Next Level Church - Charlotte

The Promise Kept - Week 2

What do you do when God's promise feels delayed? When the waiting stretches on so long that you start to wonder if He's forgotten?

In this second message of "The Promise Kept" series, Bradley Medford tackles one of the hardest parts of faith: waiting. For 400 years between the Old and New Testaments, God's people heard nothing from heaven. No prophets, no signs—just silence. And yet, Galatians 4:4–5 reveals the truth: God was right on time.

"At the right time, God sent His Son, born of a woman, to redeem us." The waiting wasn't wasted. God's timing was perfect, even when it felt painfully slow.

If you're in an "in-between" season right now—waiting for answers, healing, breakthrough, or clarity—this message will encourage you to trust God's unseen work and keep your faith alive. The promise is still coming.

The Promise Kept - Week 1

The story of Christmas didn't begin in a manger—it began in a garden. In this opening message of our Christmas series "The Promise Kept," Lead Pastor Clay Monkus explores Genesis 3:15 and the first promise God made about sending a Savior.

After humanity's fall, in what seemed like our darkest hour, God spoke a promise that would echo through centuries: one day, the offspring of the woman would crush the serpent's head. This wasn't a backup plan or a quick fix—it was proof that God had always been writing a story of rescue.

Discover how this ancient promise in Genesis connects directly to that silent night in Bethlehem, and why you can trust God with the promises you're still waiting on today.

Cutting Room Floor Ep.7 - Gratitude When Life Sucks

In Episode 7 of The Cutting Room Floor, Clay Monkus sits down with “resident scholar” Christian Nichles for a real, unfiltered conversation about gratitude when life absolutely does not go the way you planned.

Fresh off our “Grateful Anyway” message series at Next Level Church, they talk honestly about brain injuries, job rejection, losing stability, church hurt, financial struggle, and how easy it is to let bitterness take over instead of thankfulness. Christian shares more of his story from the Sunday message, and Clay opens up about his own season of losing everything he thought made him “successful.”

Along the way they dig into:

• Why gratitude is rebellion in a culture of outrage
• The difference between knowing God’s grace and experiencing His graciousness
• Christian’s G.R.A.C.E. framework for practicing gratitude in hard seasons
• How struggle can actually be good and form something deeper in us
• Why your identity can’t be built on titles, money, or success
• A sneak peek at our new Christmas series on “The Promise” starting all the way back in Genesis 3

If you’re in a season where life just kind of… sucks, but you want to trust God anyway, this conversation is for you.

👉 Watch the full “Grateful Anyway” series and our Sunday messages on our YouTube channel. @nextlevelclt

👉 Join us in person at Next Level Church (Matthews, NC).

Grateful Anyway - Week 3

We've reached the final week of our "Grateful Anyway" series, and Lead Pastor Clay Monkus brings us to the foundation that makes lasting gratitude possible.

In Psalm 100:4–5, we encounter a worship song sung by God's people as they entered the temple courts. This wasn't just a feel-good moment—it was a declaration rooted in deep theology. The psalmist calls us to give thanks and praise, but notice where the focus lands: on God's goodness, His enduring love, and His faithfulness that spans every generation.

Here's the truth: gratitude anchored in circumstances will always be fragile. When life is good, we're thankful. When life gets hard, our gratitude wavers. But when we transfer our gratitude from the gifts to the Giver—from what God does to who God is—everything changes. That kind of gratitude grows deep roots that can withstand any storm.

This message will challenge you to build your thankfulness on the only foundation that never shifts: the unchanging character of God. His love doesn't fluctuate with your circumstances. His faithfulness doesn't depend on your performance. And His goodness endures forever.

Series Theme: This series explores how to find and express thankfulness even when circumstances are far from perfect. True gratitude isn't based on circumstances—it's rooted in the character of God, which never changes.

Scripture: Psalm 100:4–5

As we close this series, our prayer is that you'll discover a gratitude that goes deeper than your circumstances—a gratitude anchored in the God who never changes.

Grateful Anyway - Week 2

Grateful Anyway - Week 1

Welcome to the launch of our new series, "Grateful Anyway: A Choice That Can Transform Your Life."

In this opening message, Bradley Medford takes us to one of the most challenging settings imaginable—a Roman prison—where the Apostle Paul penned some of the most hope-filled words in Scripture. In Philippians 4:6–7, Paul connects prayer with thanksgiving and reveals how this combination unlocks a peace that defies logic.

What does it look like to be thankful when life feels like a storm? How can we experience God's peace when our circumstances haven't changed? And what if gratitude isn't about what's happening around us, but about who God is in the midst of it all?

This message will challenge you to replace worry with prayer and discover how thankfulness—even in the hardest seasons—can transform your perspective and bring supernatural peace.

