Connection Point Podcast: Recent Episodes
Connection Point Church of God - Sidney, OH
Have you ever felt like there had to be more to following Jesus than going to church? Listen as the teaching team, at Connection Point Church of God in Sidney, OH, motivates and encourages us all towards becoming Everyday Disciples as we dive into the Word of God.
In week one we take a look at the life of Moses, and consider what it means for each of us to be sent by God and on mission with Jesus.
Everyone has 3 callings:
o Formational (Who you are). This calling is necessary for the others. The Called Series.
o Vocational (What you do). We are called to be good workers.
o Missional (Where you’re sent). We can be used by Jesus at any time & be sent to do it.
When is the last time you asked God where He wants to send
you? What’s holding you back from asking Him now?
Part of growing as an Everyday Disciple is knowing that when Jesus is changing your life, you have something to share. When we hear the message of the Gospel and make the decision to follow Jesus, we are also invited to share that message with the people around us. When we are partnering with Jesus... there is no telling where he may send us!
When we answer the call to follow Jesus and move in his direction, he begins to transform our lives.
Jesus offers the invitation, "follow me" to Matthew, a tax collector despised by most of society. Jesus chose to have dinner with tax collectors and sinners, which totally confused the religious leaders around him. Jesus' invitation to follow was not just for Matthew, it is for us today, no matter how complicated life is. What will your answer be when you hear Jesus say, "Follow me"?
We are all image bearers of the God who created and rules all things. As followers of Jesus, our identity is rooted in our pursuit of the God who created, loves, and understands us. As he changes our lives, we get to share and show his character to the world around us.
Citizens of Heaven know that true courage and lasting faith come from Jesus, not our own strength. When we participate in small, consistent, intentional acts of obedience over time, it produces courage in us so that when we are in need of it there is a well to draw from. When we feel like we need courage, there is one question to ask ourselves: Is Jesus truly part of my everyday life?
Citizens of Heaven choose Kingdom unity over political division. How we live and work with those we disagree with can reveal the character of God at work in us. As Citizens of Heaven we are called to create unity while doing something about the injustices in our world. If you care deeply, take action.
As followers of Jesus, we choose to live in the tension between Heaven and Earth. We are part of two kingdoms.
But what does it look like to be part of the Kingdom of Heaven while living in the world everyday? Let's discover together how Jesus is calling us to live differently and love deeper.
Praying is easy...until it's not. In the final week of our series, we use Psalm 22 to help us pray through the pain we experience in life. We can build trust in our relationship with Jesus when we choose to honestly share our deepest pains with him. When prayer becomes less about a request, and more about walking with Jesus through hard things, we grow in our closeness to him... no matter how our circumstances turn out.
Prayer is easy...until it's not. There are moments where God's company feels uncomfortable, and talking to him feels impossible. What do we do when that happens? This week, we will look at Psalm 57 and discover how we can pray when we are wrestling with fear.
Praying is easy...until its not. When we encounter evil in our world it can bring on intense thoughts and feelings of doubt. Doubt can feel like a crisis, but it doesn't have to destroy us. When we are moving towards Jesus we will experience doubt... because looking for Jesus in a world that sometimes looks nothing like him is a difficult task. If you've ever struggled to talk to God about your doubts... this message is for us.
Praying is easy...until it isn't.
When guilt is pressing on us, talking to God might be the last thing we want to do. His presence can feel heavy and daunting. But when we confess to God in prayer, we experience God's company in a new way... and it's actually freeing. If you've ever avoided prayer because you felt too guilty, this conversation through Psalm 32 is for us.
In the last message of our series we consider the parable of the tax collector in Luke 18. Here we encounter two men who pray very different prayers to God.
In Matthew 13 we discover that no matter where we find ourselves, there’s seed around us because God is just that good. No matter where we are in life, good soil can be cultivated, and beautiful things can begin to grow.
A parable of Jesus teaching his disciples what is necessary to let go of bitterness and be a person of forgiveness.
When we show mercy, compassion, and love it becomes evidence of our love for Jesus. His character at work in our lives will move us to have deep compassion for those around us. Our neighbor is anyone we make our neighbor!
In this parable we learn of two men who owed a debt. One debt was great, and the other was small. We are discovering together how the parables of Jesus teach us about who we are and about who God is. This week we are learning that: when we realize the great debt that Jesus has paid for us, or best response is to grow in great love for him.
