Christmas at Lakepointe

Several things are happening this season at Lakepointe Church!

• This Sunday, we kickoff our new sermon series, "The X-mas Files." We are going to be talking about some of the supernatural events that took place around the birth of Christ. This Sunday, we'll be looking at Mary, the mother of Jesus and the miracle of the virgin birth.

• After the service this Sunday, we will be having a Christmas dinner at Tina's Country Garden in Macomb Township. The meal is free but we are collecting a special Christmas offering that will go toward international mission all around the world. (If you're not attending the dinner, but would like to give toward this special offering, designate your gift on your check or in an envelope and drop in the offering plate anytime during this month.)

• We are participating with the Alms Project for our Second Saturday outreach on December 11th. We will be a part of a volunteer team to assemble 30,000 meals for the homeless and less unfortunate during this Christmas season. If you are interested in serving and helping out on Saturday morning, December 11th, email Mark Nipper at mark@lakepointechurch.tv.

• We will be hosting our first Christmas Eve family service on December 24th at 4:00 PM and will take place at Lutheran High School North. The program will consists of great special music and Christmas carol - fun for the whole family to enjoy! This is also a great opportunity to invite your family and friends to Lakepointe!

• Finally, our Christmas service will take place on Sunday, December 26th where we will take time to remember Christ through communion.

Hope you'll be a part of all that is going on this month at Lakepointe. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at 586-991-1845. Look forward to seeing you this Sunday!

Sunday Aftermath

Yesterday, Lakepointe Church moved to her new location from Iroquois Middle School to Lutheran High School North. The move was only 2 miles away from Iroquois and we are paying almost $3000 less a month in our rent! Our first service yesterday at Lutheran High North was incredible!

Here are some of the highlights of this past entire weekend:

• On Saturday AM, we had our monthly 2nd Saturday serve event. About 35 people went downtown Detroit to feed over hundred homeless. One of the homeless guys that our people met was deaf and by the end of the morning, he had received Christ as his Savior! PTL!

• On Saturday PM, we had about 30-35 people come out to help with the set-up of our new location. Thank you to all who gave up their Saturday evening to give us a hand so that Sunday AM would be a lot smoother.

• On Sunday AM, we had an incredible crowd of over 150 in attendance. Including in the attendance, we had about 30 special guests that we honored and recognized. We had two church planting teams from Holly, MI (Flint area) - Nicholas and Jennie Klemp - and Ann Arbor, MI (Go Blue!) - Michael and Melissa Dendy - that were with us. Plus, we had a church planter friend from London, England, Brian Clark, in attendance with us as well.

• In my message, I shared how Lakepointe Church plans to be strategic in the way we give to help church planting and other non-profit organizations in our area and around the world. Later this week, I will post another blog about our two special offerings that Lakepointe Church plans to be involved in to impact our community and world for Christ.

God has blessed us so much and we are so thankful for what He has done for us at Lakepointe and in our lives. We look forward to the future of what God has for us!

Check out PHOTOS from yesterday. Click HERE!

(Must have a FACEBOOK account to see pictures)

Lakepointe Church is on the Move

Starting this Sunday, Lakepointe Church is moving from Iroquois Middle School to our new location at Lutheran High School North. The move is only 2 miles north of Iroquois, located on 24 Mile Rd., just west of Romeo Plank. (Click HERE for a map)


Why Are We Moving?

• Strategically, we are moving to a place that will allow us to have more room for growth.

• Financially, we are being better stewards in our monthly rent.

Lakepointe Church meets at 10:30 AM and have environments for children of all ages. Hope to see you at our new place soon!

Recent Story about Michael Franzese on ABC Nightline News

Special Day at Lakepointe - October 3rd

Former Mob Boss

Hits Lakepointe Church!

Michael Franzese

Sunday, October 3rd at 10:30 AM

We are honored to have Michael Franzese as our special guest at Lakepointe Church on Sunday, October 3rd. Invite someone to be your special guest for this Sunday!

