Author Archives: Stephen Rodgers

The Vision of LBC

by Pastor Patrick Cho

This past Sunday at our Vision Quest, we had a chance to examine more closely the Vision Statement of LBC. This is the “V” of our MVP Statement, which stands for Mission, Vision, and Passion. As our members know, the Vision of LBC is to plant churches. Church planting has been a goal at Lighthouse since we first began in 1998.

Although Acts 1:8 does not specifically mention church planting, it does lay out the outline for the remainder of the book of Acts (in which numerous churches were planted!) and the scope of the Great Commission itself. Christ’s commission is given in Matthew 28:19-20 where Jesus commanded His followers to make disciples of all the nations. This entailed bringing them to an understanding of the gospel and to a point of saving faith (i.e. baptizing them), and teaching them so that they could grow in spiritual maturity (i.e. “teaching them all that I have commanded”).

According to Acts 1:8, Jesus intended this discipleship ministry to extend to the ends of the earth. As you read through Acts, you see the disciples spreading the word of the gospel in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.  As others who have written significantly on the subject of missions have pointed out (John Piper and Dave Doran come to mind), these three areas represent a natural progression from local to cross-cultural missions:

  1. Jerusalem – The central city of those who were initially given the Great Commission. This would be analogous to the city of San Diego for us.
  2. Judea and Samaria – The region in which Israel was located which shared a common language and cultural history.  This does not mean however, that there were not significant points of disagreement among people in this region. (John 4:9, 20) This would be something like North America for us today (which by-and-large shares a common language and culture).
  3. The Ends of the Earth – Exactly what it sounds like; this is taking the Gospel to the Gentiles, which is the central theme in the ministry of Paul. (Rom 11:13; 1 Tim 2:7)  This involved people, cultures, and languages that were utterly foreign to first-century Jews.  To us today, this would be going somewhere with a different race, culture, and/or language.

You also come to find that the primary vehicle that God uses to fulfill the Great Commission is the church. The Apostles establish churches in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth, and they do not see their work completed until elders are appointed in every church (Acts 14:23; cf. Titus 1:5). This is why at Lighthouse we teach that doing missions God’s way means being committed to church planting.  And it also takes some of the mystery out of missions, especially for those who have never gone on a missions trip before.  As Pastor John was fond of saying, “missions is just doing church somewhere else.”

This past July, we were able to send a team to San Jose to begin a Lighthouse church plant in Northern California. This certainly does not mean that we are done with church planting! Perhaps someday soon, Lord-willing, we will be able to announce the beginnings of a new work elsewhere. We do not want to simply check off our church planting box now that the ministry is established in San Jose. Our hope is to plant many more churches in obedience to the Great Commission.

Recommended Resources Updated

by Stephen Rodgers

Just to let you know, the Recommended Resources page has been updated once more.  There is now a section on Preaching, which contains resources to aid in preaching and the discovery of good theological reference materials (since it is assumed that diligent study precedes preaching).

Because this section has been added, a couple of resources which had previously been found in the Software section have been moved (since there is now a much more appropriate home for them).

Enjoy!

Pro Rege

And So All Israel Shall Be Saved

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

From Romans 11:26

Then Moses sang at the Red Sea, it was his joy to know that all Israel were safe. Not a drop of spray fell from that solid wall until the last of God’s Israel had safely planted his foot on the other side the flood. That done, immediately the floods dissolved into their proper place again, but not till then. Part of that song was, ‘Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed.’ In the last time, when the elect shall sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and of the Lamb, it shall be the boast of Jesus, ‘Of all whom thou hast given me, I have lost none.’ In heaven there shall not be a vacant throne.

‘For all the chosen race
Shall meet around the throne,
Shall bless the conduct of His grace,
And make His glories known.’

As many as God hath chosen, as many as Christ hath redeemed, as many as the Spirit hath called, as many as believe in Jesus, shall safely cross the dividing sea. We are not all safely landed yet:

‘Part of the host have crossed the flood,
And part are crossing now.’

