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The Local Church Podcast

This is the home of The Local Church Podcast. Featuring sermons from our Sunday Liturgy, interviews, and more, we hope this audio affirms you, anchors you, and empowers you to love where you are. The Local Church is an unapologetically inclusive,Jesus-centered faith community.

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  1. 399

    Sermon: Stop and Sing (A Labor Day Practice) // Brent Levy

    In this sermon, we find ourselves at a threshold place. Behind us, a season that's ending; ahead, a wilderness of school mornings and full calendars — and in between, a moment we will almost certainly rush past. Israel didn't. They stopped and sang. Maybe we should, too.

  2. 398

    Sermon: The Gospel According to Ted Lasso | Week 3: Be A Goldfish // Brent Levy

    We’re wrapping up The Gospel According to Ted Lasso with one of Ted’s most famous bits of wisdom: “Be a goldfish.” But in this sermon, we talk about why shaking it off can be so hard—and wonder what happens when we discover that God isn’t keeping score on us, either.

  3. 397

    Sermon: The Gospel According to Ted Lasso | Week 2: “Be Curious, Not Judgmental" // Brent Levy

    This week, for a special Back-to-School service, kids model Jesus' curiosity by asking Brent anything.

  4. 396

    Sermon: The Gospel According to Ted Lasso | Week 1: "I Believe in 'Believe’" // Brent Levy

    In this first installment of our end-of-summer series, The Gospel According to Ted Lasso, we're holding memorable wisdom from the pitch in one hand and scripture in the other. In this sermon, we push back against the cultural scripts and algorithms that profit off our hopelessness. And with Ted's help, we discover that to believe isn't about blind optimism or burying our doubts; it is a stubborn posture of trust that dares to meet an exhausted world with grace. Step into the holy relief of a God who never grades your theology and meets you right in the mess.

  5. 395

    Sermon: I’ve Had Enough | Week 5: Sabbath as Enough // Brent Levy

    We wrap up our series on Sabbath by confronting our insatiable appetite for "more" and stepping into the radical freedom of "enough." In this sermon, we explore how the ancient gift of manna interrupts our relentless counting, releases us from the anxiety of scarcity, and invites us to sit still long enough to receive God’s daily grace. We might ask, like the Israelites, "What is it?"

  6. 394

    Sermon: I’ve Had Enough | Week 4: Sabbath as Delight // Brent Levy

    In this sermon, we talk about sabbath as delight—and dig into a strange possibility in the Hebrew of Psalm 104 that might change the way you picture God entirely. Because if God plays, then that thing you nerd out about? Not a waste.

  7. 393

    Sermon: I’ve Had Enough | Week 3: Sabbath as Gift // Josh Hilburn and Aaron Niequist

    In this message, guest preacher Josh explores Jesus’s invitation to rest in Matthew 11:28–30, reframing the concept of the Sabbath away from modern "outer-world" calendar management and toward an "inner-world" spiritual sanctuary. Rather than treating rest as something to be earned, optimized, or achieved after managing busyness, the sermon highlights that Sabbath is a free, unconditional, and universal gift explicitly meant for the weary and heavy-burdened. Following the message, worship leader Aaron guides the congregation through an embodied prayer exercise—holding symbolic representations of gratitude in one hand and grief in the other—inviting participants to bring their honest, unpolished reality into the presence of a loving, present God.

  8. 392

    Sermon: I’ve Had Enough | Week 2: Sabbath as Liberation // Leah Benn Miller

    In this sermon, we explore the radical grace of Sabbath as an act of liberation, inviting us to break free from the exhausting demand for endless productivity. Drawing on the ancient practice of Jubilee, Pastor Leah reframes rest not as a reward we earn, but as a sacred reset—a declaration that we are already enough and that God’s economy is rooted in abundance, equity, and restoration for all of creation. Step out of the relentless hurry and step into a rhythm of grace that restores your soul and heals the world around you.

