Ascend Bible Church

Will injustice ever end? Will war ever cease? Will fear finally disappear? In Micah 4:1–5, the prophet lifts our eyes beyond the brokenness of the present to God’s promised future. Through the lens of the New Testament, we see that these promises find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ. In this message, we explore the biblical truth that God’s Kingdom is already—but not yet. Jesus inaugurated His K...

Most people don't enjoy being confronted. Yet some of the most loving things someone can do is tell us the truth when something is wrong. In the opening chapters of Micah, God confronts His people about their sin, hypocrisy, and spiritual drift. They were still gathering for worship and practicing religion, but their hearts had wandered far from Him. Through the prophet Micah, God exposes what is...

In Philippians 2:19–30, Paul introduces us to two ordinary men who lived extraordinary lives of faithfulness—Timothy and Epaphroditus. While this passage may seem like simple travel plans at first glance, it actually gives us a powerful picture of healthy gospel partnership, sacrificial service, and how God works through faithful servants in the life of the church.  As Paul continues his call for...

In Philippians 1:12–26, Paul shows us what it looks like to have a life centered on Christ. Writing from prison, he isn’t discouraged—he’s rejoicing. Why? Because the gospel is advancing, Christ is being proclaimed, and God is working through it all. Big Idea: A life centered on Christ reorders our mission and reshapes our vision. Paul reminds us: Our mission is gospel advancement Our lives aren’t...

In Acts 16, we see how God builds His church in unexpected ways. What looks like closed doors and changed plans turns into gospel breakthrough. Paul thought he knew where he was going—but the Holy Spirit redirects him to Philippi. And there, God saves three very different people: a businesswoman, a slave girl, and a jailer. Different backgrounds. Different stories. Same gospel. In this sermon, we...

We’ve come to the final week in our journey through the Gospel of Mark—53 weeks walking with Jesus—and we arrive at the most important moment in history. The resurrection changes everything. If Easter didn’t happen, then this is just a gathering built around a dead man. But if it did happen… this is the most important truth in the world. In this message, we walk through Mark 16:1–20 and see: The r...

This week we’re stepping into one of the heaviest moments in Scripture Instead of a normal sermon, we’re inviting you to experience it differently. Don’t just watch this. Feel it. As you listen, do something that requires effort—go for a run, work out, clean, or finish something you’ve been putting off. Let the weight you feel remind you of the weight Christ carried. We’re so quick to rush to East...

In this passage, Jesus is handed over to Rome, and the question becomes clear: Who is King? We see a King who stands silent, a King who is rejected in place of a guilty man, and a King who is mocked on His way to the cross. Barabbas goes free. Jesus takes his place. The innocent for the guilty. This isn’t just their story—it’s ours. We may not shout “Crucify Him,” but we often choose control, comf...

In this message from Mark 14:53–65, we step into one of the most intense moments in the Gospel of Mark—the trial of Jesus before the Sanhedrin. Jesus has been arrested. The cross is now only hours away. But what unfolds in the house of the high priest is not a fair trial seeking truth. The verdict has already been decided. The religious leaders are not trying to determine whether Jesus is guilty—t...

We are hours from the Cross. The table has been set. The hymn has been sung. They walk into the night. Before the nails. Before Pilate. Before the crowd. Mark slows down and shows us Peter. In this sermon from Mark 14:27–31 and 66–72, we walk through Peter’s bold self-confidence, his painful denial, and the surprising hope Jesus speaks even before Peter fails. Peter says, “Even if they all fall aw...

In this week’s episode, Pastor Mitch and Pastor Jon sit down to talk through the 2026 preaching calendar at Ascend. With our journey through Mark coming to a close, we look ahead at what’s next, why these series matter for our church family, and how they will shape us in the year ahead. If you’ve ever wondered how we plan preaching, how themes connect, or what’s coming after Mark, this conversatio...

We are now hours from the Cross. Mark slows everything down. Every conversation matters. Every movement matters. Every word matters. In Mark 14:12–26, Jesus gathers with His disciples in the Upper Room for what looks like a traditional Passover meal. But this is not just a meal. This is a moment. And if we don’t understand what’s happening at this table, we won’t understand what’s happening on the...

Everyone carries something. Stress. Anxiety. Leadership weight. Parenting pressure. Financial strain. Hidden sin. Health concerns. The question isn’t if we will have burdens — the question is what we do with them. In this episode, we walk through what the Bible actually says about handling the weight we carry. Scripture doesn’t tell us to numb it, ignore it, grind harder, or give up. Instead, it g...

Can you believe we are here? Passion Week. Mark slows way down. Every scene carries weight. Exodus 12 is in the background—the Lamb, the blood, judgment passing over. And now the true Lamb is just days from being slain. In this passage, Mark gives us three postures toward Jesus. Not random stories. Not disconnected moments. Three different responses that reveal how we truly value Christ. In this s...

If You’re a Christian, You’re in Ministry

In this message from Mark 12:35–44, Jesus stops debating His opponents and begins teaching His disciples—and in doing so, He exposes a gap that can exist between what we know and how we live. After a long day of confrontation in the temple, Jesus turns His attention to the hearts of those listening. He warns about religious leaders whose faith is visible but not dependent, impressive but not obedi...

In this episode, Jon and Mitch talk through several simple methods to help us better understand how to read the Bible. Their hope is to encourage us to be a people who are committed to getting into God’s Word, seeking to understand it, and faithfully applying it to our lives.

This week, Mitch and Jon dive into Mark 12–13 and explore Jesus’ sharp, truth-telling moments in the temple. After a long day of being questioned by religious leaders, Jesus shifts from answering challenges to exposing the broken leaders and flawed systems at the heart of the temple. What follows is not casual teaching, but clear, confrontational truth meant to reveal hearts and call people to fai...