Author Archives: Stephen Rodgers

Traces Of Faithfulness

By Elder Johnny Kim

This past Christmas break, my family and I had a chance to visit Joshua Tree National Park. It was a neat experience and the whole time we were there, we couldn’t help but feel as if we were on a different planet. With the landscape dotted with the namesake Joshua trees which look like they are straight out of a Dr. Seuss book, it is definitely a testament to God’s creativity. We spent the day driving around the park and stopping every now and then to take in the views and each time we got out of the car, we were always careful to abide by one of the main rules of the park: “Leave No Trace”. As with other National Parks, the rule exists to ensure that not even a hint of evidence of your visit is left behind, whether in the form of litter, disturbed plant life, or even footprints outside of marked trails. So while over a million people might visit Joshua Tree each year, each one taking in the sights, smells, and sounds, inevitably it always looks as if there’s never been any human activity ever to have taken place within its borders.

For some of us, our attitudes towards church can sometimes resemble our attitudes when visiting a National Park. In the same way we aim to appreciate from a distance the natural surroundings and take in the beauty and wonders of the park, we might be prone to limiting our church experience to just appreciating church merely from a distance as well. While we might be encouraged at seeing evidence of God working in people’s lives and challenged by hearing the preaching of His Word, we can easily relegate ourselves to being just mere observers and spectators, simply there to only take in the sights, smells, and sounds. We might find ourselves to be content to receive the limited benefits associated with just showing up to church and just being present, not having any desire to actually become involved in the church in a real and tangible way. Ways that might require significantly more of our time, effort, resources, and heart. Weirdly, it is almost as if we treat church itself as a place where we should “Leave No Trace”.

Yet when it comes to church, the rule to “Leave No Trace” does not apply. Not even close! In fact, it’s the complete opposite that should be happening if our hearts are of the right mindset regarding church and how God truly desires for it to function. Church requires of us active participation, not passive observation, and that means getting our hands dirty and making a sort of “mess” in the course of building ministries, building relationships, and building opportunities for people to know and grow closer to Jesus Christ. In Colossians 1:28-29, we read the Apostle Paul making this case for the church at Colossae with principles that apply for church today.

Though it should never be a goal or a source of motivation for why we would want to be involved in the life of the church, perhaps it’s a helpful evaluation for us to consider what evidence there might be within the church and in the lives of people that would testify to our being active and involved. Like the evidence of spiritual fruit, do we leave behind any trace of how much we love the church and how much we love Christ? Do the lives of people bear traces of the giving of ourselves to counsel, disciple, and teach them? Do ministries bear traces of our sacrifice, commitment, and humility as we faithfully serve in them week after week? Do even the church facilities and various tools and equipment for ministry bear traces of the joyful giving of our financial resources?

Let us spur one another toward striving to be actively involved in the life of the church. Passive observation is fine for protected National Parks, but Christ’s church requires active participation; the kind that’s bound to leave behind a “mess” and traces of our faithfulness.

With His Stripes We Are Healed

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

From Isaiah 53:5

Pilate delivered our Lord to the lictors to be scourged. The Roman scourge was a most dreadful instrument of torture. It was made of the sinews of oxen, and sharp bones were inter-twisted every here and there among the sinews; so that every time the lash came down these pieces of bone inflicted fearful laceration, and tore off the flesh from the bone. The Saviour was, no doubt, bound to the column, and thus beaten. He had been beaten before; but this of the Roman lictors was probably the most severe of His flagellations. My soul, stand here and weep over His poor stricken body.

Believer in Jesus, can you gaze upon Him without tears, as He stands before you the mirror of agonizing love? He is at once fair as the lily for innocence, and red as the rose with the crimson of His own blood. As we feel the sure and blessed healing which His stripes have wrought in us, does not our heart melt at once with love and grief? If ever we have loved our Lord Jesus, surely we must feel that affection glowing now within our bosoms.

