Transformation Church Podcast Episode Summary

Episode: "Stay On Fire // Faith In The Fire"
Speaker: Pastor Tim Ross (with closing input from Pastor Michael Todd and others)
Date: October 12, 2025

Episode Overview

This dynamic episode wraps up Transformation Church's "Faith In The Fire" conference with Pastor Tim Ross delivering a message centered on one essential charge: “Stay on fire.” Drawing from the early chapters of Acts, Ross emphasizes the need for believers to not just catch the fire of the Holy Spirit but to remain ablaze, sustaining spiritual passion, boldness, and transformation beyond conference walls. The message is highly interactive, filled with humor, vulnerability, memorable analogies, and strong scriptural conviction, culminating in a heartfelt communal prayer and time of worship.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Recap of the 'Faith In The Fire' Conference

• Pastor Tim recaps messages from all conference speakers, highlighting the diversity of perspectives on “fire” from the Bible and personal experiences (03:30–08:04).
• Notable moments include:
  • Pastor Mike’s sermon on “when the fire feels unfair,” examining Daniel 3.
  • Pastor Roosevelt’s “Give the Devil Hell,” emphasizing spiritual authority.
  • A vulnerable panel with Pastors Mike, Natalie, Carl, and Laura Lentz on friendship and faith under fire.
  • Pastor Charles’ charge to “go looking for a fire,” humorously demonstrated in a fire suit.
  • Pastor Bree Davis’ trauma-informed message on having “roots in the fire.”

[Notable Quote, 07:41]
"It is never meant to burn us up. It is meant to burn off what is on us that no longer belongs to us." — Pastor Tim Ross

2. The Fire of Pentecost and Staying Filled

• Ross reads from Acts 2 and Acts 4, connecting the initial Pentecost outpouring with the continual need for spiritual refueling (11:06–16:46).
• He notes it’s not enough to experience a one-time filling; believers must seek continual renewal to remain effective.

[Notable Quote, 15:04] "You caught fire this week, but now you gotta stay on fire. You can't go home and let this fire get smothered by what goes on in your life." — Pastor Tim Ross

3. Purpose and Contagion of the Fire

• The Pentecost fire wasn’t just for personal encounter; it compelled the disciples into action, making the gospel accessible in every language present (19:02–23:40).
• Ross uses the metaphor of speaking spontaneous Spanish to illustrate the miracle of understandable, contextualized outreach.
• The fire spreads by proximity—believers “should be fire, not just light... not supposed to be flashlights. We are supposed to be flames.”

[Notable Quote, 23:27] "When you catch on fire, you can't keep it to yourself. They ran out of the room, and everybody that they ran into started catching what was on them." — Pastor Tim Ross

4. Miracles, Boldness & Opposition

• The Acts narrative continues: Peter and John heal the lame man at the Beautiful Gate (25:10–28:59), infusing the community with fresh fire.
• Religious authorities are unsettled by movements they cannot control (31:57–36:15). Ross addresses how religious gatekeeping can attempt to stifle genuine revival.
• He powerfully reimagines the apostles’ transformed courage:
  "Remember how cowardly they were before they got filled with the Holy Spirit? ... What you gonna do, kill us too? See if we care." (35:26)

[Notable Quote, 36:17] "But they also knew that these were men who had been with Jesus. Listen, you don't ever have to call me special as long as you recognize that I have been with Jesus."

5. The Need for Continual Refilling

• Using a car and EV metaphor, Ross explains that spiritual fire is depleted by use and needs refueling—God’s Spirit is inexhaustible, ever-ready to empower.

[Notable Quote, 39:46] "I believe some of us are asking God for a fresh fire when we ain't used the logs he gave us to begin with."

6. Sacrifice as Fuel for the Fire

• Ross calls listeners to throw in whatever keeps the fire burning—prayer, pride, ego, unforgiveness, even oneself as a “living sacrifice” (see Romans 12:1).

