Welcome to The Messy Walk Podcast and thanks for listening!

Episodes

May 22, 2024

160: Asking the Wrong Questions: Does God Really Forgive Me?

We all sin, and we have all done things that weigh heavy on our conscience. Guilt keeps us from enjoying the life we have, and it disables us from being truly free. Because we know that we have messed up, we ask, "Does God forgive me?" Jesus's answer to that question is an emphatic "Yes!" However, there are times when we just don't feel forgiven, and it is during those times when we must change that question and ask, "Do I forgive myself?" This week Pastor Adam and Steph dive into the topic of f...
May 15, 2024

159: Asking the Wrong Questions: God, What Do I do?

When thinking on what actions to take, what career to pursue, or any other big decision, we might feel pressure and ask God, "What do I do?" It is good to seek God for guidance, yet sometimes it is helpful to look inwardly, change the question, and ask ourselves, "Who am I becoming?" Our identity is not tied to our work, but is given to us by God's design. In this week's episode Pastor Adam and Steph talk about the differences between what we do and who we are, and the significance of being.
May 8, 2024

158: Asking the Wrong Questions: Why Doesn't God Do Something?

In today's episode, Pastor Adam and Steph address an age-old question. There is undeniably so much suffering in our world which also leads people to debate about the problem with evil, pain, or suffering, and to ask, "Why doesn't God do something?" It is reasonable to wonder why life ahs been made so hard, and the Bible does offer some explanations for that often shared sentiment. Yet, if we see that there is a problem that seems to be unaddressed, rather than questioning God's reasons behind it...
May 1, 2024

157: Asking the Wrong Questions: Does God Love Me?

We all wonder at times, especially during difficult seasons, if God really loves us. However, God has made his love for us very clear, and he has demonstrated it by sending Jesus to die for us even though we sin against him. Although we can not expect to live flawless lives, it would not be right to accept God's love and then ignore the ways he says to honor him. The question we must ask instead is, "Do I love God?" In this episode Pastor Adam and Steph point out that Jesus and his apostle John ...
April 24, 2024

156: Asking the Wrong Questions: Is God Moving?

Is God moving? We want to know if God is truly at work in our world because sometimes it's hard for us to see. We ask the question not realizing that God is always moving. The problem, then, may be that we are too oblivious, and we need to be made more aware of where he is going and how we can follow him. In this episode Pastor Adam and Steph change the question. Instead of asking, "Is God moving?" we should be asking, "Am I going?" *Scripture referenced in this episode: John 5:17, Matthew 16:18...
April 17, 2024

155: Asking the Wrong Questions: Is God Speaking?

It's the start of a new series, and Pastor Adam and Steph are challenging us to rethink the questions we ask about God and our life. Sometimes it's hard to find the answers we are looking for because we are asking the wrong questions in the first place. If we can learn how to change our questions it can help us to reach conclusions that are far more helpful. Today's episode focuses on the question "Is God speaking?" Perhaps the better question to ask is "Am I listening?" *Scripture referenced in...
April 3, 2024

154: Worry is Unwise

To finish up the series of Why Worry is Wrong, Pastor Adam and Steph remind us that it is unwise to worry when we know who holds our tomorrow. If we learn to trust God and put him first in all things, then we recognize it is of no benefit to worry. Wisdom in understanding that God is in charge of your future, and he knows what is best for you.
March 27, 2024

153: Worry is Unreasonable

It should be a goal of our lives to make our actions and our mindset be congruent with the life of faith that Jesus has called us to. If we are believers in Jesus and we worry, we behave as if we do not trust that God has promised to provide for us. In today's episode, Pastor Adam and Steph help us to see how worry is unreasonable for those who have faith in God, and how logical it is to trust he will meet our needs.
March 20, 2024

152: Worry is Unnecessary

It would not make sense to put a lot of focus into something that is both unprofitable and unenjoyable, yet when we worry that is exactly what we are doing. We are so often worried about things that are beyond our control, and to what end? God, our Father, promises to take care of us, but the stress or worry is not helpful or needed. Pastor Adam and Steph show us through scripture why worry is unnecessary according to Jesus.
March 5, 2024

151: Worry is Unfaithfullness

The number one reason why we should not worry is because our Lord, Jesus himself, told us not to. If we consider ourselves servants of God then our sole responsibility is to be obedient to our master. On today's episode, Pastor Adam and Steph explain why worry is an act of unfaithfulness, and they explain why God is someone you can always trust.
Feb. 27, 2024

150: Why Worry is Wrong

Do you find yourself frequently anxious or worried? Jesus' famously offered a lot of instruction when it comes to how we manage the weight we carry on our minds each day and how we should behave. He offers both the comfort of knowing God cares for our individual needs, and he offers a few reasons why worry is wrong. In this start of a new series, Pastor Adam and Steph break down the reasons why we should not worry, and they help us understand what Jesus wants to teach us about seeking God and de...
Feb. 21, 2024

149: First of the Year

How can we put God first at the beginning of the year? By fasting. Fasting is when you deny yourself of physical needs for a set period of time and instead focus your energy on connecting with God. Jesus assumes that his followers will fast, and he gave instruction on how to do it appropriately. In this final episode of the series, Pastor Adam and Steph detail the spiritual growth principle of fasting on the first of the year, and encourage each of us to continue to seek God first every day, eve...
Feb. 13, 2024

