Ascend Bible Church

In this episode, Jon and Mitch talk through Mark 12:18–27, where Jesus is challenged by the Sadducees about the resurrection. What starts as a tricky hypothetical question turns into a powerful moment where Jesus exposes a deeper issue: not knowing the Scriptures or the power of God.Together, we explore what this passage teaches about resurrection life, the faithfulness of God, and why the hope of life after death shapes how we live right now. This conversation helps us see that resurrection isn’t just a future promise—it’s a present reality rooted in who God is.Whether you’re wrestling with doubts, questions about eternity, or simply want to understand this passage more clearly, we hope this discussion encourages you to trust the living God who keeps His promises.Scripture: Mark 12:18–27

In Philippians 1:12–26, Paul shows us what it looks like to have a life centered on Christ.Writing from prison, he isn’t discouraged—he’s rejoicing. Why? Because the gospel is advancing, Christ is being proclaimed, and God is working through it all.Big Idea: A life centered on Christ reorders our mission and reshapes our vision.Paul reminds us:Our mission is gospel advancementOur lives aren’t about recognition, but Christ being knownPrayer and the Spirit sustain the workAnd ultimately:“To live is Christ, and to die is gain.”What are you living for? 

In Acts 16, we see how God builds His church in unexpected ways. What looks like closed doors and changed plans turns into gospel breakthrough.Paul thought he knew where he was going—but the Holy Spirit redirects him to Philippi. And there, God saves three very different people: a businesswoman, a slave girl, and a jailer. Different backgrounds. Different stories. Same gospel.In this sermon, we explore:How God directs His people through closed doors and clear callsWhy confusion doesn’t mean God is absentHow the gospel transforms every kind of personWhat it looks like to trust God’s leading in your own lifeNo matter where you find yourself today, this passage reminds us: God is still guiding, still saving, and still building His church.Scripture: Acts 16:6–34—If this message encouraged you, like the video, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs it.Connect with Ascend Bible Church:Website: https://ascendbible.churchJoin us Sundays at 10am in Indianapolis

We’ve come to the final week in our journey through the Gospel of Mark—53 weeks walking with Jesus—and we arrive at the most important moment in history.The resurrection changes everything.If Easter didn’t happen, then this is just a gathering built around a dead man.But if it did happen… this is the most important truth in the world.In this message, we walk through Mark 16:1–20 and see:The reality of the empty tombThe struggle of unbelief—even among Jesus’ followersThe grace of Jesus in pursuing people anywayThe call to go and proclaim the gospelMark’s Gospel ends in a way that invites you into the story.It forces the question:How will you respond?The gospel is simple and powerful:Jesus lived.Jesus died.Jesus rose.Jesus is alive.This isn’t about what we do—it’s about what He has already done.So the question remains:Will you believe?Will you respond?Will you go?If you’re exploring faith, this message is for you.If you’ve followed Jesus for years, this is a reminder: the gospel doesn’t just inform us—it sends us.Take a moment today to reflect, respond, and consider what it means to live in light of the resurrection.

This week we’re stepping into one of the heaviest moments in ScriptureInstead of a normal sermon, we’re inviting you to experience it differently.Don’t just watch this.Feel it.As you listen, do something that requires effort—go for a run, work out, clean, or finish something you’ve been putting off. Let the weight you feel remind you of the weight Christ carried.We’re so quick to rush to Easter.But if we don’t slow down here, we won’t understand what it cost.Take time today to sit in the reality of the cross.Before we celebrate the empty tomb… we remember.

In this passage, Jesus is handed over to Rome, and the question becomes clear: Who is King?We see a King who stands silent, a King who is rejected in place of a guilty man, and a King who is mocked on His way to the cross.Barabbas goes free. Jesus takes his place.The innocent for the guilty.This isn’t just their story—it’s ours.We may not shout “Crucify Him,” but we often choose control, comfort, and sin over surrender to Jesus.Even in the suffering, the truth remains:Jesus is King.So the question is—who is King in your life?

