“But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15)

by Pastor Patrick Cho

Growing up in church I remember whenever the pastor announced the morning’s sermon was going to be about evangelism, my heart would sink a little. The truth is that a message on evangelism is almost always convicting because of how much more faithful most believers could be in their witness. Sadly, there aren’t too many Christians who would say they have a problem with evangelizing too much. Most often it’s the other way around and the average Christian knows they should be telling others about the good news of Jesus more.

The Great Commission of Matthew 28:18-20 is probably the most fundamental passage we could turn to in regards to Christ’s command to take the gospel to the ends of the earth. It could be said that there is a form of the Great Commission in all four of the gospels and the book of Acts (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:46-47; John 20:21; Acts 1:8), but the Matthew passage gives the most detail. Jesus issues the command with His full authority (v. 18), so it is imperative that His followers understand and heed His words. The main command of the Great Commission is to “make disciples,” and this is supported by three participles: going, baptizing, and teaching.

Discipleship is a great word to describe the Christian life. It is about following Jesus. Being a Christian in the everyday, ordinary, normal sense means submitting to the Jesus Christ as Lord and following Him wherever He might lead. The command to make disciples essentially means that every believer should seek to reproduce themselves. As followers of Christ, our responsibility to help others know likewise how to follow Him.

“Going” is necessary if we are going to make disciples of all nations and we are going to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth (cf. Acts 1:8). It doesn’t necessarily mean that every believer must pack up and go (though obviously some must go and surely all must be willing to go if the Lord so leads). It does necessitate, however, that no Christian is exempt from this command. The participle implies that wherever a believer goes or finds himself, he is to live in obedience to this Commission. In other words, there is no place where the Great Commission doesn’t apply. A Christian can never rightly say, “Well, I just can’t devote myself to evangelism and missions right now.” Whether you are a student or working, single or married, young or old, busy or free, you are called to make disciples of Christ.

“Baptizing” refers to the ordinance of immersing people as a picture of their new life in Christ. It is the first act of obedience that believers are called to upon being saved, but this part of the Great Commission involves more than putting people underwater. It includes everything that baptism signifies – dying to your old self and being raised in newness of life identifying with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. In other words, being committed to baptizing is being committed to helping people understand what saving faith is all about. It involves helping them understand who God is, what sin is, why salvation is necessary, and how to attain it by faith in Christ. Importantly, it also involves helping people to understand that true saving faith calls for a changed life in obedience to Christ since we are baptized according to the command of Christ. True Christians are those who have been radically transformed by the power of the gospel and the Spirit in their lives so that they turn away from sin and walk according to the truth of Christ.

The participle “teaching” helps us to understand that Great Commission work is about more than just making converts. It is about helping people come to saving faith, but then committing to helping them grow in their understanding of God’s truth. If I traveled to South America to preach the gospel to a group of Argentines and some trusted in the gospel and were saved by God’s grace, how devastating would it be for me to abandon them and return home without ensuring that they have any means of growing with respect to their salvation? The Great Commission ensures that those who are saved are able to continue to grow as believers in Christ because they are being taught all that Christ has commanded. If I am going to fulfill the Great Commission, I need to be willing not only to share the gospel with others, but also either to remain with them to help them understand the whole counsel of God or ensure that they find a local church that will continue to nurture their infantile faith to maturity.

As believers, we are not to be ashamed of the gospel (Rom. 1:16). Rather than fearing men and others’ opinion of us, we are called to boldly proclaim the truth of Christ in love. Didn’t Jesus teach that if we are ashamed of Him before men in this sinful generation, He would likewise be ashamed of us in the end at His return (Mark 8:38)? Yes, the message of the gospel will be rejected by most. People may mock or scorn you for your proclamation of what comes across as a narrow, exclusive, judgmental, and offensive message. But we must also remember and trust that God works through the message preached to transform hearts and lives and to reconcile sinners to Himself.

Faithful evangelism also involves living a holy life as a testimony to the life changing power of the gospel. Those who do not know Jesus as Lord and Savior should notice the difference in genuine believers, that they live for something different and hope in something different. John Piper once wisely said that if non-Christians don’t ask you about the hope in your life, perhaps it is because you are hoping in the same things they are. Unbelievers should see a marked difference in the way a Christian lives in desiring to be set apart from this world and to live ultimately for the glory of God.

