by Pastor Patrick Cho

As Pastor John mentioned, June 6 will be the official date of the transition where I will assume the role of senior pastor at Lighthouse. It’s a bit daunting especially since I can see today’s date and that date on one screen in my Outlook calendar! There is still a lot to do in preparation as well as a lot to think through, but we are confident that by God’s grace He will carry us through. Many people have been asking me how I feel about the transition since it is so imminent. Am I scared? Am I excited? I thought it would be easier simply to write down my thoughts and share them here.

First, am I scared? Honestly, I am not. There was one day, when John first mentioned that the transition would happen on June 6 and not July 11, that I was a little scared. That would give me one less month to prepare. But I was quickly reminded about the reasons why I wasn’t really scared about the July 11 date and that comforted me. John and I have seen God’s faithfulness over the past eleven years. God has carried us through some very significant trials and we have also experienced many joyful blessings. This is the major reason why I wasn’t really scared. I don’t believe God has brought us this far only to abandon us now. I’m confident that God will continue to carry us as He has carried us in the past (cf. Isa. 40:31).

Is the weight of responsibility daunting? Yes. Being an associate pastor was comfortable. If anything got really difficult, I could run to John. There are many people who require shepherding. There are many ministries that need planning. And besides this, Sunday is always coming, so there is always another sermon that needs preparing. The weight of responsibility is definitely increasing, but I am confident that the same Lord who strengthened John will strengthen me. The same God who led LBC in the past will continue to lead LBC to the future.

Second, am I excited? Absolutely! I’m excited about what God has in store for this church for the future. So far we have been able to build wonderful relationships with churches in the Czech Republic and Argentina. Where will God send us next? We have been able to see our church family grow almost every year. How much more will we grow? We have moved into a new facility. Will we ever outgrow this building? There is so much God can do through us if only we remain faithful to Him and His Word. I’m definitely excited about this.

Not only this, but also that we’ll have another church in San Jose to work with. We can collaborate together and encourage one another. We have a trusted ministry that we can help and go to for help. It took us about ten years to finally put wheels on the Vision of LBC and plant a church. Now with two churches actively working towards that goal, will we be able to plant a third church even sooner? The possibility is exciting.

I know it will be difficult. I don’t know exactly how difficult it will be, but I’m sure it will be extremely trying at times. But God has helped us in the past and has used the trying times to build us and mold us into the ministry we are now. I’m confident He will do the same in the future.

Third, people have been asking me what the plans are for the future. What will I preach through? How will the church’s ministries be structured? We will communicate most of these decisions at the members meeting on June 6. However, Pastor John reminded the elders of one thing that was crucial. The solution for the future is not merely going to lie in greater structure and order. While that is helpful, the more important thing is that our people are growing. If the church family is growing, our attitude towards ministry will be what it needs to be. We won’t have complaining hearts, but encouraging ones. We won’t have pessimistic attitudes, but faith-full ones. A growing body is the key to the future. Structure and organization are helpful and necessary, but not the most important thing.

How can the each church member help to make the transition smoother? Grow. If you are not finding joy in the Lord, if your heart seems distant, get back to the basics and cultivate a faithful heart once again. If your service has become dry and ministry is just going through the motions, remember the reason why you serve in the first place. There is no great mystery. It is about getting back to the basics – taking time to pray, meditating on the Word, and preaching the gospel to yourself daily. This is where God-honoring service stems from, not just from addressing areas of greatest need. Do you love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength? If not, pray and work to get your heart where it needs to be. That is the greatest help any member could offer the church during this time of transition.

I’m sure John and I will be sharing more of our thoughts as the weeks wind down. It is truly amazing to think the time is finally upon us. Let’s really seek to be faithful and usher in the transition with prayer. It will take a bit of sweat and effort, but I know that the Lord will be our strength, guide, and shield.

by Pastor John Kim

As a young child, the Bible passage that we would most hear often is Ephesians 6:1-3: 1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”

It is obvious that to obey and honor your parents is one of the primary priorities children have to bring glory to God. The dilemma starts to arise in how does one transition from being a child under the authority of parents to making decisions that are independent from parental oversight. For those who have grown up in an Asian environment, the concept of filial piety is something that is clearly a part of the culture. Obedience to parents is an uncontested rule and to question or disobey your parents would bring great shame and dishonor to the family. Even for those that would say they are Christians, this issue has brought tremendous challenges when there are significant decisions that need to be made.

I can think of two issues that are very much at the forefront when considering how to deal with parents.

The first would be that of one’s life purpose. From a very early age, a child might hear that their greatest priority is to study hard, go to a good college, get a good job so that you could have a successful and fulfilled life. On the surface there isn’t anything necessarily wrong with this. It is only when you dig a little deeper and examine the motivations and desires that are underlying this kind of mindset do you see what is at the heart. Some parents are so insistent on this path that every possible way of enhancing potential success is not only considered but often taken in multiplied ways. It is not uncommon to hear of young children being tutored while in elementary school, not because they are deficient in their understanding but to try and exceed past the average standards that are expected for that particular stage. Understanding that the elite colleges also give weight to extracurricular activities and achievements, there is tremendous pressure to not only participate in all manners of disciplines such as music, athletics, and academically related activities, but to excel at the highest levels. As the drive for success starts early, the first three decades of life are pretty much dictated by this focus and does not end until the fruits of the labors are actually materialized. This of course does not automatically happen for everyone and those who fail to reach the highest levels of success are then trapped within the consequences of the time, energy, finances, and sacrifices that all come with this. Even with success does not come the peace that one would assume will be there awaiting at the top of the mountain. In fact, success breeds continued expectations as well as the realization that there is always more to be attained. There is also the inevitable empty feeling of “What now?” when the highest levels of achievement have been reached. It is not as satisfying as one would think. Just consider the legions of celebrities, superstar athletes, politicians, and other significant figures that most would consider to have reached the pinnacle. Why is there still a lack of contentment?