Take a look at Jesus' parable about two different builders: one who builds on sand, and the other who digs deep and builds on rock. There's wisdom for our own lives in Jesus' parables. Spend this summer discovering them with us!
In Luke 5, we are confronted with a parable of Jesus about "old" and "new" things, We learn that following Jesus cannot be done while still holding on to what is "old." God is doing new things and looking for vessels that are ready to receive "new wine". Are you ready?
In the parable of the weeds among the wheat in Matthew 13 we discover a God who is totally committed to us and our world, and that through the sacrifice of Jesus we can choose to be participants in the restoration that follows God's judgment.
Through the parable of the vineyard workers in Matthew chapter 20, we discover I God who doesn't run out of generous love for us.
Take a look at Luke 14:28-33 with us.
What does being a follower of Jesus actually require of us? It's an important question to consider before we commit to becoming disciples of Jesus.
Take a look at the parable of the rich man from Luke 12 with us.
“Watch out! Be on your guard against wanting to have more and more things. Life is not made up of how much a person has.”
Did you know that Jesus wasn't the only teacher to use parables? When Jesus taught using parables, and he often did, he was using a style of teaching that would have been familiar to many of those listening. One of the first parables we encounter in scripture is Nathan's parable to David in 2 Samuel 12. Nathan's story helps David to see a blindspot in his own life, and moves him in the direction of something new. What could it teach us?
As we wrap up this series we are challenged to learn what it looks like to put on the full armor of God. We'll review the characteristics of Everyday Disciples that we have collected over the series and be reminded to pursue what it means to walk as children of light everyday.
When we are following after Jesus we will find ways to honor one another.
Oneness in marriage provides a unique opportunity to understand oneness with Jesus.
When husbands strive to sacrificially love their wives and embrace the weight of their unique role to live as a servant leader, and wives embrace the struggle of submission, knowing the one they truly submit to is Christ, then marriages begin to illustrate what it means for Christ to love and lead His church.
In the first half of Ephesians 5 we discover that Everyday Disciples choose to imitate God, they are called to live as Children of Light and journey with others to become light, too. Out of the overflow of what God is accomplishing in our lives, we can do things beyond what we could do
on our own.
A calling is an invitation to partner with God. When we are obedient to the things that God asks of us, we are exactly where we are supposed to be. Everyday Disciples never stop striving to grow, as long as they have breath they do whatever it takes to live more like Jesus.
Everyday Disciples make efforts to grasp the width, height, depth, and length of God’s
love, while also embracing it’s impossible to fully understand. Both of these truths are important to consider as we grow to know and love Jesus.
No matter how far away or how near to God you feel today... Jesus is making peace available to every person who will receive it. Peace starts with making Jesus the "cornerstone" of the life you are building.
Journey through the first half of Ephesians chapter 2 with us.
We will ask the important question: who are you following?
Happy Easter! Today we celebrate the empty tomb, and we worship the risen Savior! Because Jesus is alive, he can change our lives.
When Jesus enters the city of Jerusalem in Luke 19 the people shout their praises, but as Jesus rides in he is weeping over the city. There's a lot to unpack in this moment of Jesus' story, and we are left contemplating this important question: Who is Jesus to me?
We wrap up our lost series by journeying through the parable of the lost son in Luke chapter 15. Here we are reminded that God wants to be near us, and he chooses to call us his children!
This month we are journeying through the three parables found in Luke 15. Today, we look at the parable of the lost sheep, and discover that God continually pursues us when we are lost because he truly knows us.
We wrap up our series with a discussion about finding new things to set our minds on. When we choose gentleness, we show the world the power and testimony of Jesus... the Gospel. Prayer will bring us peace, and the power of the peace and gentleness is more impactful than we give credit. As we fill our minds with new things, we can ask ourselves these questions: Is it helpful? Is it true? Is it kind?
We aren't just talking about the "bad" thoughts. What if Jesus had access to every thought we have? What if he got the final say as to what thoughts we build on and what thoughts we put away? In the 3rd message of our series, we are talking about what it actually means to take thoughts captive and how we can do it in real time.
Our mindset - how we think and what we think about - matters. Our mindset will effect the course of our life. In the enemy's effort to destroy our lives, he will wage war on our thoughts. What can we do when we find ourselves there? Through God's power and wisdom there is a way to defeat the enemy's attack on our minds.
