Lakewood Church

==Beliefs==
Lakewood Church believes that the entire [[Bible]] is inspired by [[God]], and the church bases its teachings on this belief. The church also believes in the [[Trinity]], and recognizes the death of Christ on the cross and resurrection.

The church practices the following, believing them to be commanded in the Bible:
* The pursuit of [[Salvation in Christianity|Salvation]]: Each service offers an [[Altar call]] at the end in order for people to accept Christ as Lord and Savior.
* Water [[baptism]]: The church believes the Bible asks for this as a symbol and a testimony to faith in [[Jesus Christ]] – in "his cleansing power through his shedding of blood on the cross for us." [[Baptism]] is practiced every Saturday night in the church's [[Chapel]].
* [[Eucharist|Communion]]: The church believes the Bible asks for this act of remembering the death of Jesus on the cross. It is offered every week in the New Beginnings room (just down from the bookstore).
* The seeking of a growing relationship with Jesus Christ: Lakewood believes that every believer should be in a growing relationship with Jesus by obeying the rules laid out in the Bible, yielding to the [[Holy Spirit]] and by being conformed to the teachings of Jesus Christ.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lakewood.cc/pages/new-here/what-we-believe.aspx|title=What We Believe|access-date=September 20, 2014}}</ref>

Lakewood Church is known for its Word of Faith teaching.<ref name=southerncrossroads67 />  It is also known, before every sermon, for a [[creed]] (originally led by John and continued by Joel) which the congregation repeats in unison.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.joelosteen.com/downloadables/Pages/Downloads/ThisIsMyBible_JOM.pdf |title=This Is My Bible |access-date=March 19, 2018 |archive-date=March 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180320043734/https://www.joelosteen.com/downloadables/Pages/Downloads/ThisIsMyBible_JOM.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>