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Made for Mondays | STEPS

Step 1. The Problem: I Can't

This week on Made for Mondays, Heather is joined by Jamey, Adrienne, and Tyler as they continue the STEPS journey by unpacking Step One—the uncomfortable, freeing, and surprisingly hopeful place where real change begins.

After weekend chitchat and reflecting on this week’s Bible reading from Genesis 18 and Matthew 6, the conversation turns toward a truth many of us quietly avoid:
we are really good at managing appearances… and not very good at admitting powerlessness.

This episode explores what it means to stop pretending we have it together and start telling the truth about where we’re stuck—not in a dramatic collapse, but in the ordinary, Monday-morning kind of struggle where we keep thinking, “I should be further along by now.”

Here’s what they talk through:

• Powerlessness vs. image management
Step One invites us to admit we can’t control what’s broken in us—but most of us are far more fluent in curating competence. The group discusses where resistance shows up when the problem isn’t out there but in here, and why naming that honestly is harder than it sounds.

• “Not that bad” as a spiritual stall tactic
The phrase “it’s not that bad” gets exposed for what it often is: a quiet way of settling for less freedom than Jesus offers. The conversation explores why minimizing our struggles feels safer than naming our real withered hand—and how that safety actually keeps us stuck.

• Stretching what can’t stretch
Looking at Jesus healing the man with the withered hand, the group reflects on why Jesus asks him to do the very thing he cannot do. What does that reveal about how transformation actually begins—and how does it confront our instinct to fix, hide, or self-improve before showing up honestly?

• What makes honesty possible in church
Jamey shares the conviction that the church should be “the safest place in the world for a sinner.” The group wrestles with what helps create that kind of safety—and what shuts it down—both personally and communally.

• Whose eyes are we most aware of?
When we imagine being fully seen, whose gaze shapes us most: other people, our inner critic, or Jesus? The answer often determines what we’re willing to bring into the light—and what we keep hidden.

• A listener question worth sitting with
A faithful listener writes in asking where Scripture encourages that first small turn toward God—the 0.1-degree shift for someone who feels far away or powerless. The group reflects on biblical moments where God meets people not after the full turnaround, but right at the first honest step toward Him.

• Weakness as the doorway to power
Paul reframes weakness as the very place where God’s power shows up. The episode closes with a practical invitation: one small stretch of faith this week—a prayer you’ve been avoiding, a confession, a text asking for help, or simply showing up to a group.

And finally, the conversation lands on this image:
 Jesus with outstretched hands on the cross—not asking us to try harder, but inviting us to trust deeper.

Join Us This Sunday

We’re continuing STEPS as we move into Step Two

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Made for Mondays | Steps

The Problem: I Can’t

This week on Made for Mondays, Heather sits down with Joe and Adrienne to kick off a brand-new year—and a brand-new series—Steps. Together, they unpack Sunday’s message that reframes “new year, new you” away from willpower and toward Jesus as our Deliverer.

After catching up on Christmas break and introducing The Year of Practice Bible Reading Challenge, the conversation turns honest and deeply relatable:
Why do so many of us want to change… and still feel stuck?

The group explores how the patterns we struggle with run deeper than discipline and why real change begins not with trying harder, but with bringing our basement places into the light within safe, honest community.

Here’s what they dig into:

• Resolutions, reality, and starting the year honestly
From half-kept resolutions to abandoned goals, the group talks candidly about how the pressure to “fix ourselves” often sets us up for discouragement—and why this year is about practice, not perfection.

• “I can’t” statements and the power of naming reality
Jamey reflects on the opening pages of Steps and the familiar “I can’t” statements that resonate so deeply. The team shares what emotions surface when we admit our limits—and why that admission is actually the starting point for transformation.

• Romans 7 and the struggle we all recognize
“I do what I do not want to do.”
The conversation unpacks Paul’s letter to the church in Rome, exploring what “the Law” means, how it still enslaves us today, and why awareness without deliverance only deepens frustration.

