The Rob Skinner Podcast: Helping You Make This Life Count

Rob Skinner
  • 4.9 (100)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Semiweekly

The Rob Skinner Podcast will inspire you to: • Live a no-regrets life • Make this life count • Multiply disciples, leaders, and churches

  1. 2d ago

    Stop Saying "Not Yet": It's Not Too Late to Change

    Stop Saying "Not Yet": It's Not Too Late to Change What have you gotten so used to that you don't even see it anymore? From 2004 to 2012, Rob Skinner worked as a realtor while planting a church in Ashland, Oregon. Whenever someone bought a fixer-upper, he gave them one piece of advice: Fix the problems right away. Why? Because human beings have an incredible ability to get used to almost anything. The cracked tile that drives you crazy when you first move in eventually becomes your cracked tile. You stop noticing it. Rob shares an unforgettable illustration from John Kotter and Dan Cohen's The Heart of Change: if you leave something unfixed long enough, eventually you could get used to stepping over the proverbial "dead body in the living room." And we don't just do this with houses. We do it with our: marriages character spiritual lives health finances relationships dreams ministries callings We live with something for so long that eventually we stop seeing it. What's Your Unfinished Foundation? In the book of Haggai, God's people returned to Jerusalem excited to rebuild the temple. They restored worship. They laid the foundation. Then opposition came. The work became difficult. They got discouraged. And they stopped. One year passed. Then two. Five. Ten. Eventually, roughly 16 years had passed. Imagine walking by that unfinished temple foundation every day. At first: "We need to finish that." Years later: "We really should get around to that someday." Eventually? You barely notice it. The unfinished foundation has become part of the scenery. That's what can happen in our lives. Maybe you once intended to deal with your temper, bitterness, lust, selfishness or lack of discipline. Maybe there's an issue in your marriage that you and your spouse have learned to work around rather than resolve. Maybe you once dreamed about having a vibrant relationship with God, knowing your Bible, helping people and making a difference. Maybe it's your health. Your finances. The book you wanted to write. The business you wanted to start. The church you wanted to plant. The person you wanted to mentor. The relationship you wanted to repair. You didn't necessarily decide it wasn't important. You just started saying: "Not yet." Two Dangerous Words: "Not Yet" God's people didn't say they would never rebuild the temple. They said: "The time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord's house." — Haggai 1:2 Not yet. I'll work on my marriage—but not yet. I'll deal with my finances—but not yet. I'll get serious about my health—but not yet. I'll deal with that sin—but not yet. I'll pursue that dream—but not yet. When work slows down. When the kids get older. When I have more money. When I'm less stressed. When life settles down. But life rarely settles down. And "not yet" has a nasty habit of turning into "never." What Does Your Life Say Matters? Haggai challenges God's people: "Give careful thought to your ways." Don't just look at what you say matters. Look at what you're actually doing. Look at your calendar. Look at your spending. Look at your attention. Look at your energy. What gets the first and best part of you? Does the way you're living match what you say matters most? Jesus didn't say to seek only God's kingdom. He said: "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness." — Matthew 6:33 Something has to come first. If you wait to give the most important things the time that's left over, there probably won't be any time left. 16 Years of Delay. 23 Days to Change. Here's the hopeful part of Haggai. The people had procrastinated for approximately 16 years. Then Haggai challenged them to reconsider their ways. They listened. They repented. They obeyed. And 23 days later, they were building again. Their circumstances didn't change first. They did. They still had jobs. Bills. Families. Opposition. Hard work. What changed was their priorities. And then God told them: "I am with you." He stirred their spirits and they got to work. Maybe we've been waiting for that sequence to happen backward. "When I feel motivated, I'll exercise." "When I feel close to God, I'll pray." "When I feel passionate, I'll share my faith." "When I feel creative, I'll write." "When I feel ready, I'll have the difficult conversation." But maybe you shouldn't wait until you feel stirred to obey. Obey—and see what gets stirred. Put on your shoes. Open your Bible. Make the phone call. Schedule the appointment. Apologize. Write the first paragraph. Make the budget. Submit the application. Pick up the hammer. Take the first step. Find Your "Dead Body" When this episode ends, take ten quiet minutes and ask: What's the "dead body" in my living room? What have I gotten so accustomed to that I barely see it anymore? What's my unfinished foundation? And where have I been saying: "Not yet"? Don't make a list of ten things. Pick one. Then do something about it in the next 24 hours. Because 16 years of procrastination can become 23 days of transformation. Your past delay does not have to determine your future. You haven't missed your opportunity simply because you've waited. The unfinished foundation is still there. And as long as you're alive, you can pick up the hammer again. Have a great day—and make this life count. 🙏 Support the Podcast If this episode challenged or encouraged you: Share it with someone you care about Buy and leave a review on one of my books on Amazon Donate here. Subscribe for more faith-building content

