Connexus Church Audio Podcast

Most people have tried the strategies. The therapy. The self-help books. The mindset shifts. And for a lot of people — it helps. To a point. But what happens when you've done all of that and something still feels broken underneath? In this episode, Jeff Brodie, Vijay Krishnan, and Dom Ruso have an honest conversation about why simple answers don't fix complex brokenness, why the comparison trap runs deeper than just social media, and what it actually looks like to accept reality without giving up on healing. This is the kind of conversation that's easy to share with a friend who might not be ready for a sermon — but is ready for something real.

That voice in your head — the one that says you'll never be enough, you always mess things up, nobody really stays — where does it actually come from? In Week 2 of Questions You Can't Shake, Jeff Brodie goes deeper on the inner critic. Why self-esteem and self-compassion can only take you so far. What brokenness has to do with the lies you believe. And why the gospel offers something neither psychology nor self-help can. This isn't about positive thinking. It's about what actually sets you free.

You work hard. You want things. You push for more. But at some point, most people hit a wall and ask: is this it? Is ambition the problem — or is something else going on underneath? In this companion episode to Week 1 of Questions You Can't Shake, Jeff Brodie, Dom Ruso and Vijay Krishnan pick up where the sermon left off. They dig into the hedonic treadmill, permafomo, and the real tension between healthy ambition and the kind of striving that leaves you hollow — no matter how much you achieve. This isn't a self-help conversation. It's an honest one.

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.

What do you do with a door you thought was permanently closed? In this Easter Sunday message, Jeff Brodie walks through John chapter 20 and three locked doors — a sealed tomb, a room full of frightened friends, and a man who refused to believe until he saw it for himself. It's one of the most human accounts of the resurrection ever recorded. No heroes. No certainty. Just real people trying to make sense of something that shouldn't be possible. Along the way, Jeff explores what the resurrection means for the pain you're carrying, the fear you can't shake, and the doubt you haven't been able to resolve. Key verse: "I am the living one. I died, but look — I am alive forever and ever. And I hold the keys to death and the grave." — Revelation 1:18 NLT Someone who has the power to open doors for you calls for a response. This message asks: what will yours be? Connexus Church is located in Barrie and Orillia, Ontario. We believe God is for you — and your church should be too. New here? Visit connexus.com.

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

What does it look like when ordinary people get filled with something extraordinary? In the final episode of Closer Than You Think, Jeff Brodie lands the series with the Holy Spirit's most provocative metaphor — fire. Not as spectacle, but as the thing that burns away fear and makes ordinary people bold enough to change the world around them. He tells the story of Peter and John — fishermen who, after Pentecost, stood before the most powerful religious leaders of their day and didn't ask for protection. They asked for more boldness. Then he makes it personal: most of us are settling for embers when God wants a fire. And the thing keeping us cold isn't a lack of belief — it's a love of comfort. The episode closes with a simple but genuinely confronting question: in which area do you need the Holy Spirit to fill you — life, power, satisfaction, or boldness? A strong standalone episode, and an even better series finale. Closer Than You Think — 4 weeks on the Holy Spirit. All episodes available now.

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

In Week 2 of Closer Than You Think, Jeff Brodie explores what "spiritual power" really is—and what it isn't. Through Acts 6–8, we see the contrast between Philip's faithful obedience and Simon's desire to control power for himself. This message helps clarify how the Holy Spirit works, why motives matter, and how God forms people in hidden places before empowering them for His purposes. If you've ever been confused by "power" language or wondered what it means to be filled with the Spirit, this conversation brings clarity and direction.

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).

Praying on your own can feel difficult. Praying with someone else can feel even more awkward. In Week 3 of The Prayer Lab, Vijay Krishnan explores how to pray with someone — not just for them — in a way that feels natural, relational, and real. If you've ever wondered what to say when praying out loud, felt uncomfortable initiating prayer, or avoided it altogether, this message is for you. You'll learn a simple, practical approach to praying with others that removes pressure and builds connection. Because prayer was never meant to be private or perfect — it was meant to be shared.

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 o

Have you ever tried to pray… and run out of words? Maybe you feel awkward, distracted, guilty for not praying more, or unsure if God is even listening. You're not alone. In this first message of The Prayer Lab, Vijay Krishnan explores why prayer feels so instinctive — and yet so difficult. If you've ever wondered: Why pray if God already knows everything? What do I say when I run out of words? Does prayer actually make a difference? This message reframes prayer as relationship, not performance — and shows how Jesus' words in the Lord's Prayer can help us pray in everyday language. Prayer isn't about getting it right. It's about starting. 

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.

Comparison is exhausting — and it's quietly killing your calling. In a world shaped by algorithms and highlight reels, it's easy to measure your life against someone else's success and feel like you're falling behind. But comparison doesn't motivate us to live better — it distracts us from the life God uniquely created us to live. In this message from the Starve the Algorithm, Feed Your Soul series, Luke Crawford how comparison distorts our desires, fuels dissatisfaction, and pulls us away from our calling — and how Jesus invites us to lay it down for something far greater.

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.

Why does scrolling leave you feeling more angry, reactive, or frustrated — even when you didn't plan to feel that way? Algorithms are designed to amplify outrage. They learn what triggers you, polarize your thinking, and keep feeding you content that escalates emotion. But anger that feels like clarity often leads to blind spots, broken relationships, and spiritual exhaustion. In part two of this series, Jeff Brodie explores why the algorithm feeds your anger — and how Jesus offers a radically different way forward. Not escalation, but formation. Not reaction, but response. Not winning arguments, but finding freedom. Jesus invites us to live unprogrammable lives — shaped by compassion, humility, and thoughtful response instead of constant outrage. If you're tired of feeling angry after you scroll, this message is for you.

What you focus on is forming you — and your phone knows it.. Every time you scroll, click, or pause, algorithms are learning what you love, what you fear, and what keeps you hooked. But distraction isn't just stealing your time — it's shaping your soul. In part one of this series, Jeff Brodie explores why you're not failing spiritually because you're rebellious, but because you're distracted — and how Jesus offers something radically different. Not more information, but real transformation. Not behaviour change, but heart change. If you feel tired, scattered, anxious, or stuck in endless doomscrolling, this message will help you rethink what's forming your habits, your desires, and your life — and how to refocus on what actually leads to peace. What you focus on forms you. The question is: who — or what — has your attention?

When life doesn't turn out the way you hoped, it can leave you feeling stuck — disappointed, bitter, or unsure how to move forward. A new year is supposed to feel fresh, but for a lot of us, the weight of what we didn't choose still comes with us. The loss. The hurt. The things that never went as planned. In this message, we explore an ancient story that feels surprisingly current — and discover how one simple decision can begin to change the direction of your life, even when your circumstances haven't changed yet. Whether you're full of faith, full of questions, or somewhere in between, this message is for anyone who wants more than just another year surviving.

Most of us don't stop asking because we don't care. We stop because we don't want to be that person. The awkward one. The pushy one. The one who misreads the moment. So we assume the answer is no — and move on. In this message, Andy Stanley unpacks why persistence, when it's rooted in genuine care, isn't pressure or manipulation — it's love. Through honest stories and unexpected moments, he explores why we often talk ourselves out of meaningful conversations and what can happen when we choose to ask again instead. This isn't about winning arguments or forcing beliefs. It's about relationships, courage, and not deciding someone's answer for them. If you've ever hesitated to reach out, invite someone, or have a deeper conversation because you didn't want to get it wrong — this one's for you.