Helping others understand the gospel goes beyond lifestyle evangelism, though. The gospel is a message that must be proclaimed. Unless people hear the gospel, they cannot become followers of Christ (cf. Rom. 10:17). Too often believers are committed only to “lifestyle evangelism” without ever telling others about the salvation God offers in Christ and calling people to turn from their sins. We need to remember that unless they hear about what Christ accomplished on the cross and through His resurrection, they cannot be saved. They might be impressed with the way you live your life. They might tell you they respect you for the faith you possess as your own. But they need to be told that apart from Christ they have no true and lasting hope. All men will stand before God one day and give an account for their lives, and the only question that will matter on that day is, “What did you do with the gospel?” Those who turned away from the truth of God will suffer an eternal judgment, but by the grace of God, those who trust in Christ for salvation will enjoy eternal life. Since we possess the message of life and the remedy for sin, let’s strive to be faithful in our proclamation God’s truth in love.

by Pastor Patrick Cho

It was such an encouragement seeing so many this past weekend come together for our Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday services. What an amazing time to think upon the cross and reflect on the grace of God to save! The significance to the believer of the resurrection of Jesus Christ cannot be overstated. Here are just some ways the Jesus’ rising from the dead proved to be infinitely important and absolutely vital to the Christian faith.

1. The resurrection of Jesus was perhaps the single greatest demonstration of His deity to man.

Jesus spoke of His divine authority in John 10:18. By His authority He laid down His life for sinners and by His authority He took it up again. In history, more than a few people have claimed they would find a way to return from the dead. Man probably has been seeking to cheat death since death entered into the world. Jesus proved His divinity not only by paying for the sins of God’s people (past, present, and future) in a single immeasurably powerful act, but also by demonstrating His authority over sin and the grave by coming back from the dead.

2. Jesus’ resurrection was God’s validation of His work on the cross to save sinners.

One way that the resurrection validated Jesus’ work was that if He was an imposter and a fraud, God would not have raised Him from the dead. Only God has both the power and authority to raise someone from the dead. Here was someone who came claiming to be the Son of God. He spoke about many prophecies that were fulfilled in Him. He even taught that in Him God’s people would find the fulfillment of the Law! All God had to do to completely silence these outrageous claims was to keep Jesus in the tomb. But Jesus rose again, which was in a sense God’s way of saying, “He is who He says He is, and He accomplished what He said He would accomplish.”

Another way Jesus’ resurrection was God’s validation of His work on the cross was through the fulfillment of prophecy. The OT writers wrote about how the Christ would suffer and be raised again. This is probably nowhere clearer than in Isaiah 53:10-11, “. . . He shall see His offspring; He shall prolong His days . . . Out of the anguish of His soul, He shall see and be satisfied.” All this is written after God’s servant is crushed by the Lord and offered as a guilt offering. The OT prophets foretold that the Messiah would come back from the dead, and Jesus rose again in fulfillment of those prophecies.

3. Jesus’ resurrection secured the believer’s hope for future grace.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians that Jesus rose from the dead as a firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep (1 Cor. 15:20-23). In other words, if Jesus rose from the dead, it is certain that His people will follow. The great foundation to our hope as believers is that Jesus is not lying in some tomb in Israel. In fact, Paul concedes that if there is no resurrection, all Christians have no reason to hope and are of all men most to be pitied (1 Cor. 15:19). Those who seek to completely destroy the Christian faith need only prove that Jesus did not rise from the dead. This is how much the Christian faith and hope rest on the resurrection. We live in the knowledge that this life is not the end. This world is not our home because we have been made citizens of a heavenly kingdom. We are aliens and sojourners in this life. There is a glorious inheritance awaiting us when Jesus comes again and is fully revealed to us. All this hope rests on His resurrection.

There are many more reasons the resurrection is significant for the believer, but these are the ones we focused on this past weekend. May the hope you have in Christ motivate you to live holy lives for His glory. Let’s seek to put aside sin and any encumbrances and run undistracted towards Him. And may our understanding that Jesus not only rose from the dead but is also coming again compel us to take risks for the faith because there is more to life than what we see here. As believers in the risen Lord, let us preach the gospel of His resurrection with greater faithfulness in light of these reflections from God’s truth.

by Pastor Patrick Cho

Late last year, I began a short series entitled “Common Pitfalls for Young Men.” Through this series, I wanted to highlight issues that have frequently come up in counseling over the years. Meeting up with young men for fellowship and prayer has been one of the greatest highlights for me in pastoral ministry, but through these periodic meetings I noticed certain concerns repeatedly needing to be addressed. While other men in other churches might deal with different struggles, these were the issues that came up again and again here at Lighthouse. Considering that the temptations we face are all common to men (cf. 1 Cor. 10:13) and that there is really nothing new under the sun (Eccl. 1:9), I thought a series like this might be helpful.

