Great Lakes Church

<p>Some decisions are easy, like deciding between name brand cereal or the generic. Other times, we're presented with significant decisions that cause a great tension in us. Together, we'll examine how to choose outcomes that lead to freedom, hope, and healing.</p>

<p>Every decision we make has implications which contribute to our life story. If your story hasn't turned out like you imagined or hoped, it's not too late to start writing a different story!</p>

<p>We know life can sometimes feel like a series of dead ends. In these moments, it’s crucial to remember that there is a way out! Join us as we explore how the decisions we make today have lasting impact on the trajectory and quality of our lives.</p>

<p>What are you holding on to that’s holding you back? Could 2021 be the year you finally let it go to unearth newfound peace, joy, hope, and freedom? Find out in our new series, Your Best Year Yet.</p>

<p>Gather your loved ones, grab a cup of cocoa, and find a cozy place to settle in as we join together for this special online Christmas Eve experience. Today, we’re reminding ourselves that even 2 millenniums after His arrival, Jesus’ birth continues to be GOOD NEWS that brings great joy!</p>

<p>Did you know that happiness and joy aren’t the same thing? When angels announced that Jesus was coming, they shared “good news that will bring great JOY to all people!” What is joy and how can we find it even in a year like 2020?</p>

<p>Unexpected loss, financial hardship, relationship troubles, and more can cause us to feel that God is far from us. So when those times come, how do we respond?</p>

<p>As Christmas inches closer, our lives can quickly spiral into holiday chaos. It’s easy to be entirely consumed by last-minute Christmas shopping and decorating our houses like the Griswold family, but this year more than ever it’s important that we focus on the hope, joy, peace, and love that is found in the GOOD NEWS of Jesus’ birth.</p>

<p>As we conclude our FOR series, we turn to the life of Daniel. In the midst of one of the most trying times in the history of Israel, Daniel lived a life jam-packed with hope, humility, wisdom, and faithfulness. Join us as we explore this incredible story!</p>

<p>One of the best ways we can show people we are FOR them is by living open-handed. Today we’re talking about how we intend to use our time, energy, and resources, in the coming year, to foster hope hear, near, and far.</p>

<p>Our culture is obsessed with transformation. From flipping houses to posting before/after pictures on Instagram, we love celebrating remarkable change. And yet, so many of us are caught in tireless cycles of monotony, craving a transformation that truly lasts. So how do we find it? It’s a lot simpler than you might think. Join us as we find out how to be FOR transformation.</p>

<p>Although Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood made loving your neighbors seem easy, the truth is, it usually takes work. Loving your neighbors and being FOR them means we have to go out of our way to start conversations, serve, and love them even when it costs something! Join as we look at some practical steps we can take in showing the people in our neighborhood that we are FOR them.</p>

<p>There’s something in every one of our lives that’s broken. Whether it’s a struggle with pride, lack of hope, life-threatening illness, or a fracture in our marriage, we would all love to see that brokenness made whole. Whether you call it healing, deliverance, or restoration, we want to be people who believe that healing can and does happen! Join us this week as we dig deeper.</p>

<p>2020 has been a doozy. A pandemic and an election cycle have rendered us exhausted, and it seems not even a 4-0 Packers winning streak can do much to lift our spirits. When the circumstances are dire, what’s the first step in being people who are FOR hope? We’re glad you asked! Join us here for week 3 of our FOR series.</p>

<p>Every day, our world seems more and more divided. Whether it comes to politics, social issues, or even simple preferences, finding unity can be hard. Now more than ever, it’s imperative that we pause and reflect on what it’s going to take to build bridges, promote peace, and grow a diverse circle of friends.</p>

<p>On social media, public forums, and even in TV and movies, it seems our culture is quick to tell you all the things they’re AGAINST. But what would happen if we were FOR our community, FOR unity, FOR transformation, and more? Join us this week as we kick off our new series and find out how living a life FOR other people can positively shift the tides of our culture.</p>

<p>When first-time guests walk through the doors of Great Lakes Church, they rarely make note of Pastor Dave’s talk or the Songs we’ve chosen to sing. More than anything, they notice how warm, heartfelt, and welcoming our community is. The last few weeks, we’ve been exploring how Great Lakes Church isn’t an exclusive social club; rather it’s a community of people helping people find and follow Jesus. Join us this week as we conclude our “I Love My Church” series and ask ourselves what it looks like to take the next step in loving the people around us.</p>

