Connections Church

Welcome to Connections Church Online! Pastor John Gorter joins us with a message from Esther 8:3 – 10:3, titled “Let’s Celebrate!” How do we celebrate the holidays as Christians? We do enjoy the food, people, and festivities as others do. But we especially direct our joyful hearts and gratitude to God, the source of all our blessings. In these final chapters of Esther (8-10) we see how God’s peopl...

Welcome to Connections Church Online! Pastor John Gorter joins us with a message from Esther 6:1 – 8:2, titled “Sweet Victory.” Do we trust God to make things right? Do we trust God’s timing? When events in life are the bleakest, God delights in suddenly turning it all around. We see how God does this in Esther 6:1 – 8:2. Visit our website: https://myconnections.church/

Welcome to Connections Church Online! Pastor John Gorter joins us with a message from Esther 4-5, titled “Willing to Be Used.” Ever wonder why God placed you where you are—in your family, school, career path, or community? Even if that place feels dark or difficult, Esther 4-5 (especially 4:15) reminds us of God’s call to be used by Him in any situation. Visit our website: https://myconnections.ch...

Welcome to Connections Church Online! Pastor John Gorter joins us with a message from Esther 2:19 – 3:15, titled “Two World Views”. What is a worldview? How we look at reality and live it out affects the way we respond to God and how we treat others. In Esther 2:19 – 3:15 we will see very different worldviews and how they clash. Visit our website: https://myconnections.church/

Welcome to Connections Church Online! Pastor John Gorter joins us with a message from Esther 1:1 – 2:18, titled “A New Queen.” We may wonder at times if there are any true Christians in government. Are there Christians in leadership of educational institutions, the entertainment industry, or large corporations? As we begin going through Esther (1:1 - 2:18) we see that God does plant his people in...

Welcome to Connections Church Online! Pastor John Gorter joins us with a message from Philippians 4:14-20, titled “Offerings.” Why do we give offerings and financial gifts at church and elsewhere? Why does God tell us to give financially? As we conclude our series in Philippians (4:14-20) we see the value of our giving. Not only are causes we give to helped. But we ourselves also receive a benefit...

Welcome to Connections Church Online! Pastor John Gorter joins us with a message from Philippians 4:10-13, titled “Contentment.” How can a rich person be content? How can a poor person be content? We are told the secret to contentment in Philippians 4:10-13, no matter how great life is for us or how terrible life is for us. Visit our website: https://myconnections.church/

Welcome to Connections Church Online! Pastor John Gorter joins us with a message from Philippians 4:8-9, titled “Noble Thoughts.” How do we manage our thoughts so they are God-honoring? And how do we cultivate healthy thought patterns? The Bible has a lot to say about our thought life. This includes Philippians 4:8-9, which we will carefully review Sunday morning. Visit our website: https://myconn...

Welcome to Connections Church Online! Pastor John Gorter joins us with a message from Philippians 4:4-7, titled “Rejoice in the Lord.” How can we rejoice when there is little to be happy about? Christians turn to the loving heavenly Father. In this passage we see that God does something better than take away our problems and heartaches. Visit our website: https://myconnections.church/

Welcome to Connections Church Online! Pastor Rob Byker joins us with a message from Psalm 16, titled “Taking Christ as Your Portion and Your Cup.” Sometimes evangelists sharing Christ on the street will cry out, "Have you taken Christ as your personal Savior?" It's an unsettling question and a blunt approach. And yet, it is also a key question every heart must wrestle with. But there is second que...

Welcome to Connections Church Online! What are your goals in life? What are our goals as a church? And how do we achieve them? In this passage we see God revealing through Paul lofty goals, how to pursue them, and who they are focused on. Visit our website: https://myconnections.church/

Welcome to Connections Church Online! Pastor John Gorter joins us with a message from Philippians 3:1-11, titled “Losing, Gaining.” Have you ever bragged on how religious you are? Have you ever wanted to? In Philippians 3:1-11 we see how this kind of religion sucks out our joy. We’re reminded how Christ alone makes us good and gives us his joy. Visit our website: https://myconnections.church/

Welcome to Connections Church Online! Pastor John Gorter joins us with a message from Proverbs 6:6-11, titled “Call to Work.” Where does our work ethic come from? Christians derive their work ethic from the Bible. We will scan Scripture to see what God is telling us about our approach to work. Visit our website: https://myconnections.church/

Welcome to Connections Church Online! Pastor John Gorter joins us with a message from Philippians 2:19-30, titled “Christian Altruism.” How do we avoid burnout when caring and giving? Christians are called to share time and money with those in need. But how do we do this without giving up? In this passage we find where the strength comes from to truly care. Visit our website: https://myconnections...