I once went into a Christian bookstore and was walking through the aisles when I came across a baby pillow with a Bible verse stitched onto its face. The passage read, “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest.” This comes from Proverbs 6:10, which is a stern indictment against laziness. The very next verse explains what this little sleep and slumber leads to, “And poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man” (Prov. 6:11). Truly, this is every parents’ great aspiration for their children!

Laziness is one of those sins that most people might dismiss as minor or insignificant. It can be defined as inactivity, idleness, and a refusal to work. What this really boils down to is a lack of self-control. When a person struggles with laziness or idleness, they simply refuse to fight against their self-centered desire for what comes easy. It is the opposite of industry, hard work, and diligence.

Seeing that it is a common struggle that many people admit, it is not surprising that the Scripture offers quite a bit of wisdom on the topic. Besides the passage in Proverbs 6:6-11 mentioned earlier, consider these verses as well:

Proverbs 10:4 – “A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.”

Proverbs 10:5 – “He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame.”

Proverbs 10:26 – “Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him.”

Proverbs 12:24 – “The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor.”

Proverbs 12:27 – “Whoever is slothful will not roast his game, but the diligent man will get precious wealth.”

Proverbs 13:4 – “The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.”

Proverbs 15:19 – “The way of the sluggard is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is a level highway.” (Note that the contrast is made between “the sluggard” and “the upright”!)

Proverbs 18:9 – “Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys.”

And my personal favorite…

Proverbs 19:24 – “The sluggard buries his hand in the dish and will not even bring it back to his mouth.”

Why is this such a serious sin to the Lord? The foundation to the answer lies in the creation account. In Genesis 2:15, it states that the Lord placed Adam in the Garden of Eden to work and keep it. This is significant because sin had not yet entered into the world. Therefore, it is incorrect to dismiss or categorize work as a “necessary evil.” It was part of God’s perfect plan for men that they would work. In this, as the crowning point of all creation, man could further bear the image of God and represent Him since the Scripture states clearly that God is a God who works (Gen. 2:1-3). Thus, to refuse to work is at the heart a rebellion against God’s good and perfect created order.

Besides this, in writing to the Thessalonians, the Apostle Paul gives another reason for the offensiveness of laziness. Having given the warning to admonish idlers in 1 Thessalonians 5:14, he writes follow-up instructions in 2 Thessalonians 3, “Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.” In other words, idleness is a sin because it stands against the gospel.

This might seem harsh at first, but after some consideration it makes sense. Jesus came teaching a new commandment, that believers ought to love one another as He loved us (John 13:34). But by being lazy, some in the church were clearly taking advantage of others. Without contributing to the needs of the saints, these men would come and eat the meals provided by the church. Paul’s admonishment was, “If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat” (v. 10b).

The Apostle Paul was not giving instructions that he himself did not live up to. He pointed to his own ministry as an example of diligence (2 Thess. 3:7-9; cf. 1 Thess. 2:9). Not wanting to be a burden on anyone, Paul worked diligently to provide for his own needs. He did this that others might follow in his example. Looking at it broadly, all this was in application of the law of Christ (cf. Gal. 6:2). This was Paul’s application of love for the saints because the gospel had saved and transformed him.

Laziness and diligence do matter to the Lord. We need to be careful not to fall into the trap of thinking it is merely a lesser sin. All sin is offensive to a holy God, no matter how small. But laziness is a particular sin that the Bible has addressed over and over again. As such, believers in Christ ought to cultivate diligence and industry. We ought to work hard at what we do because we ultimately do it for the Lord.

