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Connect with Pastor Brent on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brentgarrard/ Connect with Pastor Brent on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pastorbrentgarrard Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/infocuschurch/ Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/infocuschurch Learn more about In Focus and what we have going on by visiting our website at https://infocus.church
Sin is a universal experience. It's rooted in our very being and a key component of God's story with humanity. However, viewing the gospel as simply a “sin-management” tool reduces the power and truth of the Good News. Listen as Pastor Brent shares a fresh perspective on sin, helping us understand its role in our story and how Christ teaches us to approach it.
Connect with Pastor Brent on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brentgarrard/ Connect with Pastor Brent on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pastorbrentgarrard Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/infocuschurch/ Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/infocuschurch Learn more about In Focus and what we have going on by visiting our website at https://infocus.church
In spiritual formation, we trust in the slow work of God. It's a process of being formed in the image of Christ for the sake of others, ultimately experiencing the fullness that He offers. Listen as Pastor Brent shares about the significance and beauty of being formed by Jesus daily.
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.
Connect with Pastor Brent on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brentgarrard/ Connect with Pastor Brent on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pastorbrentgarrard Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/infocuschurch/ Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/infocuschurch Learn more about In Focus and what we have going on by visiting our website at https://infocus.church
What if your words were building the very life you're living? In this powerful new series, Framing Your World, Pastor Brent takes us deep into the truth of Hebrews 11:3—that by faith, the world was framed by the Word of God. Now, it's time to frame your world the same way.
Connect with Pastor Brent on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brentgarrard/ Connect with Pastor Brent on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pastorbrentgarrard Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/infocuschurch/ Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/infocuschurch Learn more about In Focus and what we have going on by visiting our website at https://infocus.church
What if your words were building the very life you're living? In this powerful new series, Framing Your World, Pastor Brent takes us deep into the truth of Hebrews 11:3—that by faith, the world was framed by the Word of God. Now, it's time to frame your world the same way.
Connect with Pastor Brent on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brentgarrard/ Connect with Pastor Brent on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pastorbrentgarrard Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/infocuschurch/ Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/infocuschurch Learn more about In Focus and what we have going on by visiting our website at https://infocus.church
Romans 1:16-17
Connect with Pastor Brent on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brentgarrard/ Connect with Pastor Brent on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pastorbrentgarrard Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/infocuschurch/ Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/infocuschurch Learn more about In Focus and what we have going on by visiting our website at https://infocus.church
The foundation of a relationship with Jesus is faith. What does faith look like in daily life, though? Is it a belief, blind trust, or action? Learn more as Pastor Brent digs into what real faith looks like according to Scripture. It's not about earning anything or proving yourself. It's about giving up the idea that you can earn God's favor and choosing to trust in what Jesus has done for you.
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.
Some decisions have clear moral implications, while others require seeking godly counsel and listening for God's guidance. As we kick off a new teaching series, Pastor Brent encourages us to focus on loving God and others regardless of our specific choices, maintaining an "open ear and soft heart" to divine direction.
Connect with Pastor Brent on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brentgarrard/ Connect with Pastor Brent on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pastorbrentgarrard Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/infocuschurch/ Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/infocuschurch Learn more about In Focus and what we have going on by visiting our website at https://infocus.church
Connect with Pastor Brent on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brentgarrard/ Connect with Pastor Brent on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pastorbrentgarrard Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/infocuschurch/ Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/infocuschurch Learn more about In Focus and what we have going on by visiting our website at https://infocus.church
This week Pastor Brent walks us through the final hours of Jesus' life. Despite having the power to save Himself, Jesus willingly endured betrayal, torture, and crucifixion—all because of His deep and powerful love for humanity.
Mark 11:1-11
As Jesus continues his prayer in John 17:6-19, we find a message specifically for His disciples. Here, Jesus encourages His early followers that they belong to God, to one another, and in the world but not of the world. Listen as Pastor Brent explores the power this exhortation still holds for Christ's people today.
Connect with Pastor Brent on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brentgarrard/ Connect with Pastor Brent on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pastorbrentgarrard Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/infocuschurch/ Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/infocuschurch Learn more about In Focus and what we have going on by visiting our website at https://infocus.church
Pastor Brent's sermon on Mark 13 examines Jesus' teachings about the end times, explaining that while there will be signs like wars, earthquakes, and tribulation preceding Christ's return, the specific timing remains known only to God. The message emphasizes that being "destiny ready" through salvation and "at work ready" through faithful service matters more than understanding all the prophetic details.
Mark:8 31-38
Romans 1:8-15
Pastor Brent PetersonDaniel 7:1-18For more information please visit:https://nampacollegechurch.com
Romans 1 1:7
This week we continue with Mark Chapter 2 and we pick up right where we left off. Jesus has begun his ministry bringing the good news of the kingdom of God to the people of Israel in the region of Galilee healing the sick and casting out demons along the way. To this point, he has tried to keep his ministry under wraps, but word has spread quickly, and many are gathering to see what this new young Rabbi is all about. He's met with mixed reactions as some support him and others attack him. We pick up with Jesus returning to the city Capernaum.
This week Pastor Brent explores the concept of humility, contrasting it with worldly systems of power and pride. He illustrates how Jesus modeled true humility by coming to serve rather than be served, and challenges us to identify areas where we need to increase humility in our relationships with God and others.
