Local Church St. Pete Podcast: Recent Episodes
Local Church St. Pete
This podcast features talks given at Local Church St. Pete. We are a community of people humbled by the grace and love of Jesus located in the heart of St. Pete, FL - a diverse, eclectic, artistic and active city. Our hope is for Local Church St. Pete to be a place where you can grow in faith, ask hard questions and take time to explore the truths of who Jesus is and what it means for your life today. Visit us online at www.localchurchstpete.com.
Local stories are stories of God's grace at work in the lives of those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete. We want to highlight his activity and celebrate his grace.
We’ve all experienced times of tragedy when all we want to do is retreat and be alone. In Matthew 14, immediately after one of Jesus’ best friends has been murdered, he wants to be alone but the crowds are pressing in. The compassion he shows and provision he brings not only meet them where they are but
reveal who he truly is.
Do you understand? This is a common question teachers ask students to make sure they grasp the lesson. True understanding is revealed by how the student performs on their test. After sharing his final parable in Matthew 13, Jesus asks his disciples, “have you understood all these things?” We too must answer Jesus' question. However, this is not merely an academic or intellectual question. Those who truly understand his parables will prioritize the Kingdom of God. Our response to Jesus’ message is revealed by the way we live.
We've all read the headlines that cause our stomachs to drop. When you read the ancient prophet Hosea, it can feel like one of those headlines - a story of heartbreak, betrayal, and self-destruction. But it's there, in the midst of humanity's deepest brokenness and rejection, that the God of the Bible responds with relentless mercy and love. Just when you think all hope is lost, God’s unwillingness to give up stares you in the face. Just when you think there’s no possible way forward, his love breaks through with a heart-stopping invitation: “Come back to me.”
What if the way you handle money is one of the most spiritual things about you? Generosity isn't just a financial decision — it's a formation practice that shapes the soul. In this class, we'll explore what Scripture says about living with open hands, why Jesus talked about money more than almost any other topic, and how cultivating generosity break the grip of fear and scarcity in our lives.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.
God loves you. But are you convinced? If we’re not careful, those words can lose all meaning. Hosea was a prophet to the nation of Israel thousands of years ago. His ministry was as personal as one could get. The anguish of a husband betrayed and his gut-wrenching journey to get his wife back – that is the picture the ancient prophet Hosea gives us of God’s relentless love. Will we allow that picture to correct our misconceptions about the God of the Bible? Will we allow it to lead us away from and out of anything that has taken God’s place in our lives?
When God calls us to Himself, He also calls us into a people. Scripture describes the church as “fellow citizens,”“members of the household of God,” and a “dwelling place for God by the Spirit”. Community is not optional—it is central to the Christian life and God’s plan for the world. Yet for many, it is also one of the most difficult parts of following Jesus. This class will explore the spiritual nature and purpose of Christian community as found in Scripture and offer practical guidance for living it out faithfully in everyday life.
So much comes at us each day that leads to distraction and anxiety. Short bits of information, disjointed and unrelated, fill our minds and tell us what we should run after and what will satisfy. As a result, it’s easy to feel spiritually disoriented, deflated or numb. In Matthew 13:44-46, Jesus’ parables break through all that noise with beautiful simplicity. They reveal the Kingdom of Heaven not as some distant, abstract reality we’re to keep at arm’s length, but as a treasure beyond compare – one that produces delirious joy, wholehearted devotion and glad surrender.
Fasting is a spiritual discipline by which we deny ourselves food for a certain period of time so that we can grow in our dependence on God. Fasting is not about trying to impress God, manipulate him, or make ourselves more acceptable to God. Fasting has been described as, “an intensifier of spiritual desire.” Ultimately the purpose of fasting is to draw near to God. In this class we explore the Biblical purpose of fasting and ways to incorporate this practice into your life.
Jesus’ parables about the Kingdom of Heaven answer some of the deepest questions of the human heart. Ones like: “Why is the world so broken? Why does evil seem to be winning? God, do you care? Are you going to do anything about this mess?” And “Why do your purposes seem to move so slowly? How will you accomplish your will through what seems weak, hidden and insignificant?” In Matthew 13:24-43 when Jesus communicates three more parables, he isn’t interested in simply giving you information – he is fiercely interested in your spiritual formation. The Kingdom of Heaven is a reality he wants you to enter and go on to embody. A reality that brings comfort in the face of evil, patience when all we want are immediate results and trust in the hidden, but totally pervasive, work of God.
Have you ever had someone tell you something important but because you weren’t really listening you forgot what they told you? Yet when you contemplate a beautiful painting or read an epic novel you can’t forget its meaning. Jesus understood this dynamic; so he taught Truth like an artist. In Matthew 13 Jesus begins to teach in parables, ordinary stories that explain the kingdom of God. His first parable about sowing seeds illustrates why there is such a varied response to those who hear God’s word. This simple farming story challenges us to think deeply about how we are hearing the word of God.
Their way of life was at stake. If they admit Jesus’ ability to cast demons out is the work of the Spirit, it will mean his message and ministry might actually be the work of God. Instead, in Matthew 12:22-50 the religious leaders of Jesus’ day intentionally write him off, rebrand him as some kind of sorcerer, in league with the Devil. Between deliberate rejection and humble obedience we find a warning that “something greater” is here and neutrality is not an option – there’s no middle ground when it comes to Jesus.
What happens when man-made traditions, originally intended to honor God, end up missing his heart entirely? They have to be broken apart. In Matthew 12:1-21 the true rest we’re intended to find in Jesus is overshadowed by exhausting religious practices – and Jesus isn’t having it. His words and actions bring both controversy and comfort as he breaks it all apart and identifies himself as the one with the authority to do it. What misconceptions do you have? What well-intended traditions are you leaning on? Jesus will break it all apart. But it’s the way he’ll do it - with such gentleness and humility - that might be the most surprising thing of all.
Are you tired and worn down? Going through the trials of life, it is easy to find ourselves exhausted. For so many of us there lies a tiredness that we can't shake, no matter how much sleep or downtime we get. There are so many things that seem to promise life but in the end leave us empty, longing for more. In Matthew 11:25-30 we see that in the midst of these burdens, Jesus invites us to come to Him for rest. He calls us to trust him, learn from him and find the true rest for our souls that is found in Him alone.
We all wrestle with things not going the way we expect them to go - with God not doing for us what we think is best, and on our timetable. It’s in that kind of hardship that doubts can rise up and overwhelm us. In Matthew 11:1-24, John the Baptist, one of the greatest men on earth in Jesus’ opinion, is wrestling with doubt. It’s a place where honest questions find honest answers, personal expectations are dashed to pieces and sobering words are in search of a humble heart. Jesus isn’t threatened by your questions, discouragement and doubt. He’ll meet you right where you are.
Imagine standing before the love of your life on your wedding day and hearing vows like, “I’m all in, so long as I don’t ever get my feelings hurt. I’ll give you my devotion, except when I get bored. I’m committed to you, but not on the weekends.” Hopefully no one would be ok with those vows. In Matthew 10:34-42 Jesus is clear that if you want to follow him you have to be “all in.” He says it in a way that shows us what that looks like, what it requires and what it produces.
The Kingdom of God is breaking into this world. Jesus sent his disciples to share this message and warned them that persecution is coming as they share this good news. We too are called to share this same message, but often fear of what could happen stops us from sharing who Jesus is. In Matthew 10:1-33, Jesus challenges our fears of sharing the gospel by reminding us of God’s intimate involvement in our lives.
Do you see the harvest? It’s all around you. So many people longing for answers, hungry for truth, ready for the beauty and authenticity of Jesus’ message to disrupt and heal their lives. So many, caught up in a whirlwind of anxiety, ready for Jesus’ compassion to move towards them. But where do you begin? In Matthew 9:35-38 Jesus tells his followers to begin with earnest prayer for more hands – for more “laborers,” eager to participate in the harvest of this city and willing to go far beyond its borders.
It was brand new in every way. Jesus’ message and behavior didn’t fit into the religious categories or systems of his day and it doesn’t fit into ours either. It didn’t kneel to man- made traditions and it most definitely couldn’t be contained by them. Matthew 9:14-34 describes the brand-new day Jesus brings with colorful metaphors and extraordinary healings. It leaves you to wrestle with whether or not you will celebrate and go on to participate in the brand-new yourself.
Theirs was a life of isolation, shame and fear. One man was paralyzed and labeled as having done something to deserve it; the other was wealthy but written off as a sell-out and traitor. Matthew 9:1-13 is the story of how Jesus meets both of them in their desperation and provides a way out it. By doing this, Jesus reveals the depth of his authority to meet you in your greatest need and call you to follow him. It’s the reason why he came.
Word was spreading about Jesus, a man who taught with authority and was able to heal illness and disease. Crowds begin to form around him, his popularity growing and influence rising. Amidst this growing enthusiasm, Jesus decides to leave town. While traveling Jesus makes clear that following him is difficult. In Matthew 8:18-34, Jesus brings peace amidst the chaos in our world. Although it is costly, Jesus proves that he is worth following with all our life.
It’s as if you can still hear the applause. Jesus has been on a mountainside teaching in a way that demonstrates authority like no other and the crowds are amazed. Now, in Matthew 8:1-17, as he comes down from that mountain, huge crowds still following him, he does the unthinkable – he does what no one would dare to do - he restores an outcast, commends an outsider and meets people in their deepest pain. The healings become a window into the restoration Jesus brings and the authority he has to bring it.
We all have events in our lives that are so monumental, they change everything. Nothing is more central to Christianity than the resurrection of Jesus – it is the event that changed everything. If that’s true, what exactly does it change for you? We’ll explore what was accomplished through it, why it matters for your life, and how, like a final puzzle piece, it brings God’s story of love and redemption to completion.
On Good Friday, we remember and reflect on why the cross is central to our faith. The cross was always God’s plan, foretold long before Jesus’ death. On the cross, Jesus bore our sin and the weight of our separation so that our relationship with God could be fully restored. Now, the cross invites a response: will you receive trust in Jesus and follow Him?
A heavenly vision that brings clarity and strength. A heavenly reality meant to shape our present experience – especially when facing circumstances and trials. Revelation 4-5 pulls back the curtain to answer some of the deepest questions of the human heart: Is God really in control? Is there any hope for justice and redemption? How do I face the chaos and evil coming at me right now? Like a pair of glasses, it enables us to see what’s been there the whole time: God is on his throne and the Lamb has conquered.
Have you ever had a friend call you out on something? Out of love, they refused to stay quiet. It wasn’t easy to hear in the moment but it brought you to a place of healthy reassessment - seeing things about yourself you hadn’t seen before - and necessary course correction. That’s what Jesus does in Revelation 3:14-22. In love, he confronts our complacency and invites us into an intimacy with him that brings genuine transformation. Will we open the door to the transforming presence of Jesus?
Jesus wants you to overcome; to stand firm in the call he’s given you. He wants you to persevere in the face of obstacles and opposition. Revelation 3:1-13 is proof of it. Written in letter form, his words are personal and prophetic. They cut through all the religious formalities, frenzied activity and cultural accommodation of our lives. It’s a call to wake up to what we’ve received and hold fast to who Jesus is.
House Groups typically meet in homes two to three times a month across the county, where we spend time together, often sharing food, discussing the Scriptures, praying, and looking for opportunities to serve one another and the city. They are vital to the health of Local Church St. Pete – providing space for connection, care and conversation around God’s Word and more.
We had a conversation with Kristin Van Fossen and Camille Hunter who lead a House Group with their husbands. Listen as hey share their own experience with House Group, discuss why it matters, what they would say to someone who’s “on the fence" about joining a House Group and ways God has been at work in their House Groups.
Have you ever wondered what Jesus would say to the church? In Revelation 2:12-29, Jesus pastors his people with words that carry both warmth and weight. His message gives encouragement that inspires faithfulness, correction where compromise has crept in, and promises that strengthen us under pressure. The spiritual direction that Jesus offers is not only for the early church. His words continue to affirm, refine, and motivate all who are willing to listen now.
When was the last time your love for Jesus felt alive? Are trials wearing you down? Is your faith feeling routine? In Revelation 2:1–11, Jesus calls us back to wholehearted love and shows how his grace can rekindle devotion and give the endurance to keep going.
Are you ever tempted to despair? It could be due to opposition, persecution or oppression – it just seems like darkness is winning. Do you ever wonder, “God, where are you? What are you doing? What’s going on?” Revelation 1 answers those questions with a breathtaking encounter with Jesus. This encounter has brought comfort, assurance and strength to the church for centuries. It not only pulls back the curtain on who Jesus is, it pulls back the curtain on what’s really going on.
Christians often say God is “all-powerful,” but what do we really mean by that? In the deep ache of suffering and loss, God’s omnipotence can feel confusing or even troubling. If God is good and all-powerful, why is there death, pain, and evil? In Luke 7:11–17, we see Jesus arrive in a town whose name means pleasant—only to encounter the most unpleasant reality imaginable: death. A widow has lost her only son, leaving her utterly vulnerable and without hope. What follows is a stunning display of Jesus’ power. This passage shows us what God’s power is like, how it works, and—most importantly—who it is for.
What is powerful enough to cause us to walk away from what once defined us? To give up what brought comfort, success or control? Acts 19 is the story of individuals caught up in magical, spiritual, sexual and cultural powers, who come face to face with the power of Jesus. Between unavoidable conflict and fierce protest is a beautiful surrender to the transforming power of the Spirit. The revival that unfolds is what we’re praying for in the city of St. Pete.
The church in the ancient city of Antioch was diverse, sacrificial and mission-minded. For centuries, they have been an example of what it looks like to be a Spirit dependent church. Acts 13:1-12 brings us behind the scenes to not only show us how the Spirit was speaking, sending and empowering that local church, but to invite this local church to listen to the Spirit’s voice, surrender to the Spirit’s call, and walk in the Spirit’s strength.
What does a life fully yielded to God actually look like? Not in theory—but in real life, when it costs something. Acts 6–7 introduces us to Stephen, a man shaped by the presence of God. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, Stephen’s life reads like an echo of Jesus Himself—marked by wisdom, courage, and grace. In just a few short scenes, we see what God can do through a surrendered life, offering the early church—and believers today—a compelling model of faithfulness.
The early church is often described as being “filled with the Spirit.” Whether after opposition or before a big decision, the result is almost always an unusual courage and joy. That’s what we see happening in Acts 4:23-31. It’s a story of overwhelming circumstances that lead to honest prayer, and Spirit-empowered boldness. This unusual boldness is exactly what the Spirit has been producing in followers of Jesus ever since. As we celebrate seven years of Local Church St. Pete, I can’t think of a more important prayer to adopt as our very own.
Local stories are stories of God's grace at work in the lives of those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete. We want to highlight his activity and celebrate his grace.
Maybe you’ve heard or used the phrase “in the name of Jesus” at the close of a prayer. Like anything we get used to, it’s easy to forget the significance of what we’re saying. When you do something in someone else’s name, you act in their authority and as their representative. In Acts chapters 3-4 we learn that a Spirit-empowered life includes speaking and living in the name of Jesus - in his strength, as his representative and for his glory. While that means hope and joy for many, it is also a threat to anyone clinging to their own power.
Jesus never expected you to do it alone, to somehow find the strength within yourself to obey his call on your life. He never intended you to share his love and grace or make disciples without the promised Spirit. Acts chapters 1 and 2 is the story of the early church receiving the empowerment Jesus promised - an empowerment that has been on repeat ever since.
Ever watch a potter center a lump of clay on the potter’s wheel? It’s crucial for the clay to be centered or the entire vessel will be lopsided or fall apart. In one of the most beautiful poems written about Jesus, Colossians 1:15-23 has a centering effect on all who read it. We need to be centered again and again so we will treasure Jesus more and more. We’re all tempted to try and earn, add to or pursue something beyond him. When we begin to believe he isn’t enough, will we allow this breathtaking description of Jesus to re-center us?
Why did Jesus come into the world? Who did he come for? Luke 2 answers with an unexpected announcement to the despised of society – to lowly shepherds just trying to make it through the night. And with an anticipated gift to the forgotten of society - to a dying man and elderly widow holding onto old promises and refusing to let go. What does a story involving the despised and forgotten have to do with Jesus’ birth? Everything. It’s what Christmas is all about.
Do you ever feel spiritually exhausted? Like you’re living in a desert wasteland? It could be due to devastating news, unexpected conflict, unrelenting sorrow or just the weightiness of life’s circumstances. It’s from that place of weariness that Psalm 63 was written. The heartbeat of this song isn’t a change of circumstances but a declaration of confidence in God’s extravagant, self-giving love. A love that satisfies and sustains, so much so the psalmist says it’s better than life itself. He wants you to say it too.
In this life, trouble is unavoidable. Challenges come that wear us down and situations arise that can frustrate us endlessly. If we aren’t careful, these struggles can steal our joy and leave us bitter. That’s why we must intentionally choose to delight in God. Psalm 16 is both a prayer and a declaration of confidence, reminding us that God faithfully preserves us in both life and death.
What do you do when your whole world is caving in, when circumstances are spiraling out of control and some of your worst fears are beginning to come true? Where do you go when you feel alone, scared and unsure about the way forward? That is where Psalm 46 meets us. It’s a song of peace in the chaos, reminding us what is true about God and inviting us to take hold of it – especially when life is falling apart.
Have you ever felt spiritually dry - prayer feels hollow, worship becomes noise, and God seems distant? Psalm 42 and 43 give voice to that feeling. These two chapters form one song that expresses a heart divided, a voice singing of sorrow and hope. This song teaches us what to do when our heart aches for God and we can’t seem to find Him.
