Ep. 5: Pride, Surrender, & Encountering the Holy Spirit | Chris Hepner

In this episode, Chris Hepner shares his journey from growing up in a rigid, rule-driven church background to experiencing a true, personal relationship with Jesus. Chris opens up about how sports success and pride fed skepticism in his early adult years, how meeting his wife Brittney shifted his view of God, and how a Holy Spirit encounter brought healing to buried grief from a miscarriage. Together, they explore what it means to move faith from head knowledge to heart change, surrender career ambition, and live out true discipleship. Key Topics: Religion vs. Relationship: Moving past a rigid, "check-the-box" church mindset into a living relationship. Overcoming Pride: How early athletic success, leadership, and self-reliance fed skepticism toward God. The Missing Ingredient: Recognizing the Holy Spirit's vital role in personal discipleship and daily formation. Encountering Healing: Processing buried trauma, grief, and miscarriage through God's tender grace. Stewardship & Leadership: Shifting career ambition toward church building, giving, and serving others. Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome & Introduction 02:08 – Early Church Background & A Rigid Image of God 08:01 – Sports, Leadership, & Early Pride 11:01 – Campfire Skepticism: Demanding Believers to "Prove It" 19:08 – Breaking Out of the Box: Relationship Over Religion 20:21 – Discipleship as the 10-Inch Journey from Head to Heart 32:24 – How Brittney & Her Family Modeled Unconditional Grace 39:28 – Surrendering to Jesus on a Living Room Couch 45:53 – Why Salvation is the Starting Line, Not the Finish Line 59:43 – A Retreat Turning Point & The Holy Spirit Becoming Tangible 1:03:07 – Uncovering Buried Trauma & Healing from Miscarriage 1:23:31 – Stewardship, Tithing, & The Blessing of First-Fruits Giving 1:35:23 – Shifting from Personal Ambition to Building Up Others 1:51:58 – Closing Challenge & Final Prayer Key Takeaways Salvation is the entry point of faith, not the finish line—discipleship is a daily journey. Head knowledge without the Holy Spirit leaves church feeling like a mechanical checklist. God is not a harsh, distant judge, but a tender Father who meets us directly in our grief. True stewardship begins when we surrender our finances, career ambitions, and gifts to build others up. Notable Quotes "Stop asking what a church can do for you, and start asking what you can do for the church." "Faith isn't information—it's a 10-inch journey from the head to the heart." "Just create the possibility of 'what if' and let the Spirit show up."