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387. Berlin Mission Update: Raising Kids, Learning German, and Watching God Move

The Rob Skinner Podcast: Helping You Make This Life Count

Release Date: 02/23/2026

399. Why I Fasted for 7.5 Days (And What God Taught Me) show art 399. Why I Fasted for 7.5 Days (And What God Taught Me)

The Rob Skinner Podcast: Helping You Make This Life Count

What happens when you go 7.5 days without food? In this episode, Rob Skinner shares his personal experience with an extended fast—why he did it, what he learned, and how it impacted his faith, mindset, and daily life. Faced with situations beyond his control—including a loved one returning to God, a high-stakes Bible study, and a close friend recovering from serious illness—Rob turned to fasting as a way to seek God’s power and intervention. He opens up about his initial resistance, the physical and mental challenges, and the surprising spiritual clarity that came through the process....

info_outline 398. Who Are You Becoming? (Part 3): The Power of Focus That Transforms Your Life show art 398. Who Are You Becoming? (Part 3): The Power of Focus That Transforms Your Life

The Rob Skinner Podcast: Helping You Make This Life Count

Who Are You Becoming? (Part 3): The Power of Focus That Transforms Your Life What if the most important question in your life isn’t what you’re doing… but who you’re becoming? In this final episode of his 3-part series on the power of focus, Rob Skinner shares a powerful message from a recent sermon in Boston about how your attention shapes your character—and ultimately your life. Most people focus on external things: Career Money Success Future plans But the Bible calls us to ask a deeper question: Who am I becoming? In 2 Corinthians 3, the Apostle Paul teaches that as we...

info_outline 397. Your Life Follows Your Focus (Part 2): Fix Your Eyes on Jesus show art 397. Your Life Follows Your Focus (Part 2): Fix Your Eyes on Jesus

The Rob Skinner Podcast: Helping You Make This Life Count

Your Life Follows Your Focus (Part 2): Fix Your Eyes on Jesus In a world where everyone is competing for your attention, learning to focus may be one of the most important spiritual disciplines a disciple can develop. In this second episode in his Power of Focus series, Rob Skinner shares a powerful message from a recent sermon in Boston about why disciples of Jesus must intentionally direct their attention toward Christ. Philippians 2 calls believers to have the same mindset as Christ Jesus—a mindset marked by humility, sacrifice, and obedience. But the challenge is that the world...

info_outline 396. Your Life Follows Your Focus: The Secret to Spiritual Transformation show art 396. Your Life Follows Your Focus: The Secret to Spiritual Transformation

The Rob Skinner Podcast: Helping You Make This Life Count

Your Life Follows Your Focus: The Secret to Spiritual Transformation What you focus on shapes the person you become. In this episode of the Rob Skinner Podcast, Rob shares a powerful lesson from Hebrews 12 about the importance of fixing our eyes on Jesus. Drawing from a recent sermon in Boston, Rob explains how attention is one of the most important forces shaping our spiritual lives. Your mind, your habits, and even your character are shaped by what consistently captures your attention. In a world where countless voices are competing for your focus—social media, news, comparison, anxiety,...

info_outline 395. What Is Your Rock? The Danger of Trusting Wealth Instead of God show art 395. What Is Your Rock? The Danger of Trusting Wealth Instead of God

The Rob Skinner Podcast: Helping You Make This Life Count

What Is Your Rock? The Danger of Trusting Wealth Instead of God What is your rock? In a world where investments, real estate, and retirement accounts are rising faster than ever, it’s easy for our hearts to slowly shift from trusting God to trusting our wealth. In this episode of the Rob Skinner Podcast, Rob explores the powerful warning from Psalm 62:10: “Though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them.” Financial growth isn’t the problem. The real danger is when our hearts begin to rest in money instead of God. King David understood this tension well. Though he was...

info_outline 394. Freedom in Christ — Why Christian Passivity Is So Dangerous show art 394. Freedom in Christ — Why Christian Passivity Is So Dangerous

The Rob Skinner Podcast: Helping You Make This Life Count

📝 Freedom in Christ — Why Christian Passivity Is So Dangerous What does it really mean to be free in Christ? In Galatians 5:13, Paul writes: “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” In this episode of the Rob Skinner Podcast, Rob explores the powerful truth behind Christian freedom and the danger of drifting into spiritual passivity. While the gospel teaches that we cannot save ourselves through our own efforts, some people mistakenly interpret grace as permission to stop...

