Podcast Summary: Fresh Life Church – “What Difference Does It Make?”

Host: Pastor Levi Lusko
Episode Date: September 22, 2025

Overview

In this impactful episode of Fresh Life Church, Pastor Levi Lusko continues the “Touching Grass” series, reflecting on spiritual grounding and the transformative effects of genuine salvation. He delves deeply into 1 John 4:13–5:5, addressing the question, “What difference does it make?” when it comes to truly following Jesus. Pastor Levi explores how salvation fundamentally alters a believer’s life, marking it with gladness, boldness, holiness, kindness, and wholeness. Drawing on scripture, real-life stories, humor, and history, he challenges listeners to examine whether genuine evidence of Christ’s presence is evident in their lives.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Concept of “Touching Grass” and Spiritual Grounding

• Pastor Levi introduces “touching grass” as both a literal act of grounding and a metaphor for unplugging from the anxious noise of the world and reconnecting with God.
  • “[Touching Grass]—if you just take off your shoes and stand barefoot on grass… you just sort of feel recharged… The darker the night, the brighter the light.” (00:00)
• Spiritual grounding is achieved not just through nature but through truth and God’s Word as revealed in 1 John.

2. “What Difference Does It Make?”—A Vital Spiritual Question

• Pastor Levi unpacks the many ways we ask “What difference does it make?” (resignation, sarcasm, triviality, or concern) and reframes it as a genuinely profound inquiry about the evidence of faith.
  • “The key to the book of First John is the idea of, how do you know if you’re really saved?” (12:01)
• He warns against superficial Christianity—merely attending church or knowing Christian lingo does not guarantee salvation.
  • “You don’t become a Christian by going to a church… You become a Christian by putting your faith in Jesus Christ.” (16:20)

3. First John: The “Acid Test” of Faith and Assurance

• John’s repeated use of the phrase “by this we know” highlights how believers can be assured of their salvation, especially in the face of false teachings (such as Gnosticism in early church history).
  • “John… wrote First John so we could use it as an acid test to discover whether we have actually done the first step and the only step—to believe in Jesus.” (17:40)
• Caution against deceptive “secret knowledge” and encouragement to anchor assurance in clear gospel truths.

4. Five Key Differences Salvation Makes in a Believer’s Life

1. Gladness – Followers Marked by Joyful Living

• One of Jesus’ defining traits was gladness—deep, abiding joy, even in hardship.
  • “I happen to believe church shouldn’t be endured, it should be enjoyed. There should be no greater joy because we’re the followers of Jesus…” (30:35)
• Biblical joy is contrasted with circumstantial happiness:
  • “The happiness of this world can be given and can be taken away. But the joy, the delight deep down… can’t be taken away.” (33:21)
• A grateful perspective magnifies gladness:
  • “If we get better at counting all our blessings… if we get better at rehearsing to ourselves how good God has been…” (36:12)

2. Boldness – Supernatural Courage and Free Speech About Faith

• Authentic believers are marked by courage, not shrinking back from sharing the gospel or standing for truth.
  • “One of the characteristics of a life on fire for the Holy Spirit is gonna be supernatural boldness. You’ll fear God more than you fear man.” (53:22)
• Historical examples: Martin Luther, John Wycliffe, and John Huss as models of boldness in the face of persecution.
  • “They may take our lives. They will never silence our voices in Jesus Christ that rise up even from the grave.” (1:00:30)
• Boldly confessing Christ is a badge of the transformed.

3. Holiness – A Life Increasingly Set Apart

• Salvation produces a desire for holiness, a longing to align behavior with God’s Word—a difference motivated by love, not fear of punishment.
  • “Either you a saint or you ain’t… If you are in Christ, you are a saint in God’s eyes.” (1:04:45)
  • “God’s commandments are not burdensome. I think sometimes people think about all these restrictive rules in this book—we’re not gonna have any fun… I’m telling you, there’s some gladness in here.” (1:07:15)
• “What difference does it make?” applies: Do we actively avoid what God warns us about, and pursue what pleases Him?