Michael Franzese grew up as the son of the notorious Underboss of New York's violent and feared Colombo crime family. It was a life filled with power, luxury...and deadly violence. He was named one of the biggest money earners the mob had seen since Al Capone, by Vanity Fair. At his most affluent, he generated an estimated $5 to $8 million per week from legal and illegal businesses. At the age of 35, Fortune Magazine listed him as number 18 on its list of the "Fifty Most Wealthy and Powerful Mafia Bosses", just 5 behind John Gotti. Avoiding traditional mob domains, Michael masterminded brilliant scams on the edge of the legitimate business world. From auto dealerships and union kickbacks, to financial services and the sports and entertainment industries, to a multi-billion dollar gasoline tax scheme, he earned millions in cash every week at his peak. Not surprisingly, Michael quickly became the target of Manhattan's famed federal prosecutor, Rudy Guiliani. After promising Michael 100 years behind bars after indicting him on racketeering charges, Rudy only came up empty handed. Escaping four more indictments, it seemed Michael Franzese truly was invincible.

While producing Knights of the City, a break dance movie filmed in Florida, Michael met a beautiful dancer from Anaheim, California, named Camille Garcia, whose innocent beauty turned his world upside down. After falling in love and eventually marrying Cammy, she convinced Michael to take the rap on racketeering charges. Michael pled guilty, accepted a 10 year prison sentence and vowed to do the unthinkable - walk away from the mob. Nobody of Franzese's rank had ever just walked away - and lived. Until now.

Michael Franzese is the only high ranking official of a major crime family to ever walk away, without protective custodies, and survive.

His compelling story of fame, power, prestige, love and fear has been featured throughout the country on high profile media. Most recently, he was featured on the following networks:

Fox News

Life Magazine

Fortune Magazine

Vanity Fair

Sports Illustrated

GQ

L.A Times

48 Hours

Sean Hannity's Great American Panel

The Today Show

Nightline

ABC Primetime

NBC Nightly News

ESPN

HBO Real Sports

The Jim Rome Show

Lakepointe Church meets at Iroquois Middle School in Macomb, MI,

on Romeo Plank between 21 and 22 Mile Rd.

"Made" - New Series Starting This Sunday

What does it mean to be destined for greatness? How does it feel to be designed for more than you could ever know? You've been built for great things, and God wants to call out that potential in you. Made is about being God-made. For the next four weeks, be a part of our services at Lakepointe Church and find out how you are Made for greatness!

Sunday Aftermath and Sermon Notes

This past Sunday, we closed out our series on the "Sport's Nut" in which we challenge our church to "up their game" in their walk with Christ. Last Sunday message was our vision casting sermon for the upcoming Fall, which technically begins next week when school get started. There's a sense of excitement and anticipation in our church family and we can't wait to see what God is going to next in our church and in our community this fall! Below is the sermon notes from Sunday:

The Team Must Work Together

Philippians 3:12-14 - Paul was running toward the goal of knowing Jesus, but he wasn’t running alone - he had a team of people around him who were heading for the same goal.

UNITY is essential to a winning team!

Remember the Titans (2000, starring Denzel Washington)

“If we don’t come together right now on this hallowed ground, we too, will be destroyed, just like they were. I don’t care if you like each other or not, but you will respect each other. And maybe…we’ll learn to play this game like men.” –Coach Herman Boone

Acts 2:41-47 - The reason the first church was so successful was because they had unity.

Team Members Must Know and Play Their Position

1 Corinthians 12:4-12 - On a football team, not everybody can be the quarterback—the backs, linemen, and receivers are just as important for the success of the team.

At Lakepointe, we offer Ministry Pointe Class throughout the year to help people in our church to find their spiritual gifts and passion.

Do you know what your position is on God’s team? Are you willing to gladly play that position?

Team Members Must Encourage Each Other

Hebrews 10:24-25 - Every team needs cheerleaders. The Bible teaches that the members of God’s team should constantly be encouraging one another.

Team Members Must Know the Game Plan

Proverbs 29:18 – “Where there is no vision, the people perish!”

Lakepointe Stats Since Launch in March 2010

• Weekly Attendance: 110
• Salvations: 22
• Baptisms: 9 (11 candidates for baptisms next month)
• New Partners: 83
• Weekly Volunteers: 30 (will jump to 60 in Sept)
• Monthly Offering: $7,000 (last 3 months)

Game Plan for the Fall

• Fall Sermon Series

Made - September

The Blessed Life – October

• Adult Life Groups – Week of Sept. 12
• Tara Grant 5K Run – Saturday, Sept. 25
• Outdoor Enthusiast Dinner and Auction – Oct. 2
• Special Guest Speaker - Michael Franzese – Oct. 3
• Launching “Aftershock” LP Students Ministry – Oct. 10
• Christmas Outreach – More Info to Come…

Team Members Must Play for the Audience of One

Hebrews 12:1-2 - “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…”

It is God that will build His church! We are to give Him all glory for all He has done and for what He is about to do!