Here are some practical ways young men can cultivate diligence:

1. Take some time to consider the law of Christ (Gal. 6:2). As believers, we ought to look past ourselves to serve others and help meet their needs. Bring your mind to agree with what God’s Word reveals concerning the sinfulness of laziness and the uprightness of diligence.
2. Pray that the Lord would help you in this area of your life. Confess the sin of laziness to Him and ask Him to help you grow in diligence.
3. Study God’s Word and cultivate a biblical theology of work.
4. Set realistic goals for the day and seek to be productive in what is profitable and good. It is said that if you aim at nothing, you will be sure to hit it. Remember that being busy is not necessarily the opposite of being lazy.
5. It is not true that lazy people never work hard. Many lazy young men are very diligent when it comes to video games and recreation. Redirect your energy considering what is most valuable to the Lord.
6. Since laziness at the heart is self-centeredness, seek out ways to serve others.
7. Ask for accountability from your small group or leaders. Have them pray for you and share your daily or weekly goals with them so that they can keep you accountable.

Author’s Note: For more on the theology of work, listen to these messages from Pastor Jim Kang of LBC East Bay.

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.

by Pastor Patrick Cho

From time to time, I get contacted by high school or college students to meet up. Sometimes there is some agenda they want to discuss (ahem… girls), but sometimes they just want to take some time to get to know me. I have always appreciated these opportunities because having long since passed my high school and college years, there is so much I understand better today that I wish I could go back and tell my younger self. I know how impressionable a young mind can be and I appreciate when young men recognize their limitations and inexperience and seek the counsel of older men in the church.

One question I am frequently asked is, “What advice would you give a younger man desiring to grow spiritually?” Throughout the next several Pastor’s Corner articles, I would like to address some of the common spiritual pitfalls that I often see young men stumble into. The aim would be then to offer some practical counsel not only about how to avoid these pitfalls but also how to positively pursue biblical attitudes and actions.

One of the greatest dangers I see in young men is pride. Unfortunately, this is particularly true of those who seek to grow in spiritual knowledge. This is why one bit of counsel I often repeat with our seminarians is to guard the heart against pride. We are not naturally prone to humility. There is a heightened tendency in the human heart to magnify self when the mind is armed with knowledge. We like to let others know that we are well-versed in the Bible and theology. We like to put our reading and spiritual disciplines on display. All too often I see young men in particular puffed up with conceit.

I’ll never forget one occasion years ago when I was a younger college pastor. I had just finished Bible study and we were enjoying a time of informal fellowship when one of the college students approached me and introduced himself. He was new to our Bible study and wanted to let me know how much he appreciated the preaching from the Word. He then went on to explain to me all the things he felt I missed in the text and some points that he felt I could have addressed. I couldn’t help but smile. I thanked him for his input and for visiting our Bible study. I wish I could say encounters like this were rare, but it seems that each year in college ministry there was at least one. There was always that one guy who needed to tell me how much they knew or what books they were reading. They would throw out the occasional theological term to validate their spiritual prowess.

1 Peter 5:5-7 is a sober reminder that all men, young and old, need to clothe themselves with humility. This is because God opposes the proud and we find ourselves under the mighty hand of God. It is the mighty hand of God that will hold down the proud and arrogant, and it is the same mighty hand that will exalt the humble (cf. Ps. 147:6; Matt. 23:12). The Bible promises that the Lord will direct the humble heart (Ps. 25:9). We forget that the greatest in God’s kingdom are those who humble themselves (Matt. 18:4).

Here are some practical ways young men can cultivate humility:

1. Take some time each morning to preach the gospel to yourself. There is nothing that can humble a person more than the sobering reminder of our personal depravity and our absolute reliance on the grace of God to save.
2. If you especially find pride to be a point of difficulty or struggle, serve others. The problem with pride is that we are too focused on ourselves. One great way to direct your heart away from yourself and toward others is to serve them. Especially target those who will not be able to repay your service.
3. If you struggle with pride, then there are probably people in the church that you either mistreat or avoid. If you have been mistreating them, ask the Lord for forgiveness and then meet up with them to ask their forgiveness as well. Do something to encourage at least one of these people this week. Write them an encouragement note or treat them to a meal. It may be that you avoid them because you feel like you are better than they. Learn to treat them as better than yourself (Phil. 2:3-4).
4. Learn to be quiet. One sure giveaway of a prideful heart is an unbridled tongue (cf. James 3:2). Let others talk and try not to offer your opinion when no one has asked for it.
5. Seek to apply the knowledge you gain. Remember that mere knowledge puffs up (1 Cor. 8:1), but true wisdom is applied in meekness (James 3:13).

by Pastor Patrick Cho

A couple weeks ago, I had the opportunity to share a devotional with our college ministry at their annual welcoming luau. Each year this proves to be one of my favorite events because of the chance to get to know the new collegians (and see the returning ones, as well!). I decided to share this time about the freedom we receive through the grace of God in Jesus Christ. I was blessed by these thoughts from the first chapter of a book by Sinclair Ferguson entitled By Grace Alone. In this book, Ferguson walks through a contemporary hymn written by an African pastor, E. T. Sibomana. The book covers a variety of themes related to the gospel and the grace of God.

