In this powerful episode of Crazy Unbelievable Faith, Brian and Kersha sit down with their pastor and friend, Shawn Phillips, the founding pastor of Journey Church. This isn't just a conversation; it's an intimate look into the heart of a leader who has walked through the wilderness and come out with a profound understanding of what it means to truly follow God. Pastor Shawn gets vulnerable about the lies he had to overcome to step into his calling, including the deep-seated belief that he "wasn't a starter." He shares the raw, behind-the-scenes story of starting Journey Church, a journey that seemed bigger than him and his wife, Bekah, and how God used it to break off decades-old insecurities.

The discussion goes deep into the practical—and often painful—realities of living a life of obedience. Pastor Shawn unpacks the crucial difference between knowing God's Word and truly living it out, especially when it comes to hearing God's voice amidst the noise of your own doubts. From the transformative power of Sabbath and rest to the necessity of having a thick skin and a soft heart, this episode is a guide for anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed by God's call. It's a must-listen for leaders, dreamers, and anyone who has ever questioned if they're truly making a difference. This is a profound reminder that the most important question isn't "What difference am I making?" but "Am I being obedient?"

🔥 What You’ll Learn:

• Breaking the Lies: Discover how a single, recurring lie can hold you back for decades and how a breakthrough in God often comes with an accompanying lie that gets destroyed.
• The Power of Obedience: Understand why God is more concerned with your obedience than your immediate results, and how your small steps of faith are part of His much larger, reverse-engineered plan.
• Thick Skin, Soft Heart: Learn the vital importance of staying vulnerable and teachable in leadership, even when it means getting hurt, and how to balance humility with strength.
• Sabbath as a Strategy: Hear how intentional rest and creating margins in your life is not just a spiritual discipline but a powerful tool for creativity, wisdom, and effective delegation.
• Hearing God's Voice: Get practical wisdom on how to discern God's voice from your own thoughts and why He often speaks in "nuggets" to invite you into a deeper process of trust.
• The Danger of Offense: Uncover why offense is one of the devil's most effective tools for derailing believers and keeping them from God's best.
• Leadership vs. Ownership: Gain insight into the mindset of a servant leader who views their role as a temporary assignment in a long line of future leaders, not a personal possession.

💬 Memorable Quotes:

• Pastor Shawn: "Every time you have like a major breakthrough in God, it comes with an accompanying lie that gets destroyed."
• Pastor Shawn: "Isn't that amazing that even the devil knows what to plant in you decades before that you're even called to do something."
• Pastor Shawn: "You have to have a thick skin, but a soft heart. I started to pastor people with a hardened heart and a thick skin. And God says, you can't do that."
• Pastor Shawn: "He's also a master of deception. He wants to get you deceived, so anytime he can get your eyes to try to fix the wrong problem, then it's not focused on where you're supposed to be going."
• Pastor Shawn: "The question you need to be asking is, are you being obedient?"
• Brian: "If somebody can do something 80% as good as you, why are you still doing it?"
• Pastor Shawn: "God gives us things to do that we have to do by faith. It wouldn't be faith if it was obvious to do. It's faith because we have to trust that God's ways are best."

🛑 Reflect + Apply: Questions to Ask Yourself

• Is there a recurring lie from your past that might be holding you back from what God is calling you to do right now?
• Are you measuring your success by the immediate "difference" you're making, or by your simple obedience to what God has asked of you?
• When was the last time you intentionally practiced Sabbath? Where can you create margins in your life this week to rest and listen?
• Do you have a "thick skin and a soft heart"? Are you allowing yourself to be teachable and vulnerable with the right people?
• Are you holding onto any offense that might be keeping you from experiencing God's best for your life?
• What is the one "unobvious" thing God might be asking you to do in faith, even if you can't see the full picture yet?

Scripture Focus:

This episode is a practical application of key biblical principles, including:

• Hearing God's Voice (John 10:27): The discussion is centered on the core belief that "My sheep hear my voice," and the journey of learning to discern it.
• The Pain of Growth (Proverbs 27:6): Pastor Shawn's emphasis on receiving truth, even when it's painful, reflects the idea that "Wounds from a friend can be trusted."
• Servant Leadership (Mark 10:45): The principle of "the first will be last" is shown through practical examples like parking far away to serve others.
• The Danger of Offense (Luke 17:1): The conversation highlights the reality that offenses will come and the importance of navigating them with a soft heart.
• Obedience Over Everything (1 Samuel 15:22): The episode's central theme is a modern-day illustration that "to obey is better than sacrifice."

🙌 Join the Movement

If you have ever felt unqualified, overlooked, or stuck in a season of wondering if you're making a difference, this episode is for you. Pastor Shawn's journey is a powerful testament that God doesn't call the qualified; He qualifies the called. This is a call to stop focusing on the fruit and start focusing on your faithfulness. It’s a challenge to embrace the process, trust God's timing, and understand that your obedience today is setting the stage for a harvest you may not see for years to come. Your story isn't about you; it's about being a willing participant in the incredible story God is writing.wdww

About Our Guest:

Shawn Phillips is the founding and lead pastor of Journey Church in Liberty, MO. He has been married to his wife, Bekah, for 29 years and counting. They have 5 kids, a daughter-in-law, and 3 grandchildren. You can learn more about his ministry at Journey Church: https://journeykc.com/

💻 Visit crazyunbelievablefaith.com to sign up for behind-the-scenes content, submit a prayer request, and find links to the resources mentioned in today's show.

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