In this introductory message to our Blessed in the Mess series, we uncover the revolutionary nature of Jesus’ message in Matthew 5—a manifesto for a new kingdom that upends worldly values and speaks directly to the marginalized. Throughout this series, we’ll challenge ourselves to reexamine these powerful blessings, not as mere platitudes but as life-changing proclamations meant to transform society. Together, let’s consider whether our faith communities reflect this new way of being or simply perpetuate the status quo. Join us as we dive deeper into what it means to embody the Beatitudes in our lives and in the world around us.

Blessed In The Mess: Blowing Up #Blessed

Forgiveness is not just a one-time act but an ongoing process that shapes our relationships and actions. In this message, Pastor Robyn Elliott highlights the tension between the call to forgive and the struggle we face with pain and injustice. The message encourages a deeper understanding of forgiveness, not as a transaction to "buy" God’s forgiveness, but as a transformative act that mirrors God's grace. Ultimately, Jesus’ vision is of a world where forgiveness replaces retribution, offering a path to freedom, healing, and restoration.

One Line At A Time: Forgiveness

 In this message, Pastor Robyn Elliott explores the concept of the Lord’s Prayer, particularly the demand, "deliver us from the evil," emphasizing the difference between tests that prove character and temptations that destroy it. It examines how evil manifests both personally and systemically, urging us, as Jesus followers, to consider our complicity in such forces and our role in addressing them as a community. The prayer calls for solidarity as the church, and challenges us to see life's trials as opportunities for growth or temptation. 

One Line at a Time: Deliver Us from the Evil

Was the final line of the Lord’s Prayer always there? Scholars have found that 'For yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory…' wasn’t in the earliest manuscripts of Matthew, but it became part of church tradition over time. So, is it scripture or not? In this message, we take a deep dive into this last line and discover what it means for how we understand God’s kingdom, power, and glory.

One Time At A Time: For Yours is the Kingdom

 Jack Ninaber’s journey is one of faith, challenges, and transformation. Through loss, uncertainty, and bold leaps of faith, he discovered God’s purpose in unexpected ways. Even in his lowest moments, he saw God’s faithfulness, reminding us that no matter where we are, God is always at work.

This is Us: Jack's Story

As we enter into this season of Lent, we reflect on Jesus' final week and what it reveals about his character. We explore his weeping over Jerusalem, his call for peace over power, and the crowd's misunderstanding of his kingship. We are challenged to examine our faith and ask ourselves, "What kind of king do we truly want?" and how this question can shape our journey during this season.

Leaning into Lent: Jesus Weeps

In this message, we reflect on the powerful moment when Jesus overturned the tables in the temple, challenging the corrupt religious and economic systems that excluded the marginalized. Jesus’ deliberate act of disruption wasn't just about anger but about restoring justice—showing that justice is not only part of worship, but it is worship. As we examine our own lives, we are called to ask: where have we aligned with the ways of the world, and how can we more faithfully live out the justice and peace that Jesus modelled?

Leaning into Lent - Flipping Tables

In this message, we dive into how Jesus challenged the corrupt religious and political systems of his time. While taxes today fund public services, in Jesus' time, they kept people poor and enriched religious leaders. Facing a trap over taxes, Jesus flipped the situation, showing that it’s not about money, but about where our allegiance lies—empire or God. His message wasn’t against wealth but about who we choose to serve.

Leaning into Lent - The Tax Trap

In this message from Jonathan Puddle, we explore the powerful moments in Jesus’ final days, from His triumphal entry to cleansing the temple, and how these events speak to us in times of political and social unrest. We reflect on the importance of love—loving God, loving ourselves, and loving others—above religious performance, and how surrendering to God’s love can transform our lives and the world around us. 


Leaning into Lent - The Greatest Command

What does true generosity look like? In this message from Jeff Groenewald, we explore a powerful story from Mark 14, where a woman pours out an entire year’s wages in devotion to Jesus. While others criticize her, Jesus welcomes her generosity, challenging us to examine our own hearts—are we living with an abundance mindset like Jesus or are we holding back? 


Leaning into Lent: It's Not About the Money

As we approach Good Friday, we confront the ultimate collision of power and love at the cross. In a world where power often disguises itself as righteousness, Jesus reveals a different way, one not of coercion, but of sacrificial love. The cross strips away pretense, exposes injustice, and draws all people toward the God who would rather suffer violence than inflict it.

Leaning into Lent - The Cross

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Blessed In The Mess: Blowing Up #Blessed

Lakeside Church

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