Series Theme: This series explores how to find and express thankfulness even when circumstances are far from perfect. True gratitude isn't based on circumstances—it's rooted in the character of God, which never changes.

Scripture: Philippians 4:6–7

Whether you're in a season of blessing, uncertainty, or somewhere in between, we pray this message encourages you to choose gratitude anyway.

Cutting Room Floor Podcast Episode 6

Episode 6 of the Cutting Room Floor podcast takes a deeper dive into Part 1 of our Grateful Anyway sermon series. Clay, Christian, and Brad sit down — in full “this is what it’s like when we hang out” mode — and talk about why gratitude isn’t something that magically shows up just because life is good.

We get real about emotions, frustration, discouragement, and how easy it is to believe the lie that “I’ll always feel this way.” Instead, the guys unpack what happens when we slow down long enough to process what we’re feeling, tell God the truth, and look for gratitude even when life doesn’t give us anything to feel grateful for.

This episode is funny, honest, and way too relatable — and it’ll help anyone who’s trying to figure out how to be grateful even when life isn’t going to plan.

Supernatural: Why What You Don’t See Matters | Week 5

For five weeks, we've been pulling back the curtain on the supernatural realm—exploring what the Bible reveals about angels, demons, spiritual warfare, and heaven's response to our prayers. But if all of that knowledge doesn't change the way you actually live, what's the point?

In this series finale of "Supernatural: Why What You Don't See Matters," Lead Pastor Clay Monkus answers the most important question: How does seeing the unseen reality transform your everyday life?

Through the magnificent vision of Colossians 1:15–20, you'll discover that Christ is not only the visible image of the invisible God—He's also the one through whom all things in heaven and on earth were created. He holds the entire cosmos together, seen and unseen. And when you begin to see life through the lens of His supernatural kingdom, everything changes.

Your prayers become more confident because you know heaven is listening and responding. Your hope deepens because you see that God's cosmic plan is unfolding even when circumstances seem chaotic. Your purpose becomes clearer because you realize you're part of a story far bigger than your own life. And your struggles take on new meaning when you understand the unseen forces at work—and the sovereign God who rules over them all.

This message isn't about becoming obsessed with the spiritual realm. It's about living fully awake to reality as God designed it—visible and invisible, earthly and heavenly, physical and spiritual. It's about walking through your days with eyes wide open, alert to God's presence, His purposes, and His supernatural kingdom breaking into your world.

If this series has expanded your understanding of Scripture and the unseen realm, this finale will show you how to live differently because of it. The goal has never been just to know more—it's to see clearly and live boldly in light of God's bigger story.

Cutting Room Floor Episode 4 - The Armor of God

In this episode of The Cutting Room Floor, Clay Monkus and Christian Nichles talk through all the content that couldn’t fit into Sunday’s message, When Heaven Fights for You — part 4 of our Supernatural series.

We dive deeper into the armor of God from Ephesians 6 — not as a list of spiritual objects, but as something practical we can do.

We talk about:

• Why the armor is about identity, not equipment
• What it looks like to “suit up” when you’re anxious, parenting, or leading
• The ordinary battles of lies, discouragement, shame, distraction, and fear
• How we see the enemy’s fingerprints in our culture — outrage, isolation, confusion, deception
• And what really happens when we pray — how God uses prayer to form us, align us, and move through us

This is a deeper, more practical conversation about spiritual warfare, faith, and how to live steady when life feels like a battle. If you’ve ever felt like life is harder than it should be, or wondered what’s really happening when you pray — this one’s for you.

Supernatural: Why What You Don’t See Matters - Week 4

Have you ever wondered why certain struggles in your life feel disproportionately difficult? Why some battles seem to drag on far longer than they should? Why prayers that should have simple answers take months or even years to resolve? The answer might be more than circumstantial—it might be supernatural.

In week 4 of our series "Supernatural: Why What You Don't See Matters," Lead Pastor Clay Monkus pulls back the curtain on spiritual warfare and reveals a truth that changes everything: you're not fighting alone. When you pray, heaven responds. God's supernatural help is already at work on your behalf, even when you can't see it yet.

Through the lens of Ephesians 6:10–18 and Daniel 10:12–13, you'll see that spiritual warfare isn't just a metaphor—it's the unseen reality behind many of the battles you face. Daniel's story reveals that from the moment he began to pray, heaven was already fighting for him. But unseen spiritual forces delayed the answer for 21 days. The battle was real, but so was heaven's response.

This message will equip you with practical tools to stand firm in spiritual strength. You'll learn how to put on the full armor of God, recognize when you're in a spiritual battle, and trust God's supernatural help even when you can't see immediate results.

If you're tired of fighting in your own strength, this episode will give you hope and practical guidance. The unseen realm is active, the battle is real—but heaven is fighting for you.