• Discipline as a response, not a replacement
In a Year of Practice, how do we pursue discipline as a way of responding to Jesus rather than trying to substitute discipline for Jesus? The group talks about rhythms, grace-filled practices, and why effort alone can’t heal what’s broken.

• What the church can learn from recovery spaces
Jamey shares wisdom from time spent at AA meetings with his mom—including the powerful idea that while churches often celebrate miracles upstairs, the real miracles happen in the basement.
This leads to a raw conversation about sanitized faith, hidden struggles, confession, and what it would look like to build communities where honesty is safe and transformation is real.

• A radical Big Idea
“With Jesus, the worse your story, the warmer your welcome.”
The group discusses how churches can embody that truth—not just say it—and what guardrails help keep stories centered on Jesus instead of self-promotion.

• Sitting at a different table
Looking at Jesus calling Levi in Mark 2, the conversation explores what it means to practice grace like Jesus did—intentionally moving toward people others avoid—without confusing grace with enabling.

• Practicing community, not just talking about it
Before wrapping up Sunday’s service, the church practiced being in groups. The team reflects on why that mattered and how getting connected to a Steps group is a vital next step for anyone ready to pursue real change this year.

Join Us This Sunday

We’re continuing Steps by diving into Step One: The Proble

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Made for Mondays | The Christmas Playlist

Light That Can’t Be Manufactured

This week on Made for Mondays, Heather is joined by Jamey, Tyler, and Doug as they lean into the heart of Christmas week and unpack Sunday’s message about real joy and real light—the kind that doesn’t come from a playlist, a purchase, or pretending everything is fine.

After some weekend catch-up and reflections from Revelation 10–15, Psalms 145–157, and Proverbs 30, the conversation turns toward a timely and honest question:

✨ What’s the difference between manufactured cheer and received joy?

As Christmas approaches, the group reflects on the ways we often try to produce joy—through nostalgia, noise, shopping, control, or even religious performance—when what we actually need is to receive joy as the fruit of abiding in Jesus. Jamey shares how Christmas music can sometimes feel like it’s trying to convince our souls everything is wonderful, even when life feels dark.

The discussion explores:

• Chasing a mood vs. staying close to Jesus
How do we tell when we’re chasing a feeling instead of abiding in Christ? The group shares honest “litmus tests” that reveal when joy has become something we’re forcing rather than receiving.

• Darkness and light
Jamey unpacks the idea that darkness isn’t a thing—it’s the absence of light. Spiritually, that shifts the battle. Instead of staring at darkness, we’re invited to step toward the Light.
What does that look like practically? The team offers simple, doable steps—like intentional prayer, confession, community, or a single act of obedience—that help move us closer to Jesus when gloom starts creeping back in.

• Shining brighter in real life
Rooted in Matthew 5, the BIG IDEA comes into focus:
In a world getting darker, we need to shine brighter.
Not performative faith—but quiet faithfulness. Reconciliation. Costly generosity. Staying at the table with people we disagree with. The group shares real-life examples of what that kind of light looks like when it shows up in everyday moments.

• Light beyond our walls
The conversation connects to The Gift and Believers’ partners in Cuba, highlighting how faithful believers there are shining the Light of Jesus in powerful, practical ways—and why it’s such a gift to be part of what God is doing through them.

• Community in the dark seasons
Jamey revisits a story from one of his darkest seasons, where isolation played a central role. Doug and Tyler reflect on how deeply they relate—and why community isn’t optional for spiritual health.
The group also points ahead to Steps and the importance of getting connected to a small group in the New Year.

Join Us This Week

🎄 Christmas Eve Services
Two identical, family-friendly gatherings at 4:00 & 5:30 PM

💻 Online-Only Sunday Experience
No on-campus gatherings this Sunday. Join us online for a devotional time with Pastor Jamey on Sunday, December 28.

Until the New Year—Merry Christmas, friends.
Go shine the LIGHT and BE LOVE!

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Made for Mondays | The Christmas Playlist

Joy That Lasts Longer Than the Season

This week on Made for Mondays, Heather is joined by Tyler, Adrienne, and Joe as they unpack Sunday’s message on joy—not the glittery, Hallmark-movie version, but the kind Jesus promises… the kind that doesn’t disappear when the decorations come down.

