Lakewood Blog

Learn more about the individual ministries and team members at Lakewood through our blogs.

Here is Where I Stand

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In light of current events, Lakewood will encourage people to focus on the teaching, character and truth of Jesus, call people to accept Jesus as personal Savior and Lord, affirm the truth of Scripture, and challenge people to live worthy unto Jesus. Scripture teaches, and the life and works of Jesus affirm, that all people are created in the image of God and therefore have value and dignity. 

OT19 | NT Connection (December 28)

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NT Connect: Matthew 11:25-28 Weekly Reading: Isaiah 51-55 Come to Jesus “Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live.” –Isaiah 55:3 These words from the prophet Isaiah echoed through the centuries, until they found their fullness on the lips of Jesus Christ when he said, “Come to me, all of … Continued

OT19 | NT Connection (December 21)

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NT Connect: Acts 13:13-52 Weekly Reading: Isaiah 45-50  Light for the Nations This week’s OT reading led us through Isaiah 45-50. Isaiah 49:1-7 speaks of a Servant who brings salvation to sis people. Who is this Servant? This Servant is Jesus Christ, to whom several meaningful descriptions are given. He is God’s servant and warrior … Continued

OT19 | NT Connection (December 14)

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NT Connect: Matthew 12:9-21 Weekly Reading: Isaiah 40-44 Bruised Reed In Matthew 12, Jesus’ healing of the man with a withered hand leads to conflict with the religious leaders. Jesus withdraws from the synagogue, and we read, “Many followed him, and he healed them all” (Matthew 12:15). Matthew then asserts that this healing ministry was … Continued

OT19 | NT Connection (December 7)

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NT Connect: Matthew 4:12-23 Weekly Reading: Isaiah 7-12 People Walking in Darkness The Gospel writers, and especially Matthew, who is commonly noted to have been writing for a Jewish audience, saw Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment of the story for Israel. Over and over again, Matthew shows how Jesus fulfills the Old Testament. He teaches … Continued

OT19 | NT Connection (November 30)

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NT Connect: Matthew 21:33-46 Weekly Reading: Isaiah 1-6 The Lord’s Vineyard I hope you have enjoyed being reminded of the beautiful connection between God’s Word recorded for us in both Testaments of Scripture.These last several months have been informative and formative as we have read through portions of the Old Testament and have seen the … Continued

OT19 | NT Connection (November 23)

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NT Connect: Hebrews 11:10; 1 Peter 1:1, 17 Weekly Reading: 2 Kings 19-25 Exile And he burned the house of the Lord and the king’s house and all the houses of Jerusalem; every great house he burned down. –2 Kings 25:9 Fire consumes its fuel and leaves a pile of ash in its wake. In … Continued

OT19 | NT Connection (November 16)

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NT Connect: Luke 11:29-32 Weekly Reading: 1 Kings 10-12, 2 Kings 16-18 One Greater Than Solomon When you hear the name “Solomon,” what comes to mind? “Wisdom” is probably among the first few words that entered into your thought process. Many people today recognize the name Solomon, but surely his name recognition today pales in … Continued

OT19 | NT Connection (November 9)

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NT Connect: 1 Corinthians 3:10-17; Ephesians 2:1-22 Weekly Reading: 1 Kings 5-9 The New Temple One of the marvelous things about our God is his desire to be with his people. Before the foundations of the world, his intention has been to dwell among us. Here is the most powerful being in all the world, … Continued

OT19 | NT Connection (November 2)

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NT Connect: Hebrews 4:1-4 Weekly Reading: 2 Samuel 23-24; 1 Kings 1-4 A Better David David’s reign as king over God’s people began on such a high note. He was a man after God’s own heart, and the Lord promised that one of his descendants would reign forever on his throne (2 Samuel 7). Yet, … Continued

OT19 | NT Connection (October 26)

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NT Connect: Luke 15:11-32 Weekly Reading: 2 Samuel 18-22 The Rebellious Son Have you ever been rebellious? If you answered honestly, you most likely answered emphatically: yes! This week we’ve read in 2 Samuel 18 about the tragic ending of David’s son Absalom. Absalom disgraced his father, rebelled against him, and attempted to dethrone him. … Continued

OT19 | NT Connection (October 19)

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NT Connect: 1 John 1:5-10 Weekly Reading: 2 Samuel 13-17 Forgiveness How far we’ve fallen since God’s covenant with David in 2 Samuel 7! Since that promise, David seduced Bathsheba and murdered her husband. Then, sin rushes through David’s family like a raging infection. One of his sons raped his own sister, and then another … Continued

OT19 | NT Connection (October 12)

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NT Connect: Luke 1:26-33 Weekly Reading: 2 Samuel 7-12 Covenant with David This week began with David feeling pretty good about life. God had brought him from being a lowly shepherd boy to the king of the nation of Israel. With God’s help, David had defeated his enemies. Last week, we read that David brought … Continued

OT19 | NT Connection (October 5)

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NT Connect: Matthew 22:41-46 Weekly Reading: 2 Samuel 2-6 The Anointed King This week in 2 Samuel 2-6, we saw David anointed at Hebron as King over all Israel. At this point, David has been anointed three times. First, he was anointed with the Spirit of the Lord (1 Samuel 16:13). Then, he was anointed … Continued

OT19 | NT Connection (September 28)

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NT Connect: Matthew 5:43-4 Weekly Reading: 1 Samuel 28-31; 2 Samuel 1 Love Your Enemies This week we read about the final days of Saul’s life, which culminates with a passionate (and maybe a little surprising) lament written by David. “Saul and Jonathan, beloved and pleasant in their life, and in their death they were … Continued

OT19 | NT Connection (September 21)

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NT Connect: John 5:30 Weekly Reading: 1 Samuel 23-27 Christ is the Righteous Judge We stand in judgment over ourselves and others on a daily basis. “You’re wrong,” you might protest, “I don’t judge other people. They can do whatever is best for them. I don’t judge them, and neither should you.” Such a claim … Continued

OT19 | NT Connection (September 14)

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NT Connect: Philippians 4:4-20 Weekly Reading: 1 Samuel 18-22 Rejoice in the Lord Always? Let’s take a stroll down memory lane for just a moment. Humor me, please. . . What was one of the best seasons of your life? What was a season in your life that you wouldn’t like to repeat? It may … Continued

Remembering the Impact of 9-11 on this Community

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Our church, Lakewood Baptist, hosted the memorial service for Edna Stephens who perished on 9.11.01 when a hijacked airplane slammed into the Pentagon. Eighteen years have passed, yet we remember it so well. I remember well the words I used as I led in Edna’s memorial service. I thought they were important then, and I believe they … Continued

OT19 | NT Connection (September 7)

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NT Connect: Mark 12:28-34 Weekly Reading: 1 Samuel 13-17 A Pleasing Sacrifice “Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord?  Behold to obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22-23, NASB). “To love Him will all the heart and with all the understanding and … Continued

OT19 | NT Connection (August 31)

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NT Connect: Ephesians 1:15-23 Weekly Reading: 1 Samuel 8-12 Jesus is King As Israel’s prophet Samuel approached death, the Israelites grew insecure about God’s ability to protect them from the perpetual threat posed by the surrounding nations. They complained to Samuel that they wanted to “be like all the other nations, with a king to … Continued