‘See how the patient Jesus stands,
Insulted in His lowest case!
Sinners have bound the Almighty’s hands,
And spit in their Creator’s face.

With thorns His temples gor’d and gash’d
Send streams of blood from every part;
His back’s with knotted scourges lash’d.
But sharper scourges tear His heart.’

We would fain go to our chambers and weep; but since our business calls us away, we will first pray our Beloved to print the image of His bleeding self upon the tablets of our hearts all the day, and at nightfall we will return to commune with Him, and sorrow that our sin should have cost Him so dear.

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Weekly Links (2/7/2014)

“I told her I intended to pursue her.

She told me she was going to the remotest part of the Congo she could find.

I told her we’d pray about it.”

(Evan Welcher, “How To Keep Your ‘I Do’ In The Present Tense”)

by Stephen Rodgers

Welcome back to another edition of the Weekly Links, where we direct your attention to the embarrassment of riches made available to Christians with internet connections…

  • First up, christianaudio.com is giving away a free copy of When Helping Hurts by Corbett and Fikkert. This is a fantastic resource for anyone who wants to think deeper and better on the implications of financial support and mercy ministries. Highly recommended.
  • I like to think that someone over at Logos noticed I made fun of their free offering for January, and in a spirit of reconciliation hired someone to hack into my WTS account and see what books I do like. Ok, that probably didn’t happen, but they are giving away Michael Lawrence’s Biblical Theology in the Life of the Church, which is excellent. And while you could borrow it from our Library Ministry, now you don’t have to! You can have your own copy! Yes you can!
  • Ligonier’s free book for February is RC Sproul’s The Prayer of the Lord. Just like Lawrence’s book, you could borrow this from the Library Ministry…but you don’t have to! Because it’s free in both .mobi (Kindle) and .epub (everything else) formats. So enjoy (or if you speak Czechlish…”enyoy!”).
  • Speaking of those crazy / wonderful folks at Ligonier, the February edition of Tabletalk is out, and it deals with the subject of Hell. I have no jokes for that, because Hell is not funny.  It would also not be funny if you didn’t avail yourself to the excellent articles in Tabletalk. If you don’t know where to start with that, try the index I made for you.
  • There’s also a new issue of Credo out, and this is on the subject of Justification. I have to admit, I wasn’t sure we needed another magazine / journal / ‘zine / whatever, but Credo has proved to be pretty top notch.

Ok, so now that the monthly resources are out of the way, let me direct your attention to just a few other neat things, and then I’ll leave you to it.

  • James Anderson has a new book out on worldviews.  He’s also written a nice collection of articles on the subject, and you can read them. You should read them.
  • “The Church needs more than nice men.” That’s the last sentence is this article on Franciscus Gomarus that you really should read. If for no other reason than you’ll know who Franciscus Gomarus is after you do.
  • Ligonier did another Q&A with RC Sproul, and you can watch it.
  • Lastly, I don’t really do much on Twitter…I don’t think I’ve ever twitted…tweeted…twote? But I know a lot of people who do…so here’s some good, Biblical advice on the topic of Twitter for beginners, for more advanced users, and for everyone.

That’s it.  See you Sunday!

Pro Rege

Let Us Search And Try Our Ways, And Turn Again To The Lord

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

From Lamentations 3:40

The spouse who fondly loves her absent husband longs for his return; a long protracted separation from her lord is a semi-death to her spirit: and so with souls who love the Saviour much, they must see His face, they cannot bear that He should be away upon the mountains of Bether, and no more hold communion with them. A reproaching glance, an uplifted finger will be grievous to loving children, who fear to offend their tender father, and are only happy in his smile.

Beloved, it was so once with you. A text of Scripture, a threatening, a touch of the rod of affliction, and you went to your Father’s feet, crying, ‘Show me wherefore Thou contendest with me?’ Is it so now? Are you content to follow Jesus afar off? Can you contemplate suspended communion with Christ without alarm? Can you bear to have your Beloved walking contrary to you, because you walk contrary to Him? Have your sins separated between you and your God, and is your heart at rest? O let me affectionately warn you, for it is a grievous thing when we can live contentedly without the present enjoyment of the Saviour’s face.