  9. 391

    Sermon: I’ve Had Enough | Week 1: Sabbath as (Real) Rest // Brent Levy

    In this sermon, we examine the revolutionary power of Sabbath as deep, intentional rest rather than a cultural "pit stop" designed just to optimize you for more work. By exploring the striking image of Jesus sleeping soundly on a pillow during a violent storm, we discover that true rest is a counter-cultural act of resistance rooted in absolute trust in God. Tune in to learn how disconnecting from the relentless grind allows you to reclaim your divine identity, listen for God's voice, and remember that you are already enough. Key Takeaways The Productivity Trap: Modern culture conditions us to view rest as a utility—a quick pit stop to maximize our output and optimize our hustle. Real Sabbath challenges this by demanding that we stop completely without any agenda for future production. Rest as Resistance: Stepping off the hyper-productivity hamster wheel can feel irresponsible or lazy, but real rest is a vital act of spiritual liberation that preserves our humanity. The Anchor of Identity: Jesus was able to rest during chaos because he was deeply anchored in his belovedness. True peace comes from knowing whose you are, free from the pressure of endless "have-to's" and "ought-to's." Presence Over Pit Stops: Choosing presence over productivity allows us to slow down, look around, and transition from being consumers of rest to true practitioners of Sabbath. Scripture References Genesis 1 & 2:1-3 – The rhythm of creation and God's holy cessation on the seventh day. Mark 4:35-41 – Jesus resting in the storm and silencing the wind and waves. Psalm 4:8 – Finding peace, safety, and sleep through divine trust.

  10. 390

    Sermon: Redacted | Week 4: The Servants at Cana // Brent Levy

    The wine ran out. And Jesus turned to the servants. In the Redacted series finale, we sit with the unnamed ones doing the grunt work — hauling water, wondering if it matters. This one is for every person who's asked that same question about their own life.

  11. 389

    Sermon: Redacted | Week 3: The Ethiopian Eunuch // Camber Herrig

    In this sermon, we explore the story of an unnamed Ethiopian eunuch whose encounter with Philip on a desert road reveals a profound, inclusive truth: there is a place for everyone in God’s story. Despite the rigid societal boundaries of his time, the eunuch discovers that God’s welcome is not based on status, physical integrity, or conformity, but on a grace that is accessible to all. We are reminded that God actively seeks out those pushed to the margins, inviting us to trust in a love that crosses every divide and holds room for each of us.

  12. 388

    Sermon: Redacted | Week 2: A Young Girl // Brent Levy

    In this sermon, we explore the powerful, disruptive truth that God’s voice consistently echoes from the margins, bypassing the gates of privilege to speak through the very people our institutions actively redact. By juxtaposing the erased legacy of civil rights pioneer Claudette Colvin with the unnamed, enslaved young girl who sparked the healing of Syria’s chief military commander, we are challenged to confront our own testimonial biases and the structures that silence the vulnerable. Ultimately, we are invited to slow down, cultivate deep listening, and discover that our collective healing depends on our willingness to receive the holy, saving words of those we have been conditioned to overlook.

  13. 387

    Sermon: Redacted | Week 1: A Young Boy // Brent Levy

    In this sermon, we explore the transformative power of the Bible’s unnamed characters, focusing on the young boy who offered his five loaves and two fish to feed thousands. When we swim in a culture of scarcity, it is tragically easy to leap from "it’s not enough" to "I’m not enough," weaponizing our insignificance and discounting both ourselves and others. Yet Jesus disrupts this rigid math of uncounting by offering radical thanksgiving for the cheap grain, the small fish, and the child who didn't legally matter. Ultimately, this story reveals a grace-filled economy where no one is a nobody, reminding us that those who are dismissed by the world still count deeply to God.

  14. 386

    Sermon: Trinity Sunday // Leah Benn Miller

    In this sermon, we are invited to move past the mathematical impossibility of the Trinity and instead step directly into its dance. By exploring how language forms our reality, we discover that God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is not a theological puzzle to solve, but an eternal, self-giving community of love to participate in. Rather than leaving us to white-knuckle our way through Christ's radical teachings on our own, the triune God uniquely equips us—offering the perfect alignment of example and power, grace and fellowship, to transform us from the inside out.

