There are many types of suffering - physical, emotional, spiritual, relational. Some of us can name specific suffering we're going through, but there's also a general sense in the world that things are broken and not okay.

Pain and suffering aren't proof that God has left us — it's often the place where He does His deepest work. Jesus understands our suffering and actually walks with us through it. We can shift our question from “Why is this happening?” to “What might God be doing in me through this?”

Does truly loving someone mean that we need to affirm all parts of them, including their sexual orientation? 

Today we look at what scripture says about same-sex attraction as well as how God loves and responds to his people (with all types of brokenness). Though TLC holds to a traditional sexual ethic, how we talk about this charged topic and live it out has deep implications for people that Jesus deeply loves. We believe that if we want to show what God is like, we must start with grace and truth. We show love by acting like Jesus. 

If you'd like more resources on the subject, or to read TLC's position paper, you can visit here.

What is the Bible? Even proclaimed Christians can have trouble constructing a definition, often because we come to scripture with our own opinions and doubts. But if we start with how Jesus understood and viewed God's Word, we can reach a new definition: The Bible is a library of books — both human and divine — that's trustworthy and authoritative, and tells a unified story that leads us to Jesus.

Can we really trust the Bible? Using history, archaeology, and critical literary research, we explore how Scripture was formed, copied, and preserved with remarkable accuracy. Compared to other ancient texts, it is unmatched in evidence and consistency. When we look at how God has faithfully preserved His Word through thousands of years, we can feel confident that the Bible is historically credible, spiritually inspired, and worth building our lives on.

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Join us for service online or in-person in Grand Rapids every Sunday at 9AM & 10:45AM.

Decided to follow Jesus? We would love to help you figure out what's next! Let us know at https://bit.ly/TLC-i-decided

Stay Connected!

• Website: http://localchurchgr.org
• Facebook: http://facebook.com/localchurchgr
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/localchurchgr
• Weekly Email Newsletter: https://bit.ly/trendingatTLC
• Visit & What to Expect: http://localchurchgr.org/expect
• Events: http://my.localchurchgr.org/events

If you would like to support The Local Church GR's ministry and help us continue reaching people in the Grand Rapids area, click here: https://localchurchgr.org/give

Need prayer? Please let us know! - https://localchurchgr.org/care

Does God still speak personally and clearly today, like he speaks to Phillip in Acts 8?

Obedience to God’s voice can lead to unexpected but life-changing outcomes. God speaks through Scripture, prayer, the Holy Spirit, and community. Believers can learn to recognize God’s voice the same way they recognize a parent’s—through familiarity and relationship.

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Join us for service online or in-person in Grand Rapids every Sunday at 9AM & 10:45AM.

Decided to follow Jesus? We would love to help you figure out what's next! Let us know at https://bit.ly/TLC-i-decided

Stay Connected!

• Website: http://localchurchgr.org
• Facebook: http://facebook.com/localchurchgr
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/localchurchgr
• Weekly Email Newsletter: https://bit.ly/trendingatTLC
• Visit & What to Expect: http://localchurchgr.org/expect
• Events: http://my.localchurchgr.org/events

If you would like to support The Local Church GR's ministry and help us continue reaching people in the Grand Rapids area, click here: https://localchurchgr.org/give

Need prayer? Please let us know! - https://localchurchgr.org/care

God loves to take the ancient truth of the gospel and breathe new life into it. In Acts 7 & 8, we read of the persecution and scattering of Christians as Jewish leaders tried to stop the spread of the gospel. But this physical movement of Jesus's followers to a new place ignited a bigger movement of the Spirit in people's hearts.

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Join us for service online or in-person in Grand Rapids every Sunday at 9AM & 10:45AM.

Decided to follow Jesus? We would love to help you figure out what's next! Let us know at https://bit.ly/TLC-i-decided

Stay Connected!

• Website: http://localchurchgr.org
• Facebook: http://facebook.com/localchurchgr
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/localchurchgr
• Weekly Email Newsletter: https://bit.ly/trendingatTLC
• Visit & What to Expect: http://localchurchgr.org/expect
• Events: http://my.localchurchgr.org/events

If you would like to support The Local Church GR's ministry and help us continue reaching people in the Grand Rapids area, click here: https://localchurchgr.org/give

Need prayer? Please let us know! - https://localchurchgr.org/care

This Sunday was a Sacred Space Sunday, where we spent extended time in Acts 4:23-31 together in small groups. We examined the text for what it reveals about God's character, and prayed for the boldness to recognize and obey any invitation the Spirit has for us.

