Stewardship begins by recognising that Jesus is Lord over everything. We don’t own our lives or our possessions. We are faithful managers of what he has entrusted to us. Everything changes when we stop asking, What’s mine? and start asking, What has Jesus entrusted to me? From our money and possessions to our time, gifts and opportunities, every part of life belongs to him. Stewardship isn’t about giving God a percentage. It’s about living under the lordship of Jesus.

You can download the companion PDF here, for the group discussion guide and personal workbook: https://thelakes.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Open-Hands-series-companion-resource.pdf

Open Hands: trusting Jesus with everything

Jesus talked a lot about money, not because he needed it, but because he knew our hearts are often tied to it. In this series we’ll discover what it means to faithfully manage everything God has entrusted to us, find freedom from the pressure of always needing more, and learn the joy of living with open hands. We’ll explore practical, Biblical wisdom for money, generosity and everyday stewardship. When Jesus is magnified in our eyes, possessions become minimised in our hands.

No matter where you’ve come from, you’ll find a spiritual home, great friends and a church family with us. Our church community is here to love people and invite them to join us in a growing relationship with Jesus. Connect with us anytime at https://www.thelakes.church

The post It all belongs to Jesus (Geoff Snook) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

Sometimes we can treat church as something a few people provide and everyone else attends. But Jesus is building ordinary people into a living church, and every one of us has a part to play. This message moves people from being consumers of church to participants in what Jesus is building. Our contribution begins with grace, takes shape in community, and points people to Jesus.

What would this church become if everyone contributed the way I do? This question is not asking whether I do as much as somebody else. It is a faithfulness question: am I offering Jesus what he has placed in my hands?

If you’re ready to take a step towards God and towards community, you can do that here: https://www.thelakes.church/nextsteps

No matter where you’ve come from, you’ll find a spiritual home, great friends and a church family with us. Our church community is here to love people and invite them to join us in a growing relationship with Jesus. Connect with us anytime at https://www.thelakes.church

The post You are part of something bigger (Geoff Snook) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

We will see how Jesus understood ancient Old Testament law about oaths, retaliation, and neighbourly love. We’ll learn how this portion of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:33-48) connects with the larger biblical story.

Sermon on the Mount: how Jesus sees the world.

Jesus’ famous Sermon on the mount isn’t a list of rules or religious ideas. It’s an invitation into a transformed life with him at the centre. Jesus paints a vision of a completely different kind of life and world – one shaped by mercy instead of revenge, generosity instead of greed, integrity instead of performance, and trust instead of anxiety. These are some of Jesus’ most famous words, but they are also some of his most challenging.

In this series we will walk through Matthew 5-7 using teaching resources from BibleProject to explore how Jesus announces the arrival of God’s kingdom ‘on earth as it is in heaven.’ The series will span three Sunday mornings and seven Sunday nights, in a new Study Season. While the mornings and nights will be different in style, each time we look at the Sermon on the Mount we will wrestle with Jesus’ vision for life.

No matter where you’ve come from, you’ll find a spiritual home, great friends and a church family with us. Our church community is here to love people and invite them to join us in a growing relationship with Jesus. Connect with us anytime at https://www.thelakes.church

The post Jesus teaches a different way to fight (Geoff Snook) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

We will dive into an in-depth exploration of Jesus’ nine beatitudes in Matthew 5. We’ll see how these short wisdom statements imagine a new social world grounded in true justice, peace, and love. We’ll discover how this first section of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-12) connects with the larger biblical story.

Study Season – Sermon on the Mount

Do you enjoy digging deeper into the Bible to understand and apply it? From July 5 – August 16 we’re hosting another Study Season, each Sunday night in the church hall. We’ll have in-depth teaching and discussion on Jesus’ famous Sermon on the Mount. This Study Season will help you make sense of Jesus’ challenging teaching and shape your life around his vision of the Kingdom of God ‘on earth as it is in heaven.’

Sermon on the Mount: how Jesus sees the world

Jesus’ famous Sermon on the mount isn’t a list of rules or religious ideas. It’s an invitation into a transformed life with him at the centre. Jesus paints a vision of a completely different kind of life and world – one shaped by mercy instead of revenge, generosity instead of greed, integrity instead of performance, and trust instead of anxiety. These are some of Jesus’ most famous words, but they are also some of his most challenging.  

In this series we will walk through Matthew 5-7 using teaching resources from BibleProject to explore how Jesus announces the arrival of God’s kingdom ‘on earth as it is in heaven.’ The series will span three Sunday mornings and seven Sunday nights, in a new Study Season. While the mornings and nights will be different in style, each time we look at the Sermon on the Mount we will wrestle with Jesus’ vision for life.

The post Study Season – The Beatitudes (Geoff Snook) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

Doubt is something most people experience, but few people talk about. This week we explore what to do when questions, uncertainty, or struggles with belief arise, and how doubt doesn’t have to pull you away from Jesus but can actually become part of a deeper, more honest faith.

Doubt can be a sign that your faith is growing beyond simple answers.

Every meaningful relationship in your life involves trust before certainty.
Ultimately the question is, “Can you trust Jesus?”

Real faith brings questions into God’s presence. You can bring your doubts to Jesus.
You can also bring your doubts to church.

Living without certainty means letting go of simple answers and holding on to simple trust.

Towards the end of his life, theologian Karl Barth was asked if he could summarise his life’s work into one sentence. He said: “Yes, I can. In the words of a song I learned at my mother’s knee: ‘Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”

Following Jesus for real was never about having every answer. It is about trusting the One who does.