<p>Would you take your friend seriously if they told you that they LOVED the DMV? Probably not, right? What if they told you that they LOVED their church? In week 2 of “I Love My Church,” we’re continuing to explore how we live out our mission statement of being people that help people find and follow Jesus. Putting it simply, we believe it’s imperative to build bridges, not walls, and that maturing is better than just maintaining. Join us as we continue to unpack the DNA of Great Lakes Church.</p>

<p>Most people don't have a problem with God. After all, plenty of people show up for church on Christmas and Easter. Unfortunately, people do have a problem with the church. For centuries Christians have made Christianity so complex that people simply write it off as irrelevant and confusing. Join us for this new series as we talk about why we started Great Lakes Church and what it takes to continue making the message of God's grace accessible to everyone!</p>

<p>Psalm 23 is one of the most quoted passages in all of scripture, but it’s so much more than a poem that resides on cross-stitched pillows and entryway signage in your parents’ house. If we look closely, the scripture helps us understand why we often find ourselves lost, tired, and anxious. It also gives us guidance for how to stop feeling that way. Join us for the final week of our Mix Tape series.</p>

<p>Have you ever wished that your life was different? Wished that you had chosen a different college, made more money, raised your kids better, or acquired more status? You’re not alone in those feelings. In fact, King David wrestled with them, too. How did he find contentment in the midst? Join us this week as we dig into Psalms 103 for the answer!</p>

<p>We’ll cut to the chase– reading the Bible is hard. It’s a collection of 66 books, written by at least 40 different authors over the course of 1,500 years. Besides some interesting stories and moral truths, why is the Bible such a big deal? We’re so glad you asked. Join us as we tackle this topic head on.</p>

<p>From the moment we were born, we’ve been accustomed to living in a tension of fear. Whether being told to wait 30 minutes after eating to avoid drowning or convincing ourselves that we’d never be able to land our dream job, fear always seems to have an influence on us. There’s no way to eliminate fear, but there is a bold response which each and every one of us can step into. Join us this week as we learn how to confront fear.</p>

<p>With nearly 8-billion people roaming the earth, we tend to feel like we’ve been lost in the crowd. How can God pay us any attention when there are so many other people with their own dilemmas? Join us this week as we continue our Mix Tape series and look at how King David answers this question.</p>

<p>It’s easy to answer questions like “where are you from?” And “what do you do for a living?” However, facing the question of “who are you?” can freeze us in our tracks. If we don’t make it a priority to find our identity in the right things, we’ll constantly be misguided in our relationships, our career choices, and even our understanding of who God is. Join us as we crack open the Psalms to find the answer to the question “Who am I?”</p>

<p>If you’ve ever stepped foot into a church or done a quick Google search on Christianity, you’ve likely encountered an enigmatic S-word: “sin.” Sure, we all have a general understanding of what sin is, but if it’s such an archaic concept, why should we care about it today? We’re so glad you asked. Join us as we look to historical figures and heartfelt stories to better understand this three-letter S-word.</p>

<p>In this series, we're revisiting those Biblical greatest hits, Psalms. Today, we're guided by Psalm 73:28, which says:<br><br>But as for me, how good it is to be near God!<br> I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter,<br> and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.<br><br>We're talking about the importance of counting your blessings as a means to control envy.</p>

<p>In this series, we're revisiting those Biblical greatest hits, Psalms. Today, we're guided by Psalm 1, which starts like this:<br><br>Blessed is the one<br> who does not walk in step with the wicked<br>or stand in the way that sinners take<br> or sit in the company of mockers,<br>but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,<br> and who meditates on his law day and night.<br><br>Blessed means happy, and we're talking about how the choices that we make can determine our happiness.</p>

<p>In this series, we're revisiting those Biblical greatest hits, Psalms. Today, we're guided by Psalm 121, a song sung during by pilgrims on their journeys. It says,<br><br>I look up to the mountains—<br> does my help come from there?<br>My help comes from the Lord,<br> who made heaven and earth!<br><br>Journeys of all kinds can be frightening; where do you look when you are afraid?</p>

<p>In mix tape, we're revisiting those Biblical greatest hits, Psalms. In week two, we're guided by Psalm 118:24, which says,<br><br>This is the day that the Lord has made;<br> let us rejoice and be glad in it.<br><br>And, we're taking about how to be glad and see opportunity, even when the coronavirus and other troubles surround us.</p>