This issue is compounded when you throw in the element of your commitment to Christ and how it is manifested through your involvement in the local church. This seems to especially be profound at our church in light of our church- planting plans for San Jose where a number of people on the team are facing incredible pressure from their parents, being questioned as to their very sanity as to how could someone make church a defining point for direction in their life. It seems absolutely ludicrous and crazy that someone would quit his or her job, relocate to a completely foreign area, and go all because of church. Even those who grew up in the San Jose area are facing opposition for their decisions when you would think that their families would welcome them back. It is very strange and odd to watch this take place.

The second issue would be that of one’s life partner. I can’t think of anything that has generated more trauma in a person’s life than to be in the position where your parents do not want you to date, get engaged, or be married to someone that they absolutely disapprove. Whether the parents are Christians or not, the emotional impact is so overwhelming that it almost feels like a hurricane that wreaks havoc not only in the lives of those who are directly involved, but there is collateral damage amongst even others who might get in the way. I have personally been threatened verbally and even physically by parents who are very upset that I would not intervene on their behalf. I have seen and heard shocking things from adults who would otherwise seem to be dignified and respectable people. Whether they are Christian or not, the defining principle that seems to be unassailable is that of honoring and obeying the will of the parents. If an individual chooses not to follow what the parents desire, there are often threats, ultimatums, and some have gone as far as to cut off all ties with their children. It is sad and heartbreaking to see take place, but it continues to happen to the sorrow of many.

So what is the answer to these problems? I can only say that there are no simple quick fix solutions but there are foundations truths that really need to underlie HOW one would respond to both situations so that while you are honoring your parents, it will not come at the cost of compromising the glory of God.

Principle #1 – Start with the glory of God

Romans 11:36
36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

While honoring parents is an important truth in life, glorifying God must be the highest priority. This is not to say it is always so easy to apply – it takes prayerful consideration and effort to place God at the center of the whole process of gauging the heart for motives and the mind for the decision making process. The glory of God must be considered at the start and the finish as well as throughout the process of working through issues. This doesn’t guarantee that things will work out neat and clean but it does provide the proper foundation and perspective that will carry you through the process. We cannot afford to be Machiavellian in our strategy where the end justifies the means. The means are to be just as centered on the glory of God as the end is that God would receive the glory.

At a practical level we need to ask the question if we fear God or fear man through how we face challenges. Put another way, do we seek the approval of God or the approval of man? Do we find the expedient way preferable because we can avoid the hassle and trouble or are we willing to persevere through the trials so that God’s name might be magnified? This is an honest struggle for most people and while it at times could seem a bit theoretical, the ramifications are profound. The more we seek to please man, the easier we will find it to please man and what will be compromised is the glory of God. In seeking the glory of God, it does not necessarily mean we are trying to make things difficult in our human relationships, but it does mean that we are going to submit all things first and foremost to the Lordship of Christ and to see if we are truly following Christ in our heart motivation and attitude in how we conduct ourselves, even if it might incur the wrath of our parents. Our goal is not to incite conflict but to really make worshipping God the central premise to all of life.

Principle #2 – Process Biblically

2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

If we truly believe that God’s Word is sufficient, then the authority of Scripture must show itself in this fourfold application. Is the Word of God the basis for the teaching which I follow? Does it provide the foundation for how it reproves my attitude and actions? Do I follow it in terms of how it would correct me in bringing me back to the right path that honors God? Does it provide the parameters for how I will train and discipline my life toward godliness? If the Word of God does its work of conviction and transformation, then I will be able to discern the will of God as Romans 12:2 promises and it will mature me to be sufficiently equipped to do every good work, even in the midst of difficult circumstances.

Psalm 19:7-11 describes the Word of God in terms that show a clear effect on our lives. We can trust the character of God’s Word because it is perfect, sure, right, pure, clean, enduring forever, true, and righteous. As a result, it revives the soul, makes wise the simple, rejoices the heart, enlightens the eyes, provides warning, and finally there is great reward. If we really desire and treasure God’s Word, it will keep us from sin (Psalm 119:11) and it will direct our paths like a lamp to our feet when we try to navigate the sensitive and often arduous trails of working out things with our parents.

But if we instead lean on worldly wisdom and pragmatic thinking, we might pursue superficial appeasement to stem off the emotional attacks but in the long term it will breed resentment and bitterness. It is something that is confirmed over and over again when I consider the many people I have had a chance to counsel and observe in facing these issues. You might choose the immediate solution of pleasing your parents so as to avoid dealing with their anger but it never addresses the heart of the problems. Trusting God is definitely not an easy thing to do but as Proverbs 3:5-6 states, there is a great promise that comes when we trust the Lord with all our hearts – He will direct our paths when we acknowledge Him in all our ways.

There seems to be a very strong correlation to how healthy someone’s interaction with the Word of God is and their overall spiritual health. This has profound impact on how you will respond to difficult situations as the Word of God is the instrument through which the Holy Spirit, the Counselor, the Comforter, helps guide and direct us in providing wisdom and discernment in how to tread the delicate path of glorifying God while at the same time trying to honor our parents. It is not only possible but it is doable as we have the promises of God to lead the way.

While every situation that you go through in dealing with your parents might not be mentioned specifically in Scripture, there are principles which help build the foundations for a God-centered worldview that ultimately will guide you in making decisions that will be consistent in bringing God glory and in magnifying Christ. Often times it will be very much in contradiction to the status quo ways of the world and you must anticipate that the world and even at times those who say they are Christians will not agree with you and sometimes will even get very angry with how you might respond. But there is a comfort and strength that comes when convictions are centered around the glory of God and His righteousness and you will not ever regret choosing the narrow path that is laid down by the Word of God.