Are you feeling alone, forgotten, judged or misunderstood? Maybe someone who once stood by your side isn’t around anymore and you feel abandoned? 2 Timothy 4:9-22 is a refreshingly honest picture of the apostle Paul, at the end of his life, going through all of that and more. It’s in the chaos of circumstances he can’t control that he celebrates his deepest confidence - the presence and power of Jesus. He’s been pointing us to it the entire letter but now he holds it up one last time as if to say, “Jesus is why you can stand firm.”
One expression of disciple making is to walk with someone “ONE to ONE” through part of the Bible. But where do you begin? What if you don’t know all the answers to their questions? These are just a few of the questions we discussed as we walked through a passage of scripture in real time, breaking down what it might look like to do the same with someone else.
What motivates you to keep doing what God has called you to do? What compels you, especially when the journey is hard? 2 Timothy 4:1-8 is the apostle Paul’s final charge to his young apprentice Timothy essentially saying, “Are you ready? Are you prepared? It’s your turn now. Take the baton in your hand and keep running! Keep announcing the message about Jesus.” Paul knows he’s going to die so he shares what feels like the combination of a last will and testament and an epic battle scene speech. The result is a motivational force like no other meant to inspire and empower every follower of Jesus.
We’re in the last days. “You thought times were hard before, get ready because they’re going to get even more difficult in the days ahead.” That’s essentially how 2 Timothy 3 begins. It’s a startling warning about the rise of false teachers, tricksters, imposters and people with ulterior motives who will lead many astray. It’s held in stark contrast to the steadfast way of life followers of Jesus are called to in the midst of that corruption. Not only will truth prevail, but we’ve been equipped with exactly what we need to stand firm and teach others to do the same.
“This Time Tomorrow” highlights the intersection of faith and work in those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete.
It’s our hope that conversations like these would encourage us to walk out our faith in Jesus Monday through Saturday, seeing our vocation (whether paid or unpaid) as one of the primary ways we image God and love others.
Endless debates, controversies and heresies have plagued the church for generations. Teachings that swerve away from the truth about Jesus continue to wreak havoc today. It’s led to cynicism, resentment and to many abandoning the faith altogether. How should we respond? There’s a temptation to allow fear, anger, the desire to win an argument or gain the approval of others to drive us, but 2 Timothy 2:14-26 presents another way. It’s an appeal to followers of Jesus to hold out what is true without any shame and stand against what is false with a disarming kindness.
Do you need a rallying cry? Something to embolden or encourage you in the face of hardship or suffering? Maybe you need a reminder of what your aim in life is meant to be. That’s what 2 Timothy 2:1- 13 gives us, essentially saying, "You can endure whatever suffering or hardship is coming your way, but there’s a particular source you need to draw from. Don’t get distracted, don't try to take the easy way out, and don’t move away from the source.” Endurance is the call, single-mindedness is the goal, and the grace of Jesus is where strength is found.
Life can feel heavy — like you’re carrying a weight you were never meant to bear. In Matthew 11, Jesus extends a gentle invitation: “Come to Me... and I will give you rest.” The rest He offers isn’t just physical relief; it’s a deep, soul-healing renewal that reorients our hearts and brings peace in the middle of life’s pressures. Will you come and receive the rest Jesus offers?
Can you remember a time when you were at a real low point, circumstances were hard and the future uncertain? Maybe that’s where you are today. The fire that once burned bright is starting to flicker, the cost of following Jesus is starting to take its toll - it feels like a fog has settled in. 2 Timothy 1 is given to lift the fog that we might move forward with renewed vision and strength. It’s a call to steadfast endurance meant to be the spark to a fire that won’t burn out.
Sometimes it takes a crisis to get our attention, to wake us out of spiritual complacency and help us hear God’s call to return to him. In Genesis 35, as Jacob faces a disturbing crisis rooted in personal failures, God calls him back to the place it all began – a place of renewal, rededication and reassurance. It’s a much-needed reminder of who Jacob is called to be and the promises attached to it. God’s mercy is put on repeat in order to bring the reassurance he desperately needed. We all need to hear again what’s been said before. We all need God’s mercy put on repeat.
An update from Liz DiPietro on Local Church St. Pete's partnership with The Jesus Film.
The journey of following Christ is filled with highs and lows. Often, after a season of deep dependence on the Lord, we’re tempted to let our guard down and drift into spiritual complacency. After Jacob is shown mercy through being reconciled to his brother Esau, he settles into a passive, compromised faith. Genesis 34 is a dark and brutal chapter that shows how Jacob’s apathetic faith has disastrous consequences that affect everyone. This story is a warning about the dangers of neglecting our relationship with God.
How does God’s mercy reshape our response to broken relationships? When so much feels out of control and the future is uncertain? Reconciliation is a profoundly scary and difficult thing. One of the reasons is because we have no idea how the other person will respond and no control over the outcome. Genesis 33 is the story of what happens after Jacob goes head-to-head with God’s mercy. Jacob’s worst nightmare is still coming true, and yet God’s mercy not only reshapes his response to the uncertainty he faces, it produces the most unexpected embrace. It’s a testimony to the reshaping power of God’s mercy.
Local stories are stories of God's grace at work in the lives of those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete. We want to highlight his activity and celebrate his grace.
Have you ever thought, “This situation is totally beyond me, I have no idea what to do!”? Cornered by a crisis, overwhelmed by a conflict or crushed by painful consequences of your past - there you were alone, restless and paralyzed by fear and anxiety. That is where we find Jacob in Genesis 32. His worst nightmare is coming true. The agonizing circumstances lead him to a place of prayerful desperation, while an unexpected wrestling match reveals who he’s been fighting with the whole time. The transformation that follows is what happens when you go head-to-head with God’s mercy.
Oftentimes obedience to God requires a fast break – quickly pulling away from what is familiar, moving out from under what is oppressive and pressing forward in the face of paralyzing fear. Genesis 31:17-55 is the story of a fast break involving deceit, theft, a chase scene and twenty years of pent-up strife that explodes in conflict. How does God meet Jacob in his obedience with a timely reminder that enables him to face his fears? And how is that reminder ours to hold onto as we step out in obedience?
Just when you think things are too broken or out of control, just when you think the emptiness and pain will never let up and the decisions you made will haunt you forever. Just when you think God is nowhere to be found and you’ve been left to your own devices, Genesis 30-31 come at us with a family steeped in jealousy, comparison, injustice, sex for hire and more. How is the hidden hand of God at work through this crazy-complicated and broken family? And what does that mean for our crazy-complicated and broken lives?
An update on Local Church St. Pete's partnership with Faith Youth Services from Chris Davis.
No matter how weird or inappropriate it seemed or how socially unacceptable it was, she made up her mind. She knew it might cost her reputation and get people upset - but none of that mattered. John 12 is the story of a follower of Jesus willing to look like a fool and give up what others don’t understand in order to honor Jesus. How does a totally awkward dinner scene become a picture of the unrestrained devotion we’re called to display?
Have you ever felt like your life was broken beyond repair? People you trust lie to you, family members use you, or your marriage is complicated. Genesis 29 tells how God is providentially working in a troubled family. This story is a hopeful reminder of how God can be faithfully and quietly at work amidst the brokenness, complexities, and pain of our lives.
We all experience “dark nights,” seasons in our lives when circumstances leave us feeling vulnerable and unsure about the future. Can you look back and remember an encounter with God in a difficult season that changed you - a moment so monumental it shook you to the core of your being and left you a different person? Or maybe that’s what you need today. In Genesis 28:10-22, after all the manipulation and deceit to get his father’s blessing, Jacob is running for his life and uncertain about his future. How is an unexpected encounter with God in the dark night of his life the beginning of something new? And what does it mean for the dark night of our lives today?
The decision to take things into our own hands, even when we know what God has promised, is something every follower of Jesus wrestles with. When that happens, we might wonder, “Have I ruined God’s purpose for my life?” Genesis 27 is a story of spiritual blindness and the desperate plan that follows. Woven throughout the cringe-worthy deceit and painful consequences is a relentless mercy that proves God will accomplish his purposes.
Imagine moving forward in life with a deep assurance that God is “with you” and “for you.” How might those truths shape your decision-making and speak to your fears, especially when facing circumstances beyond your control? Genesis 26 is the story of courageous faith in God’s promises one day and cowardly failure to believe them the next. The rescue and reassurance God brings is a much-needed reminder that despite our failures, God is faithful to keep his promises.
An update from Luan Nguyen about Local Church St. Pete's partnership with Training Leaders International and Hanoi Bible College in Hanoi, Vietnam.
What do you do when prayers go unanswered for decades? Or when you find yourself striving after God’s will on your own terms? And how do you protect yourself from a cold indifference that leads to exchanging God’s promises for momentary pleasures? Genesis 25:19-34 brings some of the greatest struggles of faith front and center. The conflict, deceit and shocking exchange we find there is ours to learn from.
What is the purpose statement of your life? What is it that is most important to you? In Galatians 6, we see that as followers of Jesus, the cross of Jesus is our anthem and His resurrection is our blueprint for living. It’s this good news that brings real freedom!
As followers of Jesus, we are shaped by His Word. Scripture is not just for reading - it's for being formed. As we slow down and make space to encounter God in His Word, we are shaped into His likeness.
To ‘live by the Spirit’ is not a subjective, do what you think is best, relativistic way of life. Instead, Galatians 6:1-10 gives one example after the next of what it looks like on the ground, in everyday relationships. From restoring others with gentleness to doing good to those around us, we’re given the shape of a Spirit-led life.
We all have a lifestyle, a particular way we go about decision-making in everyday life. Everyone is deeply motivated by a driving force or power of some kind. When Galatians 5:16-26 calls followers of Jesus to “walk by the Spirit” and to be “led by the Spirit," it’s calling us to a lifestyle of surrender - a way of life shaped by the Spirit’s presence and power. But what does that lifestyle look like, and what does it produce?
Imagine investing everything into someone's freedom, only to watch them willingly return to what enslaves. That's the angst and heartbreak we discover in Galatians 5:1-15. Are you truly living in the radical freedom Jesus brings, or are you subtly allowing old patterns, or even new teachings, to drag you back into slavery?
In John 21 the resurrected Jesus, the King of the universe, the one with all power and authority is sitting on a beach serving breakfast. His presence on that shoreline, his radical love and hospitality, sets the stage for the restoration he brings. It’s a story that puts God’s character front and center; it confronts our misconceptions and fears and invites us to experience the restorative love of God.
Sometimes what we think will lead to freedom actually has the opposite effect. It can be hard to see things as they are, but Galatians 4 brings clarity when it comes to our relationship with God and others. God is calling us to real freedom in Christ, not the illusion of the world.
Galatians 4 reveals King Jesus went to great lengths to make us legitimate, full-fledged children of God, granting us an unshakeable inheritance—a secure birthright to be enjoyed now and one that no one can take away.
Oftentimes we find ourselves judging how we compare with others. We silently and even subconsciously create a ranking of people’s status. This is a problem that has plagued every society in various ways. Galatians 3 shows us that there is a different way. The social and cultural walls that bring division come crashing down when we are one in Christ.
Our self-reliance has its limits. We can't solve everything or answer our deepest longings on our own. But Galatians 3 reveals a powerful truth: Jesus can. Trusting in Him alone brings freedom.
Galatians 2 reminds us of the beauty and power of the Gospel—that we are justified by faith, transformed by grace, and made alive in Christ. Paul declares that his identity is no longer in his own performance, but in Christ who lives in him. That’s the Gospel: not self-effort, but Christ in us, the hope of glory.
There are moments so pivotal, that they change the entire trajectory of our life. Paul’s story in Galatians 1-2 is a beautiful example of how the good news of Jesus can take us by surprise, bringing freedom to our relationship with God and others.
Perfection doesn’t seem attainable in our world. Not long after we find something that seems perfect, we begin to see its flaws. This often drives us to improve what we can and innovate upon what already exists. But what if we found something that is truly perfect? Would we respond by trying to make it better? In Galatians 1:1-10, the Apostle Paul makes clear that the Gospel is flawless and not something to be improved upon.
Between the certainty of death and a false narrative spoken out of fear is the story of Jesus’ resurrection. It’s a story of assurance and love that meets us right where we are. The last two chapters of Matthew hold it up as a testimony to what Jesus accomplished and an invitation to believe what he promised.
The narrow way or the broad way. The rotting fruit and roots of the false prophets. The house on the rock and the house on the sand. In Matthew 7-8, we hear the words and warnings of Jesus to his followers. They are serious and filled with love and grace, calling us to live in a different way that starts in the center of our very lives. The crowds who heard Jesus were astonished at his authority and his wisdom, and his words still hold that same authority and wisdom for us today.
Everyone desires to be treated with respect and love, and we also hope to treat others well. In Matthew 7, Jesus gives us a simple formula for doing right by others. It’s a golden rule, often learned as a child, that requires God’s grace to apply to our relationships.
What’s your relationship with money like? Is your peace tied to your bank balance? Do you keep striving, believing the good life is just one more financial milestone away? In Matthew 6:19-34, Jesus warns of money’s deceptive pull and calls us to a new way—generosity over accumulation, trust over anxiety, and seeking His kingdom over building our own.
Our city is filled with entertainment, pleasure, and the best food and drink. If we are not careful we can allow the pursuit of these things to become the main focus in life. Jesus wants his followers to prioritize their relationship with God over the amusements of our city. In Matthew 6:16-18, Jesus calls his followers to fasting, an often neglected practice that intensifies our desires for more of God.
There is an aching inside of us because things aren’t as they should be, an awareness that earth is not heaven. In Matthew 6, we find a prayer that gives words to our heart’s longings. It’s a recognition that we cannot repair this world, so we pray to God who is bringing heaven to earth, starting with us.
There’s a longing in all of us for the applause of others. Social media heightens the issue as our desire for “likes” is embedded in our day to day lives. In Matthew 6:1-6 Jesus calls us to a “behind the scenes” lifestyle; a whole-hearted devotion to God done not for the intoxicating praise of those around us, but for an audience of one.
When faced with opposition, how do you respond? When wronged, how do you react? In Matthew 5:38-48, Jesus turns our instincts upside down, calling us to answer hate with love and vengeance with grace. In choosing this path, we mirror God’s heart and reveal His kingdom.
“This Time Tomorrow” highlights the intersection of faith and work in those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete.
It’s our hope that conversations like these would encourage us to walk out our faith in Jesus Monday through Saturday, seeing our vocation (whether paid or unpaid) as one of the primary ways we image God and love others.
Getting to the heart of something means to uncover or understand the most important part of it. In Matthew 5:17-37, Jesus gets to the heart of his purpose by making the daring claim that he came to fulfill the entire storyline of the Bible; to bring it to completion. He goes further still by calling his followers to a way of life that reflects an inner transformation of the heart – the very thing he came to bring.
Ambivalence is a great word to describe having mixed or contradictory feelings about the same thing. And these days, ambivalence is fairly common. There are things worth celebrating that stand alongside stark reminders that not everything is as it’s supposed to be. So, what do we do with those feelings? Psalm 122 gives God’s people a clear picture of how to express those feelings and how to act on them.
In Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus describes his followers as the salt of the earth and the light of the world, two deeply rich metaphors taken from the Scriptures. They highlight the call every follower of Jesus has to put the kingdom of heaven on bold display in whatever context you find yourself in - to be who you are wherever you are.
In Matthew 5:1-12, Jesus describes what life looks like when it comes under the gracious and loving rule of God. Is it an unattainable set of values that leaves us frustrated and hopeless? Is this an idealistic pipe dream? No, it’s a stunning portrait of a disciple of Jesus - a citizen of the kingdom of heaven whose countercultural way of life grows out of God’s grace.
One of the most personal things you can do is come alongside someone as they pray, to be given permission to listen in as they express their greatest concerns and desires. That’s exactly what we’re invited to do in John 17. To hear Jesus’ desires and make them our own - to hear Jesus’ heart, what he wants most of all, and allow it to shape ours.
As we celebrate six years as a church community, it’s important that we slow down and ask what it means to be a follower of Jesus; to remind ourselves what it’s all about. Matthew 4 explores the message and invitation of Jesus that has shaped us since day one. It’s a message that is still breaking through darkness with hope and freedom. It’s an invitation still to walk in his ways and join him on mission.
Local stories are stories of God's grace at work in the lives of those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete. We want to highlight his activity and celebrate his grace.
Temptation is part of life in a broken world. Every day we wrestle with desires and decisions that can take us to dark places. In Matthew 4, Jesus shows us that victory over temptation is possible, and that temptation itself can become an opportunity for closeness with God.
The beginning of the year is time when bad habits are put away and new ones are established. But true and lasting change always requires a radical reorientation, a change of direction that includes clearing the path of anything that might get in the way. Matthew 3 is about the change of direction needed for anyone wanting to follow Jesus. There’s never been a better time to ready our hearts, clear the path and reorient our lives on him.
As we enter a new year, it is a time of reflection and anticipation. Many goals and resolutions will be made as we pursue growth and renewed purpose. John 15 clarifies these desires for improvement through an analogy of a vineyard and helps us focus on what is most important – how we can be fruitful followers of Jesus.
Who is Jesus and what did he accomplish? What difference does it make in our everyday lives? Matthew 1 answers those questions with a stunning portrait of Jesus that describes who he is, why he came and what that means for our greatest fears. It’s a portrait we’re meant to celebrate and carry with us.
