Ever wondered if God feels loved by you? In this episode of Disciples Journal, I continue the series on making Jesus your first love by exploring how to truly love God in a way that speaks His love language. Reflecting on my personal journey and drawing parallels with the sacrificial love of my mother, I discuss the importance of knowing God deeply to love Him fully. Tune in to discover practical steps to deepen your relationship with Christ, challenge your devotion, and make your love for Him u...
Mar 05, 2025•32 min
Have you ever felt like your relationship with God has lost its passion? Join me, Darren Starks, host of The Disciples Journal, as we kick off a new series focused on making Jesus your first love again. In this episode, I share my heartfelt journey of rediscovery—how a change in mindset from 'doing the right things' to 'having the right heart' transformed my walk with Him. Learn how to engage in spiritual disciplines with genuine devotion and set the tone of your heart through worship. Let's rec...
Mar 03, 2025•28 min
Has your relationship with God lacked intimacy recently? In this episode of the Disciples Journal as I dive into a conversation with my good friend Bethany Moore from the 'We Can Do Better' podcast. Bethany and I explore the profound concept of keeping Jesus as the 'dream' and maintaining Him at the center of every aspect of life. I reflect on my own walk with God over the past year, revitalizing my relationship with Jesus as my first love, and I share insights on discipleship, identity in Chris...
Feb 26, 2025•1 hr 8 min
Ever struggled with truly obeying God's plan for your life? In this episode, I'm joined by James Lowe as we delve into a heartfelt conversation about wrestling with our purposes, the challenge of aligning our personal desires with divine will, and the growth that comes from obedience to God. We recount a crucial past talk that catalyzed ourl journey, discuss key biblical principles like Matthew 16:24 and the story of Jonah, and explore what it means to genuinely surrender to God's calling. Join ...
Feb 24, 2025•40 min
If you have ever struggled to accept God’s love (This is for you) In this episode of The Disciples Journal, I dive deep into the concept of God's unconditional love and why we often struggle to believe it. I explore how we sometimes project human relationship experiences onto God and question His genuine love for us. We'll talk about the romantic nature of God's patience and the beauty of His work in us. One big lesson I’ve been learning is that God's love is not transactional and that He values...
Feb 20, 2025•25 min
Ever felt trapped in the endless cycle of temptation and lust? In this episode of The Disciples Journal, I delve into my personal journey of breaking free from the grips of pornography and transforming my mind. I'll share key insights on how I came to understand the authority given to us by God, the significance of community, and the importance of spending time in God's presence. I'll also talk about practical steps like meditating on the Word and changing what you feed your mind with. Join me a...
Feb 17, 2025•36 min
Has your job, career, or purpose has become your identity? In this episode, I dive deep into a powerful realization that God has been prompting me to reassess my life's true occupation. I explore how our assignments and gifts often become idols that overshadow our true purpose as disciples and missionaries for the gospel. Through reflections on personal experiences and, I discuss the importance of making Jesus the center of our lives and ensuring that our careers and creative endeavors are merel...
Feb 12, 2025•17 min
In this conversation I share with you how to get of out the cycle of comparisons when it comes to your relationship with God. At times we will believe that God isn’t speaking to us because it doesn’t look the way it does for others. Not realizing that the way he may decide to move in one person’s life could simply be different than the way he decides to move in yours. And that’s okay. If you focus so much on how God is moving in someone’s else life you will miss the way he is moving in yours. Th...
Feb 10, 2025•28 min
Ever struggled to maintain your spiritual momentum and keep your focus on God throughout the year? In this episode of the Disciples Journal, I share practical tips from my own experience on cultivating a consistent and deep relationship with God. I discuss the non-negotiable daily disciplines that anchor my faith, explore the importance of meditating on the Word, and highlight the integration of prayer with Bible study. Sign up for this live class here: https://stan.store/darinstarks/p/how-to-st...
