DateOctober 5, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, the first of our Scary Stories sermon series, we confront the haunting narrative that "might makes right" and discover a profound alternative: God's power is made perfect in weakness. Through the ancient prophet Habakkuk's honest laments and patient waiting, we learn that true strength isn't found in domination or self-reliance, but in admitting our need for God. When we embrace our human limitations instead of denying, distracting, or deflecting from them, we tap into a divine power that transforms both us and the world around us.ReferencesScripture: Habbakuk 1:1–4; 2:1–4About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.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.
DateSeptember 28, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we reimagine salvation not as a fear-driven, one-and-done transaction but as God’s healing and wholeness breaking into real life—personal and communal, present and active. We move from private assurance to public restoration, learning to “work out” salvation together through justice, mercy, and everyday mending. Where the world feels frayed, we become agents of repair, embodying Jesus’ pattern of healing, belonging, and restitution—here and now. Scripture: Luke 18:42; Mark 5:34; Luke 19:8–9; Philippians 2:12–13.About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.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.
DateSeptember 21, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon from the "Baggage Claim" series, we confront one of Christianity's heaviest burdens: the doctrine of hell and divine punishment. Brian Recker reveals how fear-based theology creates devastating spiritual baggage in our relationships with God, ourselves, and others. Through fresh historical and biblical insights, he reframes Jesus's teachings about Gehenna not as threats of eternal torment, but as urgent calls to build loving communities in the present. Drawing from Matthew 7:12, Luke 19:10, and 1 John 4:18, Recker invites us to exchange our fear-laden baggage for the transformative truth of our belovedness.Pre-Order Hell Bent by Brian ReckerAbout The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.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.
DateSeptember 14, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we confront the heavy religious baggage many of us carry around prayer and discover a liberating alternative. Through Jesus's radical teaching of the Lord's Prayer, we explore a transformative framework—Attend, Align, Act—that moves us from empty ritual to revolutionary practice. Instead of treating prayer like a spiritual vending machine, we're invited into a dynamic rhythm that awakens us to God's presence, reshapes our desires, and unleashes us as agents of healing in a broken world. This isn't just about changing how we pray. It’s about reimagining how we live.ReferencesScripture: Matthew 5:5–15About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.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.
DateSeptember 7, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we unpack the loaded word "evangelism" and discover a fresh perspective that moves beyond pressure-filled conversion tactics to something more life-giving. Pastor Brent challenges us to reimagine evangelism not as a two-seater transaction but as a communal journey where there's always room for one more – complete with our questions, doubts, and full humanity. Through the lens of Philip's invitation to Nathanael to "come and see," we explore how authentic relationship and radical welcome can transform both ourselves and our world.ReferencesScripture: Matthew 28:16–20, John 1:43–51About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.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.
DateAugust 31, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we explore God's radical, relentless love through the beloved children's show Bluey. Diving deep into the episode "Sleepytime," we unpack how cultural narratives of an angry, punitive God have caused profound harm, while scripture actually reveals a tender, compassionate Divine Parent who never gives up on us. Through beautiful imagery of a mother's cosmic love and ancient words from Hosea, we discover that God's essence isn't wrath or disappointment, but an unwavering love that transforms how we see ourselves and how we build community. Scripture: Hosea 11:1-9, 1 John 4:7-12About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.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.
DateAugust 24, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we explore how handwritten letters—from a principal's encouraging notes to students to the Apostle Paul's letters to early Christians—remind us of our true identity and purpose. Through Paul's letter to the Ephesians, we discover a profound truth: we are God's accomplishment (poiēma), masterpieces created not by our own achievements but through divine grace. This identity frees us to participate in God's work of mending what's broken in our world, one faithful act at a time. Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10.About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.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.
DateAugust 17, 2025SynopsisIn this service, we witnessed The Local Church officially becoming a United Methodist congregation through a powerful chartering ceremony. Bishop Connie Shelton illuminated how God's creative work continues through local communities, reminding us that we are all "co-creators" with the Divine in bringing healing and wholeness to our neighborhoods. The service celebrated both the formal constitution and the confirmation of seven young people, embodying the church's core message that everyone belongs and is beloved. From Genesis 1:1-5 to Ezekiel 17:22-24, scripture grounded this celebration of new beginnings and inclusive community.About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.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.
DateAugust 10, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we wrestle with that universal ache of unfinished business—from summer bucket lists to life's deeper longings. Drawing from personal experience and the ancient wisdom of Hebrews 11, we discover something liberating: faith isn't about checking off every box, but about trusting God in the midst of our incompleteness. Through the story of Abraham and Sarah, we learn that the divine often shows up not in our achievements, but in life's ordinary, unpolished moments—transforming our "undone" into holy ground where grace and humanity meet. (Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16)About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.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.
Rajeev Tiwari, Director of Student Ministries at The Local Church, preaches a sermon on what sabbath is and how we can enter into it.