The vanguard of the army has already reached the shore. We are marching through the depths; we are at this day following hard after our Leader into the heart of the sea. Let us be of good cheer: the rear-guard shall soon be where the vanguard already is; the last of the chosen ones shall soon have crossed the sea, and then shall be heard the song of triumph, when all are secure. But oh! if one were absent-oh! if one of His chosen family should be cast away-it would make an everlasting discord in the song of the redeemed, and cut the strings of the harps of paradise, so that music could never be extorted from them.

1.21a

LBC Weekly SPARK – February 18, 2011

by Pastor Patrick Cho

Dear LBC family and friends,

I hope you are doing well and walking in the Lord. At our last All-Church Retreat, you all received a copy of The Trellis and the Vine, by Colin Marshall and Tony Payne. I hope you have had a chance to take a look at it because it really is a helpful book about church ministry.

In the first chapter, the authors describe the difference between trellis work and vine work. To summarize, the trellis is what supports the vine. It represents the structure of ministry – the programs, administration, and ministries of the church. The vine is the life and growth of the church, and is supported by the trellis.

The problem in many churches today is that there is much focus on trellis work at the expense of the vine. Churches offer amazing programs and a wide array of ministries, but the people in these churches are spiritually weak and unhealthy. This imbalance is explainable given that trellis work is easier than vine work. Tending to the vine requires getting to know people and invest in them, and people can make things difficult and messy. Not only is trellis work easier, but it is also more impressive. Much vine work is done without any appreciation or recognition. Think of it practically. Many people would be much more impressed to hear that Lighthouse was hosting a regional pastors’ conference than they would be that a group of individuals in the church were growing spiritually. More attention needs to be given to the vine, and that is the basis of the book.

The authors also explain that the heart of this ministry philosophy comes straight from the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20). This is something that we at LBC can appreciate. Notice that Jesus doesn’t command His followers to make church members or to carefully structure church programs. He tells them to make disciples. While trellis work is necessary in order to promote the healthy growth of the vine, the thrust of Jesus’ command is to minister to people. Helping people come to a saving knowledge of Jesus and helping them to grow in faith is what the Great Commission is all about. It is people work. Since this command was given to all who would follow Jesus as Lord and Savior, it underscores the applicability to us today. We are to make people our goal and focus, not programs. Souls, not structure.

In His grace,

Pastor Patrick

Here are some trellis things in order to provide opportunities for you to do vine work:

  1. Bible Studies. The youth, college, and singles will be having their regularly scheduled Bible studies tonight. The youth and singles meet at the church at 7:00pm, and the collegians will be meeting on-campus at UCSD and SDSU. Check out the church website for more information about these Friday night Bible studies.
  2. Membership Class. We will be having a two-part membership class this Saturday, February 19, from 9:00am-12:00pm, and Sunday, February 20, from 1:00-4:00pm. Attendance is required for both classes. If you are interested in becoming a member, please contact Pastor Patrick for an application ( pastorpatrick@gmail.com ).
  3. Vision Quest. The Vision Quest is this weekend!!! On Sunday at 5:30pm at the church, this is going to be a great time to fellowship with the church family, as well as to hear more about the MVP of LBC. The theme for the night will be the Vision of LBC. This time the activity will be a skit night, so it should be a lot of fun! Bring $5 for food and be prepared for a fun-filled evening! If you would like to participate please contact Pastor Patrick ( pastorpatrick@gmail.com ).
  4. College Retreat. The college group will be having their annual retreat from February 25-27 at Pine Valley Bible Camp. Our speaker this year is Pastor Dan Nah of Cornerstone Bible Church, and he will be speaking on the theme of “Scandalous Grace.” The cost to go is only $120. There is currently a wait list to attend, but the staff is working to procure additional space!
  5. Single Life Ladies Appreciation Tea. Tea anyone? The singles will be having their first ever Ladies Appreciation Tea this Saturday, February 19, from 2:00-4:00pm, at the church. This event is intended to encourage the gals in the faith and to provide a time of fellowship together. All singles are encouraged to attend! Please RSVP with Eugene Park ASAP ( e1park@gmail.com ) so we can adequately plan for the event!
  6. Single Life Retreat. The singles will be having their retreat on the weekend of March 18-20, at Pine Valley Bible Camp. Our speaker this year will be Pastor James Lee, who will be addressing the theme of “Dependence.” The cost is only $130 (including a $50 non-refundable deposit). You can sign up with Brian Song tonight at Bible study or on Sunday at church!
  7. Grace Life Picnic at the Park. On Saturday, February 26, from 11:00am-1:00pm, we will be having a GraceLife Picnic at the Park (Torrey Hills Community Park). This is an opportunity for families to spend an afternoon together in the sun while the kiddies play! Bring a lunch for your family as well as parky type fun things (e.g. kites, Frisbees, footballs, etc.). Talk to Pastor Patrick if you have any questions.
  8. Parent/Child Dedication. We will be having our next Parent/Child Dedication during the worship service on Sunday, March 13. If you have recently had a child and would like to participate, please contact Pastor Patrick.
  9. End Times Bible Study. To coincide with our study in 1 Corinthians, Pastor Patrick will be hosting a Sunday evening series on the end times. Come find out what the Bible says about eschatology through this helpful series. The meetings will be at the church from 6:00-8:00pm on March 6, March 20, April 3, and April 17. For more information, please talk to Pastor Patrick.
  10. Prayer. Don’t forget to come to church a little early on Sunday for a time of corporate prayer in the sanctuary. The sanctuary will be open for prayer at 8:45am, and prayer requests will be projected on the wall. If you are out in the foyer talking with one another, I would encourage you to remind each other of this time and come in to pray for the church.

