Lakeside Church

Acts (The Church Unleashed): The Cost of Faithfulness by Lakeside Church

What kind of church did Jesus have in mind? In Acts 4, we see a radical community shaped by unity, generosity, and Sabbath economics—where “there were no needy among them.” This message from Robyn Elliott challenges us to reimagine abundance, resist over-consumption, and become a people who are the church, not just people who do church.

Discussion Questions:

1. What story about 'enough' have you been living by - scarcity or abundance - and how is that shaping the way you share (or don’t share) what you have?"

2. How does our current economic system (e.g. wealth accumulation, scarcity mindset) shape the way we view generosity, Sabbath, and having enough?

3. God gave Israel the Sabbath and the Sabbath year as rhythms of rest and redistribution. What principles from those practices might challenge or inspire the way we live today?

4. “There need be no poor people, but there will always be poor people among you.” What is the tension in this statement, and what responsibility do we carry in response?

5. Jesus came to bring good news to the poor. In practical terms, what is “good news” for the poor in our own city or church? Are we part of that good news?

6. Why is contentment so hard, even in abundance? How do we recognize and resist a hoarding mentality?

7. “We can succeed at doing church and fail at being church.” What does being the church mean to you personally? What steps can we take to move closer to that vision?

8. Where am I tempted to hoard - my time, money, influence, possessions, energy - and what might it look like to live with open hands instead?"

Resources:

1. The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer

2. Sabbath Economics by Ched Meyers

3. God's Economy: Redefining the Health & Wealth Gospel by Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove

Acts (The Church Unleashed): Ordinary People; Extraordinary Boldness by Lakeside Church

In Acts 3, Peter and John encounter a beggar at the temple gate — a moment that becomes a window into the power of God, even when they seemingly have “nothing” to offer. This message from Robyn Elliott explores what it means to see others with Spirit-filled eyes, to wrestle with the tension between miraculous healing and unanswered prayers, and to offer what we have — however small — in faith. What if the Spirit is more active in your everyday life than you realize?

Discussion Questions:

1.The South African story raises questions: Was it God? Was it a miracle? How do you process moments in life that seem coincidental, yet strangely protective or timely?

2.When you see someone in need - like a person asking for money - what’s your natural response? What would it take to truly look at them intently as Peter and John looked at the beggar outside the gates of the temple?

3.Can you think of a time when you felt like you had nothing to offer, but offered what you had anyway? What happened?

4.How do you respond to miracle stories? Do they encourage you, make you skeptical, stir hope, or something else? Why do you think that is?

5.Have you ever felt disappointed with God or prayer? What helped (or is helping) you move through that disappointment?

6.How many miracles do we miss because we don’t actually see? Where and how can you notice the Spirit moving in your life this week and in the lives of those around you?

7.Can you think of a time when someone “saw” you — not just physically, but emotionally or spiritually?

8.What does offering what you have look like in your current season of life - practically, spiritually, or emotionally?

9.Who are the people in your life right now that you’re tempted to avoid or overlook, and what might it look like to serve them with dignity?

Acts (The Church Unleashed): From Waiting to Wildfire by Lakeside Church

In this message from Jack Ninaber, we explore the beginning of the book of Acts and Jesus’ promise that the Holy Spirit would come and empower his followers. In the second week of this new series, we’re reminded that the extraordinary work of God often begins in the ordinary moments of life—when we learn to wait, listen, and respond, and that God uses ordinary people for extraordinary purposes when they rely on His Spirit, not their own strength.Questions:

Discussion Questions:

1. What is your experience with, or understanding of, the Holy Spirit? Whether you’ve grown up hearing about the Spirit, have had personal encounters, or are still figuring out what to make of it all, how do you relate to the idea of God’s Spirit being active in the world today?

2. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would be with his followers. What difference might it make to know that God's presence isn't distant, but close, even personal? Have you ever experienced that kind of nearness?

