WEEK 1

Day 1
New Life
SALVATION

2 CORINTHIANS 5:17
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new
person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

EPHESIANS 2:10
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ
Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Welcome to your new life! The Bible tells us that God gives each of
us new life the moment we receive the gift of salvation that He offers
through His Son, Jesus. Receiving salvation means believing that
Jesus is the Son of God who came to the earth to die for our sins so
that we could be forgiven and restored to relationship with God.

Deciding to follow Jesus is the best and most life changing decision
you will ever make! You might even feel overwhelmed as you truly
step into life with God and learn about what living life with God

Continued

1 | LAKEWOOD CHURCH
means. Be assured that you are not alone! We all learn and grow one
step at a time, as we walk out this journey day by day.

God is now at work in you; He is changing you from this inside out.
Change can be intimidating, but God promises that He only changes
us for the better.

We don’t wake up the day after receiving salvation to a different

physical life, so what does having a new life mean? It means that
God gives us a fresh start—He erases all record of our past sins and
mistakes. It also means that God’s Spirit, the Holy Spirit, is at work
inside of us. When we make the decision to believe in Jesus, the Bible
says that God makes His home in our hearts and begins to transform
us. You can be confident that regardless of your past, your mistakes,
or even how you feel now, that God is at work inside of you creating
new life.

*If you are in the Houston area, we would love to see you at our New Beginnings Class
that happens every Sunday at 12:45pm.
*To learn more, please go to www.lakewoodchurch.com/newbeginnings

2 | LAKEWOOD CHURCH
 WEEK 1

New Identity Day 2

SALVATION

1 JOHN 3:1
Look with wonder at the depth of the Father’s marvelous love that
he has lavished on us! He has called us and made us his very own
beloved children.

ROMANS 8:15-16
So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves.
Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own
children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our
spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.

In our new life, God also gives us a new identity. We are now defined
by what God says about us, not by what we do or by what other
people have said about us. God removes the old labels we have worn,
labels like failure, unloved, divorcee, mistake, reject, addict, unwanted,
and calls us His beloved sons and daughters.

Learning to live in our new identity is a process. We start by learning

to think about ourselves the way that God thinks about us—the Bible
calls this renewing our minds. We renew our minds as we spend time
with God and study His Word. As we discover what God says about us
and believe it, our actions and thoughts begin to change in response
to the truth about who we were made to be.

There is no one better than God to tell us who we really are because
He made us! Here are some truths about who God says you are—
loved (John 3:16), chosen (Colossians 3:12), forgiven (Ephesians 1:7),
free (2 Corinthians 3:17), and His child (1 John 3:1).

3 | LAKEWOOD CHURCH
 WEEK 1

Why We Need Day 3

Salvation SALVATION

1 PETER 3:18
Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he
died for sinners to bring you safely home to God.

ROMANS 3:23-25
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.
Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this
through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our
sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are
made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life,
shedding his blood.

God sent Jesus as our Savior because the world has a problem called
sin. Sin is defined as “missing the mark.” All of us have missed the mark
and come up short of God’s perfect standards in our lives.

God is so good and so holy that He cannot be in relationship with

anything corrupted by sin. Sin must be paid for in order to be erased
in God’s eyes, and according to the Bible, the way to pay for sin is
through sacrifice.

Before Jesus came, people would offer animal sacrifices to God in

order to temporarily pay for their sins. But Jesus came to offer a
sacrifice that would pay for all sin, for all time. Jesus lived a life that
was completely perfect, untouched by sin. Because He was perfect, He
became the perfect sacrifice, accounting for the sins of the whole world.

Jesus’ sacrifice made a way for us to receive the gift salvation by

grace through faith.

4 | LAKEWOOD CHURCH
 WEEK 1

We Can’t Earn It Day 4

SALVATION

EPHESIANS 2:8
For it was only through this wonderful grace that we believed in him.
Nothing we did could ever earn this salvation, for it was the gracious
gift from God that brought us to Christ!

