Author Archives: Stephen Rodgers

Jehoshaphat Made Ships…

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

From 1 Kings 22:48

Solomon’s ships had returned in safety, but Jehoshaphat’s vessels never reached the land of gold. Providence prospers one, and frustrates the desires of another, in the same business and at the same spot, yet the Great Ruler is as good and wise at one time as another. May we have grace to-day, in the remembrance of this text, to bless the Lord for ships broken at Ezion-geber, as well as for vessels freighted with temporal blessings; let us not envy the more successful, nor murmur at our losses as though we were singularly and specially tried. Like Jehoshaphat, we may be precious in the Lord’s sight, although our schemes end in disappointment.

The secret cause of Jehoshaphat’s loss is well worthy of notice, for it is the root of very much of the suffering of the Lord’s people; it was his alliance with a sinful family, his fellowship with sinners. In 2 Chron. 20:37, we are told that the Lord sent a prophet to declare, ‘Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the Lord hath broken thy works.’ This was a fatherly chastisement, which appears to have been blest to him; for in the verse which succeeds our morning’s text we find him refusing to allow his servants to sail in the same vessels with those of the wicked king. Would to God that Jehoshaphat’s experience might be a warning to the rest of the Lord’s people, to avoid being unequally yoked together with unbelievers! A life of misery is usually the lot of those who are united in marriage, or in any other way of their own choosing, with the men of the world. O for such love to Jesus that, like Him, we may be holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners; for if it be not so with us, we may expect to hear it often said, ‘The Lord hath broken thy works.’

1.13a

Weekly Links – Special LBC Edition

by Kyle Grindley

It’s been more than two years since the last re-design of the web site. In that time a lot has happened: we added a member directory, we’ve added affinity group web sites, the photo ministry went online, the online Beacon was launched, the video ministry went online and we planted a church. With all these changes have we outgrown our old design, so we have launched a new one.

The first thing you will notice when you look at the front page is rotating images. This is where the most important announcements of the church are highlighted. It will also alert you when new sermons, videos, and photos have been added.

Since the first thing most people see of our church is the web site, we have tried to make it easier for visitors to find information about our church. We have added an “I’m New Here” link that will take visitors directly to the welcome page with a brief overview of our doctrine, philosophy of ministry and what visitors can expect when they visit on Sunday and links to pages with more detail. For those who would like to make LBC their home but are not sure what the next step is they can check out the “Get Involved” page that explains the different ways you can get plugged into LBC.

For those who have been coming to LBC, the primary interaction with the web site is the Beacon, sermons, the calendar, and the member directory. You will notice that each of these are easily accessible from the top any page on the site. We are also posting the weekly bulletin, so if you missed any of the announcements you can check them there.

Along with the revamped website, we have also redesigned the Media section. Under the banner of the Media page you can now listen to past sermons, catch up on missed videos or relive the activities again through our photo gallery. Like like previous Sermon page, the latest sermon will always be displayed first. However, the newest feature we have added is the ability to search. To begin a search, simply click on the “Show filter” link right below the Sermons tab of the banner and an array of filters will be displayed to help you narrow down your search. You can now search by Preacher, Book of the Bible, Series, what type of service and date.

For example you are doing a personal study on the book of John. Start by clicking on “Show filter” then under Book, select “John”. Now all the sermons with the main passage on the book of John will be shown. If you want to continue and narrow down your search on the book of John but also only the Sunday messages, click “Show filter” again and under Service, select “Sunday Morning” Now you can see your search results are even smaller than previously because it is only showing Sunday morning messages on John. If at anytime you decide you want to delete a filter but do not want to start over, under the “Show filter” link it shows an “Active filter” displaying all the filters you currently have. Clicking on the “x” next to the filter and you will see your search results increase due to a broader search.

Now that you have found the sermon you are looking for, clicking on the title will take you to the individual sermon page. On this page you can listen or download the sermon, follow along the main passage in ESV translation or navigate to sermons that were either preached directly before/after or the same day. We hope that with the addition of these search filters, you will be able to track down any sermon!

We hope that you enjoy the new website.  If you notice anything missing, or you’d like to join the Web Team, please speak to me.

