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Excelling in Christ
Clarence Fell
280 episodes
3 days ago
Welcome to Excelling in Christ, Ideas, strategies, and tactics to take your spiritual journey forward. Opening doors to experience the love that surpasses knowledge (Eph. 3:19), the peace that passes understand (Phil. 4:7), and joy inexpressible (1 Pt. 1:8). Master spirituality. Soar like an eagle with bible-based strategies.
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Christianity
Religion & Spirituality
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All content for Excelling in Christ is the property of Clarence Fell and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
Welcome to Excelling in Christ, Ideas, strategies, and tactics to take your spiritual journey forward. Opening doors to experience the love that surpasses knowledge (Eph. 3:19), the peace that passes understand (Phil. 4:7), and joy inexpressible (1 Pt. 1:8). Master spirituality. Soar like an eagle with bible-based strategies.
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Christianity
Religion & Spirituality
Episodes (20/280)
Excelling in Christ
Two Kinds of Wisdom EP. 280

The central theme of this podcast episode revolves around two kinds of wisdom as described in James 3:13–18, earthly wisdom and heavenly wisdom. The speaker contrasts these by highlighting characteristics and consequences of each. Earthly wisdom, fueled by jealousy and selfish ambition, leads to disorder and chaos. In contrast, heavenly wisdom is pure, peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy, and without hypocrisy.

A major sub-theme is the difference between intelligence and wisdom. Intelligence may bring knowledge or success in a narrow field, but wisdom dictates how one lives, interacts, and makes decisions. The speaker urges listeners to evaluate the source of their influences, whether it’s media personalities, politicians, or celebrities, and filter all advice through biblical truth.

There's a strong pastoral tone, advocating for self-awareness, humility, discernment, and spiritual maturity. The episode challenges listeners to live by a gentle strength, prioritizing integrity and righteousness over status or worldly gain.

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3 days ago
34 minutes 13 seconds

Excelling in Christ
God Runs Faster EP. 279

In this episode, I take a deep dive into the story of Jonah, not just a fish tale, but as a powerful mirror reflecting our own struggles with obedience, trust, and God’s relentless grace. Jonah’s journey isn’t just about a man running from Nineveh; it’s about what happens when we try to run from God’s call in our own lives. I unpack how storms, whether emotional, financial, relational, or spiritual, aren’t always punishment, but often divine interventions meant to wake us up and redirect us.

We explore how obedience becomes difficult when it clashes with our comfort, and how partial obedience is still disobedience. Drawing from everyday life marriage, work, and our walk of faith, I challenge listeners to consider: does our faith hold when it's no longer easy? When God interrupts our plans, do we pivot in trust or resist out of fear?

Through Jonah’s rebellion and redemption, we find that God doesn’t just run after us, He runs faster. He doesn’t give up. He redirects, disciplines, and ultimately restores. If you’ve ever tried to outrun your calling or negotiate your way out of obedience, this one’s for you.

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3 days ago
27 minutes 38 seconds

Excelling in Christ
The Trap of Good Things EP. 278

In this episode, I explore how the very blessings God gives us, money, jobs, relationships, comfort, can become spiritual traps when they start replacing Him in our hearts. I dive into Scripture to ask a tough question: Have the things we were meant to enjoy started owning us?

It’s not that the “things” are bad. In fact, they’re often good gifts from a good Father. But when our hope shifts from the Giver to the gift, we risk building our lives on a foundation that can’t hold. I unpack what it looks like to subtly drift from trust in God to trust in wealth, and how quickly gratitude can turn into idolatry.

This episode is a heart check. It’s a call to examine what’s truly sitting on the throne of your life. Because the trap isn’t always obvious, it often looks like comfort, security, or even success. But anything that takes God’s place will ultimately let us down. Let’s learn to enjoy the gifts without replacing the Giver.

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1 week ago
26 minutes 5 seconds

Excelling in Christ
You Don't Need a Stage - EP 276

In this episode, You Don't Need a Stage, I want to speak directly to the people who wonder if their quiet faithfulness matters, because it does. This is a message for the ones serving behind the scenes, holding families together, showing up for others, and following Jesus in the hidden corners of life. You may not have a platform, but you have purpose. You may not be celebrated, but you are seen by the One whose opinion matters most.

