Lake Cities Community Church's Podcast: Recent Episodes
Lake Cities Community Church
Welcome to Lake Cities Community Church. We are a nondenominational Christian church in Rowlett, TX.
This podcast is a place where you can listen to our sermons and other content that we pray will be an encouragement to you and your walk with Jesus Christ.
Our mission is to win people to Christ, build them up into healthy and balanced believers, and send them out into our community, country, and to the ends of the earth to spread the love of Jesus.
We hold tightly to what we believe, but we will not let grey issues define us as a people. That means wherever you are on your journey of faith, you are welcome here.
Ephesian 4:4-5 "There is one body and one Spirit- just as you were called to the one hope when you were called, one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."
Our desire is to win people to Christ, build them up into healthy and balanced believers, and send them out into our community, country, and to the ends of the earth to spread the love of Jesus.
We believe that as we fulfill our mission, we will move closer to our vision: To be a mid-sized church serving the community around us and To be a multigenerational church with a next-gen lean
To be a mid-sized church serving the community around us Our church building is on a 3 1/2 acre lot, with our current building able to house 125-150 people at one time. We believe God will lead us in the near future to expand onto the unused area of our property as we grow into a church of 300-400 people. This growth will allow us to better serve Rowlett and the surrounding community.
To be a multigenerational church with a next-gen lean We have a passion and love for all ages and demographics at Lake Cities. We truly desire to be a multigenerational and multicultural church and we believe we can best do this by beginning to lean toward the next generation. What this means is that we use accessible language, music, graphics, and outreach events that we feel will be appealing and attractive to the current generation. As we do this, we are committed to holding tightly to the truths found in the Bible and to loving all of our members equally, regardless of age, race, or gender.
This week we had a special speaker preaching from the word. Gary Leavelle, the chairman of our elder board, shared out of Psalm 46. Listen along as Gary take us through some big takeaways from this passage, and what it means to be still before God.
What happens when gray issues are mishandled? Ultimately, the result is legalism within the church. Throughout church history, legalism has left a lasting impression on both Christians and non-Christians. This week, we will dig into this topic of legalism and how it can be combated.
We all have freedom in Christ. However, much like the Roman church, many of us have differing view points. This week we will explore why we would limit our liberty in order to preserve our unity.
Now that we have a definition of unity, we have figured out which things are cardinal doctrines, clear teachings, or gray issues, we can now look at 3 strategies for bringing unity into focus, even within a gray issue.
Last week we explored and built a definition for unity, this week we will learn about how we as a church body can have unity in three key areas; cardinal doctrines, clear teachings, and gray issues.
Join us as we start a new series on Christian unity. What is your opinion about Christian unity? Do you believe is exists like Bigfoot? In this first week, Pastor Craig walks us through the definition of unity that can be found in Ephesians chapter 4. Throughout this series we will learn about what unity looks like and how we can achieve unity within the church.
We all have had to face adversity in our life. Some of us face it frequently. When you are faced with this adversity, how do you respond? Listen along as Pastor Stefin Kuruvila, a pastoral student of Pastor Craig Schill, tells us how we as Christians should respond amidst adversities.
Throughout our study of 1 Peter, we have become acutely aware that living the Christian life often means that we will experience suffering. The suffering we face can cause us to doubt and become tempted to walk away from the faith in hopes that things will get better. However, as Peter closes his letter, he gives us 5 encouraging reasons as to why we should keep going, even though its hard.
The devil seeks to devour and destroy Christians. Thankfully for us, we have been given strategies to use against the devil. Listen along as Pastor Craig unpacks these four strategies of spiritual warfare.
Pride is many of us either struggle with or have struggled with in some capacity. Pride isn't always thinking too highly of yourself, it can also be thinking to lowly of yourself. Like weeds in a yard or garden pride, whichever form it takes, can be hard to root out of ones life. In these two verses, Peter helps us understand how we can overcome pride and instead take on a countenance of humility.
As Peter starts to wrap up his first letter to the church, he gives special instructions to the Elders of the church. These instructions lay out how an elder is supposed to lead the body of Christ. However, these principles can be applied to other positions of leadership within the church. Listen along to hear Peter's message, what should motivate leaders, and three leadership contrasts that shed light on the meaning of leadership.
He is Risen! Many of those in Jesus' life did not expect for him to rise from the grave. However, once they saw the evidence, it was undeniable. God asks each one of us, "Will you believe?"
We have all experienced a time in our life where we have misunderstood a message. As Jesus made his triumphant entry into Jerusalem, during his last week before his death, every single person in the crowd misunderstood the message Jesus was trying to deliver to them. This Palm Sunday, tune in to hear about the crowd misunderstood Jesus, and how we can correctly apply the message Christ has for us.
So far in 1 Peter we have talked a lot about suffering, but we haven't focused yet on how we should feel about suffering on an emotional level, or what to then know about suffering in that context. Listen along to find what we should feel about suffering, and how we can then do about it.
When it comes to the body of Christ, we all have a spiritual gift given to us from God. Building on the previous verses talking about our need for urgency, Peter now tells us how we can accomplish the things we need to; through our spiritual gifts.
As Christians we should have a strong sense of urgency because we know this world will not last forever and that it is not our home. But what should we feel urgency for? In these three verses Peter says that we should be urgent in praying, loving, and hospitality. Listen along as Pastor Craig fleshes out how we can have a sense of urgency in these three areas.
We all have things in our past that can be tempting to return to. Sin can sometimes seem attractive. However Jesus has made a way for us to leave behind sin and walk with him. Listen along to discover how we can leave our past behind.
We now come back to our study of the book of 1 Peter. Today, Dr. Timothy Ralston guides us back into this study by explaining three reasons Peter gives as to why we as Christians should do good despite suffering for that good.