Romans :1 1-7
Today, we embark on a journey through the Gospel of Mark, widely regarded as the earliest of the four Gospel accounts. Our goal in this series is to approach the story with fresh eyes—setting aside preconceived notions and allowing Scripture to speak for itself. We will walk through Mark one chapter at a time, immersing ourselves in the good news of Jesus with renewed perspective. Our focus will center on His identity—Who is Jesus? How did others perceive Him? What did He say about Himself? What was His mission? Guiding us on this journey is Pastor Brent Knox.
Today, we embark on a journey through the Gospel of Mark, widely regarded as the earliest of the four Gospel accounts. Our goal in this series is to approach the story with fresh eyes—setting aside preconceived notions and allowing Scripture to speak for itself. We will walk through Mark one chapter at a time, immersing ourselves in the good news of Jesus with renewed perspective. Our focus will center on His identity—Who is Jesus? How did others perceive Him? What did He say about Himself? What was His mission? Guiding us on this journey is Pastor Brent Knox.
Faith isn't about production. It's about remaining with Jesus — abiding with the True Vine — as Jesus teaches His disciples in John 15. Listen as Pastor Brent explores this famous passage, encouraging us to rest in Jesus in order to bear much fruit.
Pastor Brent discusses the story of the rich young ruler from Mark 10:17-27, emphasizing that Jesus desires not only our salvation but also our complete surrender. The greatest challenge for Christians is surrendering completely to Jesus rather than holding onto wealth or other areas of control.
Scripture References:Jeremiah 29:10-14Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21Due to technical difficulties, our normal Sunday sermon was not recorded for broadcast. We are excited to bring you a special midweek podcast to introduce you to our new Grow Together Pastor, Rev. Brent Gilstrap. Pastor Brent preached at our Ash Wednesday service, and invited us on a journey of intentional connection with God during this season of Lent.First Methodist Church of Opelika is an exciting, historic, and growing Methodist church that is inviting our community to find and follow the Spirit-led life in Jesus. Founded in 1837, First Opelika has a rich history of influencing and impacting families in the Opelika/Auburn and surrounding community. The church is currently in a season of revitalization and is laying the foundation for effective ministry in the next season of her life as an independent Methodist church.For more information, check us out at www.firstopelika.org or www.facebook.com/firstopelika
As Jesus shares with His disciples in the book of John, it's better for Him to go so Christ-followers have access to the Holy Spirit. But, who is the Holy Spirit, and what does He do? Listen as Pastor Brent shares about the Spirit of God living in and working with and through us!
DateMarch 2, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we conclude our "Holding It Together" series by exploring how anxiety festers in uncertainty and our desperate attempts to control the uncontrollable. Pastor Brent unpacks the Transfiguration story, revealing how Peter's impulse to build tents mirrors our own anxious grasping for security when facing the unknown. The good news isn't found in certainty or control, but in the transformative presence of Jesus who meets us in our fear, touches us, and says, "Get up and do not be afraid." When everything else fades away, we're left with the liberating truth that we don't need to hold it all together because we are already held.ReferencesScripture: Matthew 17:1–9About 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.
Jesus' sermon on the Kingdom challenges every believer to consider how invested we are truly willing to be—to stake our claim in the Kingdom of Heaven. Those who choose to pursue the Kingdom will, in turn, be pursued by those whose loyalties lie with a different kingdom. This Saturday, Pastor Brent will lead us through the next section of the Sermon on the Kingdom, helping us honestly examine how far we are willing to go for the sake of righteousness.
Jesus faced rejection when He taught in His hometown of Nazareth. Even for those who saw Jesus firsthand, not everyone believed in Him. The same is true for our world today. This week Pastor Brent outlines common obstacles that keep people from faith in Jesus, and while there are no easy answers, believers need to represent Jesus well, and remember that the Holy Spirit will continue His work.
Our new sermon series explores the farewell discourse of Jesus: His final teachings to the disciples before His eventual death and resurrection. Pastor Brent begins by exploring the Way. Jesus says He's “the way and the truth and the life,” but what does that mean? As we learn more about the Way, we also learn what true trust in God looks like.
DateFebruary 16, 2025SynopsisIn this sermon, we launch the series "Holding It Together: Good News for an Anxious Time" by exploring what it means to be honest about our anxiety in an increasingly overwhelming world. Pastor Brent challenges the "this is fine" mentality and examines how our instinct to avoid discomfort—through scrolling, busyness, or distraction—only allows anxiety to deepen its roots. Instead, he invites us to embrace the radical act of naming our struggles before God—not as a sign of weak faith, but as a profound expression of trust. Drawing from both modern psychology and ancient wisdom, we discover that we don't have to hold everything together because we're already being held.ReferencesScripture: Psalm 55:1–8About The Local ChurchFor more information about The Local Church, visit our website. Feedback? Questions? Comments? We'd love to hear it. Email Brent at 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.
Pastor Brent explores the Parable of the Sower from Mark 4:1-20, explaining how the four different types of soil (hard, rocky, thorny, and good) represent different ways people's hearts receive God's Word. Brent emphasizes that while Christians and non-Christians alike can have any type of "soil" in their hearts, achieving "good soil" requires both honest self-examination and God's help to produce spiritual fruit.
We see the Law of God as constraining and demanding, but Jesus sees it as quite the opposite. In the opening of our new series, “The Law of Freedom,” Pastor Brent teaches us that the the true 4 words that frame the Ten Commandments are beauty, freedom, love, and grace.
Pastor Brent introduces a new sermon series entitled Standing Tall. In this episode, Pastor preaches from 1 Kings 17 about Elijah and how he stood tall to face the obstacles in his life and service for God.