Let us labour to feel what an evil thing this is-little love to our own dying Saviour, little joy in our precious Jesus, little fellowship with the Beloved! Hold a true Lent in your souls, while you sorrow over your hardness of heart. Do not stop at sorrow! Remember where you first received salvation. Go at once to the cross. There, and there only, can you get your spirit quickened. No matter how hard, how insensible, how dead we may have become, let us go again in all the rags and poverty, and defilement of our natural condition. Let us clasp that cross, let us look into those languid eyes, let us bathe in that fountain filled with blood-this will bring back to us our first love; this will restore the simplicity of our faith, and the tenderness of our heart.

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LBC Weekly SPARK – January 30, 2014

by Pastor Patrick Cho

Dear LBC church family and friends!

I hope your week is going well and you are continuing to walk in the Lord. This past Sunday we had a chance to introduce our theme for 2014, “One Thing I Do,” from Philippians 3:13-14. While there is much that we can glean from that passage and its context, it was refreshing to see Paul simplify the Christian faith to one idea – the pursuit of Christ.

This not only serves as a helpful reminder to focus our Christian activity that we might know Christ more, but it also can be seen as a litmus test to evaluate how profitable our speech, actions, ministry, and motives are. When you seek to read through your Bible, serve on a ministry staff, meet with someone for accountability and prayer, etc., you can look back on those times and consider, “Did that help draw me closer to my Savior and Lord?”

This is especially important considering how easily our sinful tendencies can turn these spiritual activities into self-promoting industries. Rather than giving the glory to God, we are prone to directing attention to ourselves even in very subtle ways. Philippians 3 reminds us that our lives are to be lived in a relentless pursuit of Christ. This is the one thing we are committed to and it is the one thing we do. May 2014 be a year where we all strive to know Him more in His death and resurrection.

One Thing I Do,

Pastor Patrick

Here are some upcoming ministry opportunities:

  1. FLOCKS! Don’t forget that this week is flocks week, which means that our regularly scheduled midweek activities will be on hold until next week. For more information about flocks, please visit the church website.
  2. Super Bowl Party. If you don’t have any other place to watch the big game, we will be projecting the game in the sanctuary after church on Sunday. Whether you are cheering on the Broncos or the Seahawks, or you just want to hangout for the afternoon, come out around 3:00 PM and bring a snack or appetizer to share (feeding 8-10 people). Drinks will be provided. Please note that we will not be projecting the half time show.
  3. Women’s Ministry Car Rally. Please remember that this Sunday is the last day for you ladies to signup for the women’s ministry car rally event for February 8. The car rally will begin at the church building at 9:00 AM. Be sure to bring some money for food. You can sign up with Christine Cho (christinescho@gmail.com).
  4. LBC Los Angeles. LBCLA will be having their official inaugural weekend on Saturday, February 15 and Sunday, February 16. On Saturday, February 15, at 6:00 PM, they will be hosting an equipping seminar and dinner featuring Pastor Chris Mueller. On Sunday, February 16, they will be having their inaugural service at 6:00 PM. YOU NEED TO RSVP for these events so they can adequately prepare for food. Sign up on their Facebook page or email Pastor John Kim TODAY to reserve a spot (pastorjohnkimlbc@gmail.com).
  5. Care Month. Don’t forget that February is care month, so we will be having special announcements each Sunday to highlight ways to encourage and care for one another.
  6. Beacon. Be sure to check out our online newsletter to find helpful articles and links for your spiritual encouragement and nourishment.
  7. Local Outreach. Please take advantage of the various ways you can reach out to our community whether it’s feeding the homeless, tutoring young students, or ministering at a local convalescent home. Opportunities abound to shine the light of Christ so let’s be sure to be faithful with our testimony.