ROMANS 3:22
There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned
and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his
grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

One of the most unique factors of Christianity is the grace that we

have received through Jesus. Religion tells people that they have
to earn right standing with God; it says that acceptance by God is
entirely based on our behavior.

Jesus came to flip religion on its head and establish a new way of
relating to God. He did the work of making us right with God. Now,
our part is believing that His work was and is enough to bring us into
relationship with God.

Jesus came to show us that God’s love is so unlike our human love.
He showed us that God’s love is completely unconditional! He doesn’t
love us more when we do things right or love us less when we mess
up. He loves us completely, all of the time. You can be confident that
regardless of your past sin and mistakes, God’s grace now covers you
completely.

5 | LAKEWOOD CHURCH
 WEEK 1

Who is God? Day 5

SALVATION

1 JOHN 4:16
God is Love.

PSALMS 103:8
The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled
with unfailing love.

ISAIAH 40:28 NLT

The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He
never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his
understanding.

As we start our journey with God it is important that we know the true
nature of God. Often, people have distorted ideas about who God is
from past experiences. If you were raised in a home where God was
never talked about, you might think He is distant or uninvolved. If you
were raised in a religious household, you might think that God harsh
and angry, waiting for you to mess up. Whatever ideas you have about
who God is, He wants to show you who He really is. He does this
through the work of His Spirit inside us and through the Bible.

His Word tell us that He is kind, loving, compassionate, just, slow to

anger, holy, righteous, faithful, eternal, merciful, and only good. It tells
us that He is our loving Father (1 John 3:1), that He is always with us
(John 14:16), and that He has all power (Psalms 62:11).

We say it often at Lakewood, but know that God is for you, He loves
you, and He wants to be in relationship with you.

6 | LAKEWOOD CHURCH
 WEEK 1

Who is God— Day 6

the Trinity SALVATION

JOHN 1:14
So the Word became human[a] and made his home among us. He
was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.[b] And we have seen his
glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

JOHN 14:26
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in
my name (Jesus), will teach you all things and will remind you of
everything I have said to you.

We established that God is love, that He is the Creator of the world,

and that He is Sovereign, but another important aspect of who He is,
is that He is a Triune God. Triune means three, so in other words, God
is three persons, completely unified.

The three beings that make up who God is—God the Father, God the
Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit. Each of these are unique yet
totally cohesive and consistent with the other parts.

God is the ultimate ruler, our Father, and Creator. Jesus is the Son of
God, who has been with God from the beginning of time, but when
the time was right God sent Jesus to save us from the power of sin
and to reconcile us with Himself. The Holy Spirit is how God works in
the earth today. He lives inside of us, transforming us and guiding us
in everyday life.

7 | LAKEWOOD CHURCH
 WEEK 1

Water Baptism Day 7

SALVATION

MATTHEW 28:19
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching
them to observe all that I have commanded you.

1 PETER 3:21
And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by
removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean
conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Now that you have received salvation, there is another step that God
asks us to take—water baptism. Jesus asked everyone who would
believe in Him to be water baptized as a public declaration of their
faith in Him. Baptism is our response to what God has done for us, as
1 Peter 3:21 says. It is a symbolic act of what Jesus did for us. Being
lowered into the water represents Jesus’ death, as well as our own
sinful nature that should have brought us death. Being raised out of
the water represents Jesus’ resurrection, and the new life we have
because of Jesus.

Through Baptism, we publicly declare that we are followers of Jesus

as we put action to our faith by obeying what Jesus commanded us
to—be baptized in His Name.

*We hold weekly baptism services every Saturday night after service here at Lakewood.
We also have a bi-annual church wide baptism with Pastor Joel. For more information,
please email [email protected].

8 | LAKEWOOD CHURCH
 WEEK 2

What is the Bible? Day 1

Part 1 THE BIBLE
AND PRAYER

2 TIMOTHY 3:16
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true
and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when
we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

The Bible is one of the greatest gifts that God has given us. It is a
source of wisdom and direction for us as we walk out our journey
with Him. The Bible tells us about God’s faithfulness throughout
history, His promises for our lives, and His plan for the future.