Our mindset matters. What does God think about when he thinks about you? Do God's thoughts about you change the way you see him? For the next three weeks we will discuss defeating thoughts that will harm us, taking captive those thoughts, and defending our minds by intentionally thinking about new things.
God can handle our anger, and he desires a relationship with us even when we aren't feeling it. He wants the same kind of relationship with our enemies. These are some of the things that Jonah chapter 4 would have us wrestle with. While this book ends abruptly, it begs us to ask ourselves the question, "What is God doing in me?"
This week, we take a look at Jonah chapter 3. Jonah finally enters the city with a message from God. The people's response is one of humility and turning away from evil - a response that moves God to act on their behalf. God sees us and is deeply moved when we take steps in his direction!
Jonah finds himself overboard the ship he was using to run from God. In a place of deep darkness he remembers the Lord. He shifts his attention off of himself and towards Jesus, and it changes the way he faces death. What could this teach us about how we face hardship?
Have you ever found yourself running from God? In the first week of this series, we meditate on Jonah chapter one. Here we find a prophet running from God's call to share a difficult message. We'll consider what it looks like when we choose to run from a God who never leaves us.
Its a New Year for us... and the story of Jesus is full of moments where God makes things new and changes the course of people's lives. God has plans for your life in 2024. Is it time to take a different route and discover Jesus in a new way?
Merry Christmas! Today we celebrate that love came down as Jesus was born... bringing light to a dark world.
In the fourth week of Advent we take a deep dive into the loyal and true love of God. It's a love that keeps it's promises, sticks close to us in our sufferings, and grows us through the waiting.
In the third week of Advent, we celebrate that joy can be found anytime we choose to honor what God is doing in our lives right now.
In the second message of our Advent series we discover that Jesus made peace by entering into our suffering. No matter where we find ourselves, we can find peace when we are anchored to the unchanging character and love of Jesus.
In the first week of our Advent series, we have a conversation about hope through the book of Psalms. Have you ever asked "God, where are you?" The loyal and true hope that Jesus offers is different than any other, but sometimes it can feel just out of reach. If you are experiencing this, you're not alone. Life is messy. Yet even when our waiting feels endless, he keeps his promise to always be near.
When we believe that when there is room for everyone in the Body of Christ there are some important decisions we get to make. We choose our posture towards evil before we encounter it, we choose not to take revenge into our own hands, and we choose to serve people in all walks of life... even our enemies.
In the second week of our series we discovered our true need for one another. We need each other to stay on fire for Jesus.
We take a look at the first 8 verses of Romans 12 today, as we begin a new series called One. We are called to live as one body of believers. What does that mean? Today we consider how surrendering our lives to Jesus actually transforms us so that we can love and strengthen one another.
We end our series on James by considering the power of committing our thoughts and actions to Jesus. When we turn to prayer and praise when we experience joy or trouble, we remind ourselves that the whole of our lives belongs to Jesus.
This week we look at James Chapter 4, and consider what a life submitted to God can look like.
In the last message of our Fall Forward series we allow the end of Matthew Chapter 6 to shed some light on what it means to experience rest. Worry tethers us to parts of our future that we cannot control and keeps us from taking action in the present. Jesus' words offer us a clear path through our worry: "Seek first the Kingdom of God".
Have you ever considered fasting as a spiritual discipline worth practicing? In this message we look at the discipline of fasting, those throughout The Word who have fasted, and how the practice of fasting can remind us that it is the Lord who ultimately sustains us.
In this series we discuss what it means to fall towards Jesus, not further away from him, when life becomes challenging. This week we look at how prayer can move us into a space with Jesus where he gets to see the real us, and our lives start to change.
It's inevitable that we will experience times where we feel like we are "falling". Whether by failure, tragedy, anger, or pain... every person has moments of weakness and discouragement. When we feel that way we have a choice to make. Will we fall backward, away from Jesus? Or will we fall forward, toward Jesus? This message begins a series of conversations about what it means to choose to fall forward, and how it changes the way we live everyday, not just when hardship strikes.
We've made it to the last chapter of Peter's second letter, and the final message of our summer series. Here we are given the opportunity to wrestle with what it means to be awake and alert in our faith, as we wait for the Lord's promise.
We've made our way to the last chapter of First Peter! Here is an abbreviated message recorded to reflect our Sunday sermon. Technical difficulties with our live stream prevented us from sharing our live teaching from Sunday, but we hope that this message encourages you to live as an everyday disciple who is deeply cared for by the Chief Shepherd.