Blessed Is The One…

by Kristen Lim

“Do you want build a snowman?” sang the youth (a song from the animated movie, Frozen) as we drove up to Big Bear for our joint winter retreat with the LBCLA youth group. Earlier this month the Lumos youth ministry had the opportunity to spend a weekend away from home to grow in their walks with God as well as build relationships with one other. The retreat was filled with inner-tubing, snowboarding/skiing, silly games, late-night snacks, and of course digging deeper into God’s word.

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The theme of the retreat was “Blessed” coming from Matthew 5:1-12. Before diving into this passage, Josh did a great job of setting the groundwork that salvation is by grace alone, but it never comes alone because God will transform the heart of one who is truly saved and produce fruit of Christ-likeness. So rather than just reading this description of a blessed person and trying to live up to these standards, we were challenged to examine our lives and honestly ask ourselves if we are in the kingdom of God to begin with. Are we “poor in spirit,” recognizing that we offer nothing good before a holy God but only dirty rags of sin? In Christ alone, by faith alone can one be redeemed from the bondage of sin and have a regenerate heart that in turn loves God and desires to please Him. That has to be the starting point, because if not, then that person is not blessed and the passage is not applicable to them.

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As we embarked on this study of the beatitudes, we found out that the very word “blessed” needed clarification because much of our perception of happiness and joy have been influenced by the world. What does the world define happiness to be? Money, success, admiration, popularity, comfort, no trials, and basically summed up by “life is all about you.” The world tells you to live your best life now and to do whatever makes you happy; God is nowhere to be seen. The Bible speaks clearly that those who are redeemed are not promised a “happy” life, but rather persecution, trials, rejection, loneliness, and suffering. If you knew that you wouldn’t experience any happiness and instead have immense pain in this life, would you still follow Christ? Would you rather have Christ than anything this world may offer? How can one be blessed and rejoice with such a circumstantially grim life?

These heart-probing questions geared us to dive in to the beatitudes and see that true joy can only come from knowing God. Those that choose to reject God and live in rebellion to the Creator and true King will eventually face the just sentence of God’s wrath. But in contrast, the children of God can rejoice because God has shown us unfathomable mercy and love through Christ, and we look forward to being with our Savior for eternity without the weight of sin. We are blessed because we are part of the kingdom of God, we are comforted knowing that one day sin will be gone, we will inherit the earth when Christ returns, we will be satisfied, we will be shown God’s mercy, we will see God, we will be called sons of God, and our reward is great in Heaven.

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But it is the reality that seeing life through God’s eyes is difficult to maintain in the midst of the constant bombardment of worldly ideas and selfishness wanting to take over. That’s why these retreat messages were so timely in reminding us of the great hope we have in Christ alone and that He is the greatest treasure worth giving up everything for. At the very end of the last session, Josh showed us an animation made for the song “All I Have Is Christ.” Honestly, this is a difficult song to sing because I can’t sing it half-heartedly. Do I really believe the words that I’m singing? Is all I really have Christ? Or am I clinging tightly to selfish desires, my plans, my glory, my way? The retreat messages provided much to chew on and helped all of us to refocus our hearts to seeking God’s will.

Not only was this retreat valuable for the immersion into God’s word, but it helped the youth cultivate deeper friendships with one another, and as a staff we got to know the youth better outside of the structured Bible study and small group times. I’m challenged to help the youth (and including myself) see that Christ is not just a sentiment to be tossed around on Sundays or while reading the Bible and praying, but He calls us to worship Him in every moment of our lives. The retreat sessions all of a sudden come alive when faced with a decision whether to give in to the world’s lies of happiness found in selfish pursuits, or truly believe that God’s ways are far superior and offer true joy and blessings. Being together for four days brought ample opportunities to practice applying the retreat messages in the context of relationships. The choice to be upset when others are having more fun than I am, or to rejoice with those who rejoice. The choice to wallow in anger when someone wrongs me, or to forgive and seek to mend that damaged fellowship because of the forgiveness that I have been shown in Christ. The choice to be lazy and wait to be served, or to take the initiative to look out for others’ needs and be a servant. These smattering of instances are only skimming the surface of the plethora of choices we have each day to either choose my way or God’s way.