From cover to cover, the Bible is God’s Word recorded by various

people that He chose at various times. Written across a span of 1,500
years, the Bible contains 66 books written by about 40 different
authors. Only God could put together a book with a perfectly
cohesive message using 40 different people, across more than a
millennium.

The Bible is not just a valuable resource of instruction, but it is the

foundation of our lives. Through Scripture we learn how to handle day
to day situations such as how to manage our finances, how to treat
our family and friends, and how to work well on our jobs. Even more
important though, the Bible tells us how to build our relationship with
God, and grow closer with Him.

9 | LAKEWOOD CHURCH
 WEEK 2

What is the Bible? Day 2

Part 2 THE BIBLE
AND PRAYER

ROMANS 15:4
Whatever was written beforehand is meant to instruct us in how to
live. The Scriptures impart to us encouragement and inspiration so
that we can live in hope and endure all things.

If you have ever opened the Bible, you might know that it is divided
into two sections—the Old Testament and the New Testament.
Everything that happened in the Old Testament set the stage for Jesus
to come. The New Testament tells us what happened when He did.

The Old Testament gives us the account of how God created the
world, how sin came into the earth and corrupted creation. It tells
us about the people God chose to bring His plans to pass, and
prophecies (supernatural insights) about the Savior that God promised
to send the world.

The New Testament can be summed up in one Name—Jesus. The first

four books of the New Testament, called the Gospels, tell us about
who Jesus was, how He lived, and why He came. The books following
the Gospels are written by His followers who were living in response
to everything Jesus accomplished when He was with them. The New
Testament books tell us about God’s plan for His church and how
to live out Christianity in day to day life, in relationship with God and
each other.

*We recommend starting to read the Gospel of John in the New Testament if you are new
to the Bible. It tells all about the Good News of Jesus, and how that changes our lives.

10 | LAKEWOOD CHURCH
 WEEK 2

Psalms and Day 3

Proverbs THE BIBLE

AND PRAYER

Two of the most unique books in the Bible are Psalms and Proverbs.
Psalms is a collection of prayers and songs written to God; Proverbs is
a book of wisdom and instruction.

Many of the Psalms were written by a man named David who was the
King of Israel. King David was a man after God’s heart, according to
Scripture, but the Psalms that he wrote tell us that he still faced trials.
In the midst of the obstacles David faced, he was honest with God
about his hardships. In the book of Psalms, we find encouragement
and hope for our everyday lives, as we learn what it means to walk
with God through pain and joy, loss and victory.

Written by the wisest man in the Bible, King Solomon, the book
of Proverbs gives us practical principles for everyday life. From
instructing us about relationships, to handling our finances, there is
counsel in Proverbs applicable to every circumstance.

*As you begin reading the Bible, reading one Psalms and/or Proverbs daily can be a great
source of hope and wisdom.

11 | LAKEWOOD CHURCH
 WEEK 2

Prayer Day 4
THE BIBLE
AND PRAYER

1 JOHN 5:14
And this is the confidence that we have toward God, that if we ask
anything according to his will he hears us.

One of the greatest gifts that we have received as believers is

the ability to talk to God through prayer. Often, prayer is seen as
a religious duty or obligation, but prayer is a privilege! We have
complete access to talk to God and be confident that He hears us.

We don’t have to pray eloquent prayers—there is no formula that we

have to follow. We can simply talk to God like we talk to a friend. The
Bible says that God is looking for people who will be truthful before
Him, not people who are putting on a religious show.

The same way we spend time getting to know our friends through
conversation, we get to know God through our daily communication
with Him.

12 | LAKEWOOD CHURCH
 WEEK 2

The Power of Day 5

Agreement THE BIBLE

AND PRAYER

MATTHEW 18:20
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I (Jesus)
am there among them.

