Beyond Sundays

What does it really mean to seek justice as a follower of Jesus—and what does it cost us?

In this episode of Beyond Sundays, we dig into what it looks like to see injustice clearly without giving in to judgment, division, or apathy. Using passages like Micah 6:8, Luke 10 (the Good Samaritan), John 8, Romans 3:23, and Isaiah 1:17, we explore how faith calls us to compassion, humility, and action—even when it’s uncomfortable.

Hannah leads a thoughtful conversation on:

• ​Recognizing injustice in our communities without dehumanizing others
• ​How systems (even well-intentioned ones) can cause real harm
• ​The tension between law, politics, and compassion
• ​When silence or neutrality actually supports injustice
• ​The personal and communal cost of choosing mercy

We also reflect on accountability, shared responsibility, and where our own faith may be calling us to step in—not just in theory, but in real life.

At Beyond Sundays, we’re two friends trying to follow Jesus more closely. You won’t always agree with us, and we don’t have all the answers—but we promise to stay open, honest, and grounded in Scripture.

Here are great food banks you can donate to in the Minneapolis area if you'd like to get more directly involved:

https://www.joyceuptownfoodshelf.org/donations

https://cesmn.org/donate-2/

https://www.ceap.org/get-involved/donate-overview/

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What gives you the ick about spiritual authority—and why does it matter?

In this episode of Beyond Sundays, Matt hosts a candid conversation called “Name the Ick,” where we unpack why certain expressions of church leadership make people uneasy, guarded, or burned out. From unquestioned authority and spiritual language used to shut down disagreement, to pressure to “submit” without safety or trust, we get specific about what triggers discomfort—and why those reactions might be worth listening to.

We compare modern leadership instincts with the way Jesus actually exercised authority. He washed feet, refused status, invited questions, and never leveraged fear or divine threats. If Jesus is our model, why does His version of authority feel so different from what many of us experienced in church?

We also explore what healthy spiritual authority feels like—leadership that invites feedback, names its limits, protects the vulnerable, and is okay being questioned. And we close by affirming something many people need to hear: being careful isn’t rebellion, discernment isn’t distrust, and wanting safety doesn’t mean rejecting God’s design.

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When prayer feels heavy, you’re not alone.

In this episode of Beyond Sundays, Hannah leads a vulnerable conversation about something many Christians feel but rarely say out loud: sometimes prayer feels stressful… while silence doesn’t.

Why does talking to God sometimes feel like pressure instead of peace?
Why can stillness or meditation feel more restorative than prayer?
And is that a spiritual problem—or an invitation to rethink how we pray?

We explore:

• Feeling guilty about how prayer feels

• Whether prayer was modeled as rest or responsibility

• Prayer vs. meditation (personally and biblically)

• Why silence can feel like relief

• Scripture moments of stillness: “Be still and know” (Psalm 46), God’s whisper (1 Kings 19), and Jesus withdrawing to rest (Mark 6)

• How embodied faith and modern Christianity sometimes clash

• Whether silence and meditation have a place in Christian spirituality

Real talk:
How do we embrace silence without letting prayer grow cold or passive—especially when fervent and intercessory prayer matters?

We wrap with this truth:

Rest does not compete with prayer. It makes it possible. It sustains it.

If prayer has ever felt more like pressure than peace, this conversation is for you.

“Hate the sin, love the sinner.”
It’s one of the most common phrases in Christianity—but is it actually biblical? And more importantly… does it help people, or hurt them?

In this episode of Beyond Sundays, we take an honest look at where this phrase came from, why Christians use it so often, and why it frequently lands with more pain than love. We explore how Jesus actually interacted with sinners, whether sin and identity can really be separated so cleanly, and how intent doesn’t always match impact.

This isn’t a takedown—and it’s not a defense. It’s a conversation about truth, compassion, power dynamics, and what faithfulness looks like beyond Christian catchphrases.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Is “hate the sin, love the sinner” even in the Bible?

• Why the phrase feels loving to some—and harmful to others

• How Jesus confronted sin without distancing Himself from people

• Whether this slogan oversimplifies real lives and real pain

• What truths are worth preserving—and what language may need to change

If you’ve ever felt tension between holding convictions and loving people well, this conversation is for you.

🎙️ Beyond Sundays is a podcast from two friends trying to follow Jesus more closely. We won’t always agree, and we’ll stumble along the way—but we promise to be open and honest all the way through.

As we close out the year, we wanted to pause and look back—not just at the episodes we released, but at how the conversations changed us along the way.

In this reflective episode of Beyond Sundays, we revisit the moments from the past year that reshaped our faith, surprised us mid-conversation, and stretched us spiritually. We talk honestly about the episode that hit closest to home, the topic we were nervous to publish, and the listener messages that deeply encouraged or challenged us.

We also pull back the curtain on the realities of weekly podcasting—the creative strain, the spiritual discipline it requires, and the unexpected themes and running jokes that emerged without us planning them. Most importantly, we reflect on how our faith looks different now than it did at the beginning of the year, and what we hope listeners carried with them through every conversation.