3. We often try to handle life on our own. What might it look like to rely on God's Spirit instead of just our own strength, especially in areas where we feel stretched or uncertain?

4. Jesus told his disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit before stepping into what was next. Have you ever sensed a prompting or a nudge to act, speak, or wait that felt significant? How did you respond?

5. In Acts 1, Jesus invites his followers to be witnesses - to simply share what they've seen and experienced. How does that idea land with you? What might it look like to be a witness in your everyday life?

6. Is there someone in your life who might not come to church, but is open to real connection or kindness? What’s one small, intentional way you could show love to them this week?

7. Jesus changes people’s stories - sometimes slowly, sometimes all at once. Is there a part of your own story that’s been shaped by faith, hope, or a growing awareness of God? Who might need to hear that right now?

We’ve all had those “we had hoped” moments—when life takes a turn we never expected, and faith starts to feel distant. This message reminds us that Jesus meets us right where we are—in our doubts, in our questions, even in our walking away. He doesn’t wait for perfect faith; He steps into our confusion with quiet presence and steady love. In this message Pastor Robyn Elliott takes us on a walk through Luke 24, exploring how the extraordinary often shows up in the ordinary: how Jesus reveals Himself not through big miracles, but in simple moments—like breaking bread around a table. Whether you're full of faith or feeling uncertain, this passage shows us that resurrection isn't just an event—it’s a new lens for seeing everything. Jesus is alive, He is walking with us, and sometimes, the very thing we think is over is where new hope begins.

Discussion Questions:

1. Read Luke 24:13-35. How does this passage impact you? What are some insights you have gleaned from this story?

2. Has there been a time when you knew you had to leave a place, a relationship, a situation even when you weren’t sure where you were going? How did you navigate that?

3. Have you ever experienced a time or season where you couldn’t see God beyond the pain? Would you be willing to share how that impacted you? In retrospect, how would you say that has impacted your relationship with God? What role do you think pain, disappointment, or doubt play in how we "see" or don’t see Jesus in our lives? In your experience, can doubt and faith coexist? What does that look like?

4. Jesus reframed how the disciples saw Scripture, faith, and even communion. Is there something you feel God might be reframing in your life right now? Is there something stirring or "burning" in your heart that you can't quite explain—but you sense it might be God inviting you into something deeper?

5. Can you recall a time that you felt something strongly in your spirit even if you had no cognitive explanation? Did you listen or not listen to your spirit and what was the outcome? What, if anything, would you do differently and what wisdom did you glean from that experience?

6. Luke recounts that Jesus led them on an extended journey through Scripture giving them a different lens through which to interpret it. How might this change how we handle and interpret Scripture? Why do you think their eyes were opened in the breaking of bread? What does this tell us about how God might choose to speak to us, and how does that challenge the way we think about spiritual growth?

7. Can you describe a time when you transitioned from one theology or way of viewing an issue to another? What was that experience like for you (jarring, freeing, lengthy, abrupt)? How do we determine a good and sound theology?

In this message from Robyn Ellliott, we look at Easter morning, where the world carried on as grief crushed the disciples and Mary Magdalene returned to the tomb, carrying spices and despair. What she found was not death, but resurrection: a new third day, rich with life, where love wins and death doesn’t have the final word. We are Easter people in a Good Friday world, called to live out God’s love with the power of the resurrection.

As we approach Good Friday, we confront the ultimate collision of power and love at the cross. In a world where power often disguises itself as righteousness, Jesus reveals a different way, one not of coercion, but of sacrificial love. The cross strips away pretense, exposes injustice, and draws all people toward the God who would rather suffer violence than inflict it.

What does true generosity look like? In this message from Jeff Groenewald, we explore a powerful story from Mark 14, where a woman pours out an entire year’s wages in devotion to Jesus. While others criticize her, Jesus welcomes her generosity, challenging us to examine our own hearts—are we living with an abundance mindset like Jesus or are we holding back?