At Lakeview Christian Church, our mission is clear: Be the change as Jesus has changed us. We don’t just say it—we live it through three simple practices we call “Just 3”: Study to love and know God, Share to know and love others, and Serve as love in action. This mission comes alive every time we gather, pray, and open God’s Word together.
Turning Back: The Power of Repentance
Maybe there’s something you’re carrying today—a burden, a hidden struggle, a direction you know is pulling you away from God. Tyler’s words echo the invitation of Scripture: “Whatever it is you have in your life, whatever stray direction that you’re running, the thing that you’re hiding, may you run back to God.”
This is the heart of repentance. In the church, we call it making a 180° turn—leaving behind what holds us captive and returning to the Father who loves us. James 4:8 (ESV) beautifully promises, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” You don’t have to fix everything before you come. You don’t have to journey the whole distance. Just turn—God runs to meet you, just as the father ran to the prodigal son (Luke 15:20).
Confession and Communion: The First Steps Home
As we gather for communion at Lakeview, we’re reminded: “You just have to turn towards your Father to admit you’re wrong and ask for help.” This is not about shame or guilt. It’s about honesty, humility, and hope. 1 John 1:9 (ESV) reassures us: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
The act of confession—naming our wrongs and surrendering our need for control—opens the door to true spiritual renewal. In prayer, we lay down what we’ve tried to handle on our own, asking God’s help to start fresh. As Tyler prayed: “God, whatever anybody may be carrying today, whatever they’ve been trying to control on their own, whatever fight they’ve been fighting not for you but for them, God, this prayer is for all of us. May we confess our wrongs.”
Living the Change: Just 3 in Everyday Life
Repentance is only the beginning. At Lakeview Christian Church, we believe in living out our faith by being the change. Here’s how our “Just 3” practices help us respond to God’s invitation:
- Study: We immerse ourselves in Scripture—not just to gain knowledge, but to deepen our love for God. Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37, ESV). When we study, we listen for God’s voice, letting His truth reshape our desires and decisions.
- Share: Our faith isn’t private. We’re called to share our lives with others, offering encouragement, honesty, and the hope we’ve found in Christ. Galatians 6:2 (ESV) urges us, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Sharing breaks the power of isolation and builds real community.
- Serve: Love is more than words—it’s action. Jesus modeled this for us, saying, “Even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28, ESV). When we serve, we put others before ourselves, becoming the hands and feet of Jesus in a world that desperately needs hope.
The Invitation: Come Home
No matter what you’re facing, the invitation remains: turn back to God. He isn’t waiting with judgment—He’s waiting with open arms. As we confess, study, share, and serve, we discover the joy of becoming the change Christ has worked in us.
Are you ready to take a step? Join us at Lakeview Christian Church, where we’re learning together how to run back to God, embrace forgiveness, and live out our calling to study, share, and serve—so that we, too, can be the change Jesus has made in us.
