Recently, we have been a part of some amazing God sized things. In case you missed out on some of these great happenings, here is a brief review. What a joy to join God where he is working. Let’s be faithful to always proclaim Jesus and affirm His Word. Additionally, we are so very thankful … Continued
Of all my pastoral duties, I feel most in awe each time I lead the Lord’s Supper and Baptism services. I feel especially inadequate and humbled when I think about engaging in these two ordinances of our Faith with other Christ followers, knowing such services go back to the beginning of our Christian Faith. … Continued
By fmadmin
NT Connect: Matthew 1:23 Weekly Reading: 1 Samuel 3-7 God With Us In 1 Samuel 4, the Israelites were defeated by the Philistines, so they took the Ark of the Covenant with them to Ebenezer, hoping to win the next battle. However, they were defeated again, and the Ark was captured by the Philistines. In … Continued
By Dawn Smith
NT Connect: Matthew 1:5 Weekly Reading: Ruth 2-4; 1 Samuel 1-2 An Unexpected Lineage Recently, my brother revealed the results of a genealogy test he had taken. My sister and I sat in anticipation of some crazy ancestry news that would change the way we view our family forever. He announced dramatically, “Well, we are … Continued
NT Connect: Romans 1:16-32 Weekly Reading: Judges 18-21; Ruth 1 When God Is Not Our King The book of Judges is the book of “no king.” We see this expressed in (17:6; 19:1; and 21:25). God was their King, but the nation refused to obey Him. Their disobedience led them to a lot of consequence … Continued
We held our Annual Business Conference, Sunday July 28, 2019, in the Worship Center right after the Real Life service. It was a joyful time of reflecting on and celebrating so much of what God has done in and through our church family and community since last summer. God is faithfully moving here at Lakewood, … Continued
By fmadmin
NT Connect: Galatians 5:22-25 Weekly Reading: Judges 13-17 The Spirit of the Lord As we read this week the story of Samson, it’s easy to see why this makes it into all the storybook Bibles: this is a great story. But what does it have to do how the gospel of Jesus? Perhaps, even more … Continued
By Jessica Hart
NT Connect: Hebrews 11:32-34 Weekly Reading: Judges 6-12 Heroes of Faith!? It might be a challenge to look at those considered heroes of the faith in our readings this week and see them as just that. Faithful. Often, what we see from those who were judges, prophets and kings is a long list of faults … Continued
By Scott Smith
NT Connect: Ephesians 4:17-24 Weekly Reading: Judges 1-5 Hardness of Heart These first few chapters of Judges take us from the Lord delivering his people into the Promised Land to his people hardening their hearts and turning their back in him. After the death of Joshua and his contemporaries, “there arose a generation after them … Continued
We wrap up our current ministry year having had some big successes. In addition to our ongoing 52-week-a-year ministry, we enjoyed a very significant VBS, Kid’s Camp, DNOW weekend, Marriage Enrichment Ministry, women’s mission trip to Guatemala, Joy Ministry, Middle School, High School and Gather summer retreats and camps. In addition, I believe we had one … Continued
NT Connect: Hebrews 4:1-13 Weekly Reading: Joshua 10-12, 23-24 Rest in Christ Rest. We a part of a culture that strives for rest. We seem always to be looking for our next break, our next chance to rest. We start the day thinking about when the day will end, or at least when we’ll get … Continued
NT Connect: Hebrews 11:10; Revelation 21:1-27 Weekly Reading: Joshua 5-9 The Promised Land Land features prominently at key points in the stories of Genesis and Exodus. Adam and Eve were placed in a garden. When the Ark came to rest on dry land. Noah and his family were given the start to a cleansed world. … Continued
NT Connect: Matthew 1:18-25 Weekly Reading: Deuteronomy 34; Joshua 1-4 What’s in a Name? When I hear the name Moses, I immediately am transported back to my elementary days in Children’s Church singing at the top of my lungs, “Pharaoh, Let my People Go!” And when I hear the name Joshua, I remember singing about … Continued
By Guest Author
NT Connect: John 3:1-15 Weekly Reading: Numbers 12-14, 16, 21 Lifted Up and Looked Upon This week in Numbers, we see the Israelites as a people who have so quickly forgotten the faithfulness of the Lord to rescue them from Pharaoh. Despite the warnings the Lord gave them through Moses (Numbers 11:1, 14:2), the Israelites … Continued
NT Connect: Romans 3:21-26 Weekly Reading: Leviticus 16-19, 23 Day of Atonement In Old Testament times, the “Day of Atonement” was the holiest and most solemn day of the year. This was the one day of the year when the High Priest of Israel was permitted to enter into the holy of holies to atone … Continued
NT Connect: Hebrews 5:1-10 Weekly Reading: Leviticus 8-10, 21-22 Christ Our Passover Lamb Our readings in the Old Testament this week have been spread throughout the book of Leviticus in order to concentrate on the priesthood. Priests were the mediators – the go-betweens – for God and his people. They were set apart as representatives … Continued
In our journey as Christ followers, I believe we are called to grow in our relationship with God, but how do we do that? What are we called to do as Christ followers? I kept going back to what Jesus said when asked what the most important commandment in the law of Moses was: “Love … Continued
By Guest Author
NT Connect: 2 Corinthians 5:21 Weekly Reading: Leviticus 1-6 Christ: Our Guilt Offering I have often thought that the book of Leviticus is difficult for Christians to read, let alone enjoy. It comes right after the incredible stories of Exodus, and it appears to be one regulation after another. The laws seem so distant from … Continued
NT Connect: Hebrews 9:1-10:39 Weekly Reading: Exodus 36-40 A Greater Priest Pop Quiz: How many loops were there along the edge of the end curtain made for the tent of the Tabernacle? What material were the crossbars and upright frames made of in the Tabernacle? In school, it was easier for me to simply absorb … Continued
By Tyler Smiley
NT Connect: 2 Corinthians 3:1-18 Weekly Reading: Exodus 31-35 Unveiled Faces Have you gazed at the glory of God? This does not mean a passing glance or a peripheral peek. This is far more than the question of whether you have acknowledged that God exists. “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the … Continued
Recent Comments