What do you do when you can’t see the way forward? When you’re struggling to understand what’s happening and why? When confusion, fear or uncertainty seems to be winning? It’s in that very atmosphere Jesus speaks the words of John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth and the life” - offering honest answers to honest questions and comfort to troubled hearts.
Local churches—communities of people, humbled by the gospel and living on mission—have been God’s mission strategy and means of discipleship ever since the first followers of Jesus. Because of that, we want to continue to support church plants and pastors and see more healthy churches established in St. Pete and beyond. A primary way Local Church St. Pete can take part in this mission is by participating in the training and formation of future pastoral leaders, endeavoring to equip them for a ministry career marked by faithfulness, health, and longevity.
The sorrows of death have been felt by all of us. Even Jesus was deeply moved by the sorrow and anger that come with losing a loved one. After the death of a dear friend, Jesus arrives on the scene and makes the most startling claim, that he is, “the resurrection and the life.” What happens next not only proves his claim, but leaves us with a decision to make.
There’s an epidemic of failed leadership within the church today. It’s no wonder people are increasingly cynical of spiritual leaders. The same was true in Jesus’ day. In John 10:11, he speaks into the cynicism and says, “I am the good shepherd.” It’s the promise of safety and provision we long for - rooted in his self-giving love.
Are you experiencing a heaviness that won’t quit? Is the weight of condemnation hanging over you? Do you ever find yourself overwhelmed and spiraling into dark places? In John 8:12, Jesus claims to be “the light of the world” and promises “the light of life” to those who follow him. It’s a message of hope and forgiveness that meets us in the dark and provides a way out of it.
Jesus knows the deep hunger inside of you. He also knows the bitter cycle of turning to things that don’t satisfy. In John 6:35, after comparing cheap substitutes with the real thing, he says, “I am the bread of life.” The invitation that follows is offensive and hard to grasp, but according to Jesus, exactly what we need.
Monsters rising out of a chaotic sea? A mysterious man riding on the clouds of heaven? Daniel 7 is prophetic vision filled with terror, hope and victory. It pulls back the curtain on human history, exposing the beastly kingdoms of man for what they are and leads us into a divine courtroom where God’s justice prevails in the most unexpected way.
There are consequences to your devotion to God. Not everyone who observes it will applaud you; some will despise it and do what they can to shut it down. Daniel 6 has inspired generations to a loyalty that can’t be compromised or shaken by anyone or anything – to a lifestyle of unrelenting devotion.
In Daniel 5, we read a cautionary account as relevant as ever. Each of us has a tendency to trust in ourselves instead of God. This false sense of independence blinds us and sets us up for disaster. But, there is hope to be found in surrendering to a God who can be trusted with everything.
The desire to be noticed, accomplished and in control - to live life on our own terms, lives in all of us. We live in a culture fixated on power and self-promotion. But it’s a hollow shell, an illusion at best. Daniel 4 is the story of God confronting this illusion in the most powerful man on earth. The crossroads it brings him to is ours to enter, the unexpected mercy shown is ours to receive.
There’s a real pressure within our culture to keep faith a private matter. As long as it blends in, is non-invasive or non-threatening, it’s fine. In other words, keep it on a leash. According to Daniel 3, faith involves saying ‘no’ at times. It requires drawing lines and standing against what isn’t right – no matter what the consequence might be.
“This Time Tomorrow” highlights the intersection of faith and work in those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete.
It’s our hope that conversations like these would encourage us to walk out our faith in Jesus Monday through Saturday, seeing our vocation (whether paid or unpaid) as one of the primary ways we image God and love others.
What do you say to those who have been displaced and have lost everything? How do you encourage people you love who are facing an incredibly challenging hardship? 1 Peter 1:1-12 describes a hope that energizes, strengthens and sustains. It isn’t subjective or feelings driven, it isn’t based on speculation or wishful thinking. It’s a living hope rooted in what Jesus accomplished for us and it’s ours to rest in.
When we find ourselves in a crisis situation, where can we find the help we need? When we don’t have answers, where can we find the wisdom that will guide us? In Daniel 2, we find an impossible scenario for Daniel and his friends, and yet they cry out to the One who possesses all wisdom and power; the One that enables us to live faithfully in the place He has called us.
How do you live faithfully in a society that not only disagrees with you but is determined to redefine you? The ancient story of Daniel chapter 1 has inspired generations to engage culture with an enduring faith and uncompromising resolve. The result is a faith that doesn’t simply survive culture but shapes it.
Local stories are stories of God's grace at work in the lives of those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete. We want to highlight his activity and celebrate his grace.
Where do you start when “God” is a generic word or when truth is determined by the individual? What do you say when it seems like people have heard it all before? Acts 17:16-34 brings us face to face with those questions. It’s a much-needed introduction to the God of Creation as the passionate seeker who has made a way for us to seek and know him.
Many struggle to find meaning in the work that they do. A job can feel purposeless, or become simply a way to survive and pay the bills. But in the first two chapters of Genesis, we see a description of work that will both challenge our misconceptions and give us renewed purpose.
If you’re going to stay the course and make it to the end, you need to be properly equipped and empowered to do it. That’s true of any journey, but it’s especially true when it comes to faith in Jesus. The letter of Hebrews closes with a deeply personal prayer request for God to equip and empower. Imagine all the resources to do what God has called you to do and all the energy to be who God is called you to be. That’s the request, and now it’s ours to make.
Instead of doing it all on your own, imitate those who are faithfully following Jesus. Instead of embracing the soupy spirituality of our culture, stand firm on the unchanging truth of Jesus. Instead of drawing boundary lines around certain areas of your life, go “all in” and make a clean break from anything holding you back. In this final appeal, Hebrews 13:7-17 calls us to a lifestyle of imitation, identification and sacrificial praise – a countercultural way of life that keeps Jesus front and center.
What difference does Jesus make in the details of your everyday life? From relationships with others to kindness towards strangers; from your attitude about sex to the way you relate to money? Hebrews 13:1- 6 brings much-needed guidance in areas we all wrestle with. It’s a reminder that the depth and beauty of authentic faith in Jesus is always worked out in the details of everyday life.
On the journey of following Jesus, it’s easy to forget the significance of what he accomplished and what that means for our lives. Dark clouds can settle in, and spiritually we can lose all sense of direction. Like a faithful guide, Hebrews 12 describes the mountain we’ve come to and the unshakable kingdom we’ve received. It’s a breathtaking vision of where we are and what we have by faith in Jesus – and it’s given that we might endure.
An update on last month's mission trip to Local Church's partner Casa de Esperanza, an orphanage in Caranavi and La Paz, Bolivia.
Have you ever been entrusted with something that was valuable? In Matthew 25 Jesus teaches us that we are to be faithful with all that he has entrusted to us. What has he entrusted to us? And how does our view of God directly impact whether or not we waste it?
Have you ever wondered if what you’re going through is an indication that God is indifferent or doesn’t care about you? Maybe painful trials have you doubting his affection. Hebrews 12:4-17 is a reminder that as “a child of God,” nothing you face; no trial or pain, is ever wasted. In love and wisdom, God uses the circumstances of life to shape you into who he’s called you to be. The result? A renewed strength to walk the path before you.
Where does your strength to endure come from? How do you actively guard against spiritual apathy and indifference? Hebrews 12:1-3 describes our faith journey as a race and “looking to Jesus” as the only way we will complete it. More than a recommendation for the moment, “looking to Jesus” is a way of life that protects and empowers.
The fears we experience in the midst of painful trials and opposition can begin to cloud our vision and have a paralyzing effect on our faith. Hebrews 11 gives one story after the next of imperfect people who held onto what God said and through faith looked to what they couldn’t see. It’s a beautiful celebration of faithful endurance meant to inspire and empower us to live by faith.
It’s hard to keep going when you’re worn out, discouraged or suffering unexpected hardships. The troubles of life can easily tempt us to say, “Forget this; I’m done; I’m out,” resulting in spiritual complacency or abandonment of faith altogether. Hebrews 10:26-39 holds up the sobering consequences of turning away from Jesus alongside the greatest motive to endure. It’s exactly what we need to keep going.
Have you ever been exhausted and overwhelmed at the heaviness of life? It can feel like a weight is strapped to your back as you try to trudge through day after day. In Matthew 11 Jesus invites us to come and find rest in Him. It’s a rest that heals our souls and reorients our lives. Will you come and find rest?
When struggling with sin and shame, there is a temptation to isolate and hide from God and others. In Hebrews 10, we're shown that drawing close to God and other followers of Jesus is what will sustain us and lead us to wholeness in Christ.
Local stories are stories of God's grace at work in the lives of those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete. We want to highlight his activity and celebrate his grace.
Where do you look when you feel broken beyond repair? When the heaviness of shame doesn’t lift? Where do you find strength to endure when you want to give up? Hebrews 9 describes what Jesus did as “once for all.” Something so decisive and complete that it restores what is broken, opens the way to what was previously shut and empowers us to endure. There’s nothing more we could add and nothing more we need.
Have you ever been so distracted or caught up in the difficulties of life that you forget the value of what is right in front you? With one painful trial after the next, we can start to wonder if what we have in Jesus is really all that “better” than what we had before? Hebrews 8 describes what we have in Jesus as far better than what’s come before and invites us to make the comparison until we see it too.
An update from Emilio & Hannah Marrero on Bidea Donastia, a church in the Basque region of Spain.
What is our reputation? What do we hope others will say about us as a church? In 1 Thessalonians 1, we discover a young church that, only months before, had never heard about Jesus but is now setting an example for others. Their lifestyle revealed the truth they embraced. Their faith rang out and echoed on, and everyone was talking about it. How were they living? And why is it our prayer for Local Church St. Pete?
It’s easy to allow the hardships of life to overshadow the significance of what Jesus accomplished. When that happens, we can be tempted to turn back to what we came out of or begin to think something else needs to be added to our faith. Hebrews 7 encourages us to press into the significance of who Jesus is and what he accomplished. It reminds us that he is our ‘forever’ priest, who not only meets the deepest needs of our lives but offers us a ‘forever’ assurance to rest in.
There is hope. Not simply wishful thinking or an optimistic state of being, but something more, something certain. In a day when despair and cynicism are on the rise and culture’s answers leave us empty and searching, Hebrews 6:13-20 gives us a promise to stand on. Like an anchor of the soul, we’re invited to hold onto this hope and walk the path it opens for us.
Has someone ever loved you enough to call you out? Whatever you were doing was detrimental to your well-being and they refused to stay quiet. Like a loving friend, Hebrews 5:11-6:12 refuses to stay quiet, confronting spiritual complacency and inviting us into spiritual depth.
“No one understands, no one cares and no one can help.” Ever feel this way? Hebrews 4:14-5:10 describes Jesus as the one who understands our weaknesses and was in every way tempted as we are. Because of that, he has opened the way for us to “draw near” and find the help we need in our darkest moments, in our deepest fears and in the face of unrelenting temptation.
We live in a culture desperate for rest. Hoping to find it in the next purchase, accomplishment or season of life, we keep coming up empty and more exhausted than ever. Hebrews 4 holds out the promise of true rest, the obstacle that stands in the way and the only voice that will get us through.
With so much information coming at us (and so fast), we can easily end up settling for a superficial, surface knowledge of things. Hebrews 3 takes us beneath the surface of faith in Jesus and invites us to stay there – to make him the daily preoccupation of our lives. And to do so with careful observation, fierce resolve and a humble assessment of our own hearts.
Local stories are stories of God's grace at work in the lives of those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete. We want to highlight his activity and celebrate his grace.
Have you ever thought, “I just want someone to understand what I’m facing - someone who ‘gets’ how I feel and can actually do something about the brokenness and fear I’m experiencing”? Hebrews 2:5-18 answers back with the one who was made lower, who suffered, was tempted and tasted death for us. But how do Jesus’ humility and triumph bring order to our chaos, wholeness to our suffering and help when we’re tempted?
Over the course of time, many people drift away from the most important things in life as apathy, laziness, and fatigue pull them off course. How do we stay anchored to what matters most? In Hebrews 2, we see Jesus and his salvation as the true north that guards us and keeps us.
What do you do when life is hard and God seems distant? When opposition is strong and pressure to walk away from faith is more attractive than ever? With artistic beauty and spiritual depth, Hebrews 1 announces that Jesus is everything God wants to say to us in human form. A voice to turn to and a portrait to carry with us – no matter what comes our way.
It all seemed crazy; totally absurd, like a fairy tale when they first heard it. Luke 24 takes us behind the scenes on the day Jesus rose to life. In documentary style, we’re given the unfiltered response of his first followers trying to make sense of his resurrection. As they move from skepticism to astonishment, devastation to faith and panic to peace – we’re invited to go there with them.
In spite of all the mockery, all the injustice, all the blasphemy, there is something that John highlights in brilliant clarity. Jesus is a real King, and He is establishing a real kingdom. In spite of all the evil, against all odds, Jesus is a King who accomplishes His plan perfectly.
The book of Proverbs doesn’t dance around the issue of God’s design for sex. It doesn’t ignore the temptation we all face to embrace a distorted view of it either. Unwilling to keep silent, unable to ignore the pain and ruin it brings, Proverbs 7 sets out to warn us about this temptation and keep us from giving into it.
When something is important and we want to remember it, we write it down. Proverbs 3 essentially begins with, “This is so important that I want you to write it over your heart; the very center of who you are.” Spoken with tenderness and love, Proverbs 3:1-12 is an urgent appeal to give God our full attention and total dependence. What does it look like in everyday life to trust him with all your heart? What does it produce?
Can you remember a time in your life when you were brought to a crossroads moment? A decision had to be made that you knew would impact everything. 2 Kings 22 is a crossroads moment for Josiah. After years of pursuing God the way he thinks best, this young king discovers and reads God’s word. It had been lost, neglected and dismissed by previous generations, but had found in Josiah a responsive heart. What does a responsive heart look like? What does it produce?
Many of us go through life trusting our intuition and heading in the direction that makes the most sense at the time. What happens when our instincts are off and our intuition isn't enough? The book of Proverbs is a road map for life filled with divine wisdom, protection and guidance; it’s a path everyone is invited to walk. Where does this path begin and what does it produce in the lives of those who walk it?
Carolyn Bothwell shares a brief testimony about what God is doing at Created and ways to partner.
Followers of Jesus have practiced fasting during the season of lent for a long time. This exhortation is about some of the reasons why and how to get started.
It’s a message stronger than deep prejudice, suspicion and hostility. It’s a message that doesn’t flinch in the face of darkness. Acts 8:4-25 is the story of what happens when Jesus’ followers speak the good news of the kingdom of heaven. It’s been producing deliverance, joy and life ever since – and now it’s our turn; it’s our message to proclaim.
From the very beginning, followers of Jesus have found themselves in societies that were at odds with the ways of Jesus. And yet, this is central to how Jesus uses His church. In Matthew 5, we see that the church is called to be an alternative society - a window through which the world sees the beauty of living under the rule of King Jesus.
Matthew 19:16-30 recounts a conversation between Jesus and a young man who is asking how a person can enter the Kingdom of God. In these verses, we’ll learn that anyone can enter, but external obedience isn’t sufficient. Only by surrendering all we are, and giving our allegiance to King Jesus, will we enter His kingdom.
Where do you find the strength to forgive? When the pain runs deep and the hurt is real, when all you want to do is retaliate or write someone off? In Matthew 18:21-35 we discover that mercy is the atmosphere of the kingdom of heaven. It’s the air we breathe, our source of strength and the ongoing response of those who have truly received it.
In this update, Daryn reviews the impact faithful and sacrificial giving has had on our shared mission in 2023 and the opportunities before us in 2024. What are your convictions and what is your practice?
The kingdom of heaven isn’t something we’re to keep at arm’s length. It’s something to hold close and value more than anything else in this life; to treasure beyond compare. In Matthew 13:44-46 Jesus shares two stories that invite us into the joy and obsession of those who know the value of the kingdom; and with glad surrender give up everything to have it.
Many of us have heard of the kingdom of heaven, but it can be a struggle to put into
words what the kingdom is, or how it works. What does Jesus have to say about the
kingdom? In Matthew 13, we see that when the good news of Jesus takes root in
hearts, the kingdom grows and produces a harvest beyond our wildest imaginations.
So much is coming at us each day that leads to distraction and anxiety. Short bits of information, disjointed and unrelated, fill our minds and tell us what we should run after and what will satisfy. In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus’ words break through all the noise with beautiful simplicity. They give us a new value system and a single-minded focus on what matters most.
Local stories are stories of God's grace at work in the lives of those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete. We want to highlight his activity and celebrate his grace.
Jesus spoke about the Kingdom of Heaven (Kingdom of God) more than anything else. It was his primary message and yet it can be difficult to define and is frequently misunderstood. What is the Kingdom of Heaven and why does it feel so abstract to us? What does it tell us about Jesus and why did he consider it such good news?
Have you ever felt trapped in old habits and broken choices? It can feel
discouraging and frustrating fighting the same battles again and again. On this last
day of 2023 we’re going to explore the rhythms of life that Jesus invites us into. These
intentional habits help us to experience God’s grace in ways that heal and free us.
We all long to experience true peace. Something to not only quiet the noise and calm our thoughts – but to go beyond that. To make right what we know is wrong, to restore what we know is broken, to satisfy us in a way nothing and no one else can. The story of Christmas is the story of an assuming child, born to intervene, born to bring the kind of peace we all long for.