    Stop Saying "Not Yet": It's Not Too Late to Change

  2. 6d ago

    Before You Quit, Pray This With Me | Before You Quit #7

    Before You Quit, Pray This With Me | Before You Quit #7 What do you do when you're discouraged, overwhelmed and don't know what decision to make? Before you do anything else, turn toward God. In Day 7 of Before You Quit: Hope for the Christian Who Feels Done, Rob Skinner pauses to do something simple: Pray with you. If you're considering walking away from church, struggling in your relationship with God or simply feeling overwhelmed by fear, anger, disappointment and uncertainty, this short episode is for you. When life doesn't turn out the way we hoped, our minds can become filled with questions. Should I stay? Should I leave? Should I make a change? What should I do next? Fear rises. Emotions take over. Peace disappears. That's why Rob turns to one of his favorite promises from God: "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you." — Isaiah 26:3 We can change our outward circumstances. We can change who we talk to. We can change where we worship. We can change our routines. But as the saying goes: "Wherever you go, there you are." Changing our circumstances doesn't necessarily remove the hurt, anger, fear or disappointment we're carrying inside. But turning toward God rather than away from him offers a path toward peace. So before you make a major decision, take two minutes. Stop. Turn toward God. And pray with Rob: "God, I'm upset and I'm worried about a lot of things. I can't control the thoughts that are going through my head. I don't know what to do... I'm asking you for that perfect peace that you promise... Help me overcome my fear and unbelief. Help me make decisions that bring me closer to you." If you're discouraged right now, you don't have to figure everything out today. Turn toward God before you turn away. Ask him for peace. Ask him for strength. Ask him for the grit to keep going. And before you quit, pray. This is Day 7 of Rob Skinner's Before You Quit series, based on his new book, Before You Quit: Hope for the Christian Who Feels Done. Rob's goal is to inspire you to live a no-regrets life, make this life count, and multiply disciples, leaders, and churches.

  3. Sep 11

    Yesterday Is Not Prophecy: Don't Limit What God Can Do

    Yesterday Is Not Prophecy: Don't Limit What God Can Do Have you ever looked at an area of your life and thought: "This is never going to change"? Maybe you've been single longer than you expected. Maybe your marriage has been difficult for years. Maybe you've prayed for one of your children to come back to God and nothing seems to be happening. Maybe your finances are stuck. Your career isn't moving. Your ministry isn't growing. You haven't helped someone become a Christian in years. And after enough disappointment, it's easy to start turning your history into a prediction: "This is just the way it's going to be." In this episode of the Rob Skinner Podcast, Rob looks at one of the strangest—and funniest—stories in the Old Testament: 2 Kings 7. The city of Samaria was starving. An enemy army had surrounded it. Food was gone. Prices were out of control. There was no visible way out. Then the prophet Elisha announced something outrageous: Within 24 hours, everything was going to change. One of the king's officers couldn't believe it. Even if God opened the floodgates of heaven, he argued, how could something like that possibly happen? From everything he could see, his conclusion made perfect sense. But he made one critical mistake: He left God out of his forecast. Then four starving men with leprosy walked toward the enemy camp expecting they might die—and discovered that God had already caused the entire enemy army to flee. Suddenly there was food. There was silver and gold. There were clothes and supplies. And within 24 hours, the famine was over. Exactly as God had said. Yesterday Is Not Prophecy We often do the same thing as that officer. We take our present circumstances. We combine them with our recent history. Then we project both indefinitely into the future. "I'm single now, so I'll probably always be single." "My marriage hasn't changed, so it probably never will." "My child walked away from God, and I don't think they're coming back." "My ministry hasn't grown, so maybe it never will." "I've always struggled financially. That's just who I am." But your past is not prophecy. Your disappointments are real. Your current circumstances are real. But they do not necessarily tell you what God will do next. Rob shares two personal reminders of this. His son spent approximately ten years far away from God. There were times Rob couldn't imagine how that story would change. Then it did. His son returned to God and was baptized. Rob also remembers being single and thinking he had practically met every eligible Christian woman around him. Then Pam flew into town from Cairo, Egypt. Rob never saw that coming. They recently celebrated 36 years of marriage. Leave Room for Black Swans Rob also explores the idea of a "black swan"—an unexpected event that challenges everything we thought we knew. For centuries, Europeans assumed all swans were white because every swan they had ever seen was white. Then explorers arrived in Australia and discovered black swans. Their conclusion wasn't foolish. Their experience was incomplete. And so is ours. Just because you've never seen something happen doesn't mean it can't happen. Just because God hasn't worked in a particular way before doesn't mean he won't. Faith isn't pretending your problems aren't real. Faith doesn't guarantee that you'll get married this year, every illness will disappear, every financial problem will vanish or every child will immediately return to God. Faith says: "I don't know what God is going to do, but I refuse to limit God to what I can currently see." So ask yourself: What have I quietly decided can't change? Your marriage? Your singleness? Your health? Your finances? Your career? Your ministry? Your relationship with your children? Your fruitfulness? Your spiritual life? Maybe it's time to pray again. Invite someone again. Study the Bible with someone again. Work on your marriage again. Reach out to your child again. Apply for the opportunity. Ask for advice. Try something new. Dream again. Don't confuse: "I don't know how" with: "It can't happen." And especially don't confuse: "I can't" with: "God can't." Take the next step and leave room for God to surprise you. Because sometimes the difference between famine and abundance is only 24 hours. Make this life count. 🙏 Support the Podcast If this episode challenged or encouraged you: Share it with someone you care about Buy and leave a review on one of my books on Amazon Donate here. Subscribe for more faith-building content

