McConnell Church Hiawassee

McConnell Church

mcconnellchurch.org/ YouTube
Hiawassee 84 Church Street

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Sermon clips from McConnell Church

47s

#LoveLikeJesus

“Jesus loved people by seeing people, and if you were to describe that in one word, it would be this, cherish. The word cherish, Jesus cherished people. What does cherish mean? Cherish, to cherish someone, is to combine the acts of looking at someone and having compassion for them. It's the noticing of someone and having a genuine care for them. Jesus did this perfectly, and he's our master teacher to look to to how to do this. So do you wanna hunger and thirst for righteousness this morning? Learn how to cherish people like Jesus cherished people.”

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36s

#BlessedAndHighlyFavored

“That word blessed here in the Greek, it means supremely and highly favored. That is your reality if you're in Jesus Christ. It's not because of your track record or your resume or how much sin you have, it's because of him. It's because of knowing him that you're called blessed. It's the New Testament portrait of happiness that's rooted in the character and promises and presence of the living God.”

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40s

#JoyInHisPresence

“When was the last time you actually just simply rested and enjoyed the beauty and the presence of the living God who's with you right here, right now. You see, a conscious awareness to the goodness of God, it inevitably is gonna produce deep, everlasting joy in you. Wanna become a person of joy? Just look at the Lord and his beauty with all of your life and all of your being.”

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Questions about McConnell Church

Visiting

What happens during a typical service, and how long does it last?
A typical service lasts about 90 minutes and includes a mix of contemporary and traditional songs led by the worship team. Childcare and activities are available for all ages, and visitors are welcome to stay afterward for fellowship and to meet people. Sunday services are at 9:30 and 11:00 a.m., with an evening service at 6:00 p.m. (https://mcconnellchurch.org/plan-your-visit)

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What is the worship format, and does it vary by service?
The church describes its typical worship as a mix of contemporary and traditional music led by a worship team. It also lists an **8:30 a.m. Traditional Service**. The website doesn’t specify whether the 9:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 6:00 p.m. services differ in format. (https://mcconnellchurch.org/plan-your-visit; https://mcconnellchurch.org/church-online)

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Can someone attend while exploring Christianity or questioning their beliefs?
Yes. McConnell says “everyone is welcome,” so you can attend while exploring Christianity or questioning your beliefs. Sunday services are at 9:30 and 11:00 a.m., and 6:00 p.m. (https://mcconnellchurch.org/plan-your-visit)

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Is registration required, or can someone simply arrive?
For a Sunday service, you can simply arrive; the website lists service times but doesn’t say registration is required. If you mean Wednesday student activities, registration is required only for students who plan to ride the vans. (https://mcconnellchurch.org/plan-your-visit) (https://mcconnellchurch.org/students)

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Kids & families

Which service times have children's programs for each age group?
- **Nursery:** Sundays at **8:30 a.m.** and **11:00 a.m.**
- **Peak Kids worship:** Sundays at **11:00 a.m.**
- **Children’s small groups:** Sundays **9:45–10:45 a.m.** in the Family Worship Room.

The website doesn’t specify the age ranges for nursery or Peak Kids. (https://mcconnellchurch.org/kids)

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Do children need advance registration, and can visiting families participate?
Advance registration isn’t mentioned for Peak Kids. Visiting families are welcome—when you arrive, stop at the Children’s Ministry Check-In Area in the Family Life Center, where the team can help check in your children and show you around. (https://mcconnellchurch.org/kids)

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Beliefs

What denomination or network does the church belong to?
McConnell Memorial Baptist Church is a Baptist church; the website does not identify a specific Baptist denomination or network. (https://www.mcconnellchurch.org/)

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What are its stated core beliefs?
McConnell’s stated core beliefs center on helping people find and follow Jesus, making disciples, and sharing the hope of the gospel. The church describes its vision as creating a community of authentic believers and seeing the city transformed as people come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior. (https://mcconnellchurch.org/our-culture-page)