After some weekend catch-up and reflections from Revelation, Psalms, and Proverbs, the team jumps into a real, honest conversation about why Christmas can feel emotionally louder than any other time of year.

🎄 First things first:
Where is everyone landing on the Christmas spectrum right now—full Elf-level hype or deep-in-your-bones Grinch-core?

Tyler opens up about the now-legendary Dragon Ball Z childhood heartbreak that shaped his inner Grinch, and the group reflects on why we often chase joy in ways that can’t actually sustain us.

The conversation explores:

• Why Christmas magnifies expectations—and disappointments
This season promises joy everywhere we look, but often delivers pressure instead. The group talks honestly about unrealistic expectations and why they hit harder this time of year.

• Pruning, not punishment (John 15)
Jesus describes pruning as an act of care, yet in real life it can feel like loss, limits, or disappointment.
How do we tell the difference between loving pruning and shame-based self-punishment—and how do we stay connected to Jesus when something gets cut back?

• Stories of fruit after the cut
The team vulnerably shares areas where God removed something they didn’t love losing at the time, but now see the fruit that came from it.

• Joy that makes room for grief
Jesus promised a joy that would fill us and overflow—but what does that look like when we’re carrying grief, loneliness, or financial strain during the holidays?
The group talks about what it could look like for our church to practice joy and lament together.

• JOY: Jesus, Others, You
The JOY wristband is a helpful reminder—but how do we keep it from becoming just a slogan?
What does “Jesus first” look like in a normal week?
How do we love others sacrificially without ignoring healthy limits?
And how does generosity—like participating in The Gift—become overflow rather than pressure?

The episode wraps with a simple, practical challenge:
 If someone wants the kind of joy Jesus offers—not a seasonal sugar rush—what’s one thing they can do this week to remain in His love?

Join Us Sunday!

We’re continuing The Christmas Playlist this weekend, and we’d love for you to join us—and invite someone you’ve been praying about.

🕘 9 & 10:45A on campus
▶️ YouTube Premiere at 1P

Share this episode, invite a friend, and remember:
 We’re here for good—Go BE LOVE!

Stay Connected
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Episode 276 | December 8

The Christmas Playlist Begins: “All I Want for Christmas Is You”

This week on Made for Mondays, Joe is joined by Heather, Adrienne, and Jamey as we kick off our December message series—The Christmas Playlist. Each week, a familiar Christmas song will launch us into deeper truth about why the birth of Jesus is good news for everyone, for all time.

After some weekend catch-up and reflections from Revelation, Psalms, and Proverbs, the crew opens the conversation with a festive question:

🎶 What’s on YOUR Christmas playlist?
Everyone shares their favorite Christmas songs and the memories, nostalgia, and theology (yep!) behind the ones they love.

Heather then takes us into Week 1 of the series, built around All I Want for Christmas Is You. With help from the choir, this Sunday kicked off with a fun moment—but also a deeply meaningful look at desire, longing, and contentment.

The team unpacks:

• Needs vs. wants:
Heather shares about the season of life when she first realized the difference—and the panel reflects on when they stopped depending on parents for everything and started managing desires on their own.

• Two pictures of desire:
James 4 warns about desires at war within us, while Psalm 37 promises God will give us the desires of our hearts as we delight in Him.

• Q: What does it look like for God to rewrite our “wish list”?
Especially during a season when constant advertising pushes us toward more, the team explores how God transforms what we want.

• The “school of contentment”:
If contentment is something Paul learned, we can too. The team shares practices that help cultivate contentment—especially for those walking through disappointment or scarcity this Christmas.

• The Gift (2026):
After unveiling the projects last week, Heather recaps the goals and heart behind The Gift.
They discuss how generosity joins us to God’s heart—and why the “gifts” our church most needs to give this year aren’t all financial.

• A preview of January:
Jamey shares a first look at our upcoming churchwide series and BeGroup study based on John Ortberg’s Steps. It’s designed to help our church and community grow in spiritual practices, belonging, and next steps in faith.