    Yesterday Is Not Prophecy: Don't Limit What God Can Do

  4. Sep 7

    Thinking About Leaving Church? Watch for These Warning Signs | Before You Quit #6

    Thinking About Leaving Church? Watch for These Warning Signs | Before You Quit #6 Most Christians who walk away from God don't make one dramatic decision to quit. They drift. In Day 6 of Before You Quit: Hope for the Christian Who Feels Done, Rob Skinner walks through the familiar pathway that can slowly lead a Christian out the door: Disappointment. Discouragement. Pulling back. Missing church. Avoiding conversations. Stopping time with God. Ghosting the people who love you. And eventually becoming spiritually empty. Rob points out that the warning signs often begin long before someone says, "I'm leaving." Your giving may dry up. Church starts feeling painful or forced. Instead of worshiping, you become increasingly critical of the sermon, the music, the program and the people. Activities you once loved become easier to miss. Prayer loses its passion. Bible reading disappears. When someone asks how you're doing, your answers become: "I'm fine." "Work has been busy." "Things have been crazy." And slowly, meaningful conversations become something to avoid. Then another dangerous pattern begins. When people reach out, you can become critical: "Where were they when I needed them?" But when they don't reach out: "See? Nobody really cares about me." Either way, the church becomes the problem. Rob reminds us that there is no perfect church because every church is filled with imperfect, struggling people. A small church can be criticized for what it lacks. A large church can be criticized for being impersonal. And while many people who leave church insist that their relationship with God is still strong, Rob challenges us to examine honestly whether our love for God may also be growing cold. Jesus warned in Matthew 24:12–13: "Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved." If you recognize yourself anywhere along this path, don't ignore it. Identify where you are. Recognize the danger. And remember: It's not too late to rekindle the flame. You can turn around. You can reconnect. You can get back on the narrow road. If you're struggling in your faith, Rob would love to hear from you and encourage you. Email: rob@robskinner.com This is Day 6 of Rob Skinner's Before You Quit series, based on his book Before You Quit: Hope for the Christian Who Feels Done. Rob's goal is to inspire you to live a no-regrets life, make this life count, and multiply disciples, leaders, and churches.

    Thinking About Leaving Church? Watch for These Warning Signs | Before You Quit #6

