Local Church St. Pete Podcast

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...

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...

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...

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.

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 partic...

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.

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 our...

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.