Lakeside Christian Church Blog

  May 15, 2026 – Rend Your Hearts Joel 2:12-13 –  “Yet even now,” declares the  Lord ,   “return to me with all your heart,   with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;   and rend your hearts and not your garments.”   Return to the  Lord  your God,   for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;   and he relents over disaster. Scripture Reading – Luke 5:27-32, 6:12-16, 6:27-36 In the gospel narratives, we often see Jesus going toe to toe with the Pharisees. The Pharisees were Jewish religious leaders who held strict adherence to the Law, and also to the oral traditions passed down from the elders. Jesus described them as hypocrites, a brood of vipers, whitewashed tombs. He accused them of seeking their own public admiration for strictly following the Law, while at the same time neglecting mercy and justice, and burdening people with the demands of the traditions.   The Pharisees ...

    May 8, 2026 – None Like You   1 Samuel 2:2 There is none holy like the LORD: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God. Scripture Reading – Luke 1:39-56, Luke 2:1-52 Hannah’s declaration, “There is none holy like the Lord,” echoes through the birth narratives of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke. In Mary’s Magnificat, we see the same awe: God is holy, yet He draws near to the humble. The holy God does not remain distant; He enters history through a child laid in a manger. From Elizabeth’s joy to the shepherds’ wonder to the boy Jesus in the temple, holiness is not cold separation but redeeming presence. God’s uniqueness is revealed not only in power, but in mercy and nearness. The Lord who alone is holy chooses to dwell among His people, overturning expectations and inviting us to respond in worship, humility, and trust.   These songs help us feel the weight and wonder of God’s holiness and mercy.  “Nothing but the Blood”  grounds that holi...

    From Doubts To Trust   Psalm 103:13–14 As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust .    Scripture Reading – John 21:24-31 Psalm 103 reminds us that God’s compassion is not abstract, it is deeply personal. Like a father who knows his child’s limits, the Lord remembers our frailty and meets us with mercy, not scorn. This truth comes into focus in the story of Thomas in Gospel of John 20:24–31. Thomas doubts, yet Jesus does not rebuke him harshly or exclude him. Instead, Christ draws near, invites inspection, and offers peace. God’s knowledge of our weakness does not push Him away; it compels Him to come closer. Faith is not the absence of questions but the presence of a Savior who meets us in them. Blessed are those who believe without seeing but even in our seeing and questioning, Jesus responds with patient, resurrected grace.    These songs ...

Joyful Worship   Psalm 95:1–3 Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. Scripture Reading – Luke 8:1-3; 24:1-12 Psalm 95 calls us to joyful, reverent worship, “let us sing…let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.” He is not distant; He is the great King and our Shepherd. In Luke 8 and 24, we see this truth embodied in the women who follow Jesus. They support His ministry, remain near in suffering, and are the first witnesses to the empty tomb. Their worship is not confined to words, it is expressed in devotion, generosity, and faithful presence. Even when confused and afraid, they run to the disciples with resurrection news. True worship, then, is both  exalting God’s greatness  and  walking in faithful response . We sing because He is worthy, and we follo...

  April 17, 2026 – What Are You Seeking? Ephesians 1:4-5 –  Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him – In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will. Scripture Reading – John 1:29-50 What are you seeking? A typical worldly response has often been “wealth, health, and happiness.” In recent years, “to become an influencer” might also make the short list.    It’s interesting that this is the question Jesus asks two of John the Baptist’s disciples (v. 38). He doesn’t ask “Who are you seeking?” They seem to be pretty clear on who the “who” is –  Lamb of God, Son of God, Rabbi, Messiah/Christ, him of whom Moses and the prophets wrote of, Jesus of Nazareth, son of Joseph, King of Israel . Knowing who they were seeking, and encountering him, the disciples of John answered “Where are you staying?” What a cur...

  April 10, 2026  – Worship in Every Circumstance   Psalm 96:1–4 Oh sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth! Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods.   Scripture Reading –  Mark 9:2-13; Acts 12:1-5   In Psalms 96:1–4, we are called to “sing to the Lord a new song,” declaring His glory among the nations. This call to worship is grounded in who God is—great and greatly to be praised. In Gospel of Mark 9:2–13, the disciples glimpse that glory in the transfiguration of Jesus. The veil is pulled back, and Christ is revealed in radiant majesty. Yet in Acts of the Apostles 12:1–5, we see a different scene—persecution, imprisonment, and suffering. Together, these passages remind us that God is worthy of praise both in revealed glory and in hidden...