Ascension on Air

Pastor Ben Berger
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Religion & Spirituality
  • Updated Weekly

Weekly messages where Christ meets everyday people - and the profound change he brings.

  1. Jul 7

    Devotion, Division, But Not Disappointment

    Following Jesus doesn’t just bring peace — Christ himself said he came “not to bring peace, but a sword,” and this episode explores what that means for our closest relationships. Drawing on Matthew 10:34–42, the message shows how faith in Christ creates a new identity that can set believers at odds with the people they love most, because the gospel calls for undivided devotion. Yet Jesus also gives a promise: whoever loses their life for his sake will find it, because his grace and faithfulness never disappoint. This episode offers real hope for anyone who has felt torn between loyalty to family and loyalty to Christ. Key Takeaways Jesus said he did not come to bring peace but a sword — meaning that faith in the gospel inevitably divides those who receive Christ from those who reject him, sometimes even within families.Scripture teaches that following Christ begins with self-denial: Paul writes that the believer’s old self was crucified with Christ, so devotion to Jesus means putting to death who we were apart from him.God promised all the way back in Genesis that he would set enmity between Satan and the offspring of the woman — a promise fulfilled in Christ, who now calls his followers into that same opposition to sin and darkness.Jesus warns that loving father, mother, son, or daughter more than him leaves a person “not worthy” of him — not because God values people unequally, but because what Christ offers is so good that anything less than full devotion to him is a senseless trade.Christ promises that whoever loses their life for his sake will find it, meaning the relational cost of following Jesus is never wasted, because he himself is our truest and most lasting good.Jesus assures believers that his gospel may divide, but it will never disappoint, because he will always be faithful to every promise he has made.Scripture calls Christians to walk through this tension together — leaning on their pastor, their church family, and above all on Christ’s own presence — so their witness stays rooted in his faithfulness, not fear.If this episode was meaningful to you, subscribe to Ascension on Air, leave a review to help others find the show, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. Matthew 10:34-42 www.ascensionharrisburg.com Ascension on Air is brought to you by Ascension Lutheran Church in Harrisburg, PA.

  2. Jun 30

    Forsake Fear in Faith

    This episode examines Matthew 10:21-33, where Jesus prepares his followers for real opposition — even from family — and tells them plainly what's actually worth fearing and what isn't. Rather than pointing them toward willpower or inner resolve, Jesus answers their fear with four specific promises: that those who stand firm to the end will be saved, that everything hidden will one day be disclosed, that God notices and cares for the smallest details of their lives, and that he will acknowledge before the Father everyone who acknowledges him. The episode argues that Christian perseverance isn't a more spiritual version of grit — it's trust placed entirely outside ourselves, in what Christ has already promised. Key Takeaways Jesus tells his disciples plainly that following him will bring real opposition, including from people closest to them — he doesn't soften the cost of discipleship to make it sound easier than it is.Jesus distinguishes between two kinds of fear: fearing those who can only harm the body, and fearing God, who alone has authority over both body and soul — our greatest danger isn't suffering, it's letting fear pull us away from Christ.Christ promises that “the one who stands firm to the end will be saved” (Matthew 10:22) — the opposition we face has a limit, but this promise doesn't.Jesus promises that everything now hidden about him and about faith will one day be disclosed — what believers can't fully see yet will be made known.Jesus assures his followers that the same Father who notices a sparrow fall and numbers every hair on their head is the one who holds their lives — nothing touches them outside his care.Jesus promises to acknowledge before the Father everyone who acknowledges him before others — confidence to speak comes from what Christ has pledged to do, not from personal courage.The episode frames perseverance not as self-reliance in spiritual language, but as faith placed in specific promises Christ has already made.If this episode was meaningful to you, subscribe to Ascension on Air, leave a review to help others find the show, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. Matthew 10:21-33 www.ascensionharrisburg.com Ascension on Air is brought to you by Ascension Lutheran Church in Harrisburg, PA.