We are all journeying somewhere whether we choose to or not. Will we choose to play an active part in determining the direction of our lives? Are we willing to move in a direction that makes us look more like Jesus?
1 Peter 3 reminds us that suffering is unavoidable. That may sound like a pretty hopeless truth, but as we meditate on this chapter we find that Jesus' presence in our suffering changes everything... including us.
Jump into the second chapter of 1st Peter with us this week. Together we discover that when we try to live like Jesus there will be moments when we suffer. Walking through suffering with Jesus is a practice that actually changes us.
We've taken a look at the life of Peter. Now we get to hear from his letters. Written later in his life, Peter's letters come from the perspective of someone who has had to learn from mistakes and grow in faith. For the next several weeks we will journey through 1st and 2nd Peter to learn from what Peter has to say about the Jesus who changed his life.
Continue looking into the life of Peter with us and consider this question: Are you building your life on Jesus? When we build our life with Jesus as the cornerstone everything changes.
Pastor Mark continues our series, taking a look at a story from Peter's life in John chapter 21.
We continue to look into the life of Peter, and witness a moment where Jesus, while serving those around him, illustrates his ability to cleanse us and make us whole.
We are starting a new series! If you join us this summer we will journey through the life of Peter together, taking a look at his own story as well as the letters he wrote. Today, we learn that Peter was first a fisherman. When he encounters Jesus on the shore for the first time, he receives a simple invitation that changes his life forever: "follow me".
When we learn how to share our story with no expectations, our obedience creates an opportunity for someone else to make a choice. That alone is one of the most valuable expressions of our faith. So, how do we share our stories like that? In the final week of our multiply series, that's exactly what we talk about.
This week, as we continue our Multiply series, we consider what it means to be an Everyday Missionary to the people all around us. Are we willing to step out of our own comfort zones if it means that we have the chance to truly connect with people who need Jesus? What does it actually look like for each of us to meet people right where they are?
We multiply the kingdom when we share how Jesus is changing our lives with others. Last week we talked about the value of sharing our story. This week we are adding action to the mix as we commit to finding needs, and meeting them intentionally in our communities. We believe that Jesus will use these things to change us!
Today we begin our Multiply series! We'll spend the next several weeks talking about what it means to be an everyday disciple who is becoming an everyday missionary. When we share how Jesus is changing our lives through the gospel, we invite people to encounter God in their own life. What we experience when we share our faith extends the work that Jesus is doing in us - its not just "for them" - we are impacted when we speak our story! So, if Jesus is changing your life... who will you it share with?
Today we wrap up our Brand New series with a conversation about the second coming of Jesus, and how that changes our everyday.
Jesus spent just a little bit of time on earth after his resurrection, and before his ascension. What are the things that he chose to do and talk about in that short period of time? How did his disciples respond? When they had doubts, was that ok? Today we ask some of those very questions as we consider the mission of Jesus and the invitation to partner with him (The Great Commission) found in Matthew 28.
We are beginning a new series! Let's talk about what living in the New Covenant means to us. We will consider three moments in the life of Jesus, and how they impact our everyday. This message is the first of those three, where we take a look at Jesus with his disciples in John 21.
Happy Resurrection Day! Today we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the grave, as well as wrap up our Covenant Series.
Jesus enters into Jerusalem and the people receive him as a king, but he is also entering the city as a lamb. This week we continue our conversation about the New Covenant while looking at Jesus' Triumphal entry in Matthew 21.
From Adam, to Noah, then Abraham, then Moses, and finally to David, we've witnessed a God who is committed to partnering with mankind. However, in each of the old covenants there was never a partner who lived faithfully. So, what did God do? He sent someone who he knew would fulfill the law and keep the covenant perfectly. Welcome to the New Covenant!
God doesn't look for the things people look for. When choosing a king, God knows exactly what kind of characteristics he is searching for, and it's definitely not typical. In the Davidic Covenant we learn about a King who will reign forever, and the promise of a coming Kingdom unlike any other.
The Israelites have made it to the Promise Land, but they become fearful and doubt their ability to enter the land. God continues to show patience for his people. The Israelites that are left have a choice to make, and we have a choice to make, too. Are we going to trust God's promises, obey his guidance, and follow his lead into something new?
Israel seems to forget all that they have been through... and struggles to live within their covenant relationship with God.
