Podcast Summary: The Philosophy of Obedience – Touré Roberts

Podcast: ONE | A Potter’s House Church
Episode Date: November 7, 2025
Speaker: Pastor Touré Roberts

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the concept of obedience in the context of spiritual growth and discipleship. Pastor Touré Roberts explores what obedience truly means, why it’s often misunderstood or resisted, and how it connects directly to personal transformation, blessing, and living out God's purpose. He reframes obedience from being an unattractive obligation to a privileged, faith-filled response to divine instruction, inviting listeners to embrace obedience as the path to their greatest breakthroughs.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Building Big People, Not Just a Big Church

• Touré shares how ONE has impacted lives and emphasizes that the church’s goal is to unlock the greatness within individuals.
• Quote (02:15): “It's never been about building a big church... It was always about building big people.”

2. The Role of Trials in Unlocking Potential

• Hard times are sometimes what draw out one’s spiritual “beast mode.”
• Discomfort, instability, and trials are necessary for growth; “comfort and options are not your friend; they keep you stuck.”
• Quote (07:38): “Crazy is a magnet for what God put on the inside of you. Crazy squeezes out your greatness.”

3. Distinguishing Christian vs. Disciple

• Being a Christian is subscribing to a belief system; being a disciple involves a continual, transformational walk, following Jesus wherever He leads.
• A true disciple’s life bears evidence of Christ’s influence.
• Quote (14:00): “A disciple is someone who has decided to, simply put, follow Jesus wherever He may lead you.”

4. Obedience: A Redefined Perspective

• Obedience is not naturally attractive; it’s countercultural and often resented (19:00).
• Philosophy of Obedience: It’s an invitation to blessing, not a restrictive command.
  • “Obedience is our response to the invitation to be blessed.” (21:50)
• Trust is fundamental to obedience. If we resist God’s instructions, it’s usually due to lack of trust in His plan over our own.

5. The Development of Trust through Relationship

• Trust grows as we repeatedly experience the goodness of following God’s voice.
• Early in faith, obedience is often partial due to unfamiliarity and lack of relationship.

6. Scripture Deep Dive: John 14:15 and James 1:21–26

• John 14:15: “If you love me, keep my commandments.”
  • Touré unpacks why this isn’t manipulative; it stems from trust developed in relationship (28:30).
• James 1:21–26:
  • “Lay aside all filthiness” is about discarding anything beneath your true value.
  • The ‘engrafted word’ spoken to you resonates with what God has already placed inside you—prophetic words activate latent potential (38:30).
  • Being a “doer” of the word means becoming a performer/poet: embodying the script God gives you.
  • Quote (52:05): “God gives you the opportunity to participate in your miracle, in your blessing, in your journey, in your deliverance.”

7. The Deception of Only Hearing, Not Doing

• Hearing the word alone can make us feel as if transformation has happened, but unless we act, it remains unrealized potential.
• Staying in “hearing mode” leads to self-deception (57:15).

8. The ‘Law of Liberty’

• Obeying the word brings ultimate freedom—liberation from everything that isn’t truly you.
• Obedience is linked with generational blessing and leaving a legacy (01:06:00).
• Quote (01:08:12): “When you move in obedience, you're walking out of chains, walking out of limitations, walking into what God has for you.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On discomfort and growth:
  • “You need a big, old, fat trial… because we need them. There is a strategy in the trouble.” (07:10)
• On being spiritually 'snooty':
  • “I don’t mind you being spiritually snooty—not snooty toward people, but turning your nose up at what’s beneath you.” (37:40)
• On immediate action:
  • “When you know it’s God, stop delaying... It is better to move and be wrong than to not move and let the window close on you.” (01:00:55)
• On the value of the individual:
  • “You are bespoke. There's nobody like you… You don't even have a price. That's how exquisite you are.” (41:00)
• On trust as the door for obedience:
  • “You gotta trust in order to obey… The universe is bent toward building your trust.” (29:00)

Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:15 | “Building big people” and purpose of ONE | | 07:10 | Trials as the context for spiritual growth (“crazy squeezes out your greatness”) | | 14:00 | Difference between “Christian” and “disciple” | | 19:00 | Obedience is not naturally attractive (“not sexy… not attractive…") | | 21:50 | "Obedience is our response to the invitation to be blessed." | | 28:30 | The link between trust, obedience, and relationship | | 37:40 | Spiritual value—“being spiritually snooty” | | 41:00 | “You are bespoke”—on self-worth and accepting only what mirrors your value | | 52:05 | Obedience as participation in your miracle | | 57:15 | The danger of being only a ‘hearer’ | | 01:00:55 | Acting in the window of God’s timing; “move quickly” | | 01:06:00 | Generational blessing and legacy | | 01:08:12 | “Walking out of chains... into what God has for you” |

Q&A Highlights

1. How can I be obedient when I am in so much pain?

• Pain and inadequacy often reinforce each other, but pain can be a context for God’s greatest blessing and manifestation of spiritual power.
• Touré: “Sometimes the miracle of God is that you’re actually surviving what would kill a lesser developed person.” (01:14:47)
• Encourage yourself that even in pain, you’re still being sustained, and your ability to help others—often from that pain—can itself be a blessing.

2. How do I know I’m being obedient to the right thing?

• God built the ability to “know” into us—sharpened via the Holy Spirit.
• Listen for resonance in your spirit, look for scriptural alignment, and pay attention to confirmations.
• Touré: “You’ll know when you do it and you get blessed because you did it.” (01:24:30)

Practical Homework/Invitation

Reflection Questions:

1. Identify at least one area where you’re currently reluctant or disobedient to God’s direction.
2. Ask: Why am I holding back?
3. Decide: What immediate step will I take to move toward obedience in this area?

Tone and Style

• Warm, lively, encouraging, and relatable—Pastor Touré mixes scriptural exposition, personal anecdotes, and humor.
• The message is both practical and deeply spiritual, aimed at empowering listeners to become active participants in their own blessing.

Final Takeaway

Obedience is not a burdensome religious duty; it’s a divine invitation to live in the fullness of God’s blessing. The journey from hearing to doing—grounded in trust—transforms your life and legacy.

[Listen to the full episode for more details and stories from Pastor Touré Roberts.]