Podcast Summary: "This Must Be The Place"
Fresh Life Church Podcast | Pastor Levi Lusko
Date: December 22, 2025

Episode Overview

In this Christmas message, Pastor Levi Lusko explores the familiar story of the shepherds at Jesus' birth (Luke 2), framing it in light of God’s upside-down kingdom. The sermon brings out the radical inclusion at the heart of the gospel—how the least likely are invited first, and the birth of Christ is for everyone. Levi uses personal stories, parables, and reflections on loss to highlight themes of humility, holy urgency, and hospitality as central ingredients of life in God’s Kingdom.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Who Is Christmas For? (00:00–03:30)

• Reading from Luke 2, Levi emphasizes the angel’s declaration: "I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people."
• Quote:

  "But there’s no mistaking who Christmas is for. Come on, touch your own heart. It’s to you, this gift." —Levi Lusko (02:04)

• Christmas is personal, offered directly to every individual.

2. Funny and Relatable Christmas Stories (03:30–08:38)

• Levi lightens the mood with a comedic story about eating at a Hollywood hotspot, inadvertently (and awkwardly) encountering Danny Trejo, Al Pacino, and Samuel L. Jackson.
• Memorable moment:

  "And I slam right into Al Pacino… not nearly as friendly as Danny Trejo."

• The story's punchline underscores what it means to be awed by those society considers important—a setup for later contrasts with God’s choices.

3. The Shocking Invitation of the Shepherds (08:38–16:00)

• In the context of the Christmas narrative, the shepherds’ inclusion is radical—social outcasts, untrusted, ceremonially unclean.
• Pastor Levi explains the historical background:

  "In that date, shepherds couldn’t testify in court. Their opinion was discounted... He always selects what people reject. He always includes what others will exclude." (10:24)

• The significance of their invitation: God pursues the marginalized.

4. Parable of the Great Feast (Luke 14) - Kingdom Reversal (16:00–26:00)

• Jesus’ parable about the banquet where outsiders are invited underscores that God's kingdom operates in complete reversal of worldly honor.
• Quote:

  "Because in his kingdom, it’s the first who are last. It's the last who are first... That greatness is serving." (18:52)

• Connection to the Christmas narrative: the humble (shepherds, poor, unclean) are prioritized.

5. Key Takeaways—Principles of the Kingdom (26:00–46:00)

• A. The Kingdom Is a Feast, Not a Funeral

  • Church/truth is to be enjoyed, not endured.

    "I love that it’s a party because I believe that church and God’s kingdom, it should be enjoyed and not endured." (27:29)

• B. Everyone Is Welcome—But Not All Are Willing

  • God’s invitation is for all; we must choose to accept it.
  • "God won’t even violate that. He’s given you that honor, that choice, that power of free will." (32:35)

• C. You Can Miss Out By Being Bad or Just By Being Busy

  • Not just ‘prodigal living’ but busyness can keep people from God.
  • "My business means more to me at the end of the day… They’re not bad. They’re just busy." (34:12)

• D. Self-Emptying is Required

  • We come empty-handed; nobody earns their seat at the table.

  • "God cleans his fish after he catches them. So you come to him as you are, and he loves you so much, he won’t leave you that way." (36:42)

  • "It’s a feast, not a potluck… Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to thy cross I cling." (38:15)
  • The gospel is offensive to the prideful.
  • "Christmas is not a compliment... He's saying, this is the only way. That's how messed up you are." (41:17)

6. Application: Humility, Hospitality, Holy Urgency (46:00–50:30)

• Humility: "Go low"; don’t seek recognition, serve wherever needed.
• Hospitality: "Aim high"; reflect kingdom excellence in every detail.
• Holy Urgency: "Think big"; urgency in kingdom work is biblical and needed.
  • "Making haste" as the shepherds did isn't unhealthy hustle but passionate pursuit for God’s purposes.
• On urgent action:

  “I’m making a case for kingdom urgency… We got a world to reach, a gospel to preach…” (48:43)

7. Illustrative Story—Hope Heals Camp (50:30–53:55)

• Levi shares about taking church members to serve at Hope Heals (camp for families with special needs).
• Describes how the experience typifies the kingdom:

  “The world is awed by celebrities… But heaven thunderously applauses for exactly this kind of greatness. And this is what God is calling us to…” (53:02)

• Personal photo of Josh (church member, highly educated professional) serving as a companion for a disabled boy, Otto—“This is the kingdom.”

8. Encouragement for the Hurting—Common and Ordinary Is God’s Specialty (53:55–56:43)

• Don’t underestimate your usefulness; God chooses the ordinary and the wounded.
• Those in pain are “uniquely positioned” to be used by God.

9. Responding to Loss—Lighting a Candle (56:43–57:53)

• Levi invites grieving listeners to light a candle as a symbol of hope in darkness.

  “It’s because of darkness that light means so much. You watch as you light this candle… you can watch what is the most painful association in your life become one filled with hope one layer at a time. And I’m living proof of that.” (57:10)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• "Touch your own heart—Jesus, God's gift to this world, is to you. It's for you. There’s born to you this day in the city of David." —Levi (02:04)
• "God always selects what people reject. He always includes what others will exclude." —Levi (10:38)
• "It’s a feast, not a potluck... You come to him empty handed." —Levi (38:15)
• "You can miss out by being bad or by being busy." —Levi (34:12)
• "God cleans his fish after he catches them." —Levi (36:42)
• "The world is awed by celebrities… But heaven thunderously applauses for exactly this kind of greatness." —Levi (53:02)
• "If your life is hurting today, it’s time to shine some light. And it can get a little brighter. Not in a day, but daily, day by day." —Levi (56:25)
• Lighting the candle:

  “He hadn’t been able to celebrate since...his act of hope-filled defiance in lighting this candle…was his way of saying, ‘God, invade these associations that I only connect to hard loss and pain.’” (57:23)

Structural Outline & Timestamps

• Opening (00:00–03:30): Reading Luke 2, the personal nature of Christmas.
• Personal Story (03:30–08:38): Hollywood story, tying to awe and recognition.
• Invitation of Shepherds (08:38–16:00): Radical inclusion, God’s kingdom upside-down.
• Parable & Table Talk (16:00–26:00): Luke 14, reversal of worldly honor.
• Kingdom Principles (26:00–46:00): Four key insights—feast, who is welcome, busyness, self-emptying.
• Three Ingredients (46:00–50:30): Humility, Hospitality, Urgency.
• Hope Heals Story (50:30–53:55): Living out kingdom values, applause for the ordinary.
• Encouragement for the Hurting (53:55–56:43): God uses the wounded; pain as qualification.
• Act of Hope—Candle-Lighting (56:43–57:53): Real-life example, practical ritual for grief.
• Closing Worship & Benediction (57:53–End): "Silent Night," prayer, invitation to faith.

Takeaways and Final Applications

• Humility: Serve without needing recognition.
• Hospitality: Reflect God’s excellence and creativity.
• Holy Urgency: Don’t delay in loving, serving, and inviting; the kingdom is worth passion and effort.
• Inclusion: No one is beyond God’s invitation, and the broken are especially close to God’s heart.
• Pain as Platform: Suffering can become the stage for God’s light and hope.
• Hope through Ritual: Lighting a candle or choosing hope-filled actions can reclaim even the darkest memories.

For Listeners:
If you haven’t heard the episode, expect a blend of heartfelt biblical teaching, personal vulnerability, humor, practical wisdom, and a powerful call to take your place in God’s radically inclusive, joy-filled Kingdom—no matter where or how you find yourself this Christmas.