God rescues his covenant people from oppression in Egypt. Israel is faced with the choice to learn how to live for God as free people, or to craft their own way.
After taking a look at the interesting start to Moses' life, we consider his response to being called by God through a burning bush. This week, the story of God's partnership with mankind continues through the life of Moses.
This week, Abraham is put to the test. After constantly wrestling between trusting God's promise and taking matters into his own hands... what will he choose to do when asked to give up his 'only son'? What will we choose when we are given the chance to trust in God's provision for our own lives?
Hagar and Ishmael are an important and difficult part of the narrative surrounding the covenant with Abraham. This week we discover a God who sees us and who is close to us when we are broken.
God calls Abram (Later known as Abraham) to leave his home and go to a place that God would show him along the way. Abram says "yes" without knowing where God would take him, and begins a journey of trusting God. Some days he does great, other days not so much, and God is with him each step of the way. A few chapters into this journey and we read about a special covenant moment where God displays total commitment and faithfulness. This moment wasn't for Abraham alone, but it shows us something about who Jesus is in our lives today.
From Genesis to Revelation, there is a thread that holds it all together, and his name is Jesus.
Join Pastor Tim as we discuss the fall of humanity and a God who still journeys with His people!
What is the Edenic Covenant and why does it matter? Join us as we take a close look at the covenant God made with humanity prior to the introduction of sin.
We begin a new series today, focusing on the covenants God makes with humanity that lead us to Jesus. Listen as Pastor Tim starts, "In the beginning..."
Check out this week's message as Pastor Tyler walks us through what happens when God's silence turns into His favor!
Listen as Pastor Jesse Ralston shares about the lowly shepherds and how our lives in Christ reflect them.
The first week of our series on the glimpses of the GOOD NEWS seen in the birth of Christ. Pastor Tim discusses how, through Zechariah, we learn more about prayer and God's plan.
In the final week of our "Grow" series, Pastor Tim discusses Apollos and how a commitment to intimacy and openness can lead to significant impact!
In week 2 of our series titled, "Grow," Pastor Mark invites us into the story of two men and their unlikely connection orchestrated by God. A Roman centurion and a Jewish follower of Jesus.
Week 1 in our series titled, "Grow". Pastor Tim and some special guests share the value of journeying through Scripture with other believers.
Listen as Pastor Tim shares a pivotal moment in the Early Church, the persecution of Stephen. Learn how his death moved the Church forward.
Pastor Tim wraps up our series with a closer look at the value of Support. Why we need it, how we give it, and why it matters.
Pastor Mark Kaufman begins our journey about the value of closeness. Because of the Spirit in us, we can be close to one another!
In our final week of our series on generosity, Pastor Tim discusses how generosity was present in the Early Church, and what we can learn from Paul's description of generosity to the Romans.
Through the Parable of the Vineyard Workers, Pastor Tim points us to our basic desire to compare ourselves to others and a generous God who loves us anyway.
Pastor Tim explores the mindset of giving. Is it okay to be a "giver" even if I'm not so cheerful about it. Why does God love those who give cheerfully?
The first week of our series. Pastor Tim discusses God's abundance and our scarcity mindset.
In our final week of the series, Pastor Tim explores the connection of Elijah and Elijah. Although Elijah is taken away, the journey continues through his disciple.
Pastor Tim takes us to Mt Horeb as we contrast and compare Elijah's experience with the experience of Moses on the same mountain. Both encounter God, but we learn something different about God in 1 Kings 19.
Pastor Tim walks us through 1 Kings 18 as we discuss Elijah and his confrontation with the prophets of Baal.
Pastor Tim finishes our series with a message on pride. Pride is the easiest way to get stuck spiritually!
Pastor Mark discusses the role doubt plays in our lives by looking closer at John the Baptist.
Pastor Tyler shares about his journey with his own identity. We get Unstuck when we see ourselves the way God see us!
Matt Daniel speaks to the current environment we live in. The chaos around us doesn’t have to become chaos inside us.
Through his own family tragedy, Paul Hohlbein speaks to how God helps us heal through tough times.
Anger can control us so easily. Pastor Mark shows us the way out of being stuck by anger.
Most people walk away from faith because of the church not Jesus. Pastor Tim walks us through dealing with life when the church hurts.
“I’m good enough” is a phrase that gets us stuck. Pastor shared the value of being on a journey with Jesus not simply behaving well enough.