Ankeny Free Church

Ankeny Free Church
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Ankeny Free Church Series Podcast. New Gospel-centered content and teaching from God's Word uploaded weekly!

  1. Everyday Faithfulness: "Two Loves from a Changed Heart" | Pastor Todd Hessel

    JAN 11

    Everyday Faithfulness: "Two Loves from a Changed Heart" | Pastor Todd Hessel

    Paul's letter to the Thessalonians reveals three essential elements of gospel-centered love that go beyond romantic notions. First, we must love with boldness, declaring God's truth even when facing opposition and conflict. Second, our love must be marked by integrity, speaking truth rather than what people want to hear, grounded in God's approval rather than human acceptance. Third, genuine love is costly, requiring us to invest our time, energy, and resources in others like a nursing mother caring for her children. Paul demonstrates that effective Christian love combines truth with compassion, requiring courage to share both God's love and our own with others, even when it's difficult or expensive. https://www.ankenyfree.church

    43 min
  2. Everyday Faithfulness: "The Transformed Life" | Pastor Todd Hessel

    JAN 4

    Everyday Faithfulness: "The Transformed Life" | Pastor Todd Hessel

    The church in Thessalonica faced persecution for declaring Jesus as Lord in a Roman culture that demanded worship of Caesar. Despite being new believers in a hostile environment, they became examples to Christians throughout their region. Paul's letter reveals seventeen gifts God gives every believer, including spiritual family, divine love, being chosen by God, and the transforming power of the gospel. Rather than focusing on New Year's resolutions, we should remember what God has already given us in Christ. Living with everyday faithfulness while maintaining an eternal perspective involves waiting with purpose, welcoming others through hospitality, and worshiping through transformation from idols to serving the living God. https://www.ankenyfree.church

    45 min

  3. 12/28/2025

    It's More Than Just Doing the Right Thing | Speaker Jonah Vos

    True godliness goes beyond being a good person—it requires wholehearted pursuit of Christ with complete integrity. David's example in Psalm 101 shows us that protecting our hearts means guarding what we allow through our eyes, choosing our relationships carefully, and setting biblical standards in our spheres of influence. When we fail to guard our hearts, evil doesn't settle for just a corner of our lives but seeks to consume everything. The path to godliness isn't about running from evil alone, but running toward Jesus with our entire being, giving Him everything rather than maintaining a God plus mentality. https://www.ankenyfree.church

    42 min
  4. Christmas Eve Candlelight Service | Pastor Todd Hessel

    12/24/2025

    Christmas Eve Candlelight Service | Pastor Todd Hessel

    Christmas brings different expectations for everyone, but what we truly need isn't something we can unwrap—it's a person. Jesus Christ came into a world that wasn't expecting Him, born in humble circumstances to rescue humanity from our condition of malice, envy, and spiritual separation. God's love appeared not because of our good works, but according to His mercy. Through Christ, we receive soul cleansing, invitation into God's family, and eternal life. Whether you need to trust Christ for the first time, return after drifting away, or go deeper in your faith, this Christmas offers an opportunity to move beyond surface celebration to deep reflection on God's incredible gift of Himself. https://www.ankenyfree.church

    19 min
  5. God With Us: "With Us Forever" | Pastor J.D. Abell

    12/21/2025

    God With Us: "With Us Forever" | Pastor J.D. Abell

    Through the story of Tim Tebow's John 3:16 eye black and the two criminals crucified alongside Jesus, we see three responses to Christ. One criminal rejected Jesus despite being within arm's reach of salvation. The other confessed his guilt, acknowledged Jesus' innocence, and simply asked to be remembered - receiving the promise of paradise that very day. This scene illustrates justification: Jesus doesn't just forgive our sins but credits His righteousness to our account. The question remains for each of us - which side of the cross are you on? Are you trusting in your own goodness or resting completely in what Jesus accomplished? https://www.ankenyfree.church

    55 min
  6. God With Us: "With Us in the Darkness" | Pastor Todd Hessel

    12/14/2025

    God With Us: "With Us in the Darkness" | Pastor Todd Hessel

    In a world filled with tragedy and suffering, we naturally wonder where God is in the darkness. John 1:1-3 reveals that our God is not like the limited gods of other religions, but is the Creator of all things who brought everything into existence from nothing. While darkness exists in our world through external evil, internal struggles, and relational pain, God didn't remain distant from our suffering. Jesus Christ, the Word who was with God and was God, entered our darkness by taking on human flesh and experiencing our pain. He is the true light that dispels darkness and gives life to all who believe. We are called to both see this light by trusting in Christ and share this light by bearing witness to others in our spheres of influence. https://www.ankenyfree.church

    42 min
  7. God With Us: "With Us in the Brokenness" | Pastor Todd Hessel

    12/07/2025

    God With Us: "With Us in the Brokenness" | Pastor Todd Hessel

    The Christmas story reveals a powerful contrast between worldly power and divine purpose. Luke's narrative moves from Caesar Augustus at the height of human authority down to Jesus born in a stable, placed in a manger among animals. This wasn't a cozy scene but a harsh reality where Mary and Joseph were rejected even by relatives in their ancestral town. The story teaches three transformative truths: resist placing trust in riches and power, find hope in Christ's mission to redeem the lowly and broken, and develop a heart that sees others as God sees them. God's greatest gift came wrapped not in luxury but in humility, showing us that spiritual poverty and recognizing our need for God is more valuable than material abundance. https://www.ankenyfree.church

    41 min
  8. God With Us: "With Us in the Waiting" | Pastor J.D. Abell

    11/30/2025

    God With Us: "With Us in the Waiting" | Pastor J.D. Abell

    In our instant-everything culture, waiting has become almost extinct, yet the most important things in life rarely happen instantly. Joseph faced an impossible situation when Mary was found pregnant, forcing him into uncertainty and confusion. Despite not understanding God's plan, Joseph chose mercy and restraint. When God revealed through an angel that the child was conceived by the Holy Spirit, Joseph obeyed immediately. God's people had waited thousands of years for the Messiah, and their patience was finally rewarded. Waiting isn't God's absence but His preparation, growing our patience, trust, and faith while He works in ways we can't see yet. https://www.ankenyfree.church

    51 min
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About

Ankeny Free Church Series Podcast. New Gospel-centered content and teaching from God's Word uploaded weekly!

Information

  • Creator
    Ankeny Free Church
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    212
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Ankeny Free Church
  • Show Website
    Ankeny Free Church