Are you ever tempted to despair? It could be due to opposition, persecution or oppression – it just seems like darkness is winning. Do you ever wonder, “God, where are you? What are you doing? What’s going on?” Revelation 1 answers those questions with a breathtaking encounter with Jesus. This encounter has brought comfort, assurance and strength to the church for centuries. It not only pulls back the curtain on who Jesus is, it pulls back the curtain on what’s really going on.

Christians often say God is “all-powerful,” but what do we really mean by that? In the deep ache of suffering and loss, God’s omnipotence can feel confusing or even troubling. If God is good and all-powerful, why is there death, pain, and evil? In Luke 7:11–17, we see Jesus arrive in a town whose name means pleasant—only to encounter the most unpleasant reality imaginable: death. A widow has lost her only son, leaving her utterly vulnerable and without hope. What follows is a stunning display of Jesus’ power. This passage shows us what God’s power is like, how it works, and—most importantly—who it is for.

What is powerful enough to cause us to walk away from what once defined us? To give up what brought comfort, success or control? Acts 19 is the story of individuals caught up in magical, spiritual, sexual and cultural powers, who come face to face with the power of Jesus. Between unavoidable conflict and fierce protest is a beautiful surrender to the transforming power of the Spirit. The revival that unfolds is what we’re praying for in the city of St. Pete.

The church in the ancient city of Antioch was diverse, sacrificial and mission-minded. For centuries, they have been an example of what it looks like to be a Spirit dependent church. Acts 13:1-12 brings us behind the scenes to not only show us how the Spirit was speaking, sending and empowering that local church, but to invite this local church to listen to the Spirit’s voice, surrender to the Spirit’s call, and walk in the Spirit’s strength.

What does a life fully yielded to God actually look like? Not in theory—but in real life, when it costs something. Acts 6–7 introduces us to Stephen, a man shaped by the presence of God. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, Stephen’s life reads like an echo of Jesus Himself—marked by wisdom, courage, and grace. In just a few short scenes, we see what God can do through a surrendered life, offering the early church—and believers today—a compelling model of faithfulness.

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.

The early church is often described as being “filled with the Spirit.” Whether after opposition or before a big decision, the result is almost always an unusual courage and joy. That’s what we see happening in Acts 4:23-31. It’s a story of overwhelming circumstances that lead to honest prayer, and Spirit-empowered boldness. This unusual boldness is exactly what the Spirit has been producing in followers of Jesus ever since. As we celebrate seven years of Local Church St. Pete, I can’t think of a more important prayer to adopt as our very own.

Maybe you’ve heard or used the phrase “in the name of Jesus” at the close of a prayer. Like anything we get used to, it’s easy to forget the significance of what we’re saying. When you do something in someone else’s name, you act in their authority and as their representative. In Acts chapters 3-4 we learn that a Spirit-empowered life includes speaking and living in the name of Jesus - in his strength, as his representative and for his glory. While that means hope and joy for many, it is also a threat to anyone clinging to their own power.

Local Church receives an update on Ekklessia Jax from Cedric Lauchner.

Jesus never expected you to do it alone, to somehow find the strength within yourself to obey his call on your life. He never intended you to share his love and grace or make disciples without the promised Spirit. Acts chapters 1 and 2 is the story of the early church receiving the empowerment Jesus promised - an empowerment that has been on repeat ever since.