The Ascent Podcast

This week at The Ascent we talk about denominations and discuss how can Christianity be true when there are so many denominations with different values, theology, and traditions. 

We live under the new covenant, which means that we do not need to give sacrifices to repent from our sins or gain salvation. However, all throughout Scripture, God calls us to live a life of sacrifice as we turn away from the things of this world and live a life fully surrendered to Jesus.

Confession is uncomfortable, and because of that, we often avoid it, downplay it, or justify our way around it. But when we bring our hidden struggles into the light and speak them out loud, the enemy loses his grip on our hearts. Confession isn’t just about guilt; it’s about freedom. This week, we’re diving into what it means to confess and repent to God, as well as one another, and how that hone...

We all wrestle with unwanted thoughts, whether it's anxiety, anger, jealousy, or lust. In this series, we’ll explore how to take those thoughts captive and bring them under the authority of Christ, using biblical wisdom and practical tools to renew our minds and walk the freedom Christ offers. 

Our minds shape the course of our lives, but strongholds of lies and negative patterns can keep us stuck. In this sermon, we explore comparison, and how we can break free from the stronghold of jealousy, envy, and bitterness that threaten to harm us. 

Our minds shape the course of our lives, but strongholds of lies and negative patterns can keep us stuck. In this sermon, we explore how God calls us to intentionally identify these thoughts, bring them under Christ’s authority, and daily train our minds to follow His truth. Learn practical steps to break free from the ruts of old thinking and experience real transformation from the inside out.

While God may seem distant or unapproachable in the Old Testament, speaking from mountains, fire, and cloud, His heart has always been to dwell with His people, ultimately fulfilled in the person of Jesus.

In the Old Testament, God’s judgment can seem severe with many consequences for disobedience. Then, in the New Testament, we meet Jesus who is full of grace, forgiveness, and compassion. At first glance, they can feel like different Gods. But this week, we’ll explore how God’s justice and grace have always gone hand in hand. The God who judged sin is the same God who made a way for redemption both...

For many of us we work hard during the week and our “down time” is a time to forget responsibility and do whatever we want. This week we want to talk about surrendering the parts of life we claim as “mine” (sex, partying, money, and lifestyle) to the life God actually designed us for.

What we say, whether online or in person, has power. God calls us to speak words that build up, not tear down, and to reflect Jesus with our tone, humour, and honesty.

In our study of Galatians 2:20, we dive into the declaration that when we decide to follow Jesus, it's not us who lives, but Jesus who lives in us. 

Following Jesus was never meant to be easy and Jesus himself warns us that it is going to be hard. Yet as we commit to a year as a community to Do Hard Things, we recognize that we don't do it on our own strength but on the strength of Him who calls us to follow Him.

At some point in life, most of us experience the ache of feeling unseen, a deep longing to be noticed and known. While it's natural to hope that others will reach out first, there are moments when we’re called to take the first step. This message explores the challenge of living in the shadows and offers insight into how we can love others with bold, courageous compassion, even when we feel overlo...

Have you ever wanted something so bad but unable to get it? In this last week of our series, Gifted, we dive into what it means to eagerly desire the spiritual gifts, what happens when we don't receive them, and look at some of the less understood gifts including speaking in tongues, prophesy, interpretation, and healing.

Every believer has spiritual gifts, and they can be discovered, developed, and stewarded well. This week we dive into what the gifts of the Spirit are, and what that means for your life.

As we begin our series on spiritual gifts, we're setting a theological foundation for how we receive these gifts, why we receive these gifts, and the difference between spiritual gifts and talents.

In a special one-off message on discerning calling, we dive into Isaiah 6 to explore what is calling, how to hear from God, and how to know if God is calling you into vocational ministry.

We all want to find the “right” person, but maybe there isn’t actually a perfect person for us. Despite there not being a perfect person, this week we want to talk about what does make two people compatible and what to look for in a potential partner.

Love is complicated and it can be hard to navigate the intense feelings with wisdom. This week we want to talk about how to navigate the emotions that come up when dating and how to discern them with wisdom and truth.

This week Rhythm and Nathan sat down to have a conversation about cultivating a life in Scripture. Through sharing personal stories and practical advice we learned how to go deeper in our relationship with God through reading His word. 

Understanding the Bible can feel overwhelming, especially when certain passages don’t seem to make sense. Together let's explore how to approach Scripture with wisdom, avoid common misunderstandings, and discover the clarity and life-changing truth God intends for us through His Word.

Can you trust the Bible? This message dives into the bold claims of Scripture and challenges some of the biggest objections against it. Together we’ll explore why this ancient text might hold more truth—and relevance—than you ever imagined.

We talk a lot about love, but what if our idea of it is completely backwards? In this episode, we’ll explore what it means that God is love—a love that’s uncaused, unreasonable, and unlike anything we’ve ever known. Could redefining love through God's perspective change everything?

In this episode, we dive into the tension between our emotions and God’s unchanging heart for us, exploring 1 John 3's powerful truth: "God is greater than our hearts." Discover how to stay anchored in God, even when your feelings are telling you otherwise.

In this episode, we explore what it means that "God is light" in a world drawn to darkness. Diving into 1 John 1-2 we explore the themes of holiness, sin, and the fight for genuine joy. Join us as we uncover the path to freedom.