We all search for meaning in a world that can feel chaotic and fleeting. The book of Ecclesiastes teaches us that a life lived "under the sun"—focused only on earthly pursuits and possessions—is ultimately vapor. The author observes that our toil and anxious striving for things we must eventually leave behind bring only grief and a restless mind.

But there is meaning to be found as we recognize the work of God in our lives - and above all through the Son of God who entered this fleeting world in order to redeem it. This truth of Christ calls us to find meaning not in the things we possess (life under the sun), but in God's story of redemption through Jesus (life in the Son). It invites us to receive God's gifts here and now with thankfulness and use them as a way to further His enduring, true-life purpose.

This episode of Ascension on Air looks at selected verses from Ecclesiastes (chapter 1:1-2,12-14 and chapter 2:18-26) and explores how true meaning comes through life in the Son.

Reach out to Pastor Ben at pastorben@ascensionharrisburg.com

More about our ministry: ascensionharrisburg.com

In this message, we explore how prayer, often misunderstood, is fundamentally about connecting with God through Jesus Christ. Drawing from 1 Timothy 2:1-7, we delve into three critical areas: the reality of spiritual falsehood contrasted with the singular truth of God and Jesus Christ as the only mediator; God's priority, which is His passionate desire for all people to be saved and come to know this truth; and finally, the prayer itself. We are called to cultivate a "kingdom-come mindset" by fervently interceding for everyone, including those in authority. This type of prayer helps us live godly lives that witness to God's saving will, ensuring that our hearts are aligned with His ultimate purpose for salvation, making us instruments through whom His kingdom advances.

Reach out to Pastor Ben at pastorben@ascensionharrisburg.com

More about our ministry: ascensionharrisburg.com

Are you being shaped by truth, or by something else? Ascension on Air's Epiphany Moments series starts out with a look at 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5. We'll explore how Scripture challenges our assumptions and reveals the transformative power of Christ's truth in a world of falsehood.

Bible Reference: 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5

Reach out to Pastor Ben at pastorben@ascensionharrisburg.com

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So here we are, a day past our Christmas celebrations. How was it for you? Did you have a merry Christmas?

Maybe your Christmas was everything you wished; maybe it failed epically. Either way, whatever your Christmas experience has been and however the New Year is shaping up, you can still have a blessed Christmas.

You can have a Mary Christmas.

Bible Reference: Luke 1:39-55

Reach out to Pastor Ben at pastorben@ascensionharrisburg.com

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Christmas comes soon; what are you doing to get ready?

If you celebrate Christmas, even from a secular perspective, your preparations likely involve gifts and parties and food and decorations. It's fun at first, but easily becomes something that wears us out.

Preparation is important for Christmas from a Christian perspective, too - but it doesn't involve any of the traditional Christmasy activities. In this episode of Ascension on Air, as we continue our series A Real Christmas, we listen to a man whose job it was to prepare the people in his time, to get them ready, for Jesus - through repentance.

Bible Reference: Luke 3:1-6

Reach out to Pastor Ben at pastorben@ascensionharrisburg.com

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This episode begins a new series at Ascension called A Real Christmas. Christmas can mean a lot of different things to different people, and it's easy to get swept up in the parties and gifts and everything else around us; but what makes for a real Christmas? That's what this series will explore, starting with this first episode that's all about Jesus' coming and why that matters.

Bible Reference: 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

Reach out to Pastor Ben at pastorben@ascensionharrisburg.com

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This episode closes out our series, Live Like You'll Live Forever, this time considering how we live now given Christ's imminent return. Spoiler alert: Jesus sums up both his warning and encouragement in a single word: watch.

So are you? Are you really watching confident of what's to come?

Bible Reference: Mark 13:26-37

Reach out to Pastor Ben at pastorben@ascensionharrisburg.com

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We're jumping into the middle of a series that's focusing on what it means that we're going to live forever. In this episode, we focus especially on the idea of living in freedom from the fear of judgment, knowing that Jesus Christ is our high priest who sets us free.

Bible Reference: Hebrews 9:24-28

Reach out to Pastor Ben at pastorben@ascensionharrisburg.com

More about our ministry: ascensionharrisburg.com