The weekly teaching of Ashworth Church in West Des Moines, Iowa featuring pastors Brent Clark, Amy Becker, and Steve Rogers. Ashworth exists to connect families to Jesus, one another and our community. https://ashworth.church
Reading the feed…
We’d rather figure it out ourselves than ask for help — even from God. Pastor Brent explores Jesus’ invitation to receive the Holy Spirit, and what we tend to reach for instead.
What does Jesus actually offer when he says “come”? In this message, we trace two invitations from John’s Gospel: Jesus standing at the Festival of Tabernacles declaring himself the source of living water, and Jesus meeting his disciples on a beach after the resurrection with breakfast already cooking. Together they show a Jesus who cares not just about the state of your soul, but the whole of your life — body, mind, and heart.
When the disciples tried to keep children away from Jesus, he became indignant and welcomed them with open arms. In a culture where children possessed little status or power, Jesus used them to reveal something essential about God’s kingdom: those whom the world considers unimportant are deeply important to God. Continuing the Invitations of Jesus series, this sermon examines what it means to receive God’s kingdom like a child—with humility, dependence, and an awareness of our need for God. It also challenges us to examine whether our attitudes and actions help others draw near to Jesus or cre
Jesus invites everyone who is weary and burdened to come to Him and find rest. In this message from Matthew 11:25–30, we discover how exchanging the weight of performance and self-reliance for Jesus’ gentle, grace-filled way allows us to live more freely and lightly.
Jesus’s first invitation wasn’t to believe something — it was to follow him. Pastor Amy opens our new series Invited with the call of four fishermen, and what that same invitation means for us today.
The book of Joshua ends where the whole story began. At Shechem — the very spot where Abraham first built an altar in the Promised Land — an aging Joshua gathers Israel and retells their story, not as a list of their accomplishments but as a long record of God’s faithfulness: I took, I sent, I brought, I gave. Only after remembering does he put the question to them: choose this day whom you will serve. In this final message of The Other Side, we practice “gathering the graces” of our own stories, get honest about the counterfeit gods still vying for our hearts, and hear Joshua’s invitation the
Guest speaker Rev. Augustine Mathur of Vishwa Vani Ministries in India encourages us through the example of John the Baptist—a life marked by clear calling, holiness, courageous truth, humility, and a wholehearted commitment to preparing others for Jesus. Drawing from Vishwa Vani’s 40-year ministry among unreached villages in India, this message reminds us that God can use faithful prayer, everyday witness, and surrendered lives to bring lasting transformation—both near and far.
In this message from our series The Other Side, Pastor Brent explores Joshua 8-9 and Israel’s rhythm of renewal after failure, what it means to discern the Lord’s voice in our decisions, and how — even through deception — God keeps turning outsiders into insiders.
After an incredible victory at Jericho, Israel suffers an unexpected and humiliating defeat at a small city named Ai. Why were they defeated? The sin and corruption of one individual affected their entire community. Listen as Pastor Brent dives into Joshua 7 in our continuation of The Other Side series.
The Bible is full of stories that can’t be easily explained. However, it’s okay to be uncomfortable. If we ever think we fully understand God, it isn’t the true God we’re understanding. Listen as Pastor Brent dives into an uncomfortable story from the book of Joshua: the battle of Jericho.
Listen as Pastor Stephen Wonbenyakeh, guest speaker, shares about the mission of Serve Africa and God’s heart for the most vulnerable of people.
The next chapter of our journey through the book of Joshua brings us to a memorial of stones. God wanted His people to remember what (and who!) brought them to this point in their journey. When we remember what God has done, we gain confidence for what God will do.
There are moments in life when we’ve prayed, weighed the options, and sought wisdom — and still have to make a decision without knowing how it all turns out. In Joshua 3, the Israelites find themselves at the Jordan River at flood stage. God doesn’t part the water first. He asks them to step in. In this message, we look at what it means to follow a God who goes before us into unknown territory, how preparation and consecration shape us for what’s ahead, and why the miracle sometimes waits until our feet get wet.
Moses is dead. The river is waiting. And Joshua has been here before. In the opening message of The Other Side, we sit with Joshua at the threshold and discover that the call to be strong and courageous isn’t a command to muster up more courage — it’s an invitation to let God’s presence become more real than the fear.
We conclude our series with another story — yours. You have a story to share, and it’s one of the best ways you can tell others about Jesus.
We conclude our series with another story — yours. You have a story to share, and it’s one of the best ways you can tell others about Jesus. Listen to this special message and spontaneous testimony from our Modern Service.
God’s faithfulness is found over the long haul. With more years and experience often comes more perspective of God’s goodness. Listen as Pastor Amy expounds upon another testimony from our community, focusing on the faith and hope that comes from the difficulties of life.
“There’s no amount of being lost that is not findable for God.” Do we believe that statement when we’re in the midst of some of the most dark moments of life? Listen to this powerful message from Pastor Brent about God’s grace in the most impossible of situations.
How can we be people who receive God’s grace rather than trying to earn it — people who understand that God cares more about who we are than what we produce? Listen as Pastor Brent shares about our misguided desire to perform and earn God’s favor through the parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke.
What if it’s in the waiting that the greatest transformation can occur — where we can experience God in ways we might not otherwise? In a culture focused on efficiency and entitlement, waiting can sometimes feel impossible. But, waiting is a part of the story of God. From the story of Abram and Sarah in Genesis to our own waiting for Christ’s return, we find that God is just as present in the waiting as He is when a promise is fulfilled.
Jesus calls you friend. It’s a simple yet profound truth that can completely change how we see and interact with God. Serving and doing things for God isn’t wrong, but ultimately, God isn’t asking more from you. He’s inviting you to sit with Him and draw closer in His presence.
The resurrection of Jesus puts into motion the possibility of resurrection for His people. This Easter Sunday, we’re launching a new sermon series about the transformation Jesus brings about and the testimonies of His people. Join us in celebrating life and true resurrection this Resurrection Sunday!
How many of us can say that we have a proper view of ourselves? Humility begins with an understanding of who you are and who God says you are. Humility also knows who God is. Listen as Pastor Brent concludes our Playing With Fire series, exploring a virtue that’s vital to walking with Jesus and often misunderstood in the Christian community.
Following the way of Jesus is not about intensity; it’s about consistency. We trust in the slow work of God — in our instability, in our trials, in our heartaches. We patiently persevere with Jesus (and in community!), knowing that He is with us and for us in the race of life. Listen as Pastor Amy continues our Playing with Fire series, focusing on a life of perseverance!
In a world full of hate, destruction, and loss, one of the most repeated commands in Scripture is “do not fear.” But, courage isn’t something we manufacture. It’s something we receive after spending time with the Trinity: Father, Son, and Spirit. Listen as Pastor Brent continues our series on the virtues and disordered passions of life, focusing on what it means to have courage from the Lord.
