by Pastor Patrick Cho

Today was probably the most brutal day of walking so far during the trip. At times, I didn’t think I was going to make it! When we got back to the hotel, John and I took our showers and went straight to sleep. I was so exhausted, I didn’t even want to wash up. Only after considering how dirty we were from the day’s events, I thought it would be a good idea to get cleaned up. I’m sure John is thankful for that decision.

We began the day earlier than usual because we wanted to get over to the Temple Mount before it opened. Even though we got there fairly early, there was still a pretty long line. I don’t think anyone in the group cared because we were so excited to be there. The Temple Mount is where Solomon originally built the Temple. The Dome of the Rock, which is a decorative, non-functioning, Islamic mosque, sits on the likely spot where the Temple used to be.

Solomon built the Temple on Mt. Moriah, which is the location where Abraham was asked to offer up his son Isaac (Gen. 22:2). You would normally think that Abraham did this off in the far wilderness, but it would have been fairly close to the Canaanite settlement of Jebus. It was on Mt. Moriah where David built the altar at the threshing floor of Araunah (2 Sam. 24:11-25). And it was this city of Jebus that David eventually captured and renamed Jerusalem because it was never taken during the days of Joshua and the Judges of Israel (1 Chron. 11:1-9; 2 Sam. 5:6-12; cf. Josh. 15:63; Judg. 1:21; 19:10-12).

So, it was cool being on the Temple Mount considering all the historical significance of the place. I tried to imagine the Temple sitting there with its golden walls, beams, and doors. I imagined the priests walking through their daily routines of worship and sacrifice. It was amazing to consider that this was the place where the Shekinah (Heb. for “dwelling” or “resting”) Glory of the Lord rested on the Ark of the Covenant, and where He met with the people.

No Jews are allowed to go up to the Temple Mount, because they are not sure where the Holy of Holies used to be. They don’t want to accidentally step on holy ground and incur the wrath of God. The area is run by Jordanians today and is the site of three Islamic mosques. On Muslim holy days, apparently the entire area is covered with worshipping Muslims around the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the functioning mosque on the Mount.

From the Temple Mount, we headed to the Wohl Museum, which is an excavated area that is now a museum. It shows an area of homes that belonged to the aristocratic and wealthy inhabitants of Jerusalem during the days of Jesus. These would be fine homes even with some of today’s standards of fine living. Some of the buildings had Mosaic tiled floors and ornately decorated walls. It certainly was not the living place of common people. It was fascinating to see how many mikva’ot (or ceremonial cleansing pools) there were in the place. Dr. Grisanti explained that this was the kind of residence for the priests of the Temple who gained great wealth through their corrupt practices of selling animals for sacrifice in the Temple.

We went next to the Jerusalem Archaeological Park, which is wrapped around the Southern perimeter of the Temple Mount. It is here that you can see the foundation stones of Herod’s Temple and the devastating damage caused by the Romans in the destruction of the Temple (70 A.D.). You can see where the Romans threw giant stones down to the street level below leaving the Temple in ruins. They quite literally did not leave one stone upon another, thus fulfilling Christ’s prophecy to His disciples (Matt. 24:1-2). Even the concrete below the wall is shattered in places where the giant stones fell.

From the Jerusalem Archaeological Park, we headed into the City of David area south of the Temple Mount and walked through Hezekiah’s tunnel (2 Chron. 32:30; 2 Kings 20:20). Hezekiah originally dug this tunnel in anticipation of an Assyrian attack on the city by Sennacherib. It not only channels water from the upper Gihon Spring to the Siloam Pool on the southernmost end of the city, but it also would have been served as a secret escape route in case of an attack. The tunnel was very cramped and the water at times came up to the thighs, but Dr. Grisanti said it was a must-do activity for our time in Jerusalem. There was also a water shaft inside the tunnel where Joab possibly snuck into Jebus to originally conquer the city for David (cf. 2 Sam. 5:8).

At the end of the tunnel, we ended up at the area of the Siloam Pool where Jesus healed the man who was born blind (John 9). This was a massive pool that is still mostly not excavated because most of it lies underneath a Greek Orthodox Church. Dr. Grisanti taught a lesson from John 9 and helped us to consider the importance of that healing in the ministry of Christ and sovereignty of God. When we were done at the tunnel, we looked forward to the long uphill climb back to the hotel. But instead of taking the main roads and pathways, we climbed up an ancient drainage route that leads straight up to the Temple Mount. It isn’t used as a drainage sewer anymore, but it is scary to think of all the things that would have travelled through there in Jesus’ time (i.e., water, blood, and whatever else from the Temple sacrifices).

