Connexus Church Audio Podcast

Pain is an undeniable aspect of the human experience. Regardless of how carefully we navigate our lives, we are all bound to encounter moments of pain and suffering. As individuals of faith grappling with faith poses unique challenges. When confronted with the harsh realities of pain and suffering our faith can waiver. Looking at the story of Jesus we can find hope that we aren't going through this alone.

You've probably heard many people reference the biblical story of David and Goliath. In many ways, it's the ultimate underdog story—a classic example of the common situation where the small, inexperienced upstart strives to overcome the strong, seasoned champion. What does this story teach us about trusting God in the midst of our own challenges in life?

We've never been more connected, and yet we've never been more lonely. At the same time, when we are alone, we struggle to disconnect in a healthy way. Our phones, our screens, and the demands on our life have changed us—you might argue they've made our souls feel barren. We struggle to be present with ourselves, let alone with God. In this message, we look at how Jesus modelled the power of silence and solitude to feed his soul. Much of the content of this message can be found in John Mark Comer's book The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry. We highly recommend this book.

In the last decade, online relationships have exploded, and so have loneliness, depression, and suicide. AI is going to take that to a whole new level, making probable what few of us even dreamed possible a year ago. It's understandable why people want to escape the pain of real-life relationships and find someone 'better' online, but that appears to be (literally) killing us. People may be the deepest problem in life we all would love to escape from, but people are God's deepest solution to loneliness.

Something has shifted in our culture. We feel more lonely—some experts even describe it as a silent pandemic. It's not merely about being physically alone but feeling a sense of isolation within. How do you find genuine connection in our lonely world? In this series, we'll help you discover why you're experiencing loneliness and uncover powerful insights from the Bible about forging deeper connections, cultivating meaningful relationships, and discovering a purpose that can help you move from existing to true belonging. Join Jeff Brodie as he starts a five week series called "Not alone, but lonely."

Sometimes we just need to know that God is here and that He's paying attention. If we knew that with certainty, then maybe we would be fine or at least finer. Maybe you're still looking for that sign and you haven't found it yet, so you start to wonder. We all have a concept of what God is like, but until the arrival of Jesus, the world was left guessing. There was so much mystery, only hints and shadows, and then God came to dwell with us to demonstrate for us what he is like. If you look anywhere other than Jesus for what God is like, then you are looking in the wrong place. God is like Jesus. Jesus came to us to demonstrate, illustrate, and communicate what God is like, who He is, and who He loves.

The messiness of the world is what paved the way for God to do something extraordinary. God blessed the world with a different kind of king who came to establish a different kind of Kingdom. We are all familiar with the Christmas story but some of us are not familiar with the Christmas backstory. The story of Christmas begins with a remarkable promise to Abraham. God promised to make Abraham into a great nation and He did which set up the Christmas story we all know. The backstory of Christmas occurred during a 2,000-year saga that is fascinating, amazing, and inspiring. It's also a bit convicting. If the arrival of Jesus was a blessing to the world, shouldn't we as Jesus followers be a blessing to the world as well?

One of the reasons you come to prayer is to find peace in a broken world, including the broken world in and around you. How do you find peace in prayer? We will look at how Jesus models something we don't see in culture very often that allows us to find the peace we are looking for – confession and forgiveness.

We often come to God in prayer because we think we need something. We come in desperation. But is there a right way to ask and a wrong way to ask? If God already knows what we need, why do we bring our requests to him? If he's in control, why do I need to pray?

We often think prayer is something that's about getting God's attention. To change his mind or get him to do something for us. But what if prayer isn't about getting God's attention but giving him our attention? How could it change your life if you started your prayer thinking of who God is, not what you want?

An Angus Reid poll says 42% of Canadians say they pray weekly, and an additional 44% say they pray monthly. You are wired to pray. Prayer may be one of the most human things you can do. However, many of us struggle to see our prayer life flourish. You stumble your way through, pray on and off, and feel little connection. How do you pray, and where do you start? In this message our lead pastor Jeff Brodie will look at where Jesus told us to start.

So, what do you do to live a more generous life? Jesus tells a shocking parable that shows us exactly what God expects when it comes to generosity, and the message is surprisingly liberating. Jesus asks you to be generous with what you have, not what you don't have. In this message, you'll learn exactly how to begin living a more generous life and start giving accordingly.

The culture spins a clear picture of what you should do with your money: spend it, (whether you have it or not). Not only does that lead to stress, debt, and overwhelm, it also leads to unhappiness. Studies show that people who prioritize getting rich are often far less happy than those who make different choices. God wants something FOR you far more than he wants something FROM you. In this message, you'll discover what the path to freedom is.

Maybe you find it hard to talk about money. Most of us do. Maybe your parents never talked about money, or fought over it. Besides, what you do with your personal resources is nobody's business, right? Jesus wasn't so sure. He often spoke about money in a deeply challenging way, as was the case with a wealthy young influencer who had money and power. What he said to that rich young ruler can change your life too. Join us for part one of our series, 'Money Shouldn't Make You Miserable' with Carey Nieuwhof.

Throughout this series, we've unpacked the many different ways that lies come at you. But how do you get ahead of the lies? How can you be proactive in guarding yourself against the lies that the world, the devil, and the flesh try to put in your path? This week, we look at a letter from Paul and the instructions he gives for us to be able to do this very thing.

You can't earn God's love. In this series, Jeff Brodie has been looking at how we move from hearing lies to believing lies to living them. In this message, he examines the role the devil has in deforming our lives through lies and how to defeat one of the most common lies that we all wrestle with.

