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, driven by 24-hour access to news and social media, with the average person checking their phone hundreds of times a day. It's no wonder we have less peace in our generation. Pastor Adam and Steph open up one of their favorite chapters in the Bible—Matthew 6—to reflect on Jesus's comforting words to His disciples. Each day has enough trouble of its own, but God knows exactly what you need, and you can trust Him. *Scripture referenced in this episode: Matthew 6:25, 34

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 Christian environments, but Jesus is looking for disciples, not church attendees. Jesus is our Lord and King; therefore, we are to surrender to His authority. *Scripture referenced in this episode: Matthew 7:21-23

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 of the self-deception that comes with feeling convicted but remaining unchanged. *Scripture referenced in this episode: Matthew 3:8

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 open and honest with other believers and what an authentic Christian community should look like. *Scripture referenced in this episode: James 5:13-16, Galatians 6:2

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 draw attention. To put it simply, true humility should not resemble obsession with the self. Pastor Adam and Steph assert that holiness is far more important than public attention, and some of the holiest people you will ever meet are entirely invisible to the world. *Scripture referenced in this episode: Matthew 6, Proverbs 3 

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 lives to Him fully means offering ourselves as a living sacrifice. This is the worship God requires. Pastor Adam and Steph point out that worship which only exists in a room is counterfeit. True worship follows you home and alters how you live. *Scripture referenced in this episode: Romans 12:1, Isaiah 29:13

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 for nothing in return. It offers forgiveness without demanding transformation. In contrast, true biblical grace is both compassionate and confrontational. Pastor Adam and Steph explore why real grace must change you from the inside out, bringing conviction, not condemnation. *Scripture referenced in this episode: Romans 6:1-7, Titus 2:11-14

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, or will I become the refined version of who God created me to be? In this final episode of the series, Pastor Adam and Steph agree to stop apologizing for being uniquely themselves without imitation, and to continue growing in authenticity.

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 possess. Pastor Adam and Steph define the differences between shame and conviction as a result of sin, emphasizing that people deserve truth that hasn't been watered down. *Scripture referenced in this episode: Romans 3:23, Hebrews 4:12, 1 John 1:8, 2 Corinthians 7:10, John 8:32

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 the place in our hearts that ultimately belongs to God. Your heart follows what you treasure, so you want to make sure you put your treasures in the right place. Pastor Adam and Steph confront the discomfort directly, adding that Christians should be the most generous people on the planet and that it would not make sense to apologize for discussing something that Jesus himself talked about so much. *Scripture referenced in this episode: Matthew 6:21, Matthew 6:24, 2 Corinthians 8:9