In this message from Mark 14:53–65, we step into one of the most intense moments in the Gospel of Mark—the trial of Jesus before the Sanhedrin.Jesus has been arrested.The cross is now only hours away.But what unfolds in the house of the high priest is not a fair trial seeking truth. The verdict has already been decided. The religious leaders are not trying to determine whether Jesus is guilty—they are trying to find a charge that will justify killing Him.In this passage we see:• A court searching for a verdict rather than truth• False witnesses whose testimony cannot agree• The silence of Jesus fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 53• The clearest declaration of Jesus’ identity in the Gospel of Mark• The Son of Man who will one day return in gloryWhen the high priest asks, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” Jesus answers with unmistakable clarity:“I am.”The One standing trial in that room would one day sit as the Judge of the world.This passage forces every one of us to wrestle with the same question:Who is Jesus?

We are hours from the Cross.The table has been set.The hymn has been sung.They walk into the night.Before the nails. Before Pilate. Before the crowd.Mark slows down and shows us Peter.In this sermon from Mark 14:27–31 and 66–72, we walk through Peter’s bold self-confidence, his painful denial, and the surprising hope Jesus speaks even before Peter fails.Peter says, “Even if they all fall away, I will not.”But before the rooster crows twice, he denies Jesus three times.This passage forces a question:What will happen with your faith under pressure?In this message, we explore: • The danger of spiritual self-confidence • How quickly we can collapse under pressure • And the powerful promise of restoration spoken before our failure ever happensThe good news?Our failure doesn’t surprise Jesus — and it doesn’t have to define us.If you are confident in yourself, Peter’s story is a warning.If you are crushed by failure, Peter’s story is comfort.The answer isn’t “try harder.”The answer is trust the promises of Jesus.In Christ there is: • Forgiveness for real denial • Strength for real weakness • Courage that grows out of humilityJoin us as we look honestly at failure — and even more honestly at the restoring grace of Jesus.

In this week’s episode, Pastor Mitch and Pastor Jon sit down to talk through the 2026 preaching calendar at Ascend. With our journey through Mark coming to a close, we look ahead at what’s next, why these series matter for our church family, and how they will shape us in the year ahead.If you’ve ever wondered how we plan preaching, how themes connect, or what’s coming after Mark, this conversation will give you a helpful behind-the-scenes look.Listen in and start praying with us for what God will do in 2026.

We are now hours from the Cross.Mark slows everything down. Every conversation matters. Every movement matters. Every word matters.In Mark 14:12–26, Jesus gathers with His disciples in the Upper Room for what looks like a traditional Passover meal. But this is not just a meal. This is a moment. And if we don’t understand what’s happening at this table, we won’t understand what’s happening on the Cross.In this sermon, we walk through three movements in the text:• The Preparation – Jesus intentionally sets the table. He is not scrambling. He is not hiding. He is orchestrating. The Lamb is not being hunted — the Lamb is presenting Himself.• The Revelation – “One of you will betray Me.” Proximity to Jesus is not the same as surrender. Before we rush to the table, we ask the right question: “Lord, is it I?”• The Institution – Jesus redefines Passover around Himself. “This is My body.” “This is My blood.” The greater Exodus is happening. Not freedom from Pharaoh, but freedom from sin. Judgment passes over us not because of our performance, but because of His sacrifice.Communion looks backward and forward — from the Upper Room to the eternal wedding feast to come.The Table has been set.The Lamb has been provided.The covenant has been sealed.Take. Eat. Drink. Remember.If this message encouraged you, consider sharing it and subscribing to follow along as we continue walking through the Gospel of Mark together.

Everyone carries something.Stress. Anxiety. Leadership weight. Parenting pressure. Financial strain. Hidden sin. Health concerns.The question isn’t if we will have burdens — the question is what we do with them.In this episode, we walk through what the Bible actually says about handling the weight we carry. Scripture doesn’t tell us to numb it, ignore it, grind harder, or give up. Instead, it gives us a better way:Cast your burdens on the Lord (Psalm 55:22)Come to Jesus and find rest (Matthew 11:28–30)Bear one another’s burdens in community (Galatians 6:2)Endure without quitting (James 1:2–4)Most importantly, we look to the One who ultimately carried our greatest burden — Jesus Himself (Isaiah 53:4).If you’re feeling heavy, overwhelmed, or worn down, this conversation is for you.

