How to Deal With Your Inner Critic - the conversations you have most often are the ones you have in your own mind. And if you are honest, they are likely more negative than positive. Sometimes what you hear comes from your past, other messages are lies you’ve picked up over time, others show up as anxiety and self-doubt. Here’s what’s critical - how you think tends to become how you live your life. What if it was possible to move towards internal freedom and win the war in your mind?
Sep 12, 2021•34 min
What makes you happy? Don’t think too hard about your answer ... what comes to mind first? Good food, cheering for your favourite team, an afternoon of shopping, or sitting on the beach. But what about God? Have you ever thought about his happiness? In this message, Ben unpacks how God’s happiness is tied to ours and what that means for our lives.
Sep 05, 2021•35 min
So you’re on the journey of rebuilding something that matters--your relationship with your daughter, your marriage, your personal finances. But as you’re making progress, the distractions start to creep in. A few extra hours at the office, some extra time on Netflix, the opinions of your friends when you say no to their invitation. So what do you do? How do you stop getting distracted from rebuilding what matters most?
Aug 29, 2021•35 min
Whatever road you take in life, you’re going to meet resistance and obstacles. How do you handle that? Do you push through it? Avoid it? Meet it? When you are trying to rebuild but things are standing in your way, is there a path through? In this message, we’ll discover how to rebuild the broken parts of your life, even when you meet resistance head on.
Aug 22, 2021•35 min
When you look at the brokenness in your life, it can be hard to see a way out. And what are the practical steps to fix what’s broken? How do you rebuild the broken parts of your life? What can you do, today, to heal what’s hurting? In this message, we’ll share 3 practical steps you can take towards 'Rebuilding You'.
Aug 15, 2021•36 min
What do you do when you feel broken inside? If you’re honest, after the year we’ve had, you don’t have to look very far to see brokenness in the world around you--or in your own life. You see people you love facing mental health challenges, marriage struggles, sickness, and even financial hardship. On the other hand, you and I are rebuilders! God calls us to be a force for change in the world. We love a good restoration, makeover, or story of redemption. But where do we start? How do you rebuild...
Aug 08, 2021•37 min
Our world, in many ways, is about pursuing what’s next, what’s better, what’s greater. Greatness has really taken on a whole new level in our lives, and people of every age and stage are looking for the next best way to achieve greatness. A better job, a bigger house, a more successful business, a happier family, a higher education--it’s all a constant pursuit that on the other side can sometimes leave us with regrets. We have all been made, even created, with something in us that desires greatn...
Aug 01, 2021•32 min
We want to be open-minded, but we naturally resist things we can't control or don't understand. So how can we learn to be open to changing our ideals and beliefs, especially if we may be wrong about something? It begins with a simple prayer.
Jul 25, 2021•35 min
Jesus told his followers to pray to avoid temptation. But before we can pray that with a clear conscience, there are some things we need to ask ourselves first.
Jul 18, 2021•31 min
If God already knows my needs, why pray? Because the purpose of prayer is to surrender your will, not impose it.
Jul 11, 2021•34 min
At one time or another, we’ve all been told we should pray. But how should we pray? Jesus’s disciples had the exact same question.
Jul 04, 2021•35 min
When you look at scripture and the world around you, do you see God as a God of abundance or a God of scarcity? How you see the world impacts your generosity. Jesus teaches on money throughout the four Gospels because he knows it is a major competitor for your heart. Money is what we use to obtain what we possess in our lives. What if generosity with your funds is vital to your contentment? What if the ancient practice of tithing could be a key to happiness in your life?
Jun 27, 2021•33 min
Our stuff and the money we buy it with are a part of our everyday lives. We talk about them often. However, when Jesus begins to challenge us on how we manage our resources, we can feel emotionally reluctant. Why is that? On one hand, we live in one of the wealthiest parts of the world, and yet there’s something about our consumer-driven culture that leaves us unsatisfied. What drives that dissatisfaction? And what if we did listen to what Jesus has to say about it?
Jun 20, 2021•38 min
What does the bible say about managing resources? How do you actually live a kingdom-first life? Like practically ... what does that really mean? You work hard for your money and contentment ... which grants you the ability to pay for the things you need, buy the stuff you want, and afford the experiences you enjoy. ⛳🚘🎣 But does living a kingdom-first life mean you have to give all that up?
Jun 13, 2021•38 min
Too much stuff? Let's face it. The ease of hitting "add to cart" is a little too easy Then that package shows up on your front porch and it's exciting. If we're all honest, being home has brought out the shopping bug in all of us to fill the void of missing out. You know deep down that it only gives you a little happiness and then you're looking for the next thing to lift your spirits. What if true contentment came through something else, even something spiritual?
Jun 09, 2021•35 min
Over the last 15 months, our church has continued to be FOR people, and we’ve positioned ourselves to reach more people into the future. Lowering case counts and an increase in vaccinated individuals make us optimistic about opportunities to gather safely in the near future. So what does that mean for Connexus Church for the rest of 2021 as we reach people with the hope of Jesus? And how can you be a part of it?
May 30, 2021•36 min
They say that all work and no play makes jack a dull boy - could that be more true than you might think? What if play, and rest, was a crucial key to firing on all cylinders in every area of your life?
May 23, 2021•34 min
The pandemic has changed how we experience our work and see our purpose. One recent study shows that one in four employees is seriously considering a job change. While more people are working from home, others are on the front lines. Then there’s the work of home life. You will likely work 90,000 hours in your lifetime, so work is worth thinking about. Work impacts your happiness, your health, and even shapes who you become. What if your understanding of work is distorted? What if it's not about...
May 16, 2021•29 min
You will likely work 90,000 hours in your lifetime, so work is worth thinking about. Work impacts your happiness, your health, and even shapes who you become. What if your understanding of work is distorted? What if it's not about changing your job, but changing the way you see your life? What if work could be different?
May 09, 2021•30 min
Is Jesus God? What makes Christianity different from any other religion is that God actually entered our world and became human. “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son [Jesus Christ] from the Father” (John 1:14). If this is true, isn’t it worth breaking from the busyness of your life to listen to what he has to say, to learn from what he did? Don’t you want to lean into the One who understands what it’s like to be human?
May 02, 2021•33 min
What do we do with the millions of stories held by rational, credible people that defy all logic? Belief in miracles is seen by skeptics as something for the ancient mind - the naive and uninformed - and not for modern, scientific, rational people. But what if miracles are actually probable given the universe in which we live? What if the miracles we read about in the accounts of Jesus’ life on earth really did happen? What would those miracles mean to us in our world today? Jesus’ miracles were...
Apr 25, 2021•34 min
Jesus was asked to sum up all of the commandments in the Bible with the single greatest command. His response was: Love God with your whole self. So why does it seem so scandalous to live out the command to love God? Contrary to what you might think, the topic of loving God is one of the most neglected ideas in modern Christianity.
Apr 18, 2021•35 min
Jesus has never been more popular. Some love him, applauding him as a good teacher, a political revolutionary, or a prophetic voice speaking out against the rich and powerful. Others find him bigoted, old-fashioned, and narrow minded, even as they are forced to admit that his words and teachings are utterly unique. His presence infuses our political discussions and our dinner table debates, making him impossible to ignore.
Apr 11, 2021•30 min
The resurrection of Jesus after the cross stirred up different responses for those at the tomb - wonder, doubt, sadness, even jubilation. What will your response be this Easter 2021? Jesus’ existence isn’t something you can simply ignore.
Apr 04, 2021•24 min
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.
Apr 02, 2021•21 min
In our culture, our access to power, influence, and judgment is faster than our access to knowledge and relationship. It’s easy for us to jump on the bandwagon and cancel someone without truly knowing all the facts. As we look to influence people with the platform of our lives, how do we navigate our polarized world? What does it look like to engage a culture that cancels individuals so quickly? How did Jesus respond to someone being cancelled right in front of him?
Mar 28, 2021•36 min
In our culture, our access to power, influence, and judgment is faster than our access to knowledge and relationship. It’s easy for us to jump on the bandwagon and cancel someone without truly knowing all the facts. As we look to influence people with the platform of our lives, how do we navigate our polarized world? What does it look like to engage a culture that cancels individuals so quickly? How did Jesus respond to someone being cancelled right in front of him?
Mar 21, 2021•32 min
It seems like our culture is growing increasingly frustrated, contentious, and hostile. Social media is always ready to pounce on its next victim. If you are honest, under the pressure of our world, you’ve privately torn down, gossiped about, ghosted, or blamed someone this year. Culture can tell you it’s okay to hurt someone--even cancel them-- in the name of truth. Jesus has a radically different view of how you can approach your life. A way of living so freely that it’s worth cancelling your ...
Mar 14, 2021•31 min
It’s common for couples who aren’t getting along to start treating one another as opponents. But as Jesus reminds us, a house divided against itself cannot stand. Instead, we can choose to fight for ‘we’ instead of ‘me.’ When we agree to share power and operate as a team, we will be able to live out our marriage from a spirit of unity. Toni talked about three ways people can move past their conflict and bring more peace into their marriage.
Mar 07, 2021•39 min
It’s common for couples who aren’t getting along to start treating one another as opponents. But as Jesus reminds us, a house divided against itself cannot stand. Instead, we can choose to fight for ‘we’ instead of ‘me.’ When we agree to share power and operate as a team, we will be able to live out our marriage from a spirit of unity. Toni talked about three ways people can move past their conflict and bring more peace into their marriage.
Feb 28, 2021•30 min