  15. 385

    Sermon: Surprise Party | Week 7: The Greatest Surprise of All // Brent Levy

    Date May 24, 2026 Synopsis In this sermon, we trade the exhaustion of trying to "bat 1,000" for the scandalous grace of Pentecost—a day when God pours out a Spirit not for the perfect, but for "all flesh." We explore how our fragile, forgetful, and silver-haired humanity is exactly where the Holy Spirit chooses to take up residence. You are invited to stop waiting until you have it all together and instead become God’s greatest surprise: the Risen Christ showing up in the middle of our beautifully broken lives. References Scripture: Acts 2:1–21 About The Local Church For more information about The Local Church, visit our website. 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.

  16. 384

    Sermon: Surprise Party | Week 7: The Greatest Surprise of All // Brent Levy

    In this sermon, we trade the exhaustion of trying to "bat 1,000" for the scandalous grace of Pentecost—a day when God pours out a Spirit not for the perfect, but for "all flesh." We explore how our fragile, forgetful, and silver-haired humanity is exactly where the Holy Spirit chooses to take up residence. You are invited to stop waiting until you have it all together and instead become God’s greatest surprise: the Risen Christ showing up in the middle of our beautifully broken lives.

  17. 383

    Sermon: Surprise Party | Week 6: Staying Humble // Rajeev Tiwari

    Date May 17, 2026 Synopsis In this sermon, we dismantle the cultural idol of selfish ambition to uncover the radical liberation found in Christ-like humility. We explore the "Christ Hymn" of Philippians, discovering that true divine power isn't found in climbing the ladder of empire, but in the courageous descent to serve others. By choosing the bottom, we find a unity that transcends our divisions and a love that washes the feet of both friend and betrayer alike. About The Local Church For more information about The Local Church, visit our website. 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.

  18. 382

    Sermon: Surprise Party | Week 6: Staying Humble // Rajeev Tiwari

    In this sermon, we dismantle the cultural idol of selfish ambition to uncover the radical liberation found in Christ-like humility. We explore the "Christ Hymn" of Philippians, discovering that true divine power isn't found in climbing the ladder of empire, but in the courageous descent to serve others. By choosing the bottom, we find a unity that transcends our divisions and a love that washes the feet of both friend and betrayer alike.

  19. 381

    Sermon: Surprise Party | Week 5: Surprised By Joy // Brent Levy

    Date May 10, 2026 Synopsis In this sermon, we explore the defiant nature of joy as an unbidden guest that arrives precisely when we expect it least. Drawing on the series Surprise Party: 50 Days of Enchantment, we examine how the Apostle Paul—writing from the claustrophobia of a prison cell—aligns himself with a "do-it-again" God whose very nature is delight. We are invited to stop resisting these fleeting moments of grace and instead receive them as a holy resistance against a disenchanted world. Ultimately, we discover that when joy finds us amidst our grief, it is not a betrayal of our pain but a profound encounter with the nearness of God. References Scripture: Philippians 1:1–18 About The Local Church For more information about The Local Church, visit our website. 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.

  20. 380

    Week 5: Surprised By Joy

    In this sermon, we explore the defiant nature of joy as an unbidden guest that arrives precisely when we expect it least. Drawing on the series Surprise Party: 50 Days of Enchantment, we examine how the Apostle Paul—writing from the claustrophobia of a prison cell—aligns himself with a "do-it-again" God whose very nature is delight. We are invited to stop resisting these fleeting moments of grace and instead receive them as a holy resistance against a disenchanted world. Ultimately, we discover that when joy finds us amidst our grief, it is not a betrayal of our pain but a profound encounter with the nearness of God.

  21. 379

    Sermon: Surprise Party | Week 4: When It’s Not What We’d Hoped For // Brent Levy

    Date May 3, 2026 Synopsis In this sermon, we confront the "surprise" no one wants: the devastating gap between the miracle we prayed for and the reality of grief. Amidst the heartbreak of losing a beloved child, we set aside the party to sit in the honest, defiant landscape of Psalm 23. We discover a God who doesn’t offer trite explanations but a relentless, pursuing presence—a love that chases us even into the darkest valleys. When words fail, we find our way forward by simply showing up and mirroring the stubborn, enduring mercy that refuses to let us go. References Scripture: Psalm 23 About The Local Church For more information about The Local Church, visit our website. 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.