Whether you’ve been with us all year or you’re just discovering the show, this episode is an invitation to reflect, give thanks, and consider how God has been at work beyond Sundays.

Keywords: Christian podcast, faith reflection, spiritual growth, end of year reflection, following Jesus, honest faith conversations, Beyond Sundays

As we close out the year, we wanted to pause and look back—not just at the episodes we released, but at how the conversations changed us along the way.

In this reflective episode of Beyond Sundays, we revisit the moments from the past year that reshaped our faith, surprised us mid-conversation, and stretched us spiritually. We talk honestly about the episode that hit closest to home, the topic we were nervous to publish, and the listener messages that deeply encouraged or challenged us.

We also pull back the curtain on the realities of weekly podcasting—the creative strain, the spiritual discipline it requires, and the unexpected themes and running jokes that emerged without us planning them. Most importantly, we reflect on how our faith looks different now than it did at the beginning of the year, and what we hope listeners carried with them through every conversation.

Whether you’ve been with us all year or you’re just discovering the show, this episode is an invitation to reflect, give thanks, and consider how God has been at work beyond Sundays.

Keywords:
Christian podcast, faith reflection, spiritual growth, end of year reflection, following Jesus, honest faith conversations, Beyond Sundays

Christmas didn’t arrive the way anyone expected—and that’s the point.

In this episode of Beyond Sundays, we explore the Upside-Down story of Christmas through Luke 1–2, asking what it means that God chose humility over hype, shepherds over royalty, and a manger over a throne. From Mary’s revolutionary song to the first people invited to the nativity, the biblical Christmas story reveals a kingdom that flips the world’s values—and offers good news for all people.

We imagine what a modern PR rollout for the Messiah might look like, then contrast it with God’s actual plan. We dig into why shepherds were chosen first, how Mary’s Magnificat functions as a kingdom manifesto, and how Christmas continues to challenge our assumptions about power, status, and success. We also talk practically about what an Upside-Down Kingdom Christmas could look like today through simple, humble traditions that reflect the heart of Jesus.

This conversation is for anyone who’s ever felt overlooked, unimpressive, or unsure where they fit in God’s story—and for anyone who suspects Christmas is deeper (and more disruptive) than we often let it be.

Key themes:
Christmas story explained • Luke 1–2 • Nativity • Upside-Down Kingdom • Mary’s Magnificat • Shepherds • Good news for all people • Faith and humility • Meaning of Christmas

🎄 New episodes weekly from Beyond Sundays — two friends trying to follow Jesus more closely, even when we stumble along the way.

Christmas didn’t arrive the way anyone expected—and that’s the point.

In this episode of Beyond Sundays, we explore the Upside-Down story of Christmas through Luke 1–2, asking what it means that God chose humility over hype, shepherds over royalty, and a manger over a throne. From Mary’s revolutionary song to the first people invited to the nativity, the biblical Christmas story reveals a kingdom that flips the world’s values—and offers good news for all people.

We imagine what a modern PR rollout for the Messiah might look like, then contrast it with God’s actual plan. We dig into why shepherds were chosen first, how Mary’s Magnificat functions as a kingdom manifesto, and how Christmas continues to challenge our assumptions about power, status, and success. We also talk practically about what an Upside-Down Kingdom Christmas could look like today through simple, humble traditions that reflect the heart of Jesus.

This conversation is for anyone who’s ever felt overlooked, unimpressive, or unsure where they fit in God’s story—and for anyone who suspects Christmas is deeper (and more disruptive) than we often let it be.

Key themes:
Christmas story explained • Luke 1–2 • Nativity • Upside-Down Kingdom • Mary’s Magnificat • Shepherds • Good news for all people • Faith and humility • Meaning of Christmas

🎄 New episodes weekly from Beyond Sundays — two friends trying to follow Jesus more closely, even when we stumble along the way.

Episode 49 — Who Is My Neighbor?
In this episode of Beyond Sundays — a Christian podcast from two friends trying to follow Jesus more closely — we dive deep into one of Jesus’ most famous teachings: the Parable of the Good Samaritan. What did Jesus really mean when He answered the question, “Who is my neighbor?” And how do we live that out in a world full of distractions, divisions, and “convenient neighbors” we prefer to choose for ourselves?

Matt hosts today’s conversation as we explore:

• The Good Samaritan story (Luke 10:25–37): what makes this parable so surprising and so challenging

• How Scripture defines a “neighbor” — and who we may be unintentionally walking past

• Where churches get it right in loving people well, and where faith sometimes becomes a way to avoid messy, complicated situations

• Abused kindness: how some people exploit Christian compassion, and how to tell the difference between love and codependency

• Practical takeaways for living out Jesus’ command to “go and do likewise”

If you enjoy thoughtful conversations about faith, discipleship, and real life, you’re in the right place. We’re grateful you make time for this community each week.

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Thanks for listening, and may the Lord bless you and keep you.

Matt opens up about a significant struggle in his walk with God - justifying God's anger at certain points in the Bible. It's a conversation with a lot of vulnerability and some answers. However, we don't arrive at all the answers and that makes us wonder about the nature of faith and surrender, too!

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