Author Archives: Stephen Rodgers

Single Life Update

by Kevin Tse

Single Life finished 2012 with a Christmas party and gift exchange that saw people receive a variety of gifts including iTunes gift cards, movie tickets, and fancy headphones in addition to a number of other odds and ends. More than that, we had a chance to see our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ before breaking for the holidays, and were able to encourage one another to be bold in sharing the Gospel with whomever they see during the holidays and remembering the centrality of Christ in Christmas.

The past semester has been mostly spent in Colossians 3. Pastor Patrick preached through sermons focusing on the Biblical prescriptions for godly relationships between husband and wife, parents and children, and slaves and masters. We were refreshed continually with truth that often forced us to re-evaluate some incorrect preconceived notions, and reminded us several times of the authority of God as the giver of that truth. In particular, as singles, we focused on working as unto the Lord in our places of employment and schooling, knowing that our reward is not the approval of man but the hope of future grace from the Lord. I was personally convicted to go to work with joy and to see work as a ministry, not just a place to make money.

Our first Single Life Bible study of the year was on January 9th, 2013 when Randy Sarmiento shared about “Christian Discipline” from Hebrews 12:3-6. Randy blessed us with the reminder that the discipline we receive from the Lord is meant both for our correction as well as training in righteousness. Paralleling our comfortable lives here in San Diego, the Hebrews had to be reminded that the trials they faced paled in comparison to the scourging that Christ received when He went to the cross for our sins. Just as the Hebrews had to be reminded of the godly response they ought to have when going through trials, we too were reminded that the trials and hardships that we undergo represent discipline from the Lord, and that this discipline not only refines our faith but proves our sonship in Him.

Coming up on the schedule for Single Life Ministry are a series of events including a Broomball outing with College Life on February 1st (our second one in this academic year) and our annual Single’s Retreat from March 15-17th at Pine Valley. Also, we’ll be having a Table for 6 outing on January 19th.

Built For More Important Things

by Elder Johnny Kim

During a particular weekend every October, swarms of military planes take to the San Diego skies in what is a familiar sight (and sound!) for nearby residents. Although the Miramar Air Show showcases a variety of technologically advanced aircraft, the highlight of the show is without a doubt the Navy’s Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron. The Blue Angels are made up of six F/A-18 Hornets, the Navy’s premier fighter jet currently in use all around the world. Each of the six jets is flown by a highly trained and experienced fighter pilot, considered to be the best of the best. Even the jets themselves are maintained by the best mechanics, all working together to help the Blue Angels accomplish their mission: to promote the Navy to the public and to serve as an invaluable recruiting tool through their performances.

With an important mission that puts them in front of millions of spectators (and potential recruits) each year, it is no wonder that the Blue Angels strive to be the best. However, beneath the highly polished signature blue paint on their jets lies a little known fact about the Blue Angels and an apparent contradiction at that: the jets given to them to fly are always the oldest and most worn out jets in the Navy. One might have guessed that for the venerable and highly visible Blue Angels, only the newest jets would do, but a simple overarching Navy philosophy dictates otherwise: the newest jets and those in the best condition shall be reserved for war and combat. As important as the Blue Angels’ mission seems, it ultimately takes a back seat to the simple truth that fighter jets are built for the purpose of going to war to fight, not performing shows.

In a similar sense, we as Christians are resources ourselves which can be used for a myriad of purposes, all of which can be really important and worthwhile. Whether it is the pursuit of higher education, career advancement, health, social justice, or even relationships, a compelling case can always be made for the merits and benefits of each, so long as they are not inherently sinful or evil. However, as Christians, we too are subject to a simple truth about our true purpose in life and what we have been ultimately created for. Isaiah 43:7 makes it clear that we were created for God’s own glory and to glorify Him. Furthermore, we see in Ephesians 1:11-12 that the chief reason He even redeems us is ultimately for His glory as well. God, the Creator of the universe, has created us for a specific purpose, a purpose to which all others must take a back seat. No matter how important a given endeavor or accomplishment might seem, nothing can ever be more important, worthwhile, and more rewarding than the fulfillment of what we were specifically created to do: to bring God the most glory.