[Notable Quote, 44:03] "Sometimes you need to throw something else besides your prayers. You know what I be throwing in there? I be throwing my ego in that fire. I start throwing my pride in that fire... I can't let this fire go out. Well, Tim, what if...what if you've thrown everything in the fire and it still ain't lighting up? Throw yourself."

7. Fire that is Both Attractive and Destructive

• Drawing on the “Human Torch” (Fantastic Four), Ross illustrates that Holy Spirit fire can warm and attract, or destroy and purify, depending on the context (45:50–48:28).
• “Controlled burn” analogy: Sometimes the fire is to burn up what shouldn’t remain in our lives or environment.

8. Practical Outworking: Flame-Throwing Party & Contagious Faith

• Ross energizes the crowd to practice “throwing fire” in everyday moments—at the airport, at work—by bringing encouragement and the presence of God to every interaction (49:20–51:07).

9. Worship, Prayer, and Spiritual Impartation

• The service shifts into a time of passionate worship and communal prayer for spiritual boldness, fresh fire, and the gift of tongues (“the upgrade”) (54:56–106:28).
• Pastor Michael Todd emphasizes the Spirit’s role in empowering, not just a one-off experience, and clarifies biblical teaching on the evidence of the Spirit being primarily fruit, not only gifts.
• Altar call: Both for salvation and for infilling/renewal in the Holy Spirit.

[Notable Quote, 63:08]
"It's free to receive. You didn't have to die. Jesus already did...The thing I want to burn is everything that's not like me off of you." — Pastor Michael Todd

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• "If you want the upgrade of the Holy Spirit... It's going to take some faith. You might start hearing something...begin to speak that thing out." — Pastor Michael Todd (93:18)
• The congregation is exhorted to present their “whole self” on the altar, repeatedly:
  "I present my body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to the Lord, which is my reasonable service. I am the burning bush. I am what is consumed but not burned up." — Pastor Tim Ross (44:03)
• An invitation to transformation through worship and repentance: the spontaneous worship time with the repeating refrain “I want to be altered here at the altar” (74:37–86:52).
• A call to continual refilling, not waiting for spiritual “E” (empty) before refueling, but proactively staying full:
  "The goal is to stay full. Somebody say, stay full, then say, stay on fire." — Pastor Michael Todd (104:17)

Key Timestamps

• 03:30–08:04: Conference recap and insights on the “fire” theme
• 11:06–16:46: Introduction of Acts 2 and Acts 4, “Stay on Fire” commission
• 19:02–23:40: Pentecost explained; power of contagious spiritual fire
• 25:10–28:59: Healing of lame man; practical application of fire
• 31:57–36:15: Opposition by religious leaders; boldness and ordinary people ignited by Jesus
• 39:46–44:03: Continual spiritual refueling; sacrificial living as fuel
• 45:50–48:28: Human Torch/controlled burn analogy
• 54:56–55:44: Prayer for boldness; “Let there be a fresh fire”
• 63:08–70:43: Teaching on the altar, living sacrifice, and sanctification
• 93:18–103:40: Receiving the “upgrade”—infilling and tongues
• 104:17–106:28: Practical ways to stay on fire and spiritual full

Conclusion & Call to Action

The episode ends with a powerful exhortation to let the fire of God continue beyond the church—transforming families, workplaces, and communities. Staying “on fire” means living as a living sacrifice, daily seeking God, remaining connected to spiritual community, and refusing complacency. Whether you’re newly filled with the Holy Spirit or in need of rekindling, the message is clear: ask for more, burn brightly, and let the fire spread.

[Notable Quote, 106:28] "So God set a fire down... If you want to speak to us in the car, in the shower...on our back porch, on our front porch, have your way. Thank you for what you did in this conference. Thank you for the vessel you used today to commission us to stay on fire. ... We expect Amen." — Pastor Michael Todd

For those seeking transformation:

• Don’t let the spiritual fire go out—fuel it with prayer, worship, surrender, and community.
• The evidence of the Spirit is fruit; use every challenge as a chance to put more “fuel” on the altar.
• Carry the flame into every part of your life, making it both a beacon and a purifier for all around you.