Feb 05, 2025•25 min
You have to let go of your ungodly timeline of who and what you thought you’d be by now. This is one of the greatest lessons I’ve learned and had to walk out these past few months! In this episode I take you through my own process of accepting God’s timeline for my life and getting out of comparing my life to others! (The audio is a bit distorted but I still hope this blesses you) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 03, 2025•28 min
What you listen to matters! And it directly shapes your life and walk with God. In this episode of the Disciples Journal, I dive into what it actually means to meditate on God's Word and how to do so daily. I explain how what you fill your mind with—be it music, media, or scripture—manifests in your actions and sets the atmosphere for your life. Remember, your diet isn't just what you eat; it's also what you allow yourself to watch, hear, and listen to. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit me...
Jan 29, 2025•23 min
Ever felt like God's timing just doesn't match your schedule? In this episode of The Disciples Journal, I reflect on my recent experiences of answered prayers and the overarching lesson of trusting God's process. I'll share personal journal entries and scriptures that highlight the importance of documenting my prayers, recognizing God's hand in my life, and being patient with His process. Join me as I explore what it means to have faith in God's timing and stay obedient, even when it feels like ...
Jan 27, 2025•19 min
When's the last time you gave God your undivided attention? In this episode I dive deep into my personal struggle with letting entertainment and information consume my attention, sharing how these distractions can subtly pull us away from genuine intimacy with God. Through the story of Mary and Martha, I explore practical ways to create space in our crowded lives for what truly matters and rediscover what it means to truly know God rather than just know about Him. Learn more about your ad choice...
Jan 22, 2025•22 min
Do you struggle to resist temptation and maintain your faith in daily life? In this episode of The Disciples Journal, host Darren Starks sits down with author and spiritual leader, Eric Diggs, to discuss practical, scripture-based strategies for overcoming temptation and growing in your relationship with Jesus Christ. They delve into Eric's book, 'Living for Christ: Resisting Temptation Using the Word of God,' and share personal experiences, the importance of community, prayer, and the transform...
Jan 20, 2025•32 min
If you've ever felt stuck in your walk with God, frustrated by repeated cycles of sin, or simply hungry for a more authentic connection with Him, this episode will challenge you to ask yourself one question that could wreck your entire life (in the best way possible): What do I love more than God? In this episode I break down how to give your full attention to God and highlight unexpected thing in your life what may be pulling you away from him. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone....
Jan 15, 2025•18 min
Ever felt like you've drifted so far from God that you're past the point of no return? In this episode, I share my journey of getting my fire back for God and becoming consistent in my relationship with him again. I dive deep into my own struggles with believing God's grace was enough after feeling like I'd failed Him too many times, and reveal the three key steps that helped me find my way back to an authentic, joy-filled relationship with God. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone....
Jan 13, 2025•26 min
What if to spending time with God consistently isn't about balancing your time, but about something entirely different? I am learning that instead of trying to balance God with other areas of my life, the key is integration - weaving Him into every moment and every decision. In this episode, I share how I plan on making God my closest friend and practical ways I'm learning to spend consistent, intimate time with Him for 2025. I explore simple yet powerful practices that have helped me grow close...
Jan 08, 2025•28 min
What if the greatest breakthrough God has for you this year isn't about what He'll give you, but who He's transforming you to become? You know how we all get caught up in making these big plans for the new year, especially when we feel God has promised us something? Well, I've been wrestling with a different perspective that I think could change everything about how we approach 2025. Instead of just focusing on what I believe God's going to give me this year, I'm diving into something deeper - h...
Jan 07, 2025•27 min
Have you ever felt powerless against temptation, wondering if you'll ever find true freedom from sin? In this episode, I share my testimony of finding freedom from lust and shame, and discovering what it looks like to overcome temptation. I take you through my journey from my first encounter with God to my struggles during college, where I learned that that overcoming temptation isn't about willpower – it's about what we run to when we're tempted. I reveal the three game-changing lessons that tr...
Dec 19, 2024•38 min
If reading the Bible feels more like a chore and not an activity you look forward to each day, if it doesn't feel like it comes alive to you, or you're just unsure how to study it, then this episode is for you. I was in the same position—my relationship with the Bible was essentially non-existent. I didn't completely understand what it was or the purpose it held in my life. At some point, I was challenged to start engaging with it once again. And as I did, I began to understand it on a deeper le...