Sunday Aftermath

Every week, we continue to see God at work at Lakepointe Church. This past Sunday was no exception! Highlights:

• We are still in the summer "slump" mode. However, Lakepointe Church has not seen a "slump" in attendance, decisions, and giving! We have seen growth in all areas! School starts in 3 weeks - can't wait to see what's going to happen this fall! It's going to be a whole nutha' level!

• In the last two weeks, 60 volunteers (about 40 new) signed up for ministry this fall! The more you involve, the more impact your church will have! We have one more Sunday to encourage people to volunteer before our Training Weekend on August 28-29.

• We had our 3rd partnership class on Sunday night. About 25 adults and 8 kids came. At the end, we had 3 decisions for Christ, 7 candidates for baptism, and 12 new partners of Lakepointe!

• The stories behind the 3 decisions for Christ are AWESOME! One young lady, who has cerebral palsy, received Christ and wants to get baptized next month! Her dad also received Christ too. This is the result of their Christian mother/wife who has been coming to Lakepointe since day 1 and eventually brought her family to church!

• The 3rd decision for Christ is another awesome story! One of our young ladies had moved back home from Delaware and Lansing, MI so that she can be a "missionary" to her own family. After searching for a church, she found ours. Shortly after she was regularly attending, her parents asked her about Lakepointe, so they visited our church. On Sunday night, the young lady's mom became a follower of Christ!

• These decisions for Christ are THE highlights of everything we do at Lakepointe!!

• We are planning our 2nd Baptism Sunday next month. We have about 11 total candidates for baptisms!

• This Sunday in week 4 of the Sport's Nut series, my message is about "Fishing." Have some great stories, but also a very important application from God's word! Don't miss it!

New August Series Starting This Sunday

Starting this Sunday, hear practical messages about being a fanatic for Christ, centered around stories from my favorite sports! Special giveaways each week, so don't miss a Sunday!

Parenthood Part 7

It's Friday and I hope that you have enjoyed the study this week. I have a few more posts of some more verses, especially in the area of Rebellion. This Sunday, we will conclude our series on parenting and we will talk about rebellion. Invite someone to be your guest, especially if they have a prodigal child. This Sunday message will be practical as well as a source of encouragement.

The following short collection of verses is regarding home management. See you on Sunday!

Home Management

Psalms 127:1a

“Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.”

Proverbs 14:1

“The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.”

Proverbs 31:27

“She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.”

1 Corinthians 14:33

“For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.”

Parenthood Part 6

Over and over again in Proverbs, we are told to listen to our parents. Check out these verses from the book of wisdom.

Proverbs 1:8-9

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.

Proverbs 6:20

My son, keep your father’s commands and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.

Proverbs 19:27

Stop listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.

Proverbs 23:22

Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.

Proverbs 23:24-25

“The father of a righteous man has great joy; he who has a wise son delights in him. May your father and mother be glad; may she who gave you birth rejoice!”

Parenthood Part 5

These are verses that you should share with your children. Take time today and read these verses to them.

Verses Written for Children

Exodus 20:12

“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”

Deuteronomy 5:16

“Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”

Ephesians 6:1-3

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”

Colossians 3:20

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

Parenthood Part 4

Hope you enjoy this study today regarding parent's responsibilities.

Responsibility of Parents

1 Samuel 3:13

For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons made themselves contemptible, and he failed to restrain them.

1 Kings 1:5-6

Now Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, put himself forward and said, “I will be king.” So he got chariots and horses ready, with fifty men to run ahead of him. 6(His father had never interfered with him by asking, “Why do you behave as you do?” He was also very handsome and was born next after Absalom.)

Malachi 2:15

Has not [the LORD] made them one? In flesh and spirit they are his. And why one? Because he was seeking godly offspring .

1 Corinthians 3:10-15

By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

Galatians 6:7

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

Ephesians 6:4

Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

1 Timothy 3:4, 5

[An overseer] must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)

1 Timothy 3:12

A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well.

Titus 1:6

An elder must be blameless… a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient.

Parenthood Part 3

Yesterday, we looked at versed regarding the Biblical view of parenting. Let's looks at some verses about how God discipline us.

God’s Discipline of Us

2 Samuel 7:14

I [God,] will be [Solomon’s] father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod of men, with floggings inflicted by men.

Proverbs 3:11-12

My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

Hebrews 12:5-11

And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.” Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Revelation 3:19

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.

