The Canvascast

Are you actually following Jesus, or just asking Him to bless the life you've already planned?

In James chapter 4, we're confronted with a difficult truth: we can't fully follow Jesus while holding on to the values of the world. In this episode of The Canvascast, J. Mark Johns and Robby Rassel discuss how pride, selfishness, and misplaced desires can quietly take control of our relationships, decisions, and spiritual lives.

What does it really mean to surrender to God? And how do we stop living a faith that's only halfway committed?

Listen now as we continue our journey through the book of James and discover what it looks like to put God first in every area of life.

What if the words you brush off as jokes are slowly destroying your relationships?

In this episode of The Canvascast, Lead Pastor J. Mark Johns and Executive Pastor Robby Rassel continue their journey through the book of James, diving into chapter 3 and the surprising power of our words. From careless comments and subtle sarcasm to the responsibility of teaching God's Word, they explore how what comes out of our mouths reveals what's happening in our hearts.

They also unpack what it means to take our thoughts captive, why genuine faith should produce visible change, and how godly wisdom challenges our natural desire to put ourselves first.

What if one of the clearest signs of spiritual maturity is simply how long it takes you to obey God?

In this episode of The Canvascast, Lead Pastor J. Mark Johns and Executive Pastor Robby Rassel continue their journey through the book of James with a conversation about what genuine faith actually looks like when it moves beyond words and into everyday life.

Digging into James 2, they tackle favoritism in the church, why Christians can’t measure people by the same standards as the world, and what it really means to love your neighbor. They also explore the relationship between grace, mercy, faith, and works—and why James’ declaration that “faith without works is dead” doesn’t mean we earn our salvation.

Listen to this episode of The Canvascast and discover what it looks like to live out a faith that is active, authentic, and willing to obey.

What if some of the hardest moments of your life aren’t destroying your faith—but developing it?

In this episode of The Canvascast, Lead Pastor J. Mark Johns and Executive Pastor Robby Rassel begin a six-episode journey through the book of James, starting with a deep dive into James chapter 1 and its incredibly practical picture of what it looks like to actually live out your faith.

J. Mark and Robby talk about why James tells believers to find joy in the middle of trials, how testing produces steadfast faith, and why trusting God doesn’t mean pretending difficult circumstances are good. They also unpack the difference between trials and temptation, how our own desires can slowly pull us toward sin, and why blaming God—or anyone else—keeps us from taking responsibility for what is happening in our hearts.

James doesn’t leave much room for a faith that only exists in our heads. Genuine faith changes the way we endure, speak, respond, serve, and live.

What if the hard season you’ve been walking through has quietly become a cycle? How can you tell the difference between a difficult season and a destructive cycle?

In this episode of The Canvascast, Lead Pastor J. Mark Johns and Executive Pastor Robby Rassel continue the conversation surrounding our The Struggle Is Real series and dig deeper into depression, anxiety, fear, spiritual strongholds, and the patterns that can keep us stuck.

If you’ve been dealing with a pattern you can’t seem to shake, feeling worn down, or wondering how faith actually helps in the middle of real-life struggles, this conversation is for you.

What if the emotions controlling your life aren’t something you have to keep living under?

Season 4 of The Canvascast kicks off with Lead Pastor J. Mark Johns and Executive Pastor Robby Rassel diving deeper into Canvas Church’s new series, The Struggle Is Real, and an honest conversation about emotional and mental health through a biblical lens.

In this episode, Mark and Robby talk about the difference between experiencing emotions and being ruled by them. They unpack why self-awareness and personal responsibility matter, how patterns from our past can continue shaping us, and why understanding where a struggle came from doesn’t give it permission to control where we’re going.

If you’ve ever felt controlled by your emotions, haunted by your past, or frustrated by a pattern you can’t seem to break, this conversation is for you.

What if prayer was never meant to sound polished? In this episode of The Canvascast, Lead Pastor J. Mark Johns and Executive Pastor Robby Rassel unpack the raw, honest, and deeply personal side of prayer — the kind that happens in frustration, desperation, silence, and intimacy with God.

Pastor Mark opens up about difficult seasons in ministry, planting Canvas Church, and the moments where his prayers sounded less like church language and more like honest conversations with a loving Father. From bold prayers and spiritual discipline to prison ministry, baptisms, and trusting God through uncertainty, this episode is a powerful reminder that prayer is less about performance and more about presence.

Whether your prayer life feels strong, messy, silent, or inconsistent, this conversation will encourage you to come honestly before God and discover the intimacy He offers.

Listen now to Episode 10 of The Canvascast and lean into a deeper, more authentic conversation with God.

This week on The Canvascast, Lead Pastor J. Mark Johns and Executive Pastor Robby Rassel unpack one of the most unexpected Mother’s Day messages we’ve ever had at Canvas Church.

Starting in 1 Kings 3 with the story of two prostitutes standing before Solomon, this conversation dives into identity, surrender, prayer, wisdom, and the reality that God works through imperfect people. In this episode we’re getting honest. If you ever wondered if your past, failures, or imperfections makes you unusable, listen to this episode today!

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Love God. Love people. Serve others. This is the vision of Canvas Church, led by Pastor J. Mark Johns, based in Alachua, Florida.

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For more content, visit: https://canvasfl.com/media

For podcasts, visit: https://canvasfl.com/media

For more resources, visit: https://canvasfl.com

To donate, please visit: https://canvasfl.com/give

In this episode, Lead Pastor J. Mark Johns and Executive Pastor Robby Rassel talk about the reality that marriage isn’t always easy—it’s layered, stretching, and at times, messy. But it’s also deeply meaningful when viewed through the lens it was designed for.

Building off the idea of God First Marriages, this conversation explores how marriage is more than just two people coming together—it’s a reflection of something greater. From navigating differences in personality and background to understanding the deeper purpose behind covenant, we unpack what it looks like to stay committed when things aren’t simple.

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Love God. Love people. Serve others. This is the vision of Canvas Church, led by Pastor J. Mark Johns, based in Alachua, Florida.

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For more content, visit: https://canvasfl.com/media

For podcasts, visit: https://canvasfl.com/media

For more resources, visit: https://canvasfl.com

To donate, please visit: https://canvasfl.com/give

In this episode of the Canvascast, Lead Pastor J. Mark Johns and Executive Pastor Robby Rassel take a deeper look at the early church in the book of Acts—what changed in the disciples, where their boldness came from, and how the Holy Spirit transformed ordinary people into powerful witnesses.

If you’ve ever felt unsure about who the Holy Spirit is or what He does, this conversation breaks it down in a clear and practical way. This isn’t just theology—it’s about how God still works in and through us today.

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Love God. Love people. Serve others. This is the vision of Canvas Church, led by Pastor J. Mark Johns, based in Alachua, Florida.

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For more content, visit: https://canvasfl.com/media

For podcasts, visit: https://canvasfl.com/media

For more resources, visit: https://canvasfl.com

To donate, please visit: https://canvasfl.com/give