ConnectUs Church Audio Podcast

What are you believing this year? ***2 Things For You To Do During Our Online Service*** 1. Connection Card - connectuschurch.org/connect 2. Sign up for 14 days of how to study your Bible - https://www.connectuschurch.org/14-days-of-bible-email-sign-up 2 more things to do this year 1. Participate in a Next Step Group 2. Engage with a small group 2 things to do today 1. Answer: What are you believing heading into 2023? 2. Answer: What is something you believed to be true but found out that it wasn't? Join us next week (Jan 8) as we kick off our new series "The Mistake of Believing." 10am at Reel Cinemas

We are so familiar with Christmas that we just might miss Christmas. There was probably no one more familiar with Jesus than his mother; yet even His mother needed to trust in her son to be her savior! Are you trusting in Him?

What would it take for you to believe that your brother was the Son of God? No matter how many times they claimed it to be true it just couldn't be, right? You've grown up together. You know your brother better than pretty much everyone else. That was James, the brother of Jesus' story until something happened and He actually believed. Do you know what happened?

You can be so close to Jesus and miss it. You can even be blood relatives to Jesus and miss it. Don't miss Christmas.

The Saturday between Jesus' death and resurrection was a day no one believed Jesus was who He said He was. They had hoped everything He said was true but the circumstances on that day said otherwise. We know Sunday came so embrace Saturday. What's your Saturday?

The difference between staying because you have to versus staying because you want to. One is prison. The other is transformation.

God wants all of you. He gave everything He had to get you. Will we respond in faith and trust Him in all ways, including with our money? God knows it is hard; so, he invites us to put him to the test. Will you do it?

Ananias heard of the many terrible things Saul did and God was calling him to go to him and minister to him. Ananias did not want to go. God commanded him to go. He found Saul was blind too. God did the transforming work.

Teach Jesus. Don't Be A Jerk. Strive for Contentment. Kill Them With Kindness. Hold On To The Gospel. Give Generously. Message by Scott Greening.

Church is a wonderfully complex thing. It's people of all different life stages and ages coming together united in Jesus. This complexity brings up many challenging scenarios. How do you know what is the right thing to do? Where do you turn for answers? - Also known as the 1-800-CHURCH-ADVICE sermon.

It's so easy to do but don't neglect what God has given you.

Stop waiting and start fighting for authentic faith. Don't let the fact you are young be an excuse for not living out your faith. You faith is set on the great hope of Jesus Christ. Don't place your hope anywhere else. Sermon recap of John's Message on Sunday.

God has so much good news for you! All throughout history people were waiting for the Savior. Today we look back and worship Jesus for all that He did for us. It's incredible. Unfortunately, some people don't teach the good news the right way. Message by Jordan Wertz.

What are the characteristics of the future you? Maybe you've just started in your journey of faith following Jesus. Maybe church is a relatively new thing for you. Or, maybe you've been at this for a long time. What exactly is God developing in your life? What words would you use to describe the kind of person is He making you to be? 1 Timothy 3 gives us plenty of characteristics to consider.

Know what you believe and actually live your life based on those beliefs. Pray for everyone for God wants everyone to be saved. Men and women both have important unique roles to play to reach people and honor God.

Paul sent a letter to his son in the faith, Timothy. What's a letter? Look out for some general 1st century letter info that will set up some deeply personal application of God's mercy. Message by Denny Foreman.

If you are responsible for much, share it with others. Will you rise up to share in the responsibility? With God's help you can. Believers are empowered by the Holy Spirit to faithfully influence and lead the people God has brought into their lives.

Have you ever done so much for someone or something and it went unrecognized? No thank you. No acknowledgement. No reward.   We would love for you to join a ministry team and serve one another in and through the church!

God is going to grow your faith. He often uses difficulty to do that. And He connects you with other people to walk with you through it. God wants you to grow.. but we often do things that put us in a position where that doesn't happen. Learn more about joining a small group at connectuschurch.org/groups

We are ordinary people seeking an extraordinary life.. and life built on a bigger purpose. A life built on Jesus that glorifies Him.

We've got to stop building a "safe" life all about ourselves and pursue what God has designed for us. Don't settle outside God's plan.

God does stuff. At a moment in history when the Earth was very evil, God took action. Yes, there was judgement; and yes, there was grace. What is He doing in your life? He is not a distant God.

It's not good for people to be alone. But what happens when relationships go bad? We know that is part of the reality we live in. The children of the first humans knew that very well. Your relationship might be ruptured but there is hope for restoration. Message from Jerry Evens.

Where did perfection go? Where did you go? What does God do in the middle of our brokenness? (It might not be what you think).