  3. Jun 23

    God's Grace Works through Your Witness

    This episode looks at Acts 11:19-26, where ordinary believers scattered by persecution ended up spreading the message of Jesus — the gospel — simply by living and speaking where they already were, not through any grand or far-off mission. It challenges a common assumption: that meaningful faith work requires dramatic gestures, special training, or distant travel. The episode also points to a second, often-overlooked form of Christian witness — encouraging those who already believe, not only reaching those who don't. The throughline is a simple promise: God's grace works through ordinary witness, right where someone already is. Key Takeaways The believers in Acts 11 who carried the gospel to Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch weren't apostles or appointed missionaries — they were everyday people reacting to persecution, which shows that meaningful witness doesn't require a special title or training.A common but mistaken assumption is that "real" mission work happens far away or through someone more qualified; this episode pushes back on that by showing how grace worked through ordinary people in their own circumstances.The phrase "the Lord's hand was with them" describes how God can work powerfully through simple, everyday testimony rather than only through dramatic acts.Barnabas's arrival in Antioch introduces a second form of witness: encouraging those who already believe, not only reaching those who don't yet know Christ.Witness can come out of pain or difficulty — questions from others about why someone is struggling can become an opening for honest testimony, not a disqualifier from it.Ascension's emphasis on "rooting people in Jesus Christ" reflects this same idea, with Life Groups and the Foundations class framed as ongoing opportunities for mutual encouragement and witness.The episode closes by connecting this calling to Acts 1:8 and a prophecy from Isaiah, framing everyday witness as part of a much larger purpose that has been unfolding since long before any of us.If this episode was meaningful to you, subscribe to Ascension on Air, leave a review to help others find the show, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. Acts 11:19-26 www.ascensionharrisburg.com Ascension on Air is brought to you by Ascension Lutheran Church in Harrisburg, PA.

  4. Jun 17

    Embrace Your Story of Mercy

    In a culture that often demands perfection before offering acceptance, the message of the Christian faith offers a radical alternative. This episode explores the profound depth of divine grace by diving into the Apostle Paul’s personal letter to Timothy. Rather than basing security on personal performance, Scripture reveals that the foundation of a life of faith is rooted entirely in an undeserved rescue. Listeners will discover how recognizing personal brokenness is not a barrier to God, but the exact starting point for experiencing a transformative and certain relationship with Christ. Key Takeaways The Limits of Human Mercy: Understanding how everyday experiences of being "let off the hook" differ from the limitless scope of divine grace. An Unlikely Example: Looking at the radical transformation of the Apostle Paul from an aggressive opponent of early Christianity to a recipient of profound mercy. Moving Beyond Performance: Shifting the focus away from human effort and toward the persistent, immense patience of God. The True Purpose of the Gospel: Examining the trustworthy saying that Christ came into the world explicitly to save sinners. Embracing Your Story: Overcoming the fear of a flawed past to find assurance, certainty, and hope for the future. Ascension on Air is a ministry of Ascension Lutheran Church, located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. If this conversation helped deepen your understanding of faith and scripture, please take a moment to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs a reminder of hope today. 1 Timothy 1:12-17 www.ascensionharrisburg.com

  5. Jun 3

    Beyond What We See: Finding Hope in Christ’s Ascension

    When we look at the world around us, it is easy to see only the surface—the power, the conflict, and the unsettling realities that seem to dominate our lives. This episode explores the profound comfort of the Ascension, revealing that Christ has not left us, but is actively reigning for us at the right hand of God. Join us as we look past our physical circumstances to see the higher reality of Christ’s rule and discover what it means for our lives to be anchored in his victory. Key Takeaways The Limitation of Sight: Just as the disciples watched Jesus ascend until he was hidden by a cloud, we often feel the absence of Jesus in a world full of trouble, wealth, and power. Looking Beyond the Physical: Through the Spirit, we are invited to "see" with the eyes of our hearts—moving past what is immediately apparent to recognize the true, invisible power of God at work. The Meaning of the Right Hand: The "right hand of God" is not a physical location, but a declaration that the God-man, Jesus, actively exercises all divine authority and power on our behalf. Christ Above All Authority: No matter what earthly threats or inner sins menace us, we can gaze upon a risen Jesus who is exalted far above every rule, authority, and dominion, both in this age and the one to come. Our Place in His Glory: As the body of Christ, we share in his exaltation. We are already seated with him in the heavenly realms, meaning we live with one foot in this fallen world and one foot firmly planted in the age to come. Ascension on Air is the podcast of Ascension Lutheran Church, Harrisburg. For more information, check out www.ascensionharrisburg.com.

