Aspire Church Podcast

The cosmic battle to save human souls and restore God’s creation took a significant turn at the manger in Bethlehem. It was there that God secretly invaded the enemy’s territory and began the revolution. Jesus assembled a team of followers who began claiming territory for the Kingdom and casting out the enemy. Join us for part 2 of Revolution where we explore the incursion of earth by the forces o...

The crucifixion of Jesus is the pivotal event in history. But what exactly happened on the cross that day?  Why does the death of one man, nearly two thousand years ago, still elicit complete devotion from some and derision from others? How did an instrument of torture and death become the single most popular icon in architecture, jewelry, and art? Join us for a series exploring the crucifixion of...

The words of the Lord’s Prayer are perhaps the most recited in all of human history. But what exactly is the Lord’s Prayer? Jesus offered these words as a template for prayer and a pattern for understanding our relationship with God. Join us for the final message in Fully Devoted as we learn to pray like Jesus. 

No one likes rejection. In fact, the fear of rejection is enough to keep many of us immobilized. Jesus was acquainted with rejection and tried to prepare His followers for it. Join us for part 7 of Fully Devoted , where we learn that rejection is inevitable, but never fatal. 

“Failure is not an option!” That may be true in certain circumstances, but it is NEVER true when it comes to our spiritual growth. Failure is a certainty and perfection is the enemy of progress. The Bible doesn’t hide the failures of the “heroes of the faith.” Men and women who tried to follow God but frequently found themselves straying. Jesus’ own disciples failed over and over again, but 11 of...

Jesus’ call to follow Him means we cannot stay where we are. The disciples experienced this firsthand as they left behind their jobs, families, and community to go with Jesus. But even as they sacrificed much to follow Jesus, they were still enticed to hold onto the past. They frequently failed to fully embrace Jesus’ presence among them, and they were afraid to follow Him into an uncertain future...

It is said that necessity is the mother of invention, but it is also the breeding ground of faith. We are never more aware of our dependency on God than when we’ve come to the end of our own ability and resources. As western society has become wealthier and more dependent on technology, we seem to be less aware of our need for God. Join us for part 4 of Fully Devoted as we explore how Jesus remind...

Wake to an alarm (if the kids haven’t already gotten you out of bed). Get yourself and everyone else ready and out the door. Get to work to discover your email inbox is full. Before lunch you have 9 texts and 4 voice mails. Get as much done as you can, but finally leave at the end of the day because Junior has baseball practice, and you haven’t even thought about dinner. Get home, help with homewo...

Just because someone gives you a free piano does not mean that you will ever learn to play it. The free piano is a gift; the cost of becoming a pianist is hours and hours of practice. Salvation is the free gift of God, but like learning to play the piano, discipleship takes time and effort. Many Christians have failed to experience the full and abundant life of Jesus because, while they have recei...

Following Jesus is not a once-a-week proposition, but a daily pursuit. When Jesus invites us to “follow Him,” He is not inviting us on a walk, but into the sacred rhythms and patterns of discipleship. Join us for a series from Luke 8-11 where we will learn what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. 

God entered the world in the distressing disguise of a baby born to a refugee couple with no place to lay their heads. Most people in Jesus’ day missed Him. They couldn’t see Him for His distressing disguise. They expected a king with all the wealth and power of David, or a prophet who would come with the grandeur of Moses, or a priest who would practice all the religious eccentricities of Aaron....

Forced to flee from Bethlehem in order to save Jesus’ life, Joseph and Mary once again pack their meager belongings to head into the unknown. Meanwhile, every mother left behind would weep for their murdered children and wonder how the angels’ promise of peace on earth could possibly be true. Join us for week three of Christmas in Exile where we explore how grief and loss are often magnified at Ch...

The Christmas story begins with the forced migration of a poor Jewish carpenter and his pregnant wife. These innocent victims of a corrupt political system were forced to deliver their baby in a stable where the Savior entered the world as a displaced person. Join us for week two of Christmas in Exile as we see how God uses the weak, poor, and even the corrupt of this world to accomplish His purpo...

From a group of nomadic refugees fleeing persecution in Egypt, to a young refugee couple forced to deliver their baby in a stable, the Bible tells the story of God working through aliens and strangers to bring about His kingdom. The subversive message of Christmas is that God Himself endured a self-imposed exile from heaven to deliver us from our exile in sin. Join us online or in person this adve...

You can’t see the wind or control where it blows, but the evidence of the wind is undeniable. Join us Sunday as we learn to discern where God is working and the evidence of His movement among us.

The disciples were not men of influence, power, wealth, or education. Still, eleven of the twelve went on to change the world. How was this possible? Their enemies recognized the answer . . . they had been with Jesus, and He had changed them. Join us for the final installment of What’s in a Name? where we learn the only name that will ever matter and why that name is everything we need.

Abram and Sarai set out for an unknown destination and after a lifetime of wondering, found themselves and God’s purpose for their lives. The process of discovering our identity in Christ is a life-long pursuit that requires faith in God through all the challenges of life. Join us for week 6 of What’s in a Name as we discuss God's purpose for our lives. 

Jacob spent most of his life fighting to get what he felt was rightfully his. Then, one night, he met a foe he couldn’t defeat. Jacob’s wrestling match with God left him with a limp and a new name. Developing a durable faith requires us to engage in the tough battles. Through the intimacy and struggles that come with wrestling God in the discipleship process, we will also leave with a limp and a b...

Daniel and his three friends were removed from their homes and made to live as exiles in a foreign land. Their names were changed but their commitment to God remained steadfast, and as a result they changed the nation that set out to change them. Join us for week 4 of What’s in a Name as we discuss our commitment to be a church that is for Christ, for the city, for good. 

Jesus changed Simon’s name to Peter based on his declaration about Jesus’ true identity. In doing so, Jesus not only revealed Peter’s true identity, but the identity of every person who would become a part of the Jesus movement. The Church is not a building, but a body; not a meeting, but a movement, not an organization, but an organism. Join us for week 3 of What’s in a Name as we consider what i...

Regardless of the name we use, God’s people are to be known by one defining characteristic: Love. That love is not defined by Hollywood or Nashville, it is defined by Jesus on the cross. Join us for week 2 of What’s in a Name as consider what it means that God’s banner over us is love.

The name you were given at birth may or may not be an accurate description of who you are. Your identity as a human depends on more than what is written on your birth certificate. Your character, experiences, hopes, and hurts, like fingerprints, are unique to you. And beyond the uniqueness of your story, is a unique design and purpose crafted by God. What is true of individuals is true of churches...

If you could go back in time and talk to yourself five, ten, twenty years ago, how much money would you have said you needed to be content? There is a chance you’ve already achieved and surpassed that dollar amount today. Yet, we never seem to arrive at that ideal financial destination. As our income increases, so does our appetite. Join us for the final message in Money Talks to learn how to cont...

We measure financial success by how much of our wealth we are able to stockpile. But the “extra” money and resources we possess can become the very thing that takes possession of us. After you’re dead, other people will take possession of everything you’ve “saved” for one of two reasons. Join us for part 2 of Money Talks to discover those reasons and what your money is saying about your faith.