrior, King, Sage:
  • “It takes a lot of humility in the life of a man to move from warrior to king to sage. And that’s a real transition.” (15:24)

6. Faithfulness through God’s Mercy, Not Human Willpower

• Paul as Example:
  • “I used to think my faith was something I could bootstrap up. And the older I get and the more I understand His grace… I realize it’s God who works in me…” (16:38)

7. Sanctifying Natural Drives & Competition

• God Refines, Not Removes:
  • Mark Batterson quote: “I will not remove this (competitive spirit), but I will refine it.” (25:45)
  • Channeling ambition, competition, and drive for gospel impact.
• Redirecting Gifting:
  • “Whatever gift she has… You do that. You do the exact same thing… Don’t let the enemy whisper that it’s…” (34:07–35:05) [Affirming gifts in others]

8. Pursuing a Sabbath Rhythm and Right Priorities

• Sabbath as First Fruits:
  • “The Sabbath is about… your most valuable commodity, which is your time… So you're rightly ordering your life that way.” (28:44)
• Gold Time vs. Bronze Tasks:
  • “When you become weary, it’s oftentimes because you’re giving gold time to bronze tasks.” (30:07)
• Practical Tools:
  • Carrie Newhoff’s “schedule your priorities, not prioritize your schedule.” (31:04)

9. Fills and Drains: Managing Energy and Avoiding Burnout

• Classic Tool:
  • “You got things that fill you up and things that drain you. These are not good and bad, these are the realities… You have to pay very close attention to what fills and what drains you.” (44:40)
• Exhaustion and Moral Failure:
  • “Below exhausted is often moral failure because we make terrible decisions when we're down here.” (47:24)
• Pace vs. Rhythm:
  • “It’s rhythm, not pace… To run at a medium pace is mediocrity. I don’t want mediocrity.” (47:46)
• Apply to Heart, Soul, Mind, Strength:
  • “Now, lay the shema over this… Pay attention to these things… for each part of your being.” (49:48)

10. The Importance of Family and Right Order

• First Church is the Home:
  • “Your first church is your home. So if anything gets shaky there, quit coming to meetings here. You need to go there and get that right.” (38:21)
• Blessed to be a Blessing:
  • Acknowledging the privilege and grace of being able to serve—in contrast with persecuted believers. (44:08)

11. Vulnerability, Confession, and Ongoing Sanctification

• Jobs for Transparency:
  • “Gross things grow in the dark. When you shine gospel light on stuff and just admit it… James says we should confess our sins to one another…” (54:03)
• Imitation of Christ:
  • “Jesus is these things. And may we be also.” (55:45)

12. Practical Closing: Humble Yourself and Invite the Spirit

• In Marriage and Conflict:
  • Charles Martin shares, “If you could humble yourself… and ask for their hand and pray and ask the Holy Spirit to come do what you can’t—because you can’t, but He can.” (55:47–58:08)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Jesus Christ did not come to be served, but to serve. If I could just wake up with that one. If that would be the thing on my mind… who am I going to serve today?” – Charles Martin (02:25)
• “Treat your wife as the weaker vessel… Not Tupperware. They are fine china.” – Pastor Joby (05:46)
• “Jesus is both lion and lamb… What a godly man does is always rightly knows which foot to lead with.” – Pastor Joby (08:20)
• “The trap we fall into… we’re tough with [our family]… and jellyfish with the world. You’ve got to flip that upside down.” – Pastor Joby (08:45)
• “Resilience is time under pressure… Strength over time will wane, you don’t have a choice.” – Pastor Joby (14:30)
• “Everything God creates, the enemy corrupts. But everything the enemy wants to corrupt, what if I hand that back over to God?” – Pastor Joby (26:03)
• “You cannot fight in two directions.” – Charles Martin (39:50)
• “Going to sleep tired is not a bad thing. That’s the way God made us.” – Pastor Joby (36:51)
• “When you become weary, it’s oftentimes because you’re giving gold time to bronze tasks.” – team discussion (30:07)
• "Gross things grow in the dark. And when you just shine gospel light on stuff and you just admit it..." – Pastor Joby (54:03)
• “If you could humble yourself in that moment… and pray… ask the Holy Spirit to do what you can’t—because you can’t, but He can.” – Charles Martin (55:47)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:59 – The Instinct for Greatness and How Jesus Redefines It
• 02:16-03:37 – The Humility of Christ and the Model of Serving
• 05:46-07:06 – Women’s Strength and How Biblical Strength Differs from Culture
• 08:20-10:34 – Jesus as Lion and Lamb; Misapplied Strength
• 14:30-16:38 – Resilience vs. Strength in the Seasons of Life
• 30:07 – The "Gold Time vs. Bronze Tasks" Principle
• 44:40 – The "Fills/Drains" Energy Management Tool
• 54:03 – Confession, Vulnerability, and Ongoing Sanctification
• 55:47-58:08 – Practical Application: Humility in Marriage and Prayer

Tone and Style

• Conversational, Real, and Candid: The speakers frequently share confessions and weaknesses, not shying away from their ongoing need for grace.
• Encouraging and Challenging: Listeners are pressed toward self-examination and practical adjustment while being assured of God’s ongoing work in them.
• Story-rich and Relational: Stories from personal lives, ministry, and everyday struggles illustrate theological points in a highly accessible way.

Practical Takeaways

• Strive to serve rather than be served; true greatness is sacrificial.
• Both men and women are called to strength—lived out differently, but both must pursue resilience and humility.
• Channel your God-given strengths, drives, and even competitive instincts toward gospel purposes, not selfish ambition.
• Prioritize your time ("gold time") for the most important relationships and ministry assignments; don’t let good things crowd out the best.
• Practice family as your first ministry; ensure right order at home before expanding elsewhere.
• Regularly inventory your “fills and drains” to avoid exhaustion and burnout.
• Vulnerability before God and others is necessary for growth—confess, recalibrate, and keep Christ’s example before you.

Closing Prayer

“Lord Jesus, because you are rightly ordered and endured pain and submitted to authority and served … may you do that in us, that we can be great the way you define greatness. Pray it in Jesus name. Amen.”
— Pastor Joby Martin (58:08)

This episode offers not only a redefinition of strength but a call to Christlike living in every relationship and season. Listeners are encouraged to shift pride for humility, ambition for service, and busyness for rightly ordered purpose, following Jesus—the ultimate model of upside-down strength.