Podcast Summary: Fresh Life Church – A Rested Development
Host: Pastor Levi Lusko
Date: December 29, 2025
Episode Overview
In this end-of-year episode titled A Rested Development, Pastor Levi Lusko leads Fresh Life Church in reflecting on God’s faithfulness throughout the past year and sets a spiritual tone for the new year. The main theme is a deep, practical exploration of Psalm 23—inviting listeners to embrace the peace, rest, and security that come from allowing God to shepherd their lives. Amid stories, personal anecdotes, and thoughtful exposition, Pastor Levi emphasizes that real spiritual growth is not about striving harder, but trusting the Good Shepherd.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Gratitude and Testimonies (00:00–02:35)
- Theme: Looking back in gratitude for the year while expressing faith for what’s coming.
- Pastor Levi and others express amazement at God’s kindness and faithfulness.
- A listener testimony is shared (from Tara), detailing how a previous message (“The Art of Grieving”) ministered to her during profound loss, underscoring the importance of sharing hope through ministry.
- Quote (B): “I am deeply grateful for this ministry and pray Jesus continues to bless Fresh Life so others can know him more.” (01:09)
2. Year-End Generosity and Mission (02:21–02:30)
- Insight: Emphasis on collective effort—how giving sends the message of hope further.
- Quote (B): “What could we do together that we couldn't do alone? And I just believe that as we give in faith, God's going to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all we could ask or imagine.” (02:21)
3. Introducing the Message: “A Rested Development” (02:35–05:33)
- Setup: The sermon will be a verse-by-verse walk through Psalm 23, intended to cultivate a present sense of God’s guidance and faithfulness.
- Pastor Levi’s Tone: Playful but intentional—emphasizing spiritual rest rather than striving.
- Clarification of Title: Not “Arrested Development” (the sitcom), but the idea that God develops us through rest.
- Quote (C): “It’s so easy to think it’s about you and incumbent upon you to do the things that would make you a better disciple… In this scripture, we learn that it isn’t about you at all.” (04:47)
4. Exposition of Psalm 23 (05:34–34:07)
- Verse 1: The Lord is My Shepherd (05:34–10:10)
- The declaration, “the Lord is my shepherd,” forms the foundation of the psalm and frames the relationship God desires with us—personal, attentive, and sustaining.
- Sheep Metaphor: Sheep require guidance, care, and protection. Despite their limitations, they are valuable to the shepherd, just as we are valuable to God.
- Quote (A): “…when the Lord is your shepherd, you have it all. You lack nothing.” (07:04)
- Verses 2-3: Rest and Restoration (10:10–18:30)
- God provides rest (lying down in green pastures) and refreshment (still waters).
- Sheep only rest when they feel safe—just as God calms our fears and anxieties.
- Insightful comparison to caring for a golden retriever and the challenge of “making” rest happen—true rest is created by removing threats.
- Personal Reflection: Sometimes faith communities give the impression striving is necessary, but God invites us to rest.
- Quote (A): “Let me take care of the things that are causing you to feel stress. And you just enjoy this cool water. It almost feels scandalous, doesn’t it? …But that is exactly what this psalm is telling us God wants to do for his sheep.” (15:18)
- Verse 4: The Valley of the Shadow of Death (18:30–26:00)
- Pastor Levi explores the certainty that everyone will face dark, challenging times.
- Emphasizes the difference between fearing shadows and facing real threats—God’s presence makes the difference.
- Quote (A): “When we have the Lord as our shepherd, the danger is immediately eliminated…You will merely pass through the shadow and you will fear no evil.” (20:21)
- Switch from talking ‘about’ God to talking ‘to’ God demonstrates intimacy that emerges in hardship.
- Explanation of the rod (protection) and staff (correction) as dual aspects of God’s care—God’s discipline as evidence of His love.
- Verse 5: Table Before My Enemies (26:01–28:40)
- David transitions from shepherd imagery to that of a king celebrating victory.
- God not only sustains and guides but also honors those who trust Him—even “in the presence of enemies.”
- Communion is highlighted as the ultimate table prepared by Jesus.
- Quote (A): “This is God saying, actually, just enjoy my peace, and I’ll do the work.” (28:33)
- Verse 6: Goodness and Mercy Shall Follow (28:41–34:07)
- The psalm concludes with assurance—following God leads to ongoing blessing (goodness and mercy), and we are welcomed into His presence forever.
- Pastor Levi likens this to various pathways in a park (“Two Moon Park”), illustrating that many paths in life ultimately lead to the same destination—if we stay close to the “shepherd.”
- Quote (A): “Church. Stay on the paths of righteousness, God's path. He will guard you. He will protect you. He will fulfill you. He will give you rest, and we'll all meet up at the rope swing.” (31:38)
5. Torchy Swenson’s Viral Psalm 23 Breakdown (34:07–35:41)
- A heartfelt, concise recitation from Torchy Swenson breaks down Psalm 23 into practical “gifts” from God:
- Relationship, supply, rest, refreshment, healing, guidance, purpose, testing, protection, faithfulness, discipline, hope, consecration, abundance, blessing, security, eternity.
- Key takeaway: God’s love is measured by who we have in our lives.
- Quote (D/Torchy): “Face it, God loves you. What’s the most valuable is not what we have in our lives, but who we have in our lives.” (35:30)
6. Invitation & Prayer (35:42–End)
- Pastor Levi appeals to those who may not yet believe or feel far from God: belonging comes before “having it all together.”
- Encourages listeners that the role of a believer is not to drive spiritual achievement, but to rest in proximity to the shepherd.
- Quote (C): “…his expectation of you is to not have it figured out, but to just enjoy his proximity. And he will teach you, he will lead you, and he will protect you…” (36:10)
- Offers a prayer for those seeking renewed faith and for those ready to trust Jesus as their shepherd for the first time.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On striving vs. resting:
“It’s so easy to think it’s about you… In this scripture, we learn that it isn’t about you at all.” (C, 04:47) -
On God’s peace:
“This is God saying, actually, just enjoy my peace, and I’ll do the work.” (A, 28:33) -
On God’s discipline:
“Without correction, we would say, we are not loved. So if you feel at times some Holy Spirit conviction, thanks be to God that you do, because that is him telling you that he loves you and that he has something more for you…” (A, 25:16) -
Torchy Swenson on Psalm 23:
“The Lord is my shepherd. That’s a relationship… Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. That’s a blessing. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord. That’s security, forever. That’s eternity. Face it, God loves you.” (D, 34:07–35:30)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 00:00 – Reflections on the year, gratitude, and faith for the future
- 01:09 – Listener testimony (“The Art of Grieving”)
- 02:35 – Introduction to Psalm 23 and sermon title explanation
- 05:34 – Start of verse-by-verse walkthrough of Psalm 23
- 18:30 – Exploring the “valley of the shadow of death”
- 26:01 – God as host at the victory table
- 31:38 – “Stay on the path” and rope swing metaphor
- 34:07 – Torchy Swenson’s Psalm 23 breakdown
- 35:42 – Invitation to faith and closing prayer
In Summary
A Rested Development is an invitation to trade striving for trust. Through relatable storytelling and a loving, conversational breakdown of Psalm 23, Pastor Levi Lusko gently calls listeners to believe that God, as our shepherd, provides rest, guidance, protection, and victory—not through our effort, but by His grace. Psalm 23 is presented not as a theological abstraction or funeral recitation, but as a living promise of God’s intimate, sustaining care—through every season, valley, and celebration. Pastor Levi leaves listeners reassured: “The work that it’s gonna take from you is to just trust Him and be near Him.”