Ashworth Road Baptist Church - West Des Moines

Others. Outcasts. Self-Righteous. Often we make assumptions about people we might describe with one of these adjectives. But how did Jesus respond when confronted with those the world discarded and those who were religious? In Luke’s gospel, we find the story of Jesus having dinner with the religious crowd when it is interrupted by an immoral woman. And what we see Jesus do surprises us because he offers forgiveness to both. But often the gratitude for that forgiveness is proportionate The post The Uninvited Guest appeared first on Ashworth Church - West Des Moines.

In a new series called Today’s Special: Dining with Jesus, Pastor Amy looks at the criticism Jesus received from by the religious elite by eating with those who were considered unclean and how we need to follow Jesus’ example and be willing to share the table with those who are different from us. The post Dining with the Enemy appeared first on Ashworth Church - West Des Moines.

Join us on a journey of spiritual formation where we ask how is it with your soul? Adn create space to listen to God. The post Soul Check Sunday appeared first on Ashworth Church - West Des Moines.

Pastor Brent sits down with Pastor Amy, Elizabeth Pavey, and Steve Rogers to discuss questions that have been submitted during the deconstruction series. Questions discussed were What led to this moment? How do the traditions we have created intersect with the commands of God? Is the Bible flawed? Isn’t deconstruction a different gospel than the “good old time religion” I was taught? How do we deal with the guilt we feel while going through deconstruction? The post Deconstruction Q & R appeared first on Ashworth Church - West Des Moines.

How can we honor the significance of the Bible without missing its purpose? Pastor Brent takes a look at how Scripture can play a role in one’s deconstruction journey. The post Deconstructing the Bible appeared first on Ashworth Church - West Des Moines.

Often when it comes to faith, we equate faith with certainty. This understanding leaves no room for doubt. But as we experience life, it is common for doubts to arise. Is doubt incongruent with faith? Pastor Brent looks at the dangers of certainty and how doubt can strengthen faith and make space for the mystical nature of faith. The post Certainty, Doubt, and the Mystical Nature of Faith appeared first on Ashworth Church - West Des Moines.

In a world that says all truth is relative, how can those who want to authentically follow Jesus stand for anything? And as we go through the process of deconstruction is there anything we can truly believe? Pastor Brent looks at truth, the dangers of falling into the relative truth trap, the importance of discernment, and how absolute truth doesn’t weigh us down but is where we can find freedom. The post Truth and Discernment appeared first on Ashworth Church - West Des Moines.

With all the conversations around deconstruction today, Pastor Brent Clark looks at the history of deconstruction, why people deconstruct, benefits and dangers of reconstruction, and how going through the process can strengthen faith. The post Shattered Faith 101 appeared first on Ashworth Church - West Des Moines.

Deconstruction seems to be a buzzword in the world of Christianity. Whether it is due to doubts and questions, watching high profile Christian leaders fall in moral failure, or abuse that continues to be revealed in almost all corners of the Christian faith, more and more people are walking away from the faith. But deconstruction is not a new thing. The first-century followers of Jesus had to do quite a bit of deconstruction of their own to be able to The post Deconstruction – What is the Foundation? appeared first on Ashworth Church - West Des Moines.

In a world where we can often see people as a means to an end or tools to be used for our own benefit, having relationships not based on transactions can be difficult. As Jesus began his ministry, people started following him. So Jesus looked at a few early followers and asked, “What are you looking for?” Pastor Amy Becker looks at this question to see how the question invites us not into a transaction with Jesus but a relationship. The post What Are You Looking For? appeared first on Ashworth Church - West Des Moines.

In a surprising and confusing moment toward the end of his life, at the last supper, Jesus picks up a towel and a basin and washes his disciples’ feet, a task usually left for the slave or the lowliest person. After he was done, he asked them, “Do you understand what I have done for you?” Steve Rogers looks at this question to see how instead of vying for power, being a Christ-follower means setting aside our own status to The post Do You Understand What I Have Done For You? appeared first on Ashworth Church - West Des Moines.

Sometimes questions asked can seem silly or even obvious. But what happens when the question that on the surface seems like a no-brainer asks us to a bit dig deeper to find the answer we truly desire. Jesus asks a man who is described as an invalid for 38 years if he wants to get well. We think the obvious answer is yes. But what could be beneath the surface of this question that this man, and also us, might The post Do You Want to Get Well? appeared first on Ashworth Church - West Des Moines.

Through the twists and turns of life, we can often end up in places we didn’t expect, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. By looking at the question God asks Elijah, we can learn to recognize the warning signs of our burnout and brokenness and find the presence of God waiting for us there. The post What Are you Doing Here? appeared first on Ashworth Church - West Des Moines.

Have you ever given much consideration to the meaning of your name? In an age when finding trendy, popular, or familial names seems to be the utmost importance, we can miss how significant it was when those in the Bible named their children. Pastor Brent looks in Genesis at the story of Jacob to discover the significance if his birth name and how impacting it was when God changed his name. The post What Is Your Name? appeared first on Ashworth Church - West Des Moines.

Do you ever feel as though you have very little to offer? That your life couldn’t be of much use to others, much less God? Often, we can fail to see the value of our lives, especially when God wants to work through us. Pastor Brent looks at the call of Moses at the burning bush to see how before he was a great leader, Moses was a hesitant and questioning responder, but God was able to use Moses by The post What Is That In Your Hand? appeared first on Ashworth Church - West Des Moines.

The death of Jesus on the cross can mean many different things to many people. As Pastors Brent and Amy wrap up the message series Cross Roads, they conclude by looking at how Jesus described his followers as crucifying themselves and asking the question, what will you do as you stand at the crossroad and see the cross of Jesus? The post Standing at the Crossroad appeared first on Ashworth Church - West Des Moines.

For the first 1,000 years of Christianity, the followers of Jesus held tightly to a view of atonement called Christus Victor, or Christ the Victor. Why was the idea of the cross of Jesus bringing victory so important and how could they find victory in a publicly humiliating execution of their rabbi? Pastor Brent looks at several New Testament passages to encourage us to reclaim the Christus Victor view of the cross today and start living in The post Victory appeared first on Ashworth Church - West Des Moines.

It can be tempting to look at the cross and the death of Jesus and see something barbaric or even heinous. Some have even looked at the cross and seen nothing more than divine child abuse. But what if instead of seeing a horrific method of capital punishment from the first century, we see the love of God shown for us? Pastor Brent looks at how the first century Christians viewed the cross and how that can shape our perspective The post Revealing God appeared first on Ashworth Church - West Des Moines.

Why did Jesus have to die? This question can lead us to many possible solutions. One popular answer includes seeing the cross as divine child abuse as God exacted his wrath on his son. Is this true? Or is there a greater purpose in the death of Jesus on the cross? Pastor Amy looks at the sacrifice of Jesus and how it shows God’s pursuing love for his people. The post Salvation of Sinners appeared first on Ashworth Church - West Des Moines.