Weekly Links (2/18/2011)

A gospel which is only about the moment of conversion but does not extend to every moment of life in Christ is too small. A gospel that gets your sins forgiven but offers no power for transformation is too small. A gospel that isolates one of the benefits of union with Christ and ignores all the others is too small. A gospel that must be measured by your own moral conduct, social conscience, or religious experience is too small. A gospel that rearranges the components of your life but does not put you personally in the presence of God is too small. (Fred Sanders, The Deep Things of God. HT: Jared Wilson)

by Stephen Rodgers

And by the way, that book is good.  Really, really good.

And that brings us to the links for the week…

  • First of all, I was interested to see this article appear in the Wall Street Journal of all places.  In a piece entitled “Where Have All the Presbyterians Gone?” the WSJ explores how denominational churches and attendance is shrinking, while non-denominational churches and attendance are actually growing.  It’s an interesting read. (WEB)
  • I was stunned at how well John Piper broke down the difference between God’s moral will and His sovereign will in this article.  I’ve tried to explain that to dozens of people, and sometimes I think I just confused them more.  So if you’re one of the people that I’ve confused, go read Piper!  (WEB)
  • All of you should know that as a church we are going through The Peacemaker by Ken Sande as part of our Sunday morning classes.  What you might not know, is that Peacemaker Ministries has a blog. They typically only post about two articles a week, but they are always good to reflect on.  (WEB)
  • And speaking of peacemaking…I know when we talk about it, most people realize (correctly) that we are talking about conflict resolution.  But do you also realize that we are discussing evangelism? Andy Naselli (quoting from J. Mack Stiles’ book) has the details over at his blog.  (WEB)
  • And here’s some food for thought for our current and future seminarians: CJ Mahaney interviews James MacDonald on pursuing pastoral ministry.  (VIDEO)

Alright folks, that’s it for this week.  I’ll update the Recommend Resources when I get a chance and let you know what I add.

See you Sunday!

Pro Rege

Single Life Ministry Update

by David Ahn

This past fall represented a time of transition for the Single Life ministry at Lighthouse Bible Church, as it resumed after summer hiatus under the leadership of Pastor Patrick after previously being led by Pastor John. It also saw many actively serving single adults leaving to join the church plant or to join staff of the other ministries such as College Life and Youth Group (which I propose should be renamed HighLighters) as all three bible studies are held concurrently on Friday evenings.

Thankfully, God has used these changes to grow the singles ministry. In place of many of the familiar faces that have left for married life, San Jose, and other staff ministries, God has brought many newcomers into our midst and has given opportunities for new people to step up and serve. I am consistently amazed and challenged to see newcomers who are so eager to commit and invest in their spiritual walks when the world sees single life as a time to enjoy worldly pleasures and delay the maturing process. They often come from a variety of backgrounds: some are transplants from vibrant, healthy churches; some are recommitting after wayward college years; and some are newly seeking the gospel. However, all are exposed to the universal truth of God’s Word faithfully preached and the love of Christ’s Body.

