Is your life too full, chaotic or busy? It might be that you’ve said yes to too many good things. This week we welcomed Steve Drinkall from Churches of Christ in Queensland who explored how Jesus didn’t do everything available to him, but intentionally said no to some really good things. Jesus was disciplined to do only what God had called him to do.

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 can’t live well without saying no to good options (Steve Drinkall) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

Faith isn’t just private. It shapes how we live at work, at school, and in our relationships. But for many of us, this is where following Jesus feels most uncomfortable. This week we look at how to live out your faith in the real world with authenticity, courage, and grace, so that your life points to Jesus in a way that is both natural and meaningful.

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 to follow Jesus in public (Laura 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.

Psalm 117 & 118 are songs of deliverance and ultimate victory. Psalm 118 in particular speaks of suffering, trust, and a future that God will bring about despite opposition. Jesus sang these words knowing he would soon be rejected, crucified, and raised. As the series concludes, we are invited to magnify Jesus as the cornerstone of our faith and to place our lives confidently in the hands of the God who brings life out of death.

Songs Jesus sang: The psalms sung on the night before the cross

On the night before his crucifixion, Jesus and his disciples sang hymns together. These songs, Psalms 113–118, were familiar prayers of praise, trust, suffering, and hope. In this series, we listen to the songs Jesus likely sang on his way to the cross and discover how they magnify God, shape faith in suffering, and invite us to follow Jesus with honest, resilient worship.

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 Psalm 117 & 118 – The stone the builders rejected (Brian Paris) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

Psalm 116 is a deeply personal song of rescue, gratitude, and costly devotion. It speaks of loving the Lord in the midst of pain and choosing faithfulness even when life is fragile. Jesus likely sang this psalm knowing his own death was near. This week invites us to magnify God with honest worship, learning to sing even in the valley and to respond to grace with surrendered lives.

To see Dan’s notes that he mentioned, follow this link: https://thelakes.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/psalm-116-sermon.pdf

Songs Jesus sang: The psalms sung on the night before the cross

On the night before his crucifixion, Jesus and his disciples sang hymns together. These songs, Psalms 113–118, were familiar prayers of praise, trust, suffering, and hope. In this series, we listen to the songs Jesus likely sang on his way to the cross and discover how they magnify God, shape faith in suffering, and invite us to follow Jesus with honest, resilient worship.

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 Psalm 116 – A song in the valley (Dan Dubbeld) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

Psalm 114 and 115 recall God’s power to save and confront the temptation to trust in idols that cannot speak, see, or help. As Jesus walked toward betrayal and suffering, he sang of a living God who acts on behalf of his people. This calls us to examine where we place our trust and to magnify the God who is present, powerful, and worthy of our confidence when fear closes in.

Songs Jesus sang: The psalms sung on the night before the cross

On the night before his crucifixion, Jesus and his disciples sang hymns together. These songs, Psalms 113–118, were familiar prayers of praise, trust, suffering, and hope. In this series, we listen to the songs Jesus likely sang on his way to the cross and discover how they magnify God, shape faith in suffering, and invite us to follow Jesus with honest, resilient worship.

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 Psalm 114 & 115 – Held when we are afraid (Brian Paris + Jonte Hovenden) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

Psalm 113 begins with praise and ends with hope. It celebrates a God who is high above all nations, yet bends down to lift the poor and the powerless. On the night before the cross, Jesus sang of a God who raises the lowly, even as he prepared to lower himself completely. This week invites us to magnify God not only in strength, but in humility, trusting that the God who stoops low is the God who saves.

Songs Jesus sang: The psalms sung on the night before the cross.

On the night before his crucifixion, Jesus and his disciples sang hymns together. These songs, Psalms 113–118, were familiar prayers of praise, trust, suffering, and hope. In this series, we listen to the songs Jesus likely sang on his way to the cross and discover how they magnify God, shape faith in suffering, and invite us to follow Jesus with honest, resilient worship.

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.

The post Psalm 113 – The God who lifts us up (Brian Paris) 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.

Find hope when life hurts. Find meaning when things feel uncertain.

Good Friday is a day that does not rush past pain. Psalm 22 gives words to suffering, abandonment, and unanswered questions. These are the words Jesus cried from the cross. This service will be reflective and honest, creating space to acknowledge loss, grief, and the weight of the world, while pointing toward a God who is present even when he feels distant.

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 All music used by permission (CCLI #67413 and #491511).

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