This is for anyone experiencing a heaviness that won’t quit. It’s for everyone suffering the effects of the brokenness of this life. Isaiah 61 breaks through deep sorrow and debilitating shame with a promise of liberation; good news of restoration for the brokenhearted and disenchanted.
Local stories are stories of God's grace at work in the lives of those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete. We want to highlight his activity and celebrate his grace.
Sometimes we just need to hear some good news. Life can often leave us feeling battered, and the darkness of this world can eclipse our joy and hope. In Isaiah 40, we hear the good news that not only gives us a reason to praise, but also the joy and strength to share that news with others.
When it all seems broken beyond repair. When painful consequences of past decisions seem to have the final word. When God feels far off and silent. It’s from this place of desperation we’re given the prayer in Isaiah 64:1-12. It’s a request for intervention – for God to step into the mess with his presence and power. The answer to that prayer is ours to hold onto.
Following Jesus has long been described as “walking in the light,” but what does that mean and how do we live it out here and now? The short but powerful letter of 1 John is a reminder of where to begin, how to live and who we need in order to move forward “in the light.”
An update from Fidel & Charo Corrales on Casa de Esperanza's mission to open a second home in Bolivia.
Wouldn’t you love to sit down with someone who physically walked with Jesus? Who heard his message first hand and witnessed what he did? That’s what we have in the letter of 1 John – an eyewitness account of John the Apostle. His testimony is an open invitation to share in the life and joy he received.
Between an urgent request and an aching heart is a story of God’s fingerprints; of his providence at work through someone whose name we’ll never know. In Genesis 24 we find an ordinary person, moving forward with an extraordinary task. He does it mindful of God’s presence and dependent on his power - modeling for us what it looks like to live aware of God’s fingerprints.
What happens when the thing God asks is unsettling, outrageous and even offensive? How should we respond when he turns our whole world upside down; when it doesn’t make sense in the moment? That’s where we find Abraham in Genesis 22. In the midst of the tension and unanswered questions he moves forward with a radical obedience; a faith that echoes in every generation and is ours to emulate.
A promise can be a powerful thing. But a promise is only as good as the word of whoever makes it. For all those who have experienced crushed dreams and broken promises, we long for something we can rely on and someone we can believe in. In Genesis 21, we see a God who, against all odds, keeps His promises.
Do you feel defined by your failures? Have you ever repeated the same mistake over and over? Genesis 20 is the story of Abraham making the same mistake, again and encountering God’s grace, again.
Stories of injustice, violence, oppression and abuse are coming at us every day. There’s a moral compass built within us that screams, “Something isn’t right; something is broken!” Genesis 19 is a disturbing diagnosis of humanity’s brokenness and a sobering warning of God’s just response to it. In the middle of it all is a stubborn mercy bent on rescue.
Maybe you’re caught in what feels like a riptide of cynicism, brought about by years of hurt and unmet expectations. Things are not happening the way you imagined and you’ve pulled back in your relationship with God. Genesis 18 is the intimate story of divine intervention and full disclosure; of God lifting Sarah out of cynicism and inviting Abraham to be who he is called to be.
Local stories are stories of God's grace at work in the lives of those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete. We want to highlight his activity and celebrate his grace.
Have you ever taken things into your own hands? Convinced yourself that what you were doing was “OK with God” when in reality you weren’t so sure? That’s where we find Abram in Genesis 17. God doesn’t push him away, instead he reaffirms his commitment and invites Abram into a moment-by-moment intimacy; a way of life that shapes his decisions and redefines his future.
Have you ever felt tired of waiting? In moments of impatience, we can be tempted to
move ahead in our own wisdom instead of depending on God. Genesis 16 shows us
that God sees what we cannot see, and our effort can never produce what only God’s
promises can.
Have you ever opened up to God about your disappointments, frustrations or fears? Have you brought honest questions to him, not out of irreverence but out of a desire for reassurance? In Genesis 15 Abram asks for the reassurance we all long for and demonstrates the faith we need. In the midst of it all he’s given a picture to carry with him and a pledge to find rest in – so are we.
Times of renewal or re-commitment are almost always met with difficult decisions involving people, places and possessions. Genesis 13-14 is a story of renewed faith and the choices it produces; choices of reliance over personal preference and allegiance over compromise. These choices are held up for us to compare and contrast; to decide if we’ll make them our own.
Local stories are stories of God's grace at work in the lives of those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete. We want to highlight his activity and celebrate his grace.
Have you felt like you’ve ruined God’s plan for your life? That your failures or faithlessness is the final word on things? Genesis 12 is the unfiltered story of Abram taking things into his own hands and coming up with a deceitful plan that backfires. Despite Abrams’ fear and failure, God intervenes to send Abram back to the land of promise, back to the altar, back to the start. As if to say, “Your failures are not the final word, my promises are.”
Have you ever quesEoned God’s goodness? His love for you? Or have you ever questioned why certain boundary lines have been drawn for you? Have you ever surveyed your life and concluded that maybe God doesn’t have what’s best in mind for you? We’ve all fallen into this trap. It is the oldest and most dangerous of the schemes of the enemy. In Jesus, we have been given all the grace, strength, and power to resist this lie and to rest in the truth of the Lord’s tender care for us.
Outrageous promises of blessing, provision and purpose spoken against a dark backdrop of brokenness. Promises spoken into a culture searching the stars for answers, spoken to a man with all kinds of family drama, grief and tension. Genesis 12 is the story of God’s call on Abram to leave what he knows and hold onto what’s been promised. The courageous faith that follows is what we’re invited into.
Have you ever carried a phrase or even one word around with you? Maybe it was an
expression of affection or word of encouragement. Something spoken in a moment you
needed it most? In Ephesians 6:21-24 we hear three words spoken over our lives;
words of blessing and desire that sum up the entire letter - words we’re meant to carry
with us; words that challenge us to keep loving Jesus with a love that outlasts death
itself.
We’ve all experienced the strength that comes to us through human relationships; whether a word of encouragement or a friend’s presence in the midst of trials. According to Ephesians 6:18-20, the strength to stand against spiritual forces of evil is found through prayer - an ongoing, highly relational lifestyle of dependence.
If you’re not convinced something is a real threat then you won’t do anything to stand against it. Ephesians 6:10-20 is a shockingly blunt call for followers of Jesus to stand firm against cosmic powers and spiritual forces of evil. To live watchful, attentive lives of resistance that find strength in Jesus’ triumph and presence.
It’s so easy to write others off, to be demeaning or dismissive, or to treat people differently based on their position in society. Ephesians 6:1-9 takes us behind the scenes where faith in Jesus is played out between children and parents and between slaves and masters. It reaches into a dehumanizing and discriminating culture with a new ethic. Instead of behavior modification or a list of recommended practices, we’re given a countercultural way of life that transforms relationships from the inside out.
Did you hear the big news? Local Church St. Pete is going to three Sunday gatherings beginning September 10th! Daryn explains why we’re doing it, what it means for us, how we all can play a part in making this a healthy transition, how it impacts our vision to plant new churches in the city and more.
For some it’s offensive, misunderstood and archaic. For others it’s beautiful, within reach and relevant. Whatever your view of marriage is, Ephesians 5:21-33 takes us behind the scenes where faith in Jesus is played out on the stage of marriage. What we find is a freedom and equality rooted in self-giving love that shocked the ancient world as much as it does today. A countercultural way of life that puts Jesus’ love on bold display.
How we live and how we choose to spend our days says something about us. We all
have one life to live, but is it everything we want it to be? Ephesians 5 shows us a
fulfilling way to live. One filled with the Holy Spirit. A life of wisdom, worship, and
community.
Darkness has a way of distorting reality. In Ephesians 5, we see a darkness from sin that confuses right and wrong and leads to danger. But we also see Jesus. He shines into the darkness, showing us a different way to live. A way brimming with hope and truth and thankfulness.
A lifestyle of love; a way of life that allows Jesus’ self-giving love to be our pattern, motive and source of strength. That is what Ephesians 5:1-2 invites us into – a love for others rooted in the love we’ve received.
Ever try to fit into something you grew out of? Try to make it work? Ephesians 4:17-32 is an appeal not to return to our old way of life because it doesn't “fit” who we’ve become. It promises more than it can deliver and it’s empty. Instead, we’re called into a new lifestyle centered on Jesus - and it fits us perfectly.
An update from Carole Alexander on Local Church St. Pete's partnership with Next Stepp Pregnancy Care Center.
It’s easier to sit back and wait for others to step up when you don’t feel like you have much to offer. It’s hard to participate when you’re still trying to figure out how your part contributes to the big picture. Ephesians 4:1-16 reminds us that every follower of Jesus has been called and equipped. What is that calling? And how has Jesus himself equipped you to not only see the part you play but carry it out?
Local stories are stories of God's grace at work in the lives of those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete. We want to highlight his activity and celebrate his grace.
Imagine a love that has no bounds. A love that isn’t ours to define but is ours to experience. Imagine this love so captures our affections and imagination that it shapes our day-to-day decisions and deepens our spiritual maturity. Ephesians 3:14-21 is a prayer that we would know the inexhaustible love of Christ; a love that takes hold of us and invites us to take hold of it.
A demonstration of wisdom and power unlike any other. An eternal plan that enables us to overcome with hope and wonder. Ephesians 3:1-13 is a mystery revealed, a breathtaking vision of the church- and we are invited into it.
We live in a radically individualistic culture where it has become increasingly common to write others off – especially those who aren’t like us. Ephesians 2:11-22 is our passport out of isolation and strife, out of bitterness and resentment and into a diverse community of people humbled by grace. If we’re going to experience the healing, restoration and access this passport provides, we’ll need to bring it with us wherever we go.
Ephesians 2:1-10 is our portrait. It’s a description of the crisis we were in and the action God took to intervene. As we step up to this canvas and take a closer look, we discover The Artist’s fingerprints are all over the place – his love, purpose and grace has produced a masterpiece.
Feelings of hopelessness and weakness, shame and fear can easily begin to overshadow our lives and redefine what is true. Ephesians 1:15-23 is a prayer for the Spirit to bring revelation – to “turn the lights on” and give followers of Jesus eyes to see. That we would know the hope we’re invited into, that we would know our true value and worth, and that we would know where our strength comes from.
Life on this earth brings an array of joys, sorrows, blessings and setbacks. Sometimes, it is hard to know the purpose of it all. In Ephesians 1, we discover cosmic realities that provide ultimate meaning and unparalleled hope.
An update from Elicia Hinson on Local Church St. Pete's partnership with St. Petersburg Free Clinic.
Why would anyone walk away from what once defined them? Why would anyone give up what brought security, power and a sense of control? Acts 19 is a story of dark magic, demonic powers and true revival. It’s what happens when mystical, religious, sexual and cultural powers come face to face with the power of Jesus. It’s an invitation to walk away from inferior powers and experience true revival.
Are you crushed by something you said or did in the past? Has regret and shame led you to believe you’ve “gone too far”, that somehow it’s irreparable? Does your life feel defined by those failures? In John 21 Jesus takes Peter, who denied him three times,back to the start, as if to say, “Your failures don’t define you! Let me prove it to you."
After Jesus rose from the dead he chose to step back into the sorrow, fear and doubt of his followers. Three appearances found in John 20 describe this eye-witness account. What did he say? How did his words and presence lead them out of despair into a new world of joy and wonder?How has he been doing that ever sinc
What happens when the things we’ve been leaning on fall through? When the promises of our culture don’t satisfy, when the pleasures of wealth and power leave us empty? Luke 19:1-10 is the story of a man whose line of work was public and scandalous. It brought him wealth and power but left him wanting, empty and searching. In a completely unexpected and culturally offensive way, he encounters grace – and it changes his life forever.
Imagine running from a past that relentlessly haunts you in the present, shaping not only how you feel about yourself, but the decisions you make about your future? Imagine a paralyzing anxiety, triggered by something you can’t even put your finger on. Exodus 3 is the story of a man haunted by his past and paralyzed by insecurity who has a breath-taking encounter with God. God’s answer to his anxieties is ours to hold onto.
Local stories are stories of God's grace at work in the lives of those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete. We want to highlight his activity and celebrate his grace.
Why is the death of Jesus on a cross so vital to Christianity? What exactly did it achieve and how should we respond? John 19:16-42 answers these questions by inviting us to read the unmistakable sign placed on the cross, to see the beautiful thread of prophetic fulfillment about the cross and to hear the final word of Jesus from the cross.
Acts of injustice and cruelty give way to an announcement about Jesus. Fear of what others will say or do give way to a judgment about Jesus. John 19:1-16 is loaded with cruelty, compromise and betrayal – all of it directed at Jesus and all of it revealing how broken we are. In a beautiful twist of irony, we discover, that is exactly why Jesus is there.
Christianity isn’t a matter of blind “faith” or “personal truth”. It isn’t simply about “being true to yourself” either. In John 18:28-40 Jesus tells us the reason he was born; his purpose for coming into the world was to bear witness to the truth. It was met with a question that echoes throughout every generation: “What is truth?” A question we all must wrestle with.
In John 18, Jesus’ friends turn their backs on Him through denial and betrayal, yet He shows love. His friends choose self-preservation, but He chooses self-sacrifice. Jesus’ love and God’s plan remain undeniable.
If you’re new to following the ways of Jesus then you probably have a lot of questions. In this conversation, Mark and Daryn answer common questions like:
- I’m brand new to this, where do I begin when it comes to the Bible?
- Do I “need” to be baptized?
- What is most important for me to know – for my growth and maturity?
- What is prayer? How do I do it? Why is prayer so important?
- Why is “the church” so important to my health as a follower of Jesus?
- What do I do about old patterns/habits of living?
- What does faithfulness to Jesus’ call to make disciples look like in my life?
- What resources do you recommend?
The goal of this conversation is to encourage you in your faith. It’s also our hope that it will encourage new and not so new followers of Jesus towards disciple-making. We pray it will help demystify the topic and begin conversations around discipleship that lead to the practice of it.
One of the most personal things you can do is come alongside someone as they pray; to be given permission to listen in as they express their greatest concerns and desires. That’s exactly what we’re invited to do in John 17. To hear Jesus’ desires and to make them our very own. To hear Jesus’ heart, what he wants most of all, and to be shaped by it.
Local stories are stories of God's grace at work in the lives of those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete. We want to highlight his activity and celebrate his grace.
We all like to win. It feels really good. Winning in this world usually means being stronger, faster, and more dominant. In John 16, Jesus presents a different way of winning. Through his death and resurrection, Jesus overcame the world, and it’s this pivotal truth that can turn the sorrows of our life into joys.
Local stories are stories of God's grace at work in the lives of those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete. We want to highlight his activity and celebrate his grace.
Sorrow filled their hearts. Overwhelming powers of grief consumed them. It’s there, knowing their state of mind, knowing the fierce opposition that lay ahead, that Jesus speaks words of preparation and promise to his disciples. John 15:18-16:15 is a wake- up call to get ready for opposition. It’s also a rallying cry to get ready for the work of the Spirit in the midst of it all.
An unending source of strength and joy; a lifeline apart from which we won’t survive. That’s how Jesus describes himself in John 15. But he doesn’t stop there. His great concern is for us to remain, to find in him all the strength we need to be who he calls us to be.
A presence that shouts “I’m with you! I’m not going anywhere. You’ll never be alone again.” A peace, unlike anything this world could offer, that breaks into the chaos of the moment and whispers, “You’ve been made whole and this moment your facing doesn’t change a thing.” That is the promise of John 14, the gift of divine presence and peace, the promised help we need.
Local stories are stories of God's grace at work in the lives of those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete. We want to highlight his activity and celebrate his grace.
We all face situations that are totally overwhelming. Life can feel like it’s unraveling in the moment. In John 14 the disciples are upset by Jesus’ announcement of betrayal, departure and denial. It has a dizzying effect on them. It’s in that place of distress that Jesus brings comfort for troubled hearts, answers to honest questions and an invitation like no other.
What should a community, following in the ways of Jesus, be about? This Sunday, in Acts 2 we go back to where it all began to take our cues from the early church. What we find is that it’s about the simple things.
Prayer is an invitation to turn off the noise. To shut down the phone, ignore the emails and enter a conversation with someone who loves you. In Luke 11 Jesus’ disciples are so moved by his commitment to prayer they ask, “Can you teach us to do that?” Jesus goes on to give them a prayer that includes insight into how God feels about us and how we should approach him. A prayer that confronts our misconceptions, quiets our anxious fears and recenters us on what matters most.
When a child comes into the world, it is the perfect paradox of strength in weakness; the unlikely collision of struggle and joy. No wonder then why the Christmas story centers around childbirth. Something so human, yet somehow miraculous. Glory in a manger.
Everyone is searching for meaning, significance, purpose – to be known and to be loved. Matthew 2 is a story of searching. Searching for answers, searching for truth, searching for the promised king. Some are willing to give up everything in order to find the promise, while others are threatened in every way. The repeated announcement around the Christmas story in Scripture is: “Don’t be afraid, God’s promised king is here at last!” People have been searching for and responding to the promised king ever since.
This is for anyone experiencing a heaviness that won’t quit. For everyone suffering the effects of the brokenness of this life. In the face of deep darkness and uncertainty, Isaiah 9 comes bursting through with the promise of an unstoppable light. Like a beacon of hope and comfort in the midst of a storm, this light pushes through every form of darkness imaginable and announces the dawn of a new day – a day of joy and peace.
