The Local Church

December 21, 2023

As part of our Advent 4 At-Home Liturgy, Leah Benn Miller shares a brief meditation describing the history of singing in the church and the power it holds as we look toward the future God has for us.

Scripture: Luke 1:67–80

For more information about The Local Church, visit our website. We're also posting good stuff on Facebook, Threads, and Instagram, too. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at [email protected].

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.

December 17, 2023

We continue with our third Sunday of Advent, and this week’s theme is Joy. To celebrate, Brent preaches on Taylor Swift, Easter eggs, and how each glimpse of joy offers a taste of what’s to come.

Scripture: Luke 1:57-66

For more information about The Local Church, visit our website. We're also posting good stuff on Facebook, Threads, and Instagram, too. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at [email protected].

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.

December 10, 2023

Amidst disorientation, fear, and an uncertain future, Elizabeth becomes a person of peace for Mary.

Scripture: Luke 1:26-56

For more information about The Local Church, visit our website. We're also posting good stuff on Facebook, Threads, and Instagram, too. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at [email protected].

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.

December 3, 2023

This week, we begin our new series, “Back to the Future.” Advent beckons us to imagine a future that once felt unimaginable, inviting us to suspend disbelief, trust in God's promises, and actively participate in distributing a better future.

Scripture: Luke 1:5–25

For more information about The Local Church, visit our website. We're also posting good stuff on Facebook, Threads, and Instagram, too. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at [email protected].

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.

November 26, 2023

This week, we’re wrapping up our In Good Company series on the saints with a venerated saint who doesn’t get a lot of airtime: St. Clare of Assisi. Leah Benn Miller brings the good word this week!

Scripture: Luke 7:36–50

For more information about The Local Church, visit our website. We're also posting good stuff on Facebook, Threads, and Instagram, too. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at [email protected].

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.

November 19, 2023

This week, we share the story of a saint who made an indelible impact on the twentieth century but has been largely written out of history, had deep faith roots that shaped his life and belief in profound ways, and has a surprising local connection

Scripture: Luke 7:18–35

For more information about The Local Church, visit our website. We're also posting good stuff on Facebook, Threads, and Instagram, too. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at [email protected].

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.

November 12, 2023

We continue our In Good Company series on the saints by meeting Dorothy Day.

Scripture: Luke 7:11–17

For more information about The Local Church, visit our website. We're also posting good stuff on Facebook, Threads, and Instagram, too. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at [email protected].

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.

November 5, 2023

It’s the first week of a new season of In Good Company! This week, paired with Luke 7:1-10, Brent shares about a saint who is a meticulous writer, an accomplished musician, an ordained minister, and a revered teacher — one whose voice we need now, perhaps more than ever.

In this sermon, you'll learn:

• The concept of saints in the United Methodist tradition
• About the life of Fred Rogers, a modern saint whose story points to Jesus and exemplifies compassion, empathy, and inclusivity.
• About the generosity and compassion of the Gentile centurion in Luke's gospel and how it demonstrates Jesus' boundary-crossing inclusivity.
• About the foundational role of faith in Mr. Rogers' life and how it shaped his perspective and approach to others.
• About the examples of boundary-breaking inclusivity in Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, such as featuring the first recurring African American character on a children's television show.
• About the theological and philosophical principles that guided Mr. Rogers, such as the belief in the sacredness of all creation and the value of every person.

Scripture: Luke 7:1-10

For more information about The Local Church, visit our website. We're also posting good stuff on Facebook, Threads, and Instagram, too. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at [email protected].

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.

October 29, 2023

It’s the fourth and final week with Jesus for his Sermon on the Plain in Luke. This week, he brings it all home.

Scripture: Luke 6:43–49

For more information about The Local Church, visit our website. We're also posting good stuff on Facebook, Threads, and Instagram, too. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at [email protected].

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.

October 22, 2023

We’re continuing to move slowly through Luke’s Sermon on the Plain with what Jesus really means when he tells us to take the log out of our own eyes.

Scripture: Luke 6:39–45

For more information about The Local Church, visit our website. We're also posting good stuff on Facebook, Threads, and Instagram, too. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at [email protected].

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.