Principle #3 – Walk in the Spirit

Galatians 5:16-26
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

As believers, it is impossible to truly live to the glory of God apart from the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It really is an effort in futility to try and resolve conflicts with our parents when we are attempting to do so in our own power and wisdom. Just as we cannot use worldly wisdom, we also cannot afford to use human ability or power but instead we must be filled with the Spirit so that we may walk by the Spirit in order to manifest the fruit of the Spirit in our lives from our hearts. Filial piety is often times only skin deep because the heart is not necessarily genuine behind the external behavior. There must be a true honoring and respecting of parents that comes from a heart that is driven by the Holy Spirit to love and respond with grace and kindness, even in situations that are difficult.

Principle #4 – Magnify Christ

2 Corinthians 5:14-15
14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

Often times parents will use the “guilt” card and try to remind us of all the hard work and sacrifices that they endured so as to provide a better life for us. This is not to say that we should not be thankful for all that our parents have done. Indeed we should be grateful and even show our gratitude in tangible ways. But we must remember that there is someone who gave the greatest sacrifice of all – His very death on the cross and if there is any motivation that we should have, it should be out of the love we have for the one who loved us first. To love Christ demands my all, my heart, my soul, the entirety of my being. That’s why at times there is a test of loyalty that challenges us to the point where there is the possibility of being cut off by parents and family. This is never something to be taken lightly or conceded easily but at the same time we need to really ask if Jesus Christ does have the greatest authority over our lives as Lord or are we subtly trying to avoid that by even appealing to Scriptures that say we need to honor our parents so that we can avoid conflict. I would never treat this kind of situation flippantly but it would need to be done prayerfully but there will come a time when you will have to choose between Christ’s authority and your parents because they will not match in seeking first God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness. Remember the promise that Christ gave that He would always be with us (Matthew 28:20). Remember that He will be faithful not only to carry us, but to provide for us all that we need, even the loss of family. This is not to say that it will always be the case that family ties are lost. In fact, it is usually rare for someone to be completely disowned. But even the threat of it can weigh heavy on a person’s heart so we need to remember that we can’t afford to let threats dislodge the Lordship of Christ being the supreme authority over every aspect of our lives, even our education and our future marriage.

There’s always a lot more to say but hopefully this will be starting point for people to consider how they can interact with their parents to God’s glory.

by Pastor JR Cuevas

James 5:16
The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

It’s never a surprise when I find myself having to persevere through much hardship, both internally and externally. A fellow pastor once said, “Anytime you choose to live a godly life, there will be resistance.” The reality of spiritual warfare has never come down upon me so heavily as it has in the past year. As I came back a month of being away from church, hoping that things would be better, I found that the enemy had only intensified his attacks on my life and in the lives of others. Internally, I began to struggle with depression, anxiety, and impatience. Externally, I realized that no amount of rest could properly gear me to face the opposition of those who persecuted me. But that was solely the turmoil taking place in my life. Need I forget that a same type of war was taking place in the lives of all of those around me. As I found myself struggling in my battling of my own fleshy lusts and Satan’s attacks on me personally, I realized that those around me were struggling in very much the same way. Not only was I burdened with my trials, but I began to be burdened with the trials of others whom I genuinely loved and cared for. And then there was a greater reality that I faced – the reality that I was not qualified to take upon the battle in terms of my own strength, endurance, and wisdom. I was confronted with so many situations that I knew I was incapable of handling. In my own pride and anxiety, I wanted to solve them quickly, but soberly I realized that I simply could not. I began to ask myself why God would place me in such situations where I felt so helpless and on the brink of quitting. In the midst of the most difficult time of my life, why did He allow for the lives of all those around me to be difficult as well? Desprate but drowning, I abandoned all other methods and resorted to the very first thing I did as a follower of Christ: I prayed. I prayed again the day after, and the day after that. It was then that it dawned on me why God has purposely made me so helpless; it was so that instead of pridefully relying on myself to solve my problems and the problems of others, I would instead approach him boldly, joyfully, confidently, reverently, and regularly in prayer.

It is not only an understatement that prayer is an underrated and misunderstood discipline in the Christian life; it is simply unfortunate. So many go to prayer as the last resort – when things are not working. In my life at least, the tendency had always been to try and solve the problem first with all of the wisdom and might that I had, and then to pray if things still went wrong after all of my methods were exhausted. Though I tried to pray without ceasing, or at least adopt an attitude of prayer, I quickly realized that prayer had been designated to a mere formality – one that I did in order to legalistically prove myself a disciplined man of God. Deep down in my heart, I still believed that I was capable of solving problem on my own, though I prayed for the sake of integrity. I didn’t pray out of joy, nor did I pray out of humility. Oh how unfortunate I am, and how unfortunate many are who neglect prayer, for prayer is not only necessary in the Christian life; it is the primary discipline in the Christian life. A man who seeks God’s own heart is synonymous to a man who prays.

Oh how we must pray, for it indicates the presence of the humility that God so desires in His children. How a lack of prayer is a fiery display of pride. How dare one think that he can handle all spiritual circumstances and pursue all godliness without the help of God? How dare one think that in himself, he is capable of enduring anything apart from Christ to do good works. How dare one believe that his wisdom, he is capable of solving any problem of himself and others without the Spirit’s illumination of his mind. It is both proud and foolish for one to even dare think that He can survive for a second apart from the pesence and power of God. And it is even more foolish and prideful to, from the same mindset, attempt to help others. Oh how God places us in circumstances in which we soberly comprehend our weakness so that we can petition for Him. My friend, spiritual regeneration and sanctification are miracles; only God can perform them. Blessed is the man who asks God to perform these things in himself and in people, for it indicates a humility of mind. Oh how God is absolutely glorified when one relies on His power instead of anything else’s to expand His kingdom.

