The Disciples Journal

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

How I Went From Lukewarm to On Fire for God

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...
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How I Built my Confidence As A Christian (Self Worth Through God)

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 ...
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How I Fell in Love with God Again (And You Can Too)

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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Life Update + The Biggest Lie I Believed About God

July 23, 2025 • 36 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...
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The #1 Reason You Still Feel Distant From God (And How to Fix It)

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 ...
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The One Change That Will Restore Your Walk With God

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...
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Most Christians Are Struggling With This (This Destroys Your Faith)

July 14, 2025 • 15 mins
Do you know God, or do you just know about Him? That question cuts deep—and it’s exactly what we’re unpacking in today’s episode. As we officially launch After God’s Heart, I wanted to start with a conversation that’s foundational: intimacy with God. Drawing from Jeremiah 9:23–24, we explore the difference between boasting in what we do for God vs. actually walking in deep relationship with Him. This episode is a personal one. I...
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This Is God’s Purpose for Your Life — And It’s Bigger Than You Think

July 9, 2025 • 12 mins
What if your story is the key to someone else's salvation? In today’s episode of The Disciples Journal, we’re digging into 1 Peter 2:9 and uncovering what this powerful verse reveals about your God-given purpose. You’ve been chosen, called, and commissioned — not just to be saved, but to shine. We’ll talk about: Why your testimony is God's proof The lie of “private faith” and what Scripture really teaches What it...
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This Is the One Thing God Wants You to Do Every Day

July 7, 2025 • 11 mins
What if your purpose isn’t just about what you do — but how you love? In today’s episode, we’re diving into Ephesians 5:1–2 to uncover a purpose we often overlook: walking in the love of Christ. This kind of love isn’t limited to people we agree with or those who treat us well — it’s a love that mirrors the sacrifice Jesus made for us. We’ll explore why loving difficult people is actually central to your calling, what Jesus meant...
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You Don’t Need a Title to Represent God — Genesis 1 Shatters That Lie

July 2, 2025 • 13 mins
What if your title didn’t determine your calling? In this episode, I’m digging into one of the biggest lies we’ve believed in church culture—that only pastors, leaders, or “special” people are called to represent God. But Genesis 1:26–28 tells a different story. I walk through the political context behind this passage and show how, in the ancient world, only kings were seen as the “image” of a god. But in Genesis, God flips the sc...
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This Verse Changes the Way You See Yourself Forever

June 30, 2025 • 13 mins
What if the reason you’re questioning your worth… is because you’ve been listening to the wrong story about why you’re here? In this episode of The Disciples Journal, we kick off a brand new July series focused on what God says about our purpose—and we’re starting right where it all began: Genesis 1:26. You might’ve read this verse before, but today we’re looking at it through the eyes of the people who first heard it—the Israeli...
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How to Find Your Identity in Christ

June 25, 2025 • 17 mins
What if the reason you don’t feel confident in who you are… is because you’ve never seen God clearly? In this final episode of our June identity series, we go beyond affirmations and dive into the real path to discovering who you are in Christ. I unpack what it actually looks like to surrender your identity, how following Jesus leads to self-discovery, and why seeing God rightly is the first step to seeing yourself rightly. We’ll...
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You Don’t Have to Earn God’s Love — Here’s Why

June 23, 2025 • 11 mins
Are you trying to earn what God has already freely given you? In this episode of The Disciples Journal, we explore the liberating truth of Romans 5:1–2 — that we are justified by faith, not by performance. Darren unpacks what it means to stand in grace, how Jesus already did the work we often try to do ourselves, and why this changes everything about how we approach God. If you’ve ever felt the weight of having to prove yourself t...
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Why God Cares What You Do With Your Body (And Mind)

June 20, 2025 • 9 mins
Does your daily life reflect the fact that God lives in you? In this powerful episode of The Disciples Journal, we unpack what it really means when Scripture says your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19–20). This isn’t just a metaphor—it’s an invitation to intimacy, reverence, and transformation. Darin breaks down the original meaning behind Paul’s words to the Corinthian church, and how we too are called to p...
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This Is The Sign God Is Preparing You For More

June 18, 2025 • 12 mins
What does your life say about the God you claim to follow? In today’s episode of The Disciples Journal, we’re unpacking what it really means to be an ambassador for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). God has given us a title, a mission, and an identity—but are we actually living up to it? We’ll break down what an ambassador is, why it matters, and how God is calling us to represent His heart, values, and priorities in every space we wal...
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What It Really Means to Be a Child of God (You’ve Probably Missed This)

June 11, 2025 • 13 mins
What if you’re not supposed to carry all of this on your own? In today’s episode of The Disciples Journal, we’re digging into 1 John 3:1–2 and what it really means to be called a child of God. This isn’t just poetic language—it's a powerful truth that reshapes how you see your past, your worth, and your daily dependence on God. We explore how your identity as God's child frees you from performance, striving, and self-reliance. You...
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Why God Doesn’t Want to Erase Your Past (and What He Does Instead)

June 9, 2025 • 16 mins
What if God doesn’t want to erase your past… but redeem it? In this first episode of our June series, Identity in Christ, I’m diving into 2 Corinthians 5:17—“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation.” But what does that actually mean for your everyday life? And what does it reveal about God’s heart? We’re unpacking why your past doesn’t disqualify you, how God meets you in the darkest places, and why real transfo...
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God Doesn’t Want Perfection—He Wants THIS | Part 6

May 26, 2025 • 18 mins
Are you actually repenting… or just feeling bad? In this episode of The Disciples Journal, I’m unpacking what true repentance really means—and why it’s more than just saying “I’m sorry.” We’re breaking down the difference between worldly sorrow and godly sorrow, what it means to “make room” for God in your life, and why repentance is ultimately about relationship, not religion. From personal stories to powerful Scripture (Romans 2...
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Why You’ll Never Be “Good Enough” for God—and Why That’s Good News | Part 5

May 23, 2025 • 21 mins
What if the only thing standing between you and God… is a simple yes? In this episode of The Disciples Journal, I unpack what it means that Jesus offers us the gift of salvation and forgiveness—not something we earn, but something we receive. We dive into why God’s love isn’t based on performance, why your worth isn’t tied to what you do, and how the gospel flips everything we’ve been taught about value, acceptance, and grace. This...
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Why the Resurrection of Jesus Changes Everything | Part 4

May 21, 2025 • 13 mins
What if I told you the resurrection of Jesus isn’t just something we celebrate—it’s everything we stand on? In this episode of The Disciples Journal, I’m breaking down one of the most powerful lines of the gospel creed:“Three days later, He rose from the dead, proving He is the Son of God.” We’ll look at why the resurrection is not just a comeback story—but confirmation that every claim Jesus made was true. I unpack what Scripture...
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