<p>Looking around right now, we can all tell that something’s broken. The heated conversations, the protests, the rioting, the polarization that’s happening among different groups of people; it tells us something is wrong and that people are hurting.<br> <br>Today, we’re NOT hopping on our soap box with megaphones to tell you what to think. Instead, we’re engaging in the conversation. Wherever you are in your journey, we ask you to join us in considering hard questions and new perspectives with us. After all, this journey’s a whole lot better if we go together.</p>

<p>One way or another, COVID-19 has us all under pressure. In the last week of this series, we're talking about mental health. If you are struggling with mental health, please know this: you are not alone and you can get through this.</p>

<p>One way or another, COVID-19 has us all under pressure. In the third week of this series, we're talking about loneliness. We've all experienced it, and for some of us, social distancing has made it a crisis.</p>

<p>One way or another, COVID-19 has us all under pressure. In the second week of this series, we're talking about marriage, being homebound together, and the question that many of us have asked ourselves at some point in the past two months: Why did I get married in the first place?</p>

<p>One way or another, COVID-19 has us all under pressure. In the first week of this series, we're talking about how being homebound affects us as parents and how we can ensure our children come out of this OK.</p>

<p>In his most famous talk, known as the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus answered one of his followers' most pressing questions: Who will inherit the Kingdom of God? Or, put another way: What blessings can I/we expect in the kingdom? The answer was not what they expected.</p>

<p>Good leaders -- including presidents and kings -- try to make life better for their people. In Week 3 of this series, we look at how Jesus improved life for his followers. One way is comforting "those who mourn." Whether you are struggling with sickness, job loss or furloughs, it is possible to find happiness in the Kingdom of God.</p>

<p>It sounds good when we say, "Jesus is King," but what do we really mean by that? And if Jesus is king, where is his kingdom? In Week 2 of this series, we talk about the Kingdom of God and what it means when we pray, "your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."</p>

<p>If you ask 10 people who Jesus is, you may get 10 different answers, including "teacher," "wise man," "prophet" or even "fictional character." In Week 1 of this series, we look at the resurrection, what it says about who Jesus really is, and most importantly, why it matters.</p>

<p>How do you know someone is a Christian? John 13:35 says, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” In Week 7 of this series, we talk about how Jesus showed great love for us by dying on the cross.</p>

<p>How do you know someone is a Christian? John 13:35 says, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” In Week 6 of this series, we talk about the way Christian love never gives up — even during the coronavirus pandemic. Having confidence that God will bring something good out of every bad situation allows us to be grateful for what we have and motivates us to help those in need.</p>

<p>How do you know someone is a Christian? John 13:35 says, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” In Week 5 of this series, we talk about loving our community, including praying for our leaders and first responders, supporting institutions like our schools and serving those in need. What’s one practical action that you can take this week to be a blessing for your community?</p>

<p>How do you know someone is a Christian? John 13:35 says, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” In Week 4 of this series, we talk about the fact that love is hopeful. How can we encourage others and give them hope, even in hard times?</p>

<p>How do you know someone is a Christian? John 13:35 says, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” In Week 3 of this series, we talk about showing love by respecting others. That includes how we talk about others, how we treat them and how we listen to them.</p>

<p>How do you know someone is a Christian? John 13:35 says, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” In Week 2 of this series, we talk about showing love by encouraging others. How do you experience God’s presence when life is difficult? And how can you be a positive presence (even virtually) for others right now?</p>

<p>How do you know someone is a Christian? John 13:35 says, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” In Week 1 of this series, we talk about Jesus’ command to love others and what that means to us today.</p>

<p>This week, we're unpacking some of the secrets of how we can win more in our lives– and that includes with our family! Pastor Andy Stanley of North Point Church tackles this message in a sermon which you can watch here!</p>

<p>This week we return to our core idea that a dysfunctional family is a family with more than one person in it, but this time we're addressing it through the lens of parenting! Even pastor Dave has a few stories about the tension that comes with raising kids. With enough diligence and boundless love, we can't control the way our kids turn out, but we can put an emphasis on building meaningful relationships in the household.</p>

<p>Society tells us that most families have it all figured out, and only the select few are whacky. We're here to dispose of that myth. If we're being candid, we think every family is a little messy, and marriage is no exception. Rather than ignore it, we think it's more helpful to lean into it and focus on working through the chaos.</p>

<p>How far into your future do you intend to carry baggage from the past? The people who have hurt us, the mistakes we've made, and the "what-ifs" of who we used to be are hindrances in the pursuit of a better future. We want to know true freedom as we seek emotional, relational, and spiritual growth– so let's make the decision to let go.</p>