Connexus Church Audio Podcast

Your desire to blame is an attempt to cover your shame. And there's a lot of shame circulating these days. Most people believe you can't be fully known and fully loved, so they hide and try to make themselves look better so people won't judge them. Jesus comes along with a message of radical acceptance that turned the ancient world—and this world—upside down.

When Adam and Eve sinned, the accusations flew, and no one took responsibility. Not only did the blame start, so did the shame. For the first time, Adam and Eve realized they were naked. And they were ashamed. That sounds like a lot of relationships. Mercifully, God clothed them, and later, Jesus clothed all of us with his grace and a call into a new way of life.

Why is life so hard? That's a great question, and while the answer doesn't take the pain away, it's much easier to understand when you realize that your story, like every story, has a beginning, middle and end. Knowing where you are in your story makes it much easier to understand, accept, trust and even thrive.

Do you ever feel like who you really are was stolen? Like something's missing? You know your life isn't exactly the way it's supposed to be. And neither are you. You have amazing intentions, but you struggle to fulfill them. You fall in love, but mess up the relationship. You get your dream job and it turns into a nightmare. You've met your goal, but there's still a gnawing emptiness. You keep trying, but it never quite works out. What's going on? A journey into the Garden of Eden explains more than you think.

What would it take for you to be FOR your friends, family and neighbours in this weird season? So much of what we do and how we do it has changed, including the people we interact with. But what if there were ways we could be FOR the people in our lives and cities like never before? What if, we stepped into the corner of those around us in tangible, helpful, and potentially life-changing ways?

Do you ever have those moments where you say something and immediately want to take it back? Or you hear your little one repeat something you've said and wish they hadn't? We've all been there. ⁠

You struggle with control and expectations in certain relationships. We all do. Have you felt that in your marriage or with your significant other? Do you often want to micro-manage the choices your kids are making? Does it seem like things are spinning out of control at home with everything that's going on? Should you "let go" of something you care so deeply about? Family relationships can be hard, but what God has to say about your relationships can make all the difference. This week we explored how the teachings of scripture point us to a greater purpose in our families than we might see in the moment.

Want to know how to stop worrying and start living? We all face moments when we feel powerless. How should we respond when hardships, calamities, and insults come our way? Our world often tells us that these types of situations are to be avoided or eased at all costs. That we should try to control or escape. But is that the best option? We will be looking at what scripture has to say about the moments when we feel like things are out of our control. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS https://wp.me/a7n2nP-8ew

How do the people around you experience your need for control? Control is really about having power, and how we use that power is important. Who do you have power over? How do you use that power to make a difference in the lives of those around you? Control doesn't inspire people the way influence does. Control makes temporary progress, but it rarely makes a lasting difference. Help us reach more people by subscribing today on YouTube: https://bit.ly/2SJvyfL

Was Jesus really all that Christians believe him to be? What if Jesus was just a "good guy" doing good things? Was he a prophet or the saviour of the world? What is Jesus really all about? In this message with pastor Mark Clark, we will explore how understanding who Jesus is changes everything. Help us reach more people by subscribing today on YouTube: https://bit.ly/2SJvyfL