We explore what Scripture says about unseen obedience, the power of quiet faith, and the eternal weight of things the world overlooks. From the unnamed boy with five loaves, to Ruth gleaning in the fields, to Dorcas sewing garments these small, hidden acts shaped God’s story in ways their doers couldn’t imagine.

If you’ve ever felt tired, invisible, or wondered if your unseen labor in the Lord is in vain, this conversation is a holy reminder: Heaven sees what earth forgets. And God is keeping the kind of record that really matters. So don’t lose heart. The reward isn’t in the recognition it’s in the faithfulness.

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1 week ago
28 minutes 51 seconds

Excelling in Christ
Patience Pays Off EP. 277

In this episode, I invite you to join me as we open 2 Timothy 2 and talk about what it really means to endure. Life often feels like a marathon, long, difficult, and filled with moments when quitting looks easier than continuing. But Paul’s words to Timothy remind us of our true source of strength: the grace found in Christ Jesus. We talk about why so many people fail in the “middle part” of life the place between the start and the finish and how patience, focus, and a clear understanding of our purpose can carry us through.

I reflect on the idea that we’re not meant to be our own power source. Instead, we’re called to bring our willingness and let God do the work through us. Like a soldier, athlete, or farmer, we’re urged to suffer hardship, not for suffering’s sake, but for something greater, a mission that leads to eternal reward.

This episode is for anyone who’s tired, discouraged, or feeling stuck in the middle. Stay the course, know your why, and let God carry you forward. Patience really does pay off.


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1 week ago
29 minutes 10 seconds

Excelling in Christ
Love Without Boundaries - EP. 275

In this episode, Love Without Boundaries, I wrestle with the modern confusion surrounding what love really is and what it isn’t. Culture often tells us that love means never offending, always affirming, and staying silent in the name of kindness. But biblical love is different. It’s not sentimental softness or blind approval; it’s truth spoken with grace, mercy anchored in conviction, and compassion that’s willing to confront when necessary.

We explore how Jesus modeled this kind of love when He forgave the woman caught in adultery offering her both mercy and a call to “go and sin no more.” We also unpack how Paul’s letters to the churches confront the danger of love that enables sin, and how true love calls people not just to feel safe, but to be saved.

Love that doesn’t challenge is love that doesn’t change anything. And love that never costs us isn’t love at all. This episode is a call to reclaim a Christ-centered love one that is boundless in its reach, but never blind to truth. If you've ever struggled with the tension between grace and truth, this conversation is for you.

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2 weeks ago
28 minutes 2 seconds

Excelling in Christ
The Right Door at the Right Time - EP. 274

In this episode, I reflect on what it means to find "the right door at the right time." Drawing from Acts 16 and stories like Joseph, Esther, and Moses, we explore how closed doors aren’t necessarily failures, they might just be God’s redirection. It’s easy to get discouraged when opportunities fall through, but perhaps a “no” is just a “not yet” or a push toward a better “yes.”

I’ve seen it in my own life, the job I thought I wanted, the plan that didn’t come together, only to discover that God had something greater in mind. This episode is about perspective: learning to trust that when doors shut, it’s not the end of the hallway. There’s another door waiting. Sometimes the hallway feels long, and sometimes we don’t understand why we’re stuck, but if we keep moving, keep praying, and keep trusting, the right door opens.

Whether you’re just starting out or wondering what’s next later in life, this conversation is for you. Because no matter where you are in the hallway of life, God is still on the throne, and He hasn’t lost the keys.

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3 weeks ago
25 minutes 22 seconds

Excelling in Christ
The Orchard Without Applause - EP. 273

In this episode, The Orchard Without Applause, I reflect on what it means to grow a spiritual life that no one sees but God deeply values. Drawing from Galatians 5 and John 15, we explore the fruit of the Spirit and how it's cultivated not in public triumphs but in the quiet soil of surrender, obedience, and daily faithfulness. We live in a world obsessed with metrics, steps walked, posts liked, sales won but how do we measure patience? Kindness? Self-control? We can’t and we shouldn’t try.

This isn’t a life of competition; it’s a life of cultivation. It’s learning to abide in Christ through the ordinary: being kind at a four-way stop, gentle with a difficult coworker, faithful in our marriages, patient with our kids. We don’t need applause to know the orchard is growing. We’re not chasing trophies—we’re partnering with God to become who He’s shaping us to be.