And yet, even those of us who consider ourselves to be mature Christians make decisions each and every day that often just reflect our own priorities based on our own judgment of what we think is important. Worse yet, we can even find ourselves walking down a twisted and convoluted path of reasoning until we find just enough “good” along the way to justify what are, deep down in our hearts, really just our own desires. Society, friends, family, and even well-intentioned fellow Christians can affirm the importance of the things we do, even if God’s glory is not paramount. However, as 2 Timothy 3:17 reminds us, it is God and His all-sufficient word that should be the “overarching philosophy” for our Christian lives, dictating for us the priorities we ought to live by.

Are you living for the purpose that God has created you? Do you make decisions in your life that show you are living out the Christian’s ultimate mission? Are you using your time, money, material possessions, and talents, for the most important purpose and not just an important purpose? Because, in keeping with the Blue Angels metaphor, answering yes or no to these questions can be the difference between Christian lives that are in a battle, fighting to bring God the most glory, and Christian lives that are just putting on a nice show.

Weekly Links (2/4/2013)

“He who comes forth fresh from beholding the face of God will never fear the face of man.” (Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Faith’s Checkbook, July 17)

by Stephen Rodgers

Now that we’ve let a little time pass since the first of the month, all the relevant articles seem to have been posted…which means I can pass them on to you!

First up, there’s the obligatory new resources…

  • christianaudio.com’s free book of the month is God’s Smuggler, the story of a man who started smuggling Bibles into Eastern Europe in the 1950’s, and eventually started a ministry to do similar work worldwide.
  • The new edition of Tabletalk is out this month as well, and the theme is Union with Christ. Tabletalk regularly puts out some of the best content I see on a monthly basis, so if you haven’t started reading it yet, you might want to check our index of back issues as well.
  • There’s also a new issue of Credo Magazine freely available, this one dealing with the sudden resurgence of interest in the doctrine of purgatory among evangelicals. They also have a few other fascinating issues in their archive, and it’s not too late to start catching up!

Next, there’s the obligatory returning/continuing resources…

  • Tim Challies is marching onward through his series on essential doctrines of Christianity.  Recently he added articles on Salvation, Judgment, and Heaven.
  • Speaking of Challies, he’s also started a series where he gives recommendations on what he considers to be the best commentaries for specific books of the Bible.  He’s alternating between the OT and the NT, so he’s made suggestions for both Genesis and Matthew.

And lastly there are the articles and audio that I just thought deserved your attention…

  • We recently did a Q&A at LBC (the audio doesn’t seem to be up yet).  Not to be outdone, John MacArthur also did a 2-part Q&A (part 1 and part 2) and John Piper has restarted his “Ask Pastor John” series.  Enjoy!

Pro Rege

Say Unto My Soul, I Am Thy Salvation

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

From Psalm 35:3

What does this sweet prayer teach me? It shall be my evening’s petition; but first let it yield me an instructive meditation.

  • The text informs me first of all that David had his doubts; for why should he pray, ‘Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation,’ if he were not sometimes exercised with doubts and fears? Let me, then, be of good cheer, for I am not the only saint who has to complain of weakness of faith. If David doubted, I need not conclude that I am no Christian because I have doubts.
  • The text reminds me that David was not content while he had doubts and fears, but he repaired at once to the mercy-seat to pray for assurance; for he valued it as much fine gold. I too must labour after an abiding sense of my acceptance in the Beloved, and must have no joy when His love is not shed abroad in my soul. When my Bridegroom is gone from me, my soul must and will fast.
  • I learn also that David knew where to obtain full assurance. He went to his God in prayer, crying, ‘Say unto my soul I am thy salvation.’ I must be much alone with God if I would have a clear sense of Jesus’ love. Let my prayers cease, and my eye of faith will grow dim. Much in prayer, much in heaven; slow in prayer, slow in progress.
  • I notice that David would not be satisfied unless his assurance had a divine source. ‘Say unto my soul.’ Lord, do Thou say it! Nothing short of a divine testimony in the soul will ever content the true Christian.
  • Moreover, David could not rest unless his assurance had a vivid personality about it. ‘Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.’ Lord, if Thou shouldst say this to all the saints, it were nothing, unless Thou shouldst say it to me. Lord, I have sinned; I deserve not Thy smile; I scarcely dare to ask it; but oh! say to my soul, even to my soul, ‘I am thy salvation.’