Parenthood Part 2

This morning at Lakepointe, we continued in our series in Parenthood about the matter of Discipline. These are some great verses about discipline. They may not be "politically correct" but they are "Biblically correct!"

Child Specific Discipline

Proverbs 15:5

A fool spurns his father’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.

Proverbs 13:24

He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.

Proverbs 19:18

Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to his death.

Proverbs 22:15

Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.

Proverbs 23:13-14

Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish him with the rod, he will not die. Punish him with the rod and save his soul from death.

Proverbs 29:15

The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.

Proverbs 29:17

Discipline your son, and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul.

General Discipline

Proverbs 12:1

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.

Proverbs 15:10

Stern discipline awaits him who leaves the path; he who hates correction will die.

Proverbs 20:30 (NLT)

Physical punishment cleanses away evil; such discipline purifies the heart.

Proverbs 28:13

He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

Ecclesiastes 8:11

When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, the hearts of the people are filled with schemes to do wrong.

Matthew 18:15a

“If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you.”

2 Corinthians 2:6-8

The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient for him. Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him.

Parenthood Part 1

At Lakepointe Church, we are currently in a middle of our series on Parenthood. I truly believe that the front-line of spiritual warfare is taking place in the home. One of our desires at Lakepointe is to help families to be better equipped in this critical area. This week, I will be posting daily a collection of great verses about parenting in the homes. I hope these posts will be helpful.

Clearest Parenting Verses

Deuteronomy 4:9-10

“Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. Remember the day you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, when he said to me, “Assemble the people before me to hear my words so that they may learn to revere me as long as they live in the land and may teach them to their children.”

Deuteronomy 6:6-9

“These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”

Deuteronomy 11:18-19

“Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

Proverbs 13:24

He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.

Proverbs 19:18

Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to his death.

Proverbs 22:6

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

Proverbs 22:15

Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.

Proverbs 23:13-14

Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish him with the rod, he will not die. Punish him with the rod and save his soul from death.

Proverbs 29:15

The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.

Proverbs 29:17

Discipline your son, and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul.

Ephesians 6:4

Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Colossians 3:21

Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

Sunday Aftermath - Memorial Day Sunday - Outdoor Service and Cookout

One of the things to know about Michigan culture, especially in Macomb Township: most people have a cabin or a camper, and during the holidays and summer, everyone travels "up north" to their favorite spot. Instead of thinking "well, it's going to be a low-attended Sunday", about a month ago, our team came up with the idea to "counter" the low attendance by doing an outdoor service and cookout.

Immediately, we started to talk about it, we made flyers and doorhangers, and started to broadcast the special service. We wanted to leverage this service to the best we could. On Thursday night, we handed out 2,000 doorhangers/flyers. We facebooked about it. We contacted everybody either by phone or email.

Here are the highlights of the day:

• Approximately 120 people attended, which is one our highest attendance since Launch Sunday (300).

• Two decisions for Christ!

• Several 1st time guests - met two families that came because of the doorhangers! Thanks to those came out to help on Thursday night. It was absolutely worth it!

• The band did a great job!

• The weather was great - it was unusually warm. Everyone left with a farmer's tan!

• This was our first real test to see our people volunteer and go the extra, extra mile! Thanks to all those who help today! This is how the church should function: not the "pastor doing it all", but EVERYONE is doing something! Personally, this was the highlight of my day! This is what makes the church "unstoppable" - when everyone sees that it's not about them, but that it's everything about Him. We just serve and do our part.

• Oh, and I wore shorts! I'm pretty sure that some people were blinded by my white legs! Sorry about that. :)

• The post-service cookout was great! The grill masters and the "kitchen" ladies did a fantastic job!

• The set-up and tear-down team did an awesome job getting us ready for the service!

• We were able to get a pretty cool "bounce house" for the kids at no cost! Thanks to Kenny for hooking us up! The kids absolutely love it!

• "Rethinking Church, Rethinking Life" - glad that God gives me and our team an opportunity to start this new church in an area that needs it! We continue to pray that God will open more doors to reach more people for Him!

• We are planning to do another "outdoor service" this summer! Stay tuned for that info...

• I was just researching about riding on a Hot Air balloon. Sounds like fun. Cost about $200 per person. Ok, that's not happening anytime soon.

• Happy Memorial Day! Thanks to all who serve (or has served) in our armed forces - "All gave some, but some gave all."

Click HERE for more pictures from today.

Thanks to Lisa Bewley for the awesome photo ops!