The Local Church Podcast

DateJanuary 19, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we launch our new series, "Come Alive: A Series on What the World Needs," by exploring the transformative practice of "centering down" through the wisdom of Howard Thurman and the example of Jesus. Drawing from Thurman's profound connection with an oak tree in his youth to Jesus's regular retreats for prayer, we discover how intentional pause and contemplation aren't just spiritual luxuries—they're essential practices for anyone seeking to make a difference in the world. This counter-cultural message reminds us that our inner work directly shapes our outer witness, and we can't fully come alive for others until we're fully alive to the divine within.ReferencesScripture: Psalm 1; Matthew 6:5–13About 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.

Quinn Holmquist and Suviya Carroll, members of Reality Ministries, discuss creating inclusive communities for people with and without disabilities. They delve into the significance of baptism, illustrating how it connects personal identity with a sense of community. The conversation highlights the joy of shared experiences, like guessing childhood photos, and the transformational power of recognizing oneself as 'beloved.' They also emphasize the role of community worship in fostering deeper connections, inviting listeners to embrace their faith through collective support.

Discover how the stars not only light up the night sky but also symbolize God's unwavering presence in our lives. The narrative of the magi illuminates the joy of their journey to find Jesus, encapsulating themes of hope and divine love. As the New Year unfolds, listeners explore the celestial connection enhancing community bonds. Personal struggles are intertwined with historical tales, showing that even in darkness, light can guide us. Finally, the journey encourages choosing a personal word to inspire faith throughout the year.

DateDecember 24, 2024SynopsisIn this sermon, we explore how God disrupts and rewrites our expected endings through the lens of a surprising Christmas carol and a fresh look at the nativity story. By examining how the traditional interpretation of "no room at the inn" might actually be a story of radical hospitality, we discover a God who consistently shows up in unexpected places and subverts our assumptions about how things "must" end. This message of divine disruption reminds us that our seemingly fixed endings are never truly final in God's economy of grace and possibility.ReferencesScripture: [Luke 2:1–20](URL 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.

DateDecember 22, 2024SynopsisIn this sermon, we dive into what happens when vulnerability meets blessing through the lens of Mary's visit to Elizabeth. We explore how creating safe spaces for truth-telling—like Elizabeth's home and the muskrat's winter den—allows us to encounter transformative love that empowers us to sing new songs of hope. This fourth Sunday of Advent reminds us that authentic love makes room for our whole selves, not just our highlight reel.ReferencesScripture: Luke 1:39–55 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.

DateDecember 15, 2024SynopsisIn this sermon, we unpack the revolutionary nature of joy through the dual lenses of ancient prophecy and creation's wisdom. Moving beyond shallow optimism, we discover joy as a daily practice of drawing from God's deep wells of salvation—a practice that, like the pink candle interrupting Advent's purple hues, breaks through darkness with unexpected light. This exploration reveals how joy becomes both protest and prayer in a world longing for wholeness.ReferencesScripture: Isaiah 12:2–6About 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.

DateDecember 8, 2024SynopsisIn this sermon from our Advent series "All Creation Waits: Rewilding Advent," we explore how God's transformative work of peace unfolds not in dramatic moments, but through slow, steady change—just like mountains eroding and valleys filling over time. Drawing wisdom from John the Baptist's call to prepare the way and insights from the natural world, we discover that real, lasting peace requires our active participation through daily practices that shape us. Like rivers changing course or flamingos taking on the color of what they consume, we are gradually transformed as we turn toward God's vision of peace.ReferencesScripture: Luke 3:1–6 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.

DateDecember 1, 2024SynopsisIn this sermon, launching the series "All Creation Waits: Rewilding Advent," we discover how Advent begins not in cozy certainty, but in holy chaos. When the world feels like it's falling apart, nature's winter wisdom - from chickadees mapping seeds of hope to fig trees pulsing with hidden life - teaches us a radical way forward. Instead of numbing our pain or turning away, we're invited to stay alert and present, trusting that God's renewal persists even in the dark.ReferencesScripture: Luke 21:25–36About 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.

DateNovember 24, 2024SynopsisIn this sermon, we wrestle with Bonhoeffer's piercing question: "Are we still of any use?" Through his life and writings, we explore what it means for the church to be more than furniture in the background of our lives—to become Christ's visible presence in the world. Bonhoeffer's journey from academic theologian to prophetic voice shows us how the Sermon on the Mount calls us beyond theoretical faith into tangible action, challenging us to be the church that makes Christ present in times of crisis and suffering. (Matthew 5:1-16)ReferencesScripture: Matthew 5:1–16About 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.

DateNovember 17, 2024SynopsisIn this sermon, we discover how a 19th-century French saint's radical embrace of smallness offers surprising wisdom for our exhausting, power-hungry world. St. Thérèse of Lisieux's "Little Way"—finding strength in weakness and trusting in small acts of great love—provides both a liberating alternative to our culture's demands for constant achievement and a radical roadmap for navigating our present moment of social upheaval and disillusionment. This message speaks directly to anyone feeling inadequate or overwhelmed, revealing how our perceived weaknesses might actually be the exact places where God shows up most powerfully.ReferencesScripture: Psalm 131; 2 Corinthians 12:2–10About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. We're also posting good stuff on Facebook and Instagram. 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.