Local stories are stories of God's grace at work in the lives of those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete. We want to highlight his activity and celebrate his grace.
Sometimes life can feel like a desert land - a wilderness experience with no relief in sight. Isaiah 35:1-10 is a prophetic announcement of joy that overshadows our exhaustion, anxiety and fear and chases away our deepest sorrow. It isn’t fabricated or temporary, it isn’t found in fleeting things or circumstances. It’s a permanent, unshakeable joy rooted in the promise of God’s arrival – and we’re invited into it.
Maybe you have felt beyond repair, scattered, fragmented and broken. Maybe you lack peace – and wonder where God is in all that you’re facing. With poetic imagery Isaiah 11:1-11 describes a small twig growing out of stump, a world without hostility and a banner held high for anyone and everyone. What do these images have in common? Why have they been celebrated for centuries? How are they meant to bring us immeasurable peace no matter what comes our way?
In this conversation Daryn and Mark discuss four questions on the topic of discipleship:
• What does it mean to be a disciple who makes disciples?
• How do we determine who to disciple?
• Why do we make disciples?
• Where does our motivation to make disciples come from?
The goal in talking through these questions is to encourage you in and towards disciple-making. We pray they help demystify the topic and begin conversations around discipleship that lead to the practice of it.
Have you been in the depths of despair, discouragement and shame? Maybe you’ve been living there for some time. The Bible doesn’t ignore the hard aspects of life, but shows us these are normal experiences of living in a broken world. The Bible also helps us to see there’s a bright way forward filled with hope and joy in the midst of that brokenness. Psalm 130 shows us where to go when we’re in the depths of pain and shame — a place where we discover more of the heart of God.
Local stories are stories of God's grace at work in the lives of those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete. We want to highlight his activity and celebrate his grace.
A Spirit-empowered community is marked by the pursuit of love. Not a relativistic love, not a sentimentality but a self-giving love that tirelessly looks to encourage, comfort and build one another up. That’s why 1 Corinthians 14 instructs followers of Jesus to first pursue love and then eagerly desire “spiritual gifts”. This is about living with open hands and open hearts, with a readiness to receive all the Spirit has for us -for the sake of others. 1 Corinthians 14:1-4
The church is comprised of people from diverse backgrounds, all brought together by the Holy Spirit. How will we work together given our differing perspectives and unique abilities? In 1 Corinthians 12, we see that the Spirit gives each of us exactly what we need to play a unique and significant role in the body of Christ.
Local stories are stories of God's grace at work in the lives of those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete. We want to highlight his activity and celebrate his grace.
A lifestyle includes the habits, attitudes and standards of an individual or group of people. We all have one. It’s a whole way of life directed by convictions and motives, carried out in the decisions of everyday life. Jesus invites us into a new lifestyle, a whole way of life, with new patterns of behavior that reflect who we become in him. Galatians 5:16 instructs followers of Jesus to “walk by the Spirit” which is an invitation into that lifestyle; a whole way of life continuously influenced by the Spirit’s presence and power.
If I told my sons to go and do something for me but didn’t give them the resources, instruction and the authority they needed to do it, I would be setting them up for failure. BUT if I gave them all the resources they needed-the money, instructions, told them to use my name–“my father sent us...” – they might still move forward a bit hesitantly (at first) BUT after a while they would come to see they have all they need to accomplish what I asked them to do.
When someone is empowered they receive all the necessary resources to accomplish a given task. Jesus told his disciples to “wait for the gift my Father promised”– that they would receive the empowerment needed to be his witnesses. Fast forward to present day and imagine all the authority of heaven backing us up. Imagine the personal presence of God enabling us to hold high the truth of Jesus here in St. Pete. We’ve not been left to our own devices, to press on in our own strength. In the face of discouragement, intimidation, feelings of defeat and lack of motivation, the Spirit provides the empowerment we need to walk out the call Jesus has given us.
In the midst of circumstances that were overwhelming and totally out of their control, they expressed dependency on God through prayer and were filled with the Spirit. Acts 4:23-31 is a window into the lives of the early church, showing us what it looks like to live under the influence of the Spirit. Showing us that a Spirit-empowered community is a praying community. What if prayer becomes our response to the conflict, adversity and circumstances we face? What if God’s answer is to fill us with the Spirit? That is exactly what we’re invited into–life under the influence of the Spirit through habits of expressed dependency.
When something dwells it takes up residence, it inhabits and shapes the environment in which it’s found. If we’re going to live under the influence of the Spirit then according to Colossians 3:16 we must allow the message about Jesus to dwell in us. But this isn’t only an individualistic call, it requires the church community, together practicing habits of expressed dependency. The result? Lives shaped by what dwells within.
Maybe you’re brand new to Christianity and learning how to “walk” – how to live in light of who you’ve become. Maybe you’ve been following Jesus a long time but you’ve grown weary, a bit callous. Maybe you’re stagnant, lack motivation or feel you’ve plateaued. Convictions don’t run as deep, affections have diminished. Or maybe you’re pursuing maturity in Christ and pressing in like never before. Regardless of what category you identify with, our need is the same – the ongoing practice of being filled with the Spirit.
Have you ever been upset with God? So much so you wanted to run as far away from him as you could? Maybe that describes you right now. The book of Jonah is the dramatic story of an ancient prophet who is angry at what God is asking him to do. So caught up in his own ideas of what is fair and good, so afraid that God’s love will go “too far”– he runs. And in the most unexpected way imaginable, God doesn’t stop pursuingJonah. We’re given a breathtaking picture of love and mercy that reaches farther than we could ever go
Faced with betrayal and denial, Jesus calls his followers to love another. With less than 24 hours left to live, he holds up the defining mark; the distinguishing characteristic of those who follow him. It isn’t our buildings, programs or cultural engagement. It isn’t our eloquence, theological precision or ability to win an argument. According to John 13:34-35 people will know we belong Jesus by the visible, tangible, discernible love we have for one another. What will it take for us to love one another? What will it produce? And how is Jesus’ self-giving love both the pattern and the power we need to do it?
Has someone's kindness ever left you speechless? Their actions were too good to be true, or were so unconventional you couldn’t have seen them coming. In John 13, Jesus loves his disciples in a way that no one could have expected, and then he tells them to love just like he did. This is a love that shocks and inspires, and has the power to change us and the world around us.
We’re interested, but we have questions. We’re eager to know more. Can we see him? What would he require of us if we were to begin to follow him?” That’s the idea behind the request found in John 12:21 “we want to see Jesus.” It’s a request from a group of outsiders in every way. It’s also a signal that Jesus’ “hour” had finally come; what had required years of preparation and anticipation was here. With emotional intensity, Jesus describes what his “hour” is and the crossroads it brings everyone to. He ends with an appeal that leaves hearts racing. All of this is his answer to their request to “see Jesus” and it’s his answer to ours as well.
Have you ever watched someone express love or gratitude and think, “Come on now, this is over the top! Settle down, you’re taking it too far!” Maybe it got awkward, a bit embarrassing for those watching? John 12:1-19 begins with an act of extravagant devotion and ends with shouts of enthusiastic expectation. Both scenes are uncomfortable and controversial, but totally appropriate and exemplary. We’re invited into a devotion to Jesus that will appear awkward to some and wasteful to others but nonetheless is the appropriate response to who he is and what he’s done.
It doesn’t get much more desperate or agonizing than seeing someone you love suffering with sickness, barely hanging onto life. Feelings of helplessness to do anything to change their situation colors everything. This is the scene we enter in John11. Mary and Martha's brother Lazarus is dying, they’ve run out of options and turn in desperation to Jesus. In a wholly unexpected way and time, Jesus reveals far more than anyone could have imagined. Death and sickness won’t have the final word in this story. Jesus’ words and actions reveal it doesn't need to have the final word in your story either.
It’s all too common for political and spiritual leaders to misuse their power, take advantage of others and operate out of selfishness and greed. This is the climate we live in and it was the climate of Jesus’ day as well. In John 10 the good shepherd is on the scene and when he lifts his voice it’s as controversial as it is comforting.
When you hear “good shepherd” this imagery is rooted in prophetic promises of a “shepherd-king” who will repair the damage caused by failed leaders and go on to lead his sheep into the security and provision they long for.
He was an outcast, a beggar, blind from birth. His life one of total darkness and dependence on others for daily sustenance. People were used to seeing him near the temple, begging for money or food. And then one day he was gone, news spreading fast of his supposed healing. A man blind from birth receiving sight? How could this be? Who did this? How did it happen? What does it all mean? John 9 is the story of Jesus giving sight to the blind and the controversy that follows. As the drama unfolds we find ourselves caught between a man who knew he couldn’t see and those who claim they do.
True freedom is something every human longs for and seeks after. We celebrate political, intellectual and personal freedom in our culture but Jesus teaches we need to experience a deeper freedom still. John 8 describes what this freedom is from and where this freedom is found. Jesus’ words reveal humanity’s greatest need and push against the assumptions and traditions of those who believe they are “good with God.” They refuse to let us get away with a “Jesus of our own imagination” and they invite us to experience the freedom only he can bring.
Entrapment, injustice and corruption-all from religious leaders who are supposed to be modeling what it means to walk in the light. They bring to Jesus a woman, caught in an act that could end her life. They want to trap Jesus; get him to say or do something that will prove he’s a phony. It’s in the heaviness of this spiritual darkness that Jesus turns the lights on, exposing and comforting, declaring and inviting anyone and everyone to receive what he calls the light of life.
It isn’t about an event with lights and loud music. It isn’t simply a Ted Talk either. It isn’t meant to be an optional add on to our lives and yet so often church is viewed that way–again, more like an event than a family. What is the church? Why do we gather? Ephesians 3 unveils a mystery that had been hidden for ages but has now been made known. This mystery revealed instills in us a breathtaking vision for what the church was always meant to be
Local stories are stories of God's grace at work in the lives of those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete. We want to highlight his activity and celebrate his grace.
What do you do when the foundations of your faith in God's goodness are shaking? Where can you go when you have serious doubts that God's way is best? In times of disillusionment, Psalm 73 is a gracious reminder that things are not as they seem, and living for God is worth it.
The tide is turning. Our culture is changing. Public opinion about Jesus and those who follow him is perhaps at an all-time low. And yet, in the midst of rising opposition, Jesus remains the source of life and the answer we are all looking for. He offers himself freely and fully. For those who are weary of this world, Jesus refreshes and renews.
There’s a deep hunger inside of every human that cannot be met with temporal, physical things. Even though we know this is true, we find ourselves endlessly preoccupied with what we have, what we become or what we accomplish. In John 6:25-71 Jesus compares these cheap substitutes with the real thing; food that spoils with food that satisfies.He does this with a metaphor that is totally offensive and hard to grasp but nonetheless invites us to partake in what truly satisfies.
Have you ever faced a situation where you were totally overwhelmed, you had no idea what to do; it was all too much? Have you ever felt completely out of control and paralyzed by fear because of what stood against you? John 6:1-24 is the story of provision in the midst of inadequacy and panic, deliverance in the midst of fear. It’s what happens when we bring all that we have and all that we are to Jesus–no matter how deficient or afraid we feel.
Jesus made some incredibly bold claims about himself. They were threatening and offensive to some; life-giving and beautiful to others. The same is true today. What did Jesus say about himself? And what witnesses did he provide to back it all up? John 5:16-47 is the first-hand testimony of Jesus. No one is left guessing what he believed about himself, but all of us are left to evaluate what we believe about him–and what we’re going to do about it.
What does it mean to be a Christian? How does being a Christian transform destructive and broken patterns of life? How does it empower a new way of being and behaving? In Colossians 3:1-17 we’re going to learn about a unity with Jesus that brings a whole new identity and power with it. An Identity that empowers us to become who we were made to be.
When you take someone at their word you’re making a decision (then and there) to trust they will come through on what they’ve said. This is the essence of faith in Jesus. But what does it look like to takeJesus at his word? To live our lives on the basis that his word is true? In John 4-5 we meet two men in the midst of deep anguish and desperation, fear and hopelessness. Jesus does for them what they cannot do for themselves–all the while teaching us what it looks like to hold onto what he says.
Maybe the trauma of your past haunts you. Maybe thoughts of your future depress you. Maybe the reality of your present experience feels empty. Nothing feels certain, no one feels safe. John 4 is the story ofJesus encountering someone in that very place-a woman who is the recipient of cultural prejudice, relational shame and religious frustration. Jesus offers her a drink of living water; something that will quench her thirst forever, something that will satisfy in a way nothing and no one else can
A conversation with Jesus that gets to the heart of it all. That’s what John 3:1-21 is. An incredibly popular religious figure sits down with Jesus late into the night bringing his assumptions and his questions with him. Jesus patiently explains what he (and what we) need most–to be born again.It’s something only the Spirit of God can do in us and something only the love of God makes possible.Why do we need to be born again? What does it even mean? How do we know if it’s happened?That’s what this late-night conversation is all about
What does a wedding banquet filled with joy and celebration (that suddenly runs out of wine) and a temple filled with people buying and selling have to do with a clear understanding of Jesus? Two scenes challenging us to let go of empty tradition and misplaced devotion. Two scenes showing us Jesus came to fill what is empty and replace what is broken.Two scenes inviting us into something new, something better.
Local stories are stories of God's grace at work in the lives of those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete. We want to highlight his activity and celebrate his grace.
When we see Jesus for who He really is, we stand at a crossroads. Will we follow Him? If we do, what might that mean for our life? Just like the first followers of Jesus, we soon discover that Jesus changes our life, and we will never be the same.
Have you ever tried to describe something so beautiful but your words fall short? Something so shocking and unexpected, your words don’t do it justice? You keep trying to find words that express the magnitude of what you’ve seen and how you feel because you want others to experience it too. That’s what we imagine the Apostle John doing as he sets out to describe the most amazing event in history: God becoming what we are (human). God made known to us. By the power of the HolySpirit John succeeds and it’s absolutely breathtaking.
Just as you might imagine, the story of followers of Jesus finding his tomb empty is filled with a range of emotions. Anxiety, fear, sadness and doubt. Joy, wonder, hope and faith. Regardless of feelings, no matter where we are in coming to terms with it, the resurrection of Jesus is central. It defines a movement, fulfills a promise and opens the way for true peace to be found.
It’s important to slow down and allow what Jesus did for us to sink in. Jesus was falsely accused, the victim of injustice, mocked and treated less than human. Why did he willingly give up his life? What does an archaic method of execution, and all the drama surrounding it, have to do with his rescue plan?
Everyone experiences conflict. We all wrestle with unforgiveness and resentment. When all we want to do is retaliate, get even or write someone off, Jesus teaches us that a lifestyle of peacemaking is filled with promise and power. An identity defined and life shaped by peacemaking; that is what we’re invited into.
Local stories are stories of God's grace at work in the lives of those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete. We want to highlight his activity and celebrate his grace.
Have you ever wanted to step out with faith and courage but fear was paralyzing you? Matthew 14:22-33 is a story of faith when afraid; trust in the face of terror. It invites us, in the midst of fear and doubt, to rest in Jesus’ presence and power. In many ways this story has become a picture of the Christian life.
The story of Jonah reminds us that God’s goal is redemption (of people, cities and nations) and he uses messed up people to bring the message of his love to others. What could God do through us here in St. Pete?
Faith involves saying ‘no’ at times, drawing lines, standing against what you know isn’t right-and doing so no matter the consequences. Daniel 3 is the ancient story of a quiet resistance that quickly became a public spectacle. It remains a powerful example to us today of faith that requires resistance.
If we’re honest, sometimes prayer feels like a burden. It can feel awkward. We question if it is worth it, or if it accomplishes anything. Luke 11 meets us in our weakness and doubt, and paints a picture in which prayer is not a burden, but rather an invitation into the heart of God.
Where does your inspiration to press forward in faith and obedience to God come from? When the odds are stacked against you, when hope seems lost, when you have no idea how God will make a way? It’s against the dark backdrop of Genesis chapters 3-11, that God chooses one man to leave what he knows behind and to hold onto divine promises. This is God’s answer to the brokenness of humanity. A totally unexpected and seemingly weak rescue plan that provides all the inspiration we could hope for
Local stories are stories of God's grace at work in the lives of those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete. We want to highlight his activity and celebrate his grace.
The search for significance, safety and control has been happening from the very beginning of humanity. Genesis 11 tells the ancient story of humanity’s united defiance and failed attempt at finding those things apart from God. It’s a modern dilemma still. Aren’t we supposed to take control of our own destiny, do what feels right and push against every boundary that threatens our personal comfort? Aren’t we supposed to live autonomous lives free from any and every restraint?
Knowing someone is totally committed to your well-being is extremely comforting. In Genesis 8 Noah and family are found hidden, floating and waiting. They must be wondering “God, what’s next? How will this all play out? It’s been a long time, have you forgotten us?” There, in the darkest hour of human history, God’s commitment makes a way for a new beginning. What does a bird with a leaf in her mouth, a rainbow and God’s promise to one family have to do with his whole-hearted commitment to you?
We read the headlines and don’t know what to do with them. Our stomachs turn as we recall the unthinkable cruelty, violence and injustice humans have committed against each other in the last century alone. The story of Noah begins with a flood of human corruption and violence. It’s so pervasive and deep that all of humanity is caught up in it. And it breaks God’s heart. How does the broken-hearted God of creation intervene? And how does that intervention impact our lives today?
Local stories are stories of God's grace at work in the lives of those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete. We want to highlight his activity and celebrate his grace.