Let me have a present, personal, infallible, indisputable sense that I am Thine, and that Thou art mine.

3.5p

Editor’s Note: February 2012

by Stephen Rodgers

This is just a quick note to let you know that the Weekly Links will be posted on Monday instead of today.

In the meantime, I’d encourage you to enjoy and explore the new Beacon website (if you haven’t already), catch up on any articles you might not have read yet, and peruse the links at the top of the page for past and ongoing series, helpful resources and reference materials, and a list of ministries here at LBC that you could join.

See you Monday!

Next Man Up

by Hansol An

As the football season comes to a close, I’m reminded of a phrase that became very popular over the course of the season, to the point that it almost became a cliché. The phrase “next man up” has been around for a while but it really seemed to come into vogue this year. Whenever a player went down with an injury, there was a coach or sportscaster close behind wielding this most apt and realistic solution to an unwanted situation. In football there is a real and immediate need to move on. Not only must the show go on, it must go on right now – “So who you got to replace your MVP?” There’s no sympathy from the other team that you lost your best player. The scoreboard doesn’t care that the heart and soul of your team is out for the rest of the season.

I’ve said before that in some ways, a football team is analogous to a church. As with a church, every member of the football team has an important part to play. Teamwork is critically important in football. For a team to succeed its players have to fulfill their individual roles during each and every play. One player neglecting to fulfill their role would seriously hinder the ability of the team to succeed. The same could be said for a church.

The ‘next man up’ philosophy seems to carry over to the church analogy as well. As Lighthouse Bible Church prepares for its third church plant in three years, its members are well acquainted with the idea that when someone leaves, another member has to be ready and able to takes their place. For all intents, it is expected that someone will be the next man (or woman) up. For some roles there is a person identified long before the need arises, but for many there isn’t a clear successor. But as our church has always endeavored to lead by the Word of God, the members have been taught to be servants first, and we’ve been fortunate to have many willing servants over the years.

Christ taught his disciples to emulate him as a servant (John 13:12-15). Paul reminded the Philippians to regard others as more important (Philippians 2:3-4). We all have to be reminded of our duty as a member of Christ’s church to serve one another. Sometimes in ways that are personally challenging and require self-sacrifice but if ever there was a worthy cause, it is the love of Christ. Since we know that as a church we need to do the work of spreading the Gospel, when a need arises, many should be willing to fill it.

At a smaller scale, College Life regularly has to replace servants due to graduation. Thankfully this ministry has always included heavy student involvement but that also means that most people only serve a year or two before they have to move on. The staff doesn’t take this for granted even as the students continue to raise the bar year after year. We know that service in any ministry can’t be forced, each believer should be challenged by the example of Christ to serve others the way he did: in loving sacrifice. Sometimes that means serving in unofficial ways like providing rides or encouraging a friend, going out to Campus EV, or Morning Prayer. If we all do our part, this ministry will continue to successfully fulfill our calling in this life and further the Gospel of Christ. So be ready to step in when the time comes.