Strength doesn’t look like dominance; it looks like surrender. It’s not flashy, but it’s powerful. And the fruit? It’s eternal. Join me as we dig into the discipline, grace, and quiet joy of living a life rooted in Christ.

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3 weeks ago
32 minutes 42 seconds

Excelling in Christ
When Pride Digs Its Own Grave EP. 272

In this episode, I dive into the tragic downfall of Pharaoh, the man who thought he could outlast God. We look at how pride hardened his heart, not just once, but over and over again, until it ultimately destroyed him. God gave Pharaoh chance after chance, plague after plague, sign after sign. But Pharaoh's pride was louder than the warnings, stronger than the suffering of his people, and more stubborn than the fear of God's judgment.

This isn't just a story of an ancient ruler, it’s a sobering picture of what happens when we refuse to humble ourselves. Pharaoh saw the power of God firsthand and still said, “No.” I explore how pride doesn't just blind us but it deceives us into thinking we’re untouchable, immune, or always in control. But when we dig in against God, we don’t just resist Him, we dig our own grave.

I also share what Pharaoh teaches us about the urgency of repentance. There’s a point where the heart can get so hard, it stops responding. And by then, the consequences are already in motion.

Let Pharaoh’s story be a warning: God’s patience is great but it’s not permanent.


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1 month ago
29 minutes 28 seconds

Excelling in Christ
Actions Speak Louder than Words EP. 271

In this episode, we walk through Luke 7 and dive deep into one of the most striking contrasts in Scripture, the heart of Simon the Pharisee versus the heart of the sinful woman. I reflect on the radical difference between looking religious and truly being transformed by Christ. Simon had the appearance, the respectability, the protocol but he lacked the one thing God truly desires: a broken and contrite heart.

Meanwhile, this woman, shunned, judged, and dismissed, humbled herself at Jesus’ feet. No rehearsed speech, no grand show, just raw, real repentance. Her actions spoke louder than any words could, and Jesus saw what Simon could not: a heart poured out in love and gratitude.

We talk about what it means to truly welcome sinners, not just in word, but in heart posture. Are our churches rescue missions or museums of self-righteousness? Would a woman like this feel safe among us or judged from a distance? This episode challenges us to examine our own hearts, our assumptions, and the way we treat others in their most vulnerable moments.

Because in the end, it’s not about perfect attendance or polished appearances it’s about who loves more, and why.

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1 month ago
31 minutes

Excelling in Christ
Ten Teachings of Jesus EP. 270

In today’s episode, I take a practical dive into Ten Teachings of Jesus not just to admire His words, but to actually live them. Let’s be honest: life gets loud and complicated. But Jesus' teachings? They’re simple, direct, and radically life-altering if we let them be. I walk through ten powerful principles, like building your life on the rock, taking up your cross daily, and seeking first the Kingdom of God. These aren't theological abstractions, they're deeply personal, daily disciplines that challenge our comfort zones and call us to action.

Whether it’s denying ourselves in a culture of indulgence, loving our spouses like Christ loved the church, or doing our jobs as if we’re working for the Lord Himself, Jesus makes it clear: following Him is not about symbolic gestures. It’s about surrender, sacrifice, and persistence.

You don’t have to be a Bible scholar to start applying these teachings. But you do have to be honest with yourself what are you building? Who are you really following? This episode is a call back to the basics. Let’s stop nodding along and start living the Word.

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1 month ago
26 minutes 35 seconds

Excelling in Christ
Jesus Is Not a Buffet Option EP. 269

In this episode, I unpack a tough but vital truth: all roads do not lead to heaven. In a world that celebrates endless options and spiritual buffet lines, Jesus offers one clear path, Himself. I explore why this narrow claim isn't arrogant or hateful, but actually rooted in love and truth. From John 14:6 to Acts 4:12, Scripture repeatedly tells us that salvation is found in no one else. That’s not popular in today’s culture, where tolerance often means endorsing every idea, even if they contradict each other. But kindness isn’t the same as agreement, and being polite doesn’t mean compromising truth.

I get into how the desire for fantasy over reality is fueling confusion, bitterness, and even violence in society. When we trade truth for comfortable illusions, we build a house of cards that eventually collapses. Whether you're a lifelong believer or just spiritually curious, this episode challenges you to consider what it really means to follow Jesus and why it matters that He didn’t just show the way. He is the way.