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The seemingly mundane moments of life are not so mundane anymore if viewed as a chance to become more like Christ and please God by following His will. This is not to say that a Christian will be perfect, but the longing for righteousness and detestation of sin ought to characterize a believer. God is so gracious to not leave us on our own to fulfill this high-calling of obedience to Him. His mercies are new every morning to produce in us a changed life as we allow His Word to take root in our hearts and renew our minds. It is a constant battle to fight against the flesh and the never-ending influences of what the world thinks is true joy, but God promises to be faithful to complete the work that He has started in a believer’s life, so we are strengthened to persevere in the race fixing our eyes on Christ, our treasure and reward. Truly, blessed is the one who delights in the law of the Lord and pursues to live righteously for God’s glory (Psalm 1).

Thank you to those who prayed for the retreat or supported us financially. We had an awesome time! =) Please pray that the youth ministry would be filled with young men and women who genuinely love God and live passionately to make God big!

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Pressing Forward in 2014

by Pastor Patrick Cho

As we welcome in a new year, I’m thankful for the opportunity to reflect on the church’s ministry to consider how we might best move forward in 2014. One of the most dangerous threats to the life of the church is complacency. This is particularly precarious when a church has enjoyed years of ministry together because things become routine. People get used to the way things are done. Change is cumbersome and unwelcome. Yet, it is essential to discern the difference between pushing forward just so things don’t grow stale and pushing forward because of the tremendous work that remains in front of us. We are not just trying to keep the masses busy or entertained. Our great goal is to keep the Great Commission and Great Commandment central to our vision. This way, even though we make progress, we see clearly that we are not at the finish line.

2014 is an exciting year for LBC San Diego because it marks fifteen years of ministry for the church! This May, we will be celebrating our anniversary and it is so incredibly encouraging to think the Lord has graciously brought us to this milestone. It seems like only yesterday we were together in the upper room of the old church building meeting on Sunday afternoons. Back then, we were just a handful of individuals hungry for the Word and excited to fellowship with one another. Fifteen years ago we committed ourselves to the Lord and to one another in the pursuit and application of the MVP and the Peacemaker Pledge. We certainly didn’t foresee all that the Lord was going to do through that young congregation, but we couldn’t have imagined we would be where we are now.

Even still, we recognize that there is so much more to do. People all around us are hurting and starving for truth. Wounded souls are in need of mending and darkened minds in need of illumination. As many turn to the Lord in faith by His grace, we realize the countless others who still need to hear about the cross of Christ and the offer of forgiveness for sins. I’m thankful that each summer brings a renewed zeal for evangelistic ministry because of our missions trips to the Czech Republic and Argentina, but I wonder how healthy that evangelistic fervor is considering how few participate in the regular weekly opportunities there are in local outreach. Not only must love grow within the cozy walls of our ministry, but it must extend further to the surrounding community.

I have said it before that this congregation is the most loving body I have ever been a part of, and I mean it. I wholeheartedly believe that the reason visitors stay at Lighthouse is because of the people here. Still, as loving as this body has been through the years, we have so far to go to understand the depths of love in its faithful application. Conflicts are always going to be a threat to the welfare of our fellowship. Reconciliation must be pursued from a spirit of love for the Lord and for our brothers and sisters in Christ. Too often we allow our conflicts to go on unaddressed so that our sin festers in our hearts. Instead of confessing this as sin, we justify ourselves and our behavior. We need to remember that our commitment to be peacemakers is a lifelong commitment and one that will require constant application.

I have always appreciated this church’s desire to grow in the knowledge of God’s Word. Every Sunday is a tremendous encouragement to look out and see so many young people enthralled by the Scriptures. Still, we must press on entirely by the aid of the Spirit to apply faithfully the truths we learn. It’s so easy to fill our minds with knowledge and puff up our spirits. What’s worse is that even though we grow in understanding we allow our devotion and passion for the Lord to fade. Many will commit this year to read through their Bible (and this is a great goal to have!). But let’s not forget that the true goal is to know the God of the Scriptures, and that our time in the Word is a means to that end.