  22. 378

    Week 4: When It's Not What We'd Hoped For

    In this sermon, we confront the "surprise" no one wants: the devastating gap between the miracle we prayed for and the reality of grief. Amidst the heartbreak of losing a beloved child, we set aside the party to sit in the honest, defiant landscape of Psalm 23. We discover a God who doesn't offer trite explanations but a relentless, pursuing presence—a love that chases us even into the darkest valleys. When words fail, we find our way forward by simply showing up and mirroring the stubborn, enduring mercy that refuses to let us go.

  23. 377

    Sermon: Surprise Party | Week 3: Staying Put // Brent Levy

    Date April 26, 2026 Synopsis In this sermon, we explore the radical, countercultural surprise of staying put. In a world that profits from our restlessness, we investigate how the "vow of stability" offers a defiant path toward reenchantment. By looking at the grounded presence of Paul and Silas in a midnight prison cell, we discover that the grace we seek isn't found in our escape, but in our commitment to remain present to the beautiful, heavy reality right where we are. References Scripture: Acts 16:16–34 About The Local Church For more information about The Local Church, visit our website. 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.

  24. 376

    Week 3: Staying Put

    In this sermon, we explore the radical, countercultural surprise of staying put. In a world that profits from our restlessness, we investigate how the "vow of stability" offers a defiant path toward reenchantment. By looking at the grounded presence of Paul and Silas in a midnight prison cell, we discover that the grace we seek isn't found in our escape, but in our commitment to remain present to the beautiful, heavy reality right where we are.

  25. 375

    Sermon: Surprise Party | Week 2: Who Jesus Includes // Rajeev Tiwari

    Date April 19, 2026 Synopsis In this sermon, we explore the scandalous reach of Easter hope through the lens of Saul’s blinding encounter on the road to Damascus. We confront a God who subverts our hierarchies of belonging, trading our rigid "safety patrol" certainties for a grace that reaches the very people we have labeled as "out." By examining the quiet bravery of Ananias, we are challenged to move beyond condemnation and embrace the radical humility required to call an enemy "brother." This is a call to inhabit the "Surprise Party" of the Gospel, where the scales of judgment fall away to reveal a kinship we never thought possible. About The Local Church For more information about The Local Church, visit our website. 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.

  26. 374

    Week 2: Who Jesus Includes

    In this sermon, we explore the scandalous reach of Easter hope through the lens of Saul's blinding encounter on the road to Damascus. We confront a God who subverts our hierarchies of belonging, trading our rigid "safety patrol" certainties for a grace that reaches the very people we have labeled as "out." By examining the quiet bravery of Ananias, we are challenged to move beyond condemnation and embrace the radical humility required to call an enemy "brother." This is a call to inhabit the "Surprise Party" of the Gospel, where the scales of judgment fall away to reveal a kinship we never thought possible.

  27. 373

    Sermon: Surprise Party | Week 1: Jesus Shows Up // Brent Levy

    Date April 12, 2026 Synopsis In this sermon, we crash the best party you never knew was happening. Jesus doesn't wait for you to unlock the door — he walks through it, wounds showing, saying peace before you're ready to hear it. This is the God who descends rather than demands, who meets us in the locked rooms of our fear, hopelessness, shame, and apathy, and whose first word is always grace. We are not just invited to the party. We are sent to throw it. References Scripture: John 20:19–31 About The Local Church For more information about The Local Church, visit our website. 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.

  28. 372

    Sermon: Easter with The Local Church // Brent Levy

    Date April 5, 2026 Synopsis In this sermon, we slow down long enough to see what cynicism keeps us from seeing — that resurrection isn't a one-time event that happened long ago, but the very shape of reality itself, breaking through in ordinary moments all around us. We sit with Mary Magdalene in her grief, name the ways disappointment calcifies into resignation, and discover that what finally breaks through isn't argument or evidence — it's Love calling us by name. The world is more alive than we've been giving it credit for. Do you see it? References Scripture: John 20:1-18 About The Local Church For more information about The Local Church, visit our website. 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.