The walks in the tunnels are what made the day so intense, besides the brisk pace that we have been trying to keep up throughout the hills of the city. Parts of the tunnels were low so that we needed to stoop in order to move forward. Needless to say, we were dirty, sweaty, and gross by the end of the day, so showers were necessary. But so was sleep.

by Pastor Patrick Cho

We have only been in Israel for two days, but it feels like we’ve been here for over a week. I’m so thankful for how Dr. Grisanti has thought through how to maximize our time while we are here. This of course means we walk a lot (I don’t think I’ve ever walked so much in my life!), but the exercise is actually starting to feel good. I may be able to come home in much better shape than when I left (physically and spiritually!).

We began the day with breakfast at the hotel and class at 7:30am. Along with the sightseeing, all that we have been learning has been a bit overwhelming. It really is like drinking out of the proverbial drinking fountain. We have been learning about Old Testament history, New Testament history, modern Israeli history, geography, manners and customs, etc. Class this morning was about getting a better grasp of the city in general. We reviewed its major hills, valleys, gates, water sources, and history. We ended our time of instruction learning some Hebrew songs.

A little after class, we walked along the perimeter of the city, on the city wall (called the Rampart Walk) travelling from the Jaffa Gate to the Zion Gate. Although these were not the original city walls, it was interesting to see the city from that vantage point. Looking down from the walls, it was clear to see how they gave defenders an advantage from sieges and attacks. It will be interesting to go to Jericho later on this trip to learn more about the wall there.

From the Rampart Walk, we headed out to the probable site of the Upper Room and Last Supper. Of course, the original room has been buried over time and a new building has been built in its place, but it was still really cool to know where the room was in relation to other parts of the city and to review what happened there. It was there that Jesus broke bread with His disciples and instituted communion (Luke 22:7ff). He also washed His disciples’ feet and instructed them to humbly serve one another (John 13). The Upper Room was also where Judas left to betray Christ after Jesus offered him bread (John 13:26-30).

From the Upper Room, we went to another high perch overlooking the city from the south. This was at the Roman Catholic Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu. This allegedly is the location of Caiaphas’ house. Historically, this would have been where Jesus was tried and Peter denied Christ three times before the rooster crowed twice. Gallicantu literally means “rooster crow” (the Spanish word for rooster is “gallo”), and we could actually hear some roosters in the distance. There really isn’t any archaeological evidence that this site is authentic, but it did offer an awesome view. From the vista, we could see the Temple Mount, the supposed site of the Potter’s Field, and pretty much the entire city south of the Temple. Of particular interest was when Dr. Grisanti walked us through Solomon’s coronation. It was fascinating to see geographically how Adonijah’s failed coup played out with Solomon’s coronation (1 Kings 1). While Adonijah prepared to declare himself king, he would have audibly heard the trumpets blow announcing Solomon’s reign.

After a quick lunch, we headed up the Via Dolorosa (or “The Way of Suffering”) to St. Anne’s Basilica. This is the site of the pool of Bethesda where Jesus healed the man who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. The pools were surprisingly deep (almost 40 feet!) and you could see where the porticos (or patios) were. The local tradition of the area was that an angel would come and stir the waters and whoever was the first to climb in the pool would be miraculously healed. This man being an invalid was unable to enter the waters first, but Jesus miraculously healed him demonstrating His power, authority, and lovingkindness, but also authenticating His message as God’s Messiah. Of course, the Pharisees were more concerned that this man was carrying his bed on the Sabbath, and they overlooked the entire miracle and Miracle Worker.

From Bethesda, we had to quickly get over to the Museum of the First Temple. This place had artifacts and information about Solomon’s Temple and was absolutely fascinating. It also houses the oldest discovered facsimile of the Old Testament from Numbers 6. It was written on a thin sheet of silver and rolled up as an amulet! This is also the location of a pomegranate that was quite possibly used as a decoration on the priestly gown of Solomon’s Temple. On the pomegranate is engraved, “For the priest of the Temple of —-.” The blank is for the name YHWH. Since the Jews are careful about taking the Lord’s name in vain, you are expected to enter in the blank the word adonai (Lord), Jehovah, or ha shem (the Name).

