We believe belonging and becoming who we are in Jesus is a lifelong process of retraining our hearts' longings and desires. Towards this end, we pursue healthy rhythms and practices that train our hearts to follow after Jesus.

SURRENDER, TOGETHER, LOVE is a pathway of spiritual practices designed to help us in this journey. The three areas of growth have movement and direction to them:

First we SURRENDER our lives to Jesus
Second we gather TOGETHER in community with others
Third we sacrificially LOVE others

SURRENDER

Every Christ-follower begins the Christian faith surrendering their life to Jesus. We buy into what Jesus taught and who he was as a person and the Son of God. We confess Jesus as King over us. No one gets this right at the beginning - we surrender our life to Jesus the best we know how. But at least we make a joyous gracious beginning. God is very good to us.

GRACE

Full Participants surrender to Jesus Christ and Christ alone as Lord and Savior. They look to Jesus’ death on the cross for their redemption and reconciliation to God the Father.

Acts 4:12, Romans 3:22-25, Romans 10:9, Ephesians 2:14-16

BIBLE

Full Participants submit to the authority of the Bible, the living word of God inspired by the Holy Spirit. Full Participants learn from it, study it, obey its teachings, and consider it the authoritative story of God over all of their life.

Luke 24:27, 2 Timothy 3:16-17

PRAYER

Full Participants take part in an on-going conversation with God through frequent prayer.

1 Thessalonians 5:17

SOLITUDE

Full Participants engage with God in regular times of solitude and silence with God to grow in their ability to love God and love others.

Luke 5:15-16, Luke 10:38-42

GENEROSITY

Full Participants surrender to God’s call to be generous and grateful by tithing the first 10% of their household income to the work of God in this community and the world as expressed through Lakeland Community Church. This is the starting place for the generous life.

Malachi 3:10, Luke 11:42

SUFFERING

Full Participants confront the power of pain and hard times and see in them great power to shape their souls.

Romans 5:3-5

TOGETHER

This relationship with Jesus really only works when one is in relationship with other Christians. The Christian faith was not designed nor expected to be a private faith. We pray together, serve together, give together, learn together, struggle together - we do life together. This is contrary to the general attitude in our culture which says ‘you are a lone wolf.’ But Jesus called people sheep - not wolves. We naturally flock together. We need each other whether we desire so or not. I have yet to see a successful Christian faith outside the gathered church.

SMALL GROUP

Full Participants walk together with other Christ-followers. Full participants seek out Small Groups, Accountability Groups, and/or Spiritual Mentorship and in these relationships live honestly, authentically, and transparently. There is no hiddenness in their life. In these small groups or one-on-one relationships the Full Participant knows, loves, serves, and celebrates others.

Luke 12:2-3, Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

WORSHIP

Full participants come together to live life before an audience of One! In all they do they live only to glorify God and enjoy him forever!

Romans 12:1, Colossians 3:16-17

ONENESS

Full Participants promote and defend the peace, purity, and unity of Lakeland Community Church and the church around the world. There is no unaddressed or unresolved conflict as far as it is up to them. They neither listen to nor speak gossip. They relinquish individualism and cling to the oneness of the church! The Full Participant submits to the spiritual oversight and discipline of the elders.

John 15:12, Proverbs 15:22, Ephesians 4:2-6, John 17:20-23

BAPTISM & LORD’S SUPPER

Full Participants are baptized as a sign and seal of God’s covenant of grace. They also participate in the Lord’s Supper—God’s ongoing expression of Grace and Presence.

Acts 2:38, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

SERVE

Full Participants serve in ministry with other Christ-followers to further the gospel as the Holy Spirit has best empowered them to serve in the church and world.

Mark 10:43-45, Ephesians 4:11-12

ESSENTIALS

As part of the people of God, Full Participants adhere and agree to the core doctrinal Essentials of our faith as expressed at Lakeland.

LOVE

Jesus told his disciples, By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” - Gospel of John 13:35

For Christianity, nothing rings more true than a visible, strong, sacrificial love for others. Conversely, nothing rings more hollow than a Christian in name only. Without love can someone be a disciple of Jesus? Does it really matter? Probably not. The journey of Surrender to Together to Love takes a lifetime of faith. The real question surrounding church membership is “when?” - “when does the church expect me to achieve full surrender to Jesus, full togetherness and full love for others?” Consider this Declaration a generous document - we are a people on a journey together. None of us have arrived. What Lakeland expects from you is progress. Beyond good intentions, you need a plan of action. Join a small group, serve around the church, study the Scriptures together, get involved with a ministry, go on a prayer retreat, grow in giving, etc.

COMPASSION

Full Participants come alongside those who are oppressed, needful, and disadvantaged.

Matthew 25:34-40

TELL YOUR STORY

Full Participants share their faith with those who are far from God. They share their story and their witness to what God has done in their lives with others. They know that their reputation is Christ’s reputation and the church’s reputation. They cooperate with the Holy Spirit in drawing others to God.

Mark 16:15

MISSIONAL

Full Participants take an active role in expanding the kingdom of God within Lakeland, into our metro area, and out into the world. They support and defend the mission statement of Lakeland Community Church—turning irreligious seeking friends into authentic followers of Jesus Christ.

Acts 1:8

HOSPITALITY

Full Participants constantly consider the sacredness of others. They practice the discipline of noticing the needs of others. They make room—in the church and in their lives.

Matthew 25:35, Hebrews 13:2

RECONCILIATION

Full Participants work toward the reconciliation of all races so all the world might live in single-minded love and peace under Christ the king. This begins with the Full Participant’s own love for those of different races and nationalities.

Galatians 3:28