As Christians, we must realize that our primary responsibility to others is not to counsel, nor is it to encourage, nor is it to admonish, nor is it to serve. As Christians, our primary ministry to others is to pray for them. As a pastor, I could one day be called away from pastoral ministry, and thus would no longer be called to preach, teach, shepherd, or counsel. But as a Christian, I will never be called away from the responsibility to pray for those whom I love. In the same way that every human being must eat to stay alive physically, every Christian must pray to stay alive spiritually. The greatest ministry that one could do for his fellow brethren who are struggling is to fervently ask God for help. It follows that it is unloving to, when burdened with the struggles of others, attempt to handle it himself without asking God. Brother, do not deny those whom you love the power of God. His power is mightier than yours, His wisdom greater than yours. Discipline yourself to rely on God, and not on your own strength, to sustain others. Disciple yourself to rely on God, and not on your own wisdom, to counsel others. He is greater than you; let His glory be displayed. There are many good things that one can do for another. But the best thing he can do is pray.

Realize the privilege of prayer; oh how much joy you will receive when you realize that God loves to answer good prayers. If evil men know how to give good gifts to their children, how much more willing will God be to send His Holy Spirit to those who ask? Therefore, ask! He saved you for that purpose – He saved you so that you could pray to Him. He hears you, and He delights in answering your prayers that glorify Him. Pray, my friend. Pray! Do it delightfully; do it unceasingly. For the effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

by Pastor Patrick Cho

I attended my first Shepherds’ Conference in 2001 during my first year in seminary. It was a big deal for me because although I knew there were some big time speakers coming to the conference, I wasn’t very familiar with any of them. I wasn’t well read and I didn’t listen to very many sermons online or on CD. As a result, that first conference blew me away. I remember walking away thinking I wanted to learn how to preach the Word like those men did. I learned so much and felt like the weekend caused me to grow leaps and bounds. I have returned to the conference each year since then and each year it seems as though it gets better and better. The speakers always faithfully preach God’s Word in a way that is captivating, instructive, and convicting. Each year I have learned things that I never knew before.

In recent years, many of the collegians and singles at church have been attending the Resolved Conference, which is also put on by Grace Community Church. Unfortunately, I haven’t had an opportunity to go, but I have wanted to since the first year they held the conference. They always invite the best speakers and have incredible themes. Each year, the collegians and singles return from the conference speaking about how much they learned and grew.

I love these conferences and believe they are super helpful in regards to encouraging believers in the faith. The Shepherds’ Conference is arguably one of the most helpful ministries for men in pastoral ministry. It is always a great encouragement and the instruction is invaluable. But as awesome as these conferences are, they fall short in providing what believers gain each week from the fellowship of the church.

Imagine you’re at a conference sitting in the seats listening to the great speakers exposit God’s Word. You’re there along with hundreds and even thousands of others all listening to the same messages. As the speaker delivers his sermon, you are learning and are engaged in everything he is saying. And that’s about where it ends. You may enjoy a couple great conversations with other attendees during meals, but essentially you’re there to benefit personally from the messages and seminars.

At church, it isn’t supposed to be that way. We don’t come to church only for personal benefit. In Ephesians 4:11-12, Paul writes that God has given gifted men to the church to preach His Word and to equip the saints. Certainly at conferences there is a great deal of beneficial equipping going on. But Paul continues that this equipping is given to the church so each saint may be given the instruction that is needed for the work of ministry. That word “ministry” comes from the same Greek word for “deacon” or “servant.” In church, the preaching of the Word of God is given so that saints might be built up individually, but this is for the purpose that each of those saints might be a blessing to one another corporately. It doesn’t work when you try to bring a conference mentality into the church. Church wasn’t designed by God that way.

Paul continues to explain that when each saint is engaged in this work of service, which comes as a result of the faithful teaching of God’s Word, the church gets built up together and spiritual growth takes place. What’s interesting, though, is that while I’m sure Paul is concerned about each person’s individual growth, his focus is more on the growth of the entire body corporately. Paul’s answer to the question “How do you know you are growing?” depends upon the amount of ministry is going on in the body of the church. Each member might be equipped, but growth doesn’t occur until each member employs what they have been trained up in for the work of ministry. Until this happens, the church doesn’t grow.

We need to be careful about bringing a conference mentality into the church. What does this look like? You might hear people complain that they aren’t growing because they aren’t learning anything new. They aren’t getting the “wow” factor from the messages they hear. They might even talk about how they grow so much more when they listen to conference speakers. But I think they’re missing the point. Paul’s response would seem to be that if you want to grow, part of that growth depends on the ministry you give to others. Church wasn’t meant to be a conference. It isn’t just about what you are learning and how you are benefitting. It is also about how you are serving and being a benefit to others.

Until you understand that you need to be investing in others, serving others, and helping others, you are stunting the growth of the rest of the church. You are hindering everyone from reaching greater maturity (Eph 4:13). Ironically as you complain about a lack of growth, you are stunting growth in the church. Paul writes that we are to grow up into Christ (Eph 4:15), but that growth is only achieved when each part is working properly (Eph 4:16). This isn’t to say that individual growth is unimportant. It is vitally important. It is just to point out that if individual growth is all you are concerned about, you’re missing the point. You should also be greatly concerned with how the body is growing as a whole.

I don’t think it is a coincidence that people who tell the pastors that they are not growing oftentimes are the same ones who aren’t doing much in church. They come on Sundays but they aren’t involved in the work of ministry. They conclude that what they need is more instruction, but Paul’s point in Ephesians 4 is that the instruction is a means to an end. It is not the end in itself.

I’m all for attending conferences. I think they can provide a wonderful boost even to the ministry of the church because people are equipped to return and further serve the body. But let us guard against treating learning like it is an end in itself. It is helpful. It is necessary. But it was meant to lead to greater ministry, which in turn leads to greater growth. So, the obvious question is, “How are you growing?” If your answer is only that you are learning new things, I would argue that you need to go further. Think about how you can serve and contribute to the work of ministry. Until each member does this, we will never grow into the stature of the fullness of Christ.

by Pastor John Kim

As we have been addressing the issue of dating relationships yet again for the third time in LBC history, I would like to share a few thoughts that I hope will be both encouraging and challenging to those who would be single and wrestling with the various aspects of dating as well as those older married folks who could hopefully fulfill the mentoring and discipling roles that would provide the kind of support that those who are going through what is often a stressful, even torturous period of life that is filled with uncertainties and hardships that are forgotten once married.