After the museum, we went to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. There is heavy historical and archaeological evidence that this is the actual site of Jesus’ crucifixion and the empty tomb. The entire church was built in the days of Constantine by his mother Helena, destroyed in an invasion in the 600’s, and then rebuilt by the Crusaders. Inside it evoked mixed feelings in me. It was absolutely humbling and sobering to stand on the ground of the crucifixion and to see the site of the empty tomb. Just to consider historically what took place there was a worshipful experience that I will never forget. But the church is also a gaudy monstrosity of false worship. There are relics and decorations everywhere you see. Everything is covered in gold. But the saddest thing was to see the people there placing their faith in those relics and routines and trying to find God’s grace through them.

We actually didn’t go into the empty tomb because there is about an hour and a half wait just to see it for about a few seconds. But people do it! They wait in line just for the chance to touch the place where Jesus was laid. Dr. Grisanti was quick to remind us that Jesus was only in there for three days. We could certainly look forward more to when we will actually see Him on that last day.

There is a rock at the entrance of the church cut from Golgotha where people kiss the rock and rub their handkerchiefs on it as a way of taking some grace with them. It’s said that those handkerchiefs could aid in healing people or evoking blessing from God. It was just sad to see people weeping over this piece of rock and rubbing their handkerchiefs as if it is going to do some good. To see how greatly lost and misled these people were broke my heart.

At the end of the day, we headed back to the hotel for dinner before visiting a pedestrian district to see some modern shops. We ended up spending some time with team members at a McDonald’s. This was another very full and tiring day, but one that was also full of blessings. The devotionals that Dr. Grisanti has been sharing along the way have been truly encouraging and inspiring. Set against the backdrop of the city, the Word of God truly comes to life.

by Pastor Patrick Cho

We made it to Israel! The plane landed at Tel Aviv on-time at about 1:30pm. Dr. Grisanti met us at the airport and transported us to Jerusalem. Along the way, he taught us helpful phrases in Hebrew like, “Good morning, teacher!” (boqer tov moreh) and “How are you?” (mah shalom-kha or mah shalom-ekh). What was fascinating, though, was learning about the topography of Israel while actually driving across the country. We started in Tel Aviv on the coastal plain and headed east through the shephelah (or rolling hills). Past the shephelah was the hill country with its steep peaks and deep valleys. Once the bus got over the hills, we drove through the rift valley before arriving in the Old City of Jerusalem.

We entered the city through the Jaffa Gate, which is the biggest of the city gates. It’s called the Jaffa or Joppa Gate because it faces the city of Joppa, which is on the coast. After checking into our hotel and getting settled in, we went up to a high viewpoint to get an overview of the city. Jerusalem is basically made up of three valleys running north and south. To the west is the Hinnom Valley, in the center is the Central Valley, and to the east is the Kidron Valley. Between the Hinnom and Central Valleys is the Western Hill, and between the Central and Kidron Valleys is the Eastern Hill. Just beyond the Kidron Valley to the east is the Mount of Olives. It was seriously surreal standing on that perch overlooking the city. I had seen Jerusalem in pictures from books and the internet, but it was amazing to see the city in person.

We left the perch to take care of things like exchanging money and buying things that people in the group forgot, and afterwards we headed back to the hotel for dinner. Dinner was SUPER good. They had an assortment of salads, a seasoned ground beef patty with herbs and spices, seasoned turkey, rice pilaf, and steamed veggies. They also had pita and the best hummus I’ve ever tasted. Everything tasted really fresh and green! The people here certainly like their veggies!

After dinner, the group met downstairs to head out to the Western Wall (the Jews no longer refer to it as the Wailing Wall). There was some kind of military graduation going on so the area was packed with soldiers and their friends and family. The ceremony was a bit distracting, but it still didn’t take away from the experience of being at the Western Wall. There are separate areas for men and women. Clothing is to be modest. Voices are to be hushed. The men put on little yarmulkes because head coverings are required. As is the custom, people write little prayers and stuff them into the cracks of the wall. Going with the tradition, Pastor John and I wrote out little prayers ourselves and placed them in the wall.

