Lakeshore City Church

Text: Acts 7:54-60 (ESV) 

When a Jewish boy turned twelve, He was “a son of the law,” taking on the full obligations of the law. If Jesus had lived within 20 miles of Jerusalem, it would have been his obligation to attend the Passover feast, but he didn’t, Jesus lived in Nazareth, about 60 miles from Jerusalem. But because his parents went to Jerusalem every year for the Passover, and because he was now old enough to go, J...

“For hardship does not spring from the soil, nor does trouble sprout from the ground. [7] Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward” (Job 5:6–7 NIV). I’d like to think that calamity will visit everyone but me, but I know it isn’t true. Calamity will visit your home, and it will visit mine too.   Everyone suffers. Why?   Well for one thing, random selection will mean that I’ll have...

Sometimes, it seems like God is ignoring you. If you feel that way, you're in good company. Did you know that Jesus Himself felt abandoned, asking the difficult question, "Why?" This Sunday, Pastor Charlie will focus on the incredible work of Christ. This Sunday sermon title is: "Psalm of the Cross."

It was my sixth birthday; I felt so special. We had a party with hats, decorations galore and a great big birthday cake. All my friends came and that was good. All my friends came with presents, and that was better. I made my wish, blew out the candles and smiled. I felt invincible on August 27, 1965, like everything would always go my way. I was not quite thirteen. We lived on the plains of West...

“And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:14 (ESV) In the Christmas Classic, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” George Bailey has the opportunity to see what the world would be like if he’d never been born. If he had never been born, he wouldn’t have been able to rescue his brother when he fell into the icy pond and his brother would have...

Q1How is the agenda of man different from that of Jesus? Q2How is it that the people who were once celebrating Jesus have not turned on him so viciously that they now want to kill him?

Text: Ephesians 2:19-22 (ESV) Q1How has this passage reshaped your view of Lakeshore City Church? Q2Why is a unified church a great witness to the unbelieving world? Preaching at Lakeshore City Church on February 4, 2024

“Hail, King of the Jews,” they cried, as they put a crown made of thorns on his head.  They spat in his face, they pulled his beard and they mocked his Holy name.   They put a 300-pound cross on his back, and in His weakened state, He stumbled beneath the load.  Simon of Cyrene carried the cross for Him as he walked up the hill to His destiny.   The soldiers ripped His robe from Him, reopening his...

In a world where relationships often face trials and challenges, discovering the divine blueprint for marriage can offer hope, healing, and a fresh perspective. This Sunday, we dive into Ephesians 5:22-33, exploring the sacred design of marriage as intended by God. Whether you're single, engaged, or have been married for years, this message is for you!

Michael Todd went to a new school where he was the target of taunts and laughter. He did not have new clothes and was feeling very left out. Garrett and Kristopher Graham, a pair of freshman football players, were two of the kids piling on. When the Graham brothers realized what they were doing was wrong, they hunted through their drawers and closets, found shirts, and pants they could part with a...

Worthy living involves humility—not humiliation or powerlessness, but complete submission to God and voluntary submission to one another. Humility does not place self-worth over others or God.   Worthy living includes gentleness, which is a spirit of compassion and kindness.   Worthy living displays patience when pressured or annoyed. It is long-suffering with a calm endurance.   Worthy living is...

God can meet our spiritual needs in ways we haven't thought about. It's a good idea to pray for the spiritual needs of others. Setting our minds on the things of the Spirit will affect the way we pray. God does not always do what we want. What we do in times of trouble reveals what we trust in. We were made to glorify God, are you living to do that?

Questions to ponder: Q1 How does it affect you to "remember" your situation before you knew Christ (2:11-12)? How are you encouraged by meditating on your new status (2:13)?  Q2Explain the work of Christ in this passage.

A 90-year-old Frenchwoman, who was preparing to move, had an auctioneer come to set a value on her furniture for sale. Hanging in the kitchen was a tempera panel that she had owned for decades. She believed it was an old Russian icon of little value and was planning to throw it away. The auctioneer thought it might be worth something. He was right. It was a 13th century painting,  Christ Mocked  b...

Questions to ponder: 1. In verses 18-19, he lists a number of things he prays for them to know. What are they, and why do you think he prays for those things? 2. The same power that is at work in God’s people now is the same power that did something remarkable in history (v.20-23). What is that power? Do you believe that? 3. What does it mean for Jesus to fill everything in every way? (v.23)

In Ephesians 1, Paul tells us that Father adopted us, the Son also redeemed us, and the Spirit seals our salvation. I’m thankful that the father chose to adopt us and that the Spirit sealed our salvation to secure it for eternity. Paul makes much of the grace of God in this Epistle. In the upcoming chapter he makes it clear that salvation comes by grace through faith (2:8-9), here he speaks of the...

Questions to ponder on: 1. What are your thoughts on the Holy Spirit? 2. What does it mean to set your mind on the things of the Spirit? 3. What does it mean to quench the Spirit?

Psalm 95:1-5 1 Oh come, let us sing to the Lord;     let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! 2  Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;     let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! 3  For the Lord is a great God,     and a great King above all gods. 4  In his hand are the depths of the earth;     the heights of the mountains are his also. 5  The sea is his,...

If we are free from the law then what standard do we use to compare our actions against? Paul gave us some guidance. Our freedom from the law is not an opportunity to indulge in fleshly, carnal desires. Instead, provides us with the chance to serve and love one another.   Christ did not come into the world, live a perfect life, suffer the shame of the cross, endure the wrath of God, and die a horr...

Galatians 5:1-6 1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. 2  Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you.  3  I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law.  4  You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you...

Galatians 4:28-31 28  Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.  29  But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now.  30  But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.”  31  So, brothers, we...

Galatians 4:12–20 16 Have I then become your enemy by  telling you the truth? 17 They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. 18 It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and  not only when I am present with you, 19  by little children,  for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ  is formed in you! 20 I...

The purpose of the law was not to bring salvation or condemnation. It was to bring conviction. It was to let us know that we need a Savior. The false teachers in the churches of Galatia were confusing people by adding things to the gospel message. They were teaching that works were necessary for a person to be saved. The apostle Paul was disturbed by this and combated these lies with the truth of...