Not What You Do, But Who Made You
At Lakeview Christian Church, we believe one of the most liberating truths you’ll ever encounter is this: Your value does not come from what you accomplish. It comes from the God who created you. As Pastor Jim powerfully reminded us in our Summer in the Psalms series, if you remember nothing else, let it be this—your value comes from God.
This truth stands in stark contrast to the messages we receive from the world around us. Society often says our worth is measured by our productivity, status, appearance, or achievements. But the gospel says something radically different.
Made in the Image of God
The foundation for our worth is found in the opening pages of Scripture:
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
(Genesis 1:27, ESV)
You are not—you are not—a mistake or an accident. You are an image bearer of the Almighty. Every person possesses dignity because they bear the very image of God. This means, as Pastor Jim beautifully put it, “the unborn child has dignity because they bear the image of God. The elderly, the disabled, those society overlooks, those who have made horrible mistakes—our worth isn’t determined by our productivity or status. Our worth is rooted in the Creator, and we need to know that.”
Psalm 139: Wonderfully Made
King David wrote in Psalm 139:
“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”
(Psalm 139:13-14, ESV)
God’s intimate knowledge of us and His care in our creation means that every life matters, no matter the world’s opinion. The elderly, the marginalized, the unborn, those who are often overlooked by society—all are precious in God’s sight. At Lakeview Christian Church of Portage Lakes, we are committed to affirming this dignity in every person.
“Be the Change” as Jesus Has Changed Us
Our mission, “Changing Lives through Jesus’ Love,” is about more than words. It’s a call to action: Be the Change as Jesus Has Changed Us. We believe that when we understand our worth in God’s eyes, we are empowered to see and treat others with that same dignity.
How do we put this into practice? Through our “Just 3” approach:
Study: To Love and Know God
We STUDY the Word to discover who God is and who we are in Him. We don’t study to earn approval, but to experience the love of the Creator who made us in His image.
“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!”
(Psalm 139:23, ESV)
Share: To Know and Love Others
We SHARE our lives and stories so others can discover their value in Christ. Community is where God’s image in each person is celebrated and strengthened.
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up…”
(1 Thessalonians 5:11, ESV)
Serve: Love in Action
We SERVE out of the overflow of God’s love for us. Serving is not just volunteering—it’s seeing the image of God in every person we meet and treating them with Christlike love.
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve…”
(Mark 10:45, ESV)
Seeing with God’s Eyes
Imagine a church where everyone is valued, not for what they can do, but for who God says they are. This is our vision at Lakeview Christian Church of Portage Lakes—a community where dignity isn’t graded on a curve, and love isn’t earned, but freely given.
Let’s be a people who “Be the Change” by recognizing the image of God in every person, especially those the world overlooks. Let’s measure worth by the Creator’s standard, not by success, status, or past mistakes. As we study, share, and serve, we live out our identity as God’s beloved children and invite others to do the same.
The Invitation
If you have ever felt unseen, unworthy, or like you don’t measure up, know this: You are deeply known and loved by God. You are not a mistake. You were made on purpose, for a purpose.
Join us at Lakeview Christian Church as we journey together, discovering our value in Christ, and living it out through study, sharing, and service. Let’s “Be the Change” our world desperately needs—one life, one act of love, one image bearer at a time.