Welcome to Connections Church Online! Pastor John Gorter joins us with a message from Philippians 2:12-18 titled, "On Your Own." How much hovering is needed to make sure people we love are good Christians? How much do we need for ourselves? How do we let go and let God work? When God does the work, we begin to shine like stars. Visit our website: https://myconnections.church/

Welcome to Connections Church Online! Pastor John Gorter joins us with a message from Philippians 2:5-11, titled “Jesus’ Song.” If someone were to produce a song about you and your entire life, what would be included? Would others be able to identify with it? Sunday morning we look at a song written about Jesus. And we see the call to make that our song too. Visit our website: https://myconnection...

Welcome to Connections Church Online! Pastor John Gorter joins us with a message from Philippians 1:27 – 2:4, titled “Christian Unity." A sign of mature Christians is that they get along with each other and are united. But how do we achieve that? Especially when we all believe our way is the best way! May God give us listening hearts as he calls us again to unity. Visit our website: https://myconn...

Welcome to Connections Church Online! Pastor John Gorter joins us with a message from Philippians 1:19-26, titled “To Live, or to Die." Is it healthy to want to live and want to die, at same time? For a Christian it can be. We maintain a healthy balance by being anchored in Christ. Visit our website: https://myconnections.church/

Welcome to Connections Church Online! Pastor John Gorter joins us with a message from Philippians 1:12-18, titled “Whatever It Takes." Could being falsely accused and going to prison be better? Could leaders of other churches stealing our sheep be a good thing? Could whatever struggle we’re going through right now actually be for the best? In this passage we see how God works in ways that may not...

Welcome to Connections Church Online! Welcome Pastor John Gorter for his first sermon as our interim pastor! Over the next few months, he will guide us through the Book of Philippians, beginning with a message from Philippians 1:1-11, titled ‘Maturing in the Gospel.” What goals would an interim pastor have for a congregation? In Philippians we see the special relationship Paul had with the Philipp...

Welcome to Connections Church Online! Pastor Evan Kim has a message from Ephesians 5:15-21 titled "Walking the Walk". The Bible commonly regards the Christian life as a “walk.” Employing that analogy, Paul exhorts Christians to live a life walking in the Spirit by being mindful of our time, our words and our attitudes. Doing so will help us to be established in the truth that God is always walking...

Welcome to Connections Church Online! Pastor Joy Englesman has a message from 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 and Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 titled “Flying in Formation”. What does it mean for Christians to “encourage one another?” As we discern God’s direction for our personal lives and the ministry of our church, we find strength, support, inspiration and strategy when we fly in formation with each other. Visit...

Welcome to Connections Church Online! Pastor Rob Byker has a message from Acts 12:1-19, “Surprised by Prayer”. Even though the church of Jerusalem prays for God to deliver Peter out of prison, they are shocked when God does it and Peter stands before them free! This shows us that even when we pray, there is often some levels of unbelief in us when we pray. Some Christians notice this and then pray...

Welcome to Connections Church Online! Pastor Sheri Admiraal, from Hope Fellowship CRC, has a message from Matthew 15:21-28, “The Stacked Deck of Grace”. God’s grace is something that far exceeds our human understanding. We have our own standards of inclusion vs. exclusion, restriction vs. freedom, judgment vs. grace. The cards of life that we are dealt often are stacked one way – either in favor o...

Welcome to Connections Church Online! Pastor Evan Kim has a message from Ephesians, titled “The Armor of God”. His message, The Armor of God, is a well-known passage in which Paul compares Christian living to warfare. In Ephesians 6:10-18, Paul provides a threefold map to fighting the spiritual battle: knowing our enemy, knowing our equipment, and knowing our engagement. Ultimately, we may rest in...