Connexus Church Video Podcast

We all wonder. When we fix our eyes somewhere other than on God, wonder leads to wander. If you've wandered from the faith or are looking for the door, it's not because of Jesus. It's probably because you've fixed your eyes on people, institutions, or a religion based on following rules. You may think Christianity requires mind-numbing, experience-denying faith, but what if that's not true?

We wonder because our frame of reference doesn't provide us with all of the answers. Every version of religion works for children. But then life happens. We experience challenging circumstances that sow doubt in our childhood faith. Tragedy causes us to question if God is good and loving. Sin leads to guilt and shame. We wonder if God can really love us. Is there such a thing as a frame of referen...

We all have a framework that helps us make sense out of life. It helps us make decisions that make sense. But we wonder about some things because our frame of reference doesn't provide all the answers.

And then there's parenting. You're a parent forever, but believe it or not, no matter how young your kids are now, there's a day when your kids WILL leave home. The question is, what do you focus on to make sure your kids have what they need to launch into life? There are so many things competing for your attention and their attention, but there's one thing that matters most.

Dating is more complicated than it's ever been, but that doesn't mean it's impossible. Whether you're single by choice or wishing you weren't, what does God have to say to about navigating life without a partner? Surprisingly, the scripture has a very positive view of being single.

Your life was going just fine...until you saw someone else's. Funny how that happens. A little more than a decade into smartphones and social media feels more like social misery. You look at someone else's life/marriage/relationships/kids/job and it makes you...miserable. This week we'll look at why comparison is the thief of joy, and the path Jesus shows you to find much more contentment.

You may not have it all together, but at least pastors have it all together, right? In this message, Carey and Toni Nieuwhof talk openly about the struggles and tough seasons they've come through in their marriage. Things haven't been nearly as easy as they thought they would be, but they've been worth it. Carey and Toni will talk about how they got through the hard times to find the love they wor...

Generosity requires a plan. But how do you make a plan? These two simple gauges will help you decide where and how much to give.

You know how to give. Everyone gives something somewhere. We define our generosity by our random acts of goodness. But generosity is more than that. Generosity is the premeditated, calculated, designated emancipation of personal financial assets.

Everyone gives something somewhere. But there's a difference between random acts of giving and true generosity. The good news is, it's possible to learn how to be generous.

Burnout seems to almost be an epidemic these days. And a surprising number of people who perhaps haven't fully burned out still test positive for the signs of burnout. We'll look at what causes burnout, how to know you're in it and how to get back. Plus we'll touch on suicide and why the voices you may be hearing are lying.

So many people get surprised by something that generation after generation of successful people encounter: success is emptier than they ever dreamed. Even when all your dreams come true, you may feel grateful. But feeling grateful doesn't leave you full? Why does success feel so empty? We'll look at why that is, and what to do about it.

In a wide-ranging conversation, Carey talks to author, futurist, film-maker, designer and pastor Erwin McManus about his childhood, how he got over his need for approval, why narcissism is so prevalent in leadership (including how to spot a narcissist)

Most people think pride is a problem narcissists struggle with. What if they're wrong? What if pride is bigger than that? What if most pride springs not from narcissism, but from insecurity. As strange as it might sound, your insecurity may be driving your pride and causing you all kind of problems that you can easily solve if you overcome your insecurity. We'll show you how.  

We've never been more connected as a culture, and we've never felt more alone. Many experts are beginning to call loneliness a cultural epidemic. Why is it that we can have 500 friends on social media and feel so utterly alone? A devious disconnect is underway in our culture, and it's not just a tech problem...it's a human problem.

You never thought you'd be a cynic, did you? Nobody wants to be cynical, but so many people end up there. Why? Cynicism starts not because you don't care, but because you do. Surprisingly, most cynics are former optimists. We'll look at how cynicism starts, how to recognize it and how to stop it.

Jesus had double vision. He has the ability to see God's image in us and our brokenness at the same time. Seeing people this way is what moved his heart to reach out to people every day and he was ridiculed for it. But what about other people through scripture? How did they see people with double vision and how did they respond?

Jesus had double vision. He has the ability to see God's image in us and our brokenness at the same time. Seeing people this way is what moved Jesus' heart to reach out to people every day and he was consequently ridiculed for it. But he saw us and loved us to the point that his rescue mission took Him to the cross. What would happen in our hearts and lives if we had that same double vision?

So is fear always bad? Actually there's one kind of fear you should have. We'll look at a powerful scriptural teaching that shows you how flipping your fear can increase your confidence and reduce your worry.

What do you do when you start worrying? Is there anyway to quell the anxiety and find peace? Surprisingly there is. Thousands of years ago, the ancients adopted a practice that still works today. This Sunday, Carey will share how to talk to your soul...and settle it down.

So often our fears take us into a worst case scenario. What if I lose my job? What if she leaves me? What if everything falls apart? What if I get an incurable disease and die? Joshua and the nation of Israel discovered that God loves to do what everyone thought was impossible, and in the process they discovered that too often we stress over a battle that's already been won.

It's vital to erect guardrails around our hearts because an unguarded heart can overpower our most guarded behavior.

When it comes to our finances, it's easy to cross the line into the danger zone. That's why it's essential to establish guardrails against greed.

Guardrails keep vehicles from straying into dangerous or off limit areas. We need personal guardrails so we don't stray into areas of life that can harm us or the people we love. If there's one area in which personal guardrails are most needed but also most resisted, it's in our relationships.

Guardrails are designed to keep vehicles from straying into dangerous or off-limit areas. They minimize damage by keeping us in the safety zone. But the highway isn't the only place we need guardrails.