The Lakes Church Cairns

Have you ever read something in the Old Testament and thought; “What does that even mean?” or “I can't believe that's in the Bible!” Starting on February 15 we'll have a Study Season in the church hall on Sunday nights for six weeks We'll have in-depth teaching and discussion on strange and difficult passages in the Old Testament with the goal of becoming more comfortable with the stories that seem strange or that challenge us.  The post Study Season – Strange animal attacks appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

Jesus stands between us and God, not as a barrier but as a bridge. He sympathises with our weakness and invites us to approach God with confidence. When Jesus is magnified, prayer becomes honest, grace becomes accessible, and shame loses its power. Hebrews: Jesus in sharp focus When faith becomes blurry, Hebrews adjusts the lens. This series magnifies Jesus so we can see him clearly, trust him deeply, and make him visible to others. As Jesus comes into focus, our The post Jesus is our great high priest (Geoff Snook) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

Have you ever read something in the Old Testament and thought; “What does that even mean?” or “I can't believe that's in the Bible!” Starting on February 15 we'll have a Study Season in the church hall on Sunday nights for six weeks We'll have in-depth teaching and discussion on strange and difficult passages in the Old Testament with the goal of becoming more comfortable with the stories that seem strange or that challenge us.  The post Study Season – Does God changes his mind? appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

Unbelief shrinks our vision, but trust sharpens it. Hebrews warns against hardened hearts and invites us to fix our thoughts on Jesus. Magnifying Jesus means choosing trust over striving, obedience over comfort, and learning to live from a place of faith-filled rest. Hebrews 3:1–4:13 Hebrews: Jesus in sharp focus When faith becomes blurry, Hebrews adjusts the lens. This series magnifies Jesus so we can see him clearly, trust him deeply, and make him visible to others. As Jesus comes into The post Jesus is our rest (Brian Paris) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

Have you ever read something in the Old Testament and thought; “What does that even mean?” or “I can't believe that's in the Bible!” Starting on February 15 we'll have a Study Season in the church hall on Sunday nights for six weeks We'll have in-depth teaching and discussion on strange and difficult passages in the Old Testament with the goal of becoming more comfortable with the stories that seem strange or that challenge us.  This first study covers one The post Study Season – Darkest chapters of the Bible (Judges 19-21) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

Jesus does not save from a distance. He steps into our humanity, our weakness, and our suffering. Hebrews reveals a saviour who is not ashamed to call us brothers and sisters. As we magnify Jesus, we are invited to bring our real selves to him, trusting the one who truly understands. You can find the discussion guide here: https://www.thelakes.church/hebrews Hebrews: Jesus in sharp focus When faith becomes blurry, Hebrews adjusts the lens. This series magnifies Jesus so we can see The post Jesus became like us (Laura Snook) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

Hebrews opens by declaring that Jesus is not one voice among many. He is God's final and fullest revelation. Greater than prophets. Higher than angels. This week invites us to decide where Jesus truly sits in our lives. Magnifying Jesus begins by giving him first place, not leftover attention. You can find the discussion guide here: https://www.thelakes.church/hebrews Hebrews: Jesus in sharp focus. When faith becomes blurry, Hebrews adjusts the lens. This series magnifies Jesus so we can see him clearly, The post Jesus is greater (Geoff Snook) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

Our focus for 2026 is simple: to magnify Jesus. Magnifying Jesus will make him clearer, closer, and more visible in our lives. We will see him for who he really is. Like adjusting a lens, magnification can bring Jesus into sharp focus which will help us magnify him to others. We want Jesus to be clearer in our worship. More visible in our lives. More central in our decisions. More evident in our love for others. When Jesus is magnified, The post Magnify Jesus: our focus for 2026 appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

Jesus storms into the temple, clears out the noise and drives away the distractions. His passion is jarring, but it reveals his deep desire for people to have a clear path to God. Jesus removes whatever gets in the way of people encountering his presence. John 2:13-22 Strange things Jesus did. When Jesus surprises us, he shows us what God is really like. Jesus said and did things that often left people confused. But every time he acted in a The post Jesus made a whip (Laura Snook) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

When Peter stresses about paying taxes, Jesus sends him fishing and provides a coin in the most unexpected way. This strange provision shows that Jesus sees our needs, meets them in surprising ways and reminds us to trust his care and sovereignty. Matthew 17:24-27 Strange things Jesus did. When Jesus surprises us, he shows us what God is really like. Jesus said and did things that often left people confused. But every time he acted in a strange way, he The post Jesus paid tax with a fish (Brian Paris) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

