Where does your strength to endure come from? How do you actively guard against spiritual apathy and indifference? Hebrews 12:1-3 describes our faith journey as a race and “looking to Jesus” as the only way we will complete it. More than a recommendation for the moment, “looking to Jesus” is a way of life that protects and empowers.

The fears we experience in the midst of painful trials and opposition can begin to cloud our vision and have a paralyzing effect on our faith. Hebrews 11 gives one story after the next of imperfect people who held onto what God said and through faith looked to what they couldn’t see. It’s a beautiful celebration of faithful endurance meant to inspire and empower us to live by faith.

It’s hard to keep going when you’re worn out, discouraged or suffering unexpected hardships. The troubles of life can easily tempt us to say, “Forget this; I’m done; I’m out,” resulting in spiritual complacency or abandonment of faith altogether. Hebrews 10:26-39 holds up the sobering consequences of turning away from Jesus alongside the greatest motive to endure. It’s exactly what we need to keep going.

Have you ever been exhausted and overwhelmed at the heaviness of life? It can feel like a weight is strapped to your back as you try to trudge through day after day. In Matthew 11 Jesus invites us to come and find rest in Him. It’s a rest that heals our souls and reorients our lives. Will you come and find rest?

When struggling with sin and shame, there is a temptation to isolate and hide from God and others. In Hebrews 10, we're shown that drawing close to God and other followers of Jesus is what will sustain us and lead us to wholeness in Christ.

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.

Where do you look when you feel broken beyond repair? When the heaviness of shame doesn’t lift? Where do you find strength to endure when you want to give up? Hebrews 9 describes what Jesus did as “once for all.” Something so decisive and complete that it restores what is broken, opens the way to what was previously shut and empowers us to endure. There’s nothing more we could add and nothing more we need.