Aspire Church Podcast

The Psalms are the hymns of ancient Israel. Jesus and His disciples would have sung them in worship and as they traveled the dusty roads of ancient Palestine. Their words were even on Jesus' lips as He hung on the cross. The lyrics that brought so much hope and joy to Jesus continue to inspire His followers today. Join us each Sunday in August as we listen to a mixtape of Psalms describing Go...

Aspire Church is delighted to welcome the Underwoods home! The Underwoods serve the IMB in Europe, where they share the hope of the Gospel with people from all over the world. Today, we are pleased to hear from Chris as he shares the Missionary Psalm (Psalm 67) to kick off our annual Summer Psalms Mixtape series.  

Uncertainty is one of the only certainties in life. Whether it is health and money or the economy and politics, you can be sure that something unexpected is always just around the corner. So, how should God’s people respond to uncertainty? How can we have faith in the face of the unknown? Join us for the final message in The Pursuit of God , where we will see how Abraham’s faith gave Him confidenc...

Most people have had the unfortunate experience of feeling “used.” Someone wanted something from you but had little or no regard for you after they got what they wanted. You were merely a means to an end. It’s a terrible feeling, yet that is how many of us treat God. We seek Him in our need, but after receiving the gift, we forget the Giver. Join us for part 6 of The Pursuit of God , where we will...

There is an art to listening, and people who do it well offer a precious gift to those blessed to engage in a conversation with them. Most people talk to be heard, but some seek to listen and understand first. Prayer, in its most basic form, is a conversation with God. But perhaps you’ve wondered if your prayers are one-sided conversations. Join us for part 5 of The Pursuit of God , where we will...

Have you ever reached your limit? Maybe it was an issue of physical stamina or mental ability. Perhaps it was a financial limit or a matter of not having enough time. Every human has their limit, and we are frequently tempted to project those limitations on God. Join us for part 4 of The Pursuit of God, where we will learn that God’s power is perfected in human weakness.

In a busy world with so many voices clamoring for attention, it would be easy to feel lost in the crowd. Does anyone see me? Does anyone hear me? Does anyone care? And if there is a God, does He see me or care about my life? Join us for part 3 of The Pursuit of God, where we will learn how God sees us even when we can’t see Him.

Studies have shown that more than half of those who use GPS ignore the directions they get from it. It is probably no surprise that men ignore the directions far more than women! Ignoring directions may not be a big deal when navigating to a new restaurant or assembling furniture from Ikea. But it can have serious consequences when the directions come from God. Join us for part two of The Pursuit...

There is a Chinese proverb that says, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” The same can be said about our pursuit of God. A single act of faith is the key to finding God, His purpose, and His ways. Join us for a series from Genesis 11-25 about Abraham and Isaac and how their pursuit of God reminds us that those who seek God will find Him when they seek Him with all their he...

Unlike any other organization or institution, the church does not exist primarily for the benefit of its members. The Church is not about us; it’s about Him. And because God has called us to make Him known to the ends of the earth, the church must also be about “them” – those who have yet to be reached with the message of the Gospel. Join us for the final message in This is Us, where we will learn...

Celebrity culture is a billion-dollar industry. Social media influencers and celebrities rely on public exposure (good and bad) to maintain their power. Jesus was a celebrity in first-century Palestine. Religious and political leaders knew His name, and thousands flocked to hear Him teach. But Jesus never relied on His celebrity. In fact, He was willing to give it away to those who followed Him. J...

Henry Ford is often credited with the creation of the modern assembly line. This simple concept revolutionized industry around the world. Assembly lines are great for products but terrible for people. Whether it is the automated voice system answering your calls or the self-check line at your favorite big box store, we have all experienced the frustrations of being placed on the automated assembly...

Life is full of transitions. Sometimes we choose the transition and sometimes it is forced upon us. Whatever leads us to it, change is an opportunity to grow and serve God as we commit to following Him. Join us for part 7 of This Is Us, where we will learn that God is calling us to bloom wherever He plants us.

They exist everywhere. Little contradictions that are sometimes humorous and sometimes downright disturbing. From driving on a parkway and parking in a driveway to the endorsement of slavery by a nation whose founding document states that all men are created equal. But what happens when the message of the Gospel is contradicted by the church that is proclaiming it? Join us for part 6 of This Is Us...

Twenty years ago, no one had a smartphone, and few had social media accounts. Twenty years before that, no one had heard of e-mail or the Internet. One hundred years before that, people relied on a horse and buggy for transportation. Technology and culture continue to change at an accelerated rate. With all that has changed, how has the church endured? Join us for part 5 of This is Us, where we wi...

Companies and organizations measure their success and report it to their stakeholders. How much did we make (or lose)? What was our quarterly growth (or decline)? Did we come in on time and under budget (or is someone getting fired)? The institutional church also has a set of metrics it uses to measure its success. How many people were in worship this week? How much money was collected in the offe...

Jesus commissioned His church to “Make disciples of all nations.” But there is a difference between making disciples and faking them. Join us for part 3 of This Is Us to learn how Jesus responded to fake disciples and what it takes to truly make a disciple of Jesus. 

When Jesus gathered His disciples in the Upper Room, they were confronted with the price He would pay for their redemption. After the Resurrection, Jesus again met His Disciples in the Upper Room, and it was there that the church was born. Join us for part two of This is Us, where we will discover that Jesus-centered communities are built by people who live in the Upper Room. 

From the fall in Genesis to the final scene of Revelation, the Bible tells the story of how God is building a new kind of community—a people He set apart for His glory. But from its very beginning, controversy has surrounded the Church. People throughout history—insiders and outsiders alike—have struggled to understand the Church and its mission. Join us every Sunday for This Is Us, a sermon serie...

We are constantly inundated with information. To manage this persistent flow, many people ask two simple questions: Is it true, and is it useful? Join us on Easter Sunday as we consider the claim that God raised Jesus from the dead by answering those two questions. Is it true? And is it useful? 

Long before His arrest, Jesus told His disciples that if they wanted to follow Him, they would have to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him. It is doubtful the disciples fully understood what Jesus meant. Even two thousand years after His crucifixion, understanding what it means to bear Jesus’ cross can be difficult. Join us for a series exploring the Cross Walk that leads to the K...

Long before His arrest, Jesus told His disciples that if they wanted to follow Him, they would have to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him. It is doubtful the disciples fully understood what Jesus meant. Even two thousand years after His crucifixion, understanding what it means to bear Jesus’ cross can be difficult. Join us for a series exploring the Cross Walk that leads to the K...

We are excited to welcome home Mark and Kim Wilbanks. Mark pastored Southside Baptist Church from 1985 to 2002. During the Dr. Wilbanks’s 17 years of leadership, Aspire experienced significant growth, a prolonged season of health and vitality, and a massive expansion and renovation of our facilities and property. After leaving Aspire, Mark pastored in Tallahassee and Atlanta before retiring to Bir...

Silence can be deafening, especially when you’re used to living amidst the clamor and commotion of our noisy world. But what happens when God is silent? Join us for the final message in The Care and Feeding of the Human Soul as we discuss the dark night of the soul to see how it can draw us closer to God. 

Today, we welcome our guest preacher, Dr. Mark Searby. Mark is a native of Illinois, where he completed his college and seminary education at Lincoln Christian University and his Doctor of Ministry degree at the Northern Baptist Theological Seminary. After serving over 20 years in pastoral ministry, he taught at Lincoln Christian Seminary for ten years. He also served as a Vice President for Linco...