The Local Church

Do you ever find yourself bogged down by worries, wondering if the Lord cares? Martha did, too. This week we looked at the story of Mary and Martha found in Luke 10. As we spent time in prayer, reflection and worship, we invited the Lord to reveal to us where we are worried and distracted. --- Join us for service online or in-person in Grand Rapids every Sunday at 9AM & 10:30AM. Decided to fol...

Sometimes our intentions are good, but the path we're on won't lead where we want to go. We need God to show us a path we cannot see without him. The apostle Paul (once a persecutor of Christians named Saul) was forever changed when he encountered God face to face in Acts 9. The God of relationship shines a bright light on the undeniable truth of his sovereignty, and shows him an alternate...

Have you ever done something you thought you couldn't come back from? The story of Simon Peter's denial of Christ demonstrates that we don't have to be defined by our failures. Jesus, our savior, lives to intercede for us. --- Join us for service online or in-person in Grand Rapids every Sunday at 9AM & 10:30AM. Decided to follow Jesus? We would love to help you figure out what&#39...

In the story of God calling Moses at the burning bush in Exodus 3, we see that we're not the main character of our story - God is. He's not looking for our ability, but our availability. When God calls: He often comes to meet us where we are It's grounded in his heart for his people It often meets our insecurities --- Join us for service online or in-person in Grand Rapids every Sunday...

Many of us are waiting to hear from God about this journey we're on and the things we're pursuing. But in Genesis 45-46, we see that worship comes first. Jacob (the father of Israel) paused his journey to worship and sacrifice to the Lord. Then, God spoke: promises that were a balm to a fearful Jacob, and can be to us, as well. When we're in a place of unknowns, God give us these words...

We began our series "Twice: When God Calls" looking at the story of Abraham's obedience in Genesis 22. At first glance, God's instruction to sacrifice Isaac can cause us to question his goodness and kindness. But Abraham obeys immediately because he's witnessed God's faithfulness to deliver many times. If you're willing to trust God and obey, you'll always find yo...

This Easter Sunday, we looked at a meal that Jesus had after his resurrection - after he traveled the road to Emmaus with two disciples (unbeknownst to them). After realizing they'd had this encounter with Jesus, they were forever changed and had to run and share the good news. This Easter, we should be asking: Where is Jesus now? What would happen if I met him on the road? If I ate with him?...

Jesus loves to find those on the margins of society and restore them. Dr. Burge helped us understand the cultural significance of the city Jericho, and the oppressive taxation system that existed there. In Luke 19, Jericho's chief tax farmer Zacchaeus had an encounter with Jesus that rearranged his heart and left him fundamentally changed.   --- Join us for service online or in-person in Grand...

The meals captured in the gospel of Luke signify transformational encounters with Jesus and the kingdom he has been talking about. The meal scene in Luke 14 is packed with lessons from Jesus. Those in God's family should love for the sake of loving and serve for the sake of serving, even (and especially) when people cannot repay us. Which of the guests do you most identify with today? --- Join...

The meals captured in the gospel of Luke signify transformational encounters with Jesus and the kingdom he has been talking about. In Luke 11, Jesus interacts with the Pharisees and shares six "woes" of warning with them. These warnings can still help us today to guard against legalism and trade performance-based faith for one of genuine grace. --- Join us for service online or in-person...

The meals captured in the gospel of Luke signify transformational encounters with Jesus and the kingdom he has been talking about. This week, Pastor Toran brought new light to the story of Mary and Martha told in Luke 10. When Martha was embarrassed about Mary taking the place of a disciple at their rabbi Jesus's feet, Jesus said it was right. He didn't limit access to his love or teaching...

The meals captured in the gospel of Luke signify transformational encounters with Jesus and the kingdom he has been talking about. This week, we looked at Luke 7, when a woman anoints Jesus's feet with oil. --- Join us for service online or in-person in Grand Rapids every Sunday! On March 30, services will be at 9AM & 10:30AM. Decided to follow Jesus? We would love to help you figure out what'...

The meals captured in the gospel of Luke signify transformational encounters with Jesus and the kingdom he has been talking about. In Luke 5, Jesus dines with Levi the tax collector. Levi recognizes his brokenness and is hungry for the love and forgiveness Jesus offers. He is changed as he surrenders to Jesus's way, and later becomes Matthew, one of the 12 disciples. Do we too come to God reco...

This Sunday Pastor Toran guided us in looking at TLC's past, present and future in this special church family meeting. We celebrated what God has done in our church body and talked about some important steps to come in the next few months as we re-launch TLC in a new building and plant The Beloved Church. --- Join us for service online or in-person in Grand Rapids every Sunday at 8:30, 9:45 &a...

The end of the book of Nehemiah reminds us that we want to be pure in heart and remember our high honor and calling to be the temple of the Holy Spirit. Ask God to reveal anything in you that doesn't align with this, and then lay it at the altar, trusting that He has something better. --- Join us for service online or in-person in Grand Rapids every Sunday at 8:30, 9:45 & 11:15AM. Decided...

Week 5 of our Nehemiah series takes us through the steps of remembering what God's grace, repentance of where we've fallen short, and renewal of our covenant with him. --- Join us for service online or in-person in Grand Rapids every Sunday at 8:30, 9:45 & 11:15AM. Decided to follow Jesus? We would love to help you figure out what's next! Let us know at https://bit.ly/TLC-i-decided...

How are we willing to align our hearts with Jesus and be his hands and feet today? God's heart for the vulnerable is one of the most common themes in the Bible, and Nehemiah 5 is a great illustration of this. Those of us in the kingdom of God should strive to act as He would, obeying the full spirit of the law. It is easy to see how this applies today as we navigate recent policy changes, part...

You'll never end at the finish line if you don't begin with prayer. Today Pastor Austin helped us see that Nehemiah's prayer and reliance on God during his conversation with the king is what transformed the outcome. Prayer matters and it makes a difference! God can use a prayer whispered in a moment to shout for all of eternity. --- Join us for service online or in-person in Grand Rapi...

This week we begin our series through the book of Nehemiah. --- Join us for service online or in-person in Grand Rapids every Sunday at 8:30, 9:45 & 11:15AM. Decided to follow Jesus? We would love to help you figure out what's next! Let us know at https://bit.ly/TLC-i-decided Stay Connected! Website: http://localchurchgr.org Local Church Facebook: http://facebook.com/localchurchgr Local Ch...

The story of the prodigal son is so beautiful that it's become somewhat of an ideal in culture. The problem with ideals is that we're not sure if they actually apply to us. Have you ever done something you thought you could never come back from? In Week 2 of Prodigals, Pastor Toran helps us see that God the Father is looking expectantly for and ready to joyfully welcome anyone who will turn to him...

What's inside your heart, motivating your actions? This Sunday, Pastor Sara helped us take a closer look at the parable of the prodigal son: at the the heart of the older brother and father. The older son convicts us of our own misaligned motivations and broken relationships. But it also provides a glimpse of God the Father's kindness and compassion in his pursuit of his children. He cares deeply...

In Isaiah 7, God offers King Ahaz the opportunity to trust in him amidst wild circumstances and receive the gift of his presence; but Ahaz rejected it. Years later, when Jesus's earthly father Joseph is faced with the same choice, he humbly accepts this gift of God's presence. This progressive prophesy points us to the ultimate gift God intended for us: Immanuel, God With Us. Each of us today is o...

How often do we want the gifts of God more than the gift-giver himself? The story of Abraham and Isaac in Genesis 22 is challenging - why would God ask this? There were some things that needed to die in Abraham. It caused him to examine if his trust was really in God or just in the promises? Is there anything God is asking you to surrender in the waiting of this Advent season? --- Join us for serv...

This Sunday, Pastor Toran helped us examine two interconnected stories of faith and healing that are captured in Luke 8:40-56. In both, we see Jesus desiring to grow people's faith in the middle of waiting. Where is God asking you to grow your faith in the waiting this Advent season? --- Join us for service online or in-person in Grand Rapids every Sunday at 8:30, 9:45 & 11:15AM. Decided to fo...