Fresh Life Church Podcast

Host: Pastor Levi Lusko
Episode: This Is Where We Went Wrong
Date: November 24, 2025

Episode Overview

In this passionate message, Pastor Levi Lusko challenges the church to realign around its founding vision: to reach the next generation with the gospel of Jesus. Using Matthew 18 and memorable personal stories, he points out "where we went wrong"—how churches often lose sight of Jesus’s priorities, particularly around youth, sacrifice, and what true greatness means. With urgency and a call to action, Pastor Levi urges the church to wake up and refocus on reaching and empowering children and youth, ensuring the fire of evangelism and discipleship never goes out.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Testimony & Impact of the Church

• Starts with Elizabeth’s moving testimony from California, reflecting on how Fresh Life Church’s teaching brought her back from despair and protected her from deception (00:10–01:06).
  • "When you said, if you are not dead, God is not done, I found the strength to begin again." – Elizabeth, read by Testimony Reader (00:23)
• The hosts emphasize the ripple effect and global reach of church ministry and the importance of continually supporting gospel outreach.

2. Personal Story: Sleepiness at the Wrong Time

• Levi recounts a humorous but vulnerable experience of accidentally taking a sleep aid before a flight that was delayed, drawing a metaphor about falling asleep at crucial moments (02:12–05:30).
  • "To be falling asleep when you need to be wide awake. Title of this message: This is where we went wrong. I know exactly where I went wrong." – Levi Lusko (05:12)
• Sets the stage for the sermon: Are we as the church spiritually "asleep" when we must be alert and on-mission?

3. Jesus’s Radical Teaching on Youth (Matthew 18)

• Levi examines the disciples’ question about greatness and Jesus’s response—placing a child in their midst and redefining what greatness in God’s Kingdom means (05:31–11:30).
  • "Unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven." – Jesus, quoted by Levi (05:50)
  • "He chooses the most intense language available to him to get this point across." (06:25)
• Jesus centers children, both as illustrations of humility and as urgent ministry priorities.
• Levi explains the cultural context: Children were overlooked in both Roman and Jewish societies, and Jesus’s words were radically countercultural.

4. Youth as the Priority of Heaven

• Levi points out Jesus’s teaching that children’s angels “always see the face of my Father in heaven,” highlighting heaven’s focus on the young (07:32–08:48).
  • "Their angels have the front row seat. This is powerful, powerful stuff here." (08:32)
• The church’s mission is clarified: “The Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.”
• Levi traces OT roots, explaining the practice of blessing children before Yom Kippur and the ultimate importance of spiritual legacy over worldly success (10:51–13:30).

5. The Heart of the Message: Youth Are Not Distractions

• Levi underscores how even Jesus’s disciples missed the point, shooing children away when Jesus wanted them close (13:31–15:00).
  • "Young people... are not a distraction from ministry. They’re the heart of it. Come on, somebody…" – Levi Lusko (15:20)
• The present church is reminded: Avoid drifting, stay aligned to the mission of reaching the lost, especially the young.

6. Practical Vision: Fresh Life as a Youth-Led Movement

• Explains why the church identifies as a youth-led movement, motivated by statistics (72% of faith decisions are made before 18), church history, and urgent cultural realities (16:30–21:00).
  • "Billy Graham said, the church is always one generation away from extinction. That should cause your blood to run cold…" – Levi Lusko (17:23)
• Warns against spiritual complacency; unity and vision are critical.

7. Illustrative Moment: Bringing a Child on Stage (21:01–23:20)

• Levi invites a child, Everett, on stage, using him as a living illustration.
  • "This is greatness. So you’re seven, right? …There’s always been something so special about you…God has huge plans for your life…" – Levi Lusko (22:43)
• Demonstrates the simplicity, wonder, and receptivity of children—the qualities Jesus emphasized.

8. Where the Church Goes Wrong

• Identifies three main areas:
  1. Redefining Greatness by Worldly Standards:
     The church often mimics societal hierarchies and misses Jesus's upside-down kingdom.
  2. Stop Seeing Youth as Jesus Does:
     Churches overlook the young, despite their centrality to God.
     • "There’s no such thing as the Church of Tomorrow. Young people, hear me. You’re the church of right freaking now." – Levi Lusko (27:37)
  3. Losing True Sacrificial Focus:
     Reaching youth is inconvenient, uncomfortable, and expensive, but crucial.
     • "It costs an arm and a leg to reach people for Jesus… Jesus says: worth it, worth it, worth it." (39:09)

9. Ripple Effect & Lasting Legacy: Stories of Youth Impact

• Shares real-life impact stories, notably Aidan’s legacy—a courageous teen battling cancer whose faith and influence led others to Christ, even posthumously (41:33–45:02).
  • "He only had 17 years, but his legacy is still unfolding… He showed me that following Jesus doesn’t have to be flashy. It just has to be real." – Claire, Youth Speaker (44:19)
• Emphasizes the urgency—every effort, resource, and sacrifice is worth it for the one.

