Podcast Summary: Jack Hibbs Podcast — "The Road of Brokenness Leads to True Living"
Host: Jack Hibbs | Date: November 10, 2025
Source: JackHibbs.com

Episode Overview

In this thought-provoking episode, Pastor Jack Hibbs explores the transformative power of brokenness, the ongoing inner battle facing believers, and the importance of forgiveness and self-examination. Drawing deeply from Scripture, Hibbs challenges listeners to confront bitterness, admit their failings, and experience the liberating grace that comes from a contrite heart. With personal anecdotes, relatable humor, and uncompromising truth, he encourages Christians to move beyond spiritual stagnation and embrace true living in Christ.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Daily Battle Within: Old Self vs. New Self

“Are you a Christian? Yes, you’re a Christian. Hallelujah. But you’re not in heaven yet. But the proof that you’re a Christian is the war that you’re involved in with yourself.” (00:39)

• Every believer continues to experience an inner struggle between their old sinful nature and their new life in Christ.
• Reference to Romans 7: Paul admits to doing what he hates, mirroring every believer’s experience.
• Hibbs emphasizes, “You gotta admit, you most often war against yourself.” (around 10:00).
• The struggle itself—wanting to do good but falling short—is evidence of the Holy Spirit’s work within.

2. The Destructive Nature of Bitterness

“Bitterness, boy, this is a big one. How do you fight and ward off bitterness?” (03:00)

• Bitterness can destroy individuals and entire churches, "spreads like a cancer" (about 05:10).
• Only Jesus, even under extreme suffering, showed perfect forgiveness—“Was Jesus ever once, is there any indication that he became bitter? Never once.” (03:55)
• The refusal to forgive allows others—sometimes even those who have died—to continue wielding control over us.
• “God gave you and I the ability to forgive those who have sinned against us so we don’t become bitter.” (06:15)
• Practical application: Forgive even absent or deceased offenders to break free from their control.

3. Illustrative Anecdote: The Bakery Temptation

“I told Lisa I’ve gained so much weight lately. I gotta knock this off. I’ve been eating too much bread ... And then you walk in and the first thing, this pastry smell hits you in the face.” (12:10)

• Hibbs uses humor and honesty about his struggle with pastries to illustrate the daily tug-of-war with the flesh.
• The anecdote endears the audience while normalizing ongoing spiritual struggles.
• The point: everyday temptations, even seemingly trivial ones, reflect a deeper spiritual battle.

4. The Evil Native to Us

“I’m talking about the evil that is you and the evil that is me ... native to you.” (09:10)

• Hibbs calls for humility, admitting no one is exempt from sinful tendencies.
• True Christian maturity begins with recognizing and confessing personal evil, not just imagining "evil" as extreme acts or other people.

5. The Cure: Brokenness Before God

“Psalm 34:18 says, ‘The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart and gives such as have a contrite spirit.’” (15:10)

• Conviction from the Holy Spirit is a sign of God’s love and invitation, not just condemnation.
• Distinction between being busted (caught) and being broken (repentant): “If you’re broken, you’ll come to him. And to be broken is what David shows us here in Psalm 51.” (17:30)

6. Responding to Conviction: Psalm 51’s Model

Hibbs recites and references Psalm 51—David’s humble prayer after being confronted with his sin—to model genuine repentance:

• “Have mercy upon me, oh God, according to your loving kindness ... Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin, for I acknowledge my transgressions.” (17:40)
• Brokenness leads to real spiritual healing and restoration.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the struggle within:
  “That’s the battle of the believer. That’s proof that Jesus Christ lives inside of you.” (00:45, ~13:40)
• On bitterness:
  “Listen, friends, bitterness will destroy you ... It spreads like a cancer.” (04:45)
• On forgiveness:
  “God gave you the ability to release that person’s control over your life because you issue forgiveness to them, though you may never see them again.” (06:15)
• On the pebble in the shoe analogy:
  “You can have the best shoes in the world, but if there’s a little pebble in your shoe, you’re in pain ... you’re still carrying it. You got a pebble in your heart.” (07:50)
• On conviction as grace:
  “You should thank God—the Holy Spirit is still trying to reach you by conviction.” (15:55)
• On repentance:
  “Are you getting caught right now by the Holy Spirit, though nobody knows what you’re doing? ... What you do with it right now will determine if you stay busted or if you’re broken.” (17:10)

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• (00:39) – Introducing the daily spiritual battle within each believer
• (03:00) – The danger and contagion of bitterness
• (06:15) – The necessity and power of forgiveness, even toward the deceased
• (07:50) – Analogy: The pebble in the shoe and the heart
• (09:10) – Humility and admission of native evil
• (12:10) – Humorous personal anecdote: the bakery temptation
• (15:10) – God’s nearness to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18)
• (17:30) – The difference between being busted and being genuinely broken (Psalm 51)

Tone & Language

Jack Hibbs blends direct, sometimes blunt scriptural confrontation with warm humor and vulnerability. He’s conversational—often drawing listeners in with personal stories and everyday analogies, but unafraid to plainly challenge false comfort or hidden sin.

Conclusion

Jack Hibbs calls listeners to examine the condition of their hearts, embrace repentance, and break free from bitterness through the liberating power of forgiveness in Christ. The road to true living, he argues, lies not in denying brokenness but in confessing it, leading to a closer, freer walk with God.

Further resources and outlines: Visit jackhibbs.com/podcast.