I honestly had to take a moment to step back and watch. It was certainly exciting to be there, but it was also sobering. The ultra-orthodox Jews meet there to pray because it is one of the closest places they can stand to the original Temple’s Holy of Holies. They prayed fervently, yearning for some hope for their nation. Many of them were weeping as they prayed, leaning on the wall for support. It was heartbreaking to consider that their Messiah had come and had offered hope for the nation, but they missed it altogether.

Well, we left the Western Wall and headed over to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. We are planning to return there tomorrow, but Dr. Grisanti wanted us to see a daily tradition that takes place at 9:00pm. The church is shared by five different “Christian” religious groups made up of Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians. Sadly, the five groups cannot get along (videos can even be found online of them fighting with one another). Because they can’t agree on who has the greatest authority in the church building, they assigned the task of locking up the church to a Muslim family that lives there. Instead of having everyone leave to lock the door, at 9:00pm, they give the warning that the doors are going to be locked, and the Muslim fellow locks all the groups inside.

After the Church of Holy Sepulcher, we headed back to the hotel to get washed up and ready for an early start tomorrow. Jerusalem is built on a hill, so everywhere you walk is either up or down. Our legs truly got a workout today. I think they’re going to cramp up in my sleep! It was a tiring day, but I was thankful for all we were able to accomplish and learn – and it’s only Day 1! I’m really looking forward to tomorrow, but I hope our legs can keep up with the pace. Please also continue to pray for John since all the walking is particularly difficult for him with his recent sickness. Thank God we have a nurse in our group!

by Pastor Patrick Cho

It still hasn’t really set in that I’m on an airplane heading to Israel! Words can’t express how excited and thankful I am for this opportunity. I’m so grateful to the Lighthouse church family for making this possible. Our group met up at the Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX this morning at 10:30am. John and I grabbed some lunch with Christine and Eden before heading through security around noon. I was also thankful to see briefly my brother and his wife who drove up from Orange County to see me off, and Christine’s cousin who works at LAX.

We were greeted by Dennis Swanson, our trip coordinator, and quickly got checked in at El Al Airlines. I’ve met a number of people in our group now, and some have had some experience travelling to Israel. They all agree that the trip with The Master’s Seminary is going to be much more detailed and educational than anything they have been on before. That makes me even more excited to be going! One gentleman mentioned that after visiting years ago, he could not put down his Bible when he got back. Much of what he read, especially in the Old Testament, really came to life as a result of his experiences there.

Our trip leaders are Dr. Michael Grisanti and Dr. Michael Vlach. Dr. Grisanti actually went out to Israel ahead of us to prepare for our arrival and get our itinerary set. We’ll meet up with him once we land. He teaches Hebrew at the seminary and I can’t wait to see him since he was one of my favorite professors. Dr. Vlach started teaching at the seminary after I graduated, but I have read some of his work and it is very good.

I’m really thankful to be travelling with Pastor John, though we’re not sitting next to each other on the plane. It’ll be great to share in this experience with him. Of course, I’m sad that Christine couldn’t come with me, but hopefully we can save up and visit sometime in the future. It’s been nice meeting the others going on this trip because I don’t know most of them. It’ll be great building new relationships and sharing in the experience – seeing new places, tasting new foods, etc. We land in Tel Aviv in the early afternoon so I should get some rest!

by Pastor Patrick Cho

Editor’s Note: Patrick recently preached a couple of sermons that are relevant to this topic, specifically “Get It Right to Do It Right (Part 1)” and “Get It Right to Do It Right (Part 2).”

Chapter 2 of Fundamentals of the Faith walks you through the process of Bible intake and study. It’s in this chapter that you are taught the importance of hearing, reading, studying, memorizing, and meditating on God’s Word. Only then can you truly have a good grip on God’s truth. A particularly helpful point is made at the beginning of the chapter about the importance of meditation. If each of these aspects of Scripture intake is like a finger on the hand, meditation is like the thumb. You can’t truly get a powerful grip on God’s Word if you don’t take time to meditate on what it says.

Biblical meditation is not some mystical exercise of emptying your mind and focusing on nothingness. It isn’t a numinous process to achieve enlightenment or some transcendental state. Meditation is really about trying to remove anything that might hinder complete focus and to fill your mind with God’s truth. It is about keeping the Bible on your mind so that you contemplate its words, meaning, and applicability.