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Join us for service online or in-person in Grand Rapids every Sunday at 9AM & 10:45AM.

Decided to follow Jesus? We would love to help you figure out what's next! Let us know at https://bit.ly/TLC-i-decided

Stay Connected!

• Website: http://localchurchgr.org
• Facebook: http://facebook.com/localchurchgr
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/localchurchgr
• Weekly Email Newsletter: https://bit.ly/trendingatTLC
• Visit & What to Expect: http://localchurchgr.org/expect
• Events: http://my.localchurchgr.org/events

If you would like to support The Local Church GR's ministry and help us continue reaching people in the Grand Rapids area, click here: https://localchurchgr.org/give

Need prayer? Please let us know! - https://localchurchgr.org/care

When faced with opposition, will you obey God or man?

Acts 4–5 shows the early church wrestling with this question. Jesus’ followers had to choose between obeying men who threatened them or obeying God. Today, many believers still face severe persecution, while most of us encounter subtler tests—how we respond to gossip, integrity, anger, money, culture, and idols.

Through the Spirit and the church, Jesus gave the apostles everything they needed to stand firm—and he’s done the same for us.

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Join us for service online or in-person in Grand Rapids every Sunday at 9AM & 10:45AM.

Decided to follow Jesus? We would love to help you figure out what's next! Let us know at https://bit.ly/TLC-i-decided

Stay Connected!

• Website: http://localchurchgr.org
• Facebook: http://facebook.com/localchurchgr
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/localchurchgr
• Weekly Email Newsletter: https://bit.ly/trendingatTLC
• Visit & What to Expect: http://localchurchgr.org/expect
• Events: http://my.localchurchgr.org/events

If you would like to support The Local Church GR's ministry and help us continue reaching people in the Grand Rapids area, click here: https://localchurchgr.org/give

Need prayer? Please let us know! - https://localchurchgr.org/care

The early church in Acts gave generously and sacrificially. How? They devoted themselves to Jesus' teachings on the subject and those of the Old Testament. Today we looked at six Biblical principles of giving that believers can follow today.

This message is part of our series in the book of Acts, which is like the "part 2" of Luke's writing, capturing the life and ministry of Jesus as it's lived out through his early church.

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Join us for service online or in-person in Grand Rapids every Sunday at 9AM & 10:45AM.

Decided to follow Jesus? We would love to help you figure out what's next! Let us know at https://bit.ly/TLC-i-decided

Stay Connected!

• Website: http://localchurchgr.org
• Facebook: http://facebook.com/localchurchgr
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/localchurchgr
• Weekly Email Newsletter: https://bit.ly/trendingatTLC
• Visit & What to Expect: http://localchurchgr.org/expect
• Events: http://my.localchurchgr.org/events

If you would like to support The Local Church GR's ministry and help us continue reaching people in the Grand Rapids area, click here: https://localchurchgr.org/give

Need prayer? Please let us know! - https://localchurchgr.org/care

Acts 2:42 gives a picture of what the church can look like when it's operating at its best: devotedly pursuing the apostles' teaching (the New Testament), fellowship, eating together and prayer. Practicing this kind of fellowship - or koinonia - offers so much value for our lives today.

This message is part of our series in the book of Acts, which is like the "part 2" of Luke's writing, capturing the life and ministry of Jesus as it's lived out through his early church.

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Join us for service online or in-person in Grand Rapids every Sunday at 9AM & 10:45AM.

Decided to follow Jesus? We would love to help you figure out what's next! Let us know at https://bit.ly/TLC-i-decided

Stay Connected!

• Website: http://localchurchgr.org
• Facebook: http://facebook.com/localchurchgr
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/localchurchgr
• Weekly Email Newsletter: https://bit.ly/trendingatTLC
• Visit & What to Expect: http://localchurchgr.org/expect
• Events: http://my.localchurchgr.org/events

If you would like to support The Local Church GR's ministry and help us continue reaching people in the Grand Rapids area, click here: https://localchurchgr.org/give

Need prayer? Please let us know! - https://localchurchgr.org/care