God spoke and created everything, and it was good. But then He noticed something was not good and God rolled up his sleeves, knelt in the mud, and handcrafted us. Genesis 2:4-25

You were uniquely created for a purpose. God formed and filled. So fill it up - you were made for this!

After the last supper, Jesus sang a final song with His disciples as they made their way to the garden. Imagine being by the campfire on the hillside with Jesus during His final days on earth. Message by Denny Foreman.

Life is hard. Maybe Father's Day is a hard day for you. Life doesn't usually go as planned; and man, it would be nice if it was better. .. Yeah... There is a song for that too. Habakkuk 3. Shannon's father, Mark Stauffer, helps us with the message.

What are lyrics to the song we will sing in heaven? It's incredible! It's also really interesting what we will be singing about. Jesus is worthy of all praise and is pictured as a slain lamb.

Today we are partnering with Love Life to help mobilize the church to bring the gospel to some of the darkest places in our community, the abortion mission field. The message today is from Romans 9. God has a purpose and a plan for every person before they were born and even before the foundation of the world!

Do you wait to worship until you've seen the blessing? Press play now. As you wait. In the middle of the pain. You've already experienced more victory than you know - press play on your praise.

The church is a movement on a mission. While God does call some disciples to go somewhere else to "make disciples," making disciples is the call of every Christ follower no matter where they go. Message from Denny Foreman.

The church is a beautiful thing that crosses borders, languages, cultures, etc. Every believer in Jesus is a part of the *universal church*. Message from Tony Holloman on Sunday.

The church is the people. All different kinds of people. We are so excited that you are a part of it!

What is the best way to grow in your faith? What happens when tension arises? Do you pull away or do you roll up your sleeves and jump in? JUMP IN!

Time usually tells and for the Church, time has told. What Jesus did 2000 years ago ignited a new movement that we get to be a part of and keep living out the mission.

Each new day is another reminder of the worst failure of your life but because of the resurrection there is restoration available for you. Jesus will do whatever it takes to get your attention because he's already done everything necessary for you to have a right relationship with Him forever. What will you do when the rooster crows?

Stay centered on Jesus. Don't just stay on the outside looking in. Stay close to Jesus and let Him lead you to know God. Palm Sunday was a different kind of day. Message from John Munchel.

Because of Jesus, today can be different. You can be different. He came to introduce to the world something new. A new way of relating to God. A new system.

There are many ways you could study the Bible but not all of them are the best. What even is the Bible? Can you trust it?

Are you alive in Hell? Why did God kill so many innocent people in the Old Testament? Really great, really hard, and really important questions.

With Jesus your identity is received and not achieved. Sure we sometimes achieve success, but we also "achieve" failure and disappointment. When what we "achieve" defines who we are it becomes our identity - and we feel shame. It's not just what we do. It becomes who we are. But Jesus offers you a brand new identity. One that is based on His performance. Not yours.

Can you trust a God that seemingly changes His mind? While God doesn't change His mind, there are verses in the Bible that seem to indicate that He does. Some of these examples seem to be changes for the good and some are for the bad. All in all, God is entirely consistent and He wants to "change his mind" about you.

Where do you bring your questions and doubts? If you bring them to Jesus you might find some faith, answers, and results. He promised, "anything is possible if a person believes." Do you think that is true?

Jesus can calm the storm. Do you believe it? We can doubt a lot of things but knowing who Jesus is essential to walk in faith. A message from Denny Foreman.

Doubting Thomas should probably be known by a different name. Maybe we doubt God sometimes because we just haven't given Him the opportunity to show Himself to us.

Do you ever doubt God? Have you ever wondered why God won't just reveal himself to you more clearly? Like, if He was just standing in front of me I would believe! Well, would you? Is seeing really believing? In this iDoubt series we hope to help you transform your doubts into opportunities to walk in faith!

Jesus wants to eat with you no matter who you are or what you have done. Don't think of yourself as a church person? Not particularly religious? You are just the kind of person that Jesus came for.

Are you living in a way that allows you to be at your best? Jesus regularly took time away to pray and rest. Does your busy life make time for these important rhythms?

Jesus had around 3 years to do everything He came here to do and He never ran. So why do we run around like crazy to do everything? What is your pace? Walking helps us accomplish a lot of significant things.

Overwhelmed? Over Committed? Overworked? Busy? Slammed? Crazy Season? Worn out? Burnt out? Stressed? This message is for you! There is something better to shoot for than a balanced life. -- Join the 21 Days of Prayer (https://www.connectuschurch.org/21-days-of-prayer)