Prayer not only helps us get to know God, but the Bible tells us that
through prayer God begins to change situations in our lives and in the
lives of those around us. God could work independently if He wanted
to, but God wants us to participate with Him as He works—one way
we do this is through prayer.

Prayer is the act of us extending our faith towards God. Jesus said that
faith even the size of a mustard seed is enough for God to work with.
If you are reading this, wanting to know more about prayer, it is more
than likely that you have more faith than the size of a mustard seed!
Know that simple prayers offered in faith to God and powerful.

The Bible tells us that God is near in a unique way when we pray with
other believers. Prayer is powerful when we pray alone, but when we
are unified with others, the Bible says that God’s blessing is there.

13 | LAKEWOOD CHURCH
 WEEK 2

Where to Start— Day 6

the First Fifteen THE BIBLE

AND PRAYER

PSALM 119:15-17
Bread alone will not satisfy, but true life is found in every word, which
constantly goes forth from God’s mouth.

MATTHEW 4:4
People do not live by bread alone, [a] but by every word that comes
from the mouth of God.

The daily habit of spending time with God is an important part of

growing with God. This is not a religious ritual that we participate
in, but it’s an intentional investment into our relationship with God.
Just as we set time aside to spend with our friends and family to
strengthen our relationships with them, as we spend time with God
through reading His Word and prayer, our relationship is strengthened.

A simple way to put this into practice is by implementing something

we call the First Fifteen. Set aside the first fifteen minutes of your day
to read the Bible and spend time with Jesus through prayer.

Practically, this looks like finding a place without distractions like a

specific room in your house, a coffee shop, even somewhere outside,
where you can be with God. Begin to talk to Him like you would a
friend. After you talk, wait to see if He would impress anything on
your heart—this is a two-way conversation! Grab your Bible and read
a chapter or two of Scripture, paying attention to anything that jumps
out at you.

During this time, keep a journal of what you are praying for and what
you feel God is speaking to you. It is amazing to reflect back in the
future and see what God has done in your life.

14 | LAKEWOOD CHURCH
 WEEK 2

The Power of Day 7

Declarations THE BIBLE

AND PRAYER

PROVERBS 18:21
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it
will eat its fruits.

Did you know that the words you speak have power? The Bible even
says that words have the power of life and death! Because words are
so powerful, we should begin to change how we talk about ourselves
and our circumstances. When we align our words with the truth of
God’s what God says, His life and peace will begin to transform our lives.

Here are a few powerful declarations to begin saying over yourself:

I am not a victim of my past, but an overcomer through Jesus.

1 CORINTHIANS 15:57

I am a new creation in Christ.

2 CORINTHIANS 5:17

I have been strategically designed and equipped for my unique purpose.

PSALMS 139:14

I am free from all strongholds, addictions, and bad habits that have
held me back.
2 CORINTHIANS 3:17

I am completely loved and accepted by God.

ROMANS 8:38-39

We encourage you take hold of these promises and begin declaring

them over yourself in faith.

*Write a few of these declarations on sticky notes and put them in your house, your
car, and your workspace. As we constantly keep what God says about us in focus, our
thoughts being to align with the truth of God’s Word.

15 | LAKEWOOD CHURCH
 WEEK 3

Taking Inventory Day 1

RELATIONSHIPS

1 THESSALONIANS 5:11
Encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are
already doing.

As Jesus was carrying out His work on the earth, He didn’t do it

alone. In fact, He chose a core team of 12 people, all with varying
personalities and strengths, to be with Him as He ministered. If Jesus
placed a high value on relationships, how much more should we!

Taking inventory of your current relationships is a great way determine

what type of relationships you need to focus on developing, and
which ones you might need to separate yourself from.

Here are a few helpful questions to ask yourself while evaluating your
relationships—
• Do I feel encouraged or inspired to know God more after spending
time with this person?
• Do I feel weighed down with negativity or encouraged after being
with this person?
• Is this a person I can trust with the things that are important to me?