148: First of the Month

On the first of the month we can practice the art of being unordinary by being obedient to God's command for generosity. Today the conversation is about money and tithing. Tithing is worshipfully giving God the first 10% of your income, and you can develop this discipline by planning how much you can give at the beginning of each other. Pastor Adam and Steph give the disclaimer, we do not want your money, and they share the significant impact of honoring God through giving back a portion of what...
Feb. 6, 2024

147: First of the Week

To practice the art of being unordinary, Pastor Adam and Steph teach us the importance of prioritizing worship of God on the first of the week. Sunday is the beginning of the week, and it is best spent in corporate worship with fellow believers. It is easy to want to do other things, but if you can make church attendance a non-negotiable, you can also expect more opportunities for spiritual growth as you honor God's command to assemble together.
Jan. 31, 2024

146: First of the Day

To practice the art of being unordinary, we can start off by putting God first each day. Rather than cramming our time with God in the 1.5 hours we spend in church on Sunday morning, we c an benefit from seeking God at the beginning of every morning. In this episode, Pastor Adam and Steph talk about the disciplines of reading the Bible and praying on a daily basis to help us grow spiritually throughout 2024.
Jan. 23, 2024

145: The Art of Being UN-Ordinary

Have you felt like you are simply just surviving? You do all the ordinary things. You go to work, eat regular meals, take care of chores, and fall asleep only to repeat the pattern the next day. Yet God intends for his people to do extraordinary things, and we are challenged to think differently from the culture. Join Pastor Adam and Steph as they discuss what it means to renew our minds, and how to practice new patterns to master the art of being unordinary.
Jan. 17, 2024

144: How to Deal with Your Spirit of Offense

When you feel offended, what do you do? How do you address it? How do you break or dismantle the power it has over your life? To conclude the "I'm Offended!" series, Pastor Adam and Steph give advice on how to deal with a spirit of offense, and how to guard your heart with the help of the Holy Spirit.
Jan. 9, 2024

143: Offense and Love Don't Mix

The classic love chapter in the Bible, 1 Corinthians 13, was written by the apostle Paul in a letter to the church in Corinth to give instruction on what the qualities of true, godly love are. Of all the things listed, offense is not one of them. In fact, love behaves in many opposite ways than offense. To help us recognize whether we are walking in a spirit of love or offense (because we can't do both at the same time), Pastor Adam and Steph go over this list to prove that it is impossible to t...
Jan. 2, 2024

142: Offense Stirs Up Anger & Hatred

Often when someone offends us we find ourselves harboring feelings of resentment and disdain towards them. It can be hard to rein in those negative thoughts toward the offender. Whether we are willing to admit it or not, when we have a spirit of offense we allow anger to grow, and anger unchecked can quickly lead to hatred. When Jesus walked the earth, he regularly offended religious leaders such as the Pharisees and Sadducees, and their attitude toward him became very violent. Continuing the se...
Dec. 26, 2023

2023 Outtakes

In this special episode of The Messy Walk Podcast, we share the behind-the-scenes shenanigans and mess-ups that didn't make the final cut of an episode. This is the 2023 outtake reel with Pastor Adam and Steph. As we celebrate the coming of a new year, please allow yourself to be entertained by unexpected chuckles, bumblings, and borderline improv comedy.
Dec. 19, 2023

141: Self-Righteousness and Offense Go Hand in Hand

Skadalon, the Grek word for offense, is also the word from which we get the English word scandal. Skadalon originally referred to bait in a trap. Like an animal caught in a snare, often our pride and self-righteousness hide the bait that lures us into offense. When something offensive comes up, do we choose to engage, or do we carry on with our lives? In this weeks episode, Pastor Adam and Steph uncover the root of pride and self-righteousness that so frequently leads to being offended. "Scriptu...
Dec. 13, 2023

140: The Spirit of Offense Causes Division

The Bible uses the word "offended" 25 times. That may not seem like much, but the meaning behind those verses have strong connotations in both the Hebrew and Greek languages. Jesus made it known that the gospel is offensive because it demands that we make changes to our lives that are not in agreement with the way of this world. The Church and the people of God ought to be like-minded in our beliefs, and in our mission, but offense can drive a wedge between people causing detriment to the body o...
Dec. 6, 2023

139: I'm Offended! How to Deal with a Spirit of Offense

In today's culture it often feels as if people are nearly looking for reasons to be offended. It is easy to recognize such negative patterns in the behaviors of others, but something it is far more difficult to assess ourselves with a humble mindset. Using a challenging list found on peacefulwife.com, Pastor Adam and Steph kick off a new series of episodes by reviewing questions we can ask ourselves to identify whether or not we walk around carrying a "spirit of offense".
Nov. 28, 2023

138: Cultural Awareness is Important w/ Missionary Alyssa Dugger

On site in the Dominican Republic, Pastor Adam sits down with Missionary Alyssa Dugger to talk about how important it is for Christ-followers to be culturally aware. Alyssa, a trained and educated missionary, currently with Casasporcristo.org, is an expert in how to live and witness in foreign cultures. She talks about how to really see people as equal, understand the common needs of people, and see uniqueness and beauty in differences. For Christ-followers who really want to love people and sha...