What if your doubts weren’t a threat to your faith, but an invitation to grow it?

In this episode of The Known Disciple Project, host Mark Hummel dives deep into a topic most of us wrestle with but rarely voice: doubt. Whether it’s doubt about God, your calling, your business, or even your own worth, it can feel like a silent signal that something’s broken. But what if that’s not true?

Mark unpacks how doubt is more than just uncertainty, it’s an opportunity. Drawing from the story of “Doubting Thomas” in John 20, we’re shown a biblical model where Jesus doesn’t condemn doubt, He meets it with grace. This episode offers a powerful mindset shift: curiosity, not certainty, is the antidote to doubt.

You'll learn how to stop fearing your doubt and start exploring it with purpose. Mark walks through three transformative truths:

Doubt is not evil, it’s a signal to go deeper.

Curiosity opens the door to clarity.

Better questions can lead to breakthrough understanding.

Key Takeaways:

Doubt thrives in silence and avoidance, but withers in the light of curiosity.

Jesus modeled how to engage doubt with compassion, not condemnation.

Certainty isn’t always possible, but curiosity keeps us growing.

Great questions are tools for transformation; use them to explore, not escape.

Generative, open-ended questions deepen your walk with God and clarify your calling.

“Doubt is not a sign something’s broken, it’s a sign something’s waiting to be explored.” - Mark Hummel

Subscribe, share this episode with a fellow disciple, and this week, journal your doubts, turn them into questions, and bring them to God. This is the way.

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Most of us have a powerful picture of the life we want, a vision that stirs our hearts, fills us with purpose, and feels aligned with God’s call. But when it comes to turning that vision into a real, actionable plan? That’s where the wheels fall off. Sound familiar?

In this episode of The Known Disciple Project, Mark Hummel tackles one of the most frustrating roadblocks for growth-minded Christians: how to bridge the gap between having a compelling vision and actually living it out. Whether you’re dreaming of a life that honors God, impacts others, and makes the most of your gifts, or you’re just tired of feeling stuck and directionless, this episode will help you start building your personal roadmap.

Mark shares his journey from simply discovering his vision to actually pursuing it, one step at a time. He introduces a powerful 1-3-5 year vision framework, explains why most goal-setting fails, and offers a deeply practical approach to creating life momentum without burning out. This isn’t just strategy; it’s discipleship with intentionality.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why most Christians feel stuck between where they are and where they want to be
  

• How to create a vivid and emotionally compelling vision for your life
  

• The 1-3-5 framework for mapping your future
  

• Why who you become matters more than what you achieve
  

• The power of eliminating distractions to make room for what matters
  

“High performance is almost never about adding more things to our plate. It’s almost always about focusing on less things and having more impact.” – Mark Hummel

Your move: Take 15 minutes today to write out your 1-, 3-, and 5-year life vision and the kind of person you need to become to live it out. Then subscribe, share this episode with your community, and let’s build lives that make Jesus known.

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Why is lasting change so hard? Why do we set goals, crave transformation, and yet months later feel stuck in the same patterns?

In this episode of The Known Disciple Project Podcast, host Mark Hummel tackles one of the most frustrating experiences for any growth-minded follower of Jesus: the gap between our desire to change and the reality of unchanged habits. But what if the problem isn’t lack of motivation—but too much complexity?

Mark introduces the life-changing concept of the keystone habit, a single, powerful practice that can cause a cascade of other positive changes. Drawing from both Scripture and habit research, this episode shows how you can simplify your personal and spiritual growth plan, stop being overwhelmed, and start making real, visible progress.

You’ll learn:

• What a keystone habit is, and why it matters more than any checklist
  
• How to identify your personal keystone habit
  
• Why most people fail to change (hint: it’s not laziness)
  
• How to spot and remove roadblocks before they stop you
  
• The secret power of a 15-minute weekly goal review
  

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“You don’t need ten new habits, you need one that makes everything else easier.”If you’re ready to simplify your path to transformation, this episode will give you a clear framework you can start using today.

Challenge: Identify your keystone habit, name three roadblocks, and schedule your weekly check-in. Then, share this episode with a friend who’s ready to grow. And don’t forget to subscribe!

What if your biggest prayer struggle isn’t a discipline issue, but a misunderstanding of what prayer is actually for?

In this episode of The Known Disciple Project, Mark Hummel dives headfirst into one of the most common spiritual frustrations: Why is prayer so hard to do consistently, even when we know it’s essential? We’re told to “pray without ceasing,” but most of us barely manage five distracted minutes. So what gives?

Here’s the twist: prayer might not be failing you… your expectations of prayer might be. Mark walks us through how our understanding of prayer often shapes whether or not we stick with it. And he introduces a surprisingly simple, but deeply powerful, tool to help: the Friendship Formula, a concept borrowed from behavioral psychology and applied directly to our spiritual lives.

