The Local Church Podcast

This sermon delves into our deep desire to be seen and the radical idea of chosen family through Christ. It tackles the complexities of belonging, particularly when traditional families fail us. The discussion highlights the importance of community support, especially in challenging times like Mother's Day and graduation. Through biblical reflections, the talk emphasizes the need for vulnerability, acceptance, and connection, showing that true peace is found in sharing our wounds and joys.

Rev. Amanda Rigby, co-founder of The Well Mental and Spiritual Care, and Dr. Elizabeth Watters, a researcher in community-based mental health, dive deep into the critical intersection of mental health and spirituality. They discuss how burnout inspired their creation of a nurturing space for holistic care within the church. The conversation explores the importance of community support, affordable mental health resources, and the essential belief in everyone's inherent worth. This is a heartfelt call to prioritize emotional wellness in our lives.

DateMay 4, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we deconstruct the "happily ever after" myth and explore how meaningful relationships are built through intentional practice. Drawing from biblical wisdom and contemporary research, we examine five essential building blocks for stronger marriages: equal partnership, committed presence, cultivated closeness, practiced forgiveness, and shared mission. These elements form the architecture of not just thriving marriages, but all relationships that embody Christ's transformative love in our world.ReferencesScripture: 1 Corinthians 13What's HappeningAs the summer approaches, we could use your help on Sunday mornings! Find joy and deeper connection by serving to help make our gatherings happen. Learn more and sign up here.Your old bikes could become a needed lifeline through The Re:Cycle Project. Donate your old bike in any condition, or get involved here.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.

DateApril 27, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we kick off "We Just Click: God's Design for Meaningful Relationships," a post-Easter series exploring how authentic connections can transform our lives and world. Pastor Brent unpacks how Jesus spent his "bonus time" after resurrection not on tasks or teachings, but on being present with others—showing us that connection isn't just nice, it's necessary. He reveals four powerful ways relationships transform us: they combat loneliness, bring joy, provide support, and create space to practice love in ways that draw us closer to God's heart.ReferencesScripture: Genesis 2:15–25About 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.

DateApril 20, 2025SynopsisOn this Easter Sunday, we explore how resurrection hope spreads not through arguments or explanations, but through personal encounter. Beginning in darkness with Mary Magdalene at the empty tomb, we discover that Easter's power lies in the moment hope becomes tangible and personal—when Jesus calls our name. This isn't just ancient history; it's an invitation to recognize resurrection breaking into our own lives and share that transformative hope with others. Like Mary's simple testimony "I have seen the Lord," our encounters with new life are meant to be shared, creating a chain reaction of hope that continues to this day.ReferencesScripture: John 20:1-18About 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.

DateApril 13, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we explore pride—not as confidence or dignity, but as our stubborn refusal to embrace our human limitations. Through the lens of Palm Sunday, we discover how pride manifests in our desperate attempts to appear self-sufficient, invulnerable, and in control. The sermon weaves together baseball statistics, "scruffy hospitality," and the revolutionary context of palm branches to illuminate a powerful truth: our healing begins precisely when we stop pretending to be superhuman and embrace our beautiful, messy creatureliness. The final installment in the "Glitch" series examining the Seven Deadly Sins.ReferencesScripture: John 12:12–16About 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.

DateApril 6, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we join worship leader Leah Benn Miller and pastor Brent Levy for a raw, honest conversation about lust and love as part of the Lenten series "Glitch: Reframing Sin and Finding Reconnection." Through their exploration of Ephesians 5:21-33, they flip the script on shame-based theology, revealing how our deepest desires point to a God whose power flows through intimacy and mutual submission. Rather than weapons of control, both scripture and sexuality become invitations to see each other as sacred beings worthy of tender care, creating spaces where vulnerability blooms into grace.ReferencesScripture: Ephesians 5:21–33 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.

DateMarch 30, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we explore anger as both gift and glitch in the spiritual life. Anger can be holy—alerting us to injustice and moving us toward righteous action—or destructive when we nurse grudges that consume our souls. Jesus himself models this tension, flipping tables in righteous indignation while warning against harboring resentment that corrodes our capacity for love. The invitation is not to eliminate anger but to transform it: letting our rage reveal what we truly value, then channeling that energy toward healing and reconciliation rather than letting bitterness define us.ReferencesScripture: Matthew 5:17–26About 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.

DateMarch 23, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we tackle envy—the belief that someone else's success threatens our own—through Jesus's parable of the vineyard workers. Envy isn't just comparison; it's the corrosive lie that another's blessing diminishes yours, scaling from personal insecurity to systemic oppression. The antidote? Generosity rooted in knowing your belovedness. When we celebrate others' wins instead of competing, we disrupt envy's isolating power and reconnect to what matters: in God's economy, there's more than enough for everyone.ReferencesScripture: Matthew 20:1–16About 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.

This engaging discussion delves into the sin of acedia, a spiritual apathy that often traps us in despair. It draws on the biblical story of Jesus healing a paralyzed man, emphasizing moments of hope and divine intervention. The conversation encourages community, vulnerability, and creativity, reminding us to see beyond stagnation. By redefining sin and exploring our struggles, the speaker inspires listeners to embrace change and transformation, inviting them to step into new possibilities.