September 13th - October 4th
CURRENT SERMON SERIES: Conquering Chaos
This series shows you how God actually conquers chaos, and what it looks like for you to fight alongside him.
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However you got here, you belong
If you're looking for a welcoming church in Matthews, NC — a place where you can come as you are and bring your questions — we'd love to meet you this Sunday.
Our Mission
To raise the reputation of Jesus where we live, work, and play
Lead Pastor
Clay Monkus
“Your story is safe here.”
Clay is the lead pastor of Next Level Church. He holds a B.A. in Pastoral Leadership from Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida. He and his wife Jody have been married for 32 years and have three young adult children.
Clay's approach to faith is simple: take the life and teachings of Jesus seriously, but not religiously. He pushes back on faith becoming something that sits in the background of a life without ever touching it, and he champions a culture at Next Level where questions are welcome and no one has to pretend they have it all figured out.
He writes and teaches for the people who feel like they are on the outside looking in, for the ones who have tried church and found it hollow, and for the ones sitting in the middle of it wondering why it doesn't feel like they thought it would.
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Latest Message
Conquering Chaos | Week 2
September 23, 2026
We know what obedience would cost us, so we run quietly instead of dramatically—just enough to slip out of alignment. Then when the chaos hits, we call it bad luck rather than what it actually is: the natural result of stepping outside the line God drew. In Week 2 of Conquering Chaos, Teaching Pastor Christian Nichles opens the book of Jonah to show that running from God's authority is one of the fastest ways to walk straight into chaos—and God chased Jonah into a storm to bring him back. 📖 Text: Jonah 🎯 Admit one place you've opted out of a structure meant to protect you—a marriage, a job, a recovery process, a church commitment—and take one honest step back into it this week. About this series: God has been conquering chaos since Genesis 1, and he wants to teach you to do the same in your own life. Over four weeks, we're tracing that fight through some of the most surprising stories in Scripture—a prophet swallowed by a monster, a storm-tossed boat with Jesus asleep in the bottom of it, and a dragon crushed for good at the end of the story. This series shows you how God actually conquers chaos, and what it looks like for you to fight alongside him. #ConqueringChaos #Jonah #FaithSermon #NextLevelChurch CONNECT WITH US https://www.nextlevelchurch.org/ https://www.instagram.com/nextlevelclt/ https://www.facebook.com/NextLevelCLT
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Events
Begins September 30th
Small Group Experience
6:30-8:30p Main Building Lobby
A five-week small group experience featuring short teachings, honest conversations, prayer, and genuine community.
Sign-Up
September 25
Fire Pit Social
6:30–8:30 PM Back Church Parking Lot
We’ll have grilled hot dogs and chips, s’mores kits for the fire, music, and plenty of fun for the kids. Bring your own drinks and camp chairs, and come ready to meet some great people in our community.
Let Us Know You Are Coming
October 4th
Digital Stewardship Parent Seminar
Following Service Student Building
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All posts
September 22, 2026
Church Hurt Is Real. Here's How to Know If a New Church Is Actually Safe.
Church hurt is real, and being scared of church again is a sane response, not a character flaw. Here's how to actually tell if a new church is safe.
September 11, 2026
Why We Say "Formation"
The first in a series on what we're building at NLC — and why we talk about formation instead of programs.
September 11, 2026
Your Story Is Safe Here
You do not have to clean yourself up or explain your past before you belong. At Next Level Church, you can come exactly as you are.
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