PODCAST · religion
The Local Church
by Local Church GR
A multiplying church helping the next generation fall in love with Jesus in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Episodes
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Sacred Space - HOME
We often expect life with Jesus to keep getting better and better, but what happens when following Him feels more like loss than provision? In John 15, Jesus reminds us that God is the gardener, and sometimes He prunes even the good things in our lives so we can experience more fruit. Whether our...
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Apathy - HOME
It’s easy for our relationship with Jesus to slowly become passive, where we stop intentionally connecting with Him and settle into apathy. But apathy isn’t just caring less, it can reveal that we’ve allowed other things to take God’s place in our hearts. Jesus calls us to something different: to...
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Activity - HOME
What if we’ve settled for a counterfeit version of what it means to follow Jesus? In John 15, Jesus invites us to abide in Him, to make our home in Him through dependence and obedience, rather than trying to earn His favor through activity and performance. When we remain connected to Jesus, the...
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You've Got To Go To The U.P.! - HOME
It’s possible to be around Jesus without actually making Jesus home. In John 15, Jesus calls Himself the true vine and reminds us that our identity, life, joy, and peace are found in Him. Not in our jobs, relationships, accomplishments, possessions, or anything else we might attach ourselves to.…
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State of the Church
This Sunday, we had the opportunity to reflect on all the Lord has done through TLC over these past few months and look ahead to where God is leading our church! We’re so grateful for what He’s doing and excited for all that’s still to come. ----------- Join us for service online or in-person in...
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Family - Form(ed)
What does it look like to shape our families around Jesus in the middle of everyday life? In this message, we look at the Shema and Moses’ call to love God with our whole hearts and let that love shape the way we live and lead. For parents, that means recognizing the power we have to point our…
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Life and Maturity - Form(ed)
What does it look like to build your life and your family on something that won’t be shaken? In this message, we’re reminded that Jesus is our firm foundation, faithful yesterday, today, and tomorrow, even when life doesn’t go the way we expect. We also look at what it means to live out our faith...
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Community - Form(ed)
Life with Jesus is life with His family, and biblical community is something we’re called to intentionally pursue. In Acts 2, we see the early church gathering in both the temple and homes, building community through five simple patterns: eat, pray, play, share resources, and share a mission....
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Vocation - Form(ed)
Work can often feel like something we just have to get through, but what if God designed work to be so much more? In this message, we’ll explore how our identity, calling, and vocation come together, and how every kind of work can be an opportunity to serve others and worship God. From parenting…
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Love In The Minor Keys - Malachi: Don't Drift
We had the privilege of learning from Pastor Austin from Beloved Church this Sunday! He led us through the book of Malachi, reminding us of God’s faithful love and His invitation to return to Him with our whole hearts. We were challenged to consider what we’re giving to God and whether we’re...
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Love In The Minor Keys - Joel: Return Before It’s Too Late
Have you ever walked through a season that felt dry, hopeless, or beyond repair? This week's message reminds us that even in the middle of devastation, God is calling His people back to Himself. Through the book of Joel, we're reminded that God doesn't simply restore what was lost—He restores...
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Love In The Minor Keys - Habakkuk: Faith in the Silence
When life doesn't make sense, it's okay to bring your honest questions and frustrations to God. Looking at the book of Habakkuk, we see that while God welcomes our complaints, He also invites us to trust His heart even when we can't understand His plans. Our circumstances may not change...
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Love In The Minor Keys - Amos: When Worship Is A Lie
What does God really desire from His people? The book of Amos reminds us that worship isn't just about the songs we sing on Sunday—it's about how we love, serve, and seek justice throughout the week. God calls His people to hate evil, love good, and care for those who are overlooked. As followers...
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Love In the Minor Keys - Jonah: The Mercy You Don’t Want Others to Have
This Sundays message centered on the book of Jonah, challenging us to examine whether our hearts reflect God's compassion or Jonah's resentment. While many know Jonah for the whale, the real focus is chapter 4, where Jonah is angry that God shows mercy to Nineveh. Through Jonah's story, we're...
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Love In Minor Keys - Hosea: Relentless Love
God doesn't just hate sin, He loves you. This Sunday, Brian kicked off our new series, Love in the Minor Keys, by looking at the book of Hosea. Through Hosea's story, we're reminded that our sin isn't just about breaking rules, it breaks the heart of a God who deeply desires a relationship with…
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Why Keep Going? - Help Me Pray: Learning to talk to God the way Jesus did
Prayer is easy when answers come quickly. It's much harder when heaven seems silent. In Luke 18, Jesus tells the parable of the persistent widow to remind us to keep praying and not lose heart. This message explores why God invites us to persevere in prayer, what it means when His timing doesn't...
