Lakeside Church

Lakeside Church

We are a community helping people discover and fully follow Jesus.

  1. Saints & Scoundrels: Who Really Broke Eden?

    1d ago

    Saints & Scoundrels: Who Really Broke Eden?

    What if one of the Bible's most misunderstood people isn't who you've always been told she was? For centuries, Eve has been portrayed as the woman who ruined everything, but what if we've been reading more into the story than Scripture actually says? In this message from Robyn Elliott, we begin our Saints & Scoundrels series by taking a fresh look at Eve, uncovering how cultural assumptions have shaped our understanding of her story, and discovering what Genesis really reveals about equality, shame, blame, and the God who still calls us out of hiding. Discussion Questions: 1. Before this message, what words or ideas immediately came to mind when you thought of Eve? Where do you think those impressions came from? 2. Why do you think people naturally gravitate toward heroes and villains? How has that shaped the way we read Scripture? 3. What challenged you most about looking at Genesis with "fresh eyes" instead of relying on assumptions or traditions? 4. If Adam and Eve were given the same calling to rule together, what implications does that have for how we understand relationships, leadership, and the image of God? 5. Have you ever discovered that something you always believed the Bible taught wasn't actually in the text? How did that affect your faith? 6. We spend so much time asking why Eve listened to the serpent that we rarely stop to ask why Adam stayed silent. What was happening in him? Was it fear? Passivity? Curiosity? Had he already made up his mind? Genesis doesn't answer every question, but it certainly refuses to let Adam off the hook. 7. Shame caused Adam and Eve to hide, but God still came looking for them. How have you experienced shame causing you to hide from God or others? 8. Where do you see blame replacing responsibility in today's culture? How do Adam and Eve each respond differently when confronted by God? 9. Are there labels or stories that other people have placed on you that you've begun to believe? What does God's voice say that's different?

    43 min
  2. Unveiling the Apocalypse: Where Do We Go When We Die?

    Jun 28

    Unveiling the Apocalypse: Where Do We Go When We Die?

    Have you ever wondered whether everything you've been taught about heaven is actually what the Bible says? What if the greatest hope of Christianity isn't escaping this world, but seeing God make all things new? In this message from Robyn Elliott, we unpack Revelation's breathtaking conclusion, challenge some of our biggest assumptions about heaven and the rapture, and discover why our future hope changes how we live right here, right now. Discussion Questions: 1. When you hear the word "heaven," what images or assumptions immediately come to mind? Where do you think those ideas came from? 2. What stood out to you most from this message? Why do you think it resonated, or challenged you, or even confused you? 3. Revelation ends with heaven coming to earth rather than people escaping earth. How does that reshape the way you understand God's ultimate plan? 4. Why do you think "escape theology" has become so compelling throughout church history? What needs or fears does it speak to? 5. Jesus spent far more time caring for people's present suffering than describing the afterlife. What might that teach us about what following Jesus looks like? And how does that shape the way we love people? 6. How does understanding books like Matthew and Revelation within a first-century Jewish and Roman context affect the way we read difficult biblical passages? What resources do you use or find helpful when studying the Bible and understanding context and theology? 7. This message suggests that theology has practical consequences. Can you think of ways certain beliefs about the future influence how Christians engage (or disengage) with justice, compassion, and the world around them? 8. Which gives you more hope: the idea of going somewhere else after death, or the promise that God is making all things new? Why? 9. Romans 8 says nothing can separate us from the love of God - not even death. How might believing that change the way you face uncertainty, grief, or fear? 10. If our future is ultimately life with God in a renewed creation, what is one practical way you can participate in God's renewing work this week? Resources: BOOKS: Bauckham, Richard, The Theology of the Book of Revelation Duncan, Jeremy, Upside Down Apocalypse Gorman, Michael, Reading Revelation Responsibly McKnight, Scot, Revelation for the Rest of Us Peterson, Eugene, Reversed Thunder Sprinkle, Preston, Exiles Whitaker, Robyn, Revelation for Normal People Wood, Shane, Thinning the Veil Zahnd, Brian, Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God Zahnd, Brian, The Wood Between the Worlds PODCASTS & LECTURES Boyd, Greg, Woodland Hills Church sermon series beginning 2023 09 17 Whitaker, Robyn, Bible for Normal People podcast, Ep 259 Witherington, Ben III, Seven Minute Seminary series, Youtube Wood, Shane, Ozark Christian College Lectures https://www.shanejwood.com/the-book-of-revelation/ Wright, N. T., Youtube Lectures

    42 min
  3. Unveiling the Apocalypse: Are We In for a Catastrophic Conclusion?

