Ankeny Gospel Church

Jesus calls us friends, but what is a friend? Listen in as we explore Jesus' words in John 15 and become friends of God and friends of each other.

Jesus calls us branches...an interesting metaphor to say the least. What does Jesus mean by this? What are the implications of this for each other? Listen in as we explore the beautiful imagery of gardening, vines, branches, and fruit from John 15.

The Bible says that the people of God are a body, and in 1 Corinthians, Paul talks about what tears the body apart, and what builds up the body. Listen in as we explore how we are the body of Christ!

The next picture of the people of God we find in the Scriptures is that of family. What does it mean to be a family? What would Jesus' words have meant in the first century context?

What's the significance of calling ourselves the "temple of God"? Listen in as we explore the story of Temple from Genesis to Revelation and its implications for us as a church body right here in Ankeny.

We are made in the image of God, which means we are made for community, because God Himself is community. Jesus set up the church to become the very presence of God on earth - and yet so often, the lived reality of church is far removed from the vision of church. Why the gap? Listen in as we kick off a new series titled Pictures of the People of God.

Submission, far from the poison we can think it to be, is actually full of life and healing. It's an act of love for others made in God's image that yields fruitful relationships and spiritual growth. Listen in to hear more about this practice!

What does simplicity have to do with following Jesus? Far more than a wellness hack, simplicity invites us to open ourselves up to the work of Jesus in our lives. Listen in as we explore the biblical practice of simplicity!

The story of Sabbath starts in Genesis, continues through Revelation, and every step of the way God is inviting us to receive this good gift. Listen in as we explore the story of Sabbath and its implications for us today.

We long to "do the Jesus stuff", until it comes to fasting. Why should we fast? What even is fasting? And how does not eating food transform me into the image of Jesus? Listen in as we discuss one of the most foundational practices of a follower of Jesus: fasting.

What is stewardship, and how does it form us? In a world of affluence and consumerism and possession, stewardship invites us to live like Jesus with radical trust and sacrificial giving. Listen in as we explore the practice of stewardship.

What does the community of God look like? How can we go from a people of individualism and superficiality, so a community of love and depth? Listen in as we explore how community forms us.

"This must be stronger than that." Our formation into the image of Jesus will not happen passively, so we must practice! This Sunday we started a new series titled Practicing Formation, where we look at seven different practices that we commit to as a church, in order to be formed more into the image of Jesus. Up first, the practice of Scripture.

Because Jesus has been raised from the dead, He now gives us his resurrection life, Spirit, hope, and power. Listen as we celebrate and hear the good news of the resurrection.

What does it mean to follow Jesus? In Luke 9, Jesus tells us to do what He did and deny ourselves, pick up our cross daily, and follow Him. As we enter Holy Week, we follow in the footsteps of our Savior and give up our lives for others out of love.

Why do we exhaust ourselves climbing? We climb the career ladder, curate our image, or pad our own security, when God promises to provide everything we need. Genesis 11 holds up a mirror to our most default human tendencies and shows us that the path to a great name runs not upward, but downward. Come explore the upside down logic of the Kingdom that finds its fullest expression in Jesus.

How do we get a world filled up with so much hate and violence towards "the other"? Why do we so easily demonize and oppress those who don't look or act like us? In Genesis 10 we get a genealogy with profound implications for today: God's heart is to love and bless all humanity, not just a select few. Listen in as we explore the sin of Cain and Abel on a global scale.

Genesis 9 presents us with another blessing from God, and another fall by humanity. God has proven faithful, but what happens with Noah and his son sin? What will God do with Noah's folly and Canaan's curse? Listen in as we anticipate redemption promised from a dark and gloomy passage.

Genesis 8 gives us a window into the heart of God: he loves, forgives, and saves. Listen in as we explore how God re-creates and establishes a promise of life because of one man's sacrifice.

In our either-or world, what does Genesis 7 have to say about both judgment and mercy? Far from depicting an angry God in the sky, the flood narrative shows us a sorrowful God who decides to let go, while always providing a way through the storm. Listen in as we see the God who sits above the floodwaters.

What does sin and violence look like on a world-wide scale? How does God respond to oppression and corruption? And who can be saved from the "letting go" of God? Listen in as we explore Genesis 6 and it's portrayal of God, humanity, and salvation.

What does Genesis 5 teach us about God and ourselves? Listen in as we trace the problem, the solution, and the resolution in Jesus as we walk with God.

Genesis 4 introduces us to the first murder in the Bible. More than just an interesting story, we see quickly how both Cain and Abel live in both of us, and what Jesus can do through His blood to forgive and release life. Listen in as we explore Genesis 4.

How does God respond to the failed humans in Genesis 3? He laments, describing life now that sin has entered the world. Listen in as we explore how God's poems address the snake, the woman, and the man, handing them over to the consequences of their actions.

Every day we all face a test to see if we will trust that God has our deepest happiness in mind. How will we prepare ourselves for the test? What choice will we make? And, when we make the wrong choice, how does God respond? Listen in as we explore Genesis 3 and how it plays out every day in our lives.