Episodes

Pastor Adam and Steph share details about future episodes of The Messy Walk Podcast. This includes inviting listeners to send questions via social media to be answered in a new series, and other ideas for potential questions that may be covered.

In the conclusion to the Thankful Meditations series, Pastor Adam and Steph mull over a quote from Paul the Apostle in his letter to the church in 1st-century Thessalonica. Pastor Adam and Steph comment that Jesus never intended for us to wear rose-colored glasses and pretend everything is good all the time. In fact, he warned that life will have its troubles. However, Paul encourages the church to remain in constant communication with God and to always be thankful, because this is God's will fo...

Today's episode continues the Thankful Meditations series by focusing on a second quote from G.K. Chesterton. In his own musings, Chesterton alludes to the unbridled excitement of kids at Christmas time as opposed to our own underappreciated blessings that may seem more mundane. Pastor Adam and Steph relate the childhood enthusiasm for receiving parents' gifts to the grown-up need to generate thankfulness for God's gifts.

The Messy Walk podcast turns 200 episodes old! Celebrate with Pastor Adam and Steph as they go over the history of the podcast and introduce a reel of behind-the-scenes bloopers, off-the-cuff comments, and random ramblings.Also, be on the lookout for the announcement on social media of who will win the book giveaway and receive 10 highly recommended books referenced on the podcast before!

The Messy Walk Podcast is celebrating its upcoming 200th episode with a special book giveaway! Join Pastor Adam and Steph as they discuss 10 highly inspirational books that have been referenced on the podcast.Continuing with the Thankful Meditations series, Pastor Adam and Steph reflect on a quote from Matthew Henry, the author of one of the oldest and most frequently used Bible commentaries of all time. Henry comments on his experience of being robbed, and he realizes his misfortune could in ...

Practice making God's blessings personal. Enjoy the day; don't just survive it. Treat yesterday as if it died, and today is a new birth. Pastor Adam and Steph are once again meditating on a quote from William Law, whose words were written down in the early 1700s. These ideas also lead them to share a bonus quote from G.K. Chesterton, who teaches that perhaps God is strong enough to enjoy doing His work again and again, even when we, as adults, grow tired of repetition.

Being content means being satisfied with what you have and how things are in the present. It doesn't make a difference if there is an increase or a decrease; you are not worried about striving to change anything. On the other hand, without contentment, it wouldn't matter how much you achieve; the want for more would still be there. Pastor Adam and Steph marinate on a quote from Charles Spurgeon—one of the greatest and most well-documented preachers of all time—and offer a word of advice: If you ...

Life doesn't always feel great, but there is always a decision in how to respond to every situation. Sometimes all we can do is play the hand we are dealt. Even so, there is room for gratitude, and practicing gratefulness when our emotions are still feeling hurt and bitter is a conscious choice. This is what Henri Nouwen, a late 20th-century Catholic priest, was meaning to tell us. In this episode, Pastor Adam and Steph dissect one of the more recent quotes on their list, and they talk about the...

To say we owe a lot to God is an understatement, as he is tremendously merciful and kind to us. When we keep this in mind and acknowledge this in prayer, it has lingering depth in God's eyes, and it welcomes his favor. Pastor Adam and Steph meditate on the oldest quotes on their list, nearly 400 years old, from a Puritan preacher in the mid-1600s, John Bunyan. His words serve as a reminder that no matter what, God is constantly guiding us back to him.

We tend to pray about what seems pressing to us, yet we take for granted the many things we should be thankful for. Usually, whoever can be trusted with a little can also be trusted with a lot. Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a famous theologian in Germany who was known for his involvement with the anti-Nazi movement during World War II. Pastor Adam and Steph focus on a quote from Bonhoeffer and ask themselves what they might consider big or small things to pray about, and they question what it would me...

People who live simpler lives tend to be more thankful for what they have. Sometimes, all God needs to hear from his people is a simple "Thank you," and that would be enough. Ultimately, giving thanks in prayer acknowledges the source of all good things and to whom we owe our lives. Continuing the series on Thankful Meditations, Pastor Adam and Steph examine one of the oldest quotes on their list, from the 13th-century German priest Meister Eckhart.