Living Theology #40 – Union with Christ

by Garrett Glende

We’ve reached the final chapter in this section on the application of redemption, and while the believer’s union with Christ is not traditionally included under this heading, it bears a strong enough significance to study. After all, each of the benefits of salvation and each step in the application of redemption can only occur if there is union with Christ. Grudem defines it as “a phrase used to summarize several different relationships between believers and Christ, through which Christians receive every benefit of salvation. These relationships include the fact that we are in Christ, Christ is in us, we are like Christ, and we are with Christ.”

The first aspect of this doctrine is that all believers are said to be in Christ, but this is played out in different ways. Grudem explains that we are in Christ in the sense of God’s eternal plan, as seen in Ephesians 1:11 where Paul writes, “In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.” Elsewhere in Scripture we see that blessings have been given to us in Christ before the foundation of the world (2 Tim 1:9). The Bible also describes us as being in Christ during His life on earth. This is how He is able to be our representative, so that God sees us as having lived Christ’s life and His righteousness is imputed to us. We are treated as having lived Christ’s life because of our union with Him (Rom 5:19). Moreover, we are said to be in Christ during our lives now. The new lives that we live have been given to us in Christ Jesus (1 John 5:11, 2 Tim 1:1). This means that everything that we do can be done in Christ. The new life that is brought about in us should change our actions and motivations, giving us the power to live for His glory.

Another way in which we are united to Christ is that He is in us. Only those connected to the true vine are saved. Jesus says that “Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit” (John 15:5). The fact that Christ abides in us should have an external affect on our lives, as we will bear good fruit. Paul also testifies that “it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (Gal. 2:20). He says that this is a mystery hidden from the people for ages and generations, but it has now been revealed that this mystery is “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col 1:26-27). It is this intimate relationship with Christ that causes us to live our lives in a manner worthy of the gospel.

Additionally, we are said to be like Christ. This goes along with the idea of being connected to Him as the vine and braches in order to bear fruit. John writes that “whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked” (1 John 2:6). Our likeness to Christ stems from the fact that we are in Him, for if we were not one with Him, then there would be no resemblance to Him in our actions. Throughout Scripture we see commands to live as Jesus lived in the way we love one another, in the way we respond to critics, in the way husbands love their wives, and in the way we handle suffering. All these areas of our lives are influenced by the fact that we are united to Him.

The last way that we are united to Christ is the fact what we are with Christ. When Jesus commissioned His disciples to go out to all the nations there must have been a measure of fear in their hearts. Yet Jesus, being the great comforter, promised that he would be with them always, even to the end of the age (Matt 28:20). Although He is not here physically, we do enjoy the fellowship that comes with the very presence of Christ. Working together with him, knowing him, being comforted by him, being taught by him, and living our lives in his presence are all different ways that Grudem places under the banner of being with Christ.

One of the personal application questions that are at the end of each chapter particularly caught my eye in regards to the church body. Grudem writes, “How can the idea of union with Christ increase your love and fellowship for other Christians, both those in your church and those in other churches?” For one, the reality that each believer is united to Christ also means that we are united together in one body. If the church is united to Christ, should we not also be united to one another? But what is our unity centered on? People are easily united by the things of the world, such as sports or politics, but are these things what the church should find its unity in? Personally, it’s easy for me to strike up a random conversation with any person I see on the street wearing a Giants hat. Why’s that? It’s because we are united in a mutual affection for Giants baseball. But I think many of us would be unable to feel similarly if we encounter a stranger who claims to be a Christian. Could I just as easily and just as passionately have a conversation about our Savior? So what is it that makes you feel united at church? Is it that you go to the same school, share the same interests, or are in the same stage of life? If that’s the case, then it’s necessary to shift the way you think about church unity. Start engaging people on a Christian level and not just a worldly one. Talk about distinctly Christian things. Interact with one another knowing that you are united in Christ. This is the way that we show love towards one another, seeking to encourage our brothers and sisters in their walks with Christ, just as they do the same for us. If we do this as a body, then our church will be bonded together by something truly worthwhile.