Nov 20, 2024•35 min
Are you struggling to stay consistent with Jesus? In this episode, I go through what it practically looks like to stay consistent in your relationship with Jesus and build genuine intimacy with him in your everyday life. This episode explains how to make Jesus real to you and allow him to be the Lord of your life, while also walking with him as you would a friend in everything that you do. Join the Disciple's Corner Are you a Christian man looking to grow deeper in your relationship with God? Th...
Nov 06, 2024•30 min
In this episode of The Disciples Journal, we explore the often-misunderstood concept of Lordship—where Jesus moves from being merely our Savior to becoming the sovereign ruler of every aspect of our lives.Through profound insights from Erica Diggs, we uncover why many believers remain stagnant despite years of church attendance, and how the fundamental issue often traces back to a misunderstanding of true surrender. This discussion will teach you the practical journey to deepening intimacy with ...
Oct 24, 2024•34 min
Have you ever found yourself striving for perfection, thinking that your efforts will make you worthy of God’s love? In this episode of The Disciples Journal, we explore the powerful truth of justification—that we are saved by grace through faith, not by works. No amount of striving or perfection will earn us God’s approval because it has already been given through Jesus. We’ll break down what it means to be justified in Christ, understanding that our relationship with God is based on His love a...
Oct 10, 2024•30 min
Do you struggle to hear God's voice? In this episode we take a deep dive into the nature of listening to the voice of God, and the importance of discernment in our faith journey. I share methods to improve tuning into God's voice by providing three principles: removing distractions in our lives, giving God our undivided attention, and staying in constant communication with Him. I also discusses what might happen when we don't offer God our full attention. The podcast wraps up with emphasizing ho...
Oct 02, 2024•25 min
In this episode I dive deep into a question every believer must ask: How do we keep Jesus first in all that we do? I'll challenge you to move beyond the bare minimum of faith—Sunday services and quick prayers—and how to invite Jesus into every part of your life. It’s time to stop going through the motions and fully surrender to His lordship. Together, we’ll explore what it looks like to not just know Jesus as Savior but to allow Him to be Lord, guiding every decision, every moment, every breath....
Sep 25, 2024•22 min
Have you ever stopped to ask yourself why Jesus had to die—and what that truly means for your life today? In this episode of The Disciples Journal, I dive deep into the heart of the gospel, exploring the profound reason behind Jesus' sacrifice on the cross and how it impacts not just our eternal destiny but our everyday lives. Together, we'll unpack the weight of sin, the power of Jesus' death and resurrection, and most importantly, what our response should be to this truth. What does it practic...
Sep 18, 2024•24 min•Season 1Ep. 1
Welcome to The Disciples Journal, the podcast that teaches you how to walk with Jesus every day and in every aspect of your life. This show dives deep into the principles Jesus taught, the way He lived, and what it means to be His disciple. I share my personal journey of exploring the Bible, asking the big questions: Who does Jesus say I am? How does He want me to live? And how can I practically follow Him every day? If you're looking to grow closer to God and discover how to live out your faith...
Sep 17, 2024•1 min
This is the last episode of Just Different. We sit and speak to what lead to this decision and what's next for us both! This is a conversation we've had for the last year and half but now feel lead to step into what God is calling us to next individually. We've always known Just Different was training ground and a stepping stone to our next season and now it's time for us to take the leap. We break all of this down in detail while also discussing our greatest memories over the past 2 years, bigg...
Jul 10, 2024•1 hr 41 min
Did you know that everything you need to fulfill your purpose is already inside of you? The forest isn’t ahead of the seed—it’s in the seed. In this episode, we dive into what it looks like to step into your God-given potential, realizing that God has already equipped you with everything you need. We’ll explore how to cultivate the seeds of potential within you and manage your personal garden well, so you can walk out what He’s called you to do. Hellofresh: https://hellofresh.com/justdifferentap...
Jun 26, 2024•31 min
Have you ever felt that you were hidden? And still waiting on what you know God has for you? In this episode we delve into the value of our hidden seasons and why God needs to process us before he platforms us. God's preparation is a sign of his grace and mercy because if he gave us what we wanted at the wrong time it would ruin us. So we break down what it looks like to trust God's timing and make the most of your waiting season. Listen to this episode to gain perspective on why God makes you w...
Jun 19, 2024•30 min