This week we welcomed the Martin family, our missionary family from Japan, and heard Tim Martin preach. Listen along as he connects what the Martins experience on the mission field in Japan to the experience of Paul and Barnabas in Acts chapter 14.
As we prepare to host our missionary family from Japan next week, it is important for us to understand what exactly a missionary is.
Those who give generously will be blessed generously. This is God's math, which sometimes is hard for us to grasp. In This final sermon in this series, we will learn how to overcome the enemies of generosity and experience the irony of generosity.
The past two weeks we have learned how God provides money for us and what we should in turn do with that money. This week we will learn whenever we worship we are giving. Listen along as we hear from our worship pastor, Trey Crisson, as he shares what worship is and why it is always giving.
Last week we learned the different ways in which God provides money for us. This week, we will hear from Pastor Craig about what we should now do with the money we have been blessed with.
New year, new sermon series!Many New Year resolutions include getting abetter handle on our personal finances. In this first sermon out o four, Pastor Craig lists several ways God provides money for us, and a couple of sinful ways for making money.
Happy New Year! As we welcome in a new year, Pastor Craig take us through a lesson on 4 different cups mentioned in the Bible, and how they apply to what we expect from 2024.
A very common element of household Christmas decor is a nativity set. The nativity scene has also been painted time and time again throughout the course of history. In each painting, and in many nativity sets, there are always two Christmas characters that appear. Listen along as Pastor Craig tells who these Christmas characters are.
The fourth week of advent; love. This week Pastor Craig talks about the love seen in the Christmas story, how we can therefore love Jesus Christ, and how He loves us.
In this third week of advent we focus on joy. Joy can be one of the hardest fruits of the spirit to understand. The secular world around us often gets true joy wrong, and there is no room for those who may be struggling to find joy. Listen along as the joy of the Christmas story is revealed, even in unjoyful circumstances.
In a world that is often unrest, we find that Christ alone provides peace. But what kind of peace is this, how do we get this peace? Listen along as one of our elders shares on the advent message of peace.
As we move into the season of advent, our focus this week is on hope. True hope. Hope that comes from Christ and not from the world. Listen along to discover this difference, as well as who exactly needs hope and why we can have hope in a world that often seems hopeless.
This week we had a special Thanksgiving service with time for everyone to share about how God has been moving in their life and what they are thankful for. Listen along to hear some heartwarming testimonies about how God is working in this body of Christ.
What is a successful church? Some people measure this with numbers, others by the influence the church has on the community and beyond. However, God measures by faithfulness. In this passage of 1 Peter 3:8-17, Peter will tell us what we are to be faithful to so that we can be "successful" as a church.
Marriage can be a beautiful thing when Christ is the center of it. But how is this done? What does this look like? Peter has instructions for both wives and husbands within a marriage to help with this. Listen along as Pastor Craig leads us through 1 Peter 3:1-7.
Sometimes our natural reaction when we are wronged is to seek retaliation or revenge. However, that is not the reaction Jesus had when he was wronged, and it's not the reaction he calls us to have. Listen along as we learn how we should act and react when we are wronged.
This week we have the privilege of hearing from Jim Pence as he shares with us his testimony of God bringing him back from a near death experience. Listen along as Jim tells us what he has learned since that fateful day.
As we move through our 1 Peter study, this week we look at the command to submit to government and authority found in chapter 2. verses 13-17. This isn't always an easy thing to do. However, submission to authority has been ordained by God, and when we don't it can have the horrible effect of discrediting our witness as Christians.
We live in a pressure filled world, and that pressure threatens our peace. The encouragement that Peter gave to the first century church while they were experiencing pressure is applicable still in the twenty-first century. In verses 1-12 of 1 Peter chapter 2, Peter gives us four ways to maintain peace when the pressure around us builds.
Hope comes with our salvation, and it is everywhere. Because of what Christ did for us we have a future hope, a present hope, and a past hope. Listen along as we discover what all this hope means.
This week Pastor Craig starts a new sermon series going through the book of 1 Peter. This book is extremely relevant to our times. We are living in a post-christian, post-covid world, and we find ourselves questioning how we remain faithful while living in a hostile world? Peter will walk us through this very question.
The early church recognized the importance of meeting in small groups. It is important for the body of Christ to gather together as a whole, but it is equally important for people to be connected in a small group. This week as we prepare for our connect group open enrollment period, we will look at how small groups in the early church, and throughout church history, operated.
Not all the work we do here on earth is pleasant work. Sometimes it's hard, or we are ill-equipped, or it just doesn't interest us. However, much like the slaves Paul addresses in Colossians 3:22-25, we serve not only earthly masters, we serve our Heavenly Father as well. Listen in and learn what it means to worship while you work no matter the work you are doing.
It is the last week in our Summer in the Psalms series, so it is fitting that it closes with Psalm 150. This last song is one of pure praise to God, and in it we learn who is to praise God, as well as why and how to engage in praise.
In a fallen world, failure is inevitable. But despite being fallen people living in a fallen world, we can have hope in that God will always remain faithful. In Psalm 106, the author recounts the various ways God's chosen people failed him throughout the Old Testament. But we also see how God was faithful then and continues to be faithful now.
In Psalm 139 we learn that God knows everything about us and that he has a plan for us. Listen along as learn 4 ways in which we can shift our way of thinking to align with the goodness and love of God.
What do you do with a broken heart? God knows what it is like to have a broken heart, and he is the only one who is able to restore and heal what has been broken. Listen along as we look at Psalm 147.
In Psalm 133, David gives us a beautiful picture of what unity is supposed to be like. Listen along as Pastor Craig unpacks what aspects of unity that are found in this passage make unity so beautiful.
Many of David's Psalms were inspired by the troubles he faced because of the enemies he had. In Psalm 3 we see the crisis David was experiencing with his son Absalom, how that caused him to cry out to God, and then why that cry turns into confidence.
