Podcast Summary:

Lakepointe Church with Josh Howerton
Episode: Why Success Won’t Satisfy You | Run To Win | Ernest Smith
Date: October 26, 2025
Guest Speaker: Pastor Ernest Smith, Lead Pastor at Front Range Church

Episode Overview

In this episode, guest speaker Pastor Ernest Smith shares a personal and biblical perspective on why worldly success and achievement never fully satisfy. Rooted in both his own journey as a church planter in Denver and the Old Testament story of Naaman (2 Kings 5), Pastor Ernest unpacks the dangers of idolizing success, the disappointment that follows achieving it, and the life-changing freedom found in surrender to God. The conversation is deeply personal, with Ernest vulnerably sharing family struggles, ministry challenges, and how finding true joy, hope, and fulfillment comes not from achievement, but from trust and surrender to God.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Unexpected Call to Church Planting & the Challenge of Success

[00:38–04:34]

• Pastor Ernest introduces himself and recounts his journey into ministry and church planting in Denver—known as a "church planter's graveyard."
• The move was full of risk, fear, and the likelihood of failure, but Ernest identified that every reason not to obey God was rooted in fear, not faith.
• Personal testimony: Facing his son's special needs and lack of resources, Ernest experienced support from ministry partners and highlights how God used this adversity to enable Front Range Church to reach special needs families in their community.

Memorable Quote:
"I realize that every reason to plant a church was biblical, and every reason not to was fear. And I thought, am I going to live my life based on fear or based on God’s word?" — Pastor Ernest Smith [01:30]

What Is True Success? The Dangers of Comparison and Idolatry

[04:34–09:40]

• Expresses gratitude for Lakepointe Church’s support.
• Talks about learning what true success means in God’s eyes versus the world’s.
• Admits to playing the "comparison game" as a pastor, spouse, father, and leader.
• References Tim Keller's wisdom on the idolatry of personal success:
  • "More than other idols, personal success and achievement lead to a sense that we ourselves are God." — Tim Keller (quoted) [09:00]
• Warns how success can become an idol that destroys relationships, families, and even churches if it becomes the primary goal.
• Illustrates with real-world examples (declining marriages, absent parents, business failures) the devastating impact of success-worship.

Memorable Quote:
"You could compare yourself right out of the will of God." — Pastor Ernest Smith [06:27]

The Hollow Promise of Achievements: Testimonies from Athletes

[09:41–11:00]

• Ernest describes his childhood idol, baseball star Jose Canseco, pointing out how many personal heroes don’t end up satisfied.
• Shares post-championship quotes from Tom Brady and A.J. Brown showing their feeling of emptiness after winning at the highest level.
• Cites Mike Tyson, who described all his trophies as "nothing."

Tom Brady Quote:
“Why do I have three Super Bowl rings and still think there has to be something greater out there for me?” [10:42]

Insight:
Earthly achievements—even at the highest level—cannot fill the longing for meaning, satisfaction, and joy.

The Story of Naaman: Obedience, Surrender, and True Success

[11:01–29:00]

• Walks through the Old Testament account of Naaman (2 Kings 5:1–15).
  • Naaman: Highly successful and revered army commander, yet crippled by leprosy.
  • A young, enslaved Israelite girl (faithful amid injustice) points Naaman toward the prophet Elisha for healing.
  • Despite bringing a king’s letter and great wealth (today’s equivalent: $7.5 million), Naaman is told through a messenger to wash in the muddy Jordan River seven times.
  • Insulted by not getting special treatment or a grand gesture, Naaman’s pride and reliance on status are confronted.
  • Hesitates, questioning the practicality and simplicity of the solution (prefers cleaner rivers at home, wants a showy miracle).
• Pastor Ernest draws a parallel:
  • Many people miss out on God’s healing or redemption because they question the simplicity of the Gospel: repent, receive Jesus’ forgiveness, and surrender.

Notable Quote:
"True success is found in surrender." — Pastor Ernest Smith [25:29]

Application: Surrendering Control & Letting God Lead

[29:01–35:30]

• Ernest talks candidly about his own struggles with control—in ministry, in family, and especially when his wife faced workplace trauma.
• Describes how trusting God instead of grasping for control led to unexpected blessing, healing, and being part of others’ breakthrough.
• Invites listeners to identify what area of their life they are trying to control—business, marriage, children, health, faith.
• Urges openness (even through an open palms prayer posture) so as to release control and be able to receive from God.

Memorable Quotes:

• "The idol of success—either you remove it from its place and put God back in his place, or it will come crashing down on you." [20:38]
• "If God has something for you today, open those hands and go: God, here it is. I want to receive whatever you have for me." [35:10]

Challenge and Prayer

[35:31–38:31]

• Ernest closes with a passionate prayer for healing, recommitment, surrendered hearts, and open hands.
• He prays that listeners will have the courage to trust God, give up the illusion of control, and receive real peace and hope.

Notable Quotes & Moments With Timestamps

• “Every reason to plant a church was biblical, and every reason not to was fear.” — Ernest Smith [01:30]
• “You could compare yourself right out of the will of God.” — Ernest Smith [06:27]
• "More than other idols, personal success and achievement lead to a sense that we ourselves are God." — Tim Keller (quoted by Ernest) [09:00]
• "Why do I have three Super Bowl rings and still think there has to be something greater out there for me?" — Tom Brady (quoted by Ernest) [10:42]
• “The idol of success—either you remove it from its place and put God back in his place, or it will come crashing down on you.” — Ernest Smith [20:38]
• "True success is found in surrender." — Ernest Smith [25:29]
• "If God has something for you today, open those hands and go: God, here it is. I want to receive whatever you have for me." — Ernest Smith [35:10]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:38 – 04:34: Ernest's introduction, Denver church planting story, special needs ministry.
• 04:34 – 11:00: Gratitude to Lakepointe, lessons in success vs. God's definition, dangers of comparison.
• 11:01 – 29:00: The story of Naaman, biblical deep-dive, parallels to Gospel and modern success.
• 29:01 – 35:30: Personal struggles with control, testimony of God working during crisis, application to listeners.
• 35:31 – 38:31: Prayer of surrender and invitation to trust God.

Closing Highlights

• Pastor Josh Howerton honors Pastor Ernest and the Strategic Launch Network’s impact, highlighting more than 80 churches planted in challenging locations.
• Lakepointe Church announces a $25,000 contribution to support Front Range Church’s ongoing ministry.
• Call to action for listeners: Pray about contributing to Lakepointe’s annual missions offering that funds church plants and global/local partners.

Main Takeaways

1. Success alone never truly satisfies; surrendering your life to God does.
2. Idolizing achievement leads to emptiness and destruction—true peace, hope, and fulfillment come from placing God first.
3. Obedience in the ordinary, faithfulness amid struggle, and releasing control to God opens the door to real impact and joy.
4. God desires open hands and surrendered hearts, turning our weakness into his strength.

For continued resources or to connect with the Lakepointe digital community, visit lakepointe.church/digital.