You are set apart from the world and for the world! In this message, Jeff Brodie looks at the role of societal lies; they tempt us to normalize the lies we hear in our lives so that we make the mistake of living them. He'll be looking at how scripture teaches us to spot the lies in our society and how we don't need to run from the world but run towards it.

We all have that part of us that wants to do what's good for us and good for others, but so often we don't. It's more than temptation. Our priorities get out of order, and our wants become defined as needs. On top of that, we start to grasp for things that make us happy instead of things that give us fulfillment. What is this battle? It's fertile territory for lies to derail us; scripture calls it "the flesh," and Paul wants to show us how to win the fight.

You want to thrive, but the constant chase for the promise of fulfillment leaves you looking for more. What if you're being lied to? Or worse, what if you're actually living the lies you've been told? Would you even know? What you're facing isn't just a mental battle but a spiritual one. In this message, Pastor Jeff Brodie will look at the Bible and investigate where lies come from, why we believe them, and how to fight for the fulfillment you're looking for.

If Christians believe in an all-powerful God, why don't they live their lives more expectant that he will move? As a church, we have a well-thought-out strategy to reach people, but what would happen if we expected a move of God daily? How would it change how we behave?

Our culture is offering new theories on what it means to be human faster than ever before. Part of you knows we're all missing something of depth that works. But where do you find it? Jesus would say you can find the meaning and purpose you are looking for in him, but why don't more Christians live like Jesus? How can you encounter Jesus, and what would it mean to our community if we were to be a church where we encounter Jesus together?

In Part 3 of Living With Yourself, Open Hands, Andy Stanley discusses why we should fear the consequences of closing our hands more than the consequences of losing what's in them.

In part 2 of the "Living with Yourself" video series, Andy Stanley stresses the importance of monitoring one's heart to ensure alignment between one's inner self and outer behavior. He emphasizes that man-made rules are not enough to live a life of integrity and that one must focus on the inner condition of their heart to align themselves with God's will. Stanley also discusses the dangers of ignoring what is going on inside oneself and the importance of tending to one's soul to prevent toxic emotions such as guilt, anger, greed, and jealousy from defiling it. Lastly, he addresses the issues of resentment, greed, and jealousy, suggesting that forgiveness, celebrating others' success, and giving generously are the solutions to these problems.

In this podcast, Andy Stanley emphasizes the importance of attending to the health of our souls and surrendering ourselves to God to safeguard ourselves against the capacity for duplicity that can harm ourselves and our loved ones. He explores the concept of surrendering ourselves to Jesus every single day, declaring dependence and independence from oneself. Stanley argues that by following Jesus, people can close the gap between their self-image and how others perceive them, leading to peace with oneself and a life better lived. He also encourages people to practice daily surrender to sensitize their conscience and be less tolerant of going against who they truly want to be.

You likely have an opinion about Jesus. From celebrities to podcasters to gurus, everyone has thoughts on Jesus. In this series, we're diving deep into some of the most controversial questions surrounding the life of Jesus and uncovering the truth that lies beneath. We're creating space for you to ask questions, challenge assumptions, and find answers for yourself.

You likely have an opinion about Jesus. From celebrities to podcasters to gurus, everyone has thoughts on Jesus. In this series, we're diving deep into some of the most controversial questions surrounding the life of Jesus and uncovering the truth that lies beneath. We're creating space for you to ask questions, challenge assumptions, and find answers for yourself.

You likely have an opinion about Jesus. From celebrities to podcasters to gurus, everyone has thoughts on Jesus. In this series, we're diving deep into some of the most controversial questions surrounding the life of Jesus and uncovering the truth that lies beneath. We're creating space for you to ask questions, challenge assumptions, and find answers for yourself.

You likely have an opinion about Jesus. From celebrities to podcasters to gurus, everyone has thoughts on Jesus. In this series, we're diving deep into some of the most controversial questions surrounding the life of Jesus and uncovering the truth that lies beneath. We're creating space for you to ask questions, challenge assumptions, and find answers for yourself.

Did Jesus really exist? Did he actually rise from the dead? Isn't this all a fairy tale? In this series featuring multiple guest speakers we're creating space for you to ask questions, challenge assumptions, and find answers for yourself.

Stuck in a cycle of disappointment? Striving to better yourself but not quite making it? Struggling with success and failure? You're not alone. Jesus points to something far more meaningful and grounded. The resurrection of Jesus makes way for an expectant life, a hope-filled life, and a life where resurrection can come to dark and dead places.

The sacrifice Jesus made on the cross for you and for me points us to a simple need to respond because it meets you right where you are. Join us as we reflect on the significance of the unique love Jesus displayed for each one of us.

Sometimes you think you can't make a dent in the problems the world is facing. Besides, you feel like you barely have enough to live on yourself. As a result, many times we can become indifferent toward the situations others face, and sadly our response can be one of inaction. Is there another way? Can something make a difference?

It happens to many people. You decide to give the Bible a shot. You sit down with a good translation. But how do you get something out of it? And when you start to understand it, how do you experience God? It might surprise you to discover that the key to experiencing God through the Bible is more than what you can read and understand

One of the biggest challenges with the Bible is how to approach it. With so many genres, where do you begin? How do you interpret it accurately? And how do you go from simply reading the Bible to experiencing it? In this message, we'll show you the overarching story of scripture and how you can leverage it to experience the Bible for yourself.