Made for Mondays

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Made for Mondays | STEPS

Step Seven: The Petition

This week on Made for Mondays, Joe is joined by Heather, Jamey, and Tyler for a conversation centered on Step 7 in the STEPS journey: The Petition.

After some weekend catch-up (yes, Olympics enthusiasm makes an appearance 👀), the group reflects on the Bible Reading Challenge, having just stepped into Numbers and Mark, before diving into Sunday’s message.

And before things get too serious? An Olympic icebreaker. Favorite sport. Strong opinions. No medals awarded—just bragging rights.

Then the conversation turns toward the heart of Step 7.

Pastor Heather framed this step around a powerful idea:
 Humility begins when asking feels safer than hiding.

Step 7 invites us to humbly ask God to remove what we cannot—to stop performing and start trusting.

Here’s where the conversation goes:

• Asking vs. hiding
The group reflects on a simple but revealing question: Are you more likely to ask for help—or hide what you’re dealing with? For many of us, hiding feels easier. Safer. More controlled. But hiding also keeps us stuck.

• The Samaritan Woman (John 4)
Heather revisits the story of the Samaritan woman at the well. Jesus asks her for a drink before addressing her story. He doesn’t shame her. He doesn’t expose her. He creates safety first. The timing—noon—suggests she was avoiding people. And yet Jesus meets her there.

The group explores what this shows us about how Jesus approaches our shame—and what it might look like for us to create that same kind of safety for someone else. Where do we choose isolation over community? And what would one small, honest “ask” look like this week?

• Pride vs. humility
Referencing Dallas Willard, Heather highlights that humility grows when we stop pretending, stop presuming we’re already in the right, and stop pushing our will over others. The group wrestles with an important distinction: humble asking isn’t passive resignation. It’s active trust. It’s choosing dependence over self-protection.

• Safe enough to be honest
If humility begins when asking feels safer than hiding, what would it take for our church to truly be that safe? The group discusses the culture, language, leadership posture, and everyday practices that help a room feel safe enough for someone to say, “I’m not okay,” and still be lovingly moved toward healing.

• The OWN practice: Observe, Welcome, Name
Heather unpacks a practical tool for Step 7 in real time. Instead of enthroning our emotions—or ignoring them—we can:

• Observe what we’re feeling.
• Welcome it without panic or shame.
• Name it honestly before God.

The group walks through a real-life example—hurt leading to withdrawal—and what it looks like to pause in the moment, name the emotion, and ask God for help instead of hiding behind it.

Because Step 7 isn’t about pretending we’re stronger than we are.
 It’s about admitting we’re not—and asking anyway.

The big idea stays simple and challenging:

Humility begins when asking feels safer than hiding.

And that kind of humility doesn’t grow overnight. It grows through small, honest prayers. Through noticing when the umbrella goes up. Through choosing to ask instead of withdraw.

You don’t have to take these Steps perfectly.
 You can take them at your own pace.
 And you don’t have to take them alone.

Join Us This Sunday

We’re continuing the STEPS journey, and we’d love to walk it with you.

📍 On Campus: 9 & 10:45 AM
 💻 Online: YouTube at 1 PM

This series may be stretching you—but we pray it’s also shaping you. Keep taking the next step toward healing and freedom.

Until next time—
 we’re here for good. See y

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

Bible Reading Plan: https://believerschurch.org/bible-reading-plan/

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Step Six: Becoming Entirely Ready

This week on Made for Mondays, Heather is joined by Jamey, Tyler, and RaChelle for a conversation about one of the most honest—and quietly confronting—steps in the STEPS journey: Step 6, becoming entirely ready for God to remove our defects of character.

After catching up on all things Night to Shine and Valentine’s Day, the group reflects on what stood out from this week’s Bible Reading Challenge (hello, Leviticus… and wrapping up Matthew 👀), before leaning into Sunday’s message.

Step 6 sounds hopeful at first. Who doesn’t want change?
 But it also sounds slightly terrifying.

Because it’s one thing to want freedom.
It’s another thing to be entirely ready for God to actually change us.

This episode lives in that tension—the space between desire and readiness.

Here’s where the conversation goes:

• The gap between almost and entirely
Jamey names the deeply human space between being almost ready and entirely ready. The group reflects on why that gap is normal in spiritual life—and why growth so often unfolds in that in-between place.

• It’s not laziness—it’s division
Drawing from James 1’s image of being double-minded, the conversation explores what it looks like to pray sincere prayers while still rowing toward something else. The problem isn’t usually effort. It’s divided trust. We don’t often tell God “no”—we just quietly say “not yet.”

