Connexus Church Audio Podcast

Faith vs works — it's one of the most debated questions in Christianity. Paul says we're saved by faith alone. James says show me your faith without any evidence and he'll wait. In this bonus episode Jeff Brodie and Sydney Jackson unpack James chapter 2 and work through the tension: it's not faith plus works, and it's not works instead of faith. It's a faith that works — one that shows up in your life in ways others can actually see. Using Abraham, Rahab, and even demons to make his point, James asks the hardest question of all: if nobody around you would be surprised to find out you're a follower of Jesus, what does that say about your faith?

Sunday covered trials, divided trust, and what it means to be double-minded. But James 1 has more to say. In this first bonus episode, Jeff Brodie and Sydney Jackson dig into what didn't make the Sunday message — the rich and poor illustration, the difference between trials and temptation, and why your desires matter more than you think when life gets hard. James isn't just talking about what you're going through. He's talking about what's driving you underneath it all.

Most people think you need to clean up your life before God will accept you. Carey Nieuwhof closes out the Counterfeit Faith series by unpacking why that's exactly backwards. Two men, same temple, completely different prayers. One had everything to offer. One had nothing. Jesus said only one went home right with God. If you've ever felt like you're not good enough to come to God, this is the message you've been waiting for.

Most people think there's one way to be lost. Carey Nieuwhof shows there are actually two — and the more surprising one has nothing to do with wrecking your life. In week 2 of Counterfeit Faith, Carey unpacks the parable of the prodigal son in a way you've probably never heard before. If you've ever felt like God owes you something for being good, this one's for you.

What is baptism, and does it actually mean anything? In this episode, Jeff Brodie unpacks one of the most misunderstood moments in the Christian faith. Using three lenses — repentance, allegiance, and identity — Jeff explains why baptism isn't a condition of following Jesus, but evidence of it. If you've ever been curious about baptism or wondered whether it's for you, this conversation is a great place to start.

You thought you'd dealt with it. You thought you'd moved on. And then something brought it all back — and you realised you haven't moved as far as you thought. Why is forgiveness so hard? And why does it keep coming undone even when you've tried? In this message, Vijay Krishnan introduces two words that reframe the entire conversation — debt and blood. He unpacks why forgiveness isn't just a choice you make once, why the instinct to hold out for payment is more human than we want to admit, and why something that happened 2,000 years ago outside Jerusalem is still the most powerful answer to the question we can't shake. This is Week 3 of Questions You Can't Shake — a series tackling the questions people carry around but rarely ask out loud. 🎬 Watch the full message on YouTube @connexuschurch Find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms. If this episode helped you, share it with someone who's carrying something they can't seem to put down.

You've hit goals. You've bought things. You've built a life worth living. So why does it still feel like something's missing? The problem isn't that you can't find satisfaction. It's that you can't keep it. You get there for a moment — and then it slips. And the cycle starts again. In this message, Jeff Brodie explores one of the most universal human experiences: the feeling that nothing is ever quite enough. What if your dissatisfaction isn't a failure? What if it's actually a clue? This is Week 1 of Questions You Can't Shake — a series tackling the questions people carry around but rarely ask out loud. 🎙️ Want to go deeper? Check out the companion podcast episode — "Is Ambition the Problem — Or Is It Something Deeper?" — where Jeff, Dom Ruso and Vijay Krishnan keep the conversation going. 🔔 Subscribe so you don't miss the rest of this series.

Most of us know what it feels like to carry something we can't seem to put down. A regret. A mistake. A version of ourselves we're not proud of. This Good Friday, Jeff Brodie looks at what the cross actually means for the weight you've been hauling around — and why the message of Good Friday might be better news than you've ever let yourself receive. Worth your time. Share it with someone who needs it. Visit us at connexuschurch.com

Tom Brady won three Super Bowls in four seasons. Then told a journalist: "I think there's got to be more than this." That moment opens one of the most honest and relatable messages in this series. In Week 3 of Closer Than You Think, Luke Crawford speaks from a refreshingly vulnerable place — someone who's experienced the Holy Spirit's presence and also lived through seasons of real disappointment and confusion about where God is. He explores the ancient vision of Ezekiel 47, where water flows from God's presence into the Dead Sea and brings it to life — and connects it to Jesus' invitation in John 7: "Anyone who is thirsty, come to me." The message lands on a quietly confronting question: Are you living like a reservoir — collecting everything God pours into you and keeping it for yourself — or like a river, letting it flow out into the lives of people around you? Practical, honest, and genuinely good for anyone who's ever chased satisfaction and come up empty. Closer Than You Think is a 4-week series on the Holy Spirit. New episodes weekly.

Have you ever believed in God but struggled to actually experience Him? In this message, Jeff Brodie explores the Holy Spirit as breath—invisible, essential, and life-giving. From John 3 and Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus, we discover that the Holy Spirit isn't a force to find, but a relationship to foster—one that brings new life, restores hope, and makes God personal in everyday moments. This is Week 1 of the Closer Than You Think series: How to Experience God (The Holy Spirit as Breath).

If you've ever felt distant from God or struggled to feel His presence in prayer, this message is for you. In Week 2 of The Prayer Lab, Vijay Krishnan explores how to pray when God feels far away. Looking at Psalm 139 and introducing the Prayer of Examen, this message offers a practical way to reconnect spiritually and become more aware of God's presence in everyday life. Many people ask: Why don't I feel close to God? Is God really with me? How do I reconnect through prayer? This teaching shows how reflective prayer can help you see where God has already been at work in your life — and how He may be closer than you think. Introduction and The Prayer Lab Series 00:00:02 - 00:00:16 The Prayer Lab: Week Two - Visualizing Prayer Relationships 00:00:20 - 00:04:38 Personal Reflection and the Game-Changing Practice 00:04:40 - 00:05:35 Introducing Psalm 139: A Prayer of Closeness 00:05:36 - 00:09:00 Analyzing Psalm 139: God's Presence Across Time Zones 00:09:02 - 00:13:21 The Nature of Prayer and the Prayer of Examine 00:13:23 - 00:16:48 The Daily Examen: A Pilgrimage to God 00:16:49 - 00:20:00 Guided Prayer of Examen 00:20:02 - 00:28:47 The Reimagining the Examen App and Conclusion 00:28:52 - 00:31:15 Closing and Call to Action 00:31:27 - 00:31:44

We've never been more connected — and yet many of us feel deeply lonely. Likes, comments, group chats, and constant online interaction promise connection, but often leave us unseen and unknown. The algorithm keeps us engaged, but it can quietly pull us away from the kind of relationships our souls actually need. In this message from the Starve the Algorithm, Feed the Soul series, Jeff Brodie explores why being connected isn't the same as being known — and how real, meaningful relationships are formed. Because the answer to loneliness isn't more connections. It's being deeply known by a few. 👉 Connection doesn't heal loneliness. Being known does.

How do you know what's actually true anymore? In a world shaped by algorithms, the loudest voices often feel like the truest ones. Repetition creates belief, confidence gets amplified, and scrolling slowly rewires what we trust. In this message Jeff Brodie explores how our feeds are shaping our beliefs — and how Jesus offers a grounded way to find clarity in the noise. Because truth isn't discovered by scrolling more. It's formed by who you trust.