The Psalmist writes, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night” (Ps. 1:1-2). If taking in God’s truth is like consuming spiritual food and drink, meditation is the slow digestive process to internalize its contents (cf. Matt. 4:4; 1 Pet. 2:2). This is an ongoing process where the Word of God is on your heart day and night (Ps. 1:2); when you can’t sleep at night (Ps. 63:6); and all day long (Ps. 119:97).

When he gave the instruction of God’s Law to the people, Moses commanded them to keep God’s Word on their hearts (Deut. 6:6-9). They were constantly to speak of the Law to their children, in their homes, on their way, and throughout the day. The precepts of God’s Law would then influence everyday decisions and actions. God desired for His people to be reminded of His Word at every moment so that they could think His thoughts and make decisions according to His will.

As important as it is to hear, read, study, and memorize God’s Word, these disciplines do not benefit the Christian as much unless he takes time to meditate. How often have you read God’s Word only to quickly forget what it says? How many times have you committed a verse to memory only to lose it by the end of the day? We do not retain God’s Word because we allow other thoughts to push it out of our minds. It is vitally important that you spend some time silently reflecting on His truth throughout the day so that you do not forget it.

This is one of the reasons we take a minute at the end of each Sunday service to reflect on the sermon and be reminded of the principles that were taught. It’s important to quiet your mind setting aside distractions and to focus your heart entirely on God’s Word. Even in that brief minute, it is helpful to consider the message that was taught before you leave the service. Before you get in your cars and drive away, you can take a moment to remind yourself of what was taught, thank God for what you learned, and think about what you can do in application.

by Pastor Patrick Cho

The Bible is God’s inspired Word. In writing to his young disciple Timothy, Paul gives one of the most important passages to gain a right understanding of the Scriptures. He writes, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). The word is theopneustos in the Greek, which is a compound word bringing together the terms “God” and “breath.” In other words, when the Bible speaks, God speaks.

To bring the Bible to completion, God employed about 40 different human authors over a period of about 1500 years. These writers came from different parts of the world and from entirely different cultures. They wrote in three different languages – Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. But still, through the entire process, God orchestrated and superintended the work so that each author wrote exactly what God intended him to write. The Apostle Peter explained that it was the Holy Spirit who moved in these men to cause them to write God’s truth (2 Pet. 1:21). The Bible is not a collection of works from wise and learned men. It is not just a book of helpful instructions and maxims for life. It is the very Word of God.

Unfortunately, many Christians don’t hold the Bible with as much esteem as it deserves. Too many Bibles are left on shelves or in the backseat of the car throughout the week. If the Bible is indeed God’s written revelation to men, certainly those who profess to know God should be in it as much as possible.

What would God desire to communicate to His people? Through the Bible, we are given knowledge of God. We can learn who He is, what He is like, and what He desires and demands of us. We can learn what offends God and what pleases Him. Most importantly, we learn through the Scriptures how to come to know Him and place our faith in Him.

The Bible also gives us knowledge of ourselves and the world around us. We learn that we aren’t as good and godly as we’d like to think. The Bible helps us understand the depth of the wickedness of our hearts. It helps us discern that we live in a cursed world because of sin. The beauty of nature is not as beautiful as it was created to be because our sin has tainted it. In fact, all of creation groans to be redeemed and restored to its perfection (Rom. 8:19-25). Man sins against man. Hate, wars, and evil exists because of man’s disobedience to God.

The Bible reveals God’s solution to the problem of sin. Though He would have been completely just to judge the world and condemn it, God demonstrates His love by providing a way of salvation for sinful men through His Son Jesus Christ. Knowing that men were completely incapable to doing anything to get back into good standing with Him, God provided the way of salvation Himself. This salvation is entirely by grace, and not by anything we could hope to accomplish on our own. Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty of sin so that those who would believe in Him could have life.

The Bible even gives us a look at the future. It clearly teaches that this life is not the end. All men are destined to face an eternity in heaven or hell, and it all depends on their response to the person of Christ. The clock is ticking because Jesus promised He would return soon. There is a distinct urgency for men to respond to the truth of the Bible. Instead, sadly, most people choose instead to live for the temporal, fading, comparatively insignificant things of this life. It’s through the Bible that we learn that it profits a person nothing to gain the entire world while forfeiting his soul (Mark 8:36-37).

These are all truths that we could not know except that God revealed them to us in His Word. And there’s a ton more that God desires for us to know about Him, ourselves, the world around us, and the future that we can only come to know through the Bible. We need to be in it. Being in God’s Word is the only way that any believer will see growth in his or her life (1 Pet. 2:2-3). It is by receiving and abiding in the instruction of God’s Word that the church will grow together (Eph. 4:11-16).