Cutting Room Floor Episode 3 - Divine Council

In this episode, Clay and Christian unpack one of the most fascinating and misunderstood ideas in Scripture—the Divine Council. What is it? Who’s in it? And what does it reveal about God’s rule, evil, and our place in the story?

Drawing from Dr. Michael Heiser’s research in The Unseen Realm and Scripture itself, they explore how the Bible consistently shows God working through a heavenly family—spiritual beings who serve His purposes—and how rebellion in that realm still affects ours.

More importantly, they talk about what it means for us today: how Jesus reclaimed authority, why we don’t have to live afraid, and how understanding the unseen world actually deepens our trust in God’s goodness.

If you’ve ever had questions about angels, demons, or what’s really happening in the supernatural story of the Bible—this one’s for you.

Supernatural: Why What You Don’t See Matters - Week 3

The unseen realm isn't empty, and it's not neutral. It's filled with spiritual beings—some fiercely loyal to God, others in open rebellion against Him. And the cosmic conflict between them has been shaping human history from the beginning.

In week 3 of our series "Supernatural: Why What You Don't See Matters," Christian Nichles explores one of Scripture's most fascinating and misunderstood themes: God's divine council. Through Psalm 82:1–2, we see that God presides over spiritual beings and brings judgment when they fail in their assignments. And in Revelation 12:7–9, we witness a war in heaven where Michael and the angels defeat the dragon and his rebellious forces.

But this isn't ancient mythology or symbolic poetry—it's the biblical reality behind the spiritual battles we face today. Understanding who's loyal to God and who's working against Him isn't just interesting; it's essential for discerning truth, resisting deception, and aligning yourself with God's purposes.

This message will challenge the way you read Scripture and equip you to see the bigger story at work. You'll learn how to recognize the players in the unseen realm and why that awareness changes how you pray, how you fight, and how you live out your faith.

If you've ever wondered about the spiritual forces at work behind the scenes of your life, this episode will give you clarity and confidence to stand on the right side of the battle.

Supernatural: Why What You Don’t See Matters - Week 2

Demons dominate pop culture—from horror films to streaming series to late-night speculation. But somewhere between Hollywood's obsession and the Church's silence, we've lost sight of what's actually true. Are demons real? Should Christians be afraid of them? And what authority do we actually have in the spiritual realm?

In week 2 of our series "Supernatural: Why What You Don't See Matters," Lead Pastor Clay Monkus addresses these questions head-on with biblical clarity and pastoral wisdom. Through Luke 10:17–20 and Colossians 2:15, you'll see that while demonic forces are real, they've already been defeated at the cross. Their power isn't dominion—it's deception.

When Jesus disarmed the powers and authorities, He didn't just win a battle. He won the war. And He's given His followers authority to stand firm in His name, not cowering in fear or living in constant spiritual paranoia.

This message will help you navigate spiritual opposition with confidence and truth. You'll learn how to discern the enemy's tactics without being consumed by fear or fascination. Because the goal of the Christian life isn't to obsess over darkness—it's to walk in the light and victory that's already ours in Christ.

If you've ever wondered how to think biblically about demons, spiritual warfare, or your authority as a believer, this message is for you.

 

What About Demons? - Cutting Room Floor

Week 2 of our #Supernatural series goes to the “cutting room floor.” Clay Monkus and Christian Nichles unpack what Scripture says about evil spirits vs. demons, why the New Testament shows a spike in demonic activity, and how influence (not jump scares) is the enemy’s favorite tactic. We talk Genesis 6, Nephilim, Jesus’ arrival as a true invasion, the difference between being demonized and pop-culture “possession,” and why the unseen realm often operates like a legal system—giving footholds when we agree with lies. Most importantly: followers of Jesus fight from victory, not for it. We get practical with prayer, fasting, setting spiritual boundaries at home, and using our God-given authority with calm confidence. If nights are anxious, start with the Nighttime Prayer for Peace and speak Jesus’ name out loud.

Supernatural: Why What You Don't See Matters - Part 1

There's more to reality than what you can see, touch, or measure. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible assumes an unseen spiritual realm—a world filled with God's purposes, loyal spiritual beings, and very real opposition. But in our modern world, most of us live as if only the physical realm matters. We've lost sight of the bigger story.

In this opening message of our new series "Supernatural: Why What You Don't See Matters," Lead Pastor Clay Monkus pulls back the curtain on what Scripture actually teaches about angels and the supernatural world. You'll discover that God's heavenly family has been at work since before humanity was created—and now we're invited into His earthly family mission.

This isn't just abstract theology. The unseen realm actively shapes what happens in your life, your struggles, and your purpose. Ignoring it doesn't make it less real. But seeing it clearly? That changes everything about how you walk out your faith.

Whether you're skeptical, curious, or somewhere in between, this message will challenge the way you view your everyday battles and open your eyes to the cosmic story you're already part of.

Angels - Part 1 of the Supernatural Series Cutting Room Floor Discussions

In this episode, Clay Monkus and Christian Nichles dive deeper into the world behind the world—the unseen realm the Bible talks about but most of us never really explore. Building on Sunday’s message about angels, they unpack what Dr. Michael Heiser called “the divine council worldview”—a picture of God’s creation that’s bigger, stranger, and more alive than we often imagine.

Together, they explore what angels actually are—the different kinds of heavenly beings the Bible describes, what they do, and how there’s order and rank within God’s unseen family. It’s a fascinating, faith-stretching conversation that helps you see the supernatural world the way Scripture does—and why that changes how we live in this one.

Why Do I Keep Doing This? - Week 5

"We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us."

Welcome to the final episode of "Why Do I Keep Doing This?" In this powerful conclusion, Pastor Christian Nichles brings us a message that will forever change how you see yourself and your struggles: Nothing can separate us from the love of God—and nothing can overpower the Spirit in us.

Through Colossians 1:15-20, we'll lift our eyes to see the cosmic reality of who Christ is—the visible image of the invisible God, the One through whom all things were created and in whom all things hold together. This isn't just theology; it's the foundation of your victory. If this Christ lives in you through His Spirit, then no cycle, no habit, no struggle is too powerful to overcome.

Over the past five weeks, we've journeyed from understanding sin's power to discovering the Spirit's greater power. Now we arrive at the triumphant truth: you are more than a conqueror. Not because of your strength, but because of whose you are and who lives in you.

This finale will anchor your soul in the unshakeable love of God and remind you that the Spirit within you is greater than anything working against you.

Thank you for joining us on this journey. May you walk forward in the freedom, power, and victory that are already yours in Christ.

Why Do I Keep Doing This? - Week 4

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

This is the moment we've been building toward. In Week 4 of "Why Do I Keep Doing This," Lead Pastor Clay Monkus unveils the answer to breaking free from the cycles that have held us captive: Life in the Spirit.

Through Romans 8:1-17, we discover that the Spirit empowers us to walk free from sin's grip. After weeks of understanding the problem—sin as a power, our powerlessness through self-effort, and the futility of trying harder—we finally arrive at the solution. The Spirit doesn't just encourage us or give us good advice; He actually empowers us to live in the freedom Christ purchased for us.

This message explores what it practically looks like to live Spirit-empowered lives—free from condemnation, free from defeat, and walking in real victory. No more white-knuckling your way through struggles. No more shame when you fall short. Just the liberating power of God at work in you.

If you've been waiting for hope, here it is. The Spirit is ready to do what you could never do on your own.

Join us for this pivotal message as we discover how to actually live in the freedom Jesus won and the Spirit makes possible.

Why Do I Keep Doing This? - Week 3

"I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out." Ever felt like Paul when he wrote those words?

In Week 3 of our series, Lead Pastor Clay Monkus tackles a hard truth: The real problem isn't lack of effort—it's that sin is stronger than self-effort. No matter how hard you try, willpower alone will never be enough.

Through Romans 7:14-25, we'll dive into Paul's honest struggle and discover why "trying harder" keeps leaving us frustrated and defeated. This isn't a message about giving up—it's about recognizing that the battle requires a power greater than our own.

If you've been exhausted by your own efforts to change, if you've wondered why good intentions keep falling short, this message will help you see why self-effort was never meant to be the solution. There's a better way forward, but it requires surrendering our need to be strong enough on our own.

Stop trying to muscle your way to freedom. It's time to discover the power that actually works.

#WhyDoIKeepDoingThis #TryingHarder #Romans7 #SelfEffort #SpiritPower #Surrender #ChurchSeries

Why Do I Keep Doing This? | Week 2: Dead, but Still Dangerous

Feeling defeated by the same cycles? Here's a truth that changes everything: you're not powerless.

In Week 2 of "Why Do I Keep Doing This," Lead Pastor Clay Monkus tackles a crucial reality—at salvation, sin loses its legal claim on us, but it still tries to act like it's in charge. Through Romans 6:1-14, we'll explore what it means to live like you're truly free.

Sin may keep trying to boss you around, making you feel helpless and defeated, but the truth is it has no real authority over you anymore. The struggle isn't about gaining power you don't have—it's about learning to live in the freedom you already possess in Christ.

This message will help you understand your true identity and give you biblical insight into why you're not the powerless victim sin wants you to believe you are. Whether you're battling old habits, wrestling with guilt, or feeling stuck in familiar patterns, this episode offers hope and practical truth.

You have more power than you realize. It's time to start living like it.

Join us as we continue this journey toward understanding our struggles through Scripture and discovering how to walk in the victory Jesus has already secured.