info_outline 393. Ask Better Questions — The Simple Habit That Made Jesus So Influential show art 393. Ask Better Questions — The Simple Habit That Made Jesus So Influential

The Rob Skinner Podcast: Helping You Make This Life Count

📝 What made Jesus such a powerful communicator and teacher? One simple habit: He asked great questions. In this episode of the Rob Skinner Podcast, Rob explores how Jesus used questions not just to gather information—but to bring revelation. Questions like: “Why are you so afraid?” “Do you want to get well?” “Who do you say that I am?” Each question helped people uncover what was really going on in their hearts. In a world where most people talk about themselves and rarely ask meaningful questions, learning to ask thoughtful questions can transform your...

info_outline 392. One Day You Will Stand Before Jesus — Live With the End in Mind show art 392. One Day You Will Stand Before Jesus — Live With the End in Mind

The Rob Skinner Podcast: Helping You Make This Life Count

One Day You Will Stand Before Jesus — Live With the End in Mind What if you lived today knowing that one day you will look Jesus Christ in the eye? Not metaphorically. Not poetically. Literally. In this episode of the Rob Skinner Podcast, Rob explores the powerful truth found in 2 Corinthians 5:10 — that every one of us will stand before the judgment seat of Christ and give an account of our lives. This reality isn’t meant to paralyze us with fear. It’s meant to focus us, sharpen our purpose, and help us live with eternity in mind. Drawing inspiration from Stephen Covey’s famous...

info_outline 391. The Dangerous Desire for Applause: Learning to Seek God’s Approval Instead show art 391. The Dangerous Desire for Applause: Learning to Seek God’s Approval Instead

The Rob Skinner Podcast: Helping You Make This Life Count

Are you living for God’s approval… or people’s applause? Most of us enjoy recognition. We like being noticed, appreciated, and affirmed. Even when we serve God, there can be a quiet craving underneath — the desire to be seen. But Jesus said something that cuts completely against our natural instincts: “I am not seeking glory for myself.” — John 8:50 In this episode, Rob explores the subtle trap of self-glory and the freedom that comes when we seek God’s approval alone. Pride often hides behind good works, and even spiritual service can become a stage where we hope someone...

info_outline 390. Don’t Bury Your Gift: The Silent Drift That Kills Your Calling show art 390. Don’t Bury Your Gift: The Silent Drift That Kills Your Calling

The Rob Skinner Podcast: Helping You Make This Life Count

Don’t Bury Your Gift: The Silent Drift That Kills Your Calling Episode Description: What if the greatest danger to your faith isn’t open rebellion… but quiet drift? In this episode, Rob challenges us to examine something subtle but dangerous — spiritual passivity. We don’t renounce our faith. We don’t walk away from God. We just slowly sideline our calling. We get busy. We get successful. We get comfortable. And before we know it, the gift God gave us is sitting unused. Drawing from 1 Timothy 4 and Jesus’ parables about buried talents, Rob reminds us of Paul’s clear warning:...

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Berlin Mission Update: Raising Kids, Learning German, and Watching God Move

In this episode of The Rob Skinner Podcast, Rob sits down with Austen and Sara Bolves, missionaries serving the church in Berlin, Germany, for an honest, inspiring update on life and ministry overseas.

Austen and Sara share how they became Christians, how they met in the campus ministry at the University of Washington, and what led them to leave stability in the U.S. to help strengthen the church in Europe. They open up about the real challenges of leading a church in a different culture, building a leadership team from the ground up, learning German, and raising three small children on the mission field.

They also share powerful stories of how God has been working in Berlin—especially through conversions with people who have little to no background in Christianity—and how hardship has deepened their faith, including Sara’s ongoing journey with her father Greg’s stage four cancer diagnosis.

If you’ve ever wondered what modern missions really looks like, this conversation will encourage you to embrace discomfort, love people deeply, and make your life count—wherever you live.

In This Episode, You’ll Hear:

  • How Austen and Sara became Christians and met in campus ministry

  • Why they felt called to overseas missions and how Berlin opened up

  • What the Berlin church was like when they arrived (and what surprised them)

  • Rebuilding leadership and navigating church health in a new culture

  • Preaching and leading in German (and the challenges of learning the language)

  • Seeing conversions among people with no Bible background

  • How they’re staying joyful through stress, parenting, and ministry pressure

  • Sara’s update on her father Greg and how faith has carried their family

  • Their biggest advice for disciples who want to make this life count

Key Scripture Mentioned

Romans 8:31 — “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Connect with Austin & Sarah (as shared in the episode)

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Live a no-regrets life. Make this life count.