There are three significant foundational points that I have addressed in the first two meetings that have taken place. I have shared other things as well but these are three that I would like to highlight.

1. The Glory of God in Dating

Romans 11:36
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

The glory of God must be the chief end in the life of the believer and so it stands that the chief end of dating should be the glory of God as well. The fundamental problem that I think plagues many Christians in the issue of dating is that God’s glory is relegated to the sidelines and my own glory is put at the forefront. We are more concerned about ourselves, about having our desires fulfilled, our expectations met or exceeded, and the pursuit of my happiness is still considered an inalienable right that supersedes God’s glory. For the Christian that desires to fulfill 1 Corinthians 10:31, that in whatever we do, even in our eating and drinking, and yes, even in our dating, the glory of God must remain front and center in every aspect.

I think that the whole dynamic of dating exposes many Christian men and women in the superficiality of their commitment to seeing God glorified. While it is very understandable that a lot is at stake, potential marriage being the greatest possibility, it would seem to be clear that there should be nothing that escapes this mandate. But why is this most basic and fundamental tenet set aside?

Romans 11:36 helps provide some additional thoughts that I hope will be helpful for all to consider. When we recognize that all things are from God, that all things are only possible through God, and that all things are to ultimately point to God, it leaves nothing to ourselves in terms of receiving glory. We are to acknowledge that God is the source of all things, that God provides the enablement and empowerment for all things, and that He is the ultimate goal in all that we do. Every part of the process from beginning to end in our lives is accounted for in this verse.

Our problem is that we struggle with handing over the reins for the whole deal. We want a say in every aspect, even to the point where we would make demands of God that are more self-serving rather than God-glorifying. We forget that it is by grace that we receive anything and so all that is from God is a gift, even the gift of singleness. We forget that it is by the divine enablement of the Holy Spirit through the counsel of the Scriptures that we are given the tools to live out our lives to His glory. We forget that the chief end truly is God’s glory and we set ourselves up instead to be the chief end in receiving the attention that we so desperately desire. So it is no surprise that we fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) and are caught in the throes of sinful attitudes, sinful thoughts, sinful motivations, and ultimately sinful behavior that really mimics the world through its conformity rather than showing a life transformed by the cross.

That leads the to second foundational point:

2. Gospel-Centered Dating

The cross of Christ should be at the heart and soul of how we live the Christian life. The cross not only justifies us but the cross also should sanctify us in that we live in light of the finished work of Christ and the righteousness that was secured and imputed to us. To live in light of Christ and Him crucified is not something that happens passively. It is a deliberate choice that then sets the reference point for how we are to engage in every arena of life, including dating.

Do your dating relationships celebrate the cross of Christ? It would be tough to say so if you are indulging in sexual immorality. Does knowing Christ and the fact that His grace has saved you from your condemned state before God make a difference then how you are to uphold separation from an unbelieving partner? Does the forgiveness that comes through the redemption found in our Savior provide the basis for how you handle conflicts regarding relationships? It is strange that for so many Christian, the cross of Christ seems to become nothing more than jewelry instead of the defining point for how we live from day to day.

I would like to challenge each individual, whether you are dating or not, whether the cross is truly central to your life on a daily basis. Or have you setup another idol that would affect your outlook toward life, namely even the concept of dating, or the absence of it? If you live in light of Christ’s death and resurrection and consider it of first importance as 1 Corinthians 15 describes, that it will provide a whole different outlook toward life and I believe it will definitely affect your outlook toward dating.

3. The Richly Indwelling Word of God

Colossians 3:16-17
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

God’s Word needs to be more than just a visiting neighbor in our daily lives. The Scriptures need to take residence and permeate our entire being so that we would be equipped to do all things, every word and deed in the name of our Savior. Then we truly can give thanks because we will then be doing exactly what Romans 12:1-2 calls us to do, to present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God. We show that we are not conformed to worldly philosophies and human wisdom but instead having been transformed by the renewing ministry of the Word of God, we will be able to discern what the will of God is, that which is good, acceptable, and perfect. This is crucial for all aspects of life but all the more crucial for dealing with the issue of dating.

Too many people claim that the Bible has nothing to directly say about dating but that is to reveal utter foolishness and ignorance. The Bible has everything to say about dating because it deals with the heart issues to our conduct that takes place in the dating realm. That’s why to hear, read, study, memorize, and meditate on God’s Word is a non-negotiable practice if we are to not only glorify God in our lives, but even in how we are going to teach and admonish one another in the issue of dating.

There are so many instances when I have heard of the kind of counsel that people give in regards to dating and it really is nothing more than earthly wisdom. There is nothing about the glory of God being at stake. It reflects nothing of the gospel of Christ and in the end it reveals a lack of Biblical foundation and substance. This is tragic, that the people of God would forsake the Word of God in the time that it is needed most. The wild and crazy ride of the dating rollercoaster can only be tamed by the sure and sufficient Word of God that will provide the solid foundation as well as even the practical wisdom that is needed. So immerse yourself in the Word. Failure to do so will lead to failures that you will regret. But to meditate on the law of the Lord will lead you to be like that tree fimrly planted by streams of water (Psalm 1). You’ll never regret living according to God’s Word.

Well just a few thoughts for now. More to come on April 11 and 18 at 6pm at the church. We’ll be looking forward to looking at what men and women should be to become marriageable and we will also take a long hard look at the issue of purity. So come out, invite your friends, even your unbelieving friends, and let’s tackle this issue and trust that God will accomplish great things in your lives!

by Pastor JR Cuevas

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!

I’m under no assumption that we will ever be a perfect church. Neither am I under any assumption that I will ever be a perfect person, nor should you. Apart from the person of Christ, no one ever walked the planet in perfect sinlessness, nor will anyone ever do so. One manifests the Spirit’s working in him not on whether he is free from sin, but on whether he fights sin. A Christian is nothing less than a soldier who wages war against the sinfulness that is dead in him yet still present in him. He who claims sinlessness calls God a liar, and the truth is not in him. Be aware of ever thinking that you have arrived, and guard yourself from becoming so insecure about your salvation every time you feel yourself struggling against your body of death.

