Ankeny Gospel Church

Seeing is not believing. Jesus makes that abundantly clear when he responds to the Pharisees and Sadducees' demand for a sign. In fact, the opposite is true: you cannot see until you believe. This is what happened to the disciples in their scarcity mindset; it wasn't until Jesus reminded them of His provision and abundance that they saw and understood. Have you seen and believed?

At every turn we see Jesus full of compassion on the Canaanite woman and her daughter, the crowds of sick and hurting and hungry in need of healing and food. Jesus shows us what true compassion is. His words were established in his actions, and He has always been, and always will be, a God of love and compassion toward those who come to Him in faith.

In Matthew 15, Jesus talks about the heart - he says the Pharisees and scribes have hearts that are far from God, and He says evil comes from the heart. So what is the heart? And what's the solution to a troubled heart?

The account of Jesus walking on water tells us a lot about God, and invites us to respond to Jesus.

Jesus takes what little we give to him, and turns it into abundance.

Jesus was rejected at his hometown; John the Baptizer was beheaded wrongfully. If this is how the Kingdom of Heaven comes, what does that mean for us?

Sure the resurrection is important, but what does it mean? In today's sermon from Luke 24, we follow the story of the Bible - Creation, Fall, Redemption, New Creation - and discover how Jesus' resurrection has both cosmic and personal implications.

Follow along as we look at Jesus' final days. What was he doing? Who was he spending time with? How was he responding to those around him?

Do you have a compelling vision for your life in the Kingdom of Heaven? We have visions for everything: our finances, homes, careers, relationships. But what about the life Jesus has for us? If all of life is a seeking after value, what do we value? In this sermon on the parables in Matthew 13.44-52, we get a compelling vision for life in the Kingdom through finding it, valuing it, and receiving i...

The Kingdom of Heaven comes in unexpected ways. In the parables of Matthew 13.24-43 Jesus compares it to the most backward, slow, small images imaginable. What Kingdom are you living in?

Jesus conceals His message of the Kingdom in parables - can you hear it?

When Jesus talks about his mother and brothers, what does he mean? What did family mean in the 1st century? In Matthew 12.46-50 Jesus makes some profound statements about where our true priorities ought to lie.

In Matthew 12.38-45 Jesus confronts the Pharisees question: do they want Jesus? or do they want what Jesus can give them? So we ask ourselves the same question: do we treat Jesus like a housemaid, cleaning up after us but not living with us? or do we want Jesus to live with us, eat with us, be with us?

In Matthew 12.22-37 Jesus argues with the Pharisees.

"More critical than the gift is how we handle the gift." This is true of many things, including Sabbath. In Matthew 12, we find Jesus criticized by the Pharisees for "breaking" the Sabbath. But what's the purpose of the Sabbath? And what does it mean that Jesus is LORD of the Sabbath? Listen and learn!

Jesus invites us to take up his easy yoke, because he knows that the burdens of this world are heavy, but his yoke is easy! Will you humble yourself and relax into Jesus and his light burden?

Many people in Jesus' home towns saw, but didn't change. They saw the goodness and power and authority of Jesus, but just shrugged their shoulders. Because of this, in Matthew 11.20-24, Jesus condemns those towns where most of his miracles were done. What is your response to seeing Jesus? When you see God's mighty deeds in your life, do you change?

In Matthew 11.1-19 John the Baptist doubted. But the question is HOW did he doubt? What expectations did he have of Jesus that weren't met? Listen in as we see how we can also have our own expectations of Jesus and learn what to do with them.

Love is the measure, and we love because God loved us. In this sermon we explore the four stages of love and common reasons we resist the love of God in our lives.

True Christian joy is as hard to define as it is hard to come by. What makes a person joyful? Why is joy to be celebrated in Advent each year?

In Ephesians 2, Paul says that Christ Himself is our peace. What does that mean? Listen in as we discuss how unity is only accomplished through peace.

Each year we enter into the story of redemption through Advent. As we remember Christ's first arrival, we hope for Christ's second arrival, knowing that one day "everything sad will become untrue."

Matthew 10 is the Mission Discourse. What comes to mind when you hear the word "mission"? In today's sermon, we learn that mission is simply participating with God for the renewal of all things. We are empowered by Jesus Himself to say what he said and do what He did! When we do, our lives will never be the same and we will experience the presence of God and the power of the Spirit right here, rig...

Jesus promises persecution from the message of the Kingdom of Heaven. He also promises that He Himself will be with us, because he experienced the same thing His disciples will experience!

Jesus gives His disciples authority to do the exact same thing He Himself has been doing!