Signs of Spiritual Maturity #9: Truth is Valuable Enough to Labor For

“We are living in an age that dislikes precision and definitions. It is an age that is anti-theological, anti-doctrinal and which dislikes propositions and exact knowledge. It is a lazy age in every respect, a sentimental, sloppy age, an age that wants entertainment and dislikes effort” (DM Lloyd-Jones on Romans 10:3, “Romans,” p. 29)

by Elder Peter Lim

It is startling that D. Martin Lloyd-Jones’ quote from over 30 years ago bears so much accuracy and relevance to our present condition. We live in a relativistic post-modern society which is phobic to propositional truth. On the surface, it seems to be the more “loving” thing to do, that everyone’s beliefs are acceptable and no one should be criticized for being wrong, that is except for those who hold to absolute truths. The purpose of today’s article is not to delve too deeply into how the world is. However, I did want to share my observation that mature Christians consider truth to be valuable enough to work hard at obtaining.

It’s not easy to acquire absolute truth. Fortunately for us, we have been given all that we need to live a life that glorifies God. Never before in the history of the world have we had such easy access to the greatest source of truth in the world – the Word of God. The greatest tragedy however is that many Christians are too lazy to read it, let alone study it so that we are experts of it. This might’ve been understandable back when it was nearly impossible for ordinary people to own their own copy of the Bible. But now we have multiple copies in different translations and commentaries from gifted men to help us understand. It takes diligent study in order for us to “cut straight” the Word of God. (2 Tim. 2:15)

What this means for the rest of us is twofold: First, we need to read the Word and study it enough to understand what it means. We need to discipline ourselves to not waste time on trivial things like entertainment and hobbies and plant ourselves on our desks study laboriously. This will take a lot of discipline and effort. If you need help in this area, you are in luck because LBC is starting a new class on Feb 10 on Hermeneutics – the science of interpreting Scripture. Second, we need to appreciate our pastors and other teachers who study diligently to provide us with the very best teaching from the Word of God. It takes guts to go up on the pulpit and declare truth under public scrutiny. Let us value highly the Word of God that is taught to us and is available for us to study! It is God’s gift to us.

Basics, Illustrated

by Stephen Rodgers

This is long overdue, but James Shin has been cranking out illustrations for several of the series that are available to you in the Hub Post Directory.  This week, we’re highlighting Pastor Patrick’s series (from 2008/2009!) entitled “Getting Back to Basics.”

If you’ve never read it before, now’s a great chance to catch up, and enjoy James’ artwork in the process.

Let Us Not Sleep, As Do Others

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

From 1 Thessalonians 5:6

There are many ways of promoting Christian wakefulness. Among the rest, let me strongly advise Christians to converse together concerning the ways of the Lord. Christian and Hopeful, as they journeyed towards the Celestial City, said to themselves, ‘To prevent drowsiness in this place, let us fall into good discourse.’ Christian enquired, ‘Brother, where shall we begin?’ And Hopeful answered, ‘Where God began with us.’ Then Christian sang this song-

‘When saints do sleepy grow, let them come hither,
And hear how these two pilgrims talk together;
Yea, let them learn of them, in any wise,
Thus to keep open their drowsy slumb’ring eyes.
Saints’ fellowship, if it be managed well,
Keeps them awake, and that in spite of hell.’

Christians who isolate themselves and walk alone, are very liable to grow drowsy. Hold Christian company, and you will be kept wakeful by it, and refreshed and encouraged to make quicker progress in the road to heaven. But as you thus take ‘sweet counsel’ with others in the ways of God, take care that the theme of your converse is the Lord Jesus. Let the eye of faith be constantly looking unto Him; let your heart be full of Him; let your lips speak of His worth. Friend, live near to the cross, and thou wilt not sleep. Labour to impress thyself with a deep sense of the value of the place to which thou art going. If thou rememberest that thou art going to heaven, thou wilt not sleep on the road. If thou thinkest that hell is behind thee, and the devil pursuing thee, thou wilt not loiter. Would the manslayer sleep with the avenger of blood behind him, and the city of refuge before him? Christian, wilt thou sleep whilst the pearly gates are open-the songs of angels waiting for thee to join them-a crown of gold ready for thy brow? Ah! no; in holy fellowship continue to watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation.

3.5a