When a woman is dragged in front of a crowd for judgment, Jesus doesn't join the angry mob. Instead, he kneels down and writes in the dust. His quiet, unusual action exposes hypocrisy and lifts shame. Jesus chooses mercy when everyone else wants condemnation. His grace has the final word. John 8:1-11 Strange things Jesus did. When Jesus surprises us, he shows us what God is really like. Jesus said and did things that often left people confused. But every The post Jesus wrote in the dust (Laura Snook) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

From a distance the fig tree looked healthy, but it had no fruit. Jesus uses this surprising moment as an example of spiritual emptiness and religious performance. Jesus wants more than the appearance of faith – he wants genuine growth. He calls us to a life that bears real fruit, not just leaves. Mark 11:12-14, 20-25 Strange things Jesus did. When Jesus surprises us, he shows us what God is really like. Jesus said and did things that often left The post Jesus cursed a fig tree (Geoff Snook) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

Strange things Jesus did. When Jesus surprises us, he shows us what God is really like. Jesus said and did things that often left people confused. But every time he acted in a strange way, he was revealing something true about God and about us. This series invites us to look again at five moments where Jesus behaved in ways no one expected. Jesus' strange actions will lead us to trust him more deeply, follow him more closely and see The post Jesus spat in the dirt (Brian Paris) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

His name will be (A Christmas series at The Lakes Church) Names and labels often define us in ways that we don't even realise. Long before Jesus was born and lay in a manger, there was a promise about who he would be. A prophet named Isaiah said, “His name will be, ‘Wonderful counsellor, mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” When he was actually born he got the name Jesus, but he lived up to his full title in The post Prince of Peace – Christmas Day (Geoff Snook) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

His name will be (A Christmas series at The Lakes Church) Names and labels often define us in ways that we don't even realise. Long before Jesus was born and lay in a manger, there was a promise about who he would be. A prophet named Isaiah said, “His name will be, ‘Wonderful counsellor, mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” When he was actually born he got the name Jesus, but he lived up to his full title in The post Everlasting Father (Laura Snook) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

His name will be (A Christmas series at The Lakes Church) Names and labels often define us in ways that we don't even realise. Long before Jesus was born and lay in a manger, there was a promise about who he would be. A prophet named Isaiah said, “His name will be, ‘Wonderful counsellor, mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” When he was actually born he got the name Jesus, but he lived up to his full title in The post Mighty God (Geoff Snook) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

His name will be (A Christmas series at The Lakes Church) Names and labels often define us in ways that we don't even realise. Long before Jesus was born and lay in a manger, there was a promise about who he would be. A prophet named Isaiah said, “His name will be, ‘Wonderful counsellor, mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” When he was actually born he got the name Jesus, but he lived up to his full title in The post Wonderful counsellor (Laura Snook) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

God's church grows into maturity when we are united in truth, grounded in love, and each doing our part. Unity in essentials, freedom in non-essentials, and love in all things is what keeps our community strong. This week we will commit ourselves to God's building project through serving, encouraging, forgiving, and loving. Every person has a part to play, and there are many more people God wants to reach through us. What gift has God given you and how will The post Built together in love (Brian Paris) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

We are all sinners saved by grace, forgiven through Jesus' death and resurrection. The church is not a club that we join, it is a people saved to belong to God. Communion and baptism remind us of who we are and whose we are. This week we will reflect deeply in communion and remember our baptism, or consider baptism for the first time. If you have been searching for a place to belong, God's invitation is open to you. You The post Baptism & communion are living signs of grace (Laura Snook) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

God shapes his people through his Word and his Spirit. The Bible equips us with truth and the Spirit empowers us with gifts to build the church. We are not left to guess what God wants because he speaks and guides. This week is about opening ourselves more to God's Word and to God's Spirit, whether we are learning for the first time or deepening our walk with him. Unless the Lord builds What makes a church strong? Not our The post Spirit and Word build the house appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

Every building needs a cornerstone that sets direction and holds everything together. Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, is the cornerstone of our faith. Without him, the whole building falls apart. This week we will ask, ‘What parts of my life are built on other foundations like success, money, comfort, or control, and how can I shift my weight onto Christ?' If you are exploring faith, this is the invitation to start building your life on him. Unless the Lord builds The post Christ the cornerstone (Laura Snook) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

God has always existed as Father, Son, and Spirit. He is holy and loving, creating and sustaining all things. More than that, he has chosen to adopt us as his children. The church is not our idea, it is God's family. We can live as people who belong in God's family instead of living as outsiders or strangers. This week is an opportunity to find your place in the family God is building. Unless the Lord builds What makes a The post The Builder: Father, Son, Spirit (Geoff Snook) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

No matter where you've come from, you'll find a spiritual home, great friends and a church family with us. Our church community is here to love people and invite them to join us in a growing relationship with Jesus. Connect with us anytime at https://www.thelakes.church The post Kenosis (Kate Cathcart) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

