Have you ever had a friend call you out on something? Out of love, they refused to stay quiet. It wasn’t easy to hear in the moment but it brought you to a place of healthy reassessment - seeing things about yourself you hadn’t seen before - an...

Jesus wants you to overcome; to stand firm in the call he’s given you. He wants you to persevere in the face of obstacles and opposition. Revelation 3:1-13 is proof of it. Written in letter form, his words are personal and prophetic. They cut t...

House Groups typically meet in homes two to three times a month across the county, where we spend time together, often sharing food, discussing the Scriptures, praying, and looking for opportunities to serve one another and the city. They are v...

Have you ever wondered what Jesus would say to the church? In Revelation 2:12-29, Jesus pastors his people with words that carry both warmth and weight. His message gives encouragement that inspires faithfulness, correction where compromise has...

When was the last time your love for Jesus felt alive? Are trials wearing you down? Is your faith feeling routine? In Revelation 2:1–11, Jesus calls us back to wholehearted love and shows how his grace can rekindle devotion and give the enduran...

Are you ever tempted to despair? It could be due to opposition, persecution or oppression – it just seems like darkness is winning. Do you ever wonder, “God, where are you? What are you doing? What’s going on?” Revelation 1 answers those questi...

Christians often say God is “all-powerful,” but what do we really mean by that? In the deep ache of suffering and loss, God’s omnipotence can feel confusing or even troubling. If God is good and all-powerful, why is there death, pain, and evil?...

What is powerful enough to cause us to walk away from what once defined us? To give up what brought comfort, success or control? Acts 19 is the story of individuals caught up in magical, spiritual, sexual and cultural powers, who come face to f...

The church in the ancient city of Antioch was diverse, sacrificial and mission-minded. For centuries, they have been an example of what it looks like to be a Spirit dependent church. Acts 13:1-12 brings us behind the scenes to not only show us ...

What does a life fully yielded to God actually look like? Not in theory—but in real life, when it costs something. Acts 6–7 introduces us to Stephen, a man shaped by the presence of God. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, Stephen’s life reads like a...

Local stories are stories of God's grace at work in the lives of those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete. We want to highlight his activity and celebrate his grace.

The early church is often described as being “filled with the Spirit.” Whether after opposition or before a big decision, the result is almost always an unusual courage and joy. That’s what we see happening in Acts 4:23-31. It’s a story of over...

Maybe you’ve heard or used the phrase “in the name of Jesus” at the close of a prayer. Like anything we get used to, it’s easy to forget the significance of what we’re saying. When you do something in someone else’s name, you act in their autho...

Local Church receives an update on Ekklessia Jax from Cedric Lauchner.

Jesus never expected you to do it alone, to somehow find the strength within yourself to obey his call on your life. He never intended you to share his love and grace or make disciples without the promised Spirit. Acts chapters 1 and 2 is the s...

Ever watch a potter center a lump of clay on the potter’s wheel? It’s crucial for the clay to be centered or the entire vessel will be lopsided or fall apart. In one of the most beautiful poems written about Jesus, Colossians 1:15-23 has a cent...

Why did Jesus come into the world? Who did he come for? Luke 2 answers with an unexpected announcement to the despised of society – to lowly shepherds just trying to make it through the night. And with an anticipated gift to the forgotten of so...

Do you ever feel spiritually exhausted? Like you’re living in a desert wasteland? It could be due to devastating news, unexpected conflict, unrelenting sorrow or just the weightiness of life’s circumstances. It’s from that place of weariness th...

Pastor Daryn shares an exciting update on the Pastoral Residency.

In this life, trouble is unavoidable. Challenges come that wear us down and situations arise that can frustrate us endlessly. If we aren’t careful, these struggles can steal our joy and leave us bitter. That’s why we must intentionally choose t...

What do you do when your whole world is caving in, when circumstances are spiraling out of control and some of your worst fears are beginning to come true? Where do you go when you feel alone, scared and unsure about the way forward? That is wh...

Have you ever felt spiritually dry - prayer feels hollow, worship becomes noise, and God seems distant? Psalm 42 and 43 give voice to that feeling. These two chapters form one song that expresses a heart divided, a voice singing of sorrow and h...

Are you feeling alone, forgotten, judged or misunderstood? Maybe someone who once stood by your side isn’t around anymore and you feel abandoned? 2 Timothy 4:9-22 is a refreshingly honest picture of the apostle Paul, at the end of his life, goi...

One expression of disciple making is to walk with someone “ONE to ONE” through part of the Bible. But where do you begin? What if you don’t know all the answers to their questions? These are just a few of the questions we discussed as we walked...

What motivates you to keep doing what God has called you to do? What compels you, especially when the journey is hard? 2 Timothy 4:1-8 is the apostle Paul’s final charge to his young apprentice Timothy essentially saying, “Are you ready? Are yo...