Life outside the Garden of Eden unravels quickly. We find Adam and Eve’s son lying lifeless, the victim of his brother’s rage. How did we get there? How did we get from the perfection of the garden to the devastation of the grave? In the emotional story of Cain and Abel, we see just how destructive sin has become, and how God’s grace offers hope.
Alienation, guilt and death. Everyone has experienced these things. We all know this world is broken. It’s one of our common experiences as humans. But how did things become so broken? Christianity answers that question with an ancient story – the historic, poetic and unforgettable tragedy of Genesis 3.
We all have questions about the meaning of life, our purpose and existence in the universe, who God is, what God is like and what it means for our lives today. The opening chapters of the book of Genesis begin to answer those questions by setting the stage for the entire storyline of the Bible. Here we come face to face with the artistic genius of our Creator and the divine value and purpose he’s given us. It’s absolutely stunning and remarkably succinct, a work of art itself.
Everyone is deeply influenced. Sometimes we know it, other times we don’t, but it always comes out in the decisions we make and the lifestyles we choose. Ephesians 5 instructs us to be filled with the Spirit; to come under the influence of God’s presence and power and form habits of expressed dependency on the Spirit that will strengthen and shape us.
At the start of 2022, it’s important for us to hit the pause button and ask a very important question: what is this about? What are we doing here? Why does Local Church St. Pete exist? Simply put, we are disciples who make disciples; followers of Jesus inviting others to follow him. Let’s lift the veil of mystery over what it means to be disciples who make disciples. Let’s reject perfectionism and call out consumerism. We don’t need another celebrity pastor; we don’t need another polished event. We need communities of real people humbled by grace and compelled by love; willing to step out with faith and courage.
A new year is upon us. How will we follow what God wants for us in 2022? Whatever resolutions we may have drafted, our greatest resolve is to be a community that knows and does God’s will together. For this to happen, we must stay in step with the Holy Spirit, and we must stay together.
Local stories are stories of God's grace at work in the lives of those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete. We want to highlight his activity and celebrate his grace.
The end of the year is a time of reassessment. Often times we discover things we should be paying attention to have been neglected or ignored. No one is exempt from falling prey to that slow drift away from what is most important as a follower of Jesus. Distractions, temptations, indifference, the busyness of life, heartache and pain. Add to that the many voices coming at us from every angle. This is why Hebrews 2 urges us to pay closer attention than ever before.
In the middle of everyday life, to a young girl planning her wedding. In the middle of heartache and pain, to a man who found his wife-to-be is pregnant. In the middle of the night, to a group considered outcasts of society. A divine announcement came, “Don’t be afraid, you can put your fears to rest now, God’s promises have come true at last!” This is the story of Christmas; this is the announcement that changes everything.
At Christmas, it seems that love is in the air. It’s a time of gift-giving, mistletoe, and predictable romances on the Hallmark channel. And yet, with all this focus on love, we can still lose sight of its real meaning. In Isaiah 55, God’s love is on display, and it is compared to a feast or a party, and the invitations have been sent out far and wide. The real question is, will you and I partake? Some will spend their whole life searching for what has already been given as a gift. Love has come, and it is here for the taking.
When was the last time you heard something that brought great joy? The kind of joy that produced a physical response (shouting, dancing, clapping)? The kind that caused you to share the news with everyone around you? That’s the joy Isaiah invites us into. It involves feelings and emotions but isn’t controlled by our circumstances. Instead it’s rooted in the promise that our greatest obstacles have been overcome and our greatest sorrows taken. This joy is ours to enter.
We all long to experience peace. Something to not only quiet the noise and calm our thoughts – but to go beyond that. To make right what we know is wrong, to restore what we know is broken. The prophet Isaiah saw a day when broken things would be made whole and wrongs would be made right, a day when true peace would be available for everyone. With poetic imagery Isaiah describes the arrival of a promised King who will restore what is broken and become the way for all people to experience this restoration themselves.
Maybe you’ve been living without hope or struggling to find it in the midst of the relentless pain and brokenness of life. Biblical Hope isn’t a subjective, feelings driven expression or desire. It isn’t wishful thinking or speculation. It describes the assurance of rest in the midst of chaos, rescue out of darkness and restoration no matter the brokenness. Hope is a word of promise, rooted in the unwavering character of God. It’s what the season of advent is all about.
Have the claims of Christianity ever seemed unbelievable to you? Have you ever had the cloud of uncertainty and skepticism hang over you leading you to doubt your faith? Are you currently walking through the desert of cynicism and uncertainty? In John 20:24-31 we see that Jesus isn’t intimidated by our questions and doubts. He is willing to meet us right in the midst of them and walk with us through the desert of doubt to a deeper and more robust faith. Are you willing to invite Jesus into your doubts to help guide you?
How do you face difficulties and troubles? How do you cope with the dramatic ups and downs of life? Where will you find the strength to face whatever is coming next? Popular culture and modern philosophy says, “Look within! All you have to do is look within yourself!” Self-sufficiency, self-reliance and autonomy is the air we breathe. Philippians 4:10-23 tells us the secret of contentment is found somewhere else, outside of us, and it’s available for anyone and everyone.
Anxiety affects us all. Whether we are currently wrestling with it, or we love someone who is, what do we do when anxiety attacks? In Philippians 4, we have parting words from Paul which give us tremendous hope that we can maintain sanity of mind, and even rejoice, when we wrestle with anxiety. It is not enough to just “will” it away, and positive thinking or Christian platitudes will only get us so far. Fighting anxiety means fighting for the authentic joy and peace that only God can give. The best news is that we have a God who fights for us.
We live in highly volatile times. From politics, to COVID, to race reconciliation, people are fired up and taking sides. These are important issues but what happens when followers of Jesus disagree on the way forward on these or any other issue? Philippians 4:1-3 is an inside look on how the truth about Jesus is to be walked out (imitated) in the midst of conflict and disagreement. How should everything we just learned about Jesus, his mindset and life, transform our deepest, most personal disagreements with others?
In Philippians 3:17-21 the apostle Paul lays out two patterns. One pattern he invites us to imitate and to walk in, the other we’re to grieve over and avoid. Learning to walk (live) as followers of Jesus involves imitating others. What we quickly discover when we imitate others is that we are called to set an example ourselves - to model what it means to walk in the way of Jesus for someone else.
Local stories are stories of God's grace at work in the lives of those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete. We want to highlight his activity and celebrate his grace.
When it comes to their identity as followers of Jesus, the apostle Paul warns the Philippian Christians about putting their confidence in the wrong things. Whether it’s “good” works, religious activities or personal achievement, Philippians 3 reminds us that our confidence is to be rooted in something else altogether. The result is not only a renewed perspective filled with joy, but a deep resolve filled with purpose.
Family is the environment where our personality and personhood are cultivated. No man is an island, and the people we do life with are part of what shapes us. This is not just true of our families of origin, but also true in our gospel communities. The church is not an event, it is a family. Gospel family is where gospel fruit is cultivated.
How are we supposed to respond to the breath-taking rescue accomplished through Jesus’ humility and obedience? Philippians 2:12-18 challenges us to be empowered and completely transformed by it. The temptation will be to compartmentalize it, to push it into some “religious” corner of our lives. Instead, we’re told to work it out (walk it out, live it out), here and now. To allow the truth of who Jesus is and what he accomplished to shape us through and through. The result? We’ll shine like stars.
Human nature is to climb the ladder. We strive to accumulate power, control and influence, and never let go. Jesus descended the ladder by coming to earth, living a servant’s life, and dying on a criminal’s cross. He had everything, and yet He let go. The story of Jesus is not a story about empire; it is a story about a kingdom. And this is the defining story of our lives.
Local stories are stories of God's grace at work in the lives of those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete. We want to highlight his activity and celebrate his grace.
We live in an age of skepticism, cynicism and disunity. How many times have we been let down by people who say one thing but do another? It seems every direction we look individuals are taking sides and writing off those who don’t agree with them. As a result our culture has turned radically inward. But the way of Jesus leads to authentic, unafraid and unified lives. At the heart of it all is an others first humility – behavior that only makes sense in light of what we've received and who we've become.
An ordinary and unlikely person receives an extraordinary invitation that changes the course of their life forever. Unable to keep this news to themselves, an enormous party is thrown and all their friends are invited. As they feast together, a staggering truth is revealed with implications reaching far beyond the people in that room.
What if the thing you desire most in life was able to be accomplished regardless of circumstances? The result would be an incredibly hope-filled perspective. Obstacles would become platforms and preferences could be laid aside. Fear and cynicism wouldn’t have an atmosphere to thrive in and joy would be the defining characteristic of your life.
Imagine sitting down to write a letter to a group of friends you haven’t seen for a long time. These are people that stood by your side, people you love dearly. That is the type of letter the apostle Paul writes to a group of Jesus followers in the ancient city of Philippi. Joy fills his heart as he remembers what they share together. Affection fills his prayers as he asks for their love to grow and overflow. What did they share that brought so much joy? What did they need that only love could answer?
We long for wrongs to be made right. We long for the innocent to be protected. We celebrate the orphan adopted, the sex-trafficked rescued. We applaud the efforts of those who have courage to step into dark places, willing to sacrifice comfort and safety to help others. When tragedies like war, earthquakes or a pandemic hit we may wonder, “Where is God in this broken world? Is God indifferent, unwilling or unable to do something?” How does Christianity answer that honest question?
Every so often it’s good to pause and ask ourselves what following Jesus is all about. As we come to the end of the book of Acts, that’s exactly what it answers. What is this all about? Who is this for? And what are we supposed to do about it? With refreshing honesty Acts 28 recenters us on what matters most and boldly reminds us that we were never meant to be merely spectators of this story.
When all hope is lost and there’s no fight left within you, when the circumstance you’re facing go from bad to worse, what will you do? In Acts 27-28 we find the apostle Paul out at sea, in the midst of a fierce storm that threatens his life and the lives of everyone with him. His words of assurance when all hope was abandoned, his expressed faith when shipwreck was certain will help us face storms of every kind and find hope in our darkest hour.
Followers of Jesus have been misunderstood from the start - sometimes due to poor decisions of those who say they follow Jesus, sometimes due to misrepresentation of those set against them. In Acts 25-26 we enter an extraordinary courtroom scene that gets to the heart of what faith in Jesus is all about. The apostle Paul is before the king and given an opportunity to set the record straight. Some conclude he’s crazy, while others aren’t so sure. Are his words the ramblings of a man gone mad or are they the words of hope and freedom we long for?
Local stories are stories of God's grace at work in the lives of those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete. We want to highlight his activity and celebrate his grace.
What will you do when circumstances threaten to hijack what you believe is God’s plan for your life? When you find yourself in the midst of crisis, wondering what’s next, not at all sure how it’s all going to play out? In Acts 23-24 the apostle Paul is given comfort in the midst of crisis. A comfort that doesn’t give him all the answers to his every question, it doesn’t promise convenience, but is exactly what he needs in order to face his crisis with faith and courage. If there was ever a time we needed to know this comfort it’s now.
When light hits an object, it creates a shadow, a dark copy of the original. If you only ever saw the shadow of an object but not the object itself, it would be incomplete and misleading. This is the way spirituality and religion are if they are void of Christ. To be a “Christian” but not know Christ, or to be spiritual without the Spirit is to miss something. Christ is the source of our Christianity.
I’m sure you’ve experienced the joy of a meaningful conversation with someone who loves you. One where you pulled away from the noise, even if for a few minutes, to share your heart and focus on theirs. There’s a kind of energy and renewal that comes into a relationship when that happens. Prayer is intended to bring that kind of energy and renewal into your life. Jesus invites his followers into a meaningful, unrehearsed, secret life of prayer. It’s about pulling away from the noise to share your heart with someone who loves you.
There are times in our life when we know exactly what God wants us to do, but it’s incredibly hard to do it. Staying resolute in these moments, when opposition comes from every side, is a real test. If we cling to the gospel of Jesus, it will make all the difference.
“Disciples who make disciples” is not just a great slogan; it is what the church has always been about. From the very beginning, Jesus’ first followers made disciples who made disciples. We desire that discipleship be the legacy of Local Church and the legacy of our lives. The first followers had their time. Now it is our time.
Imagine someone you love is in bondage, held captive to something they voluntarily submit to again and again. They think it’s the answer to their fears and anxieties. It brings a sense of power and control. It could be drugs, sex, the influence of a person or belief system – but it’s ruining their lives. Acts 19 is the story of magical, religious and cultural powers ruining people’s lives and what happens when these powers come face to face with the extraordinary power of Jesus.
Are you physically, emotionally or spiritually exhausted? Where will you find the strength to stay? To endure? To continue speaking about Jesus and living for Jesus when loneliness, discouragement and weariness is your present experience? Acts 18 is the story of finding strength to stay – right there, in the midst of the craze. Right there, in the midst of the loneliness, discouragement and weariness.
Why are you here? Do you love where God has placed you? Does it show in your life? The prophet Jeremiah reminds us of the call of God as “exiles and sojourners” in the places where we live and work. God has put you where you are, when you are, “into exile” for a reason.
Join us this Sunday as we hear from special guest Jeff Toomer of Leader’s Collective.
Where do you start when “God” is a generic word and truth is determined by the individual? When it seems like people have heard it all before? In Acts 17 the apostle Paul is in Athens, the cultural and philosophical center of his day. He’s surrounded by the greatest artists, thinkers and philosophers – but also by thousands upon thousands of idols that are deeply troubling to him. He knows they are a gross distortion; a mere caricature of the Living God. He knows the God of Creation is the passionate seeker who has made a way for us to seek and know him. So he begins with a much needed introduction.
It’s one thing to be told to believe. No dialogue, no questions, no explanation. It’s another to have something explained, ask questions and examine it for yourself. The story of Jesus has been explained for thousands of years with reason, proof and thoughtful dialogue. Now it’s our turn. Are we ready to listen, able to explain and willing to examine the Scriptures? In Acts 17 some are persuaded the message about Jesus is what they were hoping for while others think it’s messing with everything. So which is it? Could both be true?
A life of self-interest is not all it is cracked up to be. You would think that living a life where we focus on our comfort, our reputation, and our agenda would be satisfying, but truth be told...it’s not. Though it seems to be the default for us as humans, living out of self-interest is small-minded and narrow. It’s claustrophobic. God calls His people to something so much more. We are called to live for something bigger than ourselves.
The world is full of controversy and conflict. Every headline seems to present a new debate inviting us to take up its cause. Acts 15 presents the most hotly debated issue of the early church, a controversy that had to be dealt with. The issue came down to what was necessary for salvation. Some believed (and were preaching) that faith in Jesus plus something else was necessary. Today, many live as if that’s true. The controversy was settled in Acts 15, but it needs to be settled again, in our own hearts.
All of us battle discouragement. What do you do when you feel like it’s winning? Where do you go? When condemnation meets depression meets anxiety? When you’re tempted to check out, write others off or believe lies? We’ve been given a place to find renewal and strength any time of the day or night and in a moment’s notice. It’s a place we were meant to go frequently. The question is will we go there? In the face of discouragement, will we run to this place of renewal and strength?
Have you ever been lied about, misunderstood, falsely accused, maybe even physically attacked because you stood up for something you believed in or loved someone enough to tell them the truth? In Acts 14 we discover a door of faith has been pushed wide open when all the opposition I just mentioned was trying to keep it shut. Paul and Barnabas didn’t take the shortcut to avoid suffering. Instead they took the long way home, back through cities filled with opposition in order to finish what they started.
God has done something beautiful. He promised it a long time ago, and now it’s come to pass in the story of Jesus. First followers of Jesus knew it meant nothing would ever be the same again. They also knew we have to be careful not to miss it, dismiss it or take it lightly. What are these promises? What do they invite us into? How could we miss them?
The church in the ancient city of Antioch was a diverse, sacrificial and mission-minded church. It’s been a model church for centuries and Acts 13 brings us behind the scenes to see what was central to this thriving community: a dependency on the Spirit of God – the very Helper Jesus sent for his followers to depend on.
Some of the best movies are the ones you think will end a certain way but to everyone’s surprise leave you in shock. As the credits roll it takes a few minutes to process what just happened. Jesus’ life not only ended in a way that surprised everyone, it turned out to be the beginning of something new. Join us as we celebrate Jesus’ surprise ending and the new beginning it opened up for us all.
On Palm Sunday, Jesus rides into Jerusalem to the sound of fanfare and celebration. Yet in five days there is a dramatic reversal, and Jesus experiences traumatic isolation on the cross. He rides in as a King, but this King will be betrayed, denied and abandoned. Why did Jesus experience all of this? And what does it mean for us?
We’ve all read the headlines that cause our stomachs to drop. When you read the ancient prophet Hosea it can feel a lot like that kind of headline. It’s one of heart-ache and pain, of love betrayed and self-destruction. And it’s there, in the most severe brokenness and rejection you can imagine that the God of the Bible answers with compassion and love.
The anguish of a husband betrayed and his gut-wrenching journey to get his wife back – that is the picture the ancient prophet Hosea gives us of God’s relentless love. Will we allow that picture to correct our misconceptions about the God of the Bible? Will we allow it to lead us away from and out of anything that has taken God’s place in our lives?
Local stories are stories of God's grace at work in the lives of those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete. We want to highlight his activity and celebrate his grace.
His closest disciples were shocked, confused and embarrassed. They didn’t understand it in the moment but Jesus was giving them a picture that summed up the whole purpose of his life and mission. He was also giving them a pattern to follow. “Love like this!” is what Jesus was saying. It was culturally outrageous, personally humbling and unforgettable in every way.
