Aspire Church Podcast

Status symbols can be everything from cars to watches to the clothes we wear. The way you spend your money says a lot about you. In fact, it says far more than you think it does. Join us for part one of Money Talks where we explore what it means to be rich and how the amount of money you possess has very little to do with your true wealth. 

An idol is made when we worship one of God’s good gifts rather than the One who gave us the gift. Our culture has made an idol of romance and marriage. This has not only damaged the institution of marriage, but our understanding of God’s plan and purpose for marriage. Join us for the final message in Ever After where we learn that marriage is a broken and temporary signpost pointing us to somethin...

In the 1980’s comedy, The War of the Roses , Barbara and Oliver Rose go from marital bliss to all out war. Unfortunately, this is not an unusual story in America today. The average length of a marriage in the United States is currently 8.2 years. How does a couple go from the marriage altar to divorce court in less than 10 years? While there are many answers to this question, one sure way is by fi...

“You complete me.” These three words are not only the most famous line from the hit movie, Jerry Maguire, they capture the expectations of many who long for a romantic relationship that will make them feel whole. But can two halves really make a person whole? Join us for part two of Ever After where we discuss God’s surprising intention behind marriage and the true source of wholeness.

The happy couple returns from their honeymoon and begins to unpack their bags. As soon as the bags are emptied, the happy couple begins to discover that this wasn’t what they’d expected. Those bags were full of expectations they’d each collected over a lifetime; expectations their spouse may be unwilling or unable to meet. Join us for part one of Ever After… where we explore the myth of great expe...

It has been over 2,000 years since the earthly ministry of Jesus, and yet, He is still the single most well-known individual in human history. The enormous ripple effects of His life, death, and resurrection have washed over successive generations and have expanded across the planet. Join us for the final message in Ripple Effects where we explore how Jesus’ followers can continue to make waves fo...

Initiation rites are a part of many organizations and institutions. For example, a wedding is a kind of initiation rite into marriage. People joining sororities or fraternities often participate in a selection and initiation process known as “rush.” Every president of the United States has stood with his hand on a Bible and sworn an oath of office that signifies his initiation into the presidency....

Belief is important, but belief alone is not evidence that someone is actively walking with Jesus. The ritual of baptism is, therefore, more than a sign of believing, it is also a tangible sign of a person’s willingness to follow Jesus in acts of obedience. Join us for part two of Ripple Effects where we explore the differences between a religious ritual and a life changing encounter with God.

A watermark is a faint design embedded in some papers and is used for branding, as a mark of authenticity and a sign of quality. Look closely at the currency in your wallet and you will find a watermark that ensures that what you hold is real and will be backed by the government. Throughout the ministry of Jesus and the history of the church, Baptism has been the watermark of a true disciple. Join...

When we accept God’s love for us, we are still faced with the question: Why would a loving God allow bad things to happen? One answer might be that He is not able to stop them. But the very idea that God is not able is incompatible with the very existence of God. There is a difference between being able to do something and a willingness to do it. Most people are far more capable than they are will...

Critics of religion often say that if there is a god, he cannot be both all-powerful and all loving. An all-loving God would not allow the terrible suffering we see in the world, and an all-powerful God would surely be able to stop it. Therefore, God is either not all-powerful, not all-loving, or simply doesn’t exist at all. Join us for part two of Questioning Jesus as we hear His own disciples as...

Discouragement and disappointment often lead to serious questions about the character and nature of God. Even Jesus’ greatest advocate faced a moment of significant doubt as he was confronted with his own death. Join us for part one of Questioning Jesus as we hear John the Baptist ask Jesus, “Are You the One or should we be looking for another?” 

A collaboration between the International Mission Board and North American Mission Board, Send Relief is here to help you make a difference in your community and the world around you — because compassion ministry opens doors to the gospel. Sharing the love of Jesus is central to everything we do at Send Relief. Whether it’s responding to natural disasters, caring for refugees and displaced familie...

The Great Commission was given to Jesus' followers to share God's love to the entire world. That would be a BIG dream or goal. It can seem even more daunting because the Great Commission is actually a command to achieve. How is that possible? Where do I begin? Join us in a one-off message on how Paul modeled for us a way to make disciples of all nations in Romans 10.

How would you finish this statement, “A woman’s place is ______________”? Depending on when this is asked, who answers, and the culture in which the conversation takes place, there is no limit to the number of possible responses. But the very idea that there is a “place” for women is something Jesus challenged in one of His most revealing comments about women and their role in His movement. Join u...

Ancient historical documents contain little information about or by women. Because of this, it can be difficult to develop an accurate picture of women throughout much of human history. One startling exception is the Bible which contains numerous pictures of women in the ancient world. Luke, a first-century physician and historian, was especially committed to recording the names and stories of wom...

Cultures throughout history have always had specific social hierarchies. Still today, there are groups and classes of people who benefit from simply being born into a certain family or because of the language they speak or the color of their skin or because of their gender. But Jesus consistently leveled the playing field by recognizing the faith and value of all people. Join us for part three of...

Since the time of Adam and Eve, there have been obvious double standards for men and women in almost every area of life. Luke frequently pairs stories of men and women together to highlight Jesus’ love and mission to redeem all of God’s creation. Join us for part two of Glass Ceilings where we see how the response of a Roman Centurion and a prostitute demonstrate Jesus’ radical grace and His unive...

There is a special connection between mothers and sons. As Jesus encountered a grieving mother in the town of Nain, He performed one of His most miraculous signs by raising the widow’s dead son. This not only brought the son back to life, it rescued this poor woman from a life of certain destitution. It’s not hard to imagine Jesus envisioning His own mother on the day of His crucifixion as He resp...

It has been said that everything we really need to know in life was taught in kindergarten. The basic fundamentals of being human are so simple a child can understand them, yet so profound that we spend our entire lives trying to live them out. Jesus’ directions for how to be human are shockingly simple, abundantly clear, incredibly memorable and profoundly practical. But even after more than 2000...

Part of what makes “human-ing” so hard is that we have to do it with other humans. The world teaches that the best way to deal with other people is to respect their humanity by not doing to them what we wouldn’t want them to do to us. In fact, this is the basic principle of the modern justice system and our basic concept of human rights. But a world built solely on what we “don’t” do is not a very...

#Blessed has become synonymous with material wealth and personal wellbeing. Even the sincerest believer will describe financial security, health, and a good reputation as “a blessing.” But Jesus’ definition of blessings and curses are very different from what people describe as blessings today. Join us for part two of How to be Human as we explore Jesus’ counterintuitive instructions for living ou...

Medical science has concluded that a lack of sufficient rest can be responsible for everything from heart disease to certain types of cancer. The Bible was way ahead of medical science. Embedded in the earliest pages of the Old Testament, the Creator invites His creation to take a day off every week. By the time Jesus came on the scene, religion had weaponized this gift and made it a burden. Join...

There is a shadow of doubt over almost every aspect of our lives. From economic uncertainty and political instability to questions about environmental sustainability and global health, we are regularly confronted with conflicting theories about what to believe and how we should respond. At the end of the day, every choice we make requires a measure of faith. The question is not whether or not we h...

Even as Jesus was dying on the cross, He proved to be a friend to sinners. Jesus was crucified between two other men who had also been condemned to die. Both of these men were guilty. Both had been convicted. Both men would be dead within a few hours and both men were in close proximity to Jesus. But only one would accept Jesus’ offer of friendship. Join us for part five of Jesus Friend of Sinners...