Can you believe we are here? Passion Week.Mark slows way down. Every scene carries weight.Exodus 12 is in the background—the Lamb, the blood, judgment passing over.And now the true Lamb is just days from being slain.In this passage, Mark gives us three postures toward Jesus.Not random stories. Not disconnected moments.Three different responses that reveal how we truly value Christ.In this sermon we walk through:1) The Critic – Close to Jesus, but cold in heart. Calculating. Evaluating worship through efficiency. Resistant to costly devotion.2) The Worshiper – Breaking the jar. Pouring it all out. Not measured. Not strategic. Just love. Jesus calls it “beautiful.”3) The Self-Seeker – Same week. Same Jesus. Different heart. While one pours, another negotiates.Then we circle back and ask the deeper questions:1. We do what we love.2. We give to what we value.3. We only serve one Master.This text isn’t ultimately about ointment.It’s about allegiance.The critic protects himself.The worshiper pours out to Jesus.The self-seeker sells.And here’s the grace:The One who is betrayed still goes to the cross.For critics.For self-seekers.For imperfect worshipers.Lord, You are worthy.If this message encourages or challenges you, consider sharing it and subscribing for more teaching through the Gospel of Mark.

If You’re a Christian, You’re in Ministry

In this message from Mark 12:35–44, Jesus stops debating His opponents and begins teaching His disciples—and in doing so, He exposes a gap that can exist between what we know and how we live.After a long day of confrontation in the temple, Jesus turns His attention to the hearts of those listening. He warns about religious leaders whose faith is visible but not dependent, impressive but not obedient. Their knowledge of Scripture never leads to trust in God.Then, in quiet contrast, Jesus points to a poor widow who gives everything she has. Her offering isn’t flashy or celebrated, but it is marked by dependence. In the middle of a broken system, her faith still dares to trust God.The big idea of this passage is simple and searching: faith is measured by faithful follow-up. Right understanding of who Christ is leads to worship, obedience, and surrender—not performance or control.In this sermon, we consider two profiles:Disciplined minds with faithless actionsDependent hearts with faithful responseJesus uses money as the example not because it is everything, but because it reveals what we trust, what we fear losing, and where we find security.The question this passage presses on us is not merely, How much do you know?It is, How much do you trust God?We pray that God would expose the gap between belief and action, free us from performative faith, and teach us to live with dependent hearts that trust Him with all that we have.Scripture: Mark 12:35–44 (ESV)Big Idea: Faith is measured by faithful follow-up

This week, Mitch and Jon dive into Mark 12–13 and explore Jesus’ sharp, truth-telling moments in the temple.After a long day of being questioned by religious leaders, Jesus shifts from answering challenges to exposing the broken leaders and flawed systems at the heart of the temple. What follows is not casual teaching, but clear, confrontational truth meant to reveal hearts and call people to faithful obedience.This conversation helps us see why Mark places these passages together and how Jesus’ words challenge both religious hypocrisy and misplaced trust.Listen in and consider what it looks like to hear Jesus’ truth—and respond with faith in action.

In this episode, Jon and Mitch talk through several simple methods to help us better understand how to read the Bible. Their hope is to encourage us to be a people who are committed to getting into God’s Word, seeking to understand it, and faithfully applying it to our lives.

Due to winter weather, we were unable to gather in person this week. Instead, we’re sharing a discussion-style version of the sermon content from Mark 12:28–34, centered on one of the most important questions in Scripture:What is the greatest commandment?In Mark 12, Jesus has faced a series of hostile confrontations—from political traps to theological challenges. But in this passage, a scribe steps forward with a sincere question, not to trap Jesus, but to understand what truly sits at the center of God’s commands.In this video, we reflect on:Jesus’ response to the scribeThe heart of the Law: loving God and loving neighborThe Shema (Deuteronomy 6) and wholehearted devotion to GodWhy love is not mere emotion, but covenantal allegianceHow love for God necessarily overflows into love for othersThe sobering words of Jesus: “You are not far from the kingdom of God”This conversation is meant to move us beyond information to transformation—toward reordered affections, Spirit-led obedience, and resurrection-shaped living.Our prayer is that as our love for God grows, our faithfulness would grow with it—not through willpower alone, but through the transforming grace of God.Scripture Reading: Mark 12:28–34 (ESV)Prayer Prompt:Lord, change our affections as we draw near to You.Teach us to love You with all that we are,and to love others as a reflection of that love.Thanks for watching, and we hope this encourages you to draw near to Christ daily.