Its stated values are: found people find people; saved people serve people; growing people change; you can’t do life alone; and you can’t outgive God. It also emphasizes loving God and people, welcoming others, serving the community, spiritual growth, meaningful relationships, and generosity. (https://mcconnellchurch.org/about)

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What roles can women hold in church leadership?
The church website lists women serving in staff and ministry-support roles, including **preschool director, nursery coordinator, music ministry assistant, kids ministry assistant, youth ministry assistant, and financial administrator**. It doesn’t state a broader policy about which formal leadership offices women may hold. (https://mcconnellchurch.org/our-leadership)

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Who leads the church, and how are leaders accountable?
McConnell Church lists Steven Taylor as lead pastor, with Jeremy Pearson as executive pastor and pastors overseeing children’s, connection and care, youth and young adults, and worship ministries. The website does not specify a formal process for holding pastors accountable. (https://mcconnellchurch.org/our-leadership)

In a sermon, Pastor Austin Tibbetts encourages Christians to practice confession with a more mature believer and to grow in community, where they can be held accountable. He does not describe this as a specific accountability structure for church leaders. ([57:54 from November 09, 2026]) ([01:20:21 from November 09, 2026])

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Teaching

Which recent sermons would help someone understand the teaching?
The most helpful recent sermon is **“Hunger, Thirst, and the Goodness of God”** (Nov. 8, 2026), by Pastor Austin Tibbetts. It directly unpacks Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5:6 and Psalm 34:8, and offers practical ways to grow in desire for God through Scripture, prayer, confession, and community. ([44:05 from November 09, 2026]) ([57:10 from November 09, 2026])

Pastor Austin also connects hunger for righteousness with noticing and caring for people as Jesus did ([59:45 from November 09, 2026]), and with experiencing God’s goodness and taking refuge in him ([01:10:13 from November 09, 2026]). The church also lists **“Jesus The Truly Ordinary Extraordinary”** (Nov. 1, 2026), based on Isaiah 53:2, as a recent sermon. (https://mcconnellchurch.org/media)

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How does the church talk about sin, confession and forgiveness?
McConnell talks about sin as something to turn from and bring honestly before God. Pastor Austin Tibbetts describes repentance as turning or being willing to change how you think, looking to God, and turning to Christ. He also acknowledges that Christians may continue to struggle with desires that don’t align with Jesus, and that those desires can change over time as they grow in discipleship. ([01:02:49 from November 09, 2026]) ([01:03:43 from November 09, 2026])

Confession is presented as a practical part of spiritual growth: Pastor Austin encourages confessing sin to a mature Christian brother or sister, so there are no “blocks” between you and God. The church’s website likewise mentions confession alongside prayer, Scripture, and community as ways to grow in seeking God. ([57:54 from November 09, 2026]) (https://mcconnellchurch.org/media)

Forgiveness is described in terms of God’s mercy: it is poured out not because people deserve it, but because Jesus loves them. The sermon also points to Jesus taking sin on himself so that people may become righteous in God. ([01:10:13 from November 09, 2026]) ([01:02:49 from November 09, 2026])

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How does the teaching approach community and honesty with others?
We teach that faith grows through meaningful relationships, not isolation. McConnell encourages people to join small groups to grow in faith and build community, and describes church as a home for authentic relationships where people are cared for. (https://mcconnellchurch.org/groups-classes-page) (https://mcconnellchurch.org/about)

Pastor Austin Tibbetts connects community with accountability and honest confession: he encourages followers of Jesus to share sin with a more mature Christian brother or sister, and says community is a practice that helps us grow together and be held accountable. ([57:54 from November 09, 2026]) ([58:42 from November 09, 2026])