To ask questions about faith, Believers, or becoming a Steps facilitator, email [email protected]
 (linked in the show notes).

Join Us Sunday!

We continue The Christmas Playlist this weekend, and we’d love for you—and the people you’re praying about inviting—to join us:

Sundays at 9 & 10:45A
YouTube Premiere at 1P

Share this episode, invite someone, and remember:
We’re here for good—Go BE LOVE!

Stay Connected
Website: https://believerschurch.org/

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This week on Made For Mondays, Heather sits down with Jamey, Adrienne, and Megan Angel for one of the most joy-filled episodes of the year—our annual celebration of generosity: THE GIFT.

After some Thanksgiving-weekend chitchat and reflections from the Bible Reading Challenge, the team dives into the heart of what makes this Sunday so special. Since everything in this episode centers around giving, Heather kicks things off by asking the crew to share some of their most memorable Christmas gifts—the ones that meant something, made them laugh, or left a lasting mark.

From there, Jamey walks listeners through the why behind The Gift—before ever getting to the “what.” He shares the story of how it began, how it’s grown, and why it continues to shape the culture of Believers Church year after year. Adrienne and Angel share their earliest memories of The Gift and the moments that helped them understand why it matters.

The team highlights story after story of how generosity has opened doors, softened hearts, and drawn people to Jesus—simply because someone from Believers chose to be love in the community.

They unpack:
• What makes The Gift so counter-cultural in a skeptical world
• The three goals that shape The Gift every year
• Why those goals can transform how we see giving—and Christmas itself
• This week’s BIG IDEA:

“Faith that doesn’t cost you is counterfeit.”

• How each of them is personally wrestling with generosity, sacrifice, and heart-posture this year

And of course…they finally unveil The Gift 2026 projects—what they are, why they matter, and how listeners can participate.

Before closing, the team gives a sneak peek into the brand-new Christmas teaching series launching this Sunday: The Christmas Playlist.

🎧 It’s warm, inspiring, and full of stories that remind us that generosity is not something we do—it’s who we are.

📅 Join us Sundays at 9 & 10:45A
▶️ Livestream on YouTube at 1P
🌐 The Gift details → believerschurch.org
📸 Share the episode & Go BE LOVE!

#MadeForMondays #TheGift #Generosity #WeAreHereForGood #ChristmasAtBelievers

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This week on Made For Mondays, Heather hosts with Jamey, Adrienne, and Joe for an honest, energetic, and surprisingly fun deep-dive into end times confusion, cultural chaos, and what it means to stay steady when the world feels anything but steady.

The crew kicks things off with some weekend highlights and Bible Reading Challenge reflections before jumping into the Sunday Dish—starting all the way back in 1999, the height of Y2K panic, and why every generation seems convinced their moment is the moment.

Jamey revisits his message and shares the famous line from one of his professors: “Date setters are upsetters!” That leads the team into a thoughtful conversation on end-times predictions, spiritual misinformation, and why “The Day of the Lord” has felt confusing for every generation—ancient Jews and Greeks included.

They unpack:
• How false teaching spreads today just as quickly as it did in Paul’s time
• How to stay vigilant about who we follow and trust
• Why the “great falling away” conversation has spanned 2,000 years
• Why Christians are so fascinated by the anti-Christ—and how to talk about it without spiraling into anxiety

Throughout the episode, the team reflects on this week’s Big Idea:

The more unstable our world seems, the more stable God’s people need to be.

Heather asks each guest how they personally practice that stability in real life, and the team shares practical rhythms to help listeners ground themselves in truth, hope, and confidence in Jesus.

Before signing off, Jamey gives a teaser for this coming Sunday.

🎧 Join us for a grounded, thoughtful, and hope-filled conversation about living steady in an unsteady world.

📅 Sundays at 9 & 10:45A — on campus or online
📧 Questions & stories → [email protected]

🌐 believerschurch.org
📸 @believers_church

#MadeForMondays #EndTimes #SteadyFaith #TheDayOfTheLord #GetReadySeries #BigIdeaMFM

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This week on Made For Mondays, Joe hosts with Heather, Jamey, and RaChelle for a powerful and eye-opening conversation on persecution, justice, and what it means to be an irresistible, resurrection-shaped church.