After answering these questions, you probably have an idea if the

relationship is worth investing your time and energy into. If it’s not
then you might need to step away from the relationship for a season.
You do not need to completely cut off friends or family, but you
sometimes need to place higher priority on different relationships in
order to grow in your faith.

*One of the ways you can find encouraging relationships at Lakewood is through joining a
Life Groups and becoming a part of a volunteer team.
Go to www.lakewoodchurch.com/lifegroups for more information.

16 | LAKEWOOD CHURCH
 WEEK 3

Relationships—Worth Day 2

the Investment RELATIONSHIPS

PROVERBS 27:17
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

ROMANS 12:5
In Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member
belongs to all the others.

God created us with a need for connection through meaningful

relationships. In Genesis 2:18 God gave Adam, the first man, a
partner because it was not good for him to be alone. God provided
for Adam’s need for connection, and He does the same for us today
through the community of our local church.

As you walk out life with God, one of your greatest sources of growth
and encouragement will come from the people that you surround
yourself with. Healthy relationships are the context in which our
God given needs for love, comfort, support, understanding, and
accountability are met.

In the places that you have closed off people and isolated yourself,
we encourage you to begin to embrace the relationships in your life,
especially those that you find at your local church. We need each
other!

17 | LAKEWOOD CHURCH
 WEEK 3

Relationship Circles Day 3

RELATIONSHIPS

1 CORINTHIANS 12:18-19
But God has carefully designed each member and placed it in the
body to function as he desires. A diversity is required, for if the body
consisted of one single part, there wouldn’t be a body at all!

During Jesus’ time of ministry, He chose a core team of twelve

people, all with varying personalities and strengths to travel with Him.
If Jesus placed value on relationships, how much more should we!

There are three types of relationship circles that important for all of
us to have—mentor relationships, peer relationships, and relationships
with people who you can invest into. Mentors are people who can
speak wisdom and encouragement into your life because they are
further along in their journey than you are. Peers are those who are
in the same stage of life as you. You are able to relate with your peers
and offer mutual support. People who you can invest into are those
who you can share wisdom and encouragement with. You get to
cheer them on as they navigate seasons of life that you have already
walked through.

See if you can identify these three types of relationships in your life. If
you notice that you are lacking in one or more of these relationships,
begin looking for people who you can develop these relationships
with. As we both receive and give in relationships, we experience
fulfillment, encouragement, and growth!

18 | LAKEWOOD CHURCH
 WEEK 3

Stepping into Day 4

Forgiveness RELATIONSHIPS

EPHESIANS 4:31-32
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just
as in Christ God forgave you.

One of the greatest challenges we face in relationships is holding

onto unforgiveness towards others. Maybe you have been hurt by
a parent, friend, or spouse, and you feel like the hurt is too deep to
forgive. Although the wounds caused by others’ actions and words
are very real, God is more than able to heal our hearts and bind up our
places of brokenness if we will be willing to release the hurt to Him.

By holding onto anger and unforgiveness, it might seem that we are

being justified, but the truth is that we are only hurting ourselves. As
we allow unforgiveness and bitterness to find place in our hearts,
what was an initial wound turns into a chronic issue that continually
affects our life.

As we begin to walk in forgiveness, we find a freedom and joy in our

relationships that we didn’t know was missing. Embracing forgiveness
is not for the benefit of the person who caused pain, it is for the
person who experienced pain.

It is a process, often requiring us to daily chose to forgive, but God is

faithful to heal us and bring justice as we trust Him. When it feels like
you cannot find the strength to forgive, be encouraged that God is
with you strengthening and empowering you!

*A prayer to release forgiveness: “Lord, I release for . I need

your strength to walk in forgiveness, and I ask that You would heal heartache and pain I
have experienced. I trust You to be my Defender. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

19 | LAKEWOOD CHURCH
 WEEK 3

Overlooking Day 5

Offenses RELATIONSHIPS

PROVERBS 19:11
Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by
overlooking wrongs.

HEBREWS 12:15
And make sure no one lives with a root of bitterness sprouting within
them which will only cause trouble and poison the hearts of many.

