Local Church St. Pete Podcast

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 dr...

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 J...

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 ans...

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...

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 extr...

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...

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 generou...

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 supp...

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...