Local Church St. Pete Podcast

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

An update from Fidel & Charo Corrales on Casa de Esperanza's mission to open a second home in Bolivia.

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.

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.

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 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, “Yo...