• Our modern “not yet” prayers
Referencing Augustine’s famous, “Lord, make me chaste… but not yet,” the group laughs—and then gets honest. Where do we postpone change today? Comfort, habits, relationships, control? Resistance rarely sounds rebellious. It usually sounds like “tomorrow.”

• Identity is the deeper issue
The heart of Step 6 isn’t behavior modification—it’s identity transformation. Jamey revisits three common identity lies:

• I am what I have.
• I am what people think of me.
• I am what I do.

If we believe those, then letting God change us can feel like losing ourselves. But if we are already God’s beloved, then change isn’t loss—it’s freedom.

• What didn’t make it into Sunday’s message
The group creates space for what couldn’t be said in the sermon—clarifying that readiness isn’t about emotional hype or dramatic surrender. It’s quieter than that. More honest. More patient.

• What becoming ready actually looks like
For the listener who feels resistance, the group makes it practical:
Becoming ready might look like noticing where you say “tomorrow.”
Naming your excuses honestly in prayer.
Sitting with God before trying to fix yourself.
Letting willingness be smaller—and slower—than you expected.

• Encouragement for the not-yet-ready heart
If you’re thinking, “I want to be entirely ready… but I’m not there,” the encouragement is simple: stay. Stay honest. Stay with God in that space. Readiness isn’t forced. It’s formed.

Step 6 reminds us that transformation doesn’t begin with trying harder.
 It begins with becoming honest enough to admit where we’re not ready—and trusting God enough to stay there with Him.

That’s not failure.
 That’s preparation.

Join Us This Sunday

We’re continuing the STEPS journey, and we’d love for you to take the next step with us.

📍 On Campus: 9 & 10:45 AM
💻 Online: App & YouTube at 1 PM

If this conversation stirred something in you, don’t rush past it.
 Pay attention to where you’re tempted to say “tomorrow.” That might be exactly where God wants to meet you.

Until next time—
 we’re here for good.
 Go be love.

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

Bible Reading Plan: https://believerschurch.org/bible-reading-plan/

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Made for Mondays | STEPS

Step Five: The Confession: Into The Light

This week on Made for Mondays, Jamey is joined by Tyler, RaChelle, and Doug for a conversation that leans into one of the most uncomfortable—and most life-giving—steps in the STEPS journey: Step 5, The Confession.

After some easy weekend chitchat (Olympics, Lunch with Jamey, Super Bowl energy, and all the usual real-life moments), the group shifts toward what God has been stirring through the Bible Reading Challenge, setting the stage for a deeper conversation.

Then they dig into Sunday’s message.

Confession often carries a lot of baggage. For many of us, it sounds intense, dramatic, or reserved for people with really messy lives. But what we heard on Sunday—and what this episode keeps circling back to—is a simpler, more disruptive truth: healing happens in the light.

Rather than re-preaching the message, this episode slows things down. The group sits with Step 5, turns it over, and asks what it actually looks like to practice confession in everyday life, especially as part of what we’re calling The Year of Practice.

Here’s where the conversation goes:

• Confession as a rhythm, not a moment
The group reflects on the idea that confession isn’t a one-time spiritual event, but an ongoing rhythm in following Jesus. That shift surfaces both curiosity and resistance—especially for those who grew up seeing confession as something reserved for emergencies or major failures.

• Information vs. being known
They explore why it’s often easier to share facts about our lives than the true condition of our hearts. Confession, they note, isn’t about dumping information—it’s about allowing ourselves to be fully known.

• The real risk of being seen
Confession feels risky not because we don’t love Jesus, but because we can hide from people. The group names common fears: judgment, misunderstanding, and the possibility that a relationship might change once the truth is out in the open—and reflects on where those fears come from.

• “In solitude, we can convince ourselves of anything”
Tyler revisits a powerful line shared in a conversation at Believers, and the group unpacks how isolation makes it easier to minimize, rationalize, or delay change. Community, they reflect, interrupts those inner narratives and brings clarity where self-talk distorts reality.

• Who confession is for
James’ instruction—“confess your sins to each other”—opens a thoughtful discussion about discernment. Not everyone. Not no one. Each other. The group talks about what makes someone a safe and faithful witness, and why wisdom matters when choosing where confession lives.

• Confession as a spiritual discipline
Instead of asking why confession matters, the conversation turns practical: What would it look like to practice confession as a regular discipline rather than an emergency response? They explore how increased honesty, intentional relationships, and preventative rhythms could reshape spiritual growth.