From faithful pastoring to personal preferences, from dealing with anxieties to resisting a real enemy – Peter makes clear that humility is the way forward.
Your life is guided and prioritized by your vision of the future. What future is your life guided and
prioritized by? A future job, income, or relationship? Peter fixes our vision first and foremost on our
ultimate future; the return of Christ. It’s this future that sifts what we give ourselves to and how we
respond to suffering.
Local stories are stories of God's grace at work in the lives of those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete. We want to highlight his activity and celebrate his grace.
It seemed like he was defeated, as if suffering and the powers that put him on the cross had won the day. Then, in what will forever be the greatest reversal, Jesus accomplished total victory over every power. He did it through suffering and he did it for us. Jesus’ triumph is ours to celebrate. His thinking, in the midst of suffering, is ours to imitate. Are you facing temptation, opposition or suffering? Peter invites us to hold onto Jesus’ triumph and take on Jesus’ thinking.
Have you ever seen something that is so out of the ordinary, that it stops you in your tracks? Or, have you ever tasted something that was so unique and different, that it shocks your senses? In 1 Peter 3, we see that followers of Jesus are called out of darkness to live in a way that is distinctively different.
Peter invites those who have found new life in Jesus to live as Jesus did. How did Jesus respond to government, corrupt systems, injustice and suffering? What does it look like to follow in his steps?
Everyone is searching for meaning and happiness. We all long to find fulfillment and purpose in our lives. Peter writes about the identity and purpose found in a life centered on Jesus. He describes it as a life that is both called out and sent in. Called out of what? And sent in where?
Are you ready? There is a new future filled with favor beyond your wildest imagination that awaits you. A new identity filled with purpose and meaning that is yours to walk out. A new promise established by God himself that is yours to rest in and return to again and again. What difference should all of this make?
Local stories are stories of God's grace at work in the lives of those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete. We want to highlight his activity and celebrate his grace.
Does it ever feel like your present experience of trials or suffering is beginning to define your life? Peter describes a living hope given to followers of Jesus through the resurrection of Jesus. It’s so sure and so vibrant, it recolors all of life – including the trials and suffering we face.
Will 2021 be the year of slowing down to hear God’s voice? Of listening, without moving on too quickly? How do we even do that? Where do we start? How do we know what to listen for? 1 Samuel 3 is the ancient story of God’s patient voice breaking through the noise of that day and finding someone with the humility to say “I’m ready to listen.”
The whole world is waiting. Waiting for this pandemic to end, waiting for a vaccine, waiting for things to get “back to normal”. Waiting can be painful at times. The silence, the unknown, the lack of control. Then there’s the temptation to let our imaginations run wild with “what if” scenarios. A month after Jesus’ birth we’re introduced to two people who had been waiting a very long time - waiting for God come through on his promise. What was God’s promise? And what happens when he gives them everything they were waiting for? The answer couldn’t be more relevant for our lives today.
An ancient prophecy that brings hope to every human heart. A poetic announcement of a great light for those in deep darkness - a light that brings freedom from burdens, deliverance from oppression, and a joy that can’t be lost. In these days of increasing isolation and despair, how can we experience this light? The answer to that is what Christmas is all about.
No one likes it when the power goes out. No lights, no AC, no internet. We eagerly wait for the power company to send a truck with the necessary person to get us up and going. Jesus told his disciples to wait for The Spirit, when he comes he will give them the necessary power they need. The Spirit still gives power and abilities to highlight Jesus and strengthen others – everything we need to get up and going.
Presence matters. Whether you’re in trouble, could use some encouragement, or simply need a friend to talk with - there’s nothing better than having someone right there with you. That person’s presence brings life and strength you otherwise wouldn’t experience. In the same way, the presence of The Spirit brings life and strength, enabling followers of Jesus to live in a way that reflects the character of Jesus.
Is The Spirit an impersonal power or force, something to harness and control on the level of an “it” or “thing”? Or is The Spirit more personal and powerful than we could have imagined? Many people come from a background where The Spirit was overly emphasized or abused, while others have neglected to talk about it altogether. The Bible describes The Spirit as God’s personal presence with us and for us - and the consequences are staggering.
What do we do when loneliness, depression, anxiety, and fear are winning? What do we do when God seems far away? Psalm 42-43 is a refreshingly honest song about a troubled soul. Troubled by his own thoughts, complaining about the actions of others, frustrated with his circumstances, and questioning God in the midst of it all. If you’ve ever found yourself in a battle between faith and feelings, these psalms are for you.
Local stories are stories of God's grace at work in the lives of those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete. We want to highlight his activity and celebrate his grace.
What are things in life you’re absolutely sure of? Maybe it’s your commitment to your children, love for your spouse, the responsibility you have at work or the sobering reality that one day you will die. The apostle John is writing about things followers of Jesus can know for sure with 100% certainty. He knows that certainty of life in Jesus produces new boldness and freedom before God, and a new testimony that keeps us centered on Jesus.
I love a movie that ties things together in the end. The main character either solves a mystery or defeats a dark force of some kind in a way that surprises everyone. The Apostle John is starting to tie it all together - everything he’s said up to this point. We’re left staring at overcomers of a dark and corrupt power, who overcome in a way that surprises everyone.
Where do you run for refuge when things get crazy? What or who is safe and home? John wants us to see that those who follow Jesus find their home and refuge in God. If God is our home, our life will be changed by His love. We will be marked by love. By sincerity. By confidence in God.
Local stories are stories of God's grace at work in the lives of those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete. We want to highlight his activity and celebrate his grace.
Remember live concerts? Going to hear your favorite band with hundreds, maybe even thousands of other people? At the end of the show, after the band exits the stage, everyone’s hoping they come back to play one more song, the encore. Psalm 145 is the last of King David’s songs and I can’t think of a more appropriate way for the greatest songwriter in the Bible to end things. It’s like his encore to an encore – it’s that good. David invites us to join in and make it our own, to sing at the top of our lungs, “there’s no limit to God’s greatness, no boundary on his love!”
I like abstract art. An artist’s reason for doing it isn’t usually clear and so it invites us to arrive at our own interpretation of it. Unfortunately, the statement “God is love” is often treated like an abstract piece of art to be interpreted by each viewer. The Apostle John brings such clarity we’re left staring at a tangible love, a love that is for us and works through us. Here we find out what happens when God’s love moves from the abstract to the tangible.
Because of my art major, my eye was trained to see things I previously overlooked. The depth, color and form of an object came alive to me. The Apostle John sets love and hate in bold contrast–it’s his way of bringing to life the message of love. By describing what love isn’t, contrasting that with what love is and making sure we know what love produces, John brings out the depth, color and form of the love we’re called to walk in.
Whose love has marked and changed you? In 1 John 3:1-10, John invites us to see the out of this world love of the Father. It’s a love that changes us from spiritual orphans to children. It’s a love that gives us a hope worth living for. How do you know if you’ve received the love of the Father? Family resemblance. Children of God desire to live and love like their Father.
Local stories are stories of God's grace at work in the lives of those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete. We want to highlight his activity and celebrate his grace.
What friend would sit back and watch someone they care about buy into a lie? Or what parent would remain indifferent if their child was being deceived? Like a good friend and a loving parent, the Apostle John writes to warn and equip those he loves about the biggest lie of all time. He knows they already heard and received all they need to stand against this lie but he wants to make sure they know it too.
Love looks like devotion and loyalty, time spent, thoughts fixed. It looks like investment and sacrifice. The Apostle John holds up two loves that he says are completely incompatible. His warning is clear: They don’t mix. You can’t have both. One is passing, one is permanent. One will lead you away from God, one will draw you near.
How can we know if our faith is an optional add-on or the defining reality of our lives? How can we tell if it’s counterfeit or real? How can we know that we truly know God? Religious experience isn’t the answer, being raised to believe a certain set of values isn’t the answer, gathering enough people around us who sound like us isn’t the answer. John says, “This is how we know” and lays out a test that both reveals and comforts.
If something threatened the most important relationship in your life, would you be casual about it? If friends were entertaining beliefs you knew would wreck their lives, would you sit back and say nothing? The Apostle John refuses to sit back and say nothing, instead he holds up a message he received that God is light and goes on to help his friends learn what living in the light is all about.
Local stories are stories of God's grace at work in the lives of those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete. We want to highlight his activity and celebrate his grace.
With church communities shaken by the actions of one-time followers of Jesus who have now embraced something else, the Apostle John writes to bring a little clarity and a whole lot of assurance. Maybe you’ve been shaken by the actions of others. Maybe you’ve started to drift away from faith in Jesus. Regardless of your experience in the past or present, John invites us into the breathtaking wonder of the shared life and full joy he experienced first-hand in Jesus.
Questions like, “How could Jesus have died? Wasn’t he the Rescuer? Wasn’t he the King God promised?” filled their minds. Were Jesus’ followers sad? No, they were devastated, confused, and filled with grief. And that is where Jesus meets them as they try and make sense of everything that just happened saying, “Everything I told you while I was with you comes to this.” Comes to what?
Angry religious men, power-hungry politicians, protests in the streets, a murderer set free and an innocent man condemned. Sounds like the year 2020! It’s actually a description of Luke 23. Jesus was falsely accused, the victim of injustice, mocked, and treated less than human - and he did it for us. Why did Jesus willingly give up his life? What does an archaic method of execution, and all the drama surrounding it, have to do with Jesus’ rescue plan?
Have you ever faced a time of darkness and evil? The last night of Jesus' life is filled with a prayer request denied, a kiss of betrayal, a vow of denial, and a false incrimination that leads to a death sentence! It’s in this hour of darkness that Jesus provides hope and light. What does this story mean for you in your darkest moments?
What ends up being the last meal of Jesus’ life has become the most important meal in the lives of those who follow him. Filled with talk of betrayal, an argument about greatness, and denying Jesus – it’s one of the most dramatic mealtime conversations you’ll ever hear. In the midst of all that drama, Jesus talks about something new and beautiful, something we’re all meant to remember. What does Jesus’ last meal have to do with us? And why have his followers celebrated it ever since?
Have you ever been asked a question by someone and you knew they weren’t really interested in your answer? In Luke 20 Jesus is attacked from almost every angle with questions about authority, allegiance, and the afterlife. His responses not only display his brilliance but get to the heart of what’s behind the questions asked. Questioning Jesus is one thing, deciding what to do when we hear his answer is another.
The same way you might do whatever it takes to push through a crowd at a concert, the most hated man in Jericho wants to see Jesus and will do whatever it takes. If you’ve ever wondered what Jesus was about, if you’re curious why followers of Jesus are so crazy about him or if you’ve ever wanted to know how you could experience what Jesus offers, this story is for you.
Local stories are stories of God's grace at work in the lives of those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete. We want to highlight his activity and celebrate his grace.
Young, wealthy, and powerful. The rich young ruler seemed to have everything going for him. So why does he leave his encounter with Jesus filled with sadness and grief? Poor, destitute, and blind. This unnamed beggar seemed to be missing everything in his life. So why does his encounter with Jesus result in joy and glory to God? Entering the upside-down kingdom of Jesus isn’t always what we think.
Do you believe the claims of Jesus, if so, why? Is faith a blind leap of trust in contrast to reason? God has given us clues that together point to His reality. Like a puzzle, each clue fits together compelling us to see how the claims of Christianity make sense of our lives and world.
She found herself under the oppressive arm of an unjust system and was determined to do something about it. He was in anguish, part of the broken system, and couldn’t make things right. She longed for justice, he longed for mercy. Both longings are extremely relevant to our lives and have everything to do with following Jesus.
Can you remember a time when you felt your back against a wall? Cornered by circumstances out of your control? Helpless in the face of what stood before you? What do you do when you don’t know what to do?
Have you ever watched the celebration of fans on the opposing team and think to yourself “That’s a little too much now! Simmer down!” Or watched the victory dance of a family member you lost a board game to and all you can do is roll your eyes? According to the religious leaders of the day Jesus ate with the “opposing team” and celebrated in a way that caused some eye-rolling. Why would Jesus eat with outcasts and traitors? Jesus’ answer has everything to do with the joy of finding what was lost.
Imagine standing before the love of your life on your wedding day and hearing vows like, “I’m all in - I’ll stand with you so long as I don’t ever get my feelings hurt. I’ll give you my devotion except when I get bored. I’m committed to you but not on the weekends.” Hopefully, no one would be ok with those vows. Jesus makes clear that if you want to follow him you have to be “all in.” He says extremely shocking and offensive things that force the crowds to answer questions like: “Am I all in? Am I sure I want to follow Jesus? Do I know how much it will cost?”
Everyone in town knew who she was. Bent over and broken she suffered for years. We’re not given her name but she came face to face with Jesus and in that moment he demonstrated the Kingdom of God. He had proclaimed it and instructed his disciples to pray for it to come but here Jesus decides to put it on beautiful display. What exactly is The Kingdom of God? What’s it like? And what’s required of those who want to enter it?
This pandemic has brought with it a lot of anxiety. It usually comes at us because we’re afraid of losing something we value – things like possessions, health, or control. In Luke 12 Jesus invites anxious people, concerned about all of those things, to seek new values and new priorities, and to find in that seeking the provision and security they were longing for.
Local stories are stories of God's grace at work in the lives of those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete. We want to highlight his activity and celebrate his grace.
Before Moses could be used of God to liberate his people, God first worked liberation in Moses. Before Moses would have the courage to step out and say “let my people go” Moses had to surrender one of the biggest hindrances in his way – himself. Could this time of quarantine be used to instill new habits of surrender? Do we dare ask God to expose any hindrances to the calling He has on our lives?
When you think of the most important things to do in a time of crisis, prayer (at least for a follower of Jesus) is top priority. If we’re honest with ourselves, so many of us are insecure when it comes to our prayer life. I’m so glad the disciples asked Jesus how to pray. Besides giving them “what to say,” Jesus also gave them a “how to approach the Father” lesson. His description of the generous open-handedness of God the Father is the clearest invitation I’ve seen for us to pray like we mean it.
Imagine a love that pushes against boundary lines we’ve drawn up in our own hearts. One that makes us feel uncomfortable and out of control. One that challenges every prejudice we carry, every notion to write others off, every “us and them” category we try to fit people into. Jesus tells a story that crushes boundary lines and invites us to do the same.
Local stories are stories of God's grace at work in the lives of those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete. We want to highlight his activity and celebrate his grace.
If you’ve ever watched a series you know how important the final episode is. You eagerly anticipate its release, you make sure there are no distractions when you watch it, you pay attention to every detail. Why? You’re invested and in many ways, you’re a part of it. In 1 Peter 4, we discover the strange news that the final episode of God’s story is happening and we’re a part of it. How are we supposed to live with the end of all things in view? That’s what Peter answers.
The resurrection of Jesus is a big deal. Nothing is more central to the Christian faith. What did God accomplish through it? Would anything change if it didn’t take place? Since Jesus has been raised to life, what does it mean for us here and now?
Local stories are stories of God's grace at work in the lives of those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete. We want to highlight his activity and celebrate his grace.
All of us are keeping tabs on the “curve,” all of us are wondering if we’ll come down with this virus, and wondering how long this will go on for. We move in and out of loneliness, depression, anxiety, stress, and fear. The Bible gives us an entire songbook to lean on - songs to sing in the face of our greatest fears and frustrations. What song will you sing in the face of this pandemic?
We’re experiencing unprecedented times. We’re stepping into a future that feels a lot different than the one we imagined two weeks ago. In Luke 9:18-62 we find Jesus asking us to do the same thing. To step into a future much different than the one we imagined. The result, according to Jesus, is we will actually save our lives. The pathway he lays out isn’t easy and according to Jesus will cost us everything. What could possibly be worth everything?
All of us battle anxiety and fear. All of us struggle with insecurity and doubt. Especially when we face a crisis like the one we’re facing now. Are you ever tempted to think God has forgotten you? Or wonder if he’s going to intervene and do something about this brokenness? Sunday we’ll explore Exodus 3 and see how God answered the anxieties and fears found in Moses. His answer is as relevant as ever.
What happens when we come to the end of our resources when we face circumstances beyond our control? Ever experience fear that feels more like panic? Maybe it was the lack of control over a natural disaster, the humiliation and bondage of evil, the expense of medical care or the finality of death. In Luke chapter 8 Jesus faces all of these fears head-on. What does that have to do with our deepest fears?
Have you ever thought you heard something but actually missed it? Jesus urges us to take care how we hear. The Kingdom of God comes through true and abiding hearing. Do you have ears to hear?
Imagine forgiveness that can overcome brokenness and shame, everything anyone has ever said to you or done to you, and everything you are tempted to believe about yourself. Join us for a beautiful story of shame lifted and forgiveness received, of faith expressed and love displayed. It’s a story that helps define why Jesus came.
What happens when Jesus comes face to face with remarkable faith, incredible loss, and honest questions? Luke 7 presents all three and in it, we’re given a clear pattern of Jesus meeting people where they are – in places of desperation, pain and doubt. Jesus is still doing it; meeting us where we are.
The Thessalonians were a young church in need of encouragement. How did the good news of Jesus encourage them to keep going? How does this good news of Jesus encourage us today?
Local stories are stories of God's grace at work in the lives of those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete. We want to highlight his activity and celebrate his grace.