No matter where you've come from, you'll find a spiritual home, great friends and a church family with us. Our church community is here to love people and invite them to join us in a growing relationship with Jesus. Connect with us anytime at https://www.thelakes.church The post Jephthah's daughter (Brian Paris) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

Christ has already triumphed over Satan at the cross, and one day the battle will be over forever. We fight from victory, not for victory. We will anchor the series in hope. Jesus wins. The enemy is defeated. We are called to endure and overcome as victorious children of God. One day, the war will end and we will reign with him forever. Our world is caught in a battle that cannot be seen with human eyes. The Bible show The post The final victory (Laura Snook) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

God has given us armour to stand firm and weapons to advance against darkness. We'll highlight spiritual weapons like fasting, authority and forgiveness. Our world is caught in a battle that cannot be seen with human eyes. The Bible show us the reality of spiritual warfare, the strategies of our enemy, the victory of Christ, and the weapons God gives us to stand strong. In this series we'll learn how to resist the devil, overcome fear, guard our minds, and The post The weapons and armour of spiritual warfare (Geoff Snook) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

The enemy attacks our thoughts with lies, accusations, and destructive patterns. We need to identify the battle in our thought life and learn to replace lies with truth. We'll emphasise spiritual disciplines of prayer, worship and community.  Our world is caught in a battle that cannot be seen with human eyes. The Bible show us the reality of spiritual warfare, the strategies of our enemy, the victory of Christ, and the weapons God gives us to stand strong. In this The post Guarding your mind (Geoff Snook) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

No matter where you've come from, you'll find a spiritual home, great friends and a church family with us. Our church community is here to love people and invite them to join us in a growing relationship with Jesus. Connect with us anytime at https://www.thelakes.church The post From forgotten to favoured – the story of Mephibosheth (Ben Pearson) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

Temptation and fear are two of the enemy's fiercest weapons. God equips us with truth, faith, and his presence to overcome. We'll talk about practical steps to live free from both of these things using faith and prayer. Our world is caught in a battle that cannot be seen with human eyes. The Bible show us the reality of spiritual warfare, the strategies of our enemy, the victory of Christ, and the weapons God gives us to stand strong. In The post Fighting temptation (Laura Snook) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

Satan deceives, tempts, and accuses us, but his power is limited and Jesus' authority is supreme. We'll unpack the enemy's tactics (lies, temptation, accusation). We'll show Jesus' absolute authority over darkness and how we confront spiritual powers in his name. Our world is caught in a battle that cannot be seen with human eyes. The Bible show us the reality of spiritual warfare, the strategies of our enemy, the victory of Christ, and the weapons God gives us to stand The post The enemy's schemes vs Christ's authority (Geoff Snook) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

Our struggle is not against people but against spiritual forces of evil. God can open our eyes to the reality of this unseen war. The battle is real, but we are not alone. His power surrounds and protects us. Our world is caught in a battle that cannot be seen with human eyes. The Bible show us the reality of spiritual warfare, the strategies of our enemy, the victory of Christ, and the weapons God gives us to stand strong. The post The battle we cannot see (Laura Snook) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

Today we welcomed Pastor Margaret Pashley from Center for Change in Leyte, Philippines! During her message, Margaret shared the poem ‘Only One Life' by C.T. Studd: Two little lines I heard one day, Traveling along life's busy way;Bringing conviction to my heart, And from my mind would not depart;Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last. Only one life, yes only one, Soon will its fleeting hours be done;Then, in ‘that day' my Lord The post Ordinary people living for eternity (Margaret Pashley) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

No matter where you've come from, you'll find a spiritual home, great friends and a church family with us. Our church community is here to love people and invite them to join us in a growing relationship with Jesus. Connect with us anytime at https://www.thelakes.church The post Psalm 46 (Brian Paris) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

No matter where you've come from, you'll find a spiritual home, great friends and a church family with us. Our church community is here to love people and invite them to join us in a growing relationship with Jesus. Connect with us anytime at https://www.thelakes.church The post Pray intimately and wait faithfully appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

No matter where you've come from, you'll find a spiritual home, great friends and a church family with us. Our church community is here to love people and invite them to join us in a growing relationship with Jesus. Connect with us anytime at https://www.thelakes.church The post Stay focused on the great work (Laura Snook) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

Making Jesus known isn't just a one-off event where you tell someone the gospel. It's about becoming your friend's go-between for issues that sit between this world and the next. Sharing about Jesus can be weaved into an ongoing conversation where you help your friend make sense of issues in their life from your spiritual perspective. Practical service, God-given wisdom and prayer can be tools to make Jesus known to your friends. Connect with us anytime at https://www.thelakes.church The post Become a go-to chaplain (Brian Paris) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