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What Am I Asking For? - Help Me Pray: Learning to talk to God the way Jesus did
What do you do when you have a need, a prayer, or a situation you desperately want God to change? This Sunday, Sara explored the story of Bartimaeus and Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, challenging us to consider two questions: What do you want God to do? and Can you trust Him with the...
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Jesus Prayed For Me? - Help Me Pray: Learning to talk to God the way Jesus did
In John 17, we get a unique glimpse into Jesus’ prayer to the Father just hours before the cross, and remarkably, He’s praying for us. Toran's message explores the deep love of Christ, the unity He desires for His followers, and the invitation to know God personally through Him. As we experience...
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Who Do I Need To Forgive? - Help Me Pray: Learning to talk to God the way Jesus did
What if one of the biggest obstacles to your prayer life isn't finding the right words, but holding onto unforgiveness? In this message, we explore Jesus' surprising connection between forgiveness and effective prayer. Through powerful stories, biblical teaching, and practical insight, we're...
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Can I Trust You? - Help Me Pray: Learning to talk to God the way Jesus did
What if your confidence in prayer isn't supposed to come from how well you pray, but from who is listening? This message explores Jesus' teaching on prayer in Luke 11, revealing that prayer is not about performance, perfect words, or spiritual eloquence—it's about trusting the character of a…
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Where Do I Start? - Help Me Pray: Learning to talk to God the way Jesus did
This Sunday, Sarah walks through Mark 1 and shows how Jesus moved toward people in need. He healed, restored, and made space for fresh encounters. Through the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, we’re reminded that prayer is deeply connected to relationship, trust, and learning to recognize who Jesus…
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I Don't Get It - Help Me Pray: Learning to talk to God the way Jesus did
What do we do with the gap between what Jesus says about prayer and what we actually experience? This week we kicked off our Help Me Pray series by looking at Jesus’ bold invitation to pray with faith, even when prayers seem unanswered or life feels disappointing. Through stories of Peter, James,...
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Jesus and the Feasts: Sukkoth
On Mother’s Day, Toran wrapped up our series, “Festivals: Jesus and the Feasts,” by walking through the Festival of Tabernacles (Sukkoth) and the three lessons God wanted Israel to remember: that they were once wanderers fully dependent on Him, that He is not a distant God but a with-you God who...
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Jesus and the Feasts: Pentecost
This Sunday, we had the privilege of hearing from Gary Burge as he taught on the meaning and power of Pentecost, and how the Holy Spirit was never meant to be just a moment in Acts, but a daily reality for believers. We talked about repentance, surrender, and how following Jesus is more than...
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Jesus and the Feasts: Day of Atonement
What would you redo, but can’t? In his message, Pastor Toran begins with this honest question, leading us into the weight we all carry from moments we wish we could take back. He walks through the Day of Atonement, explaining how sin required a sacrifice and how a scapegoat symbolically carried…
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Jesus and the Feasts: Sabbath
This Sunday, we had the privilege of having Austin back at TLC to teach us about Sabbath. Austin walked us through the idea of Sabbath, showing that it’s not just a rule but a rhythm designed to help us rest, trust God, and remember where we come from. A time to truly reflect on God’s…
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Jesus and the Feasts: Feast of Trumpets
This Sunday, Sara shared how the Feast of Trumpets serves as a spiritual wake-up call in our lives. She described this festival as a moment to prepare our hearts through repentance - detaching from the things we’ve grown too comfortable with that quietly pull us away from God. During Sara's...
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Festivals Jesus and the Feasts: Easter First Fruits
Easter isn’t just a story we believe— it’s a story we’re invited to step into. We all try to build our lives on things like success, relationships, or achievement, but eventually those things fall short and leave us wanting more. The resurrection shows us that Jesus didn’t just defeat death, but...
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Festivals Jesus and the Feasts: Passover Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday we kicked off a new series on how God uses rhythms and stories, like the Passover, to shape His people and remind them who they are. Toran walked us through the story of Israel, showing how they couldn’t have rescue themselves from slavery and needed God to step in with a…
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Acts Part 2: Faith that Floats
Paul’s journey reached its end, but in his end -- is our beginning.This Sunday, Sara wrapped up the series in the book of Acts by looking at the end of Paul’s journey and how he finished strong even while under so much distress and numerous arrests. Sara shared three ways God provided for Paul:...