God’s Word First?

by Elder Mike Chon

All true believers would affirm that the Bible is the Word of God. We may even affirm that the Bible is authoritative and sufficient for all of life…which actually is becoming much more rare in the current evangelical church. But for those that affirm these truths of God’s Word, we sometimes do not live by them. Especially in the many decisions we make in our life such as, where to go to school? Which career to choose? Which person to date and marry? Whether you want to have children or not? How to parent? Even though we affirm the Bible to be authoritative and sufficient, we usually go to every other source and person before looking at what the Word of God has to say about these things. In the following articles to come, we will evaluate how our worldview affects how we life our lives.

A worldview comprises one’s collection of presuppositions, convictions, and values from which a person tries to understand and make sense out of the world and life. A worldview is, first of all, an explanation and interpretation of the world and second, an application of this view to life. Everyone has one and is usually formed by presuppositions. For the believer, they would have two major presuppositions, “the eternal existence of the personal, transcendent, triune, Creator God. Second, the God of Scripture has revealed His character, purposes, and will in the infallible and inerrant pages of His special revelation, the Bible, which is superior to any other source of revelation or human reason alone.” (MacArthur, Think Biblically!) You would think that with these as the believer’s presupposition that all believers would turn to the pages of Scripture for all decisions in their life. But the reality is that for most believers they don’t believe that the Word of God is truly sufficient for the things of every day life. It is good for someone’s salvation, but in terms of addressing other matters of life, it is insufficient. That is why for many believers, they live their life following everything and anyone else other than the Word of God.

Pragmatism has become the new authority for many believers. Even in a church that holds to a high view of God and a high view of His Word, pragmatism has become king in many people’s lives. Pragmatism is the notion that meaning or worth is determined by practical consequences. As long as it works or the outcome is favorable we believe what we are doing is right. The problem is that far too many of us make decisions in our lives to accomplish our goals even though these goals and decisions are not ultimately consistent with Scripture. Our belief is that “if it works it must be of God”, for after all, the outward blessing of God is the criterion by which we often measure the approval of God. Have you ever wondered if your decision was truly God-glorifying? Do you base that decision on the outcome of your decision. For instance, I really want to date this person, even though he or she is a very immature believer, so I will ask them out and if they say “yes” then it must be God giving approval for this decision. Or give excuses such as if God really didn’t want me to do this He wouldn’t of allowed it to work out in this way. Or this worked for me, so you should try it. All of these pragmatic thoughts are based on secular thinking, and which are inherently relativistic, rejecting the notion of absolute right and wrong, of good and evil, and of truth and error. There is a great danger that has infiltrated the church in this culture and that is of pragmatism. I pray that the following articles to come will help you to examine how you live your life in light of the sufficiency of Scripture. It would do well for us to meditate on the warning found in Proverbs 14:12, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”

to be continued…

I Have Yet to Speak on God’s Behalf

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

From Job 36:2

We ought not to court publicity for our virtue, or notoriety for our zeal; but, at the same time, it is a sin to be always seeking to hide that which God has bestowed upon us for the good of others. A Christian is not to be a village in a valley, but ‘a city set upon a hill;’ he is not to be a candle under a bushel, but a candle in a candlestick, giving light to all. Retirement may be lovely in its season, and to hide one’s self is doubtless modest, but the hiding of Christ in us can never be justified, and the keeping back of truth which is precious to ourselves is a sin against others and an offence against God.

If you are of a nervous temperament and of retiring disposition, take care that you do not too much indulge this trembling propensity, lest you should be useless to the church. Seek in the name of Him who was not ashamed of you to do some little violence to your feelings, and tell to others what Christ has told to you. If thou canst not speak with trumpet tongue, use the still small voice. If the pulpit must not be thy tribune, if the press may not carry on its wings thy words, yet say with Peter and John, ‘Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee.’ By Sychar’s well talk to the Samaritan woman, if thou canst not on the mountain preach a sermon; utter the praises of Jesus in the house, if not in the temple; in the field, if not upon the exchange; in the midst of thine own household, if thou canst not in the midst of the great family of man. From the hidden springs within let sweetly flowing rivulets of testimony flow forth, giving drink to every passer-by. Hide not thy talent; trade with it; and thou shalt bring in good interest to thy Lord and Master.