The structure of our Friday night ministry has not changed dramatically, and still consists of an opening time of musical worship, welcoming announcements, and then a teaching time. New since the fall has been RAP groups, which is a dedicated time after the teaching for us to “lyrically freestyle” (aka “RAP”…reflection, application, and prayer) about the sermon, so that we can have some time to actively digest the truths that Pastor Patrick shared that night. Lastly, people are encouraged to spend time hanging out in the midst of refreshments and games.

I think most of the single adults would agree with me when I say that Friday Night Bible Study comes at a challenging time, when most of us have just completed a grueling workweek and are eager to usher in the weekend. Sometimes it seems almost counterintuitive to cap off the week by going to a bible study when our flesh yearns to kick back and “chillax.” However, I also believe that most would agree with me when I say that I often end up leaving Friday Night Bible Study more rejuvenated than before after having been challenged and encouraged by the gathering of believers.

Living Theology – Conclusion

by Garrett Glende

John Calvin wrote in his Institutes of the Christian Religion, “True and substantial wisdom principally consists of two parts, the knowledge of God and of ourselves.” A.W. Tozer wrote that “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” These are the reasons why I decided to begin this series in the first place. Whether we acknowledge it or not, we are all theologians. We all have ideas about who God is, what He has done, and how He acts. We also believe certain things about ourselves, our nature, and our purpose. There are none who are able to escape that fact that he or she is a theologian. This series was about theology, but theology does not end in our brains, it ends in our actions and in our daily lives. How we live exposes what we really believe. This is why I’ve tried to tie in personal application points at the end of every article. As a wrap up for the series, I think it would be good to share about what I’ve learned from reading Grudem’s book and writing the articles, as well as some thoughts on the importance of theology in general.

One thing that I knew before opening up Systematic Theology was that there would be a few points of disagreement between myself and Grudem and I was interested to see exactly how this would play out, particularly as it related to how I would convey these doctrines through the articles. I had JR’s help with the chapters at the beginning of the book, but once I moved up to San Jose last year, our times together dwindled. So when I came across things that seemed a little off to me, I really had to examine them against what the Bible said. I tried to do this as best I could, but at the same time it was very difficult to disagree with someone who has the type of credentials that Dr. Grudem does. I already held convictions, but I have not even come close to the type of work that he has accomplished. Having said this, I still believe that we both have the same Holy Spirit working in us and illuminating our hearts, thus he is no more capable of understanding truth than I am in that sense. Through this, I learned that learning theology requires humility. It’s neither humble nor honest of me to dismiss another viewpoint without taking the time to consider it.

Through this study I’ve also gained a firmer grasp on the Bible’s teachings and how doctrines are developed. I think it’s very easy to make claims about what you believe, but it’s another issue to defend it from Scripture. Grudem’s work is thoroughly Scriptural and there are many references to Bible passages. This was helpful particularly in the areas of the Old Testament that I was less familiar with. He showed that the Bible has a clear and consistent message about who God is, regardless of the time period. After reading through each chapter and reporting back, I can definitely say that the Bible is clear about what it teaches and that God wants us to know Him for who He really is.

That said, theology would be a worthless study if there is no underlying relationship with God. Many people claim to know God, but perhaps they only know things about God. We cannot mistake knowledge for a relationship. There are probably plenty of atheists out there who know more about the Bible than I do, but it does them little good in the long run, as the truths they encounter in Scripture make no impact on their lives. But Christians are not immune to this either. Every time we open God’s word we are encountered with universal truth. If our eyes gloss over the words, only storing information in our heads and not our hearts, then we have become just like the Atheist. If there is no change in our lives, no outward evidence of God’s word within us, then we must take a step back and ask ourselves what role God is playing in our lives. He is so much more than an interesting topic to study (although He is infinitely interesting). He is our personal Savior and Lord and we have the privilege of knowing Him intimately. If we truly value this relationship, then theology will be immensely important to us, directing our hearts and minds to live in a manner worthy of the gospel. So please don’t make the excuse that theology is only for the “smart people” or for the pastors. No, it is for all of us. And if you’re intimidated by a big book like Grudem’s (which is really quite readable), then start small and work your way up. It’s well worth it, but be sure that what you read becomes what you live.