In order to address the topic of freedom, it is necessary biblically to explain the human’s bondage to sin. Every person who walks this earth is in spiritual bondage. There are, of course, many people who have no sense of this bondage, who walk around completely certain that they are free – free to do what they want, free to live as they please. Many people are angered when they are confronted with the idea that they are not in control but are slaves to sin. But Jesus taught quite plainly in John 8:34 that the one who sins is a slave to sin.

The problem is that there is a widespread misunderstanding about what it means that we are sinners. Most people would admit that they are not perfect. Whenever I have a chance to talk to someone about their sinfulness, they are almost always ready to admit that they have done some wrong things. But this admission doesn’t go far enough. Generally, people believe that they are morally good and right but that they stumble from time to time. We are generally good people, they hold, who mess up occasionally. This is even how some professing Christians view their sinfulness. They would confess, “I’m a sinner because I have sinned in my life.”

This perspective doesn’t quite match up with the Bible’s description of the human condition. The Bible proclaims that all men are sinners by nature and are enslaved to their sin (cf. Ps. 51:5; Eph. 2:3). All men are born sinners and are bound to their sinful tendencies. As lovely as my children are and as much as I love them dearly, I understand that even at their young age they are sinners in desperate need of God’s saving grace. The problem isn’t that we are sinners because we have sinned. It is more accurately understood that we sin because we are sinners. This is our nature and our identity apart from Christ.

A person needs to understand and confess this truth in order to fully understand and appreciate the freedom that is offered in Christ. There is a wonderful proclamation of emancipation in John 8:36, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” Jesus could set the sinner free because He paid the sinner’s ransom. He would go to the cross and hang in judgment for the sins of the world. As an innocent man, He would die the death in place of guilty sinners. The punishment that was rightfully deserved by sinners He would take upon Himself. He would bear the curse of sin for us that we might be set free.

The ideas of slavery and freedom, though they should be deeply etched in our minds because of our unfortunately history, are terms that are unfamiliar to us experientially. In America, we live in the land of the free. One of the banners of the American Revolution stated emphatically, “We serve no sovereign here.” But the reality is that all people are under the rule of a sovereign. Either they are bound under the despotic tyranny of sin, or they are slaves of a benevolent and righteous Lord. For Christians, we need to remember that we were purchased out of our slavery to sin and made slaves of righteousness (Rom. 6:18). So now, we no longer live for ourselves but for the one who died and was raised again for us (2 Cor. 5:15). Praise God for the freedom we have in Christ. Though we were in bondage to sin with no hope of deliverance or rescue, He made a way for us by sacrificing Himself. He set us free.

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” (1 Peter 4:10)

by Pastor Patrick Cho

When I was in school, I remember taking a spiritual giftedness survey to help determine which gift God had bestowed on me. It was a list of questions about my personality and tendencies and I had to give myself a score for each question. After the scores were all added up, the test would help determine my spiritual giftedness. If I tended to respond to most of the questions with mercy, then I had the gift of mercy. If I was detailed and organized, perhaps I had the gift of administration. I suppose I don’t have a serious problem with these tests in general since they could be useful in helping people get a better idea of how they can best serve the church. But there might be a better way to assess this than a personality test.

One issue that I have with these tests is that they work off the assumption that we have a comprehensive list of spiritual gifts given to us in Scripture. There are several lists of gifts mentioned in the New Testament: 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 1 Corinthians 12:28-30, and Romans 12:6-8. Interestingly, none of the lists perfectly matches another. All the lists have at least one gift that isn’t mentioned in the other two. Some gifts are listed in two lists but not the third. The only gift listed in all three is prophecy. It seems to be a fair conclusion that the Apostle Paul’s main concern was not to give the church a comprehensive list of gifts.