No one is perfect—we have all realized this by now! We make

mistakes, say things without thinking, and take thoughtless action at
times. Although we are often quick to overlook our own mistakes,
overlooking other’s can be one of the most challenging parts of our
relationships. If we can learn to continually trust God, releasing our
offenses to Him, our relationships will grow stronger, deeper, and
richer.

Holding onto offense allows bitterness to take root in our hearts. The
Bible says that if we hold onto bitterness, unwilling to release it, it
begins to poison our lives. Bitterness will taint our perspective of life,
convincing us that everyone is against us. It will steal our joy, peace,
and relationships if we continue to dwell on the wrongs that others
have done towards us.

Don’t allow one event to continue to affect your life—practice

releasing offense and bitterness as soon as you recognize it in your
life. As you do this, you will walk in a greater sense of peace and joy.

*A prayer to let go of bitterness: “Father, I release the bitterness I have been holding onto.
I welcome You into the places of pain I have experienced, and ask You to heal me in the
way that only you can. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

20 | LAKEWOOD CHURCH
 WEEK 3

A Heart of Honor Day 6

RELATIONSHIPS

ROMANS 12:10
Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in
showing honor.

Honor is one of most important keys of having healthy relationships.

When we begin to be intentional about honoring the people around
us, we will see relationships rise to new levels.

What does honoring others look like practically?

Speaking words of life and encouragement over people is one of

the most powerful ways that you can show honor. You might be
waiting to honor someone until they honor you, but you can be
the one to change the relationship. People will rise to the level of
encouragement we give them. Look for the gifts and talents in your
family, your friends, and your co-workers, and call them out. Pull out
the potential in the people around you.

We also show honor to those around them by covering them. The

Bible says that love covers others. We cover others by not talking
about their faults or exposing their mistakes to other people. When
you face challenges in your relationships choose not to allow conflict
to create strife and division in your world, but chose to cover others
with love as you work through whatever you may be facing.

Being a person who honors and covers others is a daily choice, but
if you will begin to develop these characteristics in your life, your
relationships will reach new levels.

*Think about your relationships and choose someone who you can be intentional about
honoring. Ask God to show you how you can best honor them.

21 | LAKEWOOD CHURCH
 WEEK 3

The Promise in Day 7

Being Planted RELATIONSHIPS

PSALMS 92:13
Those who are planted in the house of the Lord
Shall flourish in the courts of our God.

The principle of being planted—of being invested in your local

church—is one of the most powerful principles in the Bible. Scripture
says that when we are planted, we will flourish. Through involvement
in the community of our local church we grow spiritually and find
fulfillment.

Being planted is not just about going to church, it is about building

relationship with other believers. Through being in relationship with
people who are on the same God-journey as us, we get to do life with
those around us. We become family with those around us as we both
give and receive support.

Psalms 92:13 paints a picture of someone being planted or rooted

when they invest themselves into the house of God, the local church.
If you have ever seen a tree trying to withstand the forces of a
hurricane, you know how important it is for the tree to have a strong
root system. The tree might shake, it might bend, but because it has
a strong support system it does not fall. This same principle applies
to us as believers—if we want to live lives of strength and victory,
even in times of adversity, we must cultivate faith based, supportive
relationships around us.

*One of the ways you can find encouraging relationships at Lakewood is through joining a
LifeGroup and/or becoming a part of a volunteer team.
Go to www.lakewoodchurch.com/lifegroups for more information about our LifeGroups
and www.lakewoodchurch.com/connect for information about our volunteer teams.

22 | LAKEWOOD CHURCH
 WEEK 4

Lakewood’s History Day 1

THE BEST IS
YET TO COME

LUKE 4:18-19
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, and he has anointed me to be
hope[c] for the poor, freedom for the brokenhearted, and new eyes[d]
for the blind, and to preach to prisoners, ‘You are set free!’ I have
come to share the message of Jubilee, for the time of God’s great
acceptance has begun.

