The Messy Walk Podcast

Out of all the spiritual disciplines, prayer is probably the most difficult. And guess what? It's like that for everyone. In this episode, Pastor Adam and Stephanie give us another thing they wish someone would've told them when they first became Christians: Most people don't pray well. This is an extremely helpful episode because Pastor Adam goes into a list of all the obstacles and things that m...

There are some things we desperately need to know as Christ-followers, and the sooner we know it the better. We wish we would've known and paid attention to the fact that the Devil (Satan) is real. The Devil is not a cartoon character or Halloween costume. He is a supernatural being who waging war against God and the people of God. Pastor Adam states that because he didn't recognize the power of t...

This is #4 in our series about all the things we wish someone would've told us (or we would have paid attention to) when we first started following Jesus. Today, listen hard and listen deep: You are not alone in your struggles. We know lots of Christians come across as having it all together on Sundays at church. And, everybody always says they are fine when asked how they are doing. This is not A...

Here is something that we wish we would've known when we first started following Jesus: The Christian life and walk with Jesus is messy...for EVERYONE. For some reason, we have this tendency to fake it. We have this tendency to pretend like everything is good and following Jesus is easy and always full of joy. And, that is just not the truth. Today, Stephanie and Pastor Adam talk about the ups and...

Man, it would've been nice to know some key things when we first started following Jesus! Today, Stephanie and Pastor Adam talk about the fact that the Bible is not easy to read! It's like no one tells us early on that understanding the bible is difficult; no one tells us where to start reading and in what order; no one says that it will be a constant struggle to set aside devoted time; no one say...

New series alert! Pastor Adam and Stephanie jump into a new series that we believe is going to be super helpful for those honestly wanting to follow Jesus. For most of us, when we started following Jesus, we had to sort of figure it out on our own. Here are the things we wish someone would've  told us when we first started following Jesus To kick this thing off, we will start with the basic: I wis...

It's a new day for the Messy Walk Podcast! Today we would like you to meet our new host, Stephanie Lee Shelton. This episode is so you can get to know her some while Pastor Adam does a little impromptu interview. So, without further adieu, Messy Walk family meet your new permanent host!

Today is a different kinda episode. Next week we will kick off a new series with our new permanent host, but for now Pastor Adam is in the Dominican Republic with our mission partner, Casas por Cristo, and he is chatting with new mission intern, Jessiah Keller. Jessiah is a young guy from our home church who has spent the summer checking out what it really looks like to be a missionary in a foreig...

On today's episode, we look at the last characteristic of someone who thinks like Jesus thinks. Jesus had an eternal perspective that was not focused on the earthly and temporary. It's so easy to get distracted and focused on the temporary. It's so easy to get distracted and focused on the temporary trappings and hardships of this world. But with the mind of Christ, we don't have to just get throu...

Just a couple more episodes left in this series, Pastor Adam and Pastor Matt keep processing how we can think like Jesus thinks. Jesus' mindset is fixed on wanting to do God's will instead of His own. That mindset is so counter-cultural. The culture around us says we do what we want and desire. The culture around us says we do what makes us happy. But, that is not Jesus. As Christ-followers, we ca...

We all know what it is like to sacrifice for ourselves. We sacrifice time or money or sleep to achieve something or get something in the future. But, how often do we sacrifice, because Jesus is permanently linked to a mental image of the cross. Crosses are the most popular icon that decorates homes and even human bodies in the form of jewelry and tattoos. The mind of Christ is defined by sacrifice...

Good news: As a Christ-follower, you HAVE the mind of Christ. Bad news: People are going to hurt you. The mind of Jesus is rooted in the forgiveness of enemies, and the cross is proof-positive that Jesus forgives those who hurt Him. This makes Jesus different from every other leader in history. Jesus models and teaches a radically liberating humility that is rooted in forgiveness and submission. W...

Most of us depend way too much on our own power, strength, intelligence, wit, and problem-solving skills instead of walking in the power of God. Pastor Adam and Pastor Matt happen to record this episode on what they call "holy hangover Monday", so it is perfect timing! Jesus repeatedly refuses to separate himself from the authority, unity, and strength of the Godhead, even though He is in human fo...