Don’t be one of those Christians that is unfamiliar with his Bible. The first chapter of Fundamentals of the Faith gives a basic introduction of the Bible. Through the lesson, you come to know the sixty-six Books of the Bible. There are thirty-nine in the Old Testament and twenty-seven in the New Testament. Every page of Scripture centers on the one unified theme of the Bible – the glory of God in His redemption of man through His Son Jesus Christ.

Every Christian should have a basic working knowledge of the Bible. At the very least, you should know what are the Books of the Bible in order and with correct spelling (yes, it matters)! I certainly wouldn’t want to visit a doctor who couldn’t spell influenza. I’m sure it is difficult to take a Christian seriously who doesn’t even know the simplest things about the Bible (like its contents). Besides this, every member of Lighthouse Bible Church should know about and read the “Books of the Bible” series in the Beacon. This is a helpful series to get you better acquainted with God’s Word.

by Pastor Patrick Cho

Each week, during our Sunday School hour, one of the classes we offer at Lighthouse is Fundamentals of the Faith (FOF). This is a thirteen week study using a workbook that is published by Grace Community Church. In the class, we walk through the basics of Christianity covering topics such as “Introduction to the Bible,” “The Person of Jesus Christ,” and “The Church: Fellowship and Worship.” Unlike other Sunday School classes we offer, Fundamentals of the Faith is offered continually throughout the year except in the summer when we typically take a break from all classes.

FOF is a helpful tool to get the student of the Word better acquainted with basic spiritual truths. The lessons are refreshingly biblical and practical. Even walking through the exercises, the student becomes more familiar with the Bible by answering various questions from the text of Scripture. Each lesson is also accompanied by a weekly memory verse, which the students are encouraged to memorize and internalize.

At Lighthouse, we have actually made FOF a required class for membership. Even if you have grown up in the church and these lessons are very familiar to you, we still ask that you sit in the class. There a couple reasons for this. First, we don’t want to make any assumptions about a person’s salvation or familiarity with the Bible. Many people who took this class later admitted that they didn’t know as much as they thought. We are thankful that as a result of the class, some have even been introduced to the principal doctrine of the gospel. If someone wants to gain a better understanding of the Christian faith, FOF is a great class to recommend.

Second, much of the teaching at LBC assumes the lessons of FOF. Many times when the teachers of the church walk through a particular passage, they don’t have the time to sufficiently explain some of the more basic truths. By sitting in FOF, each member is given the same foundation and can learn where Lighthouse stands on each of these core doctrines. Besides these two reasons, FOF provides a wonderful environment to get better plugged into the church, meet other believers, and get to know the teachers of the class.

Fundamentals of the Faith could even be used as a helpful discipleship tool. If you are have already completed FOF, you could walk through the class again with your discipleship group. Parents might find the class as a helpful spiritual aid to shepherd their children. Think about how profitable it would be to study these things together with your children and discuss them throughout the week.

This series will walk through the lessons of FOF but more as a supplement to the class. For you members who still need to fulfill the membership requirement, this is not a viable alternative. But as we walk through the lessons together, hopefully this series will provide key insights and useful background information to make the class even more enjoyable. If you have already finished the lessons that are covered, you’re encouraged to review each lesson before reading the supplemental article. May the Lord continue to bless His church as its members uncompromisingly and unswervingly strive to grow in their understanding of His truth!

by Pastor Patrick Cho

One of my favorite scenes from C. S. Lewis’s classic, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, is where Edmund first encounters the White Witch. In case you haven’t read the book or don’t remember the scene, this is where, in an attempt to gain his trust, she asks Edmund what he most desires to eat. He responds, “Turkish Delight, please, Your Majesty.” When she gives him his wish, he proceeds to stuff his face full of the deadly dessert, but the more he eats, the more it leaves him wanting more.

When the box is empty, Edmund stares intently at it desperately craving more. Lewis explains, “At last the Turkish Delight was all finished and Edmund was looking very hard at the empty box and wishing that she would ask him whether he would like some more. Probably the Queen knew quite well what he was thinking; for she knew, though Edmund did not, that this was enchanted Turkish Delight and that anyone who had once tasted it would want more and more of it, and would even, if they were allowed, go on eating it until they killed themselves.”