The crew kicks things off with weekend stories and Bible Reading Challenge reflections before diving into a What the What?! question from Zach: How do we know Paul wasn’t just using Jesus’ return as a motivational tactic—like Santa for grown-ups? Jamey breaks down why the early church lived with such confidence in Jesus’ return and why their hope was grounded in reality, not rhetoric.

In the Sunday Dish, Heather recaps her message and gives a behind-the-scenes look at ICN (International Church Network) and what it means for Believers to be part of a global movement of churches. The team swaps their favorite ICN stories, talks faith on road trips, and unpacks a powerful testimony from a persecuted believer in China that reshaped their perspective on faith, suffering, and spiritual grit.

Listeners also sent in two big questions:
• How do we “leave room for God’s wrath” and pursue justice without revenge?
• What does an irresistible, resurrection-centered church actually look like in a comfortable, Western context?

Jamey and Heather work through these with honesty and clarity.

Finally, the team walks through this week’s Next Steps, rooted in 2 Thessalonians 1:11–12—three practical practices designed to help all of us deepen our faith, love others well, and stand with the global church.

💡 Next Steps:

Pray 2 Thessalonians 1:11–12 each morning

Show Jesus’ love to one person in a tangible way

Fast from one meal to pray for persecuted believers

📧 Got a question or story? Email [email protected]

📅 Join us Sundays at 9 & 10:45A on campus or online at 1P

#MadeForMondays #GetReadySeries #PersecutedChurch #ResurrectionHope #ICN #FaithInAction #PrayGiveLove #BigIdeaMFM

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This week on Made For Mondays, Heather, Jamey, Joe, and Tyler keep the conversation rolling in our Get Ready series with a powerful look at 1 Thessalonians 5 — and some deep listener questions you won’t want to miss.

As we celebrate Veterans Day, the crew kicks off with a couple of big “What the What?!” questions from our inbox — including how to handle Christian content creators who mix faith and politics, and what it really means that Jesus is both God and the Son of God. Jamey helps untangle these with biblical wisdom and clarity.

Then in the Sunday Dish, Tyler unpacks the message Live Like Him Now and reminds us that knowing how it ends should shape how we live today. The group talks about encouraging others, loving differently in a culture that celebrates retaliation, and what it means to keep the Holy Spirit’s fire alive in our lives.

💡 Big Idea: We’ll live with Him then — so let’s live like Him now.

📖 Scriptures: 1 Thessalonians 5 | Colossians 1:15–17 | John 14:6 | Philippians 2:5–8
📅 Join us Sundays at 9 & 10:45A on campus or online at 1P
📧 Got a question? Send it to [email protected]

#MadeForMondays #GetReadySeries #LiveLikeHimNow #BelieversChurch #FaithInAction #HolySpirit #Encouragement #FaithOverPolitics #BigIdeaMFM

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Website: https://believerschurch.org/

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This week on Made For Mondays, we continue our Get Ready series with a powerful message from 1 Thessalonians 4 called Hope in the Resurrection.

Heather, Jamey, Joe, and Tyler unpack Paul’s encouragement to believers who were grieving loved ones that had died before Jesus’ return. The conversation dives deep into why our hope in Christ changes how we face death and loss—and how knowing how it ends changes how we live.

From what happens when we die, to what it means that “the dead in Christ will rise first,” to why the resurrection matters for our future and our faith today—this episode helps bring clarity and comfort to some of life’s biggest questions. You’ll also hear honest reflections on grief, hope, and how we can walk with others through loss.

💡 Big Idea: Knowing how it ends changes how we live.

📖 Scriptures: 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 | 2 Corinthians 5:8 | 1 Corinthians 15:35–57 | John 11:25–26
📅 Grief Share: Mondays at 6:30P at The Hub (includes Surviving the Holidays workshop)
🗞 Stay Informed: https://thefridayupdate.org

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