As Americans, we really have no idea what it would be like to live under the rule of a king. However, as Christians, we have a heavenly King that is sovereign over all. Come along as this week Pastor Craig shares with us about our good, good King, Jesus.
Psalm 30 is a true psalm of thanksgiving and praise written by David in reflection of a time when he was severely ill. Listen along as Pastor Craig leads us through four observations about David's illness that connect with four still timely theological truths of Psalm 30.
Life is full of problems, and that is not something we can control. However, we can control how we respond to problems when they come our way. Looking at Psalm 27, we get a glimpse into how David handled his problems, and we too can follow his example.
Psalm 23, arguably one of the most famous and well known Psalms. As Pastor Craig unpacks Psalm 23, we learn about this special relationship between the shepherd and his sheep, and what that close relationship brings about.
Our God is worthy to be praised! Through Psalm 145, we can learn how we should worship God, and why.
Get ready for a summer of beautiful poetry! The Book of Psalms opens up God's wisdom and worship. Through sadness, fear, joy, and hope we will learn contemporary lessons from this ancient song book. So join along as we start with Psalms 1 and lay the groundwork for this summer by looking at the introduction to this book of the Bible.
In this last week of the Here is the Church sermon series, we look at how the we as the church is the body of Christ, and how unity plays such a huge role in this lesson Paul shared.
When handled improperly, the participation in communion can be detrimental to Christians. Follow along as Dr. Timothy Ralston teaches us about how Christians should view and participate in communion.
In the Bible, the church building is used to teach us what the church truly is: us, the body of believers. Join along as we go through the process of building the church.
The star of any wedding is the bride. In the context of Christ and Christianity, the church is the bride of Christ. Follow along as Pastor Craig unpacks this beautiful metaphor for us.
This next sermon series is all about the church. We will grow in our understanding of who we are supposed to become as a church and who God has called us o be as part of his body. This first week, we will be exploring the age old nursery rhyme "Here is the Church".
David is described as a man after God's own heart. We can learn a lot from David, including the biblical principle of priority. Listen along as Keegan how it is not possible for people to have more than one priority.
In the final week of our prayer series, we will learn why we should trust God with the seemingly impossible situations and circumstances in our life.
There can be much confusion around prayer. In the New Testament though, we have guidelines for how we should pray like a Christian.
He is risen! Christ's resurrection from the dead changed everything back then, and continues to do so. Join us as we discovery just what that change is.
Hosanna in the highest! This week we are going to look at how the expectations of Jesus and the expectations of the crowd were very different on the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem. We will also look at how correct expectations will lead to a satisfied life in Jesus.
This week in our prayer series we will learn about about intercessory prayer. We will learn why we can intercede for people and who we should specifically we should be interceding for.
It's the kickoff of Living Stones II! Listen along as Pastor Craig shares with us how facilities facilitate ministry. He will also share about the Living Stones II project, and the different ways people can participate.
Today we look at the Lord's Prayer, the model that Jesus gave to his disciples, and to us, on how we should pray.
When it comes to prayer, many of us may have questions about what prayer is, how does prayer work, and does God answer prayer? We will discover the answers to these questions over the course of this 5-week sermon series. This first week we look at some of the ways we should pray.
This week Pastor Craig shares with us how God has chosen shepherds, or elders, to help lead the people in his church. Lake Cities strives to be an elder led church.
Join is as we learn about how our mission at the church is influencing our future, and how you can be a part of it!
As we near the end of our sermon series, we look at how Joseph fulfilled the role God had for his life, and how we can do the same.
This week we will go through the blessings and lessons Jacob gives to his sons before he dies. We will also learn what the key to a blessed life is.
This week Pastor Craig is talking with us about the complete provision in the life of Jospeh and his family. God will provide for us too, we just need to trust that he will do what he has promised to do.
Do the hardships you go through grow your faith in the Lord? How can we benefit from suffering? These are the questions we seek to answer as we look at the next installment in the story of he life of Joseph and his brothers.
We have come back to our Joseph series! This week we will see how God uses Joseph to test his brothers that have arrived in Egypt, and how when God tests us, he is preparing us for the future.
Happy New Year!As we embark into 2023, let us take a look at how we can face whatever this new year brings well.
What are you enthusiastic about? The shepherds journey to find baby Jesus is driven by enthusiasm for what God had done by sending his Son to earth.
This week we look at how the mega fear of the shepherds were turned into mega joy, and how we too can experience mega joy this Christmas.
Advent is here! As we take a break from the life of Joseph, we begin to focus on the first coming of our Savior. This first week focuses specifically on hope; the days of hope that Jesus offers when he comes again.
This week we learn from Joseph some spiritual strategies to overcome life's crummy circumstances and the suffering we all experience.
This week Dr. Ralston teaches us about the integrity of Joseph and how we too should strive to have integrity even when we face challenges.
This week we dive into the story of Tamar and Judah, and how Judah was not faithful to keep his promise to Tamar. This will ultimately change Judah.
This week we explore the many plans that play out before Joseph is taken to Egypt and how God providence can be seen through it all.
This Sunday we embark on a new sermon series about the life of Joseph and God's providence in Joseph's life. We start out by looking at how God has hired Joseph and we too have a commission from God.
In this last week of our focus being on connection, Pastor Craig walks us through what it means to be a "sticky church" and how to create adhesiveness.
This week we look at the role weakness has within community and how strength comes when we are weak.
This week we discover with guest speaker Dr. Tim Ralston four big reasons why we need community.
As we kick off the fall, Pastor Craig teaches us why it is important for us to be in community and the beauty of community.
In this last Master Class, come find out what God's plan for evangelism is and how our unity makes a huge difference.
Hear the testimonies of some of the individuals who traveled to Honduras and The Czech Republic this past summer, and how this trips impacted them.
Don't let life's distractions get in the way of what God has for us and our walk with Him.