To speak for God will be refreshing to ourselves, cheering to saints, useful to sinners, and honouring to the Saviour. Dumb children are an affliction to their parents. Lord, unloose all Thy children’s tongue.

1.12p

Editor’s Note: October 2010

by Stephen Rodgers

Hey everyone,

We’ve mentioned this was coming for a while, but today we are officially launching the LBC Beacon on Facebook. I know some of you found it already because we turned it on yesterday to make sure all the settings were correct. For those of you who didn’t know about it until now, here’s what you need to know:

  1. First of all, there won’t be any “new” or “exclusive” content on Facebook.  If you’re in the habit of visiting us everyday, then nothing will change.  This is just a way for us to alert Facebook users to new content, and possibly introduce some new people to our church.
  2. You may have noticed that there’s no way to leave comments on Facebook.  This is intentional.  There’s also no way to leave comments on the Beacon.  My personal experience with comment sections has been that they tend to produce far more heat than light.  If you want to discuss the articles with the author, then I would encourage you to actually discuss the articles with the author.  As in face to face.  Preferably over food (if I’m the author, I know that’s my preference!)
  3. Also, this will enable us to separate the LBC Beacon from my personal Facebook page.  Since I might not always be the editor, and since I’d like to leave a working system for whoever replaces me someday, this is important.  For the next 10 days (10/01 to 10/10), we will be posting to both my personal page and the official one.  Starting 10/11 however, we will only be using the official Beacon page on Facebook.

So that’s pretty much it!  If you have a Facebook account and you’d like to receive posts when there are new articles here at the Beacon, then please take a second to click the little icon to the right, and then click the “LIKE” button at the top of the page.  And feel free to spread the word to other people who might be interested as well.

Thank you again for all your support.

Pro Rege

Weekly Links (10/1/2010)

by Stephen Rodgers

Well hello again.  We seem to keep running into each other every Friday, have you noticed that?  Me too!  So, since you’ve come to expect it, here’s some interesting links that I thought you might enjoy this week…

VIDEOS

I thought people might enjoy a passel of videos for a change, so here’s some good ones that showed up this week.

APOLOGETICS

If you’re interested in apologetics, then you might like to know that…

  • David B. Hart has a very well-written critique of the New Atheism in which he laments the passing of the “Old Atheism.”
  • Joe Carter restates a classic argument against Naturalism in his article “Should You Trust the Monkey Mind?”
  • And I only recently discovered this, but a website calling itself Last Seminary has quite the collection of articles.  I haven’t read all of them, but I saw a lot of names from scholars I respect, so this could very well be a good resource for research.

AND IN OTHER NEWS

Whew!  That was more than I usually post, but I tried to break them into categories for you.  See you Sunday!

Pro Rege

Affinity Groups Series

by Stephen Rodgers

Hey there friends! I just wanted to give you a brief announcement of what’s going to be happening on Thursdays going forward.

As you know, we’ve been doing a series on the LBC ministries for almost a year now, culminating last week with our final article in that series, which we hope will be a launching pad for involvement in the church.

Starting next week, we’re going to narrow our focus a little bit. It’s great to know about the various groups at the church, but we want to make sure that we don’t lose sight of the people in doing so. And so, we’re going to focus in on the major affinity groups here at LBC: Children’s, Youth, College, Singles, and Marrieds.

Each week you can expect an article that gives you a peek into that ministry, what they’re doing, and especially who they are. It might be a staff member writing about training, or a member of the group recounting a recent event, or even someone just sharing what they’ve been learning lately as they have participated in that fellowship.

We hope that you’ll enjoy it. And we hope that this glimpse into the other groups and stages of life ultimately displays a common theme. No matter how old we are, how educated we are, or how married we are, we are first and foremost a church, bound together by a common love for Jesus Christ, out of which flows a common love for people.