Even if you compiled all the gifts mentioned in these passages, there is still no real way of knowing whether you would have a comprehensive list of all the extant spiritual gifts. In fact, biblical evidence seems to indicate otherwise. Consider Ephesians 4:11, which serves not so much as a list of spiritual gifts as much as a list of those who have been gifted, namely apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. As an example, in this passage the Apostle Paul mentions evangelists, which is probably best understood as those who have a particular gift for evangelism. But there is no mention of the gift of evangelism in the lists of 1 Corinthians 12 or Romans 12. This could perhaps be seen as proof that there are gifts that exist that aren’t mentioned in the list passages of the New Testament. So while spiritual gift surveys might be received as helpful, there is no way that they could provide a complete list of gifts to choose from.

When you look at the lists of spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians and Romans, the point of these passages isn’t so much about identifying one’s particular gift as it is about exercising one’s gift in order to benefit the body of Christ. Too many Christians excuse themselves from serving the church body because they don’t see themselves gifted in a particular way. For instance, someone might refuse to evangelize on a university campus because they don’t feel “gifted” to do so. Yes, we see certain individuals gifted specifically in evangelism (cf. Acts 21:8), but it is instructive that Paul would tell a young Timothy to do the work of an evangelist (2 Tim. 4:5). The assumption is that Timothy is not necessarily gifted as an evangelist, but this doesn’t excuse him from fulfilling that role.

The point is that as Christians we need to be busy exercising our spiritual gifts, abilities, and talents in a way that benefits and builds up the rest of the body of the church. I like the way the Apostle Peter simplifies it in 1 Peter 4:10-11. According to this passage, there are some in the church that are particularly gifted to serve with their speech and there are others that are gifted to serve with their hands. My encouragement to you is to find out how you best fit to serve the body, and then to put that into practice. This doesn’t mean that “hands” people are never going to serve with their speech and “speech” people are never going to serve with their hands, but each Christian is going to have a specific way that they best minister to the church.

The picture of a healthy spiritual body is one where the individual members are all functioning together to mutually edify the whole for the glory of Christ. No Christian is called to be a passive observer. God has designed the church so that the members are all dependent upon one other. So instead of trying to nail down specifically which spiritual gift you must have, it might be better to consider your abilities, interests, and desires and to serve the body in light of them. What are you good at? What do you really enjoy doing? Chances are the church could really use your help with it.

by Pastor Patrick Cho

The problem of pornography is one that is not nearly addressed as much as it should in churches today. It is a devastating problem that ruins marriages and ministries. Many men and women have become enslaved to it and sadly few seek help when they desperately need it. One of the problems we deal with is how accessible pornography is now in the Internet age. Because this sin is so prevalent, many minimize its seriousness by reasoning to themselves that everybody’s doing it. Heath Lambert writes a very helpful article in the Journal for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood about the problem of pornography. I hope everyone will take the time to read it regardless of whether this is a particular struggle for them or not. The principles shared in the article are helpful for spiritual growth, and chances are that a believer will at least have an opportunity to help someone else who is enslaved to pornography.

“To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” (1 Corinthians 12:7)

by Pastor Patrick Cho

There are few theological issues that have confused Christians more than the doctrine of spiritual gifts. A clear line of demarcation can be seen between the two sides of the issue. There are many good and well-intentioned churches who teach that God still bestows miraculous sign gifts upon individuals today, and many Christians practice what they perceive to be miraculous sign gifts. On the other hand, there are many Christians who understand that these miraculous sign gifts have ceased and are no longer truly practiced today. They would argue that these gifts ceased at the latest with the ministry of the Apostles.

There are several terms used to describe spiritual gifts in Scripture. All of these terms can be found in the opening verses of 1 Corinthians 12.

• The first is “spiritual gift” (1 Cor. 12:1; Gr. pneumatikos). This expression has at its root in the word for “Spirit.” It signifies that spiritual gifts were indeed spiritual as opposed to natural. The exercise of spiritual gifts is not just enhanced natural ability.
• The second term is “gift” (1 Cor. 12:4; Gr. charisma). This word shares the same root as “grace.” In other words, the gifts God bestows upon believers are demonstrations of His grace. No spiritual gift is earned or deserved. God gives gifts to show His kindness and grace.
• A third term is “ministries” (1 Cor. 12:5; Gr. diakonia). This is related to the word “deacon” or “servant.” By identifying spiritual gifts as “ministries,” the Apostle Paul helps to denote their purpose. The gifts were intentionally given to believers to serve one another and edify the church (cf. 1 Cor. 12:4-7; 14:4-5, 12, 17, 26).
• A fourth term for spiritual gifts is “activities” (1 Cor. 12:6; Gr. energēma). This is a word that connotes work. God is ultimately the one who works in and through believers, thus “energizing” their gifts.
• A fifth term is “manifestation” (1 Cor. 12:7; Gr. phanerōsis). To manifest something is to bring it to light or reveal it. The gifts were never intended to be an end in themselves, but a means to an end. They were signs, and as signs do, they pointed to something. One of the purposes of the spiritual gifts was to authenticate the messengers of God. Jesus had ascended to the Father from the Mount of Olives, but He left His Apostles behind to take the gospel to the ends of the earth. The “signs of a true Apostle” were given to authenticate these Apostles and their message as truly of God. This is why Paul defends his apostleship by claiming his ability to perform signs of a true Apostle (2 Cor. 12:12).

