The Local Church Podcast

DateOctober 1, 2023SynopsisA message on Luke 5 and the call of Levi for anyone who’s internalized harmful voices or unproductive thoughts, felt disqualified from faith for whatever reason, distant from God, or been told there are preconditions for inclusion in God’s family.ReferencesScripture: Luke 5:27–39About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. We're also posting good stuff on Facebook, Threads, and Instagram, too. 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.

DateSeptember 24, 2023SynopsisCatherine Neal continues our slow roll through the Gospel according to Luke with a look at a fascinating story about a paralyzed man crowded out — and his friends’ desperate attempt to get him to Jesus.In this sermon, you'll learn:The significance of friends who carry a paralyzed man to JesusHow busyness can hinder us from accessing the LordThat Jesus responds to the faith of others, not just the person in need of healingThe power of standing in the gap and interceding for our friendsThe importance of offering compassionate presenceThe role of prayer and petitions in bringing restoration and healingThe impact of faith-filled and faithful friendshipsThe potential for unexpected friendships to develop in unexpected placesThe beauty of friendships that catalyze growth and spiritual transformationReferencesScripture: Luke 5:17-26About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. We're also posting good stuff on Facebook, Threads, and Instagram, too. 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.

DateSeptember 17, 2023SynopsisWe continue our slow roll through Luke with the beginning of his public ministry in his hometown. In this sermon, you’ll learn:Why Jesus uses particular ideas as he begins his ministryThe historical and theological significance of the Year of JubileeJubilee's connection to Jesus's ministryThe challenge of embracing Jubilee in a world that may resist itThe invitation to create Jubilee moments today and the impact it can have on ourselves and othersReferencesScripture: Luke 4:14–30About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. We're also posting good stuff on Facebook, Threads, and Instagram, too. 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.

DateSeptember 10, 2023SynopsisThis week, Brent introduces a new initiative for us at The Local Church — a slow roll through the Gospel According to Luke. In this episode, you'll learn:What John the Baptizer means by "bear fruits worthy of repentance"Why he is trying to provoke a crisis for his hearersHow crises force us to ask hard questions and give us an opportunity to move in a different directionThe secret to a robust spiritual life The connection between hurry and the disconnection from love, compassion, and presenceReferencesScripture: Luke 3:1–22About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. We're also posting good stuff on Facebook, Threads, and Instagram, too. 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.

DateSeptember 3, 2023SynopsisThis week, we wrap up our Ask Us Anything series with a big question: How do we relate to people of other religions? Is salvation available to people not of the Christian faith?In this episode, you'll learn:How Christians should interact with people of other religionsThe practice of holy envySome questions to ask when thinking about salvation for people outside the Christian faithReferencesScripture: Acts 17:16-34About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. We're also posting good stuff on Facebook, Threads, and Instagram, too. 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 20, 2023SynopsisIt’s the second week of our Ask Us Anything series, and this week’s topic is how to know what God wants you to do.You’ll learn:the difference between discernment and decision-makingthe three key steps of discernmentwhy it shouldn't be done alonethe good news no matter what decision you makeReferencesScripture: Acts 1:3–11; 10:1–17, 34-35About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. We're also posting good stuff on Facebook, Threads, and Instagram, too. 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 13, 2023SynopsisWe’re bringing back our Ask Us Anything series for a new year, and we kick it off with a big question: How do you find forgiveness, especially for somoene who isn’t interested in seeking it?In this episode, you’ll learn:why questions are vital to our faith journey and why asking them puts us in good company with Jesuspowerful examples of forgiveness and why it's so rare in our worldwhy we forgivethe significance of the Greek word aphiemi and how this impacts our understanding of forgivenesswhy forgiveness doesn't equate to absolution, reconciliation, or healing but is an integral part of those processeswhy Jesus tells Peter to forgive seventy-seven timeshow forgiveness is ultimately an act of faiththree steps toward forgivenessReferencesScripture: Matthew 18:21–35About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. We're also posting good stuff on Facebook, Threads, and Instagram, too. 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 6, 2023SynopsisIt’s the fourth and final week of our That’s What He Said series. This week: Jesus as Savior. In this sermon, you'll learn about the life of Jesus, his embodiment of humility, vulnerability, and compassion, and the significance of his humanity in the context of healing and salvation. Additionally, you'll gain a deeper understanding of the power of love and service in participating in God's saving work and what it looks like to bring healing and wholeness to the world.ReferencesScripture: John 13:1–17, 33–35; Philippians 2:1–11About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. We're also posting good stuff on Facebook, Threads, and Instagram, too. 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.

DateJuly 30, 2023SynopsisThis week, as part of our “That’s What He Said” series on the identity of Jesus in his own words, Brent asks, “What does it mean that Jesus is Lord?"In this sermon, you'll:learn to embrace life's absurdity and find wonder in everyday momentsdiscover the political resistance behind the confession, "Jesus is Lord"understand the importance of aligning your actions with what you believeponder what you're centering your life aroundand embrace the strange, countercultural choices driven by faith.ReferencesScripture: Luke 6:43–49About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. We're also posting good stuff on Facebook, Threads, and Instagram, too. 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.

DateJuly 23, 2023SynopsisWe’re joined by the Rev. Dr. Jennifer Garcia Bashaw this week to continue our series, “That’s What He Said," on the identity of Jesus in his own words. This week, Jen Garcia Bashaw teaches about what it means that Jesus is “the Way.” Spoiler alert: It may not be with you think.ReferencesScripture: John 14:1–7About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. We're also posting good stuff on Facebook, Threads, and Instagram, too. 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.