Local Church St. Pete Podcast

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.

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. 

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 cal...

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 imitati...

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 Jesu...

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 rene...

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...

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?

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 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. 

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...

An update from Emilio & Hannah Marrero on Bidea Donastia, a church in the Basque region of Spain. 

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 se...

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...

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...