Using four elements, proximity, frequency, duration, and intensity, you’ll learn how to build a more consistent, more connected prayer life that actually feels like a relationship. You’ll discover how small shifts in your environment, mindset, and emotional honesty can transform prayer from a lifeless routine into a life-giving bond with God.

This isn’t about checking boxes, it’s about becoming the kind of disciple whose heart aligns with Christ, day by day.

Key takeaways:

• Why our expectations of prayer often sabotage our experience
  

• The difference between praying continually and praying on purpose
  

• How proximity, frequency, duration, and intensity apply to your relationship with God
  

• Why prayer is less about changing your circumstances and more about changing you
  

• A practical journaling exercise to design your personal prayer rhythm
  

“Intimacy with God isn’t built through effort alone, it’s built through intentional presence, honest emotion, and regular connection.” - Mark Hummel

Ready to stop guessing and start growing? Take 5 minutes today to write out your personal prayer action plan using the four principles, and then give it a week. You’ll be amazed at the difference.

👉 Subscribe, share this with a friend, and help us grow more disciples who actually walk with Jesus.

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In this powerful episode of the Known Disciple Project Podcast, host Mark Hummel gets real about one of the most underrated but essential skills for any growth-minded follower of Jesus: the ability to rebuild momentum. Whether you’ve fallen off your morning routine, stalled in your prayer life, or just feel out of sync, this episode is packed with practical wisdom and spiritual grounding to help you get back on track without shame or overwhelm. Mark shares from his own journey and coaching experience, explaining why so many people never recover their rhythm; and how you can avoid that trap with one simple tool: a four-question clarity exercise that takes less than ten minutes to reset your focus and direction.

You'll learn the difference between taking a healthy break and just drifting, how boredom and stress sabotage your growth, and why writing things down is non-negotiable. If you’ve ever hit a wall in your routines or felt like giving up, this episode offers a grace-filled path forward. Rebuilding isn’t failure; it’s discipleship in motion. Don’t miss this encouraging yet no-excuses conversation that blends spiritual identity with high-performance coaching.

Key Takeaways:

Most people fail to rebuild momentum because they set unrealistic expectations.

Routine boredom is normal; learn to interrupt the pattern before burnout.

There’s a difference between taking a break and unconsciously quitting.

Writing your routines down is essential for clarity and accountability.

The 4-question reset helps disciples align daily habits with identity and vision.

“It’s not about never falling off; it's about knowing exactly how to get back on.”

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In this episode of The Known Disciple Project Podcast, host Mark Hummel tackles one of the most important, but most confusing, questions disciples face: What is my calling? If you’ve ever felt stuck, aimless, or like your hard work has no real meaning, this conversation will help you reset your focus and discover a path forward rooted in both personal clarity and biblical truth.

Mark shares personal stories of trying to “work harder” only to find himself running in circles. He challenges the modern obsession with uncovering some mysterious, perfect calling and instead reframes life purpose through the lens of Scripture and science. According to both research and the Bible, having a vivid, emotionally compelling life vision helps us live with greater focus, discipline, joy, and spiritual depth.

Listeners will learn how to create a vision for their life that aligns with God’s purpose, starting with Jesus’ words in Matthew 22:37–39: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart… and love your neighbor as yourself.” Mark teaches how to take inventory of your talents, gifts, and “superpowers” to build a personal vision that brings meaning while staying anchored to truth.

Key Takeaways:

A vague or aimless life often comes from not having a clear target.

Your “calling” isn’t hidden, it’s rooted in loving God, loving others, and using your gifts.

We are responsible for our effort, not outcomes, God handles the results.

“Working harder isn’t the answer when you’re already working hard and still feel stuck.” - Mark Hummel

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In this episode of the Known Disciple Project, Mark Hummel breaks down one of the most misunderstood words in both church and self-development spaces: discipline. Is it about white-knuckling your way to success? Or is it something deeper; something Jesus actually modeled? Mark explores the real meaning of self-discipline, not as a punishment or a grind, but as a path to spiritual growth, transformation, and resilience. Spoiler: you’re already disciplined. The question is, toward what?

Mark unpacks the biblical vision of consistency over intensity, revealing how small, faithful actions train us to resist temptation, become more like Christ, and ultimately live a life that’s rooted, not restless. Whether you're hitting snooze, feeling stuck, or fighting to stay spiritually aligned, this episode gives you a clear, practical framework to anchor your days in purpose, not pressure.

Key Takeaways:

Self-discipline is already present; you’re just applying it somewhere.

Micro-decisions build spiritual stamina and resilience.

Intensity fades. Consistency forms identity.

Undisciplined lives leave open doors to temptation.

Discipline isn’t who you are; it’s how you become who you are.

“Discipline isn’t about handcuffs; it’s about becoming someone who’s free to live on purpose.”

