Sunday July 12, 2026

Sunday July 12, 2026

What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol? Bishop Lance Johnson draws on his own history of addiction and spiritual transformation to talk about what keeps faith alive long after the initial breakthrough moment. Using a surprisingly tasty illustration – "Think about a chocolate fountain" – he explains that, just like chocolate won’t flow unless someone keeps refilling the machine, faith and revival dry up when there’s no ongoing investment.

You’ll hear him challenge the habit of blaming the church for a lack of revival. Instead, he insists that "revival is a response to somebody", pointing out that each person is both a carrier and contributor to the "river" of God’s presence. He pushes back on the idea of being a "revival chaser", happy to splash in someone else’s river without ever digging a stream in their own life.

The talk centres on Luke 10 and the familiar story of Mary and Martha. Martha is busy serving, Mary is sitting at Jesus’ feet, and Lance uses this contrast to ask whether working for God has quietly replaced actually abiding in God. If the only time someone reads the Bible, prays, or worships is in a church building, he says bluntly, "you need revival".

Throughout the message, there’s a strong call to daily spiritual disciplines – abiding in Jesus, private prayer, personal worship and dying to self – as the source of strength to live differently, including staying free from addiction. He reminds the audience that they are "the temple of the living God" and that public worship should simply mirror what’s already happening in private.

If you’ve ever felt your faith, sobriety or spiritual passion start strong then slowly lose steam, this talk asks a simple but uncomfortable question: are you refilling the fountain, or just hoping the chocolate never runs out?