  29. 371

    Easter with The Local Church

    In this sermon, we slow down long enough to see what cynicism keeps us from seeing — that resurrection isn't a one-time event that happened long ago, but the very shape of reality itself, breaking through in ordinary moments all around us. We sit with Mary Magdalene in her grief, name the ways disappointment calcifies into resignation, and discover that what finally breaks through isn't argument or evidence — it's Love calling us by name. The world is more alive than we've been giving it credit for. Do you see it?

  30. 370

    Sermon: Reenchanted | Week 6: Believe in Death // Brent Levy

    Date March 29, 2026 Synopsis In this Palm Sunday sermon, we repent of triumphalism—our desperate need for a God who wins—and discover what's revealed when those false images finally fall. We've all handed our hope to something that couldn't hold it, and called it faith. But the one who rides into Jerusalem on a donkey isn't heading for a throne. He's heading through death. And it turns out, that's exactly where the God who was always there has been waiting. References Scripture: Matthew 2:1–11 About The Local Church For more information about The Local Church, visit our website. 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.

  31. 369

    Reenchanted | Week 6: Believe in Death

    In this Palm Sunday sermon, we repent of triumphalism—our desperate need for a God who wins—and discover what's revealed when those false images finally fall. We've all handed our hope to something that couldn't hold it, and called it faith. But the one who rides into Jerusalem on a donkey isn't heading for a throne. He's heading through death. And it turns out, that's exactly where the God who was always there has been waiting.

  32. 368

    Sermon: Reenchanted | Week 5: Believe in Honest Presence // Alyson Tiwari

    Date March 22, 2026 Synopsis In this sermon, guest preacher Alyson Tiwari invites us into the most honest question grief ever asks: Where were you? Using the story of Lazarus—and her own profound loss—she explores what it looks like to bring our full, unguarded selves to Jesus, anger and all. Reenchantment, she reminds us, isn't relentless optimism; it's the kind of presence that can hold grief and hope in the same breath, and discover God already standing in the middle of it, weeping. This week's invitation: release the cynicism that numbs, and dare to say, Show me something good. References Scripture: John 11:1–45 About The Local Church For more information about The Local Church, visit our website. 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.

  33. 367

    Reenchanted | Week 5: Believe in Honest Presence

    In this sermon, guest preacher Alyson Tiwari invites us into the most honest question grief ever asks: Where were you? Using the story of Lazarus—and her own profound loss—she explores what it looks like to bring our full, unguarded selves to Jesus, anger and all. Reenchantment, she reminds us, isn't relentless optimism; it's the kind of presence that can hold grief and hope in the same breath, and discover God already standing in the middle of it, weeping. This week's invitation: release the cynicism that numbs, and dare to say, Show me something good.

  34. 366

    Reenchanted Grounding Practice 4: Camera Roll Examen

    A Camera Roll Examen for Week 4 of Reenchanted. This week we're exploring what it means to repent of nostalgia and believe in possibility—the idea that God isn't only present in what has already happened, but is actively at work in what's unfolding right now. This practice is one small way to train your eyes to see it. Using your phone's camera roll as a prayer tool, we scroll back through the last month of ordinary life and look for grace we didn't engineer. Moments we captured because something surprised us. Evidence that God was moving before we had words for it. Reenchanted: A Series for Lent on Believing Again | The Local Church, Sundays at 10am at Woods Charter School

  35. 365

    Sermon: Reenchanted | Week 4: Believe in Possibility // Brent Levy

    Date March 15, 2026 Synopsis In this sermon, we ask what we might be missing when we get stuck pining for the past. Nostalgia is seductive—it feels like home—but it can blind us to what God is doing right now. We explore how the man born blind models a different way: not reaching backward, but saying hello to here. Part of our series Reenchanted: A Series for Lent on Believing Again. The past isn't a destination. It's evidence. References Scripture: John 9:1–41 About The Local Church For more information about The Local Church, visit our website. 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.

  36. 364

    Reenchanted | Week 4: Believe in Possibility

    In this sermon, we ask what we might be missing when we get stuck pining for the past. Nostalgia is seductive—it feels like home—but it can blind us to what God is doing right now. We explore how the man born blind models a different way: not reaching backward, but saying hello to here. Part of our series Reenchanted: A Series for Lent on Believing Again. The past isn't a destination. It's evidence.

