Podcast Summary: "This Year Can Be Special"

Podcast: Fresh Life Church
Host: Pastor Levi Lusko
Date: January 5, 2026

Episode Overview

In this kickoff episode for the new year and Fresh Life Church’s new message series "It’s About Time," Pastor Levi Lusko encourages listeners to approach 2026 not with cynicism or resignation but with faith-filled anticipation. His central message: This year can be special, but it’s up to you. Drawing from Matthew 7:6 and other scriptures, he challenges listeners to recognize their God-given identity, the value of their lives, and the importance of not squandering what is holy. The teaching is energetic, personal, and deeply rooted in Christian doctrine about holiness and purpose.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Don’t Procrastinate Your Calling

• Pastor Levi opens with a humorous yet pointed story about the consequences of not paying attention, relating it to the “stupid games, stupid prizes” principle (00:20).
• He warns against putting off until tomorrow what God is asking today:

  “One of the stupidest games we could possibly play... is to procrastinate till tomorrow what God is calling you to do today.” (02:10)

2. Entering a New Year with New Faith

• Levi acknowledges the collective cynicism surrounding New Year’s resolutions and the temptation to treat every year as "same old, same old."
• He points to Psalm 65:11:

  “‘You, God, crown the new year with your goodness.’ … If God crowns something, God crowns a year…” (06:20)

• The new year, he argues, is crowned by God’s goodness and filled with the opportunity for abundance and blessing. Are we willing to believe this?

3. Series Focus: Identity

• This sermon begins the series by focusing on identity; who do you think you are? (08:25)
• Levi stresses that knowing your worth and seeing yourself as God sees you changes everything:

  “When you know something is valuable, it changes how you treat it.” (10:30)
  He illustrates this with a story about a $3 yard-sale bowl that turned out to be a multi-million-dollar ancient artifact.

4. Matthew 7:6 – Knowing the Value of the Holy

• Levi unpacks Jesus’ proverb:

  “‘Do not give what is holy to the dogs, nor cast your pearls before swine...’” (13:15)

• The point? Treat what is precious—most importantly, yourself—with reverence befitting its value.

5. What is Holy? What is Special?

• Delving into the concepts of holiness (hagios, kadosh), Levi reminds listeners that God’s primary attribute is, above all, “holy, holy, holy” (19:40).
• Holiness means unique, set apart, not common. From the Sabbath to the Ark of the Covenant to the Word of God, what God calls holy is special and to be treated as such.

Memorable Moment (20:45):

• On the Bible’s Holiness:

  “Why do we recognize there’s something about this book?...This is the word of God. To be trembled before, to be the authority for our lives. It’s meant to be the authority for every part of our civilization and soul.”

6. Your Life: Holy and Set Apart

• “You are not common. You are not $3 bowl to be chomped on lucky charms... You are not ordinary.” (26:30)
• The cost of your life is the blood of Christ—this makes you, as 1 Peter says, “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people.”
• Your identity as God’s dwelling place means that how you treat yourself matters:

  “You are the holiest location in the universe. Not church. We are the church…He lives in you.” (29:10)

7. Practical Applications for 2026

Pastor Levi ends with four application points to help listeners “be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16).

a) What You Focus On Will Form You (48:15)

• “Whatever you give your eyes to. Whatever you give your focus to is forming you. It’s shaping you. It’s molding you.”
• Guard what you watch and fill your mind with God’s Word.

b) It’s Easier to Stick with What You Start With (53:00)

• “Start every day with God. Start every week with God. Let’s worship together...Let’s start the year with God.”
• Set the tone with spiritual priorities.

c) Whatever Dazzles You Must Be Able to Deliver You (55:45)

• “Be dazzled most by the Lord because He can deliver you. He will deliver you. And as you seek him first, all these other things are going to be added unto you.”
• Question your dependencies and crush your idols.

d) Who You Listen to, You Will Be Led By (58:30)

• “Show me your friends, I’ll show you your future.”
• Be discerning about who speaks into your life. You can love everyone, but not everyone gets to direct your steps.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On identity:

  “If you could see you like God sees you...you’re going to hold your head high...this year's not going to be common or normal or blase. It's going to be...Special.” (44:00)

• On the risk and reward of holiness:

  “Holiness hurts, right? You're going to start living this way, and someone's going to treat you or actually say to you, what, do you think you're holier now? ... I hope so.” (1:05:10)

• On new beginnings:

  “You don’t get to good to get to God. You go to God to get to good.” (1:10:25)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Opening narrative & theme setup: 00:00 – 03:40
• Declaration: This year can be special: 05:45
• Skepticism and resolutions: 07:20
• Scriptural anchor & Psalm 65:11: 06:20
• Identity and worth: 10:30
• Yard sale bowl story: 12:10
• Matthew 7:6 explanation: 13:15
• What is holy? (holiness unpacked): 19:35
• Treating yourself as holy: 26:30 – 29:10
• Silver goblets & practical example: 32:00
• Practical life advice (four points): 48:15 – 1:04:00
  • Formed by focus: 48:15
  • The power of beginnings: 53:00
  • Checking your idols: 55:45
  • Selective relationships: 58:30
• Holiness in relationships: 1:02:40 – 1:07:00
• Invitation to respond / prayer: 1:12:00 – End

Final Encouragement

Pastor Levi closes with prayer and an invitation—to crown Jesus as King for 2026, to step into a new identity, and to “treat your life like it’s special so that this year can be special.”

For New Listeners:

This episode is powerful, energetic, and convicting. It’s not just about feeling good starting a new year, but about embracing your God-given value, being set apart, and living differently. The teaching is highly practical, actionable, and full of memorable stories and quotes. Pastor Levi’s tone is passionate, direct, and full of humor and biblical wisdom. If you want 2026 to be different, this is a foundational episode you don’t want to miss.