In this passage from Mark 12:18–27, Jesus is confronted by the Sadducees—a powerful group who deny the resurrection. They come to Him with a hypothetical question meant to make resurrection faith look foolish. Instead of debating theory, Jesus exposes a deeper problem: they do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.Jesus reframes resurrection not as a strange future idea, but as the necessary outcome of God’s covenant faithfulness. God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. If He is still the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, then death cannot be the end—and resurrection is not optional.This sermon explores what resurrection meant in the Jewish worldview, why the Sadducees resisted it, and how Jesus grounds resurrection hope directly in the Torah. More than that, we see how resurrection is not only a future promise but a present reality. God is already making all things new.Because Jesus rose from the dead, resurrection life has begun. And as people who have been made new in Christ, we are called to live as ambassadors of that future hope here and now—loving, forgiving, welcoming, and restoring as signs of the kingdom God is bringing.Resurrection is not just about going to heaven when you die.It is about God renewing His world—and beginning that work in us today.Key Themes:Resurrection and covenant faithfulnessGod as the God of the livingThe already and the not yetLiving resurrection-shaped livesBringing glimpses of the renewed world into the presentScripture: Mark 12:18–27

In this Podcast Pastor Mitch, and Pastor Jon work through this week's passage and pause with each work that has importance to dive deeper into the text!

In this Podcast Pastor Mitch, and Pastor Jon have a conversation about Discipleship, our mission and vision, and the 4 W Life.

We’re back in the Gospel of Mark, where Jesus continues to reveal His authority — in His teaching, His miracles, and His call to respond. In Mark 12:1–12, Jesus tells a parable that brings everything into focus: God is patient, the Son is rejected, and yet God’s plan cannot be stopped. The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. Each of us must answer the question — What will you do with Jesus?

Experience week three of our Inexpressible Gift series as we walk through 2 Corinthians 9:1–15 and explore how grace overflows into generosity and transforms a community.Series Flow• Week 1 — Grace received reshapes who you are• Week 2 — Grace revealed has a name — Jesus• Week 3 — Grace overflowing transforms a communityBig Idea:Grace leads to generosity — a kind of giving that costs something and flows from a heart shaped by the gospel.In this message, we see Paul call the church to a posture of intentional, joyful, grace-driven generosity — not out of guilt or pressure, but out of trust in God’s provision and love.Sermon OutlineGrace Is Intentionally Practiced (vv. 1–5)Generosity is not accidental — it is prepared, thoughtful, and faithful.Grace Produces Joyful Giving (vv. 6–7)God is not after compulsion, but a cheerful heart shaped by grace.Grace Is Supplied by God (vv. 8–11)God provides everything needed so that His people may abound in every good work.Grace Returns to God as Worship (vv. 12–15)Needs are met, thanksgiving multiplies, and God is glorified.Key Truths• Grace fuels generosity• God supplies what we give• Giving leads to worship• “Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift!”If this message encourages you, consider sharing it — and let the grace of God overflow through your life in joyful generosity.

Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift!(2 Corinthians 9:15)What does it mean that God’s gift is inexpressible? In this message, we begin a three-week series centered on grace—grace received, grace revealed, and grace overflowing. Paul reminds us that God’s greatest gift is not just what Jesus gives, but Jesus Himself.This gift is:Undeserved — given by grace, not earnedComplete — forgiveness, reconciliation, and new lifeOverflowing — producing worship, gratitude, and generosityBeyond words — truly known, but never exhaustedIn this week’s message, “Grace Received Reshapes Who We Are,” we walk through 2 Corinthians 8:1–15 and see how the grace of God transformed the Macedonian church—and how that same grace reshapes our hearts today.We explore how:Grace forms a joyful heart, even in hardshipGrace produces faithful generosity, not guilt-driven givingGrace has a face—Jesus Christ, who became poor so we might become richGrace forms a gospel-shaped community, marked by shared responsibility and Kingdom-first livingThis message sets the foundation for the rest of the series:This Week: Grace received reshapes who you are (The Heart)Christmas Eve: Grace revealed has a name — JesusNext Week: Grace overflowing transforms a community (Hands)As we move toward Christmas, we’re reminded that generosity begins not with pressure, but with hearts shaped by grace.Prayer Prompt:Praise God for His inexpressible gift.Thank Him for the grace He has shown you.Ask where He may be inviting you to extend that grace to others.