  37. 363

    Sermon: Reenchanted | Week 3: Believe in Union // Brent Levy

    Date March 8, 2026 Synopsis In this sermon, part of our Lenten series Reenchanted: A Series for Lent on Believing Again, we follow Jesus to Jacob's well — where he crosses every line his world drew to sit with a Samaritan woman his culture told him to avoid. We explore how our habit of sorting the world into clean categories — insider and outsider, worthy and unworthy — is the fast track to disenchantment, and how Jesus moves straight through every border not to condemn, but to liberate. Turns out, the best biscuits — and the best of us — rise higher when we're touching. About The Local Church For more information about The Local Church, visit our website. 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.

  38. 362

    Reenchanted | Week 3: Believe in Union

    In this sermon, part of our Lenten series Reenchanted: A Series for Lent on Believing Again, we follow Jesus to Jacob's well — where he crosses every line his world drew to sit with a Samaritan woman his culture told him to avoid. We explore how our habit of sorting the world into clean categories — insider and outsider, worthy and unworthy — is the fast track to disenchantment, and how Jesus moves straight through every border not to condemn, but to liberate. Turns out, the best biscuits — and the best of us — rise higher when we're touching.

  39. 361

    Reenchanted Grounding Practice 2: Sign of the Cross

    A guided Sign of the Cross meditation for Week 2 of Reenchanted. This week we're exploring what it means to repent of intellectualism and believe in embodiment — the idea that faith isn't only something you think, but something you live in your actual body. This practice is one small way to close that gap. Using the ancient movement of the Sign of the Cross, we move through the mind, the heart, the past, and the future — slowly, with breath, with honesty. No performance required. Find a comfortable seat, place your feet on the floor, and let yourself be led. Reenchanted: A Series for Lent on Believing Again | The Local Church,  Sundays at 10am at Woods Charter School 

  40. 360

    Sermon: Reenchanted | Week 2: Believe in Embodiment // Brent Levy

    Date March 1, 2026 Synopsis In our second week of the Reenchanted series, we talk about ditching the intellectual armor that keeps us isolated and stuck in "knowing" all the right answers. Stop trying to think your way to God, and start learning how to feel your way back to the wild, messy, embodied life you were meant to live. It’s time to repent of certainty and let your finite, beautiful body be the place where divine grace actually meets you. References Scripture: John 3:1–17 About The Local Church For more information about The Local Church, visit our website. 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.

  41. 359

    Reenchanted | Week 2: Believe in Embodiment

    In our second week of the Reenchanted series, we talk about ditching the intellectual armor that keeps us isolated and stuck in "knowing" all the right answers. Stop trying to think your way to God, and start learning how to feel your way back to the wild, messy, embodied life you were meant to live. It’s time to repent of certainty and let your finite, beautiful body be the place where divine grace actually meets you.

  42. 358

    Reenchanted Grounding Practice 1: A List of Mysteries

    This is the Week 1 grounding practice for Reenchanted: A Series for Lent on Believing Again — a Lenten series from The Local Church. This week's practice is called A List of Mysteries. It's a simple guided meditation designed to help you slow down and practice sitting with what you cannot explain—not as a failure of understanding, but as an act of faith. Take a walk while you listen if you're able. Or find a quiet place to sit and let your imagination do the moving. This practice pairs with Week 1 of the Reenchanted series, where we explore Matthew 4:1–11 and what it means to repent from certainty and believe in simply believing again.

  43. 357

    Sermon: Reenchanted | Week 1: Believe in Believing // Rajeev Tiwari

    Date February 22, 2026 Synopsis In this sermon, we explore the tension between our modern obsession with certainty and the ancient invitation to walk by faith. Using the story of Jesus in the wilderness, we see how the tempter’s demand for proof is a trap designed to replace intimacy with control. True reenchantment isn't found in five-star guarantees or "crystal stairs," but in the dark corners where we finally stop demanding data and start reaching for a hand to hold. If you’ve been waiting for a sign before you’re willing to believe, this is an invitation to loosen your grip, embrace the mystery, and find the new life that only begins in the dark. References Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11 About The Local Church For more information about The Local Church, visit our website. 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.