Yet, as I followed the life of Christ and observed the way He treated sinners and handled different situations, oh so clear it has become that the Lord did not treat all sins equally. Every sin is worthy of condemnation – yet some sinners Christ still deemed as sons of God while some He deemed as sons of hell. True, we all struggle with sin. Yet, why is it that there are certain sinners in the Bible to whom Christ displayed His wrath? Every encounter that Christ had with a person – from his disciples to the Pharisees to the lepers to the adulterers – was an encounter with a sinner. And to many, He showed mercy. Yet, to some, He was harsh and condemning. True – God hates all sin. But is there a particular sin that, when unchecked, can almost surely lead him to being a vessel of wrath? All sin must be mortified, but is there one to which we must be particularly wary of and acidify all the more at its earliest roots? Christ seemed to think so, for He had a particularly intense aversion towards the sin of hypocrisy.

If you disagree, listen to the words of Christ Himself in Matthew 23, as He confronts the Pharisees for this very sin. In no where else do the Scriptures record such a wrathful condemnation of sinners as in this discourse of Christ’s condemnation of the Pharisees. To the tax collector Matthew, he simply told him to follow him. To the woman caught in adultery, He told her to sin no more. To the prideful and quick-to-speak peter, He rebuked him. But to Pharisees and the scribes, He called sons of hell. And, amidst all the things He mentioned in this long condemnation, the following was His main accusation: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!” Seven times he repeated this, and thus you and I must heed. You who call yourself a follower of God, beware – BEWARE! – of hypocrisy. The sinner of a humble and contrite spirit He will not reject, but the sinner who breeds hypocrisy of the Scribes and the Pharisees He will condemn.

The word “hypocrite” in the Greek literally means “actor,” or “stage player.” One of the most appealing things about the “Behind the Scenes” or “Bloopers” section in the DVD of a movie is seeing the stark difference between the personality of the actor when in front of the camera and the one behind the scenes. The sin of hypocrisy, then, is this – a lack of wholeness in character that results in an inconsistency between who a person make himself out to be versus who he really is. It is the act of staging – pretending to be someone before people whom you are really not. Thus, spiritual hypocrisy is the staging of godliness that one does not have nor wish to have.

Listening to Christ’s several accusations against those hypocritical Pharisees and scribes, one learns much about how hypocrisy is manifested. Hypocrisy is the external staging of caring for people’s spiritual growth coupled with the internal reality of apathy and even animosity towards people. Hypocrisy is seen when one engages in so many external Christian activities such as praying and singing and teaching only for the sake of impressing people. Hypocrisy is being overly zealous about upholding certain aspects of Christian living such as tithing while neglecting the more important aspects such as justice, mercy, and faithfulness. Hypocrisy is pretending to be worshipful externally, when internally one writhes in self-worship, pride, and hatred for people. Hypocrisy is seen when one aligns himself with certain keynote theologians in their doctrines, yet fail to emulate them in their living. Hypocrisy is when one flatters people before their faces and slanders them behind. Hypocrisy is seen when one engages in spiritual activities and yet harbors unrepentant sin. Hypocrisy is when one assumes a different identity or personality before different people with the intention of pleasing them rather than serving them (a.k.a. acting). Hypocrisy is seen when one pretends to be without sin when inside he is swimming in it. The hypocrite is the one who claims to love God yet hates his brother. The underlying message that Christ had to these Pharisees: “Woe to you hypocrites, because you pretend to be godly externally when your hearts are filthy internally.”

Fighting for integrity, then, is a non-negotiable pursuit in Christian living. Everyone has the tendency to be hypocritical in one area or another, but not everyone is willing to fight it. One may have the sin of hypocrisy in him, but one becomes hypocritical when he refuses to fight the sin and allows it to master him. The man of integrity, then, is not so much the man who is absolutely free from hypocrisy but one who passionately fights against it and contritely repents when he exhibits it. Take heed, then, and flee from all hypocrisy. Pursue wholeness in character; pursue integrity in speech and action. Let the person you are before God be the same person you are before people – regardless of whom you are in contact with. Beware of hypocrisy, oh fellow saint, lest Christ say to you on the day of judgment, “You serpents, you brood of vipers, how shall you escape the sentence of hell?”

By Pastor Patrick Cho

As a fairly new parent, I am understanding more and more clearly that merely teaching my child to behave a certain way does not necessarily solve the problem of disobedience. If my child’s rebellion springs from her heart, then her heart needs to be addressed and not only her outward behavior. If the heart is not addressed, even if one behavioral problem is “corrected” another one is sure to arise. She will simply find some other way to manifest her rebellious attitude. I might get my child to come to sit still during dinner, but she might later deliberately throw her food to the floor in anger. The problem is that she is not learning to lovingly trust me in obedience, and her selfish heart is not being addressed. She is simply being taught that she will get in trouble with Papa if she doesn’t sit still.

The same fundamental principle applies to adults as well. Oftentimes people make decisions without ever considering if there is a biblical basis behind those decisions. Although they might profess that they seek to honor God with the decisions they make, when it actually comes time to make day to day decisions, God is not really on their minds. They don’t turn to the Scriptures to figure out how God might direct them. Instead, their decisions are made based solely on practicality, convenience, and ease. If it isn’t convenient for them, people don’t seem to care about pursuing the most God-glorifying decisions. They reason to themselves that there can be no other way. They look at their circumstances and conclude that their decision must be best. They fail to examine what are the real desires of their hearts.

