Got a question? Let us know!

Host (Heather):
Welcome to Made for Mondays—the podcast where we explore ways to bring Sunday’s message into our everyday lives. Who’s joining me today?

Guests (Jamey and Tyler):
Hey everyone!

WEEKEND CHITCHAT

Host:
Alright, before we jump in—what did y’all get into this weekend?

Host Transition:
Okay, now that we’ve established we’re real people with real lives…

BIBLE READING CHALLENGE

Host:
How’s Jesus speaking to you through the Bible Reading Challenge this week?

(Deuteronomy, Joshua, Mark, Luke)

SUNDAY DISH

Host:
Tyler, this week you walked us into Step 11 by reminding us that connection with God grows through practice, not pressure. From Philippians 4, you showed us that prayer, meditation, gratitude, and steadying our thoughts aren’t ways to earn closeness with God—they’re ways to live with Him.

Q1 – Personal Entry Point

When you think about your current connection with God, what word or phrase comes to mind—and why?

Follow-up:
Has that felt consistent lately, or has it been shifting?

Q2 – Joy Before the Change

Paul talks about rejoicing—even while under house arrest.

How does that challenge the way we tie joy to circumstances instead of closeness with Jesus?

Follow-up:
What might change in our prayer life if we focused on being with God before asking Him to fix things?

Q3 – Practice, Not Pressure

Our big idea is: connection with God grows through practice, not pressure.

The Jewish people built their lives around rhythms with God, while we often try to “fit Him in.”

What does that difference reveal about how we view our relationship with Him?

Follow-up:
How might even a few intentional rhythms reshape that connection?

Q4 – When Noise Wins

We talked about both external and internal noise.

What tends to drown out God most in our lives right now?

Follow-up:
How can community help us notice when life feels full—but our souls are running dry?

Q5 – The Next Right Thing

Tyler, you tied connection with God to simple obedience—doing the next right thing.

For someone who feels stuck, what’s one small step they could take this week?

Follow-up:
Why does God so often meet us in ordinary obedience instead of big breakthrough moments?

JOIN US SUNDAY!

Host:
That’s all we’ve got for today! We’ll see you and your guests this Sunday at 9 and 10:45 as we take the final (yet ongoing) step together.

If you can’t make it in person, join us on YouTube at 1PM.

We know these Steps have been challenging—but we hope they’ve also been deeply rewarding.

Remember—it works if you work it.

Until next time… 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!

Step Ten: Ongoing Inventory

This week on Made for Mondays, Heather is joined by Jamey, Tyler, and RaChelle to talk about Step 10 — continuing to take personal inventory and promptly admitting when we’re wrong. Before diving into the conversation, the group catches up about the weekend and reflects on the Bible Reading Challenge, continuing through Deuteronomy and Mark.

Then the conversation turns to Sunday’s message.

SUNDAY DISH

The reaction to “taking inventory”
When people hear the phrase take inventory, reactions vary. For some it sounds freeing and clarifying. For others it feels exhausting or intimidating. The group reflects on why honest self-examination can feel uncomfortable—even though it’s meant to lead to freedom.

The illusion of “arriving”
Jamey pointed out that following Jesus doesn’t make us sinless—it makes us forgiven. Yet many Christians quietly assume maturity means we should eventually stop struggling. That expectation can create pressure to hide our struggles instead of bringing them honestly before God and trusted community.

“When,” not “if”
Step 10 uses the phrase when we were wrong, not if. That small word reminds us that spiritual growth doesn’t eliminate mistakes—it teaches us how to respond when they happen. Honest acknowledgment of failure doesn’t lower the bar for holiness; it keeps us grounded in humility and grace.

Living one day at a time
Jamey shared the illustration of eating a lifetime’s worth of food one day at a time. In the same way, spiritual growth becomes overwhelming when we try to think about the entire journey at once. Focusing on today helps us stay connected to Jesus in the present instead of discouraged by the past or anxious about the future.

Honest community
The group reflects on a story shared Sunday about an older man who openly admitted his ongoing struggles. Moments like that show the power of honesty in community. When people feel safe enough to tell the truth about their lives, it creates space for real growth without pretending we’ve already arrived.

Practicing Step 10
Jamey described three ways to practice this step:

• Spot-check inventory — pausing in the moment when something feels off
• Daily inventory — reflecting on the day with God
• Periodic inventory — stepping back occasionally for deeper reflection

For someone feeling overwhelmed, the best place to start may simply be a daily moment of reflection with God—asking where things went well, where we missed the mark, and where grace is needed.

Final Reflection

Regularly admitting when we’re wrong doesn’t push us farther from Jesus—it keeps us close to Him. Honest reflection reminds us that growth isn’t about perfection, but about continually returning to grace.

Join Us Sunday

That’s all we have time for today, friends! Join us THIS Sunday at 9 and 10:45 AM as we continue taking the next step toward healing and freedom together. If you can’t make it in person, watch on YouTube at 1 PM.

These Steps may be challenging, but they’re shaping something good.

Remember: it works if you work it.
Go be love, everybody—we’ll see you next week!

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!

Step Nine: Making Amends

This week on Made for Mondays, Heather is joined by Doug, Tyler, and Jamey to talk about Step 9 — making direct amends whenever possible. Before diving into the conversation, the group catches up about the weekend and reflects on the Bible Reading Challenge, currently in Deuteronomy and Mark.

WHAT THE WHAT???

Listener Sarah Beth wrote in with a thoughtful question after reading the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25). She shared how the passage seems to highlight the difference between outward association with faith and genuine readiness for Christ’s return.

Her question connects this parable with other passages like Matthew 7:21–23 and James 2:19, asking how we understand the tension between believing in God and actually having a relationship with Jesus.

More personally, she shares the heavy burden many Christians feel for loved ones who claim faith but don’t seem to pursue a relationship with Christ. The group acknowledges that tension—we can’t see anyone’s heart, but love naturally makes us care deeply about the spiritual lives of the people around us.

SUNDAY DISH

The conversation then turns to Step 9: making amends.

Why apologizing feels so hard
Doug shares a vulnerable moment about scrolling through old text messages and realizing how many apologies existed in his conversations. It sparked reflection on why apologizing can feel so difficult—even when we know we were wrong. Often the biggest hurdle is moving from feeling bad to actually taking responsibility.

The deeper weight of the Prodigal Son story
Looking at the Prodigal Son in Luke 15, Doug explains that asking for an inheritance early in that culture wasn’t just reckless—it was deeply offensive and relationally damaging. Understanding that helps us see why honest acknowledgment of harm matters before we try to repair relationships.

Real repair vs surface apologies
Doug shares a quote from John Ortberg:
“It’s one thing to make repairs on the outside, it’s another thing to be repaired on the inside.”

Surface apologies often focus on restoring peace quickly, but real repentance allows God to address the deeper patterns that caused the hurt in the first place.

A practical framework for making amends
Doug introduces the CRAFT framework for approaching difficult conversations:

• Conversation
• Recalling the harm honestly
• Apologizing clearly
• Forgiveness (asking, not demanding)
• Taking responsibility through follow-up

The group also highlights an important caution from Step 9: sometimes direct contact could cause further harm, so wisdom and discernment matter.

When amends don’t lead to reconciliation
Even in the Prodigal Son story, the older brother remains angry. That reminds us that sincere apologies don’t always bring immediate reconciliation. Healing can take time, and a healthy community makes room for both repentance and wounded people processing their pain.

Where to begin
For anyone who already knows the name on their Step 9 list but feels anxious or unsure, the first step might simply be preparation—prayer, reflection, humility, and pacing the process wisely.

Final Reflect

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