In John 21 the resurrected Jesus, the King of the universe, the one with all power and authority is sitting on a beach serving breakfast. His presence on that shoreline, his radical love and hospitality, sets the stage for the restoration he br...

Sometimes what we think will lead to freedom actually has the opposite effect. It can be hard to see things as they are, but Galatians 4 brings clarity when it comes to our relationship with God and others. God is calling us to real freedom in ...

Galatians 4 reveals King Jesus went to great lengths to make us legitimate, full-fledged children of God, granting us an unshakeable inheritance—a secure birthright to be enjoyed now and one that no one can take away.

Oftentimes we find ourselves judging how we compare with others. We silently and even subconsciously create a ranking of people’s status. This is a problem that has plagued every society in various ways. Galatians 3 shows us that there is a dif...

An update on Local Church St. Pete's partnership with Next Stepp.

Our self-reliance has its limits. We can't solve everything or answer our deepest longings on our own. But Galatians 3 reveals a powerful truth: Jesus can. Trusting in Him alone brings freedom.

Galatians 2 reminds us of the beauty and power of the Gospel—that we are justified by faith, transformed by grace, and made alive in Christ. Paul declares that his identity is no longer in his own performance, but in Christ who lives in him. Th...

There are moments so pivotal, that they change the entire trajectory of our life. Paul’s story in Galatians 1-2 is a beautiful example of how the good news of Jesus can take us by surprise, bringing freedom to our relationship with God and othe...

Perfection doesn’t seem attainable in our world. Not long after we find something that seems perfect, we begin to see its flaws. This often drives us to improve what we can and innovate upon what already exists. But what if we found something t...

Between the certainty of death and a false narrative spoken out of fear is the story of Jesus’ resurrection. It’s a story of assurance and love that meets us right where we are. The last two chapters of Matthew hold it up as a testimony to what...

The narrow way or the broad way. The rotting fruit and roots of the false prophets. The house on the rock and the house on the sand. In Matthew 7-8, we hear the words and warnings of Jesus to his followers. They are serious and filled with love...

Everyone desires to be treated with respect and love, and we also hope to treat others well. In Matthew 7, Jesus gives us a simple formula for doing right by others. It’s a golden rule, often learned as a child, that requires God’s grace to app...

What’s your relationship with money like? Is your peace tied to your bank balance? Do you keep striving, believing the good life is just one more financial milestone away? In Matthew 6:19-34, Jesus warns of money’s deceptive pull and calls us t...

Our city is filled with entertainment, pleasure, and the best food and drink. If we are not careful we can allow the pursuit of these things to become the main focus in life. Jesus wants his followers to prioritize their relationship with God o...

There is an aching inside of us because things aren’t as they should be, an awareness that earth is not heaven. In Matthew 6, we find a prayer that gives words to our heart’s longings. It’s a recognition that we cannot repair this world, so we ...

There’s a longing in all of us for the applause of others. Social media heightens the issue as our desire for “likes” is embedded in our day to day lives. In Matthew 6:1-6 Jesus calls us to a “behind the scenes” lifestyle; a whole-hearted devot...

When faced with opposition, how do you respond? When wronged, how do you react? In Matthew 5:38-48, Jesus turns our instincts upside down, calling us to answer hate with love and vengeance with grace. In choosing this path, we mirror God’s hear...

“This Time Tomorrow” highlights the intersection of faith and work in those who are a part of Local Church St. Pete. It’s our hope that conversations like these would encourage us to walk out our faith in Jesus Monday through Saturd...

Getting to the heart of something means to uncover or understand the most important part of it. In Matthew 5:17-37, Jesus gets to the heart of his purpose by making the daring claim that he came to fulfill the entire storyline of the Bible; to ...

Ambivalence is a great word to describe having mixed or contradictory feelings about the same thing. And these days, ambivalence is fairly common. There are things worth celebrating that stand alongside stark reminders that not everything is as...

In Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus describes his followers as the salt of the earth and the light of the world, two deeply rich metaphors taken from the Scriptures. They highlight the call every follower of Jesus has to put the kingdom of heaven on bold...

In Matthew 5:1-12, Jesus describes what life looks like when it comes under the gracious and loving rule of God. Is it an unattainable set of values that leaves us frustrated and hopeless? Is this an idealistic pipe dream? No, it’s a stunning p...

One of the most personal things you can do is come alongside someone as they pray, to be given permission to listen in as they express their greatest concerns and desires. That’s exactly what we’re invited to do in John 17. To hear Jesus’ desir...