You and many other Christians may have grown up with six point plans and fancy diagrams to explain the gospel of Jesus. Unfortunately, these often feel more like lectures than conversations. Instead, what can be much more powerful is telling people how you first began to take Jesus seriously. How can you begin telling people the greatest story ever told? By answering questions like, ‘Why am I a Christian, how did Jesus begin to make sense to me, and why The post Tell a better story (Geoff Snook) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

The starting point for personal evangelism can be encouraging your worlds to collide. One of the best ways we can make Jesus known is by connecting our Christian world with our unbelieving friend's non-Christian world. Believing the gospel is reasonable begins with showing them that reasonable people believe it. This can happen in social settings, ongoing friendships and by inviting them to give our church community a try. ‘An under-current of faith' by McCrindle is here: https://mccrindle.com.au/app/uploads/reports/An-undercurrent-of-faith_McCrindle-2025.pdf Connect with us The post Make your friends their friends (Geoff Snook) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

Paul's final challenge is to live out the gospel in community—to carry each other's burdens, invest in what lasts, and keep our eyes on the cross. The seeds we plant today will shape the church of tomorrow. What kind of church are we building with our lives Galatians 6:1-18 Connect with us anytime at https://www.thelakes.church The post Live out the gospel in community (Geoff Snook) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

Galatians 5:1-26 Freedom in Christ is not a license to sin—it's an invitation to live by the Spirit. Paul contrasts the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit, showing us what it means to walk in step with God. How do we let the Spirit shape our daily lives and our church? Connect with us anytime at https://www.thelakes.church The post Walking in freedom (Laura Snook) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

A church built on grace is a family, not a religious system. Paul contrasts slavery and sonship, urging the Galatians to live in the freedom Christ has given them. Do we relate to God as sons and daughters, or do we still act like slaves trying to earn his favour? Galatians 4 Connect with us anytime at https://www.thelakes.church The post Kids aren't slaves (Geoff Snook) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

Paul takes the Galatians back to Abraham to show that faith—not law—has always been the way to God. The law had a purpose, but now that Christ has come, we are set free to live as children of promise. Are we still holding onto things that Christ has already fulfilled? The post Faith that frees (Ben Pearson) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

Even the early church struggled with adding rules to the gospel. Paul confronts Peter for backing away from grace, reminding us that we are justified by faith, not by what we do. If the church is built on grace, why do we so often drift toward performance-based faith? The post Grace Over Performance (Phil Sproul) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

From the very start, Paul makes it clear: there is only one true gospel, and anything else is a dangerous distortion. The church Jesus is building must stand firm on his grace, not on human effort or religious traditions. In a world filled with competing voices, how do we recognise and hold fast to the real gospel? The post No Other Gospel (Kate Cathcart) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

Looking at the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego as they faced the fiery furnace. We'll reflect on what it means to trust God unconditionally—not just when He delivers us from challenges, but even if He doesn't. The post But if not (Jireh Scheurwater) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

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Job chapters 38-42. Job has demanded answers and God shows up to talk about random things that don't seem to address a single one of Job's questions! Why do these speeches actually seem to help Job process everything? What is a behemoth and leviathan? What is it Job seems to understand from what God says and does it have any application to our lives? The post Job: God's speeches (Brian Paris) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

Job chapters 4-37. The vast majority of the book of Job is taken up with a poetic debate where they just seem to say the same thing over and over. The friends accuse Job of secretly sinning and thus deserving that has happened and Job denies it only for the next friend to accuse him. What is going on? Is there anything we can learn from ancient people with foreign worldviews debating the finer points of theology? The post Job: the debate (Brian Paris) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

Job chapters 1-3. We'll look at the book of Job first talking about its inclusion in the Bible, who wrote it, and if it's “true”. Then we'll take a look at Job himself, the horrible suffering he goes through and chapter 3 as he lets vent his frustrations. The post Job: an Introduction (Brian Paris) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

This Easter we'll follow Jesus and his disciples in the hours before his death and resurrection. In the first weeks of April we'll use Luke 22-24 to spend time in the upper room and the garden as Jesus prepares his disciples for what was about to happen.On the Easter weekend we'll gather together on Good Friday to remember Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. We'll gather again on Easter Sunday to celebrate his resurrection to new life. The post Easter Sunday (Jireh Scheurwater) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.

This Easter we'll follow Jesus and his disciples in the hours before his death and resurrection. In the first weeks of April we'll use Luke 22-24 to spend time in the upper room and the garden as Jesus prepares his disciples for what was about to happen.On the Easter weekend we'll gather together on Good Friday to remember Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. We'll gather again on Easter Sunday to celebrate his resurrection to new life. The post Good Friday (Brian Paris) appeared first on The Lakes Church Cairns.