    Jun 21

    Unveiling the Apocalypse: Are We In for a Catastrophic Conclusion?

    What if heaven isn’t about where you’re going and who gets in and who gets left out? In this message from Robyn Elliott, we explore Revelation 21-22 and uncover a stunning vision of a God who isn't destroying humanity, but rescuing it - defeating evil, throwing open the gates, and making all things new. This isn't a story about escaping earth; it's a story about heaven invading it. Discussion Questions: 1. When you hear the word "heaven," what images or assumptions immediately come to mind? Where do you think those ideas came from? 2. What do you think is at stake in the difference between a God who destroys creation and a God who redeems it? 3. Revelation describes the gates of the New Jerusalem as never being shut. What does that image communicate about God's character? 4. Robyn’s message argues that God's judgment is directed toward evil rather than people. What do you find compelling - or challenging - about that idea? 5. If heaven is "the realm and rule of God" invading earth, where do you already see signs of that happening today? 6. Why do you think fear-based interpretations of Revelation have remained so popular within parts of the church? 7. Revelation ends with a city whose resources flow outward rather than being hoarded inward. What might that vision teach us about economics, generosity, and community -  and what would it look like to embody that way of life now? 8. How does the image of God making "everything new" shape the way you think about people, society, and the future? 9. If the New Jerusalem is both a future hope and a present reality, where do you already see glimpses of it in our world today? 10. The Book of Revelation is less about predicting events and more about revealing what reality looks like when God finally defeats evil. How has that changed the way you’re reading the book as we’ve gone through this series? 11. What questions have surfaced as we’ve gone through this series?

    44 min
  4. Unveiling the Apocalypse: The War that Wasn’t

    Jun 14

    Unveiling the Apocalypse: The War that Wasn’t

    Why are so many Christians fascinated by end-times destruction but uncomfortable with enemy-loving Jesus? Revelation may be asking a very different question than we've assumed. In this message from Robyn Elliott, we unpack one of Revelation's most violent-looking passages and discover surprising clues that point us back to the crucified Christ. What if the ultimate victory of God isn't achieved through killing enemies, but through transforming them? Discussion Questions: 1. Before this series, what words or images came to mind when you thought about Revelation? Have any of those changed today or have they changed over the past seven weeks? 2. If Revelation is an unveiling of Jesus rather than a prediction of the end of the world, how does that shift the way you read the book? 3. Why do you think violent interpretations of Revelation have often been so compelling to Christians throughout history? 4. The rider's robe is already covered in blood before any battle takes place. What significance do you see in that detail? 5. What do you make of the idea that the sword coming from Jesus' mouth symbolizes truth confronting deception rather than violence against people? 6. If God's judgment is directed toward evil, not people, what challenges or questions does that raise for you? 7. Robyn said, "We are victorious when we follow the way of the Lamb, not just the beliefs of the Lamb." What is the difference between those two things? 8. Where do you find yourself most tempted to trust power, control, force, or self-protection instead of the way of sacrificial love? 9. If Jesus truly reigned in your workplace, school, family, neighborhood, or city, what would look different? What is one practical step you could take this week to embody the way of the Lamb there? 10. Taken together, how do these clues transform Revelation 19 from a story about violence into a story about truth, redemption, and victory through love? Resources: BOOKS: Bauckham, Richard, The Theology of the Book of Revelation Duncan, Jeremy, Upside Down Apocalypse Gorman, Michael, Reading Revelation Responsibly McKnight, Scot, Revelation for the Rest of Us Peterson, Eugene, Reversed Thunder Sprinkle, Preston, Exiles Whitaker, Robyn, Revelation for Normal People Wood, Shane, Thinning the Veil Zahnd, Brian, Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God Zahnd, Brian, The Wood Between the Worlds PODCASTS & LECTURES Boyd, Greg, Woodland Hills Church sermon series beginning 2023 09 17 Whitaker, Robyn, Bible for Normal People podcast, Ep 259 Witherington, Ben III, Seven Minute Seminary series, Youtube Wood, Shane, Ozark Christian College Lectures https://www.shanejwood.com/the-book-of-revelation/ Wright, N. T., Youtube Lectures