• Accountability without shame
Accountability is reframed not as control, but as protection for the healing confession begins. The group reflects on how accountability has been modeled well—and poorly—and what makes it feel life-giving instead of heavy-handed.

• From rows to circles
The episode closes with a compelling vision of the church as a place where people can take off their masks. The group discusses what needs to be true—culturally and relationally—for that kind of community to exist, and how leaders and everyday people alike play a role in shaping it.

The big takeaway is clear:
 Confession isn’t about shame. It’s about freedom.
It’s not about exposure—it’s about healing.

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

Bible Reading Plan: https://believerschurch.org/bible-reading-plan/

Believers Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/believerschurch.va/ 
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Made for Mondays | STEPS

Step Four: The Examination: A Fearless Inventory

This week on Made for Mondays, Heather is joined by Jamey, Adrienne, and Kirk for a conversation that might sound intimidating at first—but turns out to be deeply freeing. Together, they unpack Step 4 of the STEPS journey: a searching and fearless moral inventory.

Yes… fearless. Deep breaths.
 And no—this is not a shame spiral.

After some weekend chitchat and reminding us all that we’re real people with real lives, the group reflects on this week’s Bible reading, centering especially on Psalm 139—a passage that is both comforting and confronting in the best possible way.

From there, the conversation moves into the heart of the step.

Pastor Jamey reframes moral inventory not as condemnation, but as inspection—bringing what’s real into God’s light so it can finally be healed. Anchored in Psalm 139 and shaped by the truth of Romans 8:1 (“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”), Step 4 becomes less about self-punishment and more about Spirit-led honesty.

Here’s where the conversation goes:

• First reactions to “moral inventory”
The group starts light—but honest—naming the gut reactions many of us have when we hear that phrase: avoidance, anxiety, curiosity, or something else entirely. Those reactions often reveal how we’ve been taught to look at ourselves—and what we expect to happen when we do.

• Inspection vs. condemnation
Jamey talks about the subtle but important difference between avoiding self-examination out of fear and inviting God into the process with trust. One leads to hiding; the other leads to healing.

• Shame-based introspection vs. Spirit-led inventory
The group contrasts the inner spiral of shame with the gentle conviction of the Holy Spirit. They reflect on what helps them stay honest without turning inward reflection into self-punishment—and how “no condemnation” reshapes the entire process.

• From vague to specific
Referencing Lew Smedes’ insight that vague confession leads to vague forgiveness, the conversation explores how easy it is to hide behind general phrases like “I’m just struggling.” The group encourages naming the actual thing—carefully, honestly, and safely—so freedom can take root.

• The courage of Psalm 139
Psalm 139:23–24 becomes the centerpiece: “Search me, God… lead me.”
Why does that prayer feel risky? And what picture of God helps us trust Him enough to pray it anyway? The group reflects on inviting Jesus into one specific area of life this week—not harshly, but gently and truthfully.

• Practice, not pressure
As this Year of Practice continues, the group reminds listeners that Step 4 isn’t about rushing or fixing. It’s about cooperating with God. They discuss small, realistic ways to make space this week—through prayer, journaling, or quiet—for God to surface what actually needs attention next.

The episode closes with this reminder:
 Step 4 isn’t about fixing yourself. It’s about trusting God.
You don’t have to do it fast.
You don’t have to do it alone.
And nothing you uncover is a surprise to Him.

The group also highlights the value of BeGroups—whether that’s Starting Point, Christina’s financial group, or another safe space—because this work was never meant to be done in isolation.

Join Us This Sunday

We’re continuing the STEPS journey and would love to have you with us.

📍 On Campus: 9 & 10:45 AM
💻 Online: YouTube at 1 PM

Share this episode, invite someone you’ve been thinking about, and keep taking the next brave step toward healing and freedom.

Until then, don’t forget—we’re here for good.
Go BE LOVE.

https://aa

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

Bible Reading Plan: https://believerschurch.org/bible-reading-plan/

Believers Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/believerschurch.va/ 
Believers Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/believers_church/

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Made for Mondays | STEPS

Step Three: The Decision — “I Think I Will Let Him”

This week on Made for Mondays, Heather sits down with Jamey, Chelle, and Tyler to unpack Step Three of STEPS: The Decision—the moment where we stop white-knuckling our way forward and begin practicing surrender.

After weekend chitchat and reflecting on this week’s Bible reading from Genesis 49, Exodus 1–10, and Matthew 15–18, the conversation turns toward one of the most deceptively difficult spiritual shifts:
moving from trying harder to trusting deeper.