Pro Rege

Living Theology #39 – Glorification

by Garrett Glende

Last week we looked at the doctrine of death and what it means for our lives today. The next chapter in Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology is closely related, as it deals with our lives eternally. The subject of glorification is one that all Christians should be well versed in so that we know exactly what we can look forward to in eternity. If we are unaware of how our lives will be lived in heaven, then how will we be able to prepare for it?

Grudem defines glorification as “the final step in the application of redemption. It will happen when Christ returns and raises from the dead the bodies of all believers for all time who have died, and reunites them with their souls, and changes the bodies of all believers who remain alive, thereby giving all believers at the same time perfect resurrection bodies like his own.” As we can gather from this definition, the doctrine of glorification is centered around the idea of the resurrection. Our hope as Christians is found in the fact that our bodies will be raised one day. If people cannot be raised from the dead, then we are of all men to be most pitied, as Paul argues in 1 Corinthians 15:12-19. In fact, this section in Paul’s letter opens a critical passage in terms of the doctrine of glorification.

One of the key issues that Paul deals with here is the nature of our bodies after we have been glorified. Some clear contrasts are made in verses 42-44 as he writes, “So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.” The first thing to notice is that our raised bodies will be imperishable. Clearly, our bodies now are perishing daily. We see the results of injury and disease, but when we enter the glorified state all of this will be gone. There will be no more sickness and our bodies will not grow old with age. Moreover, he describes our bodies as being raised in glory and power. The idea of glory probably relates to a physical radiance that surrounds our body. Grudem argues that the fact that we will be like Christ in our resurrection bodies, coupled with the transfiguration scene support the assertion that there will be some sort of visible radiance around us. Being raised in power stands in contrast to the weakness that we experience now, as our bodies will be given the strength that we were intended to have when we were created. Possibly the most exciting element of our new bodies will be that they are spiritual rather than natural. We will no longer be controlled by the desires of our flesh, but our lives will be fully submitted to the work of the Holy Spirit. No longer will we struggle with the sin that entangles us and we will worship the Creator perfectly.

There are many implications of this doctrine, but the one that sticks out most to me is that I should desire to be in heaven more than I do now. I think it’s common for many believers to hold onto the things of this world, and not desire to be with Christ. We want to get married first or have children first, but none of these things will ever compare to the enjoyment we will find in heaven. Every time we get sick or get hurt, we should be reminded that our bodies are not as they we meant to be, making us long for the day when there will be no more sickness and no more death. So the challenge to me (and to all of us) is whether or not I truly desire heaven over this world. We should all be able to echo what Paul says in Philippians 1:23 and “desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.” I think we can easily pay lip service to this truth, but do our lives display that it has truly affected our hearts? This is certainly a challenge that I must consider, and I hope the rest of you will as well.

What to Look for in a Church

by Pastor Patrick Cho

Throughout life, you’re going to be making lots of significant decisions. A couple years ago, Christine and I decided to buy a car. We needed to carefully evaluate not only our ability to afford the car, but also the cost of maintaining it, the cost of insurance, the condition of the car, etc. A lot of thought went into making that purchase because we didn’t want to end up with a lemon or with a car we couldn’t afford. As important as that decision was for us, it pales in comparison to the decision we all have to make in what church we want to attend. Unfortunately for many, though, much less thought and consideration is put into that decision.

It’s the beginning of another school year, and as expected, we have had an influx of collegians and new visitors. ‘Tis the season for “church hopping” and “church shopping” when people who are new to the area decide where they will commit themselves. Since this is the case, I thought it would be helpful to offer some general principles to help make this very important decision.

I suppose it would be good to start with how NOT to choose your church. I’m only listing these because they are actual reasons that actual people I know have made in the past. Some of them sound obvious, but as I said, these are reasons people have told me.

