The Messy Walk Podcast

Why are we carrying burdens God never asked us to carry? Most of us have a list of things we're worried about. In fact, we've become so accustomed to worry that we don't even recognize that we bring it with us everywhere we go. We dismiss our inner turmoil and fear as just part of being a responsible, realistic human being. Meanwhile, our culture is producing worriers at an unprecedented rate, dri...

The most dangerous form of deception isn't something obviously evil — it's something that is subtle enough that it almost looks good or true. Satan's strategy is to use things that appear remarkably Christian on the surface, fooling people by feeling familiar or sounding biblical, but are actually distortions of the truth. Pastor Adam and Steph admit that we have become incredibly good at creating...

Most people think repentance is feeling bad about what they have done. It's not! We've confused conviction, regret, or guilt with repentance, without ever assessing the need for change. When a person says, "I'm sorry," but then continues living the same way, the apology means very little. Yet, God requires us to acknowledge our failures and be transformed. Pastor Adam and Steph warn of the dangers...

One of the saddest realities in modern Christianity is that many people have church friends but no spiritual family. We are more connected than ever technologically, yet more isolated than ever emotionally. Even in the family of God, we can spend years in church relationships without ever truly being known. That’s a counterfeit community. Pastor Adam and Steph share what is important about being o...

Of all the things that can be faked spiritually, humility may be one of the easiest to counterfeit. Some of the proudest people do not look proud at all. Even behind a mask of curated vulnerability, people can appear as if they have low opinions of themselves, when in reality, their own pity remains entirely inward-focused. Counterfeit humility is simply pride in disguise—using self-demotion to dr...

Perhaps one of the biggest misunderstandings in modern Christianity is that when we worship, we must be singing songs and playing music. Using art, expressing deep feelings, and being involved in worship music culture seem convincing on the surface, but emotional experiences and spiritual transformation are not automatically the same thing. God requires obedience and surrender, and giving our live...

It's the beginning of a new, uncomfortable series of The Messy Walk Podcast , in which we will learn to identify counterfeit versions of Christianity that appear close enough to genuine faith to fool others, but are still far enough from the truth to completely miss Jesus. For this episode, Pastor Adam and Steph focus on "counterfeit grace"—a view of God's favor that removes all tension and asks f...

In ministry, personality is a major aspect of what captures people's attention, and it is the subject of near-constant criticism. How a spiritual leader presents and conducts himself is not always to everyone's liking, yet it is not a pastor's job to make himself into what others want him to be. As Christians we have to ask ourselves the question: will I spend my life managing perceptions of me, o...

In church, people enjoy hearing about hope, grace, forgiveness, and new beginnings. However, there is one word most people avoid because it is uncomfortable: "sin." Somewhere along the way, Christians have replaced this word with softer language—"mistakes," "struggles," or "brokenness." While these words share similar meanings, they do not carry the same weight; after all, sin is something we all...

Money and church: two words that, when placed together, often make people exceedingly uncomfortable. Perhaps this is because of the history of abuse with money within some churches, or perhaps it is because financial well-being is so deeply personal. Regardless, it is a vital topic—one that Jesus spoke about more frequently than almost any other. Why? Because money is the primary competitor for th...

While some responsibilities of pastoral leadership are publicly visible, many others are never fully seen and carry a lot of weight. Among these, one of the heaviest responsibilities is managing who stands on the church platform to guide moments that shape people spiritually. Anyone positioned to lead with spiritual influence must possess the moral authority to do so. Pastor Adam and Steph specifi...

While most people view Sunday as a day of rest, reflection, or worship, for a pastor, it is the most intense day of the week. It is the culmination of hours of preparation, and the Sunday service is the most visible part of a pastor's spiritual responsibility. Yet, if a pastor is never allowed to take a break, they become the only one people expect to hear week after week. Pastor Adam and Steph cl...

Pastor Adam and Steph wish all the listeners of The Messy Walk Podcast a happy Easter!

Unavoidably, a pastor’s family feels the weight of ministry more than anyone else in the church. Furthermore, the family members didn't necessarily choose that life for themselves—especially the children, who are born into the reality of being "pastor’s kids." Pastors often feel immense pressure as their time and attention are shared among so many; the energy spent on another church member is ofte...

Pastors are overwhelmed with requests, meetings, conversations, emergency situations, events, and other responsibilities nearly every single day. People don't say it out loud, but the common expectation is that a pastor should always be available. The demand to commit to everything is impossible to meet without disappointing someone along the way. For those who care about others, turning someone d...

Without a doubt, pastors spend much of their time loving people, listening to people... and sometimes disappointing people. In a world that prefers comfort, faithfulness to God can sometimes sound offensive. Furthermore, teachers and leaders carry the weight of responsibility to communicate the truths of Scripture clearly and honestly, knowing they will be judged by God for it. Pastor Adam and Ste...

Sometimes when reading the Bible, you will find details in one book that differ from those in another. At times, these details may seem to pertain to the same event—even if they do not—while in other instances, they may provide an alternative perspective of the same event with a different focus. Without further study, it can look like the authors of scripture have a disagreement. This leads many t...

There are hundreds of English Bible translations, all of which differ slightly. This causes many to question how a text so ancient—and one that has been translated so many times—could possibly remain the same today as it was thousands of years ago. However, it is precisely because there are so many translations with only minimal variations that we can be confident the Bible has been well preserved...

The lie is that no one with intelligence reads the Bible anymore, and that those who do are merely religious fundamentalists and extremists. Even as higher education shuns biblical knowledge, the fact remains that some of the world's most brilliant minds—scientists, professors, and philosophers—still read and cherish the Holy Bible. Pastor Adam and Steph cite examples such as Dr. Younghoon Kim and...

There is a common idea that reading the Bible is so complex that it is best left to church leaders and clergy to read and interpret. No one would want to misunderstand the Word of God, after all. However, if people place all their trust in professionals, they resign themselves to following leaders blindly and will lack the discernment to identify any slant being applied to scripture. Pastor Adam a...

Maybe you’ve felt uninterested in reading the Bible because you think it’s boring. You have so many other things you would rather do. The enemy uses this lie to keep people from even getting started, putting all kinds of distractions in front of us to keep us entertained or fixated elsewhere. Pastor Adam and Steph are coming to you through your electronic devices to retaliate against this lie. The...

Pastor Adam and Steph wish all the listeners of The Messy Walk Podcast a happy new year!

Pastor Adam and Steph wish all the listeners of The Messy Walk Podcast a merry Christmas!

It's a common lie. It's said that the Bible is complex and from a different time; therefore, no one can understand it. While it is true that highly educated people are challenged by the literature and intricacies of Scripture, the fundamental truths communicated in the Bible are simple to understand. Even as Jesus encouraged His followers to approach God with childlike faith, the enemy will lie to...

Pastor Adam and Steph wish all the listeners of The Messy Walk Podcast a happy Thanksgiving!