Date: July 13th, 2025Rev. Dr. Denise Honeycutt delivers a sermon from Luke 10:23-27
About The RenewingThere’s a way the world teaches us to live—fast, anxious, disconnected. And there’s another way. The Renewing is a podcast about resisting what deforms us and returning to what makes us whole. Inspired by Romans 12:2, it’s a space to question the patterns we’ve inherited—hustle, disconnection, exhaustion—and imagine what healing might look like instead. Through honest conversations and deep listening, host Brent Levy explores the sacred, slow work of renewal—for ourselves, our communities, and the world.This EpisodeWhat happens when the faith you inherited no longer fits, yet something sacred still lingers? In this episode, Brent sits down with writer and creative Lauren Cibene, whose debut book, Tiger in a Lifeboat, explores deconstruction, travel, and the slow, surprising reconstruction that follows. Together, they discuss what it means to witness rather than persuade, how grief and unlearning are essential parts of healing, and why the red letters of Jesus keep drawing Lauren back.You’ll hear about the holiness of hospitality, the healing power of presence, and the sacred invitation to trust yourself again. If you’re navigating a spiritual shift, tender with your past, or just longing to see God in unexpected places, this conversation is for you.Learn more about Lauren here, check out her Substack here, and find her on Instagram here. Get her book, Tiger in a Lifeboat on Amazon, Bookshop, or Audible.The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.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.
DateJune 15, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we explore how genuine hope emerges not just from knowing stories of faith, but from actively living them out. Through the lens of the Road to Emmaus narrative, we discover how participatory hope—showing up and embodying God's presence in the world—transforms our "we had hoped" moments into encounters with the living Christ. Drawing on experiences as a hospital chaplain and weaving together contemporary challenges with ancient wisdom, we examine how the Spirit opens our eyes to recognize Christ's presence in our midst, especially in moments of deep disappointment.Scripture references: Luke 24:13-35, Matthew 11:28-30, Psalm 27:13ReferencesScripture: Luke 24:13–35About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.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.
DateJune 1, 2025SynopsisThis week, we welcome special guest preacher Mallory Wyckoff, who first leads us in an imaginative exercise with scripture, inviting us to step into the story and feel its weight. We then explore how Jesus meets us in our deepest weariness and transforms the emptiest of places into spaces of abundance. Join us as we discover the power of trust in the deep places of our lives, where Jesus weaves nets of liberation and hope.ReferencesScripture: Luke 5:1-11About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.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.
DateMay 25, 2025SynopsisThis week, Rajeev Tiwari and Brent Levy respond to your questions in a special Ask Us Anything Sunday.ReferencesScripture: [Genesis 32:22-31](https://www.bible.com/bible/3523/GEN.32.22-31)About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.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.
DateMay 18, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we dive into the heart of authentic relationship through the lens of Peter's post-resurrection encounter with Jesus. When Jesus appears on the beach cooking breakfast, he doesn't lecture or shame – instead, he creates space for restoration and remembrance of who we truly are. Pastor Brent reveals how this ancient story speaks to our modern struggles with self-worth, belonging, and connecting with others.ReferencesScripture: John 21:1-19About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.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.
DateMay 11, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we confront the deep human longing to be seen and explore how Jesus transforms our understanding of belonging. When biological families fall short or relationships fracture, Christ offers a radical alternative: a chosen family built not on bloodlines but on the courage to show up with vulnerability and love. Through locked doors and doubt, Jesus demonstrates that true peace comes not from avoiding pain, but from meeting each other in our woundedness.ReferencesScripture: John 20:19–31 About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.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.
About The RenewingThere’s a way the world teaches us to live—fast, anxious, disconnected. And there’s another way. The Renewing is a podcast about resisting what deforms us and returning to what makes us whole. Inspired by Romans 12:2, it’s a space to question the patterns we’ve inherited—hustle, disconnection, exhaustion—and imagine what healing might look like instead. Through honest conversations and deep listening, host Brent Levy explores the sacred, slow work of renewal—for ourselves, our communities, and the world.This EpisodeWhat do you do when the church isn’t equipped, the system is overloaded, and the people you love are quietly unraveling? In this episode, Rev. Amanda Rigby and Dr. Elizabeth Watters share how they responded not with resignation—but with action. The result is The Well, a community-rooted space for affordable, accessible mental and spiritual care, housed at Edenton Street United Methodist Church. Born from a late-night conversation and sustained by friendship, The Well offers a model for healing that is slow, relational, justice-minded, and deeply human.You’ll hear how burnout became the birthplace of something beautiful, how therapy and spiritual direction can work together, and why care that affirms your belovedness shouldn’t be a luxury. If you’ve ever felt stretched thin, unsure where to turn, or longed for a church that holds your whole self—this episode will help you imagine what’s possible.Learn more about The Well here or on Instagram here.The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.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.
DateMay 4, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we deconstruct the "happily ever after" myth and explore how meaningful relationships are built through intentional practice. Drawing from biblical wisdom and contemporary research, we examine five essential building blocks for stronger marriages: equal partnership, committed presence, cultivated closeness, practiced forgiveness, and shared mission. These elements form the architecture of not just thriving marriages, but all relationships that embody Christ's transformative love in our world.ReferencesScripture: 1 Corinthians 13What's HappeningAs the summer approaches, we could use your help on Sunday mornings! Find joy and deeper connection by serving to help make our gatherings happen. Learn more and sign up here.Your old bikes could become a needed lifeline through The Re:Cycle Project. Donate your old bike in any condition, or get involved here.About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.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.
DateApril 27, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we kick off "We Just Click: God's Design for Meaningful Relationships," a post-Easter series exploring how authentic connections can transform our lives and world. Pastor Brent unpacks how Jesus spent his "bonus time" after resurrection not on tasks or teachings, but on being present with others—showing us that connection isn't just nice, it's necessary. He reveals four powerful ways relationships transform us: they combat loneliness, bring joy, provide support, and create space to practice love in ways that draw us closer to God's heart.ReferencesScripture: Genesis 2:15–25About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at brent@thelocalchurchpbo.org.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.
Stephan Margeson
what a great podcast! this is perfect for my morning commutes and always fills my week with joy and sometimes a challenge!