  5. Sep 1

    Going to NASCON? Listen to This First | From the Archives

    FROM THE ARCHIVES: With NASCON26 happening in Baltimore this weekend, we're resurfacing one of Rob and Pam Skinner's most practical episodes on how to make the most of a Christian conference. Originally recorded before the 2022 World Discipleship Summit, the principles are just as relevant for NASCON today. Going to NASCON26 in Baltimore this weekend? Listen to this before you go. We're bringing back this episode of the Rob Skinner Podcast because the advice Pam and I shared about making the most of a conference may be more relevant than ever—especially for singles heading to NASCON26: Divine Design – Created for Purpose. A great Christian conference can encourage your faith, give you fresh vision, create lifelong friendships and introduce you to people who may change the direction of your life. But don't just show up and hope something happens. Prepare for it. In this episode, Pam and I talk about what you can do before and during a conference to get the most out of the experience. Before you go: Pray about what God wants you to learn and where you need to grow. Pray to make new friends. Contact people you'd like to spend time with before everyone's schedule fills up. Don't plan to spend the entire conference only with people from your home church. Prepare yourself spiritually. Get rested. And yes—look your best and make a great first impression. Once you're there: Be loving to the person standing in front of you. Smile. Introduce yourself. Get outside your comfort zone. Sit toward the front. Take notes. Thank the speakers and people serving. Use meals to build relationships instead of spending half your lunch trying to find the perfect restaurant. Remember people's names. Ask good questions. Listen more than you talk. Exchange contact information. And follow up with the people you meet. And if you're single... This could be a life-changing weekend. Pam and I share the story of two Christians who met at a conference—and eventually got married. Does that mean you're going to NASCON just to find a spouse? No. Go to learn. Go to grow. Go to deepen your relationship with God. Go to make friends. But also be open to what God may do. Be bold. Meet people. Don't spend the whole weekend surrounded by the same friends you traveled with. If someone says, "There's somebody I'd like you to meet," be open. If you're on a date, don't spend the entire conversation talking about yourself. Ask questions. Be interested. Keep it light. Have fun. NASCON26's theme is Divine Design – Created for Purpose. Go into this weekend believing that God has a purpose for you right now. Ask him: "What do you want me to learn?" "Who do you want me to meet?" "Who can I encourage?" "How do you want me to grow?" Prepare for it. Get ready for it. And expect God to work. Have an incredible NASCON26—and make this life count. —Rob

    Going to NASCON? Listen to This First | From the Archives

  6. Aug 31

    Still Struggling With Sin? Something Isn't Wrong With You | Before You Quit #5

    Still Struggling With Sin? Something Isn't Wrong With You | Before You Quit #5 Have you ever looked at other Christians and wondered, "Why am I still struggling? Something must be wrong with me"? In Day 5 of Before You Quit: Hope for the Christian Who Feels Done, Rob Skinner addresses the shame, comparison, and imposter syndrome that can make Christians feel as though they're only pretending to have it together. Everyone else seems happy. Everyone else seems spiritual. Everyone else seems to be growing. Meanwhile, you're still fighting a sin you thought you should have conquered years ago. Rob knows that feeling. In this deeply personal chapter, he shares about his own ongoing battle with sexual temptation and impurity. After years of feeling that he had those sins beaten, the rise of the internet, constant access to screens, and increasingly available temptation changed the battlefield. Eventually, Rob decided to install internet accountability software. But even doing something healthy brought another emotion: Shame. Why should he still need this? Shouldn't he be beyond this by now? Drawing from Romans 7:19–24, Rob points to the Apostle Paul's surprisingly candid description of his own internal battle: He wanted to do good, yet evil was still there. There was a war going on inside him. Paul's struggle didn't mean he was a fake Christian. It caused him to recognize how desperately he needed Christ. And Romans 8:1 provides the hope: "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." In this episode, Rob talks about: Why struggling with sin can make Christians feel like imposters The danger of comparing your private struggles with someone else's public appearance Rob's own battle with sexual temptation and impurity Why he chose to use internet accountability software The shame we sometimes feel about needing guardrails Why baptism doesn't mean the battle with sin disappears Paul's struggle in Romans 7 Why weakness should push us toward Jesus rather than away from him Practical guardrails Rob uses in his own life Why he now puts his phone "to bed" at 9 p.m. The freedom of accepting that righteousness will remain a battle Why there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ If you're tired of fighting the same battle, ashamed of needing help, comparing yourself with other Christians, or wondering whether your struggle means your faith isn't real, Rob wants you to know: You are not alone. You don't have to pretend. You don't have to be ashamed that you need guardrails. And you don't have to quit. Let the battle you're fighting turn you toward Jesus for the grace, peace, and help you need. This is Day 5 of Rob Skinner's Before You Quit series, based on his new book, Before You Quit: Hope for the Christian Who Feels Done. If you know someone who has drifted away from church or is struggling in their faith, send them this episode or a copy of the book. Before You Quit is available on Amazon and at RobSkinner.com. Rob's goal is to inspire you to live a no-regrets life, make this life count, and multiply disciples, leaders, and churches.