If you're ready for a truth-first conversation about faith, culture, and the exclusivity of Christ, this one’s for you.


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1 month ago
29 minutes 9 seconds

Excelling in Christ
Sunday Isn't the Challenge EP. 268

This week, I delivered a message that’s been on my heart for a while and it’s one that might just flip how you think about Sunday worship. In “Sunday Isn’t the Challenge,” I explore what it truly means to be a disciple of Christ in a world flooded with distractions. I kicked things off with a well-known historical parable: the $24 deal for Manhattan, to drive home how easily we trade eternal riches for worthless trinkets. And that’s exactly what Satan wants: to keep us distracted, to make us believe Sunday is the main event, when really, it’s just the pep rally.

We looked at Luke 9:23, where Jesus calls us to take up our cross daily, not just on Sundays. Church attendance? It matters. But if it’s all we’re doing, we’re missing the point. The real test is out there, in how we live, how we spend our time, and what we prioritize. Sunday should be our rest, our recharge, but our faith is proven Monday through Saturday. Are we following Jesus, or just showing up?

If you’ve ever wondered whether your discipleship goes deeper than the pew, this message is for you.

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1 month ago
32 minutes 9 seconds

Excelling in Christ
Why Fair Isn't Always Right EP. 267

In this episode, I dive deep into one of the most counterintuitive truths of the gospel: grace offends us. We explore the parable of the vineyard workers in Matthew 20, where Jesus flips our expectations of fairness on their heads. Why do those who worked just one hour receive the same wage as those who toiled all day? It feels unjust until we realize it’s not about wages at all. It’s about grace.

Grace doesn’t play by our rules. It doesn’t reward effort, seniority, or time served. It simply gives and gives generously. And if we’re honest, that can sting. Especially when others receive what we think we’ve earned more of. But here’s the thing: when we compare and keep score, we lose sight of what really matters our own salvation.

This episode is a call to rejoice when others are blessed, not grumble about God’s generosity. Because grace isn't logical, it's divine. And the real miracle isn’t that someone else gets in. It’s that any of us do. So, let's stop tallying the hours and start thanking God for the gift we could never earn.

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1 month ago
24 minutes 35 seconds

Excelling in Christ
Whose Feet Will You Wash - EP. 266

In this episode, "Whose Feet Will You Wash?", I reflect on one of the most quietly radical acts Jesus ever performed washing the disciples’ feet. At first glance, it seems simple, even mundane. But dig deeper, and it redefines everything we know about leadership, service, and spiritual transformation. Jesus, the Creator of the universe, knelt to do what only the lowest servant would be expected to do and in doing so, He gave us not just an example, but a calling.

We explore what it means to be a servant, why true leadership doesn’t seek applause, and how we must first allow Christ to serve us before we can truly serve others. From peeling back the layers of pride to embracing the small, unnoticed moments of daily life, this episode challenges you to find holiness in the humble and divine purpose in the ordinary.

Whether it's washing feet or washing dishes, wiping noses or wiping tears, I invite you to consider: What small acts of service are waiting for you today? Because when done for Christ, there are no ordinary acts.

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1 month ago
31 minutes

Excelling in Christ
From Vapor to Victory: What Are You Really Living For? EP.265

In this episode, God’s Blueprint, I explore a question we all wrestle with at some point: “What is the purpose of my life?” Drawing from Scripture, Jeremiah 29, Ecclesiastes 12, Acts 17, and Romans 8, I walk through three foundational truths: we are here to fear God and keep His commandments, to seek God with all our heart, and to conform to the image of Christ.

This isn’t about moral behavior alone or chasing material success. It's about real spiritual transformation, learning to see God even in the mundane, embracing our suffering as part of God's refining process, and becoming more like Christ every day. Life isn’t a random series of events. There is a divine blueprint, and that plan gives purpose to everything we do from our jobs to our trials.

I also challenge the idea of Christianity as merely a “fire escape” from hell. We weren't saved just to avoid punishment, we were saved to become something greater, someone conformed to the likeness of Christ. Whether you're new to the faith or needing a spiritual recalibration, this episode is a deep dive into God's design for your life and how to live it intentionally.

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1 month ago
28 minutes 43 seconds

Excelling in Christ
When Weakness Becomes the Way EP 264

I used to think strength meant control, physical ability, financial security, and personal success. But what happens when all that fails? What if the very thing that weakens us — the thorn in our side — is actually God’s way of drawing us closer to Him?