Pastor Jamey reminds us that we cannot heal our inner world through willpower alone. But when we release control and trust God’s care, He leads us toward shalom—not just peace as calm, but peace as wholeness. Surrender, as the group explores, isn’t giving up on life; it’s giving up our own way so Jesus can form something better on the other side.

Here’s what they dive into:

• The small places control shows up
From thermostats and dishwashers to driving directions and group texts, the group laughs—and then gets honest—about how control sneaks into everyday life. Those same instincts often follow us into our faith, especially when life feels uncertain.

• “God, fix this” vs. “God, lead me”
The conversation names a tension many of us recognize: praying for relief without actually wanting transformation. Whether it’s a relationship, a stressful season, or a recurring emotional pattern, the group reflects on how surrender often feels more threatening than the pain we already know.

• When surrender feels like loss
Looking at Jesus’ words in Matthew 16, the group wrestles with the idea that surrender can feel less like peace and more like losing control. What does surrender actually look like in normal, everyday life—and how do we take a concrete step when resistance shows up?

• The parts we give… and the parts we guard
Quoting C.S. Lewis, the group reflects on the truth that Jesus doesn’t want a portion of us—He wants all of us. They discuss which parts of life feel easiest to offer God, and which parts we carefully protect, along with how that changes when we trust that Jesus is freeing us, not undoing us.

• Praying differently
Where are we most tempted to pray “fix this”—and what would it sound like to pray “lead me” instead? The conversation highlights how community plays a vital role in keeping us honest when we slide back into control mode, reminding us that surrender isn’t meant to be practiced alone.

• Open hands, not clenched fists
Jamey revisits the powerful image from Sunday’s message: clenched fists versus open hands. The group reflects on what it means to physically and spiritually release control—and what it looks like to place something we’re holding tightly back into God’s care.

• A faithful next step
Rather than trying to be the Savior, the episode closes by inviting listeners to take one faithful next step this week—perhaps inviting a trusted person into the decision so surrender becomes a lived practice, not just a good idea.

Join Us This Sunday

We’re continuing STEPS and walking this journey together.

📍 On Campus: 9 & 10:45 AM (weather permitting 😉)
💻 Online: YouTube at 1 PM

Share this episode, invite someone who might need it, and keep practicing surrender—one open-handed step at a time.

Until then, don’t forget: we’re here for good — Go BE LOVE!

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

Bible Reading Plan: https://believerschurch.org/bible-reading-plan/

Believers Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/believerschurch.va/ 
Believers Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/believers_church/

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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.

📍 On Campus: 9 & 10:45 AM
💻 Online: YouTube at 1 PM

Share this episode, invite someone who might need it, and take the next step—together.

Until then, don’t forget: we’re here for good — Go BE LOVE!

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

Bible Reading Plan: https://believerschurch.org/bible-reading-plan/

Believers Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/believerschurch.va/ 
Believers Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/believers_church/

Subscribe to The Outlet: https://believerschurch.us13.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=66f00f86238de86688d2480e6&id=729c3f381f

Got a question? Let us know!

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 Problem — I Can’t.

📍 On Campus: 9 & 10:45 AM
💻 Online: YouTube at 1 PM

Invite someone, share this episode, and take a step—together.

Until then, don’t forget: we’re here for good — Go BE LOVE!

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

Bible Reading Plan: https://believerschurch.org/bible-reading-plan/

Believers Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/believerschurch.va/ 
Believers Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/believers_church/

Subscribe to The Outlet: https://believerschurch.us13.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=66f00f86238de86688d2480e6&id=729c3f381f

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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!

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

Bible Reading Plan: https://believerschurch.org/bible-reading-plan/

Believers Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/believerschurch.va/ 
Believers Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/believers_church/

Subscribe to The Outlet: https://believerschurch.us13.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=66f00f86238de86688d2480e6&id=729c3f381f

Got a question? Let us know!

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 
Website: https://believerschurch.org/ 

Bible Reading Plan: https://believerschurch.org/bible-reading-plan/

Believers Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/believerschurch.va/ 
Believers Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/believers_church/

Subscribe to The Outlet: https://believerschurch.us13.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=66f00f86238de86688d2480e6&id=729c3f381f

Got a question? Let us know!

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/ 

Bible Reading Plan: https://believerschurch.org/bible-reading-plan/

Believers Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/believerschurch.va/ 
Believers Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/believers_church/

Subscribe to The Outlet: https://believerschurch.us13.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=66f00f86238de86688d2480e6&id=729c3f381f