    33 min
  5. Unveiling the Apocalypse: Power, Prosperity, and the Pull of Empire

    Jun 7

    Unveiling the Apocalypse: Power, Prosperity, and the Pull of Empire

    What if the greatest threat to your faith isn't something obvious, but something you've learned to admire? Revelation isn't a roadmap to the end of the world; it's an unveiling of the powers, systems, and allegiances that quietly shape our lives. In this message from Robyn Elliott, we explore the beasts, the infamous 666, and John's startling warning that evil often disguises itself as success, security, prosperity, and even religion itself. Discussion Questions: 1. When you hear "Revelation," what assumptions or images immediately come to mind? Where do you think those ideas came from? 2. Robyn suggested that reading Revelation primarily as a prediction of future events can become escapist. Do you agree or disagree? Why? 3. What does it mean to say that Revelation "comforts the disturbed and disturbs the comfortable?" 4. Why do you think evil is often easier to recognize in individuals than in systems, institutions, or cultures? 5. The dragon, the beasts, and the prostitute all symbolize forces larger than any one person. What modern examples might fit those categories today? 6. How does John's portrayal of empire challenge the way we think about power, success, patriotism, economics, or influence? 7. Robyn's message describes evil as something that often masquerades as good. Can you think of examples where something beneficial or attractive can also become harmful or oppressive? 8. Revelation presents the slaughtered Lamb - not military strength - as God's answer to evil. Why is that vision so counterintuitive? What implications does it have for how Christians engage conflict today? 9. If the "mark of the beast" is less about a future technology and more about allegiance and participation in systems opposed to God's kingdom, how might that change the way we read the passage? 10. Looking honestly at your own life, where do you feel tension between the values of God's kingdom and the values of the surrounding culture? Resources: BOOKS: Bauckham, Richard, The Theology of the Book of Revelation Duncan, Jeremy, Upside Down Apocalypse Gorman, Michael, Reading Revelation Responsibly McKnight, Scot, Revelation for the Rest of Us Peterson, Eugene, Reversed Thunder Sprinkle, Preston, Exiles Whitaker, Robyn, Revelation for Normal People Wood, Shane, Thinning the Veil Zahnd, Brian, Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God Zahnd, Brian, The Wood Between the Worlds PODCASTS & LECTURES Boyd, Greg, Woodland Hills Church sermon series beginning 2023 09 17 Whitaker, Robyn, Bible for Normal People podcast, Ep 259 Witherington, Ben III, Seven Minute Seminary series, Youtube Wood, Shane, Ozark Christian College Lectures https://www.shanejwood.com/the-book-of-revelation/ Wright, N. T., Youtube Lectures

    39 min
  6. Unveiling the Apocalypse: Is Christmas More Violent Than We Think?

    May 31

    Unveiling the Apocalypse: Is Christmas More Violent Than We Think?