What a brilliant picture of what sin does to the human heart! The deadly bait of sin lures a person with the promise of complete satisfaction, and yet it leaves the soul feeling somewhat satisfied and unsatisfied. The craving is satisfied in that the individual gets a taste of his heart’s desire. But the soul is left deeply unsatisfied because he desperately wants more. All the pleasures of the world and the lusts of the heart promise the same satisfaction and fail to deliver. There is no such thing as the sinner who says, “I don’t need any more because I have received all that my heart desires.” This is one of the reasons for our propensity to continue to sin. We are left wanting more.

Interestingly, according to Scripture and in our own life experience, the believer’s heart for God also knows satisfaction yet with a desire for more. But this is in a vastly different and incomparable way. Unlike with sin, when the believer experiences the knowledge of God, there is the possibility of complete satisfaction. Nothing else in the world compares with knowing God and we are willing to lay aside all earthly things to know Him. Jesus taught that the kingdom of heaven was like a precious pearl, and that the buyer of pearls would sell all that he owned to obtain it (Matt. 13:45-46). There is true satisfaction in God that the world can’t successfully forge.

And yet we do not know God as fully as He could be known. We see Him in Scripture, but our vision is limited by our finiteness. He is the infinite, Creator God, and we will forever remain His creatures. His mind is infinitely greater than ours and we could never successfully attain to it (Ps. 139:6; Rom. 11:33-34). His holiness alone sets Him apart from the rest of creation (Isa. 6:3).

But it isn’t only our finiteness that limits our ability to know God to the fullest. Our sin also keeps us from our goal. We are too easily satisfied by lesser things (cf. Jer. 2:13). Our hearts are too easily led astray. Though our hearts would desire to know Him, our sinful flesh constantly sets itself up as a barrier. Even though God has filled our hearts, we still struggle with a lack of desire for Him.

Still, with the believer’s heart, there will always be a deep-seated desire to know God more. Paul wrote that this was ever his goal (cf. Phil. 3:10). He was willing to lay aside everything else in order to attain a greater knowledge of His Savior. Every believer should identify with A. W. Tozer’s prayer at the conclusion of the first chapter of The Pursuit of God: “O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more…O God, the Triune God, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still.” Though we know Him really, we don’t know Him fully. There should always be an ongoing pursuit in our hearts.

Sin leaves us feeling somewhat satisfied and yet dissatisfied. It leaves us craving more and more without completely filling our hearts. God leaves us satisfied and yet somewhat dissatisfied in that our lives would be lived in a constant pursuit of Him. The Bible speaks truth when it says that both the backslider and good man will be filled with the fruit of their ways (Prov. 14:14).

But even though the two might seem similar, they are vastly different. If in nothing else, they are different in their ultimate outcomes. If a person pursues sin with all his heart, he will ultimately never be satisfied and his pursuit will end in death (cf. James 1:14-15). But when a believer pursues God with all His heart, he has an eternity of life to look forward to where his heart will be completely satisfied with the one he loves most (cf. 1 John 3:1-2).

by Pastor Patrick Cho

Being a young pastor at a growing church, I am faced with a variety of challenges. Each week I am finding out with greater clarity – by experience – how difficult pastoral ministry can be. Each person brings a unique context and background so that even common problems have different nuances and interesting twists. No two counseling opportunities are the same. Some might say, “Ministry is easy. It’s the people that are difficult.” While that might be true to a certain degree, for the pastor, that also is the source of the irony. You do the ministry for the people.

I’ll never get over the words Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, “For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy” (1 Thess. 2:19-20). Paul couldn’t wait for that day when he would stand before the Lord and present the Thessalonians as his crown of exultation. His heart was with the people. Yes, they caused him great agony and anxiety – perhaps even more pain than all of his other suffering (cf. 2 Cor. 11:28). But his heart was with the people. He didn’t complain about the problems that people brought, but he lovingly shepherded them and sacrificially invested in them. They were his joy.

That is a sobering reminder of what ministry is about. That is why I do what I do. I know that over time there will be difficulties and the constant burden of carrying other people’s hurts and struggles. But I count it such a tremendous privilege and joy to be involved in people’s lives the way I get to. When a couple gets engaged to be married, I get to walk with them to prepare them for marriage. I oftentimes get to officiate their wedding and be involved in their lives in a way that no one else will. When a family has a child, I am oftentimes one of the first that gets to visit and play with the new kid. And even though at times it is difficult, it is a tremendous joy and honor to be asked to help shoulder the load of those who go through difficult trials.