The doors of Lakewood Church first opened on Mother’s Day of 1959,

led by Pastor John Osteen. The vision of Lakewood was to minister
the hope of freedom, healing, love, and deliverance that Jesus offers
to the world. Lakewood’s first home was an abandoned feed store
that seated 90 people. Nearly ten years later, people from all over
Houston began to be drawn to Pastor John Osteen’s ministry.

Pastor John’s faithfulness to the small things that God asked him to
do produced big results. Lakewood became one of the most diverse
congregations in Houston. Lakewood also began a thriving television
and radio ministry that was able to reach people in some of the most
obscure areas in the world with the Gospel.

When Pastor John went to be with the Lord in 1999, Pastor Joel
felt the call to step up as senior pastor. Lakewood continued to see
growth and opportunity, eventually moving into the former Compaq
Center in Houston.

The impact that Lakewood has today did not happen by chance—it
has been built on the sacrifices of countless individuals who have
dedicated their lives to serving and surrendering their lives to Jesus.
Today, thousands of volunteers show up faithfully every week to
set the stage for people to encounter the love of God. This is the
Lakewood legacy: following Jesus to love and lift people.

23 | LAKEWOOD CHURCH
 WEEK 4

Hope Day 2
THE BEST IS
YET TO COME

JEREMIAH 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord. “Plans to
prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and
a hope.

Lakewood’s foundation has always been the hope that is found in

the message of the Gospel. The hope that Jesus offers to everyone
is not a distant hope, but it is something we can anchor our lives to
right now.

We believe that one of the most effective ways to minister the hope
of Christ is to serve others, locally and globally, in practical ways.
Our monthly Nights of Hope are one of the ways that we get to take
the Gospel to cities all over America. We see thousands of people
receive Christ at each event. Through these events we get to connect
hundreds of people into the local churches in their area.

Other ways that we get to share the message of hope are through
our television broadcast and SiriusXM radio station. The television
broadcast reaches nearly 100 nations around the world and over 20
million people each month. The stories we hear of God moving in
people’s lives through the broadcast are truly amazing.

But the loudest message of hope is spoken through our lives. You are
now a carrier of Hope because Jesus lives inside of you. As you walk
out your day to day life, you have the opportunity to spread hope
through your words and interactions with others. You have the ability
to reach people who no one else can with the message of hope!

24 | LAKEWOOD CHURCH
 WEEK 4

Generosity Day 3
THE BEST IS
YET TO COME

PROVERBS 11:25
The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves
be refreshed.

Generosity is one of the most important values of Lakewood. As a

church, we make it our goal to be generous with our time, talents,
and treasure.

Generosity with time often looks like taking time to listen to a friend
who is going through a hard time, or like sacrificing a Saturday to
serve. Being generous with your talent may be serving in a specific
area that you are gifted in. Being generous with treasure most often
looks like giving the tithe, which is the first ten percent of income.
Scripture says that if we give our tithe to God, we can be confident
that we will receive back something far greater than what we gave.

One the primary ways we meet this call to generosity is through

Mission trips. Our men’s ministry, women’s ministry, young adults,
and youth all have the opportunity to travel to different countries and
serve in villages, hospitals, and orphanages. Some of the recent trips
have taken place in Haiti, Belize, and India.

Dr. Paul Osteen also facilitates medical mission trips, during which
he and others are able to relieve long term missionaries who serve in
remote areas of the world. Some of the recent trips have taken place
in Iraq, Zambia, and Kenya.

We also have many local opportunities to serve. In light of the

devastation of Hurricane Harvey, Lakewood has continued to partner

Continued

25 | LAKEWOOD CHURCH
with Samaritan’s Purse in relief efforts. Over 40 homes have been
rebuilt and over a million dollars has been donated to support those
who have been affected.

Other local outreaches include visiting local schools, volunteering

at food banks, and doing neighborhood outreaches. There is an
opportunity to serve wherever you might be interested.

26 | LAKEWOOD CHURCH
 WEEK 4

Generations Day 4
THE BEST IS
YET TO COME

PSALMS 145:4
One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your
mighty acts.

