Ascend Bible Church

What does it mean that Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey? Why palm branches, cloaks, and shouts of “Hosanna”? Every detail in Mark 11 is intentional—and it all points to the true identity of Jesus as King. In this message, Pastor Jon unpacks the Triumphal Entry, showing us: The King’s Intentional Preparations – Jesus orchestrates every detail to fulfill God’s promises. The King’s Humble Entrance...

This Family Sunday, we look at the last miracle of Jesus before the resurrection—the healing of blind Bartimaeus. Mark’s Gospel begins with Jesus opening the eyes of a blind man (Mark 8) and is bookended with this miracle in Mark 10, showing us that His mission is to open the eyes of the blind—both physically and spiritually. In this message, Pastor Mitch walks through what it means to truly see J...

Everyone wants to be great. Whether it’s in sports, business, social media, or politics, our culture defines greatness by power, position, and recognition. But in Mark 10:32–45, Jesus flips the script. As He walks toward the cross, Jesus teaches His disciples (and us) that true greatness in the kingdom of God is not about climbing higher—it’s about stooping lower. It’s not about asserting power an...

How do you get into God’s kingdom? Not by being impressive, connected, or “good enough.” Jesus says the only way in… is to come like a child. In this message, we’ll see why Jesus welcomes the overlooked, why empty hands are the only hands that can be filled, and how His blessing changes everything. 📖 Mark 10:13–16 | Jesus desires that all—like little children—come to Him with humble dependence.

This week we walk slowly through another powerful snapshot in Jesus’ journey—one that raises some of the most important questions of our day: How do we get to heaven? How do we handle money? And what does that reveal about our faith? In Mark 10:17–31, a wealthy man runs to Jesus with urgency, asking, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus’ response forces us to wrestle with three life-cha...

This week at Ascend, we’re walking through one of Jesus’ most straightforward—but also most sensitive—teachings in the Gospel of Mark. In Mark 10:1–12, the Pharisees try to trap Jesus with a controversial question about divorce. But rather than take the bait, Jesus turns the conversation to something much deeper—God’s design for marriage. In this message, we’ll unpack: The trap the Pharisees set (...

When the spiritual high fades and we step back into the chaos of everyday life, what happens to our faith? In this message from Mark 9:14–50, Pastor Jon Cox shows how Jesus leads His disciples—and us—into the valley, where true discipleship is formed. We learn that following Jesus isn’t proven on the mountaintop, but in the valley—where we: Depend completely on Jesus in prayer and trust Lay down o...

In this episode, we take a deeper dive into one of the most mysterious and powerful scenes in the Gospel of Mark—the Transfiguration of Jesus—and focus specifically on the question: Who is Elijah? Why does Elijah appear alongside Moses? What does his presence reveal about Jesus? And how do Jesus’ words about Elijah connect to John the Baptist, suffering, and the unfolding mission of the Messiah? W...

In this week’s message, we turn the corner into the second half of Mark’s Gospel—and into one of the most awe-inspiring moments in Jesus’ earthly ministry: the Transfiguration. As Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up a high mountain, He reveals His true identity—not just as a great teacher or miracle worker, but as the radiant, glorified Son of God. We’ll walk verse-by-verse through Mark 9:2–13,...

On this week's special episode Pastor Mitch and Pastor Jon dive into what is God teaching them this summer. reply in the comments with what God has been teaching you!

Welcome to The Sermon Recap! Where we dive deeper into the text from Sundays sermon. 🔔 Subscribe to our channel to stay updated on new episodes! 📖 Watch the full sermon and find more resources at ascendbible.church. Let’s dive into God’s Word together!

This week we continue in Mark 7:24-37 as Jesus steps outside of Israel into Gentile territory and reminds us that His grace is for all who call on Him. In these stories, we see a desperate mother pleading for her daughter and a deaf man who cannot speak — and yet Jesus hears, heals, and restores. No one is too far or too broken to experience His care. Even now, He invites us to bring our pain to H...

This week we continue in Mark 7:24-37 as Jesus steps outside of Israel into Gentile territory and reminds us that His grace is for all who call on Him. In these stories, we see a desperate mother pleading for her daughter and a deaf man who cannot speak — and yet Jesus hears, heals, and restores. No one is too far or too broken to experience His care. Even now, He invites us to bring our pain to H...

Catch this special podcast episode as Pastor Mitch and Summer Huber share how we’re stepping into the community and serving together this summer.

Is it possible to look clean on the outside while your heart is far from God? In this message from Mark 7:1–23, we explore Jesus’ powerful confrontation with the Pharisees and the unsettling truth that true defilement comes from within—not from what we touch or consume, but from the condition of our hearts. Through examples of hypocrisy, pride, performative religion, and evil, Jesus exposes how ev...

In Mark 6:45–53, we find the disciples caught in a storm, rowing through the night while Jesus prays alone on a mountain. In their moment of fear and exhaustion, Jesus comes to them—walking on water—and says, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” In this sermon, we sit with that powerful phrase. What does it mean to "take heart"? Why is it significant that Jesus says, "It is I"—a phrase rooted...

Welcome to The Sermon Recap! 🔔 Subscribe to our channel to stay updated on new episodes! 📖 Watch the full sermon and find more resources at ascendbible.church. Let’s dive into God’s Word together!

Welcome to The Sermon Recap! Where we dive deeper into the text from Sundays sermon. 🔔 Subscribe to our channel to stay updated on new episodes! 📖 Watch the full sermon and find more resources at ascendbible.church. Let’s dive into God’s Word together!

In this message, we explore one of the most striking contrasts in the Gospel of Mark—a tale of two kingdoms. King Herod’s selfish, tragic banquet is set against the backdrop of Jesus’ life-giving feast in the wilderness. Through it all, Mark reveals the heart of Christ, the true Shepherd-King. Jesus is not the kind of king the world expects. He doesn't rule with power and fear but leads with prese...

Welcome to The Sermon Recap! This week is a special episode with Pastor Jon and Jeremy Hendon the Discipleship Director at Redeemer Bible Church. 🔔 Subscribe to our channel to stay updated on new episodes! 📖 Watch the full sermon and find more resources at ascendbible.church. Let’s dive into God’s Word together!

This is one of the most sobering stories in Mark’s Gospel—and the only one that doesn’t directly involve Jesus. It’s a flashback told through the eyes of a conflicted king who silenced a prophet to save face at a party. In Mark 6:14–29, we walk through the death of John the Baptist and the events leading up to it. Herod is haunted by what he’s done. Herodias is scheming. And John, a righteous man,...

Welcome to The Sermon Recap! This week is a special episode with Pastor Jon and Jeremy Hendon the Discipleship Director at Redeemer Bible Church. 🔔 Subscribe to our channel to stay updated on new episodes! 📖 Watch the full sermon and find more resources at ascendbible.church. Let’s dive into God’s Word together!