  6. May 25

    Inclusive Exclusivity?

    In a culture that often prizes personal opinion above all else, the idea of an "exclusive" claim can feel uncomfortable or even offensive. This episode explores the bold, ancient testimony that salvation is found in one name alone—Jesus Christ—and examines why this message, while exclusive, is actually the most inclusive news possible. Join us as we look at how this ancient confession offers real hope and healing for the shared human condition today. Key Takeaways The Problem with Exclusivity: Modern society often views exclusive truth claims with contempt, preferring a "spiritual buffet" where everyone creates their own path.A Shared Human Condition: The message of Christ isn't arbitrary; it addresses a universal human need. Just as we all share a need for truth and life, we all share a tendency to prefer the "darkness" of self-justification over the light.The Power of the Name: Using the account of Peter and John in Acts 4, we see that the name of Jesus is not just a religious label, but a source of healing and restoration for the broken.God’s Answer to Rejection: While humanity may reject or try to silence the truth of Christ, the resurrection stands as God’s definitive "Yes" to Jesus—proving he remains the cornerstone of life.Confidence in the Messenger: Christians are called to confess Christ confidently, not from a place of arrogance, but from a place of shared need. We point others to the same medicine that has healed our own hearts.Ascension on Air is the podcast of Ascension Lutheran Church, Harrisburg. For more information, check out www.ascensionharrisburg.com.

  7. Apr 14

    Christ died. He was buried. He rose.

    The Resurrection isn't a private religious experience; it is a public, historical revolution. In this episode of Ascension on Air, Ben Berger explores the core foundation of the early Christian message: an astounding claim that refused to be relegated to the realm of myth or metaphor. We move past "fuzzy spirituality" to examine the rigorous, technical transmission of the Gospel as recorded in 1 Corinthians 15. The early Christians didn’t spread a feeling; they documented an event. We look at the "Chain of Custody"—the formal process of receiving and passing on a message where integrity was paramount and facts were verifiable. In a world that often prefers to swap the biological for the digital or the physical for the "spiritual," we defend the radical claim that Jesus Christ truly, bodily rose from the grave. Key points in this episode: The Formal Transmission: How the earliest Christian message was handled like a legal record—received, guarded, and passed on as a matter of first importance. Public Truth vs. Private Feeling: Why the eyewitness nature of the early movement made the Resurrection a testable claim rather than a "game of telephone." The Philosophical Conflict: How the reality of a risen body challenged the Greek ideas of the past and challenges the digital "afterlife" of our present. The Inescapable Reality: Why the transformation of the early church—and the transformation of the apostle Paul—serves as a permanent witness to an event that happened in history, not in a corner. This is the central confession of the Christian faith. It is anchored in history, substantiated by testimony, and remains the most astounding truth in existence: He died. He was buried. He rose. 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 www.ascensionharrisburg.com

  8. Mar 19

    See with Restored Sight

    Maybe you've been there: You're scrolling through reels that look almost real, but something's off. You swipe past, but the algorithm just gives you more of what you already watched, trapping you in a version of "truth" that’s actually just a mirror of your own imagination. In this episode, Pastor Ben Berger explains why this isn't just a social media problem - it’s a human one. We’ve been curating our reality long before the first smartphone. From ancient statues to modern political identities, we have a relentless habit of trying to reshape God to fit our own preferences, worldviews, and truth claims. If you’re tired of the artificial versions of life and are looking for a lens that actually brings the world into focus, this conversation is for you. It’s time to stop carving out a god that fits our world and start seeing through the lens of the God who entered ours. Isaiah 42:14-21 www.ascensionharrisburg.com

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About

Weekly messages where Christ meets everyday people - and the profound change he brings.

Information

  • Creator
    Pastor Ben Berger
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    56
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Pastor Ben Berger
  • Show Website
    Ascension on Air