The Local Church Podcast

DateAugust 24, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we explore how handwritten letters—from a principal's encouraging notes to students to the Apostle Paul's letters to early Christians—remind us of our true identity and purpose. Through Paul's letter to the Ephesians, we discover a profound truth: we are God's accomplishment (poiēma), masterpieces created not by our own achievements but through divine grace. This identity frees us to participate in God's work of mending what's broken in our world, one faithful act at a time. Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10.About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

DateAugust 17, 2025SynopsisIn this service, we witnessed The Local Church officially becoming a United Methodist congregation through a powerful chartering ceremony. Bishop Connie Shelton illuminated how God's creative work continues through local communities, reminding us that we are all "co-creators" with the Divine in bringing healing and wholeness to our neighborhoods. The service celebrated both the formal constitution and the confirmation of seven young people, embodying the church's core message that everyone belongs and is beloved. From Genesis 1:1-5 to Ezekiel 17:22-24, scripture grounded this celebration of new beginnings and inclusive community.About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

DateAugust 10, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we wrestle with that universal ache of unfinished business—from summer bucket lists to life's deeper longings. Drawing from personal experience and the ancient wisdom of Hebrews 11, we discover something liberating: faith isn't about checking off every box, but about trusting God in the midst of our incompleteness. Through the story of Abraham and Sarah, we learn that the divine often shows up not in our achievements, but in life's ordinary, unpolished moments—transforming our "undone" into holy ground where grace and humanity meet. (Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16)About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

Rajeev Tiwari, Director of Student Ministries at The Local Church, preaches a sermon on what sabbath is and how we can enter into it.

Date: July 13th, 2025Rev. Dr. Denise Honeycutt delivers a sermon from Luke 10:23-27

About The RenewingThere’s a way the world teaches us to live—fast, anxious, disconnected. And there’s another way. The Renewing is a podcast about resisting what deforms us and returning to what makes us whole. Inspired by Romans 12:2, it’s a space to question the patterns we’ve inherited—hustle, disconnection, exhaustion—and imagine what healing might look like instead. Through honest conversations and deep listening, host Brent Levy explores the sacred, slow work of renewal—for ourselves, our communities, and the world.This EpisodeWhat happens when the faith you inherited no longer fits, yet something sacred still lingers? In this episode, Brent sits down with writer and creative Lauren Cibene, whose debut book, Tiger in a Lifeboat, explores deconstruction, travel, and the slow, surprising reconstruction that follows. Together, they discuss what it means to witness rather than persuade, how grief and unlearning are essential parts of healing, and why the red letters of Jesus keep drawing Lauren back.You’ll hear about the holiness of hospitality, the healing power of presence, and the sacred invitation to trust yourself again. If you’re navigating a spiritual shift, tender with your past, or just longing to see God in unexpected places, this conversation is for you.Learn more about Lauren here, check out her Substack here, and find her on Instagram here. Get her book, Tiger in a Lifeboat on Amazon, Bookshop, or Audible.The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

DateJune 15, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we explore how genuine hope emerges not just from knowing stories of faith, but from actively living them out. Through the lens of the Road to Emmaus narrative, we discover how participatory hope—showing up and embodying God's presence in the world—transforms our "we had hoped" moments into encounters with the living Christ. Drawing on experiences as a hospital chaplain and weaving together contemporary challenges with ancient wisdom, we examine how the Spirit opens our eyes to recognize Christ's presence in our midst, especially in moments of deep disappointment.Scripture references: Luke 24:13-35, Matthew 11:28-30, Psalm 27:13ReferencesScripture: Luke 24:13–35About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

DateJune 1, 2025SynopsisThis week, we welcome special guest preacher Mallory Wyckoff, who first leads us in an imaginative exercise with scripture, inviting us to step into the story and feel its weight. We then explore how Jesus meets us in our deepest weariness and transforms the emptiest of places into spaces of abundance. Join us as we discover the power of trust in the deep places of our lives, where Jesus weaves nets of liberation and hope.ReferencesScripture: Luke 5:1-11About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

DateMay 25, 2025SynopsisThis week, Rajeev Tiwari and Brent Levy respond to your questions in a special Ask Us Anything Sunday.ReferencesScripture: [Genesis 32:22-31](https://www.bible.com/bible/3523/GEN.32.22-31)About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.

DateMay 18, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we dive into the heart of authentic relationship through the lens of Peter's post-resurrection encounter with Jesus. When Jesus appears on the beach cooking breakfast, he doesn't lecture or shame – instead, he creates space for restoration and remembrance of who we truly are. Pastor Brent reveals how this ancient story speaks to our modern struggles with self-worth, belonging, and connecting with others.ReferencesScripture: John 21:1-19About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.To invest in what God's doing through The Local Church and help support these podcasting efforts and this movement of God's love, give online here.