It isn’t a suggestion; Jesus doesn’t simply encourage his followers to love their enemies. It’s a non-negotiable for those who follow him. Love that knows no bounds and has no barriers, that’s the kind of love Jesus modeled and invites us to walk in. How is that possible? Has Jesus gone too far? Are we willing to go that far with him?
Like a patient with a life-threatening condition, desperate for a doctor’s attention, Jesus entered people’s lives in the moment of their greatest need. Jesus entered their isolation, shame, and fear. He didn’t cave into cultural norms or religious practices that kept social outcasts at arm’s length. He stepped into their mess and provided a way out. “Follow me” was his invitation out of the mess and it’s his invitation still.
Tempted, rejected, misunderstood. His hometown, so angry over what he said, wanted to kill him. That’s how Jesus started things out. He wasn't a hometown hero but he was God’s anointed – chosen and sent to intervene, chosen and sent to interfere with this broken world. What did that intervention look like then and what does it look now?
Like the opening act to a band you always wanted to see, John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus. To the surprise of the crowds, John’s message of their need for total life-change struck a deep chord in their hearts and brought out an appropriate question, “What should we do?”. What should we do before coming face to face with Jesus?
What are we doing? What is Local Church St. Pete about? Why are we here? Jesus tells the story of a banquet set and ready where the marginalized and outcasts of this world are welcomed in. Simply put, we’re inviting others to that banquet, to see Jesus for who he is and what he’s accomplished. To our amazement, we’ve found a place at the table and still, there’s room for more.
Local stories are stories of God's grace at work in the lives of those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete. We want to highlight his activity and celebrate his grace.
Culture is a set of shared values, goals and practices that characterize a group of people. In other words, it is a way of life. Since Jesus’ way of life was marked by prayer eventually his disciples asked him to teach them how to pray. Jesus gave them a prayer to run with that has the ability to shape our lives today, creating a culture of expectation and dependency, rooted in authentic relationship and love.
A new year often brings resolutions and renewed commitments to things we value. Exercise, family, paying off debt and devotion to God are just a few examples. In 2 Kings 22, the Word of God brought clarity and conviction to a young King named Josiah. It produced a resolve that had a ripple effect on everyone around him. It sent Josiah searching, asking and renewing. Behavior modification won’t do, looking to someone else’s faith won’t do. So what does a responsive heart to God’s Word look like? And what does an ancient King’s resolve have to do with our own in 2020?
Christianity dares to claim God has made himself known in the person of Jesus. Surprising everyone, Jesus stepped into the brokenness of life and took on the stuff we’re made of. The book of Matthew communicates this story with beauty and clarity. Listen to how Matthew highlights that Jesus is the promised King who has arrived to save his people from their sins.
Why did Jesus come into the world? Who did he come for? The story of Jesus’ birth is one we’re so familiar with we can easily lose sight of the explosive truths it’s all pointing to. Luke 2 presents a surprise announcement to the despised and an anticipated gift for those waiting. But what does a story involving the despised and waiting have to do with Jesus’ birth? Everything. It’s what Christmas is all about.
He did it. God has come through at last! He has answered old promises in ways you would never have guessed. What did God promise? And what do two birth announcements have to do with God answering his promises? In Luke chapter 1, we’re invited into a world where longings and fears look a lot like our own and where promises answered give way to joy and hope.
Paul said that believers would walk in the footsteps of the faith of Abraham. I don’t know about you, but when I consider the faith of Abraham, the one God called friend, I can’t imagine that my walk of faith would ever look like his. Surely my ups and downs, victories and defeats demonstrate I don’t have faith like Abraham. I go from trusting God to taking matters into my own hands, but He trusted God completely. Surely Abraham did not experience what I am experiencing. Or did he?
You have been terribly wronged by someone. Maybe they said things that cut deep, maybe they did things you’ll never understand. You have done wrong to someone. Said and done things they can’t understand. What if our perceived right to unforgiveness is really a prison cell? We’ll explore a relationship breakdown so intense it could have led to imprisonment or even death. How does the reconciliation Jesus provides speak to the broken relationships of our own lives?
Ever been behind the scenes of a play? Actors rushing into place, stagehands preparing the next scene, sound and light technicians ensuring all is in place, a flurry of activity we don’t ever think about. As we read the closing comments of Colossians we’re brought behind the scenes, where we’re reminded real people are working together with single-mindedness towards a set goal – the Colossians’ encouragement and maturity. Now, thousands of years later, your encouragement and your maturity is the goal.
What does the new culture of following Jesus look like up close and personal in the home? How should husbands and wives, parents and children and even slaves and masters relate now? How does Jesus re-shape those relationships? When out in public, whether on campus, at the Saturday Market, at work or wherever, what should conversations with people who have questions about faith and life in Jesus look like?
With grace and clarity, Colossians 3 lays out the new way of life we’re meant to walk in. Like new clothes laid out for us, we’re invited to remove our old, filthy clothes that defined our past (they don’t fit anymore!) and put on what reflects our new identity in Jesus.
Have you ever been given a task, a stewardship that reframed everything in your life? Maybe it was becoming a husband or wife, maybe it was becoming a parent, maybe it was a time when you were entrusted to lead others. For Paul, it was when God called him to minister and help steward His church. This call to minister, to selflessly serve for the benefit of others, reframed everything in his life: how and why he suffered, how he approached the Scripture, what he gave his time and energy to, what inspired and motivated him…as followers of Christ we all are given a unique ability to serve and care for others around us. How will God’s call to selfless service for the benefit of others change your life? Will you join him in His call?
Ever watch a potter center a lump of clay on the potter’s wheel? It’s crucial for the clay to be centered, or the entire vessel will be lopsided or even worst fall apart. In one of the most beautiful poems written about Jesus, Colossians 1:15-23 has a centering effect on all who read it.
Hope has been the theme of political campaigns, the driving force behind revolutions and a lifeline in the midst of difficulty and pain. Hope always has an object or person it rests in, a future it anticipates. Colossians reminds us that hope in the good news of Jesus isn’t a wishful thinking or an “I hope this all works out” attitude. It’s the soil everything we need grows out of.
What do you do when an egomaniac who dresses like a rock star is so threatened by the message about Jesus he kills one of your leaders and imprisons another? Filled with tragedy and triumph, irony and humor, Acts 12 shows us what the First Followers of Jesus did when a political leader turned violent against them. It also shows us who’s really in control when everything seems out of control.
Have you ever faced something so difficult, so heartbreaking it’s caused you to question God’s goodness, presence and love? We’ve all faced things that have kept us up at night, things that have sent us spiraling. Psalm 77 is a song written in response to intense heartache and loss. Just about every question you could throw at God is brought up. But the psalm doesn’t stop there. The honesty is refreshing, and the conclusion life-giving.
A politically explosive, racially divided, cultural center. Antioch was a city of wealth, power and popularity, known for its immorality and polytheism. This is where a group of unnamed men brought the good news of Jesus. What formed is something beautiful - a community that pushed against racial divide, cultural norms, hatred, idolatry and division with the love and grace of Jesus.
Acts 10 gives us a front row seat to a huge moment in church history, a time when God makes clear that any ethnic, cultural or geographical divide previously set up has been torn down in Christ. Peter is given an unexpected opportunity to speak of Jesus to a man who is in every way on the “outside looking in” divided by ethnicity and culture. What preconceived bias does God crush in Peter’s heart? What does Peter go on to say about Jesus?
Have you ever thought you were heading in the right direction in life only to later discover you were completely off course? Maybe a friend or family member intervened – asked a question, called you out, somehow got your attention. Sometimes the most loving thing a person can do is get in our way. But what happens when the person who gets in our way is Jesus?
Each of us have been shaped and powerfully influenced by people and circumstances. Those influences are expressed in all kinds of ways. What kind of influence is God’s grace through Jesus meant to have on our day to day lives? And how do we keep ourselves under its influence?
“Do you understand what you’re reading?” That’s the question Philip (a follower of Jesus) asked a wealthy foreign dignitary on a dusty desert road. Maybe you’ve tried to read the Bible and it just doesn’t make sense to you. Maybe you’ve found in it something incredibly appealing but you’re still trying to grasp what it means for your life. This is the story of God meeting us right where we are – questions and all.
Prejudice, animosity, deep suspicion and hostility. Add to that a city under the power of an egomaniac sorcerer. That is what Philip (a follower of Jesus) walked into when he arrived in Samaria. Obstacles like this would be intimidating to anyone. Where would you begin? What would you say?
What did it look like for Jesus’ First Followers to care for the poor in their midst, stand up under the weight of false accusation and faithfully tell the story of Jesus? We’ll learn from the life and death of a man named Stephen found in Acts 6 & 7 who left an unforgettable impression and whose story invites us to do the same.
Hypocrisy from within the community of Jesus’ followers threatened to undermine everything they were about while opposition outside the community wanted to silence them. It was a mess! God answered this hypocrisy and opposition in a shocking way reminding us he’s not ours to control but he is ours to trust.
Understanding who we are, having a clear grasp of our identity, impacts how we live. Followers of Jesus throughout history have discovered they have a “double identity” – they are called outand sent in. But called out of what? And sent in where? The answer to those questions shape Local Church St. Pete in every way.
Imagine if every professing follower of Jesus had a genuine faith. A faith that yearns for and trusts God's leading. A faith that responds to the brokenness in the world with compassion and generosity. A faith that doesn't quit but perseveres and fights when things get tough. A faith that knows following Jesus will cost everything but Jesus is better than everything we have. What would the church look like? What kind of impact would we have in the world? James 1 and 2 call us to this reality! Followers of Jesus have a genuine faith that demonstrates itself in our lives.
Jesus’ First Followers responded to persecution and threats with prayer. They didn’t ask for personal safety or even for the threats to stop. They asked for something better. What could be better than safety? What could be more important than personal comfort?
Have you ever been told by someone, “Just mention my name…tell them I sent you, and they’ll take care of you.”? Once you mentioned the person’s name everything was different. Acts 3-4 shows us what it looked like for Jesus’ First Followers to teach and minister in his name. It meant hope and joy for many but was a threat to anyone clinging to their own authority and power. Come explore what “in the name of Jesus” means for us here and now, and why it’s more relevant than ever.
How would you describe the church? What should matter most to a community of people who claim allegiance to Jesus? Acts 2:42-47 presents a stunning portrait of the early church; a window into the daily lives of Jesus’ First Followers. What were they devoted to? It’s a portrait that impacts Local Church St. Pete and the things we’re devoted to.
The time has finally come! Jesus pours out his Spirit on his disciples and the place erupts with noise! Something like wind and fire fills the room where they were waiting. A crowd gathers quickly because each one hears the disciples speaking in their own native tongue. Some think the followers of Jesus are drunk while others ask “What does this all mean”? Never before had the climate of expectations and anticipation been so high. What does it mean? That’s what we’ll explore.
Eagerly waiting for something they knew was going to happen. That’s where we find Jesus’ First Followers. But what were they waiting for? What did Jesus promise? Where did Jesus go? And what does it mean for our lives here and now?
No more pain. No more tears. No more death. What’s been broken will be repaired, what’s been wrong will be made right. One day everything will be restored. Until then we wait. Like waiting for a loved one to come out of surgery or like a child waits on Christmas Eve. But what does waiting involve? How does the end of the story impact the way we live today?
God created, and it was good. Humanity rebelled, bringing sin and chaos. What will happen? Will things ever get better? Will people ever change? Will evil ever end? So, we enter into the main plot line of the Bible’s Story: Rescue. God has done in Jesus what we could never do for ourselves! Be warned, truly trusting in Christ to rescue you will change who you are and what you do
Every person who ever lived has felt and continues to feel the effects of The Rebellion found in Genesis 3. A lot of questions might fill your mind when you read the story: Where did the serpent come from? How did the serpent turn evil? Where did evil come from? Why is the serpent talking? Did Adam and Eve have a belly button? These are real questions the story doesn’t set out to answer. But what does it say? And how does it answer some of life’s toughest questions?
We’re going back to the start, to the place of “beginnings.” That’s a very helpful thing to do when you’re trying to understand something. There we find a true story told artistically. Genesis celebrates the fact that God made the world, but it doesn’t feel the need to explain all the details or answer all our questions. What it does say about God and man has been foundational to the Christian faith. If creation is actually a thought-out, large-scale work of art AND humankind is the masterpiece of that good creation, what’s it all mean and how does it pave the way for what’s next in the storyline?
Ever think to yourself, “Their life always seems so much better than mine. If only I had _________ THEN I would be happy! A better job, a child, a younger wife, more money, a smaller nose, a newer car - THEN I would be happy!” We see a picture, remember a conversation, take a slice of someone else’s life and compare it with ours and we conclude, “They have it SO much better!” What does the Bible say about this? Where can we go to find rest?
Since the Thessalonians had a faith that made some noise, it makes sense for Paul to describe the kind of lifestyle that would produce a louder faith still. The letter of 1 Thessalonians ends with easy-to-remember instructions for the Thessalonians to immerse themselves into the counter-cultural ways of Jesus. What did that counter-cultural life involve? What did it ask of them? What does it ask of us?
Christians believe Jesus is returning. Does the thought of Jesus’ return fill you with fear and anxiety or joy and encouragement? The Thessalonians had a mixture of both. They were stressed over what Jesus’ return meant for those who had already died. And they began to wonder about their participation in Jesus’ return. How confident could they be that they will be ready? What does it look like to be "ready"? These are some of the questions we look at this Sunday.
Ever wonder, “Does it really matter if Jesus rose from the dead?” The resurrection is a big deal. Without it, Christianity has no salvation, no acceptance, no deliverance. Without the resurrection, Jesus becomes a liar, a fake and even worse than that, a delusional man. If Jesus has been raised then that changes EVERYTHING. We’ll talk about how the resurrection of Jesus changes everything and what it means here and now.
Can you remember a time you were away from family or friends while they were facing a severe trial? Being away from those you love when you know they’re facing a trial is what Paul was experiencing. His longings and concerns are felt at every turn – a real overflow of emotion. What do Paul’s emotions for the Thessalonian church have to do with us? And how is it a pattern for us to follow? We’ll discover the source of Paul’s joy in the midst of suffering.
We’ve all been hurt by someone with selfish motives. Because of that, there’s a lot of cynicism and skepticism towards people in general and leaders in particular. What were Paul’s motives for sharing the truth of Jesus with the Thessalonians? How did he behave when he was with them? We’ll look at motives and behavior reshaped by the gospel of Jesus.
It’s as if the Thessalonians' lives had been plugged into an amplifier and turned up as loud as it could go. Suffering and persecution had only highlighted their faith in Jesus. This brand-new church had a faith that was making some noise. What did their faith look like and more importantly what was the driving force behind it?
Surprise Conclusions (Mark 15:42-16:8)Some of the best books or movies are the ones you think will end a certain way, but something happens, leaving everyone surprised. While you’re still in shock and awe, the credits start to roll, or the book comes to an abrupt end. There are a few surprise conclusions in the book of Mark that lead us to the most abrupt and shocking end you can imagine. We’re still talking about it today.
We’ve come to the part of Mark that, for some, is familiar territory. In many ways that’s good, BUT we run the risk of assuming we know exactly what we’re looking at - the familiar turning into the mundane and losing its edge. We run the risk of reading it and quickly moving on. What’s happening on the pages of Scripture before us is a masterpiece like no other. This passage is the centerpiece of God’s story. Let’s lean in and appreciate each brush stroke.
What happens when Jesus, the one who claims all authority to rule and judge, stands trial before the religious and political authorities of his day? What happens when Peter, the courageous follower of Jesus, faces another kind of trial before a servant girl? Marked by false-testimony, hidden agendas, self-preservation, and fear, these trials bring us into a trial of own.
Jonah doesn’t at all want to do what God calls him to do. And what’s messing with him the most is what he knows about God. Ever felt like running? Ever question God? Ever get angry with God? Discover God’s response to an angry and resentful prophet and what all of it means for you.
Money, Power and True Greatness
Could what we have be in the way of what Jesus has for us? Could what we want be in the way of what Jesus wants for us? With patience and love Jesus speaks to both money and power, redefines greatness and models it for us to follow.
A healing that requires anothertouch from Jesus in order to be complete. A confession that Jesus is Messiah (King) that gets it right and wrong at the same time. Two stories, intentionally put together to highlight the central question of the book of Mark and of Jesus’ ministry, “Who do you say I am?”
Misunderstood by his family, accused by religious leaders, sought after by crowds and feared by evil spirits. All of these groups try to either control or silence Jesus in their own ways - but Jesus won’t have it. What do their reactions to Jesus teach us about our own? And what did Jesus begin in Mark 3 that he invites us into today?
This is a story of faith without words and forgiveness that doesn’t come cheap. Desperate men bring their paralyzed friend to Jesus and find themselves having to break through a roof to reach him! The paralyzed man was looking for healing but ended up receiving something unexpected. Why are we talking about a man being lowered through a roof? And what does any of it have to do with you and me? That’s what we’ll explore.
We’ll take the next eight weeks and walk through the book of Mark. It’s a short, fast paced and action-packed account of Jesus’ life and ministry. Every turn of the page offers something profound to consider. Jesus is such a monumental figure in history and culture and while opinions about him vary, it’s important for everyone to see who Jesus is for themselves.
In Matthew 6:25-34 Jesus speaks about the universal struggle of worry and anxiety. Everyone has experienced seasons of worry. Maybe you’re in the middle of one right now. The remedy Jesus gives to this common struggle might surprise you. What do birds, flowers and what we value most have to do with worry? That’s exactly what we’ll find out.