In this episode, we dive deep into 2 Corinthians 12 and the profound lesson Paul learned through his "thorn in the flesh." We trace his journey from pleading for relief to finding contentment in weakness. Why? Because Paul discovered a secret: when he was weak, then he was strong.

Through real-life examples and biblical wisdom, I explore how our personal struggles whether it’s aging, illness, betrayal, or failure, are not obstacles but doorways. Doorways to spiritual growth. To transformation. To a deeper trust in the God who doesn’t always remove the thorn but always walks with us through it.

This isn’t about ignoring pain or pretending everything is fine. It’s about learning to see weakness not as failure, but as the very place where God’s power is most visible. If you’ve been pleading with God to take something away, this episode might just help you see why He hasn’t.

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1 month ago
35 minutes 26 seconds

Excelling in Christ
One Step at a Time EP. 263

Ever found yourself wide awake at 2 a.m., your mind racing with every worst-case scenario imaginable? In this episode, One Step at a Time, I take a deep dive into the quiet, often crippling weight of worry and what Jesus had to say about it. Rooted in Matthew 6:34, we explore the radical invitation to live fully in today and let tomorrow worry about itself. From the story of the Israelites gathering daily manna to the example of Jesus living without a permanent home, I unpack how Scripture encourages us to shift from anxiety to trust, from fear to faith.

We’re not talking about abandoning responsibility, but about releasing control. Whether you're obsessing over your to-do list, worrying about your kids' futures, or spiraling over things you saw in the news, this conversation offers both challenge and comfort: the strength you need is for today, not next week, not next year.

We’ll laugh a little, reflect a lot, and ask the hard but freeing question: what would happen if you really laid your burdens down? If you’re feeling stretched thin by all of life’s “what-ifs,” this episode is for you. Let’s learn the peace of walking with Jesus, one day at a time.

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1 month ago
31 minutes 26 seconds

Excelling in Christ
The Mistake of Love EP. 262

In this episode, The Mistake of Love, I wrestle with a challenging truth: love, while powerful and beautiful, can also lead us away from God when it’s misdirected. We explore how love, when poured into worldly things like, money, pleasure, and status, it can feel fulfilling in the moment but ultimately steers our souls away from eternal joy. Drawing from 1 John 2, I dig into the critical difference between loving rightly and loving recklessly, and how even morally "good" people can miss heaven by investing their hearts in the wrong things. I reflect on how our culture glorifies the love of money, screen-fueled pleasure, and human approval, yet these things leave us empty. Instead, I call us to a deliberate love: love for God, for people, and for eternal things. We talk about the prodigal son, the Good Samaritan, and even Judas, contrasting their paths to show where love can go right or tragically wrong. This isn’t about guilt, it’s about realignment. Where is your love aimed? Because every day, every choice, turns the wheel of your life. Let's aim well.

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2 months ago
33 minutes 46 seconds

Excelling in Christ
Really Christian, Moving Beyond the Label EP. 261

In this episode, I’m asking a serious and personal question: Are you really a Christian, or are you just saying you are? It’s not about labels or outward appearances. It’s about internal transformation, disciplined living, and walking daily in the footsteps of Christ. We dig into what Scripture says about examining ourselves (2 Corinthians 13:5), taking every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5), and truly becoming holy as God is holy (1 Peter 1:15).

I talk about how easy it is to fall into the comparison trap, feeling "Christian enough" because someone else is doing worse. But that’s not the standard. God is. We unpack how real discipleship isn’t passive or inherited, it’s personal, deliberate, and driven by joyful obedience. From rejecting rationalizations to embracing growth after baptism, this message challenges all of us to look inward, commit deeply, and press on with purpose.

If you’ve felt stuck, complacent, or too focused on others’ shortcomings, this is your call to refocus on Christ, on growth, and on eternity. Let’s get serious about being really, really Christian—not just in name, but in heart, mind, and life.

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2 months ago
26 minutes 51 seconds

Excelling in Christ
Welcome to Excelling in Christ, Ideas, strategies, and tactics to take your spiritual journey forward. Opening doors to experience the love that surpasses knowledge (Eph. 3:19), the peace that passes understand (Phil. 4:7), and joy inexpressible (1 Pt. 1:8). Master spirituality. Soar like an eagle with bible-based strategies.