    What if the Christmas story isn’t as peaceful as we’ve made it, but actually a cosmic battle between good and evil? In this message from Robyn Elliott, we explore Revelation 12 and uncover a second perspective of Christmas. While a baby is born on earth, a cosmic battle unfolds in the heavens. This message challenges how we see God, suffering, and the deeper reality behind our world, and reminds us of the hope that holds it all together: God wins. Discussion Questions: 1. When you think of the Christmas story, what images or emotions come to mind, and how does Revelation 12 challenge or expand that? 2. Why do you think we prefer the peaceful version of Christmas over a more cosmic, conflict-filled one? 3. The message suggests there’s more happening “behind the scenes” in our world—how do you respond to that idea? 4. What are some modern-day masks of evil that might appear good or noble at first glance? 5. How can we learn to discern the “signature of evil” versus the character of God revealed in Jesus? 6. If Jesus shows us what God is like, how does the image of the “slaughtered lamb” reshape our understanding of power? 7. Why is it important that God wins not through force, but through sacrifice and the cross? 8. How have you personally wrestled with the reality of evil or suffering in your life or the world? 9. What does it practically look like to “conquer evil by being the body of Christ” in everyday life? 10. John’s message is essentially “hold on; God wins.” How do you hold onto hope when evil feels like it’s everywhere? What helps you hold onto hope when life feels overwhelming? What does hope actually look like in those moments? Resources: BOOKS: Bauckham, Richard, The Theology of the Book of Revelation Duncan, Jeremy, Upside Down Apocalypse Gorman, Michael, Reading Revelation Responsibly McKnight, Scot, Revelation for the Rest of Us Peterson, Eugene, Reversed Thunder Sprinkle, Preston, Exiles Whitaker, Robyn, Revelation for Normal People Wood, Shane, Thinning the Veil Zahnd, Brian, Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God Zahnd, Brian, The Wood Between the Worlds PODCASTS & LECTURES Boyd, Greg, Woodland Hills Church sermon series beginning 2023 09 17 Whitaker, Robyn, Bible for Normal People podcast, Ep 259 Witherington, Ben III, Seven Minute Seminary series, Youtube Wood, Shane, Ozark Christian College Lectures https://www.shanejwood.com/the-book-of-revelation/ Wright, N. T., Youtube Lectures

    37 min
  7. Unveiling the Apocalypse: Conquest, Corruption, and Collapse

    May 24

    Unveiling the Apocalypse: Conquest, Corruption, and Collapse

    In this message from Robyn Elliott, we unpack the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and ask whether they actually represent the judgment of God, or the destructive consequences of human empire, violence, greed, and conquest. Revelation’s disturbing imagery doesn’t reveal a bloodthirsty God, but exposes the systems that destroy humanity while pointing us back to Jesus, the slaughtered lamb who rules through self-giving love. Discussion Questions: 1. The Book of Revelation is ultimately about the revelation of Jesus. How does that shift the way you approach the difficult or violent imagery you see throughout the book? 2. Before this message, what did you think the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse represented, and how has that understanding been challenged or expanded? 3. The white horse symbolizes conquest and the endless pursuit of power, the black horse symbolizes economic injustice and systems that crush the vulnerable, and the pale horse symbolizes the death and destruction that follow human violence. Where do you see these realities showing up in our world -  or even in everyday life - and why do you think humanity keeps repeating these patterns? 4. The second horseman exposes the lie that violence can create peace. Do you agree? Why or why not? 5. Revelation repeatedly contrasts appearances with reality -  what John hears versus what he sees. Where do you see that same tension in your own life or culture today? 6. Robyn said, “The cross is the way God rules and the way God wins.” What does that statement challenge about the way humans normally think about power? 7. If someone’s image of God is primarily angry, punitive, or violent, how might that affect the way they read Scripture, treat people, or understand themselves? 8. This message suggests the judgments in Revelation are less about God inflicting pain and more about humanity experiencing the consequences of its own systems and violence. What do you think about that interpretation? 9. After hearing this message, what part of your understanding of God, power, or judgment feels most challenged or rethought?

    38 min
  8. The Table: The Life We Share

    May 17

    The Table: The Life We Share

    Communion is more than a ritual - it’s an invitation into participation with Jesus and with one another. In this message from Johanna Kelly, we explore Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 10 and discover how the table reshapes our loves, reorients our priorities, and reminds us that we are one body sustained by one source. Discussion Questions: 1. Think of a meal or table moment you remember deeply. What made it memorable and meaningful? Was it the people, the atmosphere, the conversations, the feeling of being together? 2. Paul says we are one body sharing one loaf. Why is unity such an important part of communion? 3. The Table becomes the place where our love is reordered, our priorities are reshaped, our hearts are formed, and our lives are re-centred on Jesus. Why does this matter so much when we talk about communion being a shared experience? 4. In what ways can communion become routine instead of transformational? 5. Are God’s priorities becoming your priorities? Where do you see growth in that? Where is it challenging? 6. Where might God be inviting you to pour yourself out in love for someone else right now?

    32 min
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About

We are a community helping people discover and fully follow Jesus.

Information

  • Creator
    Lakeside Church
  • Years Active
    2010 - 2026
  • Episodes
    500
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Lakeside Church

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