This New Year, let’s take care not to drift into the spiritual doldrums. This will require great vigilance and a strong resolve. It’s easy to fall into the thinking that you are spiritually stronger than you really are. Let the words of Philippians 3:14 constantly drive you, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward calling of God in Christ Jesus.” We saw some great successes in 2013 and the Lord has been faithful to walk with us these past fifteen years, but understand all that lies ahead, we realize that we could not possibly do it all even if the Lord gave us another fifteen years. Rather than growing complacent with where we are, let’s be a congregation that is pushing together towards that glorious prize.

He Was Numbered With The Transgressors

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

From Isaiah 53:12

Why did Jesus suffer Himself to be enrolled amongst sinners? This wonderful condescension was justified by many powerful reasons.

  • In such a character He could the better become their advocate. In some trials there is an identification of the counsellor with the client, nor can they be looked upon in the eye of the law as apart from one another. Now, when the sinner is brought to the bar, Jesus appears there Himself. He stands to answer the accusation. He points to His side, His hands, His feet, and challenges Justice to bring anything against the sinners whom He represents; He pleads His blood, and pleads so triumphantly, being numbered with them and having a part with them, that the Judge proclaims, ‘Let them go their way; deliver them from going down into the pit, for He hath found a ransom.’
  • Our Lord Jesus was numbered with the transgressors in order that they might feel their hearts drawn towards Him. Who can be afraid of one who is written in the same list with us? Surely we may come boldly to Him, and confess our guilt. He who is numbered with us cannot condemn us.
  • Was He not put down in the transgressor’s list that we might be written in the red roll of the saints? He was holy, and written among the holy; we were guilty, and numbered among the guilty; He transfers His name from yonder list to this black indictment, and our names are taken from the indictment and written in the roll of acceptance, for there is a complete transfer made between Jesus and His people. All our estate of misery and sin Jesus has taken; and all that Jesus has comes to us. His righteousness, His blood, and everything that He hath He gives us as our dowry.

Rejoice, believer, in your union to Him who was numbered among the transgressors; and prove that you are truly saved by being manifestly numbered with those who are new creatures in Him.

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LBC Weekly SPARK – January 23, 2014

by Pastor Patrick Cho

Dear LBC family and friends,

I hope you are doing well and walking in the Lord. If you are following along in the reading plan for 2014, today’s reading is from Exodus 16-18. One of the highlights of this passage is God’s provision of manna and water in the Wilderness of Sin. When I had the opportunity to visit Israel, one of the places we went to was the Wilderness of Sin. It was a vast desert land with oppressive heat. We wandered out there for about forty minutes. The Israelites wandered for forty years! It is no wonder that in chapters 16-17 we find the Israelites grumbling to Moses. Sadly, their complaint called into question the goodness of God arguing that they had it better when they were Egypt (Exod. 16:3). They longed for the bread and meat they enjoyed in Egypt (conveniently forgetting that it was also a time of tyrannical slavery!).

As a demonstration of God’s tremendous grace, even in the context of Israel’s complaining, He provided not only bread and water, but meat also! He completely supernaturally met their need when they could not find any deliverance in their natural circumstances. He showed Himself to be a God of glory by caring for His people. God provided for them faithfully for forty years until they arrived at Canaan (Exod. 16:35).

How disappointing that by Numbers 11, as the people left Sinai, they grumbled yet again against the Lord’s provision. What a picture of our sinful human hearts that we can so quickly become dissatisfied by what we receive by grace. Passages like Exodus 16-18 not only highlight our sinful nature but also God’s tremendous goodness and grace. In light of this passage, consider how you might confess to the Lord about any sinful complaining you have done recently. Ask the Lord’s forgiveness and trust in His promise to forgive. Also, think about how you can be thankful for the Lord’s gracious provision. How has He provided for you in ways you might not have foreseen?