It is impossible to please everyone, but that doesn't seem to stop us from trying! We waste so much time and effort trying to please everyone and seeking approval from everyone. You think you are doing the right thing by making people like you, so people pleasing feels like the right thing to do, but sin often masquerades itself as doing the right thing. With the mind of Christ, you can actually t...

Every person needs help controlling their tongue. Wouldn't it be great to be ale to think like Jesus thinks? And, wouldn't it be great to have a mind that is rooted in the ways of God so much so that we only say what God wants us to say? The 4th characteristic of someone who thinks like Jesus thinks is so helpful:  I let God help me choose my words. With the mind of Christ, it is possible to handl...

As a Christ-follower, you can think like Jesus thinks! Join us today as we look at the 3rd characteristic of someone who thinks like Jesus thinks: I am always aware that God is with me. If you struggle with loneliness or worried about God's care for you, this is the episode for you. Pastor Adam is honest about how his mind is changing, specifically regarding loneliness and knowing that God is with...

It's time to get your mind right! And wouldn't it be awesome to think like Jesus thinks? Well, with the mind of Christ, all Christ-followers can actually think like Jesus thinks. Today, we dive into purpose. Because Jesus always knew God's purpose for His life. So, join us as we declare "I know God's purpose for my life!" Scripture references in today's episode: John 8:14, Luke 2:49, John 10:10, J...

Guess what? You can think like Jesus thinks! A person who thinks like Jesus thinks knows exactly who they are. Jesus was not confused about his identity. He knew exactly who He was. With the mind of Christ, you can walk in knowing exactly who you are. If you don't know who you are like Jesus knows who He is, you will fall into 3 traps: 1) Other people will force you into their mold. 2) You will li...

Let's be honest, our mind is usually kicking our butts! The battle of the mind is a real thing. Starting today, Pastor Adam and Pastor Matt are trying to get their minds right! Maybe you are, too! Pastor Adam shares that he personally really wants to think like Jesus thinks. Maybe you do, too. Here's the good news:  you can actually think like Jesus thinks! Join us today as we kick off an 11-episo...

In the last episode of our series of questions from a rookie pastor to the veteran pastor, Matt asks Pastor Adam if he could go back, knowing what he knows now, would he do this ministry thing all over again? Get ready for an honest, open, unplanned and off the cuff reflection and answer. There are days where we would not do it all over again. There are days where we would absolutely do it all ove...

We've got only 2 questions left, and today, the rookie pastor asks Pastor Adam to look forward into the future and talk about the plans for maximizing the rest of his ministry. After 20+ years, what does the next phase look life? How do you end well? Pastor Adam talks through his personal convictions on retirement (spoiler - it might ruffle some feathers), seeing leadership continue with his famil...

Super short episode where Pastor Adam gives the rookie pastor a list of books that influenced his life. Other than the Bible, there are several books that have had and continue to have a profound impact. maybe these will help: Viktor Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning Henri Nouwen, In the name of Jesus; C.S Lewis, The Problem of Pain; C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters; Elisabeth Elliot, The Path of...

The danger of church leadership is focusing all our attention non helping other people be intentional in their personal discipleship and evangelism and not actually doing it ourselves. Out of all of the these questions in this series, Pastor Adam says this is the one that he feels he has had the most success in. Pastor Matt, the rookie pastor, asks Pastor Adam how he keeps evangelism intentional i...

No matter what your job is, it is tempting, and quite easy, to place your work before your spouse. Things get so pressing in our work, that the consistent things and people in the background can be relegated to the background instead of intentionally lifted to the foreground. Pastor Adam answers the rookie pastor's question with brutal honesty, admitting significant failure, and points to primary...

Let's dispel a myth: Pastor and spiritual leaders are great at praying and reading Scripture. That's just not true. All followers of Jesus, no matter the maturity level, struggle at times with reading the Word and praying. Pastor Adam shares with rookie pastor, Matt Dalton, about how he fights to be consistent in these spiritual disciplines. He talks about how he fights to be consistent in these s...