Big Idea: The Lord’s Servant will be victorious in His planned mission.From Isaiah 53:10–12, we see God’s complete work through the Servant:God’s sovereignty in the mission (v. 10) — this suffering was the plan all along (Genesis 3:15).God’s satisfaction in the mission (v. 11) — the Servant sees the light of life and is satisfied.God’s reward for the mission (v. 12) — the Servant is exalted and shares in victory.We also zoom out to the heart of Isaiah 53, found in verse 5, and connect the prophecy to its fulfillment in Acts 8:26–38, where Jesus is clearly proclaimed.Scripture: Isaiah 53:5, 10–12; Genesis 3:15; Acts 8:26–38

In this Podcast Pastor Mitch, and Pastor Jon deep dive into the Kingdom First Initiative. How have we seen the Lord use the 2025 dollars, and what are the plans for 2026.

In this Podcast Pastor Mitch, and Pastor Jon recap what we have covered so far in the book of Isaiah! Let us know what has Been your favorite part of the series so far!

In this message, Pastor Jon walks us through Isaiah 53:6 — one of the most familiar and yet most profound verses in all of Scripture:“We all, like sheep, have gone astray;each of us has turned to our own way;and the LORD has laid on himthe iniquity of us all.”Over the last few weeks, we’ve been studying the Servant Songs in Isaiah, seeing how God’s promised Servant would bring justice, light, and salvation — not by avoiding suffering, but by stepping into it. Isaiah 52:13–53:5 gives us a vivid, heartbreaking picture of this Servant who is exalted and yet afflicted, pierced and yet bringing peace, crushed and yet bringing healing.Today’s passage slows everything down. Isaiah uses a simple image — sheep — to help us see ourselves clearly: wandering, stubborn, prone to go our own way. And yet, the Lord places our iniquity, our guilt, our wandering on Him — the Servant who stands in our place.Throughout the message we trace this theme across the whole Bible:The Day of Atonement and the scapegoat in Leviticus 16Jesus’ own words in Mark 10:45Paul’s reflections in Romans 3 and 7Jesus the Good Shepherd in John 10The ministry of reconciliation in 2 Corinthians 5Peter’s echo of Isaiah 53 in 1 Peter 2And all of it points to this main idea:Jesus, the Servant, stood in our place and took the punishment for our sins while we went astray and turned to our own way.If you’ve wandered, if you feel far from God, if you’re tired of going your own way — this passage is an invitation:Return to the Shepherd.Come to the One who laid down His life for the sheep.Come to the One who brings peace, healing, and reconciliation.Thanks for watching. If this message encouraged you, consider sharing it with someone who needs to be reminded of the Good Shepherd’s love for them.

In this sermon, we continue our journey through Isaiah’s Suffering Servant, looking closely at Isaiah 53:4–5—one of the most important passages in the entire Old Testament. Isaiah invites us to stop, look, and behold the Servant who willingly carries what we could not.We walk through the deep realities of our sin, the cost of Christ’s sacrifice, and the beauty of the eternal blessing He secured for us through the cross. Isaiah shows us that the Servant doesn’t stand at a distance from our grief—He takes it up, shoulders it, and bears the weight of our rebellion, sorrow, transgressions, and iniquities.From there, we unpack the language Isaiah uses: that Jesus was stricken, smitten, afflicted, pierced, and crushed—not for His wrongdoing, but for ours. We trace this suffering through the Gospel of Mark and see how His humiliation, obedience, and wrath-bearing death become the path to our peace and healing.The Big Idea: Jesus takes on our sin, and through the victory of the cross, He gives us peace and healing.Finally, we consider what His finished work accomplishes:• Peace with God—true rest, wholeness, and the end of condemnation.• Healing—spiritual, emotional, mental, relational, and eventually physical, as we anticipate full restoration in the resurrection.Prayer prompts:• Confess your sin.• Praise Jesus for His sacrifice.• Thank Him for the eternal blessings secured for you through His wounds.

Isaiah 49 gives us a breathtaking vision of God’s Servant—one who not only restores Israel but shines salvation to the ends of the earth. That promise is fulfilled perfectly in Jesus Christ.In this message, we see:The Servant’s calling and testimony (vv.1–6)The Servant’s discouragement and victory (vv.4–6)The Lord’s confirmation and restoration (vv.7–13)What was “too small a thing” for Israel alone, God fulfilled in Christ—His salvation pierces the darkness like a lighthouse guiding ships safely home. Jesus is the covenant, the redeemer, and the light for all nations.Big Idea: The Servant of the Lord restores Israel and brings salvation to the nations. This is fulfilled perfectly in Jesus Christ.📖 Scripture: Isaiah 49:1–13🎯 Series: The Suffering Servant✝️ Church: Ascend Bible Church (Indianapolis, IN)If you’re new, we’d love to connect with you: ascendbible.church