In His grace,

Pastor Patrick

Here are some ministry opportunities for this week:

  1. Midweek Bible Studies. All our midweek Bible studies continue this week (Kids’ Club, Youth, College, Singles, and Grace Life). Visit the church website for service times and more information about how to get involved.
  2. Membership Class. For those who are interested in pursuing formal membership at Lighthouse, we will have our next membership class this weekend at the church. We will meet on Saturday, January 25, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, and again on Sunday, January 26, from 2:00 to 5:00 PM. Attendance at both classes is mandatory. Contact Pastor Patrick for more information or to obtain an application (pastorpatrick@gmail.com).
  3. Members Meeting. We will be having a members meeting this Sunday, January 26, at 4:45 PM. All members are strongly encouraged to attend. As always, dinner will be provided. ALSO, we will be taking membership photos during the meeting, so please come prepared to have your picture taken (photos of families will be taken together).
  4. Baptism Class. We will be having a baptism class on Tuesday, January 28, at 7:00 PM, at the church building. If you have not yet been baptized in accordance with the Scriptures, or if you just want to learn more about biblical baptism, please make plans to attend this class.
  5. Flocks. Next week is flocks week (January 29 to February 1), which means all our regular midweek activities will be on hold. Please mark your calendars! If you are interested in joining a flock, you can visit the website for more details or contact Peter Lim (peterlim@yahoo.com).
  6. Women’s Ministry Car Rally! The women’s ministry will be hosting a special event on Saturday, February 8, at 9:00 AM, at the church – CAR RALLY! This event is open to all ladies in youth group and older. The last day to sign up with Christine Cho is Sunday, February 2 (christinescho@gmail.com). Please bring some money for brunch.
  7. LBCLA. Lighthouse Bible Church Los Angeles will be having its official inaugural service on Sunday, February 16, at 6:00 PM. To RSVP, please visit their Facebook page and sign up or contact Pastor Patrick.
  8. Prayer Need. Praise God that Alex and Michael are both improving after their time in the hospital. Please continue to pray for their full recovery! They are both very grateful for the prayers, love, and support of the church family!

Teaching God’s Big Plan to Sparklers

by Kyle Grindley

God’s Big Plan

Teaching in Sparklers has blessed me because, as a staff, we teach through the both Old and New Testaments, every 2 years. We have been using this curriculum since 2008, which means I am on my third lap teaching through the Bible with the Sparklers. Distilling dense Bible passages down to 10 minute lessons that 3-year-olds can understand has really helped me focus on the big overarching themes in the Bible. Going through the Bible like this has shown me two amazing things: God has a big plan, and we have an exciting role in His big plan.

The Bible is one unified story of God displaying His glory through redeeming His people. God made this plan in eternity past, and shared it with us in the Bible through 40 authors over more than a thousand years. God validated His word by writing history in advance, something only God could do. First Peter 1 says that Christ and His work were foreknown before the foundation of the world. God didn’t just predict history, but He planned the redemption of His people through Christ before creation. God didn’t interrupt history by sending Jesus, He orchestrated history to lead up to Christ in a perfect story about God’s glory.

We can see a concise picture of God’s glory when we look at God’s proclamation when He agreed to let His glory pass before Moses. God did not just say “I will let my glory pass before you,” He said “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence.” (Ex. 33:19, emphasis added) God proclaimed that he is Lord and He is good. Time after time throughout redemptive history demonstrates this goodness-lordship couplet. God has the power and right to rule, thus He is “The Lord”, and motivated by His merciful goodness, He uses that rule to bless His people. God is committed to His glory, and the Bible is the story of God displaying His glory, showing the whole of His attributes by using His power for the good of His people, which results in praise from His people.

