The Local Church

It’s easy for our relationship with Jesus to slowly become passive, where we stop intentionally connecting with Him and settle into apathy. But apathy isn’t just caring less, it can reveal that we’ve allowed other things to take God’s place in our hearts. Jesus calls us to something different: to remain, abide, dwell, and stay connected to Him like branches connected to the vine. The more we know...

What if we’ve settled for a counterfeit version of what it means to follow Jesus? In John 15, Jesus invites us to abide in Him, to make our home in Him through dependence and obedience, rather than trying to earn His favor through activity and performance. When we remain connected to Jesus, the fruit of His Spirit naturally begins to grow in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodnes...

It’s possible to be around Jesus without actually making Jesus home. In John 15, Jesus calls Himself the true vine and reminds us that our identity, life, joy, and peace are found in Him. Not in our jobs, relationships, accomplishments, possessions, or anything else we might attach ourselves to. To abide in Jesus means to make our home in Him, allowing every area of our lives to feel the pull towa...

This Sunday, we had the opportunity to reflect on all the Lord has done through TLC over these past few months and look ahead to where God is leading our church! We’re so grateful for what He’s doing and excited for all that’s still to come. ----------- Join us for service online or in-person in Grand Rapids every Sunday at 9AM & 10:45AM. Decided to follow Jesus? We would love to help you figu...

What does it look like to shape our families around Jesus in the middle of everyday life? In this message, we look at the Shema and Moses’ call to love God with our whole hearts and let that love shape the way we live and lead. For parents, that means recognizing the power we have to point our kids toward Jesus through simple, everyday “micro moments” like prayers, conversations, Scripture, and re...

What does it look like to build your life and your family on something that won’t be shaken? In this message, we’re reminded that Jesus is our firm foundation, faithful yesterday, today, and tomorrow, even when life doesn’t go the way we expect. We also look at what it means to live out our faith beyond ourselves, sharing the gospel and helping make disciples both in our own city and around the wo...

Life with Jesus is life with His family, and biblical community is something we’re called to intentionally pursue. In Acts 2, we see the early church gathering in both the temple and homes, building community through five simple patterns: eat, pray, play, share resources, and share a mission. Community doesn’t just happen, it takes persevering commitment, but it’s also one of the ways Jesus forms...

Work can often feel like something we just have to get through, but what if God designed work to be so much more? In this message, we’ll explore how our identity, calling, and vocation come together, and how every kind of work can be an opportunity to serve others and worship God. From parenting to teaching, creating, building, caring, and leading, God invites us to work alongside Him for the good...

We had the privilege of learning from Pastor Austin from Beloved Church this Sunday! He led us through the book of Malachi, reminding us of God’s faithful love and His invitation to return to Him with our whole hearts. We were challenged to consider what we’re giving to God and whether we’re offering Him our best or simply what’s left over. Ultimately, Malachi points us to Jesus, who meets us in o...

Have you ever walked through a season that felt dry, hopeless, or beyond repair? This week's message reminds us that even in the middle of devastation, God is calling His people back to Himself. Through the book of Joel, we're reminded that God doesn't simply restore what was lost—He restores hearts that turn to Him. No matter where you've been or what you're carrying, His invi...

When life doesn't make sense, it's okay to bring your honest questions and frustrations to God. Looking at the book of Habakkuk, we see that while God welcomes our complaints, He also invites us to trust His heart even when we can't understand His plans. Our circumstances may not change immediately, but worship shifts our perspective, reminding us that God is faithful, sovereign, and worthy of our...

What does God really desire from His people? The book of Amos reminds us that worship isn't just about the songs we sing on Sunday—it's about how we love, serve, and seek justice throughout the week. God calls His people to hate evil, love good, and care for those who are overlooked. As followers of Jesus, our faith should move beyond words into action, reflecting God's heart for right...

God doesn't just hate sin, He loves you. This Sunday, Brian kicked off our new series, Love in the Minor Keys, by looking at the book of Hosea. Through Hosea's story, we're reminded that our sin isn't just about breaking rules, it breaks the heart of a God who deeply desires a relationship with us. Yet even when we choose other things over Him, God never stops pursuing us. Just as...

