Archives For Series

What’s the Word?

September 9, 2011

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Did ye know that this year marks the 400th birthday of the King James Version of the Bible? There’s no doubt the most published book in history is also the most influential book in the world. But while the average American has 4 copies of the Bible in their homes, not to mention access to the Bible for free on the Internet, it’s also the dustiest book in most of our libraries.

Why is that? Because, like the long term prisoner who only had a Bible and wrote all kinds of trivia on the walls of his cell while missing out on its true meaning, too often we have been taught to approach the Bible for more information instead of applying it to our lives for transformation. I’m excited about starting our new series “Word Up!” this week because we’re going to learn practical skills for getting the most out of the Bible. I believe it’s the key to not only seeing lives changed, but ultimately for changing our world.

I want to personally invite you to be our guest this Sunday and invite your friends to join you! Verily, I shall seest ye there!

In Series, Spiritual Growth ,
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Can You Find God on Film?

July 1, 2011

God On FilmThis weekend, we’re kicking off the series that has been an annual event at The Connection Church: God On Film. We love hero stories, because they inspire us to be something greater and more. This year, with all the superhero movies flooding the theaters, we thought it’d be fun to leverage the idea of heroes to focus on how we can be heroes in our everyday life.

Many people ask, “Why would we do a series that leverages Hollywood to teach Biblical principles?” Well, Hollywood pours millions of dollars into marketing their product and they capture the attention of our culture. We get to piggyback on that interest to teach something deeper that can really change lives. But also, movies are modern-day parables. Matthew 13:34 says that, “Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds. In fact, he never spoke to them without using such parables.” Jesus used the power of a good story to teach a more important spiritual truth.

This is the perfect time to invite your friends to check out what’s happening. Trust me, they’ll be interested!

This Summer, you can either glide through, or you can make the choice to grow in your walk with God like never before. I look forward to seeing you this week as we get behind the blockbuster movies to find the spiritual truths that can lead us to have a stronger connection with God and with others.

In Celebration, Pop Culture, Series, Spiritual Growth
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Keeping It Weird

May 26, 2011

It wasn’t long ago that I took a stroll down memory lane with my daughters. We pulled out my old yearbooks and read the autographs to see what my friends had to say about me. A sampling of them would read: “You’re a weird kid” and “To someone who is different.” We got a big laugh out of it, but it reminded me how much I wanted to fit in back in my school days. I never set out to be weird back then.

But when I started following Jesus, I realized that being a Christ-follower meant marching to the beat of a different drummer. I discovered that I didn’t mind being different if I was different for the Truth!

And then God led me to the Weird capital of the world, Austin, Texas, where we pride ourselves on “Keeping it Weird.” Austin got this reputation in the late 70s because of its diversity and the way you could express yourself any way you wanted to and still be accepted. That weirdness is what people love about Austin.

The fact is: being normal today means being stressed out, broke, and lonely. God has called us out of the normal kind of life to a life of peace, freedom, purpose, and connection. It’s a life that’s just plain Weird! This weekend, we’re kicking off our new series: “Weird: Because Normal Isn’t Working.”You know what would be really weird? Bring a friend with you and find out!

In Series
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Christmas Time’s A-Comin’

November 30, 2010

Some big things are coming, and I’m not just talking about a rotund man in a red suit.

God is at work through us. On Thanksgiving weekend, a Sunday that’s usually one of the lowest attended Sunday’s of the year, we actually were up by 50 people from the previous week! And still, we saw so many new faces!

NEW SERIES STARTS THIS WEEK

This week, we’re kicking off a new series called When Love Comes To Town. Yes, it’s a great U2 song (and our band will be serving up some nice music by one of the greatest bands in history), but it’s really about when God’s Love entered the world in the most humble way to an obscure village and the change that He brought to the world. This is going to be a great week to invite your family and friends to experience a better Christmas than ever before.

CONNECTION CHRISTMAS SERVICES

We want to bring God’s Love to our world in some very specific ways, including what’s become a Hays County tradition: Connection Christmas services, happening on 2 nights this year! Just like our other BIG events, it’s going to take us stepping up as a church to serve at one of the services (and attending a different service). We’ve heard so many times that people are more open to the Gospel at Christmas than at any other time of the year. Let’s leverage that for God’s Kingdom by pulling out all the stops for these services! You can get your FREE tickets here. The tickets each represent a seat, so get all that you need and only what you’re going to use. Children Pre-K and under don’t need a ticket for FREE childcare.

NO SERVICES ON THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS

Also, we won’t be having services on December 26th, the Sunday after Christmas, as a way to say “Thanks!” to our staff and volunteers for working so hard the week before Christmas and all through the year so they can travel, unplug, and be with their families. Not to mention, it will give us a running start for the incredible year that is in front of us.

CHRISTMAS OFFERING TO GIVE THE GIFT OF WATER

This week, we’re also kicking off our annual Presence Offering. I’m really pumped about giving to provide a well with safe, clean water for a town full of people. Literally, we’ll be saving lives this year. The rest of the offering will go to further the work we’re doing here locally through TCC. The Birthday Boy deserves our best gift because He is the best Gift ever given! You can give right here or bring your offering with you to worship.

There’s more that we’re doing too. The Buda Trail of Lights with a live nativity, the Angel Tree, and more, so keep watching for more details. Are you ready? Let’s do this!!!

In Church Growth, Evangelism, Events, Missions, Series, Vision , , , , , , , ,
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Are you living Natural or Supernatural?

October 28, 2010

Supernatural SeriesHow would you describe a normal, average, natural day in your life? For most, natural means (not necessarily in this order):

Waking up tired (maybe hitting the snooze button several times), practicing good hygiene (hopefully), a little exercise, breakfast, getting the kids to school, racing to work (in a job you’re not too pumped about), pushing papers, shovels, products, whatever the job calls for…, lunch, appointments, conflict, fighting traffic to get home, extra-curricular activities, struggle, homework, dinner, lukewarm relationships, Facebook, email, a little tv to unwind, paying bills, falling in bed exhausted, maybe a little time for God through prayer and devotional.

Wow! That’s a pretty bleak look at average. But there’s something deep within us that cries out, “There must be MORE!”

Thankfully, there is! God didn’t create you to live a cookie cutter life! Jesus came to give you a better and greater life than you’ve dreamed of (John 10:10).

He wants to add His Super to your Natural so that you can stay above the fray (and pray). We don’t need to ever use the excuse, “Well, it’s only natural,” when God wants us to live in the Supernatural.

Over the next 5 weeks, we’re going to be hanging out in the stories of the miracles of Jesus to discover for ourselves how to live a Supernatural kind of life. I hope you won’t miss a single week of this exciting “Supernatural” series.

In Series
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