God has allowed us to join as willing participants in displaying His glory. We display the goodness and lordship of God when we trust Him. His goodness is on display because we trust that God will do what is best for us and keep His promises. His lordship, or sovereignty, is on display because we trust that He knows what is best for us and has the ability to accomplish it. God is worth our complete trust because He is completely good and completely in control.

Teaching God’s Big Plan

This February Sparklers is getting a lot of new kids, not quite doubling our numbers. To accommodate for the growth we are making some changes, trying to mix new ideas with our tried curriculum. One thing we are adding is a Bible outline to try to keep unity of God’s big plan from being lost amongst the many stories. These stories are testaments to God’s glory in and of themselves, but they are so much richer when woven in the context of God’s larger plan of redemption.

The outline we are going to try is based on a telling of redemptive history through a series of “kingdoms”; where a kingdom is defined as “God’s people, in God’s place, under God’s rule and blessing.” (A great summary can be found at davemiers.com; Kingdoms Summary). This struck me as a good way to digest and understand what God is doing throughout history because it specifically highlights His sovereignty in His “rule” and His goodness in His “blessing”.

The Big Picture Story Bible, by David Helm, is a children’s Bible that tells the Bible’s story through the lens of “God’s people, in God’s place, under God’s rule and blessing.” It describes the Bible as “a big book, about a big God, who keeps a big promise.” Teaching about our big God who keeps His big promise falls right in line with the current Sparklers curriculum. Helm’s adaptation for children omits the explicit “kingdom” terminology, while preserving the meaning behind it. We are taking a similar approach in Sparklers. The original alliterated titles were changed for more 3-year-old friendly titles, and the explicit “kingdom” references were dropped so the titles could be more descriptive and point directly to God.

As we teach through the Bible we will use this outline to show the Sparklers God’s plan for bringing glory to himself through saving us. It will also help them understand where each of the individual stories fit in this plan. Hopefully what they learn in Sparklers will feed a sense of wonder at the awesome God behind everything.

A Bible Outline for Sparklers

  • God’s Garden – God created the entire universe; the earth, skies, planets, and people. He put them in a garden where He cared for them. God also gave them a job to do (Gen 1:28), and a commandment (Gen. 2:16-17). Adam and Eve disobeyed God and were cast out of the garden, but God promised that this would not last forever (Gen. 3). God would send His Son to crush Satan and sin’s power (Gen. 3:15). Adam and Eve’s children continued to disobey God.
  • God’s Promise – God called a man named Abram out of idolatry (Gen. 12, Josh. 24:2-3) and promised him that He would make him the father of a great nation and all the nations would be blessed because of him (Gen 12 & 15).
  • God’s Nation – After 400 years God’s promise of a nation began to take shape. God called Abraham’s descendants out of Egypt, gave them His commands, and promises to be their God and make them His people if they obey him (Ex. 19, Lev 26, Deut. 11). God proved faithful in spite of their unfaithfulness.
  • God’s Kings – God established His kings as representatives over His people. He promised David that one day one of his sons will rule on David’s throne forever (2 Sam. 7). However, Solomon turns his heart away from God (1 King 11).
  • God’s Punishment & Prophets – Because the people had turned their hearts away from God, He punished them (by splitting the kingdom, then sending Judah to exile). God did not forget His people, He sent prophets to tell the people to turn back to God so they could receive His blessing again. They also told about God’s promise to send a savior.
  • God’s Son – Just as God has promised, He sent a savior to crush sin’s power. That savior was His son, Jesus, who is both God and man. Jesus showed that He was God through signs and miracles, and teaching God’s Word. Jesus perfectly obeyed God, died, and rose again defeating sin’s power for those who believe in Him.
  • God’s Church – Jesus went to sit at God’s right hand, but He sent the Holy Spirit to be with His people, those who trust in Him. God’s Word spread to people all over the world including us.
  • God’s Kingdom – After God gathers all His people in His church, Jesus will come again to reign on David’s throne forever, just like God promised. God will take all His people to live with Him in heaven under His perfect rule, where they will experience His perfect blessing.

References