The Local Church

October 15, 2023

This week, we continue on through Jesus's Sermon on the Plain in Luke. Duke Intern Camber Herrig emphasizes the importance of embracing enemies with compassion and understanding rather than hostility, drawing parallels between the act of loving one's enemies and interpreting arguments with generosity. The central message revolves around being merciful, extending grace, and embodying tenderness, encouraging the congregation to apply these principles in their interactions with those they perceive as enemies.

In this sermon, you'll learn:

• how to approach your enemies with grace and compassion
• the significance of being wombish, embodying tenderness, and giving life in your interactions with enemies.
• the importance of not keeping score in relationships with those perceived as enemies.
• the parallel between the act of loving enemies and interpreting theological arguments with generosity and charity
• the potential for transforming relationships and viewing enemies in a new light through compassion and understanding.

Scripture: Luke 6:27–36

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 8, 2023

Our slow roll through Luke continues with a deep dive in Luke’s Sermon on the Plain. Brent gives a tour through this first section with three stops that each tell us a little more about who Jesus is.

Scripture: Luke 6:17–26

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 1, 2023

A message on Luke 5 and the call of Levi for anyone who’s internalized harmful voices or unproductive thoughts, felt disqualified from faith for whatever reason, distant from God, or been told there are preconditions for inclusion in God’s family.

Scripture: Luke 5:27–39

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.

September 24, 2023

Catherine Neal continues our slow roll through the Gospel according to Luke with a look at a fascinating story about a paralyzed man crowded out — and his friends’ desperate attempt to get him to Jesus.

In this sermon, you'll learn:

• The significance of friends who carry a paralyzed man to Jesus
• How busyness can hinder us from accessing the Lord
• That Jesus responds to the faith of others, not just the person in need of healing
• The power of standing in the gap and interceding for our friends
• The importance of offering compassionate presence
• The role of prayer and petitions in bringing restoration and healing
• The impact of faith-filled and faithful friendships
• The potential for unexpected friendships to develop in unexpected places
• The beauty of friendships that catalyze growth and spiritual transformation

Scripture: Luke 5:17-26

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.

September 17, 2023

We continue our slow roll through Luke with the beginning of his public ministry in his hometown. In this sermon, you’ll learn:

• Why Jesus uses particular ideas as he begins his ministry
• The historical and theological significance of the Year of Jubilee
• Jubilee's connection to Jesus's ministry
• The challenge of embracing Jubilee in a world that may resist it
• The invitation to create Jubilee moments today and the impact it can have on ourselves and others

Scripture: Luke 4:14–30

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.

September 10, 2023

This week, Brent introduces a new initiative for us at The Local Church — a slow roll through the Gospel According to Luke. In this episode, you'll learn:

• What John the Baptizer means by "bear fruits worthy of repentance"
• Why he is trying to provoke a crisis for his hearers
• How crises force us to ask hard questions and give us an opportunity to move in a different direction
• The secret to a robust spiritual life
•  The connection between hurry and the disconnection from love, compassion, and presence

Scripture: Luke 3:1–22

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.

September 3, 2023

This week, we wrap up our Ask Us Anything series with a big question: How do we relate to people of other religions? Is salvation available to people not of the Christian faith?

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How Christians should interact with people of other religions
• The practice of holy envy
• Some questions to ask when thinking about salvation for people outside the Christian faith

Scripture: Acts 17:16-34

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.

August 20, 2023

It’s the second week of our Ask Us Anything series, and this week’s topic is how to know what God wants you to do.

You’ll learn:

• the difference between discernment and decision-making
• the three key steps of discernment
• why it shouldn't be done alone
• the good news no matter what decision you make

Scripture: Acts 1:3–11; 10:1–17, 34-35

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.

August 13, 2023

We’re bringing back our Ask Us Anything series for a new year, and we kick it off with a big question: How do you find forgiveness, especially for somoene who isn’t interested in seeking it?

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• why questions are vital to our faith journey and why asking them puts us in good company with Jesus
• powerful examples of forgiveness and why it's so rare in our world
• why we forgive
• the significance of the Greek word aphiemi and how this impacts our understanding of forgiveness
• why forgiveness doesn't equate to absolution, reconciliation, or healing but is an integral part of those processes
• why Jesus tells Peter to forgive seventy-seven times
• how forgiveness is ultimately an act of faith
• three steps toward forgiveness

Scripture: Matthew 18:21–35

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.

August 6, 2023

It’s the fourth and final week of our That’s What He Said series. This week: Jesus as Savior. In this sermon, you'll learn about the life of Jesus, his embodiment of humility, vulnerability, and compassion, and the significance of his humanity in the context of healing and salvation. Additionally, you'll gain a deeper understanding of the power of love and service in participating in God's saving work and what it looks like to bring healing and wholeness to the world.

Scripture: John 13:1–17, 33–35; Philippians 2:1–11

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.