In this episode we look at how Jesus gave his disciples a new brand, a new commandment, a new way to love.
Jesus has 7 lessons for us to learn through His act of washing His disciples' feet. Come learn from the Master.
What amount should we be giving? Where should that money go? These questions will be answered in the second and last part in this stewardship mini-series.
Passage: various scripture passages.
What should be our motivation for giving? What is the definition of biblical giving and what do we need to know about it? Find out in this first sermon in the stewardship mini-series.
Passage: various bible passages.
Are you more like Rabbit, Piglet, or Eeyore? In any case, don't let your heart be troubled.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd - the one who will protect and guide us perfectly no matter what!
Passage: John 10:11-18
There is only one way to a truly rich and satisfying life. His name is Jesus and he is the gateway to life.
Passage: John 10:1-10
When Jesus says "I Am the Light of the world," what does that mean for us today?
Passage: John 8:12-20
As we being this series on the "I Am" statements of Christ, we look at what it means for Him to be the Bread of life.
Passage: John 6:26-60
What are our Big 3 goals for the coming year and how can you get involved? Join us as we pray that God would use us to fulfill these goals.
Sometimes we need a course a correction in our lives. Where is God leading you today?
Passage: John 21:1-19
Easter 2022 Sermon from Lake Cities Community Church
Passage: John 20:1-18
Note: Due to some technical difficulties, the first few minutes of this sermon audio are not available. A transcript of what was said prior to the provided audio is provided below for reference: It is shocking - how much we don't know about nearly everything - life, our planet, the universe... Take the ocean for example. Every year 150 new species of fish are discovered. Think about that - almost three a week - in 2022?! 150 new species of fish, unknown to Wikipedia, living their little lives, unaware of the humans who are unaware of them. It is shocking how much we don't know! Marine Biologist, Dr. David Shiffman wrote at ScubaDiving.com in February 2022: "There's a new species of shark, skate, or ray described every few weeks!" Dr. Shiffman estimates there may be as many as 100 million in the ocean, and so far only about 200,000 have been identified. It is shocking how much we don't know. Because as we grow in knowledge - which has exploded in the past 30 years - we also, at the same time, grow in knowledge of what we don't know. According to a recent study I've been personally conducting over the past 20 years, the closest we will ever get to knowing everything we need to know happens during our teenage years. Teenagers know all there is to know - it is a window of about five years, and then it is gone, so enjoy those special years if you are in them. And keeping in mind the vast amount of things we don't know is important as we go through life - to stay humbler, to keep an open mind. And nowhere is this more true than when it comes to issues of faith. For example, when I study the writings of committed atheists like Richard Dawkins, (AUDIO BEGINS)
What do Jesus' final words on the cross mean for us today?
Passages: Luke 23:33-34 Luke 23:39-40 John 19:26-27 Mark 15:34 John 19:28 John 19:30 Luke 23:46
Sermon by Craig Schill
As we approach Easter, we focus on Pontius Pilate, a man who was instrumental in Jesus' crucifixion and death. What can we learn from Pilate today?
Jesus rose a man from the dead! What does this mean for us today?
Passage: John 11:1-48
Let's learn to more fully trust and obey Jesus through this story of healing!
Passage: John 9:1-41
One of our missionaries, Brad Houdashelt bring the sermon this Sunday!
Passage: Luke 15:1-7
The bad news: All of us have either been through a storm, are going through a storm, or will go through a storm in the future. The good news: Jesus has the power to calm the storms we face!
Passage: John 6:16-21
Sometimes Jesus works miracles in our lives even when we don't ask for it. Join us for this sermon about God's grace, even when we don't deserve it.
Passage: John 5:1-15
Does God still use miracles to work in our lives today? If so, what does that mean and how should our lives change as a result?
Passage: John 4:46-54
Jesus' first sign in the gospel of John is to turn water into wine. What is Jesus trying to tell us through this miracle and how does it apply to our lives today?
Passage: John 2:1-12
When most of us abandon our new year's resolutions shortly after making them, we may doubt if change is really possible. In Christ, we believe that change not only possible, it is something we are called to do every day!
Passage: Romans 12:1-2
2021 has been a hard year in many ways, but in the midst of the struggle God has provided many opportunities for our church. Our church staff takes this week to reflect on what God has one and will continue to do into 2022.
The first coming of Christ at Christmas is a reminder of greater things that are yet to come when Jesus comes again. Are we prioritizing his second coming this Advent season?
Passage: John 1:19-51
Are we reaching others with the message of Christ in a meaningful way this Christmas?
Passage: John 1:10-18
Are we spending too much time on the wrong things this Advent season? Hunter and Sam discuss the sermon "Are You Prepared for Christmas?" this week on the Be the Church Podcast!
Are you doing the right things to prepare your celebration for the birth of Jesus this year?
Passage: John 1:4-9
What can we do this year to keep our focus on Jesus? We're back to talk about our first sermon of Advent!
Should we care if Santa seems to be stealing the spotlight from Jesus this Christmas season? How should we react when culture doesn't want us to talk about Christmas?
Passage: John 1:1-3, 14
Are we too individualistic as Christians? How can we better bless every generation around us to create a lasting legacy?
Discussion of the sermon "Happily Ever After"
In the finale to our series on Ruth, we discover that happily ever after isn't just a fairy tale- it's a reality for those of us who are in Christ!
Passage: Ruth 4:13-22
How can we live out the redemption in Christ we've been freely given in our daily lives?
Our God is a God of redemption and hope. Have you let him redeem you and passed that same spirit of redemption on to others in your life?
Passage: Ruth 4:1-13
How can we continue to apply this old story in the book of Ruth to our lives today? Let's take risks like Naomi and learn to love like Ruth and Boaz.
Why would someone tell their young, attractive daughter-in-law to marry a man who is twice her age? In the book of Ruth, is it the selfish or loving thing to do?