As a pastor, I have had the joy of seeing people transformed through the ministry and teaching of the church. Honestly, nothing has encouraged me more than those who have told me that God saved them through one of my sermons. It is a blessing to hear from people that when they come to me for counseling, it is helpful and leads them the right way to change.

Our members oftentimes tell me they would rather not bother me with their problems because they know I am busy. Honestly, I have come to accept the fact that I will probably be busy until I die. But that doesn’t mean that I would rather not meet with people or help them with counseling and prayer. It can be tiring. It can be painful. It can even be discouraging at times. But ultimately, it is a privilege and honor to be called to this service.

So when people ask me if I am too busy to meet up, my typical response is, “I’m not too busy for you.” I don’t say this because it’s the right thing to say or because it’s my job. I really count it a blessing and joy to be able to serve people in the way that I do. When I hear pastors tell me, “Ministry would be easy if it weren’t for the people” or “How great would it be if all the people went away,” I sometimes think to myself that maybe they weren’t meant to be pastors. For the pastor, it is a sobering call to love people and to show them the love of Christ, but there is no greater joy.

by Pastor Patrick Cho

Not long ago, my family and I had the opportunity to hang out with some of the newer collegians over dinner. It was a fun and simple event hosted by our college ministry to give newcomers a chance to get to know the pastor. There weren’t too many details in the planning. We munched on pizza and salad and just asked each other questions to get acquainted. Even still, it was one of the more enjoyable events of the year for me. The college ministry has been doing this for a little over a year now. What’s great is that when it first started, the staff didn’t even know about it. A few collegians just wanted to help freshmen and newcomers get acclimated to the ministry and so they planned this informal event.

I don’t know how many people realize this, but many of our ministries started much the same way. Members took a look around at what was going on and thought more could be done, took the initiative to get things moving, and ran with their idea. Care Ministry was a member idea. Sports Ministry was a member idea. Refreshments Team was a member idea. Local Outreach was a member idea. It is fun to look back at how these ministries have evolved over time, but it is most encouraging that these weren’t ministries that the leadership simply began in some meeting.

Many churches today are plagued with the “invisible member.” These are the individuals who went through a membership process at their church, agreed to commit themselves to that local body, and then subsequently disappeared. Sadly, while many churches boast of large membership rolls, when you visit their services on Sundays sometimes even the majority of the members aren’t there. Their members don’t participate. Their members sadly don’t even attend.

This is not my attempt to say that Lighthouse is so much better than those churches. The leadership certainly knows that this church still has much to learn and far to grow. But one of the things the leadership at LBC has been able to see over the years is that oftentimes our members are busy serving each other and meeting the needs of the church. They are involved on a week to week basis and are actively investing in the lives of others in the church. If you were to visit Lighthouse on a given weekend, you would most likely see almost all the members there.

What’s even better is that a lot of ministry is happening at the church without the leadership even knowing. We hear things through the grapevine about people meeting up with one another for accountability and prayer, or members serving each other with impromptu meal ministries and visitations. It really is a great joy to see because a healthy church is vibrant with activity. But it isn’t just any activity. It is a Christ-focused, people-loving ministry that is part of what it means to be in a congregation that is growing.

Paul told the Ephesians that the body would grow as long as the members committed themselves to this kind of service. Members should work together in unity (Eph. 4:1-6), exercising their gifts and abilities (Eph. 4:7-11), causing the body to build itself up and mature in Christ (Eph. 4:12-13). This would be accomplished through edifying service and speech (Eph. 4:15-16), and would result in a strong, healthy body that would be free of harmful ideas and doctrines (Eph. 4:14, 17-19).

I’ve been so blessed that our members at Lighthouse understand this body dynamic. When you walk into LBC on a Sunday morning, you are immediately encountered by a number of these coordinated moving parts of the body. While the church is growing and it could become easier and easier to simply blend in and observe, you’ll find that most of our members aren’t content with that. They don’t want to be spectator Christians, but would rather invest in others’ lives and love them like Jesus. One of our recent visitors made an encouraging observation and communicated it to me, “You can tell that the people here really love God and want to grow.” I certainly hope that will always be characteristic of the membership at Lighthouse.