The Suffering Servant | Isaiah 42:1–9As we pause in our walk through the Gospel of Mark, we’re taking time to reflect on the weight of what’s happening with Jesus. Israel longed for conquest, but God’s covenant promise of deliverance came in a very different way—through His Servant.In this message from Isaiah 42, we see:The Servant has the Spirit of God (v.1)The Servant brings true justice (vv.1–4)The Servant acts with God’s authority (vv.5–9)Unlike the Pharisees and Jews who missed Him, we want to strengthen our faith in Jesus—the Spirit-filled Son, the gentle and compassionate King, the covenant-keeping Light to the nations.Big Idea: God sends His Suffering Servant, Jesus, to bring true justice and eternal restoration.📖 Scripture: Isaiah 42:1–9🎯 Series: The Suffering Servant✝️ Church: Ascend Bible Church (Indianapolis, IN)If you’re new, we’d love to connect with you: ascendbible.church

Today we celebrate Ascend Bible Church’s 2-year anniversary! Over the last few years, God has moved in incredible ways—mobilizing a team, growing our hearts for Perry Township, partnering with schools, launching groups, and reaching our community with the gospel. You can hear more of these stories on our podcast from this past week.In this final message of our Letters to Ascend series, Pastor Mitch preaches from Revelation 2:1–7, looking at Jesus’ letter to the church in Ephesus. The message is simple but urgent: it’s all about Jesus.Just like the Ephesian church, we can work hard, endure challenges, and even stand firm in truth—yet still miss our “first love.” Jesus calls us to remember, repent, and return so that everything we do is centered on Him.Join us as we continue to pursue our mission: to glorify God by making disciples, and live out our vision: to be a church that lives in community and strives to see all people follow Jesus.📖 Passage: Revelation 2:1–7🎙️ Series: Letters to Ascend🕙 Recorded at Ascend Bible Church | October 12, 2025

This week at Ascend, Pastor Mitch continues our Letters to Ascend series by looking at Paul’s prayer in Colossians 1:9–14—a prayer for a young church to grow in maturity through personal devotion.Last week, we talked about being a multiplying church. This week, we turn to maturation—what it means to grow deeper in Christ. Paul’s prayer for the church in Colossae is the same prayer we need today at Ascend: that we would be a people who worship, walk, work, and witness for the glory of Christ.A Prayer for a Maturing ChurchWorship: Filled with the knowledge of God’s willWalk: Living in a way worthy of ChristWork: Bearing fruit through His powerWitness: Giving thanks for His saving graceAs we approach our two-year anniversary, this prayer is our foundation: that Ascend Bible Church would not just be about growth in numbers, but growth in devotion—personally and corporately.📖 Scripture: Colossians 1:9–14📍 Location: Perry Township, Indianapolis⏰ Join us Sundays at 10AM

This week at Ascend Bible Church, we opened our new series Letters to Ascend with “A Letter About Multiplying Disciples.”Text: Acts 11:19–30; Acts 13:1–3Main Idea: A multiplying church is marked by reaching new people, strengthening young disciples, sacrificing to give, and sending to the nations.From the church in Antioch, we see four marks of a multiplying church:1) Reaching new people (Acts 11:19–21)2) Strengthening disciples (Acts 11:22–26)3) Sacrificing to give (Acts 11:27–30)4) Sending to the nations (Acts 13:1–3)This message challenges us to live out Acts 1:8 in our own community: strengthened by God’s Word, shaped in discipleship, and sent with gospel purpose.If you’re looking for encouragement to multiply your faith and invest in God’s mission, this sermon is for you.

This week we close out Mark 11 with the question: “By what authority do you do these things?” (Mark 11:27–33).The religious leaders challenge Jesus, but their refusal to answer shows why many still resist following Him today: they won’t submit to His authority, they ignore the evidence, and they fear people more than they fear God.In this message, Pastor Mitch shows why we can have confidence in Jesus’ authority. His authority is divine—given from heaven, not man-made. It was declared in prophecy, documented in Scripture, and demonstrated in His teaching, miracles, and resurrection.The call for us is clear: release every area of life to the authority of Christ and praise Him as Lord over all.