How can learn to better give and receive God's Hesed love? Discussion of the sermon "Living Above and Beyond"
As Christians, should we simply do what is expected, or should we go above and beyond?
Passage: Ruth 1:14-22
Bad things happen. Sometimes it's our fault, but often it's not. How do we respond?
The Be The Church Podcast - Episode 30
Are we truly caring for those who are oppressed and marginalized in our community? (orphans and widows?) Sam and Hunter follow up on this week's sermon in the book of Ruth.
It was the worst of times...and that is the setting for the book of Ruth. How are we to serve and trust God when things around us seem to be falling apart?
Passage: Ruth 1:1-2
Why is it important to have a mentor? Hunter and Sam follow up on Craig's sermon on friendship with a deeper dive into finding someone that can help guide you spiritually!
As we celebrate Pastor Robert moving on to a new season of ministry, we talk about what it means to a Biblical friend.
Passage: 1 Samuel 18-20
Let's talk about missions! John Lohrenz brought us a great reminder about our call to be on mission for Christ, and Sam and Hunter dive in to what that really means for us today!
One of our church members and missionary John Lohrenz shares about what it means to share the Gospel throughout the world. Are we truly following God and his plan to send us out?
Passage: Romans 10:9, 13-17
How can we go against the culture in order to follow Jesus better in our lives?
Discussion of the sermon Against the Wind by Pastor Robert Doleshal
As we close out our series on mindfulness, Pastor Robert shows us what it means to fight against the wind of the culture and our sinful nature.
Passage: Philippians 3:17 - 4:1-9
We are supposed to be filling our minds with Scripture, but sometimes it's so hard! How can we practically do this better in our lives?
What are we supposed to fill our minds with? The answer should be clear!
Passages: Isaiah 55, 2 Peter 1, Psalm 1
Hunter and Sam are back with more Be The Church! After taking some time off, we're ready to get back at it as we try to apply our sermons more practically to our daily lives.
Discussion of the sermon Mindful of Others by Craig Schill
The concept of mindfulness has been sweeping the country, but what are we supposed to do with it as Christ followers?
Passage: Philippians 2:3-11
Sermon from 8/22/21 at Lake Cities Community Church in Rowlett, TX lakecitiescommunity.org
How can we be engaged with the culture of the world without becoming just like the world? This tension is what we're called to do!
Passage: John 17:5-21
Robert closes out our Cultivate series with a look at truth. Can we know what it is? And what does Jesus calming a storm have to do with it?
Passage: Mark 4:35-41
Sam and Hunter are back again to discuss this week's sermon. Let's pray that our church would be a church that plants seeds!
How can we know if we are truly listening to God in our lives? Turns out there are some clear ways to know!
Passage: Mark 4:21-34
As we dive into a new series on Mark 4, Sam and Hunter discuss the opening sermon and how to apply it to our lives.
Robert kicks off a new series on Mark 4! This week we're going over the Parable of the Sower.
What does it mean to lean to the next generation? For us, it is an essential part of who we are as a church and our mission to win, build, and send. Join us as we talk about what this looks like and where we believe God is leading us!
Hunter and Sam dive into the topic of evangelism and how it's the responsibility of everyone in our church- not just the pastor- to share the gospel!
Is evangelism still relevant today? How are we supposed to reach people for Christ in our current culture? We take a look at the story of a short man to provide fresh insight into what Jesus would want from us in this area of our lives.
Passage: Luke 19:1-10
How can we tangibly apply the mission of our church in our everyday ministries and lives? Hunter and Sam dive in with the hope of encouraging you to get more involved in whatever capacity that you can as they discuss this week's sermon!
Everyone in our church should know our mission, but whether you do or don't, you need to hear this sermon! This is what our church is all about, because we believe this is what Jesus was all about. We hope and pray that you'll join us in our mission to win, build, and send!
After a week off, Sam and Hunter are back to dive into the latest sermon preached by Pastor Craig. This discussion is all about evangelism and making disciples- things that we are required and called to do as Christians. We hope this is helpful to each of you!
We kick off a new series about what it means to truly follow Jesus and fulfill the Great Commission in our every day lives. We hope this message inspires you to go and make disciples in your sphere of influence!
Passage: Matthew 28:11-20
What happens when we truly encounter the Resurrected Jesus? Are our lives forever changed, or do we continue to try to run to other things?
Passage: John 21:1-19
Hunter leads our discussion this week of how we can better discern the will of God. Pastor Robert also makes his first appearance on the podcast to share his insights!
How can we know what God's will is for our lives? It's a question we all ask, but few of us feel confident about. Join us as we discover God's priorities together!
Passage: 2 Samuel 7:1-13
Our church gave away money this week to everyone in the room. Why did we do this? What are we supposed to do with this money? What is a talent? How can we be faithful with what God has given us?
We try to answer these questions this week as we discuss the sermon and learn together how to better Be The Church!
Have you ever dug yourself into a hole you couldn't get out of? How can we keep from doing this by trusting and knowing God more? Join us this week as we hear from Jesus' Parable of the Talents!
If you are a member of our church and would like to participate in our parable of the talents application. then reach out to Robert for more info- robert@lakecitiescommunity.org.
We heard a great sermon on giving this week. How can we continue to apply what we've learned to our daily lives? Sam and Hunter discuss tithing, giving sacrificially, and what kind of giving honors God. Join us as we learn together how to better be the church!
If you missed the sermon this week, then before you listen to this check out the previous podcast episode!
Giving- nobody wants to preach about it, but it's an important part of becoming more like Christ. If it all belongs to God, how are we called to give back what he's given to us?
Passage: 2 Corinthians 9:1-15
Sam and Hunter discuss this week's sermon as we kick off our new sermon series called "Entrusted". If everything belongs to God, how does this affect our daily lives?
