Great Lakes Church

“…but with God everything is possible.” -Matthew 19:26 “…but God raised him from the dead!” -Acts 13:30 “…but it was God who made it grow.” -1 Corinthians 3:6 To the left of ‘But God’ is hopelessness, darkness, and death. But to the right of “But God,’ we are able to find hope, light, and life. TIMESTAMPS: 0:22 ANNOUNCEMENTS 7:55 WEEKLY TALK

We all want to get the future right, and we all want to arrive safely at our intended destination. Follow these rules and you will get there on time and on purpose.

For 2,000 years, Jesus has been using all types of churches, with all types of strategies, to build HIS CHURCH (the global church) around the world. Great Lakes Church uses a show and tell strategy to saturate our homes, neighborhoods, and communities with the good news of Jesus!

It’s easy to make a point. All we need to do is shout loudly, hold signs, and launch campaigns...but the responsibility of the church isn’t to make a point. The church's responsibility is to make a difference– which requires humility, love, patience, sacrifice, and generosity.

The Church Jesus launched was never intended to be a club, motivational seminar, or refuge for religious people. Instead, it was intended to be a place of hope, healing, grace, and community.

Jesus never promised to protect us from a pain-free or problem-free life, but he did promise to be with us in the midst of our pain and problems.

From beginning to end, the Bible is one big epic story about Jesus. In a world marked by endless problems that can’t seem to be fixed, Jesus is the hero.

The message Jesus proclaimed frees us from the endless cycle of feeling like a failure for not doing what we know we’re supposed to be doing. It’s a message that stands in direct opposition to religion!

Why are there so many religions and why does Jesus claim to be the only way to God?

What is God really like? Is God angry, violent, and retributive? If we want to believe that, we can read the Bible in a way that supports this. But what if God is like Jesus? What if God is fully revealed in the life and death of Jesus Christ? Wouldn’t that be good news? Well, that is the good news!

Whatever you may be hungry for — Jesus claims that it all begins and ends with Him.

When Jesus says that He is the Light of the world, He is not just contrasting light and darkness. He is illustrating just how different He is from all the other sources we look to for lighting up our path and guiding us.

Mercy is a gift. It is undeserved. When punishment and consequences are expected, the merciful person responds in an unpredictable way. Everything we read about Jesus is saturated with mercy. When we choose to respond to Jesus’ invitation to be people of mercy, we bring peace, healing and reconciliation everywhere we go.

The Good Shepherd is a title Jesus gives to himself. Unlike shepherds who are simply trying to earn a paycheck, Jesus is fully committed to knowing, leading, caring for, and protecting his sheep at all costs. The implications of this is more than anyone could possibly imagine!

There are few things as divisive as politics. Thankfully, Jesus didn't call everyone to agree on everything, but he did command his followers to be united by unconditional love. The big question is, “Do you even want to love the people you disagree with politically?” The name of the documentary Pastor Dave showed today is “Perfect Valor,” narrated by Fred Dalton Thompson. Not In It To Win It (Andy...

One of mankind's most common captors is also one of the most discreet. It doesn't take hold overnight, nor is it easy to recognize in ourselves. With awareness & the hope that Jesus offers, we can control our pride rather than letting it dictate the direction of our lives!

Most of us agree that worry has very few benefits– but it’s a universal experience that negatively impacts both our health and relationships. When Jesus taught about worry, He revealed both the source and solution so we don't have to be imprisoned by it.

It's hard to feel like we've missed the mark or let someone down. Destructive thought spirals can make us feel like we're trapped in a cage that we'll never escape from. But what if the moments we felt the least worthy were actually the perfect chance to start from scratch?

Every day we are confronted with lies that, when we believe them, have the power to damage our emotional, relational, or mental health. The only way to really combat deception is to discover the truth that Jesus says has the power to set us free!

If we're honest, much of our time on earth is geared towards cracking the code to a happy or "good" life. Often this results in bondage to expectations & discontentment, when in reality, Jesus' most famous talk gives us the precise keys we need to live in freedom.

The resurrection of Jesus isn't just another Bible story. It is the story! Without the resurrection, no one would have bothered to document the story of Jesus. So what is the story of Jesus? It’s God extending unbelievable and unexplainable grace to a world that definitely doesn't deserve it.

When we’re under pressure, our natural biases start to rise, and we tend to be less tolerant of differences and more prejudice toward others. If you want to be part of a healthy community it takes effort and intentionality.

Anger may be the most misunderstood and mismanaged emotion. Everyone experiences anger, but very few people know how to express their anger in a healthy or productive way.

The pressure in our lives makes us more aware of our need for God, but it also makes us more susceptible to temptation. When we find ourselves baited to the line of destructive behavior, it's important to know what it takes to remain strong.