The Local Church

Join us as we close our series on Song of Songs with Dr. Erin Clifford as she explains how the poems help us understand what God's love is like. God's love is not like ours, but ours can become like His.

Poetry, balloon roses and why you great love requires great intention. Join us as we learn three aspects that true love requires and some of the relational needs that men and women have. If you want to taste the fruit of the garden you need to know how to cultivate the trees.

6.13.2021 Summer Heat Toran Scott localchurchgr.org

Body insecurity, standards of beauty, and why good things happen in the bedroom when greater things are happening outside of it. Sex is not just physical, it is an act of the soul. Join us as we move through chapter one of the Song of Songs.

Derek Zoolander, disturbing trophies, and learning about sex on a car ride from Grandma's. Does God care about our physical lives? The Song of Songs reminds us that God cares about our sexuality and wants to redeem, heal, and help us to enjoy it. In the Song of Songs, the effects of sin and disconnection described in Genesis are reversed and restored.

How we intend to disrupt people’s disastrously wonderful American lives. Where Paul was headed, where we are too and why it matters. Buckle up, this a ride on a vehicle with no passenger seats.

Schwarzenegger, Devito, vaccines, and masks. How do we engage with one another when we disagree on “disputable matters”. Join us as we dive into Romans 14 and seek to apply it to a hot button topic. Freedom is wonderful, but love is even greater.

Racist real estate covenants, abhorrent laws and submitting to the government. Join us as we discuss Romans 13 and what it teaches us about the Pinnacle Principle and the Purge Principle.  *Special bonus interview regarding our church's movement into more intentional foster, adoption and refugee care.

How to get your older brother in trouble, being excited for your friends wedding when you don't even have a boyfriend and what sincere love looks like. Join us as we look at Romans 12 to discover how completely different people learn to treat one another with an otherworldly love.

Tom Brady, Simone Biles, Adele and why the most important part of your body is not a part. The church is intended to be a place that functions like a body, the whole is greater than the parts. Join us as we walk through Romans 12:3-8 and learn what it means to belong to one another.

Bacon and eggs, watermelon and mercy, conforming vs. transforming. Join as we learn the power and meaning of Romans 12:1-2 and the kind of sacrificial commitment that God desires and why it's worth going full send.

Knock knock jokes, the resurrection and what it teaches us about the past, the present and the future. Join us as Dr. Burge explains how your death day can become your birthday.

E.T., going away to college and how the resurrection opens the door to home. Join us we look at one of the most famous stories in the Bible that help us understand the kind of God that resurrects us and welcomes us home.

Tearing the roof off, farmers in Southern Illinois ask why faith requires risk. One of the greatest stories in the New Testament and modern day story that both end with a twist. The first invite is for you! Luke 5:17-26

Fishing with Jesus, Trivial Pursuit pie-pieces, and why obedience to Christ matters. Christ calls us to be instruments of obedience and use whatever blessings we have been given for the sake of others. (Luke 5:1-11)

Undocumented immigrants, unexpected generosity, and why many people that encounter Jesus want to throw him off a cliff. Jesus is dangerous and being his disciple is will take you to places you never thought you'd go (but are so glad you did). Join us as Dr. Burge teaches us the "curtain raiser on Jesus ministry" from Luke 4.

Nintendo 64's for Christmas, temptations and why God brings us into the wilderness. There is great clarity when our self made salvations no longer save and we are stripped to the core. We find that there is only Savior and He knows what we need even better than we do. Luke 4, Exodus 17, Hebrews 3.

Caesar Salad, the Harvard Test of Inflected Acquisition, and the kingly rule of God. Join us as we look at Luke 4:5-8 and the temptation for Jesus to receive and rule all of the kingdoms of the earth. This temptation forces Jesus to answer two questions that all of us must answer nearly every day. Who does God say that I am? And who or what are you worshipping?

Chocolate chip cookies, temptation and the hardest thing you'll ever need to do (trust God's love). Join us as we look at Luke 4 and the temptation for Jesus to turn stones into bread. The temptation may not be what we think and it's still very much in play for us today.

Does God still speak today and if so, how do we know it's him? Join us as we discuss how God speaks and how to begin to discern what His voice sounds like. The Holy Spirit is a person, who has a voice that you can learn to recognize. There is nothing God wants more than to have a lifelong relationship with you and the best relationships always have the best conversations.

What is the baptism of the Holy Spirit and should we seek it today? Join as we work through the most controversial topic in our series on the Holy Spirit. Some things we die for, some we divide for but this is neither. This is something in the debate for category, we can disagree but should still love one another and worship together. Let's do our best to gain some context and then engage in scrip...

For the last 60 years the church has talked about things the Spirit does and gifts He gives in a way that may not be as helpful as we'd like to believe. Join us as we ask if there is such a thing as spiritual gifts and try to understand what the Holy Spirit wants to do among us today as we dig into 1 Corinthians 12 as we continue our Holy Spirit series.

Talking and not talking, Brother Lawrence and the great lengths God has gone to be with His people. The Holy Spirit is Gods empowering presence in us, with us, for us. Join us as we trace the arch of Gods presence throughout the Bible to understand what an amazing gift the Holy Spirit is to anyone who believes in Jesus.

Mechanical abilities, jet skis and the equation for power. Jesus said his followers would do what he did and even greater things... is that even possible? Join us as we dive deeper into the Holy Spirit as Gods empowering presence.

Is the Holy Spirit a force to learn how to wield in our lives or a person to get to know? Join us as we walk through the Atacama desert, a not so amazing first kiss and the biblical history of the Holy Spirit. Are you thirsty?