Let me illustrate this with an issue that has been a fairly hot topic at Lighthouse in recent months. In my personal conversations, people have brought up the issue of daycare probably more than any other topic, so let’s think through it. For whatever reason, more and more parents are choosing to place their children in daycare instead of having Mom stay at home to raise her children. Regardless of what your position is on daycare, whether you think it’s ok or not, the issue I want to address is the reasoning behind the decision. Perhaps the couple looks at their financial situation and concludes that they need a second income. Perhaps the wife simply doesn’t want to stop working because of all the hard work she put into her career. Perhaps raising a child has proven to be too challenging and she simply needs a break during the day. Regardless of whether you conclude that these reasons are good or bad, the sad fact is that they are only based on practicality. There is no thought of “How does the Bible instruct us in this?” or “Is there a biblical principle that could help guide our decision making?”

The big question to consider is: What is the basis behind the decisions you make? Too often people are saying things like “That’s the way our parents did it, and we came out fine” or “All our friends are doing this and they go to church” or “I know of churches that have their own daycares and their pastors are ok with it” or even “You’re being legalistic to tell me I can’t” to justify their actions. What isn’t being considered is “Is this really what God would want me to do?” or “Is this the decision that would be most consistent with what His Word says?” or even “Am I really seeking to glorify Him in this decision or am I only looking to get what I want?”

I suppose this begs the question, does the Bible actually teach that all decisions are to be biblical? My answer is a resounding YES! Someone might argue, “Some decisions are too trivial to filter through a biblical framework.” To which I would apply, “Doesn’t the Bible instruct us to do all things to the glory of God – whether we eat or drink or whatever we do (1 Cor. 10:31)? Or doesn’t the Bible instruct women to dress modestly, not with gold or pearls or costly attire (1 Tim. 2:9)?” Certainly there are few things more mundane than what you eat or drink or wear. These are not the big life changing decisions we make, but the way we make them matters to God!

2 Timothy 3:16-17 speaks of the inerrancy, authority, and sufficiency of the Word of God. Through the wisdom given in God’s Word, the believer is given everything they need pertaining to life and godliness (cf. 2 Pet. 1:3). The psalmist praised the Scriptures for the comprehensive instruction it gives so that in it we are given all we need to live this life in a way that pleases God (cf. Ps. 119). To not go to the Scriptures is like saying, “Thanks God, but I think I can handle this on my own.”

Besides, there’s an undeniable correlation between the commands given in Ephesians 5:18 and Colossians 3:16. In the one passage, believers are commanded to be filled with the Spirit. In the other, we are called to let the word of Christ dwell in us richly. The relationship between these verses is such that at the very least there is an intimate relationship between being Spirit-filled and Word-filled, and at the very most these two ideas refer to the same thing. The greater issue is that these commands are present tense continual commands. There is no time in a person’s life that he should stop being filled with the Spirit. And there is no time when it is ok not to have the Word of Christ dwell in him richly. What true believer in Christ would ever say, “I don’t desire to live a Spirit-filled life.” So, in what decisions we make are we permitted to not consider the principles of God’s Word? Hopefully you are reading this and concluding: None!

What also needs to be pointed out is that you can even make seemingly good decisions without a biblical basis. (Remember the illustration of the child learning to behave a certain way without having the right reason for doing so.) Going back to the example of daycare, perhaps you do not believe in putting your child in daycare. Isn’t it possible (and certainly often the case) that the basis behind this decision is its practicality, as much as the reasons given by those who do put their children in daycare? Perhaps you reason “This is what would be best for my child” or “I just want to spend as much time with my kid as possible.” Again, biblical principles might not be in the picture at all.

One might reason, “But isn’t it enough that I am coming to the right kinds of decisions?” My response, this time, is a resounding NO! Why? Because while you might get one decision correct, if practicality is the sole basis for your decision, you might be starting to set a pattern for yourself for unwise decision making in the future. Sure, you got one decision right. Who’s to say you’ll get the next one right? So, the goal is not only to come to the right decision. The process of coming to that decision is just as (if not more because of precedence) important.

Again, the issue of daycare aside (regardless of whether you think it is permissible or not), what is the basis behind the decisions you make? In the end, what is the reason for pursuing your choices with as much commitment as you do? Here you need to be honest. You might fool those around you, but you can’t fool God. Could it be that there are simply some things we want in life so badly that we don’t even want God to get in the way of our getting them? We might mask our desires with external shows of holiness. We might reason, “But I prayed about it,” or “God has given me peace in this decision.” But if we really are not looking to His Word for the right principles to guide our decision making, how can we conclude that God is more pleased with our decisions or line of thinking?

Please understand that the purpose of this article is not to condemn daycare or to say that those who put their kids in daycare are evil. It is simply a challenge to consider why we make the choices we do. What drives us? What are our hearts’ desires? Do we have certain things in our lives that we want so badly that we are willing to make choices that might not be the best before God’s eyes? These are important questions to consider because you need to know that God cares not only about the decisions we make, but also about how we come to make those decisions.

by Pastor John Kim

A few weeks ago, we went over “How to Go to Church” and as we discussed the reality that every church is imperfect and needs to improve, one of the most significant things that we can do is to specifically and deliberately prepare to hear the sermon. John Piper’s article on “10 Practical Preparations for Hearing the Word of God on Sunday Morning” give a very helpful strategy that I think would transform people’s perspectives when it comes to the attitude you have as you hear the sermon begin. The impact of a sermon is really going to depend on how the individual prepared their heart attitude. I think this is something to so crucial yet so missing in most churches that it shouldn’t be a surprise that there is at most an apathetic response to the sermon all the way to scathing criticism.

But it goes beyond just preparing to listen. There must be a lifting up of prayer for the preacher as he prepares for the sermon. How many times can you say that you have prayed for your pastor as you opened your Bible Sunday morning to hear the sermon? Did you pray for his preparation during the week? Did you pray for the delivery of the message? Did you pray that other people might be impacted as well? Michael Fabarez has written a short booklet where the practice of praying for your pastor’s preparation and delivery of the sermon should be something that every church puts into practice as a regular ministry.