Everything we've ever owned actually belongs to God! How can we live in a way that acknowledges this every day of our lives? Pastor Robert dives into the book of Romans and tries to help us discover the answer!
"5 Hills We Refuse To Die On" As we conclude this sermon series on church unity, Sam and Hunter reflect on areas that could potentially divide us going forward. Join us this week as we reflect on 5 areas that aren't worth splitting a church over!
An overview of the book of Ephesians and how to apply the things we've learned in our daily lives.
Hunter and Sam are back to discuss the armor of God and what it takes to defend ourselves from our enemies in a Christlike way! We hope this helps you guys to better apply our sermon from this week and to go and be the church in your community!
"Know thy self. Know thy enemy. A thousand battles, a thousand victories" - Sun Tzu In this Christian life, we sometimes become lacks when it comes to battling the enemy. But Jesus has made it abundantly clear that the Devil (our enemy) is seeking to devour us. To oppose him, we must be wearing the full armor of God and Pray, being aware of weakness, asking for assistance, with words of preciseness.
Sam and Hunter are joined by their significant others this week to talk all about marriage! Is it sexist to say that a woman should submit to her husband? Do all pastors have the perfect marriage? How is wedding planning going for Hunter and Brianne? Join us as we tackle these questions and learn together how to better Be The Church!
Are you guilty of trying to make it on your own? Do you ever feel empty, like you've been pretending your way through a Christian life? Pastor Robert explains today that Without filling yourself daily with the Word of God, and the Holy Spirit of God, then you are only filled with the world... The only way we can truly live righteous lives that imitates Christ, is through daily submission to the power of God.
What does it mean to walk in love, walk in the light and walk in the Spirit? Are we called to live a life filled with shame and fear, or is submitting to God really more about stepping into freedom? What can music do for a believer and for those around them? Join Sam and Alex as we discuss this week's sermon and try to apply it more deeply to our lives!
Although this walk is very difficult... We can find victory! Not in our own strength, but by continually being filled with the Spirit of God. Focusing on submission, by being full of thankfulness, and by being full of Spiritual music!
This week it's Sam vs. Hunter as Sam takes on the role of a skeptic. Why should we care that Jesus might have risen from the dead? As Christians, is it always obvious to those on the outside that the resurrection is so essential to our faith? We address these questions and more as we attempt to make you think more deeply and grow closer to God this week! BE THE CHURCH!
Why should I believe that Jesus was anything more than a fictional character that was part of a very old, old story? Join us as we take - A Critical Examination of the Core Truth of the Christian Faith.
Has following Jesus made you a brand new person, or are you still stuck in some of your old ways of thinking and acting? Today, we dive into this week's sermon to see what it might look like to put on the new clothes God has given us! Join us as we learn together how to better be the church.
Umpires, Cupcakes, & Stained Pants. What does this have to do with living a christian life today? Find out as we learn more from the book of Ephesians and beyond.
Hunter and Sam are back for a discussion of this week's sermon! What does it take to be a truly mature church? It's a place where we can all use our spiritual gifts freely to pursue God! Before you listen, be sure to check out the previous episode, where you can hear the sermon "It's Time For BIG Church" that is being discussed. Let's learn together how to better BE THE CHURCH!
What does a healthy church look like? How can we come together and use our spiritual gifts to grow together? Passage: Ephesians 4:1-16
This Sunday, we take a huge and exciting step towards a new building and the future of our church. Whether you're a longtime member or you're brand new, we hope you'll join us on this exciting journey as God works all things together for His glory.
How can we fight against an enemy we can't even see? What if that enemy is actually our own self? Sam and Alex discuss this week's sermon on spiritual warfare and consider how we can practically apply it to our lives. If you enjoy this podcast, then please share it with others and be sure to listen every week and subscribe!
lakecitiescommunity.org
We are at war! Whom, you may ask, are our adversaries? Well, according to scripture, they are: The World, The Devil, and The Flesh. Today we will look at these and try to better understand what we can do as believers to better fight the enemy and walk more righteously.
Over half of Christians have experienced at least one painful church split. Since we are called tone unified in Christ, this statistic is heartbreaking. Join us as we discuss how to we can practically remain unified in the midst of conflict in our churches. Be sure to subscribe and share the podcast and sermons with your friends!
lakecitiescommunity.org
Have you ever attended a church where a large number of people left because of an internal conflict?
How can we truly live in the fullness of God? How can we have confidence without becoming prideful? How can we have faith without becoming naive? We dive into these questions as we discuss our most recent sermon on the Be The Church Podcast.
lakecitiescommunity.org
What challenges are you facing today? Let us reflect on a very important passage by Paul, broken into three parts; an intro, a prayer, and a doxology. Take notice of HOW he prays and WHAT God's promises are for those who cling closely to Him.
If everything seems to fall by the wayside... we can still always hold onto the hope of God's faithfulness. Remembering, He works in ways that are sometimes too mysterious for us to even comprehend.
Dive deeper into this week's sermon, "Wall and Peace", with Sam and Hunter. We discuss walls that we put up, what it means to let God work through you, and moving deeper into a heavenly culture. Join us as we learn together how to better be the church!
Do we understand that there is only one race? That we are all to be one family? That this is only made possible by the blood of Jesus? Through Him alone, we can find unity and peace among all people.
This week on the Be The Church Podcast we talk about the sermon "From Death Valley to Graceland" and how we can live in more unity as a church. If you are encouraged by these episodes, then please subscribe to the podcast on whichever podcast app you use! Let's go and be the church in our community, country, and world!
Be The Church is a ministry of Lake Cities Community Church in Rowlett, TX.
In the body of Christ there is no room for pride, at all. We all have the same backstory, and the same salvation story. We are completely equal at the foot of the cross.
Welcome to the Be the Church podcast, where we learn together how to better be the hands and feet of Jesus.
On our first episode, Sam and Hunter discuss Pastor Robert's sermon "To Know or Not to Know- THAT is the Question" and discuss how to best apply what we learned to our everyday lives.
Be the Church is a ministry of Lake Cities Community Church in Rowlett, TX. Visit us at lakecitiescommunity.org
What does God want us to know? About Him? About Blessings? About our present and our future? And do we truly understand these things?
The A-Team, Kickball, and Darth Vader. What do these have in common with Christianity? Tune in to hear pr. Craig explain how we have been graphed into the family of God; chosen from before the beginning of time, and we have an eternal future filled with blessings because our Savior loves us that much.
Join Robert and Craig as they work together to kick off our series in the book of Ephesians. The church is called to be a beacon of peace and unity in our divided world. Join us for this new series as we discover what oneness means- with God and each other.
Passage: Ephesians 1:1-3
Are you lonely? There's a cure, and God wants to help you. Join us this morning as we seek to move away from loneliness and into community with God and others.
Passages: Ecclesiastes 4:7-10, Romans 12:9-10, Colossians 3:12-13
Most of us know about the Great Commission in Matthew Ch. 28... But how does this apply to us today? What does this look like to practically live out this commission daily? Join us as we dive deeper into this within the context of modern day and our own church's mission statement to "Win. Build. & Send." people out in the name of Jesus Christ.
Christmas stories, live caroling, and egg nog? Pastor Craig speaks about what's really important during the Christmas season.
We live in a world that is driven, primarily, by hate. Agree or disagree? Join us as we discover how the love of God through Jesus is truly greater than the hate and division in our world.
In this season of cheer and joy.... is your joy fleeting? Let's examine where it's coming from, because true, lasting joy can only be had through trusting in Jesus Christ. All other sources are temporary and will fade and fall away.
Everything we are experiencing pales in comparison to the fantastic future that lies ahead for those who trust in Jesus Christ.
How can we have peace when our world is in disarray? How do we practically apply it to our lives? This kind of lasting and true peace is found only in knowing Jesus Christ.
As we encounter lions in our lives, we can be confident that God will have the last roar. Join us for this final sermon of our series in Daniel!
Do we realize that God is sovereign? Anything you have and anything that happens is under God's control and for His eternal purpose. We can trust Him through all circumstances. Even when we face trials that humble us and bring us to our knees... God is good, and has a reason for everything.
What are we to do when even our world tells us to disregard God and submit to other idols? This was the situation for Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego. When facing almost certain death, they still stood constant in their faith to the Lord, Yahweh, and He saved them... while in the fire. Let's take another look at this story and see how it applies to us even today.
What if God placed you right where you are for a reason? For Daniel and his friends, this was definitely the case. Because of their faithfulness, God used them as a holy influence on the entire world instead of the world influencing them to stray from the Lord.
How is Jesus Christ unique among all the other world religion leaders? What were His claims and why are they true? Tune in and discover the cornerstone of why Christianity is actually possibly true?
It always seems like a good idea to buckle your belt a little tighter and rely upon your own strength to get through things in life... but today, we will hear from some people who claim that does not work. The only way to have true strength, growth, and peace in this life, is by leaning on Christ, alone! He always delivers! Sound too good to be true?... Have a listen to pastor Craig and these 4 honest testimonies from everyday people like you and me.
Just like Cinderella's slipper... Christianity fits perfectly the foot of reality. The evil, the goodness, & the reality of our world today is all explained by the Holy Bible.
What sets the Bible apart from almost every other religious script? The Bible is rooted in fact and supported by history. Today, we take a deeper dive into this. See why this very truth can be used to support our faith in Jesus.
Further examine the Bible; the most attacked book in history. Discover how although it's the most persecuted, it is still persevering and most credible writing in history.
Life is hard, but God is faithful even through the toughest of times. God moves in the midst of our darkest moments and can turn these events for His glory and even use it to further the kingdom of God.
Are you frustrated or even depressed by life right now? Even Elijah, one of God's greatest prophets struggled, but there is hope!
Passage: 1 Kings 19
Are you 100% committed to following God, or do you keep waffling between Him and the world? Let's learn from the life of Elijah how to more fully follow Jesus with our lives.
Passage: 1 Kings 18:17-45
Satan's greatest lie is to cause us to believe that God is our enemy; but God is not out to get you... He is out to save you!
Just at the foot of Mt. Carmel, Elijah (the Prophet of the Lord Yahweh), recounts for us his journey thus far. Many exciting things have taken place, and even in the midst of persecution and the face of death, God has protected and provided for Elijah. Now, with a great test ahead, he is confident that the Lord will come through, as He always does.
No matter what nationality, race, or background... we are all called to live unified as one Body of Christ. We learn in Ephesians 4, some of the things required to nurture and advocate this unity with one another.
We are called to represent Christ to the world. In a very real way, we are the place where the world meets God, and the people thru whom the world knows God. This message by Dr. Tim Ralston dives into great detail about these things while centering around 1 Peter 2:4-10.
While we are not perfect, we have someone who loves us perfectly. Today's sermon will go into detail about the love Christ has for His Bride, the Bride's love of Him, and the most highly anticipated wedding of all time.
In the midst of COVID-19, we are trying to figure out which jobs are truly "essential". In the church, every job is essential! God has created you for a purpose and has a unique role just for you. Join us as we learn how to better step into our role in the body of Christ!
Passage: 1 Corinthians 12:12-26
What is the church? What does the church do? And what does this look like in modern day application? Discover this and much more in the first installment of "Be the Church", by Pastor Craig Schill.
Sometimes life is hard. How can we come to God in the midst of our exhaustion and pain?
