Podcast Summary: Fresh Life Church – “For Christ’s Sake”

Host: Pastor Levi Lusko
Date: January 26, 2026

Overview

This episode, led by Pastor Levi Lusko (the transcript likely features his wife, Jennie Lusko, as the speaker), centers on a message titled “For Christ’s Sake” as part of the series “It’s About Time.” The sermon explores the urgency and stewardship of Christian life in the light of Jesus’s imminent return, drawing guidance from Matthew 25’s parables of the ten virgins and the talents. The message challenges listeners to overcome “spiritual time blindness,” live intentionally, and ensure their lives bear fruit “for Christ’s sake.”

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Time Blindness and Spiritual Awareness

• Time Blindness: The episode begins with a relatable explanation of “time blindness” (commonly a symptom of ADHD), differentiating it from laziness and discussing its impact on daily life and spiritual living.
  • Quote (02:15):

    “Apparently it’s a symptom of ADHD...a genuine disconnect in their brains that makes it difficult to recognize the passage of time.”

• Spiritual Time Blindness: The speaker bridges the concept to spiritual life, warning that Christians can also be “blind” to the urgency and value of their time for God.
  • Quote (34:57):

    “We can all fall into spiritual time blindness. And this is so huge. We can get comfortable with our lives...and forget that we’re heading to heaven and there’s an urgency to give our lives fully to Him.”

2. Matthew 25: The Parables of Readiness and Stewardship

• Parable of the Ten Virgins (03:05–12:30):
  • Five wise and five foolish virgins—key lesson: be constantly ready and personally prepared for Jesus’s return.
  • Oil symbolizes the Holy Spirit; spiritual readiness cannot be transferred between individuals.
  • Quote (17:11):

    “No one can give salvation or the Holy Spirit to someone else. That’s only what God can do...these foolish virgins needed to...be prepared on their own.”

• Parable of the Talents (12:31–16:26):
  • Stewardship: Using God-given gifts and opportunities for His glory.
  • The Master rewards diligent service and rebukes wasted opportunity (servant who hid the talent).
  • Quote (12:57):

    “Those two right away doubled...But then the one, it says that he hid it in the ground, so he didn’t do anything with it...The Master calls him lazy and wicked.”

• Connection Together:
  • Being ready (inward character and spiritual preparation) and working diligently (outward action) are both essential aspects of Christian life.
  • Quote (20:29):

    “Being ready with the Holy Spirit living in us...while also being ready to work hard for his glory, for his kingdom. The parable of the virgins speaks to inward character...the talents speak to outward exertion.”

3. Practical Steps to Overcoming Time Blindness

• Managing Physical Time Blindness (37:13):
  1. Use reminders and alarms.
  2. Listen to music to boost focus.
  3. Use timers to recognize the passage of time.
  4. Seek support from others.
• Addressing Spiritual Time Blindness (41:29):
  1. Repent of spiritual apathy.
  2. Reengage with God’s timeline, not just yours.
  3. Renew trust in God daily.
  4. Restore the joy of your salvation.
  5. Rest in God and His Word.
  6. Reactivate your commitment to the Church and service.
  7. Repeat these steps regularly.
  • Memorable Mnemonic (52:02):

    “Repent, reengage, renew, restore, rest, reactivate, repeat—and on and on and on.”

4. Urgency in Christian Living

• Emphasis on “Living on Our Toes”:
  • Live every day as if the Lord were to return imminently; every decision should reflect readiness.
  • Quote (01:00:45):

    “We want to be living our lives in light of his coming. We want to be living our lives on our toes, with our abs leaned in, ready for Jesus coming back.”

• “Only One Life”:
  • Referencing a quote by C.T. Studd:

    “Only one life, ’twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.”

• Encouragement after Failures:
  • Quoting C.S. Lewis (01:01:38):

    “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”

5. Memorable Scriptural References

• Key Verses Highlighted:
  • Matthew 25 (The ten virgins and the talents)
  • 2 Peter 1 (Everything needed for life and godliness)
  • 1 John 2:28 (Confidence at His coming)
  • Matthew 10:38–39 (Losing life for Christ’s sake)
  • Revelation 22 (Jesus’s repeated promise: “I am coming quickly”)
• Notable Jesus Quotes (Revelation 22):
  • Quote (01:02:15):

    “Behold, I am coming quickly...Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book...and my reward is with me, to give to everyone according to his work.”

6. Call to Action & Salvation Invitation

• For Non-Believers:
  • A compassionate invitation to believe in Jesus—salvation is a gift for anyone who believes, without needing to “get cleaned up” beforehand.
• For Believers:
  • Continuous encouragement to live actively, church gathering emphasized as essential (not just one Sunday per month).
  • Quote (58:18):

    “Don’t stop showing up. Just keep showing up. Because you never know what God has for you.”

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• Time Blindness Defined (02:15):

  “Apparently it’s a symptom of ADHD...makes it difficult to recognize the passage of time.”

• Spiritual Responsibility (17:11):

  "No one can give salvation or the Holy Spirit to someone else. That’s only what God can do."

• Tension of Waiting and Working (20:29):

  "Being ready with the Holy Spirit living in us, on us, empowering us for the work that he's called us to do, while also being ready to work hard for his glory, for his kingdom."

• Addressing Our Blindness (41:29):

  "Repent of your time blindness...whether it's purposeful or not, we need to come to a place where we realize that we have been blind to the time that God's given us."

• Urgency of Action (53:18):

  “Jesus calls us to watch. And it seems that watching implies a constant supply of oil. There will always be oil to allow us to burn bright and to shine in every little thing.”

• Encouragement for a Fresh Start (01:01:39):

  "You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending." — C.S. Lewis

Key Segment Timestamps

• Introduction & Time Blindness: 00:00–06:30
• Parable of the Virgins & Talents: 06:30–20:30
• Interpreting the Two Parables Together: 20:30–24:45
• Practical Time Management (Physical & Spiritual): 37:13–46:45
• Call to Repentance, Renewal, and Spiritual Readiness: 46:45–56:30
• Encouragement to Engage with Church Community: 56:30–59:30
• Scriptural Charge & Jesus’s Return: 59:30–End

Conclusion

The message powerfully encourages listeners to live each day with urgency and intention, using their God-given gifts to advance His kingdom—“for Christ’s sake.” By overcoming spiritual time blindness, regularly repenting, reengaging, and recommitting, Christians can be both ready and diligent stewards as they await Jesus’s return. The talk closes with an invitation both to salvation for newcomers and renewed purpose for longtime believers, echoing the cry: “Even so, come Lord Jesus. Amen.”