Maturing Spiritually

Maturing Spiritually

How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? Bishop Lance Johnson shares how growing up spiritually isn't just for pastors or church leaders – it's for everyone who’s been changed by Jesus, including those coming out of addiction. Speaking from his own past as "a drug addict" and "an alcoholic," Lance connects spiritual maturity with real-life transformation.

He stresses that salvation isn’t a comfy seat on the sidelines; it's a call to step into the "work of the ministry" so others can find freedom too. As he puts it, "You've got to understand that your life is not your own. You've been bought with a price.

God put his life in you to give it to other people." Drawing from 2 Timothy 4, he talks about Paul facing betrayal, opposition and loneliness, yet still saying, "I've been poured out like a drink offering." Lance uses this picture to challenge people in recovery and faith not to quit when "all hell broke loose" or when church hurt, offence, or hypocrisy show up. Instead, he urges them to "endure afflictions" and stay faithful.

You’ll hear strong words on holiness, compromised churches, and watered-down ideas of what it means to be Christian. Lance insists that genuine new life in Christ brings conviction and change, not just a tick-box of religious identity. For anyone rebuilding life after addiction, his message is clear: spiritual growth makes you effective, not just sober. Your story, once marked by darkness, can become a light that pushes back that same darkness in families, communities and churches.

If you're wondering whether your life can really make a difference after everything you've been through, this episode challenges you to grow, stand for truth, and let God "pour you out" for others. What might change if you treated your recovery as a call to spiritual maturity, not just survival?