The Local Church

Mephibosheth highlights David's countercultural act of grace, emphasizing God's pursuit of us and the importance of extending grace to others. We read about David's restoration of Mephibosheth and God's promise to make all things new. -- Join us for service online or in-person in Grand Rapids every Sunday at 8:30, 9:45 & 11:15AM (EST). Decided to follow Jesus? We would love to...

In 2 Samuel 11 we read the deepest darkest moment in the life of David. It’s a moment that, if we let it, can serve as a mirror to our brokenness and desperate need for God’s grace. -- Join us for service online or in-person in Grand Rapids every Sunday at 8:30, 9:45 & 11:15AM (EST). Decided to follow Jesus? We would love to help you figure out what's next! Let us know at https://bit.ly/TL...

God’s covenant with David speaks volumes about who David was, but even more so about who God is. In David’s response, we see a model of response that should be reflected in our own lives. -- Join us for service online or in-person in Grand Rapids every Sunday at 8:30, 9:45 & 11:15AM (EST). Decided to follow Jesus? We would love to help you figure out what's next! Let us know at https://bit...

As the Ark of the Covenant was brought into Jerusalem, David makes a fool of himself and dances before it and the Lord. Instead of being ashamed of it, David, and the Lord, is proud of his declaration and boldness. It causes us to pause and ask the question, how are we willing to look foolish to honor God? -- Join us for service online or in-person in Grand Rapids every Sunday at 8:30, 9:45 &...

Two moments conclude the feud between David and Saul. The difference between them was closely connected to who they were listening to. David was listening to the voice of the Lord; Saul was listening to the voice of others. This causes us to ponder a pretty pointed and obvious question: whose voice are we listening to? -- Join us for service online or in-person in Grand Rapids every Sunday at 8:30...

We chat about Toran's sabbatical, church planting, and our current space.

Have you ever wanted something that others seemed to be getting but you weren’t? The story of Saul and his envy is an odd one. For three chapters there is no mention of God. The evil and envious spirit of Saul infects and destroys Saul and everything around him. For David, what God wanted and God’s timing was more important than any position.

1 Samuel 17 holds the familiar story of David and Goliath. The young shepherd boy, David, heard and saw the same things that terrified the Israelite king and soldiers, but he responded with confidence in God's victory. When we trust what God has said about our future, we can be unafraid in the present; when we know God's heart through the Spirit, we can see with eyes of faith - just like D...

In 1 Samuel 8, we get a glimpse of what's to come in the story of David's life - of a human king who will fall short. But if we get distracted by his shortcomings, we will miss the point: that King Jesus is a king who doesn't take, but gives, and refuses to give up on His people.

At the start of the year, it's good to examine our priorities. How do we align these priorities with those of Jesus. Priorities of justice, mercy, and faithfulness?

As we move into 2024, how do we continue to "strengthen our roots" in Jesus? Following the outline in Colossians 2:6-7, consider memorizing scripture, writing a daily note of gratitude, and getting involved in biblical community.

The biggest gift isn't always the BEST gift.

The third gift from the magi, myrrh, is full of both hope and sorrow throughout scripture. This is reflected by the reality that Jesus is the ultimate prophet -  He IS God's steadfast love, faithfulness and hope brought to life in the midst of sorrow. None of these gifts from the magi make something true about Jesus. They represent the truth of who He is: a king who reigns, a priest who redeem...

The second gift the magi brought King Jesus was frankincense. In Exodus, we learn that the scent was used in the tabernacle and was presented to God by the high priest with an animal sacrifice, representing prayers of repentance rising to heaven. The magi presenting this gift to Jesus foreshadowed that he would become our ultimate high priest and stand in the gap for our atonement.

The magi in Matthew 2 recognized that as King, Jesus deserved their first and best - that was their gold. Many of us attempt to use our "gold" - the wonderful gifts God has given us - to buy a sense of satisfaction; but everything else we try to put out hope and faith in can never satisfy what we're truly longing for. What's holding you back from giving your first and best to the...

As we wrap up our Vaux|cation series, we dive into how our work matters right now, and is just as important in the future. You can love or hate what you do, but do it all for God's glory and the Kingdom.

God cursed the field and the family. Our work is hard and frustrating at times because it is cursed—God’s protection and blessing has been removed from these areas as a result of the fall.

God is a worker and God cares about our work. Throughout the Bible, the portrait of work that we are offered is not divided by sacred and secular, but good/right and bad/evil work. We have the opportunity and privilege to discover the kind of work that God is calling us into and partner with Him to take the world someplace.

There is an intimate connection between who we are and what we do. The prefix “vaux” just means to be worthy of; it’s where we get the word ‘valor’. God makes us worthy of work—an opportunity to partner with Him to take the world somewhere.

The Holy Spirit points the spotlight on Jesus, reveals who he is, guides us to Jesus and glorifies him (makes him beautiful). We must recognize our limits if we are to experience the potential that Jesus has for us.

The school of suffering is one that none of us can avoid and one that God uses to change and mature us. We have a choice: to trust in the darkness, to trust that God, that God is present in our suffering, and that God will make all things new.

If we don't do the painful, humiliating, and liberating work of cheerfully bringing our failures out from the darkness, we're limiting our growth! We must bring our sins into the light acknowledgement before a Christian brother or sister.

The life, death and resurrection of Christ makes acquittal possible for us. In Christ, we are justified and have right standing before God. Sanctification is our growth in holiness. Justification is the not one-time vaccination that spares us from hell but food to nourish us all the way to heaven. It’s not the spark plug to the Christian life; it’s the engine.

You cannot overestimate God's love. You can only underestimate it. In fact, we do it all the time. Nothing that we can do could ever slow the overwhelming, never-ending, infinite love that Jesus has for us. To grow in Christ is to yada - to know - that love that he has for us. 

God desires union with us. Look to Christ. You will grow in Christ as you direct your gaze to Christ. If you take your eyes off of Jesus Christ and direct your gaze to your own growth, you will prevent the very growth you desire.