Prayer is easy when answers come quickly. It's much harder when heaven seems silent. In Luke 18, Jesus tells the parable of the persistent widow to remind us to keep praying and not lose heart. This message explores why God invites us to persevere in prayer, what it means when His timing doesn't match ours, and how biblical hope gives us the strength to keep trusting even when we don't...

What do you do when you have a need, a prayer, or a situation you desperately want God to change? This Sunday, Sara explored the story of Bartimaeus and Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, challenging us to consider two questions: What do you want God to do? and Can you trust Him with the outcome? As we learn to bring our requests honestly and specifically before God, we're also inv...

In John 17, we get a unique glimpse into Jesus’ prayer to the Father just hours before the cross, and remarkably, He’s praying for us. Toran's message explores the deep love of Christ, the unity He desires for His followers, and the invitation to know God personally through Him. As we experience God’s love, we’re transformed and called to reflect that same love to others. Jesus’ prayer reminds...

What if one of the biggest obstacles to your prayer life isn't finding the right words, but holding onto unforgiveness? In this message, we explore Jesus' surprising connection between forgiveness and effective prayer. Through powerful stories, biblical teaching, and practical insight, we're challenged to examine the hidden "clogs" in our hearts that can keep us from experien...

What if your confidence in prayer isn't supposed to come from how well you pray, but from who is listening? This message explores Jesus' teaching on prayer in Luke 11, revealing that prayer is not about performance, perfect words, or spiritual eloquence—it's about trusting the character of a loving and honorable Father. Through powerful stories, cultural insights, and Jesus' own wo...

This Sunday, Sarah walks through Mark 1 and shows how Jesus moved toward people in need. He healed, restored, and made space for fresh encounters. Through the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, we’re reminded that prayer is deeply connected to relationship, trust, and learning to recognize who Jesus is. Sarah's message invites us to see what Scripture teaches about both Jesus and our connection to...

What do we do with the gap between what Jesus says about prayer and what we actually experience? This week we kicked off our Help Me Pray series by looking at Jesus’ bold invitation to pray with faith, even when prayers seem unanswered or life feels disappointing. Through stories of Peter, James, and real-life heartbreak, we wrestled with the tension of trusting God when miracles don’t come the wa...

On Mother’s Day, Toran wrapped up our series, “Festivals: Jesus and the Feasts,” by walking through the Festival of Tabernacles (Sukkoth) and the three lessons God wanted Israel to remember: that they were once wanderers fully dependent on Him, that He is not a distant God but a with-you God who protects and provides, and that one day He will bring full restoration. He reminded us that everything ...

This Sunday, we had the privilege of hearing from Gary Burge as he taught on the meaning and power of Pentecost, and how the Holy Spirit was never meant to be just a moment in Acts, but a daily reality for believers. We talked about repentance, surrender, and how following Jesus is more than behavior modification, it’s being transformed from the inside out. Through Scripture and practical applicat...

What would you redo, but can’t? In his message, Pastor Toran begins with this honest question, leading us into the weight we all carry from moments we wish we could take back. He walks through the Day of Atonement, explaining how sin required a sacrifice and how a scapegoat symbolically carried the people’s sins away—and even brought that moment to life by having a real goat on stage as a picture...

This Sunday, we had the privilege of having Austin back at TLC to teach us about Sabbath. Austin walked us through the idea of Sabbath, showing that it’s not just a rule but a rhythm designed to help us rest, trust God, and remember where we come from. A time to truly reflect on God’s faithfulness rather than rush through life. During our time together, Austin created space for reflection as we pa...

This Sunday, Sara shared how the Feast of Trumpets serves as a spiritual wake-up call in our lives. She described this festival as a moment to prepare our hearts through repentance - detaching from the things we’ve grown too comfortable with that quietly pull us away from God. During Sara's message, she reflected on a personal story from Lent, where God gently revealed areas she had become des...