  1. Food. Please do not choose to attend a church simply because they serve good food. This is a sad reason for committing to a church, but I suppose a popular enough one that a local magazine critiques the food that churches serve.
  2. Girls. Of course this one works the other way around, too, but I haven’t heard it from gals. But I have heard of guys who have committed to a church because there were pretty girls there. Don’t let this be the reason you choose a church. I suppose it goes without saying that this could be a heart desire that you never admit, but dude, God is not fooled.
  3. Welcoming. A lot of churches go out of their way to welcome new collegians and visitors. They will plan all sorts of different events to woo the masses. There is nothing wrong with doing this, but it should not be the sole reason why a person commits to a church.
  4. Entertainment. Many choose to commit to a church because the pastor is entertaining or the music is really good. The church’s job is not to entertain you. Its job is to help you know the Lord Jesus Christ and grow in Him.
  5. Friends. Some people will only commit to a church because their friends go there. There is absolutely nothing wrong with having friends at church. In fact, I’ve never understood the reason some have given me that they would not attend a particular church because all their friends are there. Still, just because your friends are there doesn’t mean they carefully considered why they are attending that church.
  6. Convenience. Church is not about you. Often, however, the attitude expressed in picking a church is, “What’s in it for me?” or “Will it make things easier for me?” Finding the closest church should not be your greatest priority. Finding the one with the best service time also should not weigh much into the decision. I remember back in the early days of Lighthouse and we were meeting in the afternoons on Sunday. Many students came because of the late start time so they could sleep in. Honestly, this was and is a lousy excuse for choosing a church. It’s not about the church that has the best children’s program, or the church that doesn’t require you to do too much. You need to attend a church that will challenge you and help you understand that ministry is often inconvenient and requires a bit of self-sacrifice.

I’m sure there are plenty of other bad reasons for choosing a church, but let’s focus a bit on the good reasons. The following ARE some things that you should consider carefully before committing to a particular church.

  1. Biblical, Expository Preaching. The preaching of God’s Word is the central part of the worship service. As a result of listening to a sermon, you should walk away understanding a passage more than before you listened to it. The pastor should help bring out the meaning of the text instead of going on and on about his own opinions and anecdotes. Not only that, but you should be challenged to change – to repent of sins, to think more biblically, to walk more excellently, etc.
  2. Sound Theology. Sometimes people will tell me they are deciding between Lighthouse and some other church in the area. This is fine except that many times that other church adheres to a completely different theological system. It’s like choosing between apples and oranges. A church should be committed to sound biblical theology. Find out where they stand on important biblical issues like creation, the gospel, baptism, etc. If you don’t necessarily know what theology you adhere to, you should study the Bible more, but in the meantime, you can lean more on the quality of the preaching to decide.
  3. Opportunities for Fellowship and Service. A church is a family, and good families get together and serve each other in order to stay healthy (Heb. 10:23-25). There should be ample opportunities to minister to others in a church because the church is the primary place where the “one another” commands of Scripture should be exercised.
  4. Commitment to the Gospel. God sent His Son Jesus to pay the penalty for sin by dying on the cross and rising again on the third day. This is the hope of all sinners and is what defines Christians and sets them apart from the world. A church should be committed to teaching the whole gospel. This shows itself in application as a church remains gospel-centered in ministry, evangelism, and missions. Every church should have as its goal to glorify God and to make disciples to the ends of the earth (1 Cor. 10:31; Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:8).
  5. Church Membership and Discipline. Most people tell me that they want to commit to Lighthouse because of the accountability they receive here. Biblically, the accountability a church provides comes mostly through the practice of church membership and discipline (Matt. 15:18-20). By having membership and discipline in place, a church can clearly define who is in and who is out, who they are committed to and who is committed to them.
  6. Biblical Leadership. The Bible calls the church to be led by godly men and women (1 Tim. 3:1-13). The emphasis is on spiritual character and not on giftedness or ability. A church should have leaders who are exemplary in life. It is as if you could drop yourself next to them at any point of the day, and in whatever they are doing, they are an example worth following. Since the Bible calls believers to submit to their church leaders, you should consider carefully who is leading the church (Heb. 13:17).

Yes, the reasons given probably deserve several books written about each of them, but this was only meant to provide a short overview. When it comes to choosing the church to attend, we need to consider biblical criteria and prayerfully think through the decision. Keep in mind that even the best churches may have an off week, so try not to come to a decision based on only one visit. Also, some helpful books you might want to read are: Nine Marks of a Healthy Church, by Mark Dever; and The Master’s Plan for the Church, by John MacArthur.