Passage: Psalm 13:1-6
In this conclusion to the series "Graceful Living", Pastor Craig discusses how grace is our master teacher. Scriptural reference: Titus 2:11-15
This sermon is centered around 2 Samuel 9:1-13 and the story of Mephibosheth. Pastor Craig teaches about broken promises, living in shame, and God's amazing grace.
In the Christian life, we speak often of God's grace and living gracefully. In this sermon, Pastor Craig Schill touches on this and the challenges of Graceful Living.
Passage: Matthew 20:1-16
What is it that keeps dividing our churches and how can we find unity in the midst of so much conflict? A sermon on the difference between Cardinal Doctrine, Clear Moral Teaching, and Gray Issues.
What does it mean to walk in unity with God and others in a way that is worthy of the calling we have received from Christ?
Passage: Ephesians 4:1-6; John 17:20-23
What does it look like to be a church that embraces the beauty of unity?
Passage: Psalm 133
Link to referenced video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTQMR1lsiGw
How can we better follow Jesus by living out the "golden rule" in our everyday lives?
Passage: Matthew 7:12
For those of us who trust in Jesus, life does not end when we die- it begins!
Passage: 1 Corinthians 15:35-58
When Jesus came, nearly everyone was wrong about what his true agenda was. How can we align ourselves with what Jesus really wants for us?
Passage: John 12:10-37
Are you stressed? Let's talk about how we can turn our worries over to God.
Passage: Matthew 6:25-34
In the midst of a pandemic, where should we be storing our treasure?
Passage: Matthew 6:19-24
Whether it's Coronavirus, a war, or something else, how should we respond in the midst of crisis?
Passage: Joel 1:1-20
Passage: Ephesians 1:3, 15-23; 2:4-7
Guest Pastor Robert Doleshal encourages us from the book of Ephesians
Should we make vows? How should we react when people wrong us?
Passage: Matthew 5:37-42
Lust- what is it and how should we deal with it in today's culture?
Passage: Matthew 5:27-32
How can we keep ourselves from getting angry in an increasingly angry world?
Passage: Matthew 5:21-26
How good to you really have to be to get into the Kingdom of heaven?
Passage: Matthew 5:17-20
How can we find peace this year in a society full of anxiety?
Passage: Matthew 26:69-27:54
Sometimes we are so focused on the messiness of those around us that we forget to show them mercy. Jonah certainly made this mistake- join us as we learn how to let God help us where we struggle in this area!
Passage: Jonah 4:1-11
We believe there is hope and healing to be found in Jesus and this story is a great example of that!
Sometimes we struggle to let go of what God has given us- how can we learn to be better stewards of the gifts we have?
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:2
In order to forgive do we have to reconcile with those we have hurt or those who have hurt us?
Sometimes the hardest person to forgive is yourself. What's the secret to finally letting go?
How can we overcome racism in our church, country, and world? Through the gospel!
Selected Scripture Passages: James 2:1-4, Leviticus 19:33-34, Galatians 3:26-28 John 4:6-27, Ephesians 2:11-20, Revelation 7:9-10, John 17:20-23.
What keeps you up at night? This Psalm helps us to find our true rest in God and his Fatherly love for us.
Psalm 131
What should we do when it feels like God abandoned us?
Video links Video referenced at the beginning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbwxa6QCCAo Video referenced at the end: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjaYXmuYDno
Passage: Psalm 22
Sometimes our little choices can make a big difference in where we end up!
Passage: Psalm 1
Are we in danger of being too much like the older brother in the story of the prodigal son?
Passage: Luke 15:11-32
What can we learn from the 12 baskets of leftovers in the feeding of the 5,000?
Passage: Matthew 14:13-21
What can we learn about trusting God from this seemingly insignificant boy who shares his five loaves and two fish with Jesus?
Passage: John 6:1-15
Even though Jesus can work miracles himself, he often chooses to use us to do his work. What can we learn from Jesus and the disciples in the feeding of the 5,000?
Passage: Mark 6:30-44
What do all of the things we've covered in this series have in common? They all require God's grace!
Link to the video referenced: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQ41bjgpw28
How can we move forward in evangelism- something so many of us think we are so bad at?
Passage: Acts 8:26-35
How can we move forward towards people who are messy? Craig presents us with a real challenge to do it in a tangible way this week!
God has given all of us gifts and talents- how can we learn to take the risk to actually use them?
Passage: Matthew 24:14-30
How is God calling us to change as we move forward towards our mission and vision?
Passage: Acts 6:1-7; Galatians 2:11-16
"Forward Grace" What does it look like for us to move forward in grace as a church? Passage: Matthew 20:1-16
Link to video referenced near the end of the sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=339&v=UEDBnKahuNs
Superheros don't have much trouble overcoming death, but can it really happen in real life? Discover God's Endgame for us this Easter.
Passage: Luke 24:1-53
What is the significance of Palm Sunday and how can it help us better celebrate Jesus today?
Passage: John 12:9-19
When everything falls apart, can God really restore us? Don't miss this conclusion to our series in the book of Job!
Passage: Job 42:7-17
Learn how to be humble with Job as we reflect on how big God is and how small we are.
Passage: Job 40:3-5, 42:1-6
How can you move from complaining about the circumstances you are in, to having confidence in God? Let's discover how together as we learn from the book of Job.
Passage: Job 40:6-42:6
Do you have trouble trusting God in the hard times? So did Job! But God finally has an answer for him...
Passage: Job 38-40:2
Intro Video for Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUtK8ww4cNw
Videos referenced in the sermon:
1956 Ford Victoria Commercial (illustration of “modern” era)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3pECsn8WeQ
2013 Ford Mustang Commercial: (Illustration of “postmodern era)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k15NfO03GCM
As we celebrate Memorial Day and honor those who have sacrificed for our country, we take a look at the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus paid for us.
Craig gives us 5 compelling reasons why the Christian faith is still relevant and true today.
We know who we need to share the Gospel with, but how do actually do it on a practical level?