Have you ever been told something that filled you with so much joy that you thought you might burst? Maybe it was when the doctors said there was no evidence of disease, or when you heard you got into your dream school, or when you received a promotion. Perhaps it was at the announcement that a baby was on the way. When the shepherds first heard the angels, they were filled with fear. But that fear was soon eclipsed by a contagious joy that spread from those few shepherds to the ends of the earth. Join us for part three of The Heart of Worship, where we will see how authentic worship produces a contagious joy that can change the world. 

The quiet hero of the Christmas story is a modest carpenter named Joseph. Unlike Mary, the angels, and Zachariah, there's no record of Joseph offering a song of praise during that first Christmas; yet, without his faithful obedience, there would have been nothing worth singing about. Whereas the wise men brought gifts, Joseph had no riches to present to Jesus, but his obedience carried more value than gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Join us for the second week of The Heart of Worship, where we’ll discover that our obedience represents the greatest form of our worship. 

Church attendance dramatically increases in December. People love the familiarity of the Christmas story, the carols, and the beautiful nativities. However, Christmas is more than just a story about the birth of a baby; it is a story about worship. From Mary's gratitude to Joseph's obedience and from the shepherds' joy to the wise men's generosity, the Christmas story teaches us the art and heart of worship. Join us for week one of The Heart of Worship, where we will discover that true worship is born from a thankful heart.  

When Jesus prayed, “Your Kingdom come, your will be done on Earth as it is in heaven,” He wasn’t merely teaching us how to pray. He was giving us a mission and vision for how to live. The church has stood in the gap between heaven and earth for over two thousand years. While the gap seems to grow wider, we live with the hope that one day, Jesus’ prayer will finally be answered. Join us for week six of Bridge the Gap, where we will see a picture of a world without gaps.  

According to most surveys, the church in America is experiencing a rapid decline in attendance and membership. A record number of church closures have caused some to question the church's long-term viability. When Jesus inaugurated the church, He said the “gates of hell would not prevail against it,” but what about the effects of apathy and distraction? Join us for part 5 of Bridge the Gap, where we will see how a bridge to the future requires the church to be built on the solid foundation of Jesus and His compelling vision for the future.   

Jesus’ final charge to His disciples was to go to all nations, telling them the good news and inviting them to be a part of the Kingdom. As the nations come to Jacksonville, Aspire has an unprecedented opportunity to respond to Jesus’ call. Join us for part four of Bridge the Gap, where we will discover that building a bridge to the nations requires faith, action, and perseverance. 

Nehemiah lived comfortably in a king's palace when he received word that his hometown was in ruins. It would have been easy for him to ignore the problem or make excuses about why it wasn’t his responsibility. Nehemiah did neither. Instead, he stood in the gap on behalf of the city of Jerusalem, rebuilding its walls and allowing God to use him to bless the city. Join us for part 3 of Bridge the Gap, where we will see how building a bridge to the city requires passion, courage, and a God-sized vision.    

We’ve all been there—those situations where we’ve fallen just a little short. We may be short on time, out of money, or lack the know-how to get it done. During times like these, we pray for someone willing to step in and make up the difference, someone who would bridge the gap. The Bible is the story of how God has entered the gap of our world to make a way for us to be with Him for eternity. Join us for part two of Bridge the Gap, where we will see how God is searching for people willing to follow Him into the gap between heaven and earth.  

There is a gap between how things should be and how things are. We can see gaps in everything from local politics to global economics. When we hear of a hungry child or a homeless veteran, we know a gap exists. When a marriage ends or a respected leader has a moral failure, we see the consequences of the gap. How did it get this way? Join us for part one of Bridge the Gap, where we will explore the origin of the gap and the only hope for overcoming it.  

We’ve all felt the emotional pull of a heartfelt plea for generosity. A natural disaster strikes, and relief organizations run pictures of the devastation to inspire people to give money. An orphanage shows photos of a small child. A missionary tells a heart-wrenching story that inspires us to open our wallets. But what if there was another reason to be generous? What if we believed that generosity wasn’t just about addressing someone else’s needs but addressing one of the deepest needs in our souls? What if there was a selfish reason to be generous? Join us Sunday as Pastor Gary explores how generosity helps the soul of the giver.