4. Kindness – The Test of Genuine Christian Love

• True Christian faith is evidenced by love and kindness, not arrogance or rudeness.
  • “There’s the ultimate test of whether your Christianity is real. Does it make you kind?” (1:14:25)
• Moving story of a woman showing Christlike love to a poor boy, and a poignant quote:
  • Quote: “Are you God’s wife?” (1:16:00)
• A warning: If we do not show love, we may need to “get in the fight or change your name.” (1:17:20)

5. Wholeness – Complete Sufficiency in Christ

• Being “in Christ” means our deepest needs are met in Him; no striving for worldly validation is needed.
  • “If we are in Christ, just as he is, so are we. And the more that dawns on us, the more we can settle down, the more we can stand.” (1:19:40)
• Wholeness brings rest, confidence, and peace NOT dependent on the world’s fluctuations.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Salvation’s Evidence:
  • “If the God who created the universe…lives in you, someone say, what difference does it make? Couldn’t you expect there would be a difference it would make on how you live?” (24:44)
• On Boldness:
  • “They may take our lives. They will never silence our voices in Jesus Christ that rise up even from the grave.” (1:00:32)
• John’s Challenge on Kindness:
  • “You say you’re a Jesus person, but you’re a jerk… Get in the fight or change your name.” (1:17:12)
• On Our New Identity:
  • “I’m whole… Are you a soul at rest? Are you a soul at peace? Or is there still striving? …All of that goes away and quiets when we just realize that the Father is beaming as He sees us beaming in Christ.” (1:22:03)
• On Counting Blessings:
  • “Some of you need to tell your face that God’s good. I’m preaching to some people right now. You need to tell your face that.” (41:53)
• Monty Python Reference:
  • “Did Jesus turn you into a child of God? You should be…No, no, these should be things that are a part of your story.” (1:25:45)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Topic | |-------------|--------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:00 | “Touching Grass” – Introduction and Spiritual Analogy | | 12:01 | “What Difference Does It Make?”—Examining Deeper Questions | | 17:40 | First John as Assurance—Combating False Faith | | 24:44 | Illustration – Award-winning Landscape & Evidence of Faith | | 30:35 | Gladness & Joy – Jesus’ Defining Characteristic | | 53:22 | Boldness – Standing for the Gospel in a Hostile World | | 1:00:30 | Historical Tales of Boldness: Wycliffe & Hus | | 1:04:45 | Holiness – True Change in a Believer | | 1:14:25 | Kindness – The Real Test of Christian Love | | 1:19:40 | Wholeness in Christ – Finding Our True Sufficiency | | 1:25:45 | Reflection – Evidence of Real Change & Monty Python Analogy |

Structure of Spiritual Evidence According to Levi Lusko

1. Gladness/Joy – Deep, unshakable delight rooted in Christ.
2. Boldness – Willingness to stand, speak, and identify with Jesus.
3. Holiness – A life set apart by love for God’s ways.
4. Kindness – Concrete, sacrificial love for others.
5. Wholeness – Inner completeness and rest in Christ.

Recurring Themes & Tone

• Pastor Levi’s tone blends humor, authenticity, theological depth, and urgency.
• He frequently punctuates teaching with stories, playful analogies, historical illustrations, and relatable cultural references (“Touch Grass” meme, Monty Python, AI bots).
• The key message is assurance: if God lives in you, there will be evidence—a difference, visible and compelling, to both yourself and to others.

Takeaway

For listeners, this episode is both a mirror and a call to action: examine your life for the signs of salvation—gladness, boldness, holiness, kindness, and wholeness. If these are missing, seek Christ anew. If they’re present, let them shine brighter as living proof of the “difference” Jesus makes.

Pastor Levi concludes with a heartfelt invitation for listeners to stand for Christ—whether renewing faith or taking a first step—praying for boldness, love, repentance, and wholeness (1:27:30).

Recommendation:
This episode is essential listening for anyone questioning the authenticity of their faith or seeking the fruit of a transformed life. It’s passionate, practical, scripture-rich, and accessible, urging real self-examination and deeper encounter with God.