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In this episode of The Known Disciple Project podcast, host Mark Hummel explores why we keep doing things we don’t want to do; like mindlessly scrolling, eating junk food, or hitting snooze; and how to break those patterns by addressing the beliefs driving them. Drawing from his early days as a Christian, Mark shares a personal story of intense spiritual habits that faded when his beliefs didn’t align with his actions. He offers three key insights to help listeners shift their identity and create lasting change, rooted in faith and practical steps. This episode is a must-listen for growth-minded Christians seeking to align their actions with their calling as disciples.

Mark explains that actions stem from beliefs, not just willpower, which often fails without an identity shift. He highlights how the internal story we tell ourselves shapes our decisions and introduces a powerful question to transform beliefs: “What do I need to believe about myself to act differently?” Supported by scriptures like Proverbs 23:7, Romans 12:2, and 2 Corinthians 10:5, Mark emphasizes renewing the mind and inviting God into the process. He also provides two daily reflection questions to build self-awareness and align actions with whom you want to become. Tune in to discover how to stop unwanted habits and grow closer to Christ.

Key Takeaways:

Beliefs Drive Actions: Your behavior reflects what you believe about yourself, not just your willpower.

Shift Your Inner Story: The narrative you tell yourself shapes your decisions; change it to change your patterns.

Ask the Key Question: Reflect on “What do I need to believe about myself to act differently?” to align beliefs with desired actions.

Daily Reflection: Ask, “What did I do today that reflects who I want to become?” and “What did I do today that reveals what I believe about myself?” to build awareness.

Invite God In: Pray through these questions and rely on God’s guidance, as transformation is impossible without Him (Mark 10:27).

“Transformation doesn’t start with action; it starts with belief.” – Mark Hummel

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In this episode of The Known Disciple Project podcast, host Mark Hummel dives into the essential topic of change, a core calling for disciples of Jesus and growth-minded individuals alike. This episode offers a compelling exploration of how to make lasting change in your spiritual, personal, and professional life, drawing from Mark’s experience as a former health and wellness coach. With a focus on practical strategies, Mark unpacks why high desire alone isn’t enough and shares three actionable steps to ensure change sticks. This is a must-listen for anyone striving to live more like Jesus, overcome stagnation, and bring others along in their faith journey.

Mark reveals the pitfalls of relying on willpower, changing too much at once, and believing lies about failure, using insights from coaching and scripture like Isaiah 43:19 to inspire hope. He provides a clear framework: address your beliefs, invite God into the process, and reframe negative thoughts. Whether it’s reading your Bible daily, breaking harmful habits, or growing as a leader, this episode equips you with tools to focus on the process of becoming a disciple, not just the end result. Tune in to transform your approach to change and grow in confidence as a follower of Christ.

Key Takeaways:

Address Beliefs First: Identify and challenge what you believe about yourself and God to drive meaningful action.

Invite God In: Consistently engage with scripture and focused prayer to align your change with God’s truth.

Reframe Lies: Shift negative thoughts like “I’ll never change” to positive affirmations, such as “I’m in training.”

Focus on Process: Prioritize the journey of change over the end result to sustain long-term growth.

Change One Thing at a Time: Tackle major shifts gradually to avoid burnout and maintain momentum.

“We worship a God that’s into helping us figure out what the steps are and go the direction that we should be, and he enjoys creating a new thing in us.” – Mark Hummel

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Welcome to this episode of The Known Disciple Project podcast, a transformative journey designed to bridge personal growth and spiritual development for followers of Jesus. Host Mark Hummel, a passionate disciple who gave his life to Christ at 16, shares his raw and relatable story of faith, doubt, and rediscovery. From his all-in commitment as a young Christian—leading youth groups and earning a Biblical Studies degree—to a painful season of spiraling doubt after identity-challenging conversations, this episode lays the foundation for helping listeners break through stagnation, confusion, and repetitive ceilings in faith, business, and leadership. It’s a must-listen for anyone seeking clarity and purpose in their walk with Christ.

Through storytelling, Mark reveals how overemphasizing "doing" disciple things, rather than "being" a disciple, led to a shallow faith that crumbled under scrutiny. He offers hope by sharing how he rebuilt his faith on a solid identity in Christ, leading to a clear life vision and aligned goals. This podcast promises practical tools to develop both personally and spiritually, empowering listeners to articulate who they are in Christ and live with intention. Tune in to start your journey toward deeper faith and meaningful impact.

Key Takeaways:

- Focus on Being, Not Just Doing: Build a faith rooted in your identity in Christ, not just a checklist of Christian activities.

- Embrace Doubt as Growth: Use challenging moments to deepen your understanding of who you are and what you believe.

- Develop Personal and Spiritual Skills: Invest in personal growth to strengthen your spiritual alignment and life vision.

- Know Your Identity in Christ: Clarity about who God says you are, unlocks purpose and resilience in all areas of life.

- Align Life with Vision: Tie your habits, goals, and actions to a Christ-centered vision for a more fulfilling life.

"Because I know who I am, and I can articulate that to people, I now have this awesome life vision, this clarity around what I'm here to do." – Mark Hummel

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