If you really want to get countercultural, just look at Jesus’ teachings on sex, marriage and adultery. Almost nobody believes that stuff anymore. Except for Jesus. When it comes to Jesus’ alternative teachings on sex and relationships, maybe it’s not just a question of what he’s longing to save you from. Maybe it’s a question of what Jesus is trying to save you for.
Well known. Poorly applied. That’s an accurate way of describing so many of Jesus’ teachings, including his teachings on anger. Some people think Jesus was just spouting hyperbole. Actually, he was ushering in His Alt Kingdom. We’ll start this journey with Jesus’ teachings on anger. If you think you have a right to be angry, think again.
It’s one thing to know how everything turns out and to decide for the side of good and the side of God, but it’s another thing to make it until then. In the meantime, suffering remains—cancer, addictions, broken relationships, conflict, tragedy. Is personal anxiety, stress and fear always bound to be on the rise? In this final week of the series, we’ll share a critical key to navigating the personal suffering that seems inevitable in this world.
It’s great to know how things end, but in the meantime, what’s with evil? So often evil seems to be winning, and so many people are angry at God for letting that happens. It’s a good point. If God is so loving, why does he allow so much evil and suffering? While that question is difficult to answer convincingly, God does something more spectacular and powerful with evil. Eventually, evil self-destructs. And when evil throws itself at God, he does something unbelievable with it.
So what exactly will happen next? Will we blow ourselves up? Will AI take over and turn us into a sub-species? Will climate change wipe us out? Will God allow any of this, or will he protect the people he loves and we’ll magically work it all out? Jesus has a lot to say about what’s coming, and with it, extends a powerful invitation.
Most of us hold the idea that the future will always get better...that somehow we will figure this out. But the question is, can we? Is this even true? We’ll look at two ancient stories that tell us more about ourselves than most of us want to admit, and realize why the struggle apart from God is more futile than we think. Are people inherently good, or a mixed bag? Is there a limit to human progress? And if we’re so enlightened, why do we keep almost destroying ourselves again and again?
The New Year is full of possibilities that fuel the potential for a better future. That’s why we make resolutions . . . even though those resolutions often fall by the wayside. But there’s something simple you can do to make the most of this year. It begins by looking past what you think is possible in your life to what God thinks is possible.
At Christmas, you can expect to see God, just not the God you expected. Maybe you’ve written off Jesus, Christianity or even Christmas, thinking it can’t possibly help you. Think again. Join us as Connexus Church hosts Christmas Eve In The City 2018, an evening of music, cheer and a message the whole family will love.
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 reference that can accomodate a grown-up faith?
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 worried had been lost.
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?