There was a high frequency of spiritual, supernatural activity during the time of Moses when he spoke on behalf of the Lord. There was likewise great spiritual, supernatural activity during the ministries of the prophets Elijah and Elisha. It is no surprise that the Bible also shows heightened spiritual, supernatural, miraculous activity during the time of Christ and the Apostles. In these periods of special revelation, signs, wonders, and miracles were performed to authenticate the ones delivering God’s Word.

by Pastor Patrick Cho

This past Sunday (on 5/12) we celebrated Mother’s Day at LBC and took some time away from the Book of James to study Paul’s remarkable statement in 1 Timothy 2:15, “Yet she will be saved through childbearing – if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.” Paul’s point is to direct his readers’ attention to God’s amazing grace towards women by providing a means for them to have great dignity and honor. This “salvation” was granted because of the indignity that resulted through Eve’s deception when she became a transgressor. God’s highest calling for a woman is for her to serve her family – to be a helper for her husband and instrumentally to raise up the next generation in the Lord. This is given for her good and as a blessing.

I’m afraid that the more time passes, the more our culture will drift further from the loving counsel of God’s Word. Such a message about a woman’s high calling sounds antiquated and even barbaric to contemporary ears. Popular culture scoffs at the idea that a woman’s highest calling is to be in the home caring for her family. If God was a loving God who cared for men and women equally, wouldn’t He give to both genders complete equality, not only in value but also in function? The answer to that question is obviously no. The Word of God was written as God’s loving counsel to men. The instructions He has given to bring order to the home and church are driven from the fact that He is a God of love, and yet gender role distinctions are clear from what we read in the Bible.

Certainly it is challenging to go against the grain of contemporary thought and even to be mocked by the masses for holding to such a seemingly outdated concept. The rest of society believes it has promoted justice by rejecting God’s plan for men and women, but how is going against the God of justice promoting true justice? Perhaps the reason these principles are difficult is not so much because of God but because of our own hearts. Rather than trusting that God’s sovereign plan is best for us, we would rather challenge Him and hold to our own belief of what is best.

The church should rise up in celebrating God’s roles for men and women. We ought to celebrate our differences and glory in the roles and work to which God has called us. This is not just the “Lighthouse way.” It is so frustrating to hear people reduce it to that. “So-and-so is only a stay at home mom because that’s the way Lighthouse is.” How unfair and belittling this opinion is when a mother is seeking to devote herself to the Lord and be a God-honoring mom, and others believe it is simply to conform to an institution. This isn’t Lighthouse’s way. It’s God’s.

Some have asked about single moms. How do these principles apply in their unique contexts? I agree that the context is unique and challenging. In the plans and purposes of God and because of the fallen nature of man, some God-fearing women are put in the position to raise their children on their own. In some ways, they are asked to serve as both mother and father. Of course this necessitates that these moms find work outside the home. But I also believe it places a greater responsibility and obligation upon the church to care for these ladies. God has graciously given us a church family where we can mutually encourage and serve one another, and in the absence of a father the rest of the church family can help to fill that void in a child’s life. Praise God that single moms are not abandoned by God and left to fend for themselves (cf. Mark 10:29-30). At the very least, the members of the church ought to pray for our single moms that the Lord would strengthen them to persevere through the difficulties of being a single parent.

I’ve already heard that this past Sunday’s sermon has sparked some helpful conversations and challenging meditation. I praise God for that. He is a good God who knows what is best for us. Let’s continue to lean on His wisdom to direct us and guide us and trust that His understanding, goodness, and justice far exceeds ours. And in light of Mother’s Day, thank you to the moms of Lighthouse Bible Church who strive for excellence in raising up the next generation to love and fear the Lord.