The Wednesday Update

Lakeshore Friends—

Change isn’t always easy, but it is often necessary and beneficial.  We often like the results of change but sometimes we’re not as enthusiastic about the work required to get there.  Maybe that’s why there’s a saying that “the only person who likes change is a baby with a wet diaper.”

But because so many people have worked and planned for this week since last April, most of the hard work is behind us and we’re excited for all the new things kicking off this week.  The three biggest are:

1. Midweek Bible Study kicks off on Wednesday from 7 - 8pm in the Auditorium. 

Midweek Bible Study is designed to help you go deeper and grow deeper in your faith.  On Wednesday, we are beginning the most important Midweek series we have ever taught— Life Foundations.  It is a 21-week series that will teach you the key beliefs and theology of the Christian faith.  We’ll look at why theology is not boring but critical to our lives, the nature of the Bible, understanding God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, Angels (good and bad), human nature, salvation, sanctification (how we grow in our faith), the church, the resurrection, the afterlife and God’s prophetic plan for the future.  It’s designed to help you know why we believe what we believe while also helping you learn how to think through your faith so that you understand the Bible and God in every area of life.  And we have created a 115-page workbook that we will be giving everyone who attends free of charge! And there are classes for your younger kids – infants through 5^th grade!

2. Lakeshore Students also kicks off on Wednesday from 6:30 – 8:30pm in the Student wing.

Our student ministry is for kids in 6^th through 12^th grade and meets weekly to help kids understand their faith, grow in it and have fun with other kids all in one night.  We have kids who are exploring their faith, new in their faith and those who are advanced in their faith, so it really will meet your kids right where they are.  Our student Pastor Nate Zablotny as well as our new Student Administrative Assistant Erin Ortiz, lead a great team of leaders who will help your kids get closer to God, know more about the Bible, and form great positive relationships in an impactful environment.  And the good news is that it starts before and ends after Midweek Bible Study so you can make it an evening that your whole family enjoys!

3. We begin our new three-service format on Sunday as we make room for more people in Rochester: 8:30, 10:00 and 11:30am.

We’re also beginning a great new series in the New Testament book of 1 Thessalonians called, “Can You Relate?”  Thanks to the increased use of digital devices, hyper-individualism, information overload, shrinking attention spans, rising polarization and more, people are struggling like never before to communicate and relate well face-to-face with people.  As a result, relationships today can be shallow, superficial, unsatisfying and even more short-term than they could or should be.  So how can we build and maintain meaningful relationships with the important people in our lives as we navigate the realities of our day?  The Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians.  This series will help you learn how to relate great to all kinds of people!

I hope you’ll make the time to be here for all of these faith-building experiences  and invite people who may need them to join you.

Warmly,

Vince

Lakeshore Friends—

At various times in our lives, we all have watched and waited for someone great to appear or something great to happen.

As kids, we watched and waited for what Santa might bring for us under the tree.  We watched and waited for our first day of school or college and what it might bring.  We watched and waited for a special delivery that would arrive in the mailbox or on the front porch.  If you are married, you watched and waited for what your husband or wife would look like in their fancy wedding attire.  We watched and waited for a promotion or a big raise at work.  The list could go on and on.

Maybe today, you’re watching and waiting for something or someone.

One thing that I know is true for the discerning follower of Jesus is that they are watching and waiting for His soon return. 

We know a few things about His return:

1. No one knows exactly when it will occur but it can occur at any time (aka. Imminency, Matthew 24:36).
2. God gives us clear signs that tell us we are getting close to the day of His return and the signs will increase in strength and frequency as we get closer (Matthew 24:4-14).
3. The Lord will return in two phases: the Rapture of the church and the Second Coming to earth. 
4. Phase one will be His return to the clouds to take every Christian from the earth back with Him to heaven (the Rapture of the church, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). 
5. Phase two will be His return to the earth to establish His kingdom on earth (the Second Coming, Matthew 24:30).
6. Only a small minority of people will actually be ready for His return.

On Sunday, I will be talking about one of the most important passages on how to watch and wait wisely for His return, the parable of the ten virgins.  It’s not a story about how to properly raise your daughters or how to find a godly woman to marry if you’re a single man (though the title may lead you to think that way 😊).  Instead, it is a parable showing us the right and wrong way to watch and wait for Christ’s return.

The Lord is coming soon (Philippians 4:5, James 5:8, Revelation 3:11, 22:12, 22:20) and I want everyone who attends Lakeshore to be ready!

I hope you’ll make the time to be here on Sunday, our final Sunday with two services before the move to three services on September 20… but you already knew that, right?

Watching and ready,

Vince

Dear Lakeshore Friends,

Prepared. It’s a simple word, but an important one. Being prepared means doing something today so that we are ready for something that will happen in the future. Sometimes it means something as simple as packing for a trip. Other times, it means preparing for something that could change everything.

Jesus had a lot to say about being prepared. Sometimes He taught us how to prepare for things we will face in this life. But at other times, He spoke about preparing for what awaits us in eternity.

This Sunday, we’ll look at one of Jesus’ parables that challenges us to prepare now for what will take place later. What Jesus teaches in this parable could not be more important—not only for how we live our lives today, but for the next life.

I hope you’ll make plans to join us this Sunday at Lakeshore. I believe this is a message you will not want to miss. And if you can’t be here in person, I encourage you to tune in to our live stream and be part of the service with us.

I want us all to be prepared.

Until Sunday!

Pastor Brian