The Disciples Journal
The Disciples Journal documents the everyday life of following Jesus, offering practical steps, insights, and encouragement to help you get closer to God. Join host Darin Starks as he shares personal stories, the experiences of others, and gospel-driven perspectives from the Bible, providing the guidance you need to walk with Jesus in your everyday life and stay focused on Him.
Episodes
December 24, 2025 • 11 mins
Feeling trapped by shame? You’re not alone. In this episode, we explore Genesis 3 and Exodus 34:6 to see how God’s mercy and faithfulness meet us even when we fail. Learn the one truth that can begin healing your shame today.
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Mark as Played
December 17, 2025 • 14 mins
Why does trusting God feel so difficult even when we believe He is faithful?
In this episode I look at Exodus 34:6 where God describes Himself as abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. We explore what that means in the original Hebrew and why understanding God’s character not our performance is what actually builds trust.
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Mark as Played
December 8, 2025 • 14 mins
Have you ever wondered, “What am I really here for?” I used to think purpose and significance were reserved for pastors, leaders, or people who seemed “closer to God.” But Genesis 1:26-28 completely changed the way I see myself and you.
In this episode of The Disciples Journal, I’m breaking down how God made every single person in His image and called us all to represent Him in our everyday lives. I share what it truly means to wa...
Mark as Played
December 3, 2025 • 14 mins
Ever feel like your faith is just going through the motions? In this episode, I share how true intimacy with God isn’t about doing more it’s about abiding more. Learn how surrender, focus on Jesus, and stepping into His presence transform your life from the inside out.
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November 12, 2025 • 22 mins
Have you ever looked at your life and thought, “Why do I still feel empty when everything seems fine?”
You’ve got goals, friends, maybe even faith—but somehow, something still feels off.
I know that feeling well. For a long time, I chased things that promised to fill me success, approval, comfort, distraction but no matter what I reached for, it never lasted. The truth is, that emptiness isn’t random. It’s what happens when we’re ...
Mark as Played
November 5, 2025 • 15 mins
Have you ever thought you heard God… but later realized it might’ve just been you?
I used to feel so confident about what I thought God was saying — until I realized most of what I “heard” was just my own emotions talking.I’d pray, feel peace for a second, and then doubt everything again.
And if you’ve ever wondered, “Was that God’s voice, or just my thoughts?” — you’re not crazy.
In this episode, I’m going to show you how to te...
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October 22, 2025 • 20 mins
Most people read the Bible to get information — but God gave it to us for intimacy.
In this episode, I’ll show you how one simple question can transform your Bible reading into a real, two-way conversation with God.
If you’ve ever felt distant from God or wondered why you can’t hear His voice, this will help you experience Scripture the way He intended — relationally, not religiously.
Grab the guide that helps you turn Bible rea...
Mark as Played
October 15, 2025 • 25 mins
There was a time when God had all of me — my attention, my affection, my heart. But somewhere along the way, I got distracted by doing all the right things… and forgot the real reason I started.
In this episode, I talk about how I found my way back — not through more discipline, but through a simple shift that changed everything about how I see and love God. This is for anyone who feels like their fire’s gone out, or that their re...
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October 10, 2025 • 25 mins
Have you ever wondered if God’s gone quiet… or if you’ve just stopped listening? In this episode, I talk about what it really means to hear the voice of God — and why sometimes His voice sounds faint, distant, or even distorted. I share how I realized that distractions, idols, and divided attention can block what God is trying to say, and what it looks like to give Him your full focus again. This one’s all about clearing the noise ...
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October 1, 2025 • 37 mins
Who told you what it means to be a man? Culture shouts that your worth comes from money, women, and status—but God says something entirely different. In this episode, we break down Psalm 1 to uncover the biggest lies men are told about identity and where true value is actually found. If you’ve ever wrestled with who you are, this conversation will show you the difference between being defined by the world and being rooted in God’s ...
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September 17, 2025 • 29 mins
What if the reason you’ve never really “heard God” isn’t because He’s silent—but because you’ve been approaching the Bible the wrong way? In this episode, I share the simple mindset shift that turned Scripture from silent ink on a page into real conversations with the living God. Each episode, I walk you through practical questions to ask while reading that unlock intimacy, clarity, and the sense that God is actually speaking back....
Mark as Played
September 10, 2025 • 17 mins
One Bible verse completely ended my lukewarm faith. I know that sounds wild, but it’s true — this verse flipped everything for me and showed me what it really means to know and love God. In this episode of The Disciples Journal, I share the exact verse, why it hit me so hard, and the practical steps I took to move from half-hearted faith to fully devoted to Christ. If you’ve ever struggled with feeling distant from God or just “goi...
Mark as Played
September 8, 2025 • 8 mins
I’m starting a new series called Darin’s Diary. Every Monday, I’ll be sharing something real that I’m learning about God as I dig into His Word for myself. This isn’t secondhand from pastors, mentors, or books — it’s me opening up my Bible, wrestling with what it says, and sharing how it’s changing my walk with Him.
In this first episode, I’m talking about a verse that completely reshaped the way I see God: John 1:14 — “The Word b...
Mark as Played
August 27, 2025 • 17 mins
The biggest thing blocking your intimacy with God isn’t what you think. For years, I believed distance from Him was only about my sin. But what I discovered is that sin doesn’t just separate—it distorts how we see God. I used to think He was ashamed of me, angry, or unwilling to welcome me back. That false view of God kept me away even more than the sin itself.
In this episode, I share a pivotal moment from Passion 2022 where conf...
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August 13, 2025 • 25 mins
If you’ve ever felt like you’ve drifted from God, like that fire you once had for Him has faded, this one’s for you. I know what it’s like to think you’re too far gone, to believe you have to “fix yourself” before you can come back to Him. That was me—stuck in shame, projecting my own feelings about myself onto God, convinced He had distanced Himself from me. But Exodus 34:6 completely shifted my view of Him. This is the first time...
Mark as Played
August 7, 2025 • 31 mins
I didn’t realize how much of my confidence was wrapped up in how people saw me… until God started stripping that away.
In this episode, I’m talking about where our confidence really comes from — and what happens when you try to build your identity on things that shift. Your job. Your relationship. Your reputation. Even your emotions.
We walk through Matthew 16 and how Peter’s revelation of who Jesus is led to Jesus revealing ...
Mark as Played
July 30, 2025 • 28 mins
I used to think I peaked in my relationship with God—that the passion I had in high school was something I’d never get back. But what I’ve learned is that love with Jesus doesn’t fade… it matures. In this episode, I share how I fell in love with Him all over again—what had to break off of me, what shifted in how I saw Him, and how you can get that fire back too.
If you’ve ever felt distant from God or like you’ve lost your passion...
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July 23, 2025 • 37 mins
This one’s real personal.
I just felt like it was time to slow down and let you all l in on what’s really been happening behind the scenes the last 9–10 months. A lot has changed in my life — new city, new church, deep community, and God doing a real work in my heart.
But the biggest thing I had to face? There was this lie I didn’t even realize I was believing about God — and it had been shaping the way I saw Him, myself, and...
Mark as Played
July 21, 2025 • 16 mins
This might be one of the most important conversations we’ve had yet.
In today’s episode of The Disciples Journal, we’re diving deep into what it actually means to walk in intimacy with Jesus. Not just following Him, but abiding in Him.
You’ll hear how peace isn’t found in performance—but in a person. We’ll talk about the fruit of intimacy, why discipline without surrender leaves us empty, and how true transformation happens when ...
Mark as Played
July 16, 2025 • 13 mins
What if the real reason you feel distant from God… is something you’ve been overlooking?
In today’s episode of The Disciples Journal, we’re unpacking Hebrews 12:14 — a verse that doesn’t just talk about holiness, but reveals why so many of us struggle to feel close to God. Darin breaks down how sin doesn’t drive God away from us… but it does distort our view of Him.
Through a powerful moment of personal conviction, we explore h...
Mark as Played
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