This week we’re in Mark 11:12–25, where Jesus moves from looking into the temple to taking action. He curses a fig tree with leaves but no fruit and drives out false worship from the temple — powerful signs that expose fruitless religion and point us to what true discipleship really is.Jesus calls His people to lives marked by faith in God, worship from the heart, and forgiveness toward others.Because of technical difficulties with our video recording, we wanted to make sure you could still hear the message, so we recorded this podcast separately for you.

What does it mean that Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey? Why palm branches, cloaks, and shouts of “Hosanna”? Every detail in Mark 11 is intentional—and it all points to the true identity of Jesus as King.In this message, Pastor Jon unpacks the Triumphal Entry, showing us:The King’s Intentional Preparations – Jesus orchestrates every detail to fulfill God’s promises.The King’s Humble Entrance – He comes not with worldly power, but in humility, to bring peace.The King’s Sobering Appraisal – He enters the temple to inspect the worship of His people.The crowds expected a conqueror to overthrow Rome. But Jesus came to fulfill God’s plan, not our demands. He is the humble King who rules in sovereignty and peace, inviting us to trust Him fully.Questions to Consider:Where am I struggling to trust that Jesus is in control of the details?If Jesus inspected my worship today, what would He find?Am I following Jesus as King, or am I disappointed when He doesn’t meet my expectations?📖 Scripture: Mark 11:1–11🎥 Watch now and see how the arrival of the King changes everything.

This Family Sunday, we look at the last miracle of Jesus before the resurrection—the healing of blind Bartimaeus. Mark’s Gospel begins with Jesus opening the eyes of a blind man (Mark 8) and is bookended with this miracle in Mark 10, showing us that His mission is to open the eyes of the blind—both physically and spiritually.In this message, Pastor Mitch walks through what it means to truly see Jesus for who He is and to follow Him in faith.📖 Passage: Mark 10:46–52💡 Big Idea: Faith in Jesus brings mercy, healing, and transformation.Key Points:Cry out to Jesus and ask for mercy (vv. 46–48)– Bartimaeus calls out with faith, even when rebuked by the crowd.– God delights to show mercy to the humble and needy.Jesus hears your cry and responds (vv. 49–51)– Jesus stops for Bartimaeus and calls him near.– We are invited to bring our real needs to Him.Faith leads to transformation (v. 52)– Bartimaeus receives sight and follows Jesus on the way.– True faith not only believes but acts and obeys.👉 Whether you’re feeling weak, overlooked, or in need of mercy—this story shows us that Jesus hears, responds, and transforms those who cry out to Him in faith.

Everyone wants to be great. Whether it’s in sports, business, social media, or politics, our culture defines greatness by power, position, and recognition. But in Mark 10:32–45, Jesus flips the script.As He walks toward the cross, Jesus teaches His disciples (and us) that true greatness in the kingdom of God is not about climbing higher—it’s about stooping lower. It’s not about asserting power and control, but sacrificially serving others.In this message, we’ll explore:The world’s definition of greatness: power, status, and control.Jesus’ definition of greatness: humility and service.How Jesus demonstrated true greatness by giving His life as a ransom for many.If you’ve ever struggled with ambition, comparison, or the craving for recognition, this passage redefines what it means to “be great.”📖 Scripture: Mark 10:32–45🎯 Big Idea: Greatness in the kingdom of God is demonstrated through sacrificially serving others, not through asserting power and control.👉 If this message encourages you, make sure to subscribe, share it with a friend, and check out more at ascendbible.church.

This week we walk slowly through another powerful snapshot in Jesus’ journey—one that raises some of the most important questions of our day: How do we get to heaven? How do we handle money? And what does that reveal about our faith?In Mark 10:17–31, a wealthy man runs to Jesus with urgency, asking, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus’ response forces us to wrestle with three life-changing truths:Only God is truly good.Dependence on wealth distracts from dependence on God.God’s grace alone saves.The rich man’s sorrow, the disciples’ astonishment, and Jesus’ promise of eternal life all confront us with the question: What do I treasure most?Join us as we see how this story calls us to admit our weakness, release our idols, and rest fully in God’s grace.📖 Scripture: Mark 10:17–31🌐 Learn more at ascendbible.church

How do you get into God’s kingdom? Not by being impressive, connected, or “good enough.” Jesus says the only way in… is to come like a child.In this message, we’ll see why Jesus welcomes the overlooked, why empty hands are the only hands that can be filled, and how His blessing changes everything.📖 Mark 10:13–16 | Jesus desires that all—like little children—come to Him with humble dependence.