Stello Grove, Grand Rapids MI

So, here’s the question of the week: Why do you really (and we mean really) meet with God? Whether it’s a time of prayer or quiet time or whatever it may be for you, what is it that you are hoping to accomplish? This week Pastor Jack takes an honest look at many possible reasons, and why the practice of silence and solitude is so vital for the Christ-Follower.

Part 2: Joseph's Silence and Solitude by Pastor Jack Sytsema

Spiritual formation.  Sounds like one of those required classes that no one wants to take (and even bores the professor).  But nothing could be further from the truth!  This series focuses on the important stuff you need to know to live the abundant, deeply satisfying life of the true Christ-follower. Part 1:
 This week's message looks at King Saul, who had absolutely everything going for him, inc...

Lately we’ve come to realize that community is critically important.  We need each other now more than ever.  Not only that, Scripture tells us to think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works (more stuff we really need!).  In this message, Pastor Jack inspires us in desiring community, and thinking of ways to motive and encourage one another in an age of isolation, criticis...

Okay, so does this sound familiar? You have a renewed dream or a vision of where God may be leading you, but things haven’t always turned out so well in the past. And now the future seems foggy and you wonder if you even want to try again (especially now that we’ve all been so freshly reminded of how quickly circumstances can change). Today Pastor Jack talks about renewing our hope for the future...

As we have been talking about the Holy Spirit, Pastor Jack has spent the last few weeks looking at the explosive beginnings of the Church in the first 4 chapters of Acts.  This week, chapter 5 presents us with the difficult account of Ananias and Sapphira.  Join us as we look at this story and talk about one prayer it should lead us to.

An important part of Christian experience, but one largely overlooked in many of today’s churches, is seeking to be filled repeatedly by the Holy Spirit—to have your soul shaken by Him. On this Pentecost Sunday, Pastor Jack looks at the prayers of Peter and John in Acts, explains why they prayed as they did, and reminds us that we all need to have our souls shaken.

When Jesus was commanding us to love, He couldn’t possibly have been talking about people who view masks or vaccines or BLM differently than we do, could He? After all, so much has changed, right? Well, turns out that some of the parables Jesus used to illustrate love have many similarities to what we face today. Pastor Jack takes a look at how some things never change. Including the command to lo...

So, is there a term for being in both decline and renewal at the same time? Turns out, there is. It’s call “the gray zone.” Pastor Jack talks about how to navigate the gray zone that Christ Followers often find themselves in, and shares encouragement you need to hear from the story of Gideon.

Have you ever noticed what you tend to notice? What does your mind focus on? And how does that even matter to your life as a Christ-follower? Join Pastor Jack as he talks about these things and about how Paul was a hot mess!

Did you ever wonder why God made the first rule? I mean, it wasn’t about murder or lying or sex or drunkenness – it was about a piece of fruit. Doesn’t that seem a bit random? Well, yes. And yet, not at all. Pastor Jack explains.

If there were a super-secret council whose goal was to figure out how to slow the growth of the Church, slow the transformation of individuals and to do it without drawing much attention, what would they do? The answer may surprise you – and make all the difference in your own walk with the Lord!

Let's have "the talk." And, yes, we do mean sex. This message will bring a deeper understand of both the beauty and the spiritual principles behind sex, and why God included the seventh commandment.

So, what does the Bible really have to say about the Holy Spirit?  What is His role in heaven and on earth -- and in us?  Join us for the first message in this series as Pastor Jack begins in the upper room as the resurrected Jesus breathes on the disciples and says, "Receive the Holy Spirit."

After a long season of Lent, here we are. Finally! The price is paid. Sins are forgiven. Life can finally resume as normal. Right? Well… the real question is, what now? Should life just go back to normal? Let’s talk about that. Join us as we celebrate Easter and enter the season of Eastertide!

Have you ever felt like everything happening in your life seems wrong or strange or like God can’t possibly be intending for things to be the way they are? We all probably have – and recently, too. We aren’t alone. That is precisely the way the disciples felt in Jesus’ final hours. But God was in it. Every bit of it. How often are we in uncomfortable or difficult or strange situations and complete...

If we think Jesus came to make us comfortable, we are not only missing the point, we will also be greatly disappointed. But we wouldn’t be the first. In this Palm Sunday message, Pastor Jack Sytsema talks about the many expectations of Jesus back then and challenges our expectations of Jesus today. (Good news – there is a difference between being comfortable and being comforted!)

What does a high priest look like? We often think of a person clothed in ornate garments, adorned with precisely crafted robes, sashes and jewelry that have been detailed with deeply-held symbolism, and each element worn with ritualistic care. Yet at the most deeply sacred moment in human history, our High Priest hung fully naked and completely exposed. Join us as we look at this profoundly signif...

Every one of us at one time or another has looked for someone to be on our side—someone to notice us; someone to understand us; someone to defend us; someone to protect us; someone to comfort us; someone to include us; someone to affirm us; someone to stand up for justice and fairness; someone to love us no matter what. We want “my person.” These are all real and legitimate needs. But these needs...

WWJD? The answer may not be so clear. Ask two different Christians and you’re likely to get two different answers based more on ideologies or biases. The problem is that too many Christians simply do not know Jesus very well. And that is why it is so important that we understand who Jesus was and what he came to do. This message series is devoted to doing just that. And in this very encouraging me...

So, have you accepted Jesus -- as your friend?  How much do we know about Jesus, the friend?  And what does that really look like?  As we continue looking at the man who journeyed to the cross on our behalf, this week we look at the comfort of beauty of Jesus calling you and me His friend.

What’s the one thing you have that grants you access to Jesus? The answer may not be what you think. Join us as Pastor Jack kicks off this new series for the Lenten season focusing on who Jesus’ character, His life, and His journey to the cross.

As we begin this Lenten season with Ash Wednesday, Susie Renzema gives a clear and concise teaching about what Lent is, why we choose to observe it, and gives a beautiful invitation to join with us as we enter into the season where “holiness and grace kiss.”

Discouragement has this way of creeping into our lives and, often without us even noticing, rearranges our perspective and priorities. And when that happens we often do things that we probably would not have done if we were not feeling so discouraged. So, what should we do in times of discouragement?

This week is about answering some big questions, like – Why did Jesus come to Earth? Who was Jesus saving us from? Why did He get so angry in the Temple? What does all of this have to do with the vision of Lake Effect Church? Is today a significant day for Lake Effect? (Wait. What?) Join us for this important message on our fourth anniversary.