I would highly recommend for you go through the following outlines and consider how you can practically prepare your heart and your mind to receive the sermon. I trust that before you lift up a finger of criticism of the sermon that you will have first lifted up your hands in prayer for your pastor to be led by the Holy Spirit in preparation as well as in delivery so that people’s lives would be drawn to the cross of Jesus Christ.

Remember, the Sunday sermon is not just a nice self-help, inspirational time where people’s emotions are to be moved and left to that end. The Sunday sermon is meant to be a genuine interface with the living God as the Word of God is presented through the power of the Holy Spirit in all its authoritative sufficiency as the sword of the Spirit so that our very being would be pierced to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).

Don’t just think about this! Do it! And as you apply these thoughts, trust that God will bring great blessing both to you and to your church family.

10 Practical Preparations for
Hearing the Word of God on Sunday Morning
by John Piper

Luke 8:18
18 Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.

1. Pray that God would give you a good and honest heart (Ezekiel 26:36, Jeremiah 24:7)
2. Meditate on the Word of God (Psalm 34:8, Psalm 1:1-3)
3. Purify your mind by turning away from worldly entertainment (James 1:21, Philippians 4:8, Colossians 3:1-2)
4. Trust in the truth you already have (Jeremiah 17:7-8, Proverbs 3:5-6, Psalm 119:41-42)
5. Rest long enough Saturday night to be alert and hopeful Sunday morning (1 Corinthians 6:12)
6. Forebear one another Sunday morning without grumbling and criticism (Psalm 106:25, 1 Corinthians 10:1-12, Philippians 2:14, James 1:19)
7. Be meek and teachable when you come (James 1:21)
8. Be still as you enter the room and focus your mind’s attention and heart’s affection on God (Psalm 46:10)
9. Think earnestly about what is sung and prayed and preached (1 Corinthians 14:20, 2 Timothy 2:7)
10. Desire the truth of God’s Word more than you desire riches or food (1 Peter 2:2, Psalm 19:10-11)

Praying for the Pastor and the Sermon
by Michael Fabarez

Colossians 4:3
3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—

A. Pray for the Crafting of the Sermon

1. Pray that the message your pastor is preparing to preach would be an evident part of his own life.
2. Pray for the protection of your pastor’s sermon preparation time.
3. Pray that your pastor will be given grace and illumination to rightly divide God’s word.
4. Pray that the words your pastor chooses to frame the outline would be effective and powerful tools for the Holy Spirit to employ.
5. Pray that your pastor would have insight into the needs of the congregation as he prepares the sermon.

B. Pray for the Delivery of the Sermon

1. Pray that people will attend the preaching event.
2. Pray that the congregation would arrive in the right frame of mind.
3. Pray that God would guard against preaching distractions.
4. Pray for clarity and power in the pastor’s vocabulary.
5. Pray that God will give understanding to all who hear this week’s sermon.
6. Ask God for the most effective and fruitful sermon your pastor has ever preached.

C. Pray for the Response to the Sermon

1. Pray that all, including yourself, will put the sermon into practice.
2. Pray that the sermon will not be compartmentalized.
3. Pray that the application of the sermon would be contagious.
4. Pray that the sermon itself will be repeatedly delivered

by Pastor JR Cuevas

But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. (Matthew 6:5-6)

Is there anything more desirable than earthly recognition? It is true for unbelievers, and equally true for believers. The ploy of being honored for visible accomplishments or acts of services has led to the downfall of many – even those whom many had regarded as warriors in the faith. But what is it about this desire to be noticed, that tugs at the heart of even the most humble of believers? Ultimately, it is the desire to be rewarded for effort. This is no foreign desire to humanity and – contrary to what many a Christian student may think – nor is it a malicious one, either. I can only remember how many times as a young man in the ministry I struggled aimlessly with attempting to rid myself of this desire to be rewarded for all the strain and effort that I felt I was placing into the furtherance of the kingdom of God. In many ways it confused me, for I am not often given over to desires to compete and defeat my peers. If anything, I do take exhibit genuine and compassionate joy when I see others succeed. But perhaps there was that drive in me what desired to at least feel as if the toil and agony with which I went about my work would not end in vain. And thus I would labor – but at the same time would desire for it to be acknowledged by someone, even if it just be one saint. Oh how I would struggle mightily in my heart, to keep my awareness of the Spirit’s work in producing Christ-likeness in me silent. In all honesty it was not so much out of a boastful spirit, but rather a desire to simply be rewarded. I didn’t care so much about being better than others; rather, I was more interested in earning what I felt were my treasures. And so my heart rejoices greatly in my Lord’s discipleship of me, as He reminded me with His own words what it means to gain lasting rewards:

“But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”

I had once heard that the measure of a man is who He is before God and no one else. I take it a step further: The rewards of a man gained by who he is in the presence of His God and no one else. Oh how wonderful it was for me to realize that the problem was not my desire to be rewarded, for the Scriptures indeed motivate believers to live for heavenly treasures. Rather, the problem was simply my ignorance concerning how is it that these imperishable rewards are gained. Woe to those Pharisees who – having received so much recognition from man concerning their outward works – received all their rewards in full. How tragic it is then, for a believer to receive so much recognition from his fellow men only to find out at the Bema seat of Christ that all the earthly admiration gained from men will not withstand the testing fires of the Lord. But blessed is the man who, while receiving no earthly recognition, sincerely humbles himself before the Father in secret – pleading with and praying to Him unceasingly in light of his helplessness apart from Him. Oh how blessed He is, for although he receives no earthly rewards for His efforts, He is seen by the Great Rewarder, who promises to reward the things done in secret? Should it not be, then, an great occasion of exultation when none of my good works are seen by men? May it never be that I forget that the Lord rewards the man for who he is and what he does in secret, lest I end up relinquishing all of my heavenly treasures.

Is there a place, then, for acknowledgment and recognition in the disciples life? After all, should it not be in the church’s greatest interest to consider their gospel ministers as worthy of double honor? May I not mislead someone into thinking that there is no place for earthly recognