If you’re grinding through life on sheer willpower, working harder, waking up earlier, chasing goals, trying to stay disciplined, but still feeling burned out, lonely, and stuck in busy work… this episode is for you. As a Christian entrepreneur (and as a disciple of Jesus), you weren’t designed to live in hustle culture and constant exhaustion. Jesus said His yoke is light, so if your life feels heavy, it’s time to stop and rebuild the order of how you’re living. 

In this episode of The Known Disciple Project Podcast, we walk through the Identity → Life Vision → Life Alignment model we coach inside Known Disciple Project. Most people live backwards: they obsess over habits, routines, goals, grit, and grind… then try to create a vision… and eventually crash into identity confusion, fraud syndrome, and burnout. 

This conversation helps you flip the equation so your goals actually align with who God says you are. If you want more impact by doing fewer things, more clarity, more peace, and a meaningful life built on biblical identity, press play.

You’ll Learn:

You’ll learn why grind culture creates the burnout cycle and disconnects you from your purpose. 

You’ll discover how biblical identity in Christ becomes the filter for your habits, goals, routines, and non-negotiables. 

You’ll learn how to build a life vision that matches your gifts and calling to love God and serve others. 

And you’ll get a practical journaling exercise using four simple questions to expose the gap between your current lifestyle and what Scripture teaches, so you can close that gap with intention.

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Ever feel like you’re reading your Bible consistently… but your understanding isn’t getting deeper and your life isn’t changing the way you hoped? You’re not alone. In this episode, we’re talking about how to study Scripture (not just skim it), so God’s Word moves from your eyes → to your mind → to your heart → to your actions. Because Bible study isn’t about checking a box, it’s about spiritual formation, building a life that’s rooted in truth, and creating space for the Holy Spirit to renew your thinking.

We’ll look at why Scripture calls us to rightly handle the word of truth, why intentional participation matters for spiritual growth, and why “more reading” isn’t always the answer. You’ll learn a practical Bible study method you can use today, how to connect prayer and Bible reading, and how to build a Bible study habit that actually sticks, whether you have 15 minutes or an hour. If you’ve been wondering why your Bible time feels shallow, this will give you a clear, simple path to go deeper.

What You’ll Learn:

→ The difference between reading the Bible and studying Scripture

→ Why growth requires intentional participation (not passive habits)

→ How to combine prayer + Scripture for deeper understanding

→ The 4-question Bible study method you can use with any passage

→ How to “go deep, not long” in 15–30 minutes

→ How curiosity (writing questions) unlocks stronger retention and insight

→ Helpful tools like BiblicalTraining.org and Bible Hub

→ Why Bible study is formation, not just information (Romans 12:2)

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If you’ve ever felt fired up to change, promised God you’d be different, started reading your Bible, praying more, showing up to church… and then quietly drifted back to the same habits—this episode is for you. The problem isn’t that you don’t “want it” badly enough. The problem is that motivation fades, and when pain or inspiration disappears, your actions disappear too.

In this episode of the Known Disciple Project, we open James 1:22–24 and unpack why so many Christians become hearers of the Word but not doers—and why that leads to feeling stuck, lukewarm, and spiritually stalled. You’ll learn the biblical definition of spiritual growth (it’s not information—it’s transformation), why learning can feel productive without producing obedience, and how to build a daily plan that creates real follow-through as a disciple of Jesus. If you want consistent spiritual discipline, deeper connection with God, and a faith that shows up in your life—not just your head—this is your practical, Scripture-based reset.

What You’ll Learn / Highlights

Why spiritual growth = transformation, not just Bible knowledge

The “mirror” warning in James 1 and what it reveals about discipleship

Why pain and inspiration start change—but rarely sustain it

How to stop relying on feelings and start relying on discipline + self-control

The right order: salvation → transformation → actions as evidence

A simple “bookend your day” routine (morning + evening with Jesus)

2 journaling questions to expose where you’re stuck

The “one thing this week” method to build obedience into habit

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Spiritual growth can feel invisible, slow, or like it’s not happening at all. In this episode of the Known Disciple Project, we break down exactly how to know if you’re actually growing spiritually—beyond self-help, hustle, and religious performance.If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I really changing, or just checking boxes?” this one’s for you.

What You’ll Learn / Episode Highlights

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Stuck in the same bad habits? It’s not laziness, it’s your brain’s safety mode.

In this episode, learn how to break bad habits by rewiring your mind with neuroscience and Scripture so you can live like the disciple you’re becoming in Christ. Perfect for growth-minded Christians ready for real, sustainable change.

What You’ll Learn:

→ A clear definition of “bad habit” (and why not all bad habits are sin)

→ The Habit Loop (cue → craving → routine → reward) and how to interrupt it

→ Romans 12:2 + 2 Corinthians 10:5: renewing your mind and taking thoughts captive

→ Why beliefs drive behaviors (belief → thoughts → emotions → actions)

→ Replacement > removal: swap routines while keeping the same cue/reward

→ Practical swaps: late-night scrolling, stress-drinking, and more (prayer, worship, journaling, movement)

→ 3 journal prompts + one identity-based affirmation to start today

Chapters (timestamps)

00:00 You already know your bad habits (cold open)

01:12 Why we repeat the cycle (it’s not laziness)

03:05 What counts as a “bad habit” for a disciple

05:10 Your brain wants predictability (Habit Loop explained)

10:22 Renewing the mind (Romans 12:2)

13:40 Belief → Thought → Emotion → Action (2 Cor 10:5)

18:05 Replace, don’t just remove (Luke 11:24–26)

22:11 Real-life swaps: phone, food, and stress responses

27:18 Three practical, biblically rooted steps to start now

30:05 Journal prompts + identity affirmation

32:00 Final encouragement + subscribe

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What if the one thing holding you back isn’t real at all? As growth-minded disciples of Jesus, many of us carry invisible chains, thoughts that whisper we’re not enough, not equipped, not ready. But what if those thoughts are lies? What if the very thing holding you back from your God-given calling is a belief planted by the enemy, not the truth of Scripture?

In this episode of The Known Disciple Project, we tackle the powerful, often hidden force of limiting beliefs. These aren't just mental roadblocks, they’re spiritual warfare. Drawing from the GAELS framework, today’s focus is the “L” for Limiting Beliefs: lies that convince us we don’t have what we need to do what God has called us to do.

You'll hear a raw personal story of how one such belief, rooted in fear of rejection, once kept the host from building meaningful relationships, only to be shattered by the truth of God’s Word. We’ll also break down the neuroscience behind why these beliefs stick, how they shape our identity, and most importantly, how to replace them with Christ-centered truths.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

The true definition of a limiting belief, and why it’s more dangerous than you think

How repetition + emotion hardwire these lies into your mind

Why spiritual identity is the starting point for freedom and growth

Practical, faith-based strategies to expose and replace limiting beliefs

A journaling exercise that can unlock healing and clarity in just 7 days

"If God has called you to it, He has already given you access to what you need. He will develop in you the rest as you are obedient to that calling."

Don’t let lies dictate your destiny. Subscribe, share this episode with someone battling self-doubt, and take time today to journal through the prompt at the end of the show. Start shifting your mindset from limitation to liberation, grounded in Christ.

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Have you ever caught yourself in a heated argument… that never actually happened? You built a whole scene in your head, what they said, what you should have said, and walked away frustrated, victorious, or even wounded. But none of it was real. In this episode of The Known Disciple Project, we’re digging deep into the sneaky mental habit we all fall into: interpretation.

Interpretations are the stories our minds tell to make sense of what we see, hear, and feel, especially when there are gaps. But here’s the catch: those stories are often wrong, and they shape how we treat others, how we handle conflict, and even how we see ourselves. This episode in the G.A.L.E.S. series (Gremlins, Assumptions, Interpretations, Limiting Beliefs) reveals why unchecked interpretations damage relationships, especially in marriage and business partnerships, and how disciples of Jesus can renew their minds by embracing curiosity over judgment.

Host and high-performance coach Mark Hummel shares powerful examples from coaching couples in business, scripture-backed insights on how Jesus modeled curiosity, and a simple but life-changing mental shift you can make today. Whether you're leading a family, team, or just trying to better follow Jesus in daily life, this episode gives you tools to think more clearly, love more freely, and act more like Christ.

Key Takeaways:

Interpretations are fast, subconscious stories we tell ourselves, often wrong, but powerfully influential.

Misinterpretation is a leading cause of breakdowns in communication, especially in marriages.

Curiosity is a spiritual weapon that disrupts negative thought loops and fosters clarity.

Jesus asked over 300 questions in the Gospels, curiosity was one of His most powerful tools.

Scripture, prayer, and godly community can reshape the stories your mind creates.

“Curiosity is the opposite of just believing lies.”

 Try this today: Journal one moment when you interpreted someone’s actions negatively. Then ask: What else might be true? Want to grow even more? Subscribe, share this episode with a friend, and come back next week for a deep dive into Limiting Beliefs.

Be curious. Be courageous. Be known.

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What if the story you’re telling yourself… is completely wrong?

In this eye-opening episode of The Known Disciple Project, host Mark Hummel dives into one of the sneakiest traps in both spiritual growth and everyday life: assumptions. We all make them, about people, situations, even God, and often without realizing it, they begin to shape how we see the world, ourselves, and our faith.

Continuing in our GAIL series (Gremlins, Assumptions, Interpretations, Limiting beliefs), Mark unpacks what assumptions really are, why our brains rely on them, and how unchecked assumptions can become spiritual landmines. With powerful stories (including a vulnerable one from his own marriage), biblical insight, and even some nerdy neuroscience (hello, dual process theory!), this episode equips you to pause, get curious, and choose truth over assumption.

You’ll discover how Romans 12:2 and 2 Corinthians 10:5 offer more than just spiritual inspiration, they’re real tools for rewiring your thinking and renewing your mind daily.

5 Key Takeaways:

Assumptions are mental shortcuts, but they often pull from incomplete or false information.

Our brains use fast (system 1) and slow (system 2) thinking, assumptions happen in fast thinking.

Assumptions are influenced by what we consume, social media, culture, past experiences.

Curiosity is a spiritual discipline that can help interrupt automatic, harmful thoughts.

Asking “Is this true?” can transform the way you respond to challenges and relationships.

“Pausing doesn’t make you passive, it makes you wise.” -Mark Hummel

Your challenge this week: Identify one assumption you often make. Write it down, ask “What if this isn’t true?” and explore what else might be happening beneath the surface.

If this episode spoke to you, share it with a friend, subscribe, and don’t forget to journal your thoughts, because transformation starts with awareness.

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Have you ever poured your heart into something, your marriage, your calling, your work, only to hear that little whisper in the back of your mind saying, “You’re not good enough”? If so, you’re not alone. That voice, that inner critic, has a way of showing up at the worst times, and for many disciples of Jesus, it becomes a barrier to living fully into our calling. In this episode of the Known Disciple Project Podcast, we’re diving into how to recognize, name, and overcome that voice, not by ignoring it, but by reframing it through both psychology and Scripture.

Host Mark Hummel shares his own raw story of battling the gremlin in his head, hiding from TV cameras as a young paramedic, convinced no one wanted to hear his voice. He unpacks where this “not enough” message comes from, why it’s so convincing, and how it plays out as spiritual warfare. More importantly, you’ll learn practical and biblical tools to quiet that gremlin and replace lies with truth.

By the end of this conversation, you’ll have three actionable strategies to shift your thinking, renew your mind, and lean deeper into your true identity in Christ.

Key Takeaways:

Your inner critic is not your identity, it’s a thought pattern shaped by past experiences.

Naming your gremlin helps strip it of power and influence.

Scripture calls us to “take captive every thought” and reframe it in truth.

Gratitude and identity statements are powerful tools for rewiring your thought patterns.

You were created in the image of God, not in the image of doubt.

“You are not the voice in your head saying you’re not good enough, you are the one who hears it, which means you get to decide what to do with it.”

Don’t forget, subscribe, share this episode with a growth-minded friend, and join us again for part three of the GAILS series.

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Are you really being judged, or just believing you are? We all feel it, that sting of judgment from others, whether it’s a disapproving glance at church or a quiet voice in our own heads. But what if the real weight of judgment doesn’t come from the outside… but from within? In this kickoff episode of a powerful five-part series, host Mark Hummel takes us into the heart of one of the most quietly destructive forces in the life of a disciple: internal judgment.

Mark shares raw, personal stories, from childhood field day heartbreak to deep-rooted feelings of abandonment, and helps listeners recognize how these early moments shape the way we interpret judgment today. Through biblical truth and psychological insight, he unpacks how our thoughts, not others’ opinions, are often the loudest voices condemning us.

This episode introduces the framework of GAILs, Gremlins, Assumptions, Interpretations, and Limiting Beliefs, and invites you to examine the internal scripts that may be holding you back from authentic connection, growth, and mission.

5 Key Takeaways:

Judgment hurts most when it echoes what we already fear about ourselves.

God’s judgment is rooted in truth and love, not shame.

Internal judgment often comes from hidden mental filters formed early in life.

The GAILs framework reveals how your mind might be sabotaging your relationships and self-worth.

Awareness is the first step toward freedom and spiritual maturity.

“The weight of judgment is rarely about what people say, it's about what we believe.” - Mark Hummel

Take 15 minutes this week to journal through your own GAILs. Ask yourself: Where am I letting old beliefs shape my current reality? Then, subscribe and share this episode with someone who’s ready to break free from the invisible chains of internal judgment.

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