Lolly, Lolly, Lolly Get Your Adverbs Here!

by Elder Peter Lim

I grew up watching the Schoolhouse Rock series of animated snippets which taught me many lessons about the U.S. Government (“I’m Just a Bill”), Science, History, as well as English grammar (“Conjunction Junction, What’s Your Function”). The lessons on adverbs and adjectives remain vividly in my mind. Little did I know that these parts of a sentence would be so critical to understanding the heart behind the gospel message.

“The law makes sin appear exceedingly sinful; the gospel makes sin feel exceedingly painful.” (Phil Johnson)

I love this quote by Phil Johnson because it conveys the sort of realization that only a genuine Christian would have. It would be easy for many people, especially those who have grown up in the church, to write the same thoughts without these underlined modifiers. They would still make sense and they would still be true. However, the word “exceedingly” adds a higher degree of understanding that conveys a heart that has truly experienced the grace of God. I thought it would be a good idea to expand on this thought to include some more indicators of a true Christian:

  • Heartfelt worship of God
  • Burning desire to pursue godliness
  • Anguishing regret over one’s own sin
  • Wretched low view of self
  • Loving obedience to Scripture
  • Humble understanding and enthusiastic agreement with the facts of the gospel

Try reading each one of these without the underlined adjectives. They still make sense, don’t they? However, what’s missing is the seriousness and the wretchedness and the passion which are inherently a part of an appropriate response to the gospel. How can we so coldly write the facts regarding our perfect God, the holy Creator who emptied Himself of His divine privilege to come and be made as a man, humbling Himself to the point of death on a cross? Worse, how can we live our lives as if sin isn’t so bad and doesn’t affect our relationship with God? Friends, we need to hate the sin in our lives more and more as we mature in Christ. May we never get to a point where we’re comfortable with where our lives are at and let us strive forward to excel still more toward godliness.

Recommended Resources Updated

by Stephen Rodgers

Just to let you know, the Recommended Resources page has been updated again.  Specifically, I’ve added in a Shopping section (to bring to your attention where some of the better deals are, and when they are likely to happen).  Also, I’ve updated the Software section with a new piece of software, as well as links to fantastic resources for preaching different books of the Bible (technically that’s not software, but I wasn’t sure where else to put it).

Thanks for reading!

Pro Rege

Turn Away Mine Eyes from Beholding Vanity…

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

From Psalm 119:37

There are divers kinds of vanity. The cap and bells of the fool, the mirth of the world, the dance, the lyre, and the cup of the dissolute, all these men know to be vanities; they wear upon their forefront their proper name and title. Far more treacherous are those equally vain things, the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches. A man may follow vanity as truly in the counting-house as in the theatre. If he be spending his life in amassing wealth, he passes his days in a vain show. Unless we follow Christ, and make our God the great object of life, we only differ in appearance from the most frivolous.

It is clear that there is much need of the first prayer of our text. ‘Quicken Thou me in Thy way.’ The Psalmist confesses that he is dull, heavy, lumpy, all but dead. Perhaps, dear reader, you feel the same. We are so sluggish that the best motives cannot quicken us, apart from the Lord Himself. What! will not hell quicken me? Shall I think of sinners perishing, and yet not be awakened? Will not heaven quicken me? Can I think of the reward that awaiteth the righteous, and yet be cold? Will not death quicken me? Can I think of dying, and standing before my God, and yet be slothful in my Master’s service? Will not Christ’s love constrain me? Can I think of His dear wounds, can I sit at the foot of His cross, and not be stirred with fervency and zeal? It seems so!

No mere consideration can quicken us to zeal, but God Himself must do it, hence the cry, ‘Quicken Thou me.’ The Psalmist breathes out his whole soul in vehement pleadings: his body and his soul unite in prayer. ‘Turn away mine eyes,’ says the body: ‘Quicken Thou me,’ cries the soul. This is a fit prayer for every day. O Lord, hear it in my case this night.

1.20p