Local Church St. Pete Podcast

In Daniel 5, we read a cautionary account as relevant as ever. Each of us has a tendency to trust in ourselves instead of God. This false sense of independence blinds us and sets us up for disaster. But, there is hope to be found in surrendering to a God who can be trusted with everything.

The desire to be noticed, accomplished and in control - to live life on our own terms, lives in all of us. We live in a culture fixated on power and self-promotion. But it’s a hollow shell, an illusion at best. Daniel 4 is the story of God confronting this illusion in the most powerful man on earth. The crossroads it brings him to is ours to enter, the unexpected mercy shown is ours to receive.

There’s a real pressure within our culture to keep faith a private matter. As long as it blends in, is non-invasive or non-threatening, it’s fine. In other words, keep it on a leash. According to Daniel 3, faith involves saying ‘no’ at times. It requires drawing lines and standing against what isn’t right – no matter what the consequence might be.

“This Time Tomorrow” highlights the intersection of faith and work in those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete. It’s our hope that conversations like these would encourage us to walk out our faith in Jesus Monday through Saturday, seeing our vocation (whether paid or unpaid) as one of the primary ways we image God and love others.

What do you say to those who have been displaced and have lost everything? How do you encourage people you love who are facing an incredibly challenging hardship? 1 Peter 1:1-12 describes a hope that energizes, strengthens and sustains. It isn’t subjective or feelings driven, it isn’t based on speculation or wishful thinking. It’s a living hope rooted in what Jesus accomplished for us and it’s ours to rest in.

When we find ourselves in a crisis situation, where can we find the help we need? When we don’t have answers, where can we find the wisdom that will guide us? In Daniel 2, we find an impossible scenario for Daniel and his friends, and yet they cry out to the One who possesses all wisdom and power; the One that enables us to live faithfully in the place He has called us.

Local stories are stories of God's grace at work in the lives of those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete.  We want to highlight his activity and celebrate his grace.

How do you live faithfully in a society that not only disagrees with you but is determined to redefine you? The ancient story of Daniel chapter 1 has inspired generations to engage culture with an enduring faith and uncompromising resolve. The result is a faith that doesn’t simply survive culture but shapes it. 

Where do you start when “God” is a generic word or when truth is determined by the individual? What do you say when it seems like people have heard it all before? Acts 17:16-34 brings us face to face with those questions. It’s a much-needed introduction to the God of Creation as the passionate seeker who has made a way for us to seek and know him.

Many struggle to find meaning in the work that they do. A job can feel purposeless, or become simply a way to survive and pay the bills. But in the first two chapters of Genesis, we see a description of work that will both challenge our misconceptions and give us renewed purpose.

If you’re going to stay the course and make it to the end, you need to be properly equipped and empowered to do it. That’s true of any journey, but it’s especially true when it comes to faith in Jesus. The letter of Hebrews closes with a deeply personal prayer request for God to equip and empower. Imagine all the resources to do what God has called you to do and all the energy to be who God is called you to be. That’s the request, and now it’s ours to make.

Instead of doing it all on your own, imitate those who are faithfully following Jesus. Instead of embracing the soupy spirituality of our culture, stand firm on the unchanging truth of Jesus. Instead of drawing boundary lines around certain areas of your life, go “all in” and make a clean break from anything holding you back. In this final appeal, Hebrews 13:7-17 calls us to a lifestyle of imitation, identification and sacrificial praise – a countercultural way of life that keeps Jesus front and center.

What difference does Jesus make in the details of your everyday life? From relationships with others to kindness towards strangers; from your attitude about sex to the way you relate to money? Hebrews 13:1- 6 brings much-needed guidance in areas we all wrestle with. It’s a reminder that the depth and beauty of authentic faith in Jesus is always worked out in the details of everyday life.

On the journey of following Jesus, it’s easy to forget the significance of what he accomplished and what that means for our lives. Dark clouds can settle in, and spiritually we can lose all sense of direction. Like a faithful guide, Hebrews 12 describes the mountain we’ve come to and the unshakable kingdom we’ve received. It’s a breathtaking vision of where we are and what we have by faith in Jesus – and it’s given that we might endure.

An update on last month's mission trip to Local Church's partner Casa de Esperanza, an orphanage in Caranavi and La Paz, Bolivia.

Have you ever been entrusted with something that was valuable? In Matthew 25 Jesus teaches us that we are to be faithful with all that he has entrusted to us. What has he entrusted to us? And how does our view of God directly impact whether or not we waste it?

Have you ever wondered if what you’re going through is an indication that God is indifferent or doesn’t care about you? Maybe painful trials have you doubting his affection. Hebrews 12:4-17 is a reminder that as “a child of God,” nothing you face; no trial or pain, is ever wasted. In love and wisdom, God uses the circumstances of life to shape you into who he’s called you to be. The result? A renewed strength to walk the path before you.

Where does your strength to endure come from? How do you actively guard against spiritual apathy and indifference? Hebrews 12:1-3 describes our faith journey as a race and “looking to Jesus” as the only way we will complete it. More than a recommendation for the moment, “looking to Jesus” is a way of life that protects and empowers.