To be cynical is to have a mindset of seeing the world as if everyone is out for themselves. If you are a cynic, you may find yourself suspicious of everything and distrustful of other people. You may find it hard to see the world and humanity as redeemable. American pastor and influential 20th-century author A.W. Tozer believed that thankfulness was the key to avoiding a cynical heart. Pastor Adam and Steph discuss their tendencies toward cynicism and how focusing on things they are thankful fo...

Gratitude gives us a deeper, holy fear and respect for God, and that allows us to be awakened to what really is important in life. No matter what we have to deal with during our day, we must realize that God is true, and He gives good gifts that we can be thankful for. Pastor Adam and Steph continue their meditations on a quote from John Milton, who lived in the 17th century and is considered one of the greatest British poets of all time.

We naturally attribute godliness to specific actions, but the motives matter too. If we're doing things for appearances or to complete a personal checklist, it's not necessarily an indication of holy, righteous living. Yet if we are able to view everything as a blessing, and we are able to quickly turn the things that we have or what happens to us into reasons to praise God, we find ourselves closer to him, and our thoughts more like his. Pastor Adam and Steph meditate on a quote from 18th-centu...

Pastor Adam and Steph begin a new series of episodes by meditating on quotes from respected Christian leaders throughout history about the profound practice of being thankful. This week's quote comes from 20th-century Christian apologist G.K. Chesterton who believed that thanks are the highest form of thought. Pastor Adam and Steph reflect on how that could be, drawing connections between a thankful mindset and the funnel of gratitude that inevitably leads to acknowledging our creator.

God is generous, and we are to be like him; therefore, we are to be generous. We have been so abundantly blessed, and God has given us freely everything we have, beyond anything we deserve or what our own efforts could achieve. Given this, we should know that everything we have belongs to the Lord, just as we belong to the Lord. In this final episode of the "Pastor Pleas" series, Pastor Adam levels with listeners about the necessity of putting God first in how we manage our money and more. *Scri...

God lovingly crafted us in the wombs of our mothers, and He made us with distinct features and personalities. We do not need to hide our quirks and feelings to impress other people. We can be silly, we can be open about what bothers us, and we can choose to be joyful. The Messy Walk host Steph and special guest Chloe are here to remind us of the importance of living authentically before God and others, and that the people who are meant to be in our lives are not going to leave if we are honestly...

The Bible has a lot to say about sexual purity and holiness, and you don't have to read too far to know that its authors agree that sharing a bed and a home is intended for marriage. However, in today's culture, many couples who are not legally married find reasons to cohabitate. Unfortunately, couples who live together before marriage are 31% more likely to have their marriage end in divorce. Pastor Adam and Steph share statistics that show why living together before marriage is a bad idea, and...

Church attendance is on the decline. Many people consider themselves regular church attenders if they go to services once every couple of months. However, when we skip out on corporate worship, we miss the most important thing that happens when Christians gather: the act of honoring God together in unity. Pastor Adam and Steph plead with listeners not to isolate themselves, but to prioritize church attendance and being in community with fellow believers so that the body of Christ can continue to...

Social media is a tool that is neither inherently good nor bad. Studies have proven that extended usage of social media platforms can have many harmful side effects on the human mind. At the same time, there are good things that can be done through social media to spread awareness and connect people. Pastor Adam and Steph warn that if we are not careful, social media can monopolize our time. These online platforms are designed to suck you in, and you need to be careful about the things you let i...

In today's culture, people are less interested in church and are less likely to trust that pastors have good intentions. The internet has a wealth of content from famous church leaders, Christian authors, and influencers, but when people consume content online instead of building personal relationships with other believers, the seeds of true discipleship are not allowed to grow. With these things in mind, Christians tend to assume that other people will be led to Christ if we can just get them t...

At the start of any romantic relationship, it is wise to make sure values are aligned before getting too deep. Intentional dating is for the purpose of finding a partner who demonstrates the potential for a healthy marriage. In matters of faith, it is of high importance to be sure that each person shares similar beliefs. Pastor Adam and Steph stress the significant issue with couples dating when they do not have the same level of faith as one another. They plead for listeners to know that linkin...

Church leaders and scholars of the Bible have been known to make mistakes. Pastors can be wrong, and even well-meaning people can teach things incorrectly. This is why it is so important for everyone to read the Bible for themselves. Do not be manipulated or misled, instead learn the scriptures and know the difference between what is true and false. Pastor Adam and Steph plead with followers of Jesus to take advantage of the accessibility of the Bible, to use study materials, and to determine ev...