10. Financial & Practical Commitment

• Calls the church to prioritize youth in budget, time, and ministry focus—locally, nationally, and globally (e.g., partnerships with The Chosen, YouVersion for Kids, open network content sharing, digital missions) (28:30–37:54).
  • "We're going to spend ridiculous money to continue to reach every language and get the attention of youth and see them mobilized for Jesus Christ." (28:50)

11. Closing Challenge & Wake-up Call

• Shares a powerful analogy: a carbon monoxide detector once saved his family; staying alert to spiritual danger is similarly urgent (45:40–49:30).
  • "The gospel, which is the only difference between life and death… If we don’t wake up a generation in Jesus name, well, God will raise up someone else... May the fire of the flame of youth evangelism never go out from this ministry." (49:00)
• Scripture reference: Leviticus 6:13 – “The fire must be kept burning on the altar at all times.”
• Prayer for parents of prodigals and invitation to salvation—don’t ignore the “alarm” of the gospel (49:45–end).

Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• Elizabeth’s Letter:
  "When you said, if you are not dead, God is not done, I found the strength to begin again." (00:23, read by Testimony Reader)
• Pastor Levi’s Wakefulness Analogy:
  "To be falling asleep when you need to be wide awake. Title of this message: This is where we went wrong..." (05:12)
• On Youth as Heaven’s Priority:
  "Their angels have the front row seat. This is powerful, powerful stuff here." (08:32)
• On Greatness (with child Everett):
  "This is greatness. ...There’s always been something so special about you... God has huge plans for your life." (22:43)
• The Urgency of Youth Ministry:
  "The church is always one generation away from extinction." (Billy Graham, cited at 17:23) "There’s no such thing as the Church of Tomorrow. Young people, hear me. You’re the church of right freaking now." (27:37)
• On Sacrifice:
  "It costs an arm and a leg to reach people for Jesus… Jesus says: worth it, worth it, worth it." (39:09)
• Claire’s Story of Aidan:
  "He only had 17 years, but his legacy is still unfolding… following Jesus doesn’t have to be flashy. It just has to be real." (44:19)
• Wake-Up Call:
  "The gospel... is the only difference between life and death." (49:00) "May the fire in your heart never go out. May we always be after the one." (49:45)

Important Segments & Timestamps

• Testimony of Elizabeth & Opening Remarks: 00:10–01:55
• Levi’s Sleep Story & Message Setup: 02:12–05:30
• Exploring Matthew 18 & Jesus’s Approach to Children: 05:31–11:30
• Blessing Children & Jewish Context: 10:51–13:30
• Disciples Rebuke Children; Jesus’s Correction: 13:31–15:00
• Fresh Life's Vision as Youth-Led Movement: 16:30–21:00
• Child (Everett) Interviewed On-Stage: 21:01–23:20
• Three Ways the Church Goes Wrong: 24:00–28:00
• Digital & Global Ministry Outreach Details: 28:30–37:54
• Children's Christmas Devotional Excerpt: 37:54–39:04
• On Sacrifice, Cost, and Worth: 39:09–41:32
• Aidan’s Story & Legacy: 41:33–45:02
• Levi’s Personal Carbon Monoxide Detector Anecdote / Closing Wake-Up Call: 45:40–49:30
• Prayers for Parents, Prodigals, and Call to Salvation: 49:40–end

Conclusion & Call to Action

Pastor Levi Lusko’s message rings with urgency, humility, and hope. The call is clear:

• Re-examine what we deem "greatness" in God’s Kingdom.
• Refuse to sideline or ignore the calling and potential of young people.
• Embrace the cost, inconvenience, and sacrifice of making youth evangelism central.
• Stay spiritually awake and refuse to "sleep through" the crucial task of passing the gospel to the next generation.

“May the fire... never go out.”

If you are a parent, youth leader, student, or simply someone with a heart for the future of the church, this episode resounds as both a wake-up call and an encouragement: whatever it takes, reach the one—especially the young.