Pastor Evan Rose -- Renewal - 2/9/2026

What Drives Our Decisions

A Simple Lens for a Renewing Church

As our church continues to move forward in a season of renewal, I want to be as clear and steady with you as I can about something foundational.

The lens through which we make decisions at Lake Hills is intentionally simple.

The question is not: “What do we like?” “What feels safest?” “What’s familiar?” or “What’s trending?”

The question we keep coming back to is this:
What does the Bible call us to practice, and what kind of heart does God ask us to have—by the power of the Spirit—so that more people might find and follow Jesus in Bellevue and the greater Seattle area?

That’s it. That’s the lens.

Scripture Before Preference

Every church faces moments where preferences compete for attention. Preferences around music, structure, timing, programs, traditions, or comfort are not inherently wrong—but they were never meant to be the driving force of the church.

Scripture is.

God’s Word shapes not only what we do, but why we do it and how we do it. Renewal begins when a church submits itself afresh to Scripture—not selectively, but humbly.

Paul reminds Timothy that Scripture equips the people of God for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16–17). That means our practices, posture, and priorities must flow from what God has already spoken.

The Heart God Calls Us To Have

Just as important as biblical practice is biblical posture.

Again and again, the New Testament calls the church to humility, love, patience, and sacrificial care for others. Philippians 2 urges believers to adopt the mindset of Christ—who did not cling to His rights, but emptied Himself for the sake of others.

That kind of heart does not ask first, “How does this affect me?” It asks, “How does this serve the mission Christ has given us?”

This posture does not come naturally. It is formed by the Spirit of God as we walk in repentance, prayer, and dependence on Him.

Mission Gives Clarity

Jesus was clear about why His church exists:

“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations…”
— Matthew 28:19

The mission of helping people find and follow Jesus is not one value among many—it is the central calling of the church. Everything else supports that mission.

When mission is clear:

• decisions become clearer

• fears lose their grip

• disagreements are held with humility

• and unity deepens

Mission helps us distinguish between what is essential and what is secondary.

Renewal Is Not About Reinvention

Renewal does not mean abandoning faithfulness to chase novelty. Nor does it mean clinging tightly to the past out of fear.

Renewal is about aligning ourselves again with the heart of God—anchored in Scripture, shaped by Christlike character, and committed to the mission He has entrusted to us.

That means some things may stay the same because they are biblical and fruitful. Other things may change because the mission demands faith, flexibility, and obedience in a new season.

In all of it, our aim is not to build a church that reflects our preferences, but a church that reflects Christ.

A Shared Commitment

My prayer for Lake Hills is that we would move forward together with clarity and grace—trusting God, loving one another, and keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus.

If we stay anchored in Scripture, shaped by the Spirit, and focused on the mission, we can walk forward with confidence—even when the path requires faith and produces discomfort.

Because in the end, the question remains beautifully simple: 

What does the Bible call us to practice, and what kind of heart does God ask us to have—so that more people might find and follow Jesus?

May that always be what drives us.