  44. 356

    Reenchanted | Week 1: Believe in Believing

    In this sermon, we explore the tension between our modern obsession with certainty and the ancient invitation to walk by faith. Using the story of Jesus in the wilderness, we see how the tempter’s demand for proof is a trap designed to replace intimacy with control. True reenchantment isn't found in five-star guarantees or "crystal stairs," but in the dark corners where we finally stop demanding data and start reaching for a hand to hold. If you’ve been waiting for a sign before you’re willing to believe, this is an invitation to loosen your grip, embrace the mystery, and find the new life that only begins in the dark.

  45. 355

    Sermon: Building the Beloved Community | Week 4: Love Is A Decision // Rev. Gail Song Bantum

    Special guest preacher Rev. Gail Song Bantum wraps up our series, "Building the Beloved Community."

  46. 354

    Sermon: Building the Beloved Community | Week 3: Brick and Mortar // Brent Levy

    DateFebruary 8, 2026SynopsisIn this sermon, we continue our series, Building the Beloved Community: A Blueprint from Dream to Reality, by challenging the gap between creed and deed—the painful disconnect between outward piety and lived justice. The 'breach' is the chasm between "what is and how God wants things to be," and our spiritual task isn't to retreat, but to run toward the vulnerability—brick and mortar in hand—and ask, "Where does it hurt?" This is the difficult but life-giving work of becoming Menders of Broken Walls and Restorers of Livable Streets, where God meets us and promises, "I’m here."ReferencesScripture: Isaiah 58:1–12About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at [email protected] 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.

  47. 353

    Building the Beloved Community | Week 4: Love Is A Decision

    Special guest preacher Rev. Gail Song Bantum wraps up our series, "Building the Beloved Community."

  48. 352

    Sermon: Building the Beloved Community | Week 2: The Framing // Brent Levy

    DateFebruary 1, 2026SynopsisIn this sermon, we continue our series, Building the Beloved Community: A Blueprint from Dream to Reality, by diving into the structural integrity of the 'frame.' We move past the foundation of 'somebodiness' to see how the prophet Micah's call reveals the essential, non-negotiable components: to do justice, embrace hesed (faithful love), and walk humbly with God. These three elements are the core beams and joists of a life of faith, ensuring that your efforts do not collapse into self-righteousness, cheap charity, or burnout, so the Beloved Community you're building can actually bear weight.ReferencesScripture: Micah 6:1–8About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at [email protected] 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.

  49. 351

    Building the Beloved Community | Week 2: The Framing

    In this sermon, we continue our series, Building the Beloved Community: A Blueprint from Dream to Reality, by diving into the structural integrity of the 'frame.' We move past the foundation of 'somebodiness' to see how the prophet Micah's call reveals the essential, non-negotiable components: to do justice, embrace hesed (faithful love), and walk humbly with God. These three elements are the core beams and joists of a life of faith, ensuring that your efforts do not collapse into self-righteousness, cheap charity, or burnout, so the Beloved Community you're building can actually bear weight.

  50. 350

    Live Snow Day Check In

    Due to the winter storm on the weekend, we were unable to gather in person. So Brent hopped online to offer a prayer and share a few thoughts about the death of Alex Pretti, what to do with our anger, and more.

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

This is the home of The Local Church Podcast. Featuring sermons from our Sunday Liturgy, interviews, and more, we hope this audio affirms you, anchors you, and empowers you to love where you are. The Local Church is an unapologetically inclusive,Jesus-centered faith community.

HOSTED BY

The Local Church

Produced by Brent Levy

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does The Local Church Podcast have?

The Local Church Podcast currently has 50 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is The Local Church Podcast about?

This is the home of The Local Church Podcast. Featuring sermons from our Sunday Liturgy, interviews, and more, we hope this audio affirms you, anchors you, and empowers you to love where you are. The Local Church is an unapologetically inclusive,Jesus-centered faith community.

How often does The Local Church Podcast release new episodes?

The Local Church Podcast has 50 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

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You can listen to The Local Church Podcast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts The Local Church Podcast?

The Local Church Podcast is created and hosted by The Local Church.
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