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Acts Pt.2: The Gospel On Trial
Where does your story start? Sundays message walks through Paul’s story and shows how God meets people in the middle of their life, not after they’ve cleaned everything up. It highlights how Jesus calls and uses ordinary (and even unlikely) people for a purpose. It shows how God doesn’t wait for...
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Acts Pt. 2: Unshakeable
Be honest with yourself - are you living for comfort or a purpose worth giving your life to? Sunday's message explores Acts 20 - 21, where Apostle Paul chooses to continue his mission to Jerusalem even though he knows suffering and imprisonment await him. Through Paul’s example, Pastor Toran...
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Acts Pt. 2: Artemis of the Ephesians
What idols would you struggle to burn today? Influence, money, perceptions, convenience? In Acts 19, we see how the gospel that Paul brought to Ephesus challenged everything about the culture and its economy. As hearts were transformed and idols were left behind, opposition rose to reveal how...
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Acts Pt. 2: The Baptism of Apollos
Acts 18 records Paul’s time in Corinth as he followed Jesus in a messy, distracted, and spiritually confused city. We see that faithfulness often looks ordinary — working, building relationships, staying planted — even when results aren’t immediate. Even when you feel tired or unseen, God is…
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Acts Pt. 2: "Another" King
Jesus: Consultant or King? In Acts 17, Paul went to Thessalonica and declared “Jesus is King”. It wasn't just spiritual language, but was was a bold claim that challenged every other authority of that time. Today we have to look at the invisible kings on the throne of our hearts— comfort…
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Acts Pt. 2: Faith on the Frontlines
Today Pastor Toran guided us through Acts 16, and what faith looks like on the front lines. --- 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...
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Acts Pt. 2: When Grace Wins the Argument
Today Dr. Gary Burge joined us to explore Acts 15 and define grace. --- 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!...
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Acts Pt. 2: The Road Trip
In Acts 13-14, we see that the gospel was never meant to stay in one place or with one group. Jesus's disciples knew this, and humbly took the gospel to others even when that path included rejection and suffering. Mission is learned, practiced, and sustained in community. It isn't hard because...
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Acts Pt. 2: Breaking Down Barriers
Acts 10 tells a story of a generous God who will stop at nothing to bring the good news of Jesus to people. In this instance, he uses two different visions sent to two men. One was incredibly clear, while the other was perplexing. God could have chosen to speak simply to them both, but instead...
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Acts Pt. 2: Blinded By Grace
In Acts 9, Saul has a dramatic encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus and grace completely flips his story. Ananias was a quiet but crucial “hinge character” whose obedience, even when it was scary and didn’t make sense, helped change Saul’s life — and ultimately the world. God often works...
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This Coming Light: Hope
All of humanity has a "God-shaped hole in our heart" and nothing we try to fill it with - even good things - don't satisfy. Throughout scripture, Jesus is called the promised “branch” who brings real life and hope. Christian hope isn't wishful thinking — it’s confident trust in a future God has...
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This Coming Light: Where Are You?
Where are you? Are you far from God or living like you're one of His family? We often hide from God - especially when we’re ashamed, hurting, or overwhelmed - but God invites us back to Him. In our darkest moments, God is compassionate, gentle, and delighted to draw near to us. The promise of...
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I'm Kindafraid to Ask: Why Would a Good God Allow So Much Suffering?
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…
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I'm Kindafraid to Ask: Doesn't Love Mean Affirming Everything?
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...
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I'm Kindafraid to Ask: What is the Bible?
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…
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I'm Kindafraid to Ask: Is the Bible Reliable?
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...
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Acts: Phillip and the Ethiopian
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...
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Acts: Stephen
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...
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Acts: Prayer for Boldness
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. --- Join us for service online or...
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Acts: Opposition
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...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
A multiplying church helping the next generation fall in love with Jesus in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
HOSTED BY
Local Church GR
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Local Church have?
The Local Church currently has 467 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Local Church about?
A multiplying church helping the next generation fall in love with Jesus in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
How often does The Local Church release new episodes?
The Local Church publishes regularly with 467 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
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Who hosts The Local Church?
The Local Church is created and hosted by Local Church GR.
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