The Local Church

In the midst of the Christmas season, Advent offers us an opportunity to slow our hearts and lean in to reflect on the beautiful arrival of Jesus into our lives in the past, present and future.  --- 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.l...

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 Church Instagram: http://instagram.com/localchurchgr Weekly Email News...

Persecution will come for those of who sincerely try to follow the Jesus of Scripture - from those who don't know God at all, and those who claim to but don't actually. This was also true for the church in Philadelphia, whose letter in Revelation acknowledged their deeds and promised that they would be protected as they persevered. Sometimes when we have little strength, it's so that we have to re...

How many of us care more about our spiritual reputation than our spiritual reality? Some of us, like the church in Sardis, need a wake up call from complacency. Jesus's letter applied to both the individual and the collective church, and that still rings true today. The consumerism of our culture can make us think that all we need to do is go to a church building instead of belong to a church body...

Have you ever seen someone on a path you know will not turn out well, but been unsure if warning them was appropriate? The letter to the church in Thyatira focuses on Jesus as judge, and is a heavy but necessary setup as he does just this. He issues a warning that they must turn from following a false teacher of suffer dire consequences. While sometimes tough to hear, when a warning is issued from...

The direction of our culture is speeding in the opposite direction of scripture. We can find ourselves tempted to join in with certain cultural norms and idols that don't seem immediately harmful, but aren't bringing us closer to God. The same was true for the church in Pergamum, an impressive capital city of progress but also of many idols. But Jesus urges them to repent, change course and embrac...

Standing with Christ can and will cost you something, but it's worth it. The second letter in Revelation is to the church in Smyrna, who is commended for their steadfast faith in the midst of unjust suffering. Jesus reminds them that the ultimate victory - the crown he gives - is better than anything else and comes only after life on Earth. -- Join us for service online or in-person in Grand Rapid...

In the series, Lampstand, we’re examining Revelation’s seven letters to various churches. --- 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....

In our new series, Lampstand, we’re examining Revelation’s seven letters to various churches. Pastor Toran set the foundation for the context in which these letters were written and outlined three mistakes to avoid when reading the book of Revelation. --- 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...

True life is found when we lay ours down. Today, pastors Toran and Austin taught together about the difference between decision-making and discernment, reaching a place of holy indifference. This is a deep inner posture of surrender and release of our entire lives to God, being open to whatever He wants to do. --- Join us for service online or in-person in Grand Rapids every Sunday at 8:30, 9:45 &...

In John 12:24, Jesus explains that a seed must die to give life. He knew this applied to His life directly, but He also expects this to be true of His followers. What are you planting, giving away, or losing for God's Kingdom? --- 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&...

God likes to bring dead things back to life. In Ezekiel 37, there's a vision of a valley of dry bones being breathed back to life. God's heart then was for restoration and it still is today. Where do you need the Spirit to do a work in you so that He can do something through you? --- Join us for service online or in-person in Grand Rapids every Sunday at 8:30, 9:45 & 11:15AM. Decided t...

Have you ever been around something so long that it becomes familiar and loses its impact? That can sometimes happen to us with church. We need new eyes. This morning, we examined three key parts of the Great Commission found in Matthew 28 and how TLC's mission flows from this scripture. We are one small church in Christ's larger Church, and we are committed to making disciples of Jesus. -...

How amazing is it that the God of the universe chooses to dwell with us - within His followers? This weekend our Family Pastor, Adam, looked at God's dwelling places throughout scripture. God wants to be close to His children, and Jesus made that closeness possible. --- 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...

All of the Christian life is a movement toward death; but how do we die well? By practicing dying and surrendering to Jesus. We can do this by practicing letting go of two specific things: our desire to be seen by others, and our desire for control. Pastor Austin asked us - where would we rather not go? And are we willing and able to let Jesus lead us there anyway if he desires it? --- Join us for...

This week, Pastor Toran expanded on the deeper spiritual maturity he believes God is calling TLC to. We examined three phases of maturity that disciples of Jesus experience, their temptations, and their benefits. --- 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...

Pastor Toran is back from sabbatical and sharing with us some lessons learned for himself as well as our church. --- Join us for service online or in-person in Grand Rapids every Sunday! Through the summer at 9AM and 10:45AM. 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...

In our series Prodigal Prophet we're learning from the book of Jonah - a short, 4-chapter book that's ultimately a prophetic masterpiece about God's love. --- Join us for service online or in-person in Grand Rapids every Sunday! Through the summer at 9AM and 10:45AM. Decided to follow Jesus? We would love to help you figure out what's next! Let us know at https://bit.ly/TLC-i-decid...

In our series Prodigal Prophet we're learning from the book of Jonah - a short, 4-chapter book that's ultimately a prophetic masterpiece about God's love. --- Join us for service online or in-person in Grand Rapids every Sunday! Through the summer at 9AM and 10:45AM. Decided to follow Jesus? We would love to help you figure out what's next! Let us know at https://bit.ly/TLC-i-decid...

Jonah's prayer recorded in chapter 2 demonstrates his sincere gratitude for God's rescue, but also a continued defiant protest of God's plans. It serves as a mirror for us to ask - how often do we find ourselves either disobedient or blinded to how God wants to move in, through and around us? Do we recognize that God does unexpected things in unexpected ways with unexpected people? In...

When God instructs Jonah, a righteous man, to prophesy to Nineveh and give them the opportunity to be saved from destruction, he disobeys. Jonah is afraid that God may be limitless in His love - love even for His enemies. Many of us today find ourselves wanting to put limits on God's love, but it is essential that we name our "enemies" and extend radical love to them. In our series P...

Today, Pastor AJ Gillespie from Berkley Hills Church helps us understand how our everyday relationships have the potential to be radically impactful. If we follow what Hebrews 10:25-26 says, being people who encourage and challenge one another, this can bring about about protection from sin and expose blind spots so that we can become more like Christ. Through the “PB & J" series, we'...

Meals offer an opportunity to make space daily to remember who God is and what He's done for us. The Passover meal recorded in Mark 14 was a life-changing meal for the disciples. Jesus not only washed their feet, modeling the posture of serving they should have, but He also asked them to eat and drink in remembrance of Him. As he set up His new covenant He framed the most ordinary thing - eati...

How can we live as people who watch and wait for the Kingdom of Heaven when we can barely wait for the small things in our lives? Waiting is uncomfortable. But as Paul outlines in Romans 8:18-25, we can wait in hope because we have the Holy Spirit within us. We can have hope that there is more: more than our present suffering, and more than the world's empty promises of fulfillment. As Christi...

How do you handle the small annoyances and struggles of your every day life? When our schedules are interrupted or we feel out of control, our reactions can reveal what we prefer to keep hidden: anger, anxiety, self-berating, our idolatry of ease. But practicing confession of our shortcomings offers a valuable way to connect with the Father daily. It requires trust in His mercy; it recognizes our...