Summary:

Kicking off a new series in the book of Acts, this message explores Jesus' final instructions to His apostles before ascending to heaven. The King gives the mission and supplies the power through the Holy Spirit, who is indispensable for the work of the church. The apostles waited and prayed together in Jerusalem, trusting Jesus even when they didn't fully understand. Judas stands as a tragic warning that closeness to religion is no substitute for genuine faith. Whether you're new to Christ or a seasoned believer, the call is the same: depend completely on the Holy Spirit and be His witness everywhere.

Question:

Where in your life have you been trying to accomplish God's mission through your own strength instead of praying desperately for the power of the Holy Spirit, and what would change if you truly believed you couldn't do it without Him?

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⁠⁠lakelandneighborhood.church⁠⁠
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Music: On Our Own Again by ⁠⁠Blue Dot Sessions⁠

Summary:

In this message from Galatians 6:11-18, Paul takes the pen himself to expose the exhausting trap of religious performance. The false teachers pushed circumcision to avoid persecution and to boast in outward compliance, but Paul refuses to boast in anything except the cross of Christ. Through the cross, our self-righteousness is crushed, the world's approval loses its grip, and we become a new creation. Rather than demanding others carry marks of religious achievement, Paul bore the scars of faithfully following Jesus. Come discover why chasing human applause is a dead-end and how resting in Christ's finished work brings true freedom.

Question:

As you walk into your own invisible trophy room each morning, which trophies are you most tempted to polish, whose approval are you most afraid to lose, and what would it look like this week to lay those down and boast only in the cross of Christ?

To learn more, visit
⁠⁠lakelandneighborhood.church⁠⁠
To support us financially, ⁠⁠click here.⁠⁠
To follow along with the small group notes, ⁠⁠click here.⁠⁠
Music: On Our Own Again by ⁠⁠Blue Dot Sessions⁠

Summary:

What does real freedom in Christ look like? In this message from Galatians 5 and 6, Pastor Orrin shows how true freedom is not doing whatever we want, but being liberated from sin so we can serve others in love. He warns against two ditches: legalism and being a Christian in name only. Using pictures of a derailed train and a group of hikers, he explains how believers are called to walk by the Spirit, bear one another's burdens, and sow seeds that produce a lasting harvest. Come discover the good life God designed for you.

Question:

Where in your life are you tempted to use your freedom to satisfy your flesh instead of serving others, and who in your church community might God be calling you to help carry a heavy burden this week?

To learn more, visit
⁠⁠lakelandneighborhood.church⁠⁠
To support us financially, ⁠⁠click here.⁠⁠
To follow along with the small group notes, ⁠⁠click here.⁠⁠
Music: On Our Own Again by ⁠⁠Blue Dot Sessions⁠

Summary:

Ever felt like you've failed so badly that you couldn't face God again? In this message from John 21, Devin Fox walks through Peter's restoration story after denying Jesus three times. Discover how Jesus lovingly draws us back after our failures through four steps: pointing us to remember where we first met Him, inviting us to move in faith, welcoming us into fellowship, and offering a fresh opportunity to follow. Just as Jesus transformed Peter from a denier into a bold preacher who led 3,000 to salvation, He stands ready to restore you, no matter how far you've drifted.

Question:

If there is distance between you and Jesus this morning, what is keeping you from throwing yourself back into the water like Peter did, and what would it look like this week to take that first step of running toward Him instead of hiding in shame?

To learn more, visit
⁠⁠lakelandneighborhood.church⁠⁠
To support us financially, ⁠⁠click here.⁠⁠
To follow along with the small group notes, ⁠⁠click here.⁠⁠
Music: On Our Own Again by ⁠⁠Blue Dot Sessions⁠

Summary:

Wrapping up our study of the fruit of the Spirit, this message turns to self-control through Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 9. Using the imagery of the ancient Isthmian Games, where winners received nothing more than a wreath of wilting celery, Paul challenges believers to run the Christian race with purpose. Self-control isn't gritting your teeth or denying every desire, it's the Spirit-empowered ability to say no to fleeting temptations and yes to greater joy in Christ. Learn why we must kill sin daily, train with intention, and rest in the finished work of Jesus who ran the perfect race for us.

Question:

Where in your life have you been shadowboxing sin, going through the motions of holiness without ever landing a real blow, and what would it look like this week to stop negotiating with your flesh and let the Spirit produce genuine self-control in that specific area?

To learn more, visit
⁠⁠lakelandneighborhood.church⁠⁠
To support us financially, ⁠⁠click here.⁠⁠
To follow along with the small group notes, ⁠⁠click here.⁠⁠
Music: On Our Own Again by ⁠⁠Blue Dot Sessions⁠

Summary:

Faithfulness isn't a white-knuckled grip on God or a checklist to prove you're a good Christian. It's fruit that grows when the Holy Spirit lives in you, rooted in God's unchanging faithfulness to us. Walking through Hebrews 10 and 11, this message shows that God keeps His promises because He cannot deny Himself, our response is to rest and hold fast, and real faithfulness shows up in community. Like a title deed proving ownership, faith rests on Christ who holds everything together. Join us as we explore what it means to live a long obedience in the same direction.

Question:

Where in your life are you treating faithfulness like an exhausting grip on God rather than resting in His grip on you, and how might that change the way you show up for God and His people this week?

To learn more, visit
⁠⁠lakelandneighborhood.church⁠⁠
To support us financially, ⁠⁠click here.⁠⁠
To follow along with the small group notes, ⁠⁠click here.⁠⁠
Music: On Our Own Again by ⁠⁠Blue Dot Sessions⁠

Summary:

What does true gentleness look like? This message unpacks gentleness as laying down your power for the good of another, modeled perfectly by Jesus who had every right to destroy His enemies but chose the cross instead. Drawing from 1 Peter 3, we discover how wives embody gentleness through submission, silence, and modesty to help their husbands grow, while husbands honor their wives with understanding and care. Every believer, whether single or married, is called to bring this same Christlike posture into the church and into sharing their faith, winning souls rather than winning arguments.

Question:

Think about a recent conflict or conversation where you had the power to win, correct, or push back. If gentleness is laying down your power for the good of another, how might your response have looked different if you had followed the example of Jesus, who stayed silent before His accusers and laid down His life for His enemies?

To learn more, visit
⁠⁠lakelandneighborhood.church⁠⁠
To support us financially, ⁠⁠click here.⁠⁠
To follow along with the small group notes, ⁠⁠click here.⁠⁠
Music: On Our Own Again by ⁠⁠Blue Dot Sessions⁠

Summary:

Step into the courtroom of grace as Jeremy walks us through Colossians 2:13-15, revealing who we were and who we are in Christ. Once dead in sin, enslaved to its cruel demands, and enemies of God, we now stand alive, forgiven, and adopted as children of God. Through the story of Mephibosheth and the powerful image of Jesus nailing our record of debt to the cross, this message reminds us that grace cannot be earned, only received. When Satan accuses us of our past, we can boldly remind him of his future defeat.

Question:

When Satan tries to drag you back into shame by reminding you of your past sins, how can remembering that Jesus nailed your record of debt to the cross change the way you approach God as Father rather than as Judge?

To learn more, visit
⁠⁠lakelandneighborhood.church⁠⁠
To support us financially, ⁠⁠click here.⁠⁠
To follow along with the small group notes, ⁠⁠click here.⁠⁠
Music: On Our Own Again by ⁠⁠Blue Dot Sessions⁠

Summary:

Continuing our Fruit of the Spirit series, this message explores goodness through Ephesians 5:8-14. Paul reminds believers that they were once darkness, but now are light in the Lord. True goodness isn't something we manufacture through self-improvement or checklists—it flows from a transformed identity in Christ. Only God is truly good, and any goodness in us reflects Him, like the moon reflecting the sun. Rather than white-knuckling our way to morality, we abide in Christ and let His light expose darkness and produce fruit. Our identity in Christ always comes before the commands—being shapes doing, not the other way around.

Question:

Consider this: are you trying to become good through your own effort and checklist, or are you allowing the light of Christ to shine into every corner of your life and produce goodness as fruit? What areas might you be white-knuckling in your own strength that God is inviting you to surrender so His character can spill over into your daily life?

To learn more, visit
⁠⁠lakelandneighborhood.church⁠⁠
To support us financially, ⁠⁠click here.⁠⁠
To follow along with the small group notes, ⁠⁠click here.⁠⁠
Music: On Our Own Again by ⁠⁠Blue Dot Sessions⁠

Summary:

Continuing the series on the fruit of the Spirit, this message focuses on kindness through Paul's letter to Titus, a young pastor left on the rough island of Crete. Paul reminds believers to submit to authorities, speak evil of no one, and show courtesy to all people, drawing a sharp contrast with the surrounding culture. Why? Because we were once just like them, foolish and enslaved to sin, until God's mercy saved us, not by our works but by His grace. This kindness becomes our most powerful witness, showing the world a transformed life shaped by the gospel.

Question:

As you consider your daily interactions, especially online and in political conversations, ask yourself this: does your life show more passion for winning arguments or for pointing people to Christ, and how might remembering who you were before God's mercy reshape the way you treat those who disagree with you?

To learn more, visit
⁠⁠lakelandneighborhood.church⁠⁠
To support us financially, ⁠⁠click here.⁠⁠
To follow along with the small group notes, ⁠⁠click here.⁠⁠
Music: On Our Own Again by ⁠⁠Blue Dot Sessions⁠