391. The Dangerous Desire for Applause: Learning to Seek God’s Approval Instead
The Rob Skinner Podcast: Helping You Make This Life Count
Release Date: 03/04/2026
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...
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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...
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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,...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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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389. What If You Could Truly Please God? (John 8:29 Explained)
The Rob Skinner Podcast: Helping You Make This Life Count
📝 What If You Could Truly Please God? (John 8:29 Explained) What if you could honestly say, “I always do what pleases God”? In this episode of The Rob Skinner Podcast, Rob explores one of the most powerful statements Jesus ever made: “I always do what pleases Him.” — John 8:29 Only Jesus could say those words perfectly — and that’s exactly why He qualifies to be our Savior. But what does this mean for us? If perfection isn’t possible on this side of eternity, how do Christians actually live lives that please God? Rob unpacks the powerful balance between grace and growth,...
info_outlineAre 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 will notice.
True humility isn’t self-hatred or insecurity.
It’s something far healthier: self-forgetfulness.
When our focus shifts from human praise to God’s approval, our motivation becomes pure and our joy becomes deeper.
In this episode you’ll learn:
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Why the desire for recognition can quietly shape our spiritual lives
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How pride often hides behind religious activity
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What Jesus meant when He said He wasn’t seeking glory for Himself
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The difference between humility and insecurity
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How to redirect the craving for praise into gratitude toward God
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The peace that comes from serving quietly without needing applause
Jesus lived completely free from the addiction to human praise. His life invites us into that same freedom — a life where our goal is not applause from people but the simple words from God:
“Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Key Scriptures
John 8:50
Matthew 6:1–6
Matthew 25:21
Reflection Questions
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Who am I really doing this for?
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Would I still serve the same way if no one noticed?
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Am I seeking God’s approval or human applause?
Next Steps
If this episode encouraged you, here are a few ways to stay connected:
📬 Join Rob’s weekly newsletter:
https://www.robskinner.com
📘 Read Rob’s latest book — The 10X Christian
Available on Amazon and at RobSkinner.com
🎧 Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode.
Rob Skinner’s goal is simple:
to inspire you to live a no-regrets life, make this life count, and multiply disciples, leaders, and churches.