  7. Aug 28

    Give God One Night a Week—and Watch What Happens

    Give God One Night a Week—and Watch What Happens What if the biggest thing keeping you from making a difference for God isn't a lack of talent, knowledge, or spirituality? What if you're simply too busy? In this episode of the Rob Skinner Podcast, Rob offers one simple challenge: Leave one night open. Choose one night every week and dedicate it to investing spiritually in another person. Study the Bible with someone searching for God. Mentor a younger Christian. Encourage someone who is struggling. Follow up with a new Christian. Train a future leader. It doesn't sound dramatic—but Rob has seen what happens when this simple decision is repeated week after week. After moving to Boston, Rob began studying the Bible with a young man named Wale. Wale became a Christian, but their time together didn't stop after his baptism. They kept Tuesday nights open, sharing dinner, studying the Bible, talking about life, character, relationships, leadership, and his walk with God. Today, Wale is leading his own small group. Rob shares another example from years earlier. Every Tuesday night for approximately three years, Chris Schwarzenberger spent time with Rob and his family. Chris would later become an evangelist and continues serving in ministry today. Neither story started with a massive program. Tuesday night was simply available. Rob also looks at Jesus' example in John 1. When two seekers wanted to know more about him, Jesus didn't squeeze them into a 15-minute appointment. He invited them to come with him and gave them his time. Because relationships take time. Bible studies take time. Mentoring takes time. Leadership development takes time. You can't microwave discipleship. Drawing from Mark 4, Rob also warns about the danger of allowing perfectly good things—work, family responsibilities, entertainment, travel, projects, and commitments—to fill our lives until there is no room left for the things that matter most. For leaders, Rob offers an especially practical challenge. Instead of simply asking people to "be more committed," ask them: "What night is your kingdom night?" Imagine the compounding impact if an entire church made one evening each week available for helping someone else spiritually. One night becomes a changed life. A changed life becomes a leader. A leader begins investing in others. And eventually, one night can become a movement. Pull out your calendar. Choose your night. Protect it. Then pray one simple prayer: "God, give me somebody to invest in." Your greatest contribution may not ultimately be your career, house, accomplishments, or bank account. It may be the people you loved, strengthened, encouraged, and helped find God. 🙏 Support the Podcast If this episode challenged or encouraged you: Share it with someone you care about Buy and leave a review on one of my books on Amazon Donate here. Subscribe for more faith-building content

    Give God One Night a Week—and Watch What Happens

  8. Aug 24

    When Church Doesn't Feel Safe Anymore | Before You Quit #3

    When Church Doesn't Feel Safe Anymore | Before You Quit #3 What happens when the place that once felt like family no longer feels safe? In Day 3 of Before You Quit: Hope for the Christian Who Feels Done, Rob Skinner addresses one of the most painful reasons Christians consider walking away: church hurt. Church can be a place of incredible friendship, growth, healing, and spiritual transformation. But churches are also filled with imperfect people. Conflict happens. Gossip spreads. Leaders disappoint us. People become controlling. Hypocrisy gets exposed. Relationships break down. And sometimes the people we trusted most are the people who hurt us. Rob shares honestly about seasons when he felt spiritually empty and frustrated by what he experienced as excessive demands and micromanagement in the church. He also recounts being falsely accused by another Christian of inappropriate behavior after a photo of Rob baptizing someone in a hot tub was twisted into something entirely different. The accusation was proven false, but the damage had already been done. For the first time, Rob found himself struggling with feelings of hatred toward another Christian. Drawing from Galatians 5:19–21, Rob points out something that can easily be overlooked: when Paul describes the "acts of the flesh," he doesn't only mention sexual immorality and impurity. He also names hatred, discord, jealousy, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, and envy. These are sins that can happen inside a church community—and they can deeply damage the faith of the people on the receiving end. If you've been hurt, offended, betrayed, gossiped about, disappointed by leadership, or simply reached the point where church no longer feels like the family you thought it was going to be, this episode is for you. Rob isn't asking you to pretend the hurt didn't happen. He's asking you to hang on. You are not the first Christian to experience church hurt, and you can make it through this season without giving up your relationship with God. This episode is part of Rob Skinner's Before You Quit series, based on his new book, Before You Quit: Hope for the Christian Who Feels Done. If someone came to mind while you were listening, send them this episode. It may be exactly what they need to hear today. Before You Quit is available in paperback and Kindle on Amazon. Rob's goal is to inspire you to live a no-regrets life, make this life count, and multiply disciples, leaders, and churches.

    When Church Doesn't Feel Safe Anymore | Before You Quit #3
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The Rob Skinner Podcast will inspire you to: • Live a no-regrets life • Make this life count • Multiply disciples, leaders, and churches

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