At Lakewood, we know that every season of life holds great

significance. There is a need for people across generations,
backgrounds, and cultures to participate in the church body.

We are passionate about intentionally bridging any gaps that might

exist between generations. Primarily, we do this through our serving
opportunities. On any weekend, you will see volunteers ranging from
elementary school age up to seniors (65+) serving alongside each
other. We believe that every season holds great significance, and we
want each person to embrace that significance at whatever age and
whatever stage of life find they themselves in.

Just as the Bible talks about, it so important that we have the example
of what it looks like to walk faithfully with the Lord over time, such as
we have in the lives of those who are seasoned in the faith. We also
need the passion and energy of those who are young, both in age and
in faith, to bring a sense of vitality to our local body of believers. The
kingdom of God is strictly inclusive, welcoming all generations to play
a part—we want to reflect this here at Lakewood.

27 | LAKEWOOD CHURCH
 WEEK 4

Excellence Day 5
THE BEST IS
YET TO COME

DANIEL 6:3
Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high
officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the
king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.

At Lakewood, one of our key values that has shaped our culture is
excellence. As believers, we believe that we are called to live, work,
and create with a higher standard. In the Bible, we read that Daniel,
a man who worked for a king, had a spirit of excellence, which
propelled him to greater status and promotion. He was distinguished
because of his character.

One of the main aspects of excellence is integrity. Simply, living with

authenticity and honesty in every area of our lives. Does this mean
that we have to be perfect? Not at all! It means that we give our best
in every area, and when we do mess up, we don’t try to hide it or
sweep our mistakes under the rug. We fully embrace God’s grace and
strength as we move forward, learning and growing.

As we begin to grasp the grace and love that God has shown us, we
can’t help but respond with a thankful heart—wanting to passionately
give Him back the best of ourselves we have to offer. Practically, this
looks like not cutting corners on your job, but doing your best even if
it goes unnoticed. It looks like not gossiping about your friends behind
their back even though they might never know. It looks like going the
extra mile, being attentive to details, and finishing a job fully.

Through these simple acts, we bring honor to God and set ourselves
apart as people who are unwilling to compromise regardless of the
culture around us.

28 | LAKEWOOD CHURCH
 WEEK 4

Discovering Day 6

Your Strength THE BEST IS

YET TO COME

EPHESIANS 2:10
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good
works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

God has created us each uniquely, with purpose, gifts, and talents,
that are special to us individuals. The Bible says that God gave us
these gifts so that we can walk in the purpose that God prepared
for us before we were even born! Not only did God create us for
something special, but He has also equipped us with everything that
we need.

Another word to describe our gifts and talents is the word ‘strength.’
Each of us have many things that we are good at, and discovering our
strengths can help us discover our purpose.

One of several ways to discover your strengths is through the Gallup®

CliftonStrengths Test.

As we learn our strengths – our gifts and the things we are good at –
we can learn to develop them as we work to fulfill the special things
God has called us to do.

*If you’re in the Houston area, we sell the Strengthsfinder Book in our Lakewood Bookstore.

29 | LAKEWOOD CHURCH
 WEEK 4

The Best is Yet Day 7

to Come THE BEST IS

YET TO COME

EPHESIANS 3:20
Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish
all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request,
your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination!
He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly
energizes you.

Today, we simply want to tell you how proud we are of your decision
to step into a relationship with Jesus. It is one decision that we can
promise you will never regret. Let Him be the foundation on which
you build your life. You will discover purpose, peace, and freedom
that surpasses everything you’ve known yet.

Pastor Joel offers this challenge every week—attend Lakewood

faithfully for one year and your life with never be the same because of
what God is going to do in your heart and mind. Consistency is key,
come as often as you can. Plant yourself in the house.

We are here for you every step of the way! We are so excited to see
all that God is already doing and all that He will do in your life as you
follow Him.

Welcome to the Lakewood Family, the best is yet to come!

30 | LAKEWOOD CHURCH