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How does the church approach doubt and suffering?
McConnell Church’s teaching does not address doubt directly, but Pastor Austin Tibbetts invites people beyond merely theoretical belief toward personal, embodied trust in Jesus. In seasons of uncertainty, he encourages believers to seek refuge in God through Scripture, remembering God’s goodness, and prayer. ([01:10:13 from November 09, 2026]) ([01:16:05 from November 09, 2026])

On suffering, the church emphasizes both compassion and hope: Jesus’ example is to see people, care for them, and enter into their pain. ([59:45 from November 09, 2026]) Tibbetts also encourages people to surrender their own pain to God and seek God’s presence in it, while trusting that healing is possible. ([01:07:51 from November 09, 2026]) For those longing for justice after being wounded, he acknowledges that it may not come yet, while pointing to hope that God will ultimately bring justice. ([01:06:31 from November 09, 2026])

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How does the church approach faith and work?
McConnell approaches faith as something to live out through practical service: faith should shape how people care for others, not remain only a belief. Grace Works volunteers do hands-on home repairs for people facing physical or financial limits, with the aim of showing Christ’s love and restoring hope and dignity. (https://mcconnellchurch.org/grace-works)

The church also describes service as a core value—“Saved People Serve People”—and invites people to join local outreach, disaster relief, community projects, and missions. (https://mcconnellchurch.org/missions)

In a sermon, Pastor Austin Tibbetts connects pursuing righteousness with noticing people’s needs and being willing to serve, even when love costs time or changes our plans. ([01:00:25 from November 09, 2026]) He calls Christians to embody Christ’s light and gospel “in every aspect” of life. ([01:19:54 from November 09, 2026])

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Is an answer based on an official statement or an interpretation of sermons?
It depends on the claim. The church website is an official source for published information, such as its summary of the sermon “Hunger, Thirst, and the Goodness of God.” (https://mcconnellchurch.org/media) But explaining what the sermon teaches—for example, that Austin Tibbetts recommends prayer, Scripture, confession, and community as ways to cultivate hunger for righteousness—is an interpretation of the sermon, not necessarily a separate official church statement. ([57:10 from November 09, 2026])

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Community

Which groups currently meet, and when?
The website lists these groups and meeting times:

- **Weekend Meetups:** Fridays, 6:30–10:30 p.m., and Saturdays, 6:30 p.m.–midnight. (https://mcconnellchurch.org/groups-classes-page)
- **Summit Students:** Wednesdays, 6:00–7:30 p.m. for student service and small groups; Sundays, 9:30–10:45 a.m. for Sunday School and donuts. A parent small group meets during the Wednesday youth service. (https://mcconnellchurch.org/students)
- **Women’s Saturday Morning Coffee:** Ballard Coffeeworks and Queen Anne Coffeehouse, both listed at 6:30 a.m. (https://mcconnellchurch.org/women)

The church also says its neighborhood small groups meet throughout the week, but doesn’t give specific times on the page. (https://mcconnellchurch.org/groups-classes-page)

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Are there groups or introductory gatherings open to newcomers?
Yes. McConnell Church welcomes newcomers into small groups that meet throughout the week in different neighborhoods; you can fill out a form to find one nearby. Young adults are also invited to Sunday-evening dinner, Bible study, and community gatherings. (https://mcconnellchurch.org/groups-classes-page) (https://mcconnellchurch.org/young-adults)

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Can someone join groups or volunteer before becoming a member?
The website doesn’t list church membership as a prerequisite for joining a group or volunteering. It invites people to request a small-group connection and to sign up to serve. Volunteer requirements aren’t detailed, so contact the church to confirm any requirements for a specific role. (https://mcconnellchurch.org/groups-classes-page) (https://mcconnellchurch.org/serve)

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Who can answer a question the published information doesn't resolve?
Pastor Austin Tibbetts is the named pastor in the published information. For a faith-related question, he describes how he would approach a conversation with someone who feels stuck in their faith; the materials don’t provide a general contact route for reaching him. (https://mcconnellchurch.org/media; ([55:06 from November 09, 2026]))

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