Connecting Church

Belief is everywhere in our culture. “Believe in yourself.” “Trust the process.” “Send good vibes.” But in 1 John 5:1-13 John shows us that belief only has real power when it is anchored in the right Person, Jesus Christ.  From this passage we see four key results of belief: 1) True belief empowers us to love and obey 2) Gives power for spiritual victory 3) Provides assurance in God's truth ...

What does real love look like? In this message from 1 John 4, we explore how love is not just something we do—it’s who we become when we abide in God. John reminds us that love identifies the believer, sustains us in daily life, and drives out fear. In this sermon, we unpack: Identification in Love — how our love for others reveals that we truly know God. Abiding in Love — how God’s Spirit perfect...

In a world full of scams, half-truths, and spiritual confusion, how can we know what’s real? In this video of our Living Confident series, Pastor Phil teaches from 1 John 4:1–6 about developing spiritual discernment learning to test what we hear and believe according to God’s truth.   Just like we’ve learned to spot fake emails or online scams, we need to recognize false ideas about God that sound...

Everyone talks about love. We celebrate it on wedding days, post about it on social media, and chase after it in a thousand different ways. But the Bible gives us a deeper, more durable definition of love. It shows us a love that still stands on a random Tuesday when life isn’t picture-perfect. In this message, we look at what real love looks like according to 1 John 3:11 -24  Real love rejects je...

What if what feels like victory is actually defeat in disguise? In this week’s message from our Living Certain series, Pastor Phil unpacks 1 John 3:4–10 and shows how sin often slips into our lives looking like a gift but carries destruction inside it. John reminds us that sin isn’t just breaking rules—it’s rebellion against God.  But there’s hope: Jesus came to demolish the power of sin and destr...

Technical Warning: We have some audio problems at a few spots of the sermon.  The sermon starts with some audio issues and at times throughout, but 90% is good and has been edited to the best of our ability. Overview: So many people chase confidence in the wrong places — through control, comparison, or constant achievement — and end up exhausted instead of secure. In this message, Pastor Phil shar...

In a world that constantly pulls at our hearts and bombards us with competing truths, how do we keep our faith steady and alive? In this message from 1 John 2:15–27, Pastor Phil teaches how to protect your heart so you don’t drift from Jesus. We learned three keys to protecting our hearts: 1) Guard Your Affections – Don’t love the world or the things that are passing away. 2) Stay Alert to Spiritu...

Anyone can buy a World’s Best Boss mug, but being the best boss is proven in how you lead, not what you hold. John says the same about faith. Christianity isn’t just a title; it’s seen in the way we live. In this message from our Living Certain series, Pastor Phil walks through 1 John 2:3–14 to show three clear signs of real faith: Walk in His Word — obedience that flows from knowing God. Love His...

Darkness brings confusion, fear, and brokenness, but God calls us to something better. In 1 John 1:5–2:2, the apostle John reminds us that God Himself is light and that true fellowship with Him means living exposed to His truth, honesty, and grace. In this message from our Living Certain series, Pastor Phil unpacks four actions to help you walk confidently with God even when we fall into moments o...

For 17 weeks we’ve journeyed through the book of 1 Samuel, watching Israel long for stability and put their hope in the wrong places. From the chaos of the judges to the leadership of Samuel, from Saul’s rise to his tragic fall, the story has been one long reminder: every false king will fail, but God’s true King will never fall.    In this final message from 1 Samuel 31, we see the cost of follow...

This week, we continued our series Longing for the Better King with a message from 1 Samuel 28:3–25 titled “Desperation Without Direction.” In one of the darkest chapters of Saul’s life, fear drove him to the wrong voices, sin led him to counterfeit answers, and God’s Word stood firm in judgment. Saul’s desperation shows us the danger of acting without God — but it also points us to the hope we ha...

What do you do when someone hurts you? When you’ve been mistreated, attacked, or falsely accused, the natural pull is to get even. In 1 Samuel 24, David has Saul trapped in a cave with the perfect chance to take revenge. Instead, he chooses mercy. In this message, Pastor Phil unpacks three marks of godly character when we’re wronged: 1️⃣ Resist the urge to retaliate 2️⃣ Show honor where it can be...

What makes a true friend? In this message, Pastor Phil walks through the powerful story of David and Jonathan’s friendship—a friendship marked by honesty, commitment, sacrifice, and trust in God. We’ll see: Why real friends give space for honesty How faithful friends choose commitment over comfort The courage it takes to stand together when it costs something The beauty of grieving and rejoicing w...

Jealousy doesn’t just make you bitter — it blinds you to God’s blessings. In 1 Samuel 18, Saul watches David’s success with suspicion instead of joy, and it begins to unravel his life. But there’s a better way. In this message, Pastor Phil unpacks three signs jealousy is stealing your joy — and shows how Jesus, the greater King, frees us to celebrate others, rest in God’s plan, and lean into His p...

We all face giants—fear, insecurity, grief, addiction—but what if the battle doesn’t depend on your strength? In this message from 1 Samuel 17, TJ walks us through the story of David and Goliath, not as a motivational tale of self-empowerment, but as a powerful reminder that God fights for His people. David didn’t defeat Goliath by size, strength, or skill—but by faith in a faithful God. We learne...

Week 11 – The King After God’s Heart | 1 Samuel 16 | Connecting Church Not everything that looks impressive is real. Have you seen the show Is It Cake? Bakers create hyper-realistic cakes that look like everyday objects. But there’s only one way to tell what’s real—you have to cut into it. That visual opens the door to 1 Samuel 16, where God makes it clear: He doesn’t choose leaders based on appea...

What happens when we rush ahead of God? In 1 Samuel 13, we find King Saul under pressure—afraid, impatient, and driven to disobedience. His fear caused him to forget God's promises. His impatience led him to take matters into his own hands. And ultimately, his disobedience cost him the future God intended. This message explores how fear, impatience, and self-reliance can drive us outside of G...

Life is full of seasons—some sweet, some difficult, but none of them last forever. Even good leaders and good seasons eventually come to an end. In 1 Samuel 12 , we see Samuel’s farewell and learn what it looks like to walk faithfully with God through life’s changes. In this message, we explore: - Why even good seasons don’t last forever - How to see God’s steady grace in every season - The danger...

What happens when we’re drawn to the people who look the part but don't have the heart for God? This week, we explore the story of Saul’s rise as Israel’s first king—a man who seemed impressive on the outside and humble at first but ultimately missed what mattered most.   In this message, we’ll discover: -God looks past the hype and sees the heart. -God confirms His call through everyday, sov...

We’ve all been there—buying into something that promised to solve our problems but left us more frustrated than before. In this week’s message, we dive into 1 Samuel 8, where the people of Israel demand a human king to fix what only God can truly heal.   This sermon walks through four key truths: 1) Brokenness can stir the right desires—but lead us to wrong solutions. 2) Wanting to fit in makes us...

Is it possible to come back from spiritual dryness, distance, or defeat? In this message, Pastor Phil walks through 1 Samuel 7 and explores how God brings true spiritual renewal—not just a momentary emotional high, but lasting transformation. After 20 years of hardship and defeat, Israel begins to long for the Lord again… and what follows is a powerful picture of how revival takes root in a person...

Sermon Title: When God's Not In It Scripture: 1 Samuel 4 Series: Longing for the Better King What if we’re holding onto the things of religion but missing the person of God entirely? In this sermon from our series Longing for the Better King through 1 Samuel, Pastor Phil unpacks a sobering moment in Israel’s history where the people brought the Ark of the Covenant into battle—hoping for it wo...

Sermon Title: Hearing God's Call Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:1-21 Series: Longing for the Better King In this message, we look at a moment when God breaks through the silence and speaks to a young boy named Samuel. In a spiritually dark time, God’s voice returns—and everything begins to shift. Join us as we explore three key responses when it comes to hearing from God: Recognize the danger of spiri...

What happens when spiritual leaders stop honoring God and start serving themselves? Pastor Phil walked through one of the heaviest and most sobering chapters in 1 Samuel—where Eli’s sons, appointed as priests, abuse their power, dishonor God’s name, and hurt the very people they were called to serve. Passage: 1 Samuel 2:12–36 Series: Longing for the Better King In this message, we learned..... -Th...

Pastor Phil started off a new series, Longing for the Better King, by stepping into the powerful and emotional story of Hannah in 1 Samuel 1–2. Before Israel ever had a king, there was a woman with a prayer. Hannah's deep longing, heartfelt surrender, and bold worship opened the door to a greater move of God than she ever imagined. In her story, we see that God meets us in our most personal p...