Episode Overview

Podcast: Fresh Life Church
Host: Pastor Levi Lusko
Guest: Paul Raine
Episode Title: Get In The Game
Date: February 9, 2026

This episode centers around the biblical call to "serve the Lord," drawn from Romans 12:11, particularly focusing on the transformative impact of moving from being a church spectator to an active team participant. Pastor Levi introduces the theme by asserting that service is the key to deep change in one’s spiritual life, leading to a joint message developed with church member Paul Raine. Through teaching, stories, and lived testimony, listeners receive both encouragement and practical inspiration to "get in the game" and use their gifts to serve in the church community.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Biblical Call to Serve (00:00–03:54)

• Pastor Levi sets the direction by referencing Romans 12:11, emphasizing “serve the Lord” as a core principle for Christian life.
• He reminds listeners that God’s grace saves us—not our actions—but that, as recipients of his grace, we’re called to live it out in tangible ways.
• Key quote:

  “We are not just to come and be consumers, but we’re to be contributors that we are to serve the Lord.”
  —Pastor Levi [02:07]

• Service is portrayed as a vital part of Christian identity, not just for the benefit of the church, but for personal transformation.

2. “Get In The Game” – The Power of Participation (03:54–07:17)

• Levi frames the episode as a Super Bowl Sunday rallying cry, encouraging every member to shift from passive attendance to active service—“get in the game.”
• He shares that serving on teams—whether in-person, online, or in unique contexts like prison ministry—creates a sense of ownership and purpose.
• Levi introduces Paul Raine, a church member whose testimony inspired much of the message, underlining the power of story and practical experience.

3. Paul Raine’s Testimony: “Better To Be In The Game” (07:17–13:20)

• Paul shares a childhood sports experience: playing as a schoolboy in a high-stakes soccer final, emphasizing the thrill and risk of being a participant rather than a spectator.
• He draws a parallel to the church:

  “It’s better to be in the game than watching the game. And it’s the same for church…”
  —Paul Raine [09:16]

• A simple act of hospitality by church volunteers (helping Paul and his wife after her surgery) made a profound impact, showcasing how “small” acts of service create lasting memories and church connection.

4. Four Transformational Results of Serving

I. Community Becomes Camaraderie (13:20–19:00)

• Serving together strips away social barriers and builds authentic friendships.
• Paul describes team “inside jokes” and genuine connections made during behind-the-scenes service moments.
• Memorable moment:

  “I’m not 69 anymore!”
  —Production team inside joke [17:10]

• Paul:

  “You might say, well, I’m too young or I’m too old—it doesn’t matter, you don’t have to be 69 anymore.” [18:35]

II. Moments Become Mementos (19:00–28:30)

• Serving produces “spiritual souvenirs”—tangible reminders of God’s faithfulness through difficult times.
• Paul unpacks Mark 6 and the story of the twelve baskets after the feeding of the five thousand, illustrating how mementos help sustain faith in storms.
• He shares a deeply personal journey: his wife’s cancer diagnosis, fear, and a powerful moment of prayer in church where anxiety was replaced by peace.
• Key quote:

  “That moment of that anointing and feeling that fear of chemo disappear became a huge memento for Carolyn and I as we went through that cancer journey.”
  —Paul Raine [27:55]

III. Bones Become Armies (28:30–31:40)

• Drawing from Ezekiel’s vision of bones coming together to form an army, Paul likens isolated Christians to dry bones and teamwork to forming God’s army.
• Paul:

  “A bone on its own is only good enough for the dog. But when bones come together and the spirit of God moves upon them, we become part of a team.” [29:50]

• Serving multiplies impact, joy, and meaning for individuals and the whole church family.

IV. Mystery Becomes History (31:40–37:20)

• Paul reflects on how the gospel, once a “mystery,” became life and healing to him and his family—partly through serving and being served within the church.
• He tells the story of his difficult relationship with his daughter and how, through the church, the brokenness of the past became a healed testimony—“what was a mystery for me became history in this building.”
  —Paul Raine [36:45]
• Memorable emotional moment:

  “I just burst into tears in the middle of the message...and a little voice whispered back to me, ‘Paul, you’re not broken. You’re home, you’re home.’” [36:30]

5. Celebration: “Dancing on the Grave You Once Lived In” (37:20–40:41)

• Paul shares a transformative moment during a youth conference, serving as a camera operator, when he realized he was literally “dancing on the grave” of his old beliefs and brokenness.
• Key quote:

  “When we serve on a team...we are all dancing on the grave we once lived in.”
  —Paul Raine [40:05]

• Service is reframed as spiritual victory—an act of celebration over past bondage.

6. Recap and Challenge (40:41–44:00)

• Pastor Levi recaps the four results—camaraderie, mementos, armies, and living out the revealed mystery of the gospel.
• He uses humor and relatable illustrations (e.g., Harry Potter’s battle with the troll) to underline that shared struggle and service build true friendship:

  “Because there are some things in this life you can’t do without ending up liking each other. And then the book says, and taking down a 12-foot tall mountain troll just happens to be one of those things.”
  —Pastor Levi [43:11]

• The invitation is made personal: “I want that for every single one of you.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Pastor Levi:

  “If there was something that you could do that was guaranteed to change almost everything about your life, would you want to know it?...Scripture promises there is something so simple that we can do...that will change almost everything about your experience following Jesus.” [00:08]

• Paul Raine (hospitality story):

  “I can’t remember what Pastor Levi was teaching that day. I can’t remember any of the songs...What I remember is the impact those three guys had on us. We felt so cared for, so loved, so seen.” [12:28]

• On teamwork:

  “Community becomes camaraderie when you get on a team...You don’t have to be 69 anymore.” [18:32]

• On spiritual mementos:

  “That moment...became a huge memento for Carolyn and I as we went through that cancer journey.” [27:55]

• On being part of God's army:

  “Bones weren’t meant to stay on their own...But when bones come together and the spirit of God moves upon them, we become part of a team.” [29:50]

• Emotional reconciliation:

  “A little voice whispered back to me, Paul, you’re not broken. You’re home, you’re home.” [36:50]

• On spiritual transformation through serving:

  “We are all dancing on the grave we once lived in.” [40:05]

Important Timestamps

• Biblical foundation and “serve the Lord” intro: 00:00–03:54
• Super Bowl Sunday/get in the game challenge: 03:54–07:17
• Paul Raine’s early testimony & spectator vs. participant metaphor: 07:17–13:20
• Point 1: Community → Camaraderie: 13:20–19:00
• Point 2: Moments → Mementos; cancer testimony: 19:00–28:30
• Point 3: Bones → Army: 28:30–31:40
• Point 4: Mystery → History; reconciliation with daughter: 31:40–37:20
• Dancing on the grave/serving as victory: 37:20–40:41
• Recap by Levi and call to serve: 40:41–44:00
• Closing invitation to faith and prayer: 44:00–end

Tone and Language

Conversational, warm, and encouraging, with transparent vulnerability (especially in Paul’s storytelling) and a mix of humor and scriptural depth. Both speakers move naturally between biblical teaching, personal stories, and practical encouragement, inviting all listeners, regardless of background, to consider their role in God’s church.

Summary Takeaway

This episode is a heartfelt, practical, and inspiring call for every Christian to “get in the game” by serving in their church community. Through scripture, humor, honest storytelling, and clear principles, listeners see how service transforms mere attendance into spiritual adventure and deep relationships, turning past wounds to present celebration—dancing, as Paul notes, “on the grave we once lived in.”