How to follow Jesus (for real)
Following Jesus isn’t just something you believe, it’s something you live. In this series we explore what it looks like to bring faith into everyday life. From the decisions we make to the pressure we face, from private moments to public spaces, this series will help you take real steps in following Jesus with your whole life. Whether faith is new, familiar, or something you are still exploring, you are invited to discover a faith that actually works in real life.

You can download the discussion guide for the series here: https://thelakes.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Discussion-guide-for-How-to-follow-Jesus-series.pdf

No matter where you’ve come from, you’ll find a spiritual home, great friends and a church family with us. Our church community is here to love people and invite them to join us in a growing relationship with Jesus. Connect with us anytime at https://www.thelakes.church

The post How to deal with doubt as a Christian (Geoff Snook) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

We all face decisions about direction, relationships, and the future. But how do you actually know what God wants? This week we unpack how God leads ordinary people in real life. Rather than waiting for a sign or a voice from the sky, we’ll explore how God guides us through Scripture, wisdom, community, and the quiet work of his Spirit. Proverbs 3:5-6; Romans 12:1-2; John 10:27.

You can download the discussion guide for the series here.

How to follow Jesus (for real).

Following Jesus isn’t just something you believe, it’s something you live. In this series we explore what it looks like to bring faith into everyday life. From the decisions we make to the pressure we face, from private moments to public spaces, this series will help you take real steps in following Jesus with your whole life. Whether faith is new, familiar, or something you are still exploring, you are invited to discover a faith that actually works in real life.

No matter where you’ve come from, you’ll find a spiritual home, great friends and a church family with us. Our church community is here to love people and invite them to join us in a growing relationship with Jesus. Connect with us anytime at https://www.thelakes.church

The post How do I know what God wants? (Geoff Snook) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

A lot of people believe in Jesus, but few actually follow him. There’s a difference. Jesus didn’t call people to agree with him, but to follow him with their whole lives. This week we explore what it means to move from belief to real, everyday faith. When you live like Jesus’ apprentice, it changes everything about your faith. We will help people begin to prepare for baptism on June 7. Luke 9:23; Matthew 7:24-27.

You can download the discussion guide for the series here.

How to follow Jesus (for real).

Following Jesus isn’t just something you believe, it’s something you live. In this series we explore what it looks like to bring faith into everyday life. From the decisions we make to the pressure we face, from private moments to public spaces, this series will help you take real steps in following Jesus with your whole life. Whether faith is new, familiar, or something you are still exploring, you are invited to discover a faith that actually works in real life.

No matter where you’ve come from, you’ll find a spiritual home, great friends and a church family with us. Our church community is here to love people and invite them to join us in a growing relationship with Jesus. Connect with us anytime at https://www.thelakes.church

The post A faith that actually follows (Geoff Snook) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

Find hope when life hurts. Find meaning when things feel uncertain. This Easter weekend, we will explore ancient songs that speak honestly about suffering, trust, and hope. Through Psalm 22 and Psalm 16, we will reflect on the death and resurrection of Jesus and discover why Easter still matters for real people, real pain, and real life today. Whether faith is familiar, fragile, or something you are still exploring, you are welcome. Easter Sunday is a celebration of hope that does not disappoint. Psalm 16 speaks of joy, security, and life beyond the grave. It is a song of confidence that God does not abandon us to death. This message will explore the resurrection of Jesus and the promise of new life, inviting us to consider what hope, renewal, and a future with God could look like for us today. No matter where you’ve come from, you’ll find a spiritual home, great friends and a church family with us.

The post Easter Sunday 2026 (Geoff Snook) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

Have you ever read something in the Old Testament and thought; “What does that even mean?” or “I can’t believe that’s in the Bible!” Starting on February 15 we’ll have a Study Season in the church hall on Sunday nights for six weeks

We’ll have in-depth teaching and discussion on strange and difficult passages in the Old Testament with the goal of becoming more comfortable with the stories that seem strange or that challenge us. 

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Jesus stands between us and God, not as a barrier but as a bridge. He sympathises with our weakness and invites us to approach God with confidence. When Jesus is magnified, prayer becomes honest, grace becomes accessible, and shame loses its power.

Hebrews: Jesus in sharp focus

When faith becomes blurry, Hebrews adjusts the lens. This series magnifies Jesus so we can see him clearly, trust him deeply, and make him visible to others. As Jesus comes into focus, our worship deepens, our confidence grows, and our lives point more clearly toward him.

You can find the discussion guide here: https://www.thelakes.church/hebrews

No matter where you’ve come from, you’ll find a spiritual home, great friends and a church family with us. Our church community is here to love people and invite them to join us in a growing relationship with Jesus. Connect with us anytime at https://www.thelakes.church

Here are the lyrics to the original song, inspired by Hebrews 7.

Verse 1
We have this hope
It is an anchor
The anchor for our souls, firm and secure
A better hope
In which we here can
We can draw near to you, our Holy God

Chorus
You’re our priest forever
You have offered yourself
You are holy, blameless and pure
You became our priest not by your family tree
But on the basis of the power of an indestructible life

Verse 2
O, Jesus you
Alone are holy
You’re blameless and so good, you meet our need
Able to save
You save completely
Those who come to God are safe in you

Verse 3
You’re set apart –
Apart from sinners
Exalted above heavens with no end
And yet you gave
Your very lifeblood
A sacrifice for sins once and for all

Verse 4
You always live
To intercede for
To intercede for us who come to you
And now you have
You’ve been made perfect
Forever you are perfect, lifted up

Bridge
Jesus went and walked the path
He entered there on our behalf
This hope we have it enters in
Behind the curtain, cleared from sin

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