Pathways Church | Messages

Over the course of our "Lake Life" series, we have covered many aspects of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. This week, before we move forward, we are taking time to hit the pause button and reflect on lessons learned.

In the final conversation Jesus had with His disciples before ascending into Heaven, He left them with one simple charge, "go and make disciples". Today, many Christians fail miserably at this command, mainly because we don't even try. We allow fear and excuses to be the reason we don't share the greatest news the world will ever know. This week, we look at this important command and how our faith...

Society has convinced us that if we're not moving, being productive, and accomplishing something, we should feel a sense of shame, that we're doing something wrong. While Jesus taught the importance of work, He also taught and modeled the importance of rest!

A hard truth about life at the lake is that not every day will be quiet and calm; storms will come! Sometimes they come on subtly, and others furiously! The questions become: how do we respond in a storm, and do they hold any meaning?

There are many thoughts and opinions about America's founding fathers, but one thing is incontrovertible: they willingly signed their death warrants when they signed their names to the Declaration of Independence. This week, we consider their level of commitment and examine our own for what we believe.

This week, inspired by Benjamin Bloom, Pastor Brent discusses what it takes to make a meaningful change and how, despite the desire to act, many of us become frozen by fear and never take "the jump".

When someone says they're ready for a day at the lake, that doesn't always mean the same thing. To some, that means they want to be in proximity to the lake; to others, it means they're looking to make waves and get loud! Bottom line, not everyone sees the lake the same way.

Being on the lake can be a lot of fun, but there is a danger that can ruin your lake fun - debris. Floating debris can get caught in your prop or damage your hull. Spiritually speaking, many of us live our lives racing around floating debris fields, hoping for the best.

Hidden costs are everywhere! It seems we can't take a vacation, book a flight, attend a concert, buy a home, or even go through the drive-thru without incurring unexpected costs. In Luke 14, Jesus explains the cost of being a true follower.

In Matthew 16, Jesus explained what it means to be one of his followers. However, thanks to our media-driven culture, the term has morphed into being little more than a "fan" of someone.

Did you know that statistically, 75% of people are dehydrated? That means the overwhelming majority of us are not consuming enough water! It's no wonder that we all feel like we can't satisfy our thirst when we're not consuming nearly enough water. This week, examine Jesus' encounter with someone desperate for water...

Change is coming; the important question is, how do you handle change? Does it freak you out or energize you?

Ten years ago, on a family rafting trip in California, the unexpected hit. The trip was a great time, until it wasn't... How many of us feel overwhelmed, as if one more rapid hit would be the end?

The virtue of honor has quietly faded from view. Once instinctively shown to parents, elders, leaders, and even strangers, honor now feels like an outdated concept. But what does our loss of honor say about who we are—not just as a society, but as followers of Christ? 

Kids have a special talent — and it’s called wearing out the good furniture! That’s why, in our house, we set aside a special place in the living room called "The King’s Chair." It’s supposed to be my clean, comfy throne... a spot reserved just for me. The only catch? Most of the time, I’m not the one sitting there!

The discovery of Jesus’ empty tomb stands as the most defining moment in history. It proved He is the Son of God, overcoming the pain of the cross and even death itself. Because of that, Christians everywhere have a lasting hope and the promise of salvation that’s found in Him alone.

Join us for a special service as we stop to remember the sacrifice of Jesus' death on the cross.

One of the paradoxes of faith and doubt is that it is the ultimate intellectual challenge. While simple and uneducated people may live with great wisdom, PhDs may choose foolishness. This week, we look at the tension between doubt and unbelief.

This week, we look at a seemingly mysterious statement Jesus made, with a massive lesson and truth for His followers and all of us thousands of years later. This week's analogy of a vine and branches has an important warning for us individually as well as a challenge to impact our sphere of influence.

We have many different kinds of light in life. Some lights serve practical purposes; after all, it's hard to work in the dark. Others exist because we feel uncomfortable. Having light makes us feel more secure. Jesus used the analogy of light to illustrate His purpose.

Remember how excited we all used to get when there was a knock on the door? Today, if the doorbell rings or a knock is heard, many pretend they are not home while checking doorbell cameras to see who is outside. We don't even like to go to the door! Jesus used the analogy of a door to talk about himself.

Very few people have "shepherd" on their resume or even know the first thing about caring for sheep. But one of the titles that Jesus assigned to himself was "the Good Shepherd." Why? What message was He trying to convey, and why did He choose a shepherd?

Bread is a widely debated food—some people crave it endlessly, while others go to great lengths to avoid it. Interestingly, Jesus used bread as a powerful metaphor in one of His seven distinct statements about Himself, declaring, *“I am the Bread of Life.”* In this series, we will explore each of these profound declarations, unpacking their meaning and discovering how they shape our lives today.

As we close the book of Nehemiah, it's important to reflect and be challenged by the lessons learned from this amazing moment in History. Nehemiah was a man who saw a serious problem, and through prayer and fasting chose to answer the call to "do something."

Paul McCartney wrote a song as a reaction to a dream He once had about His mother, who died of cancer when He was only 14 years old. In the dream Paul's mother, Mary told Him that "it will be alright, just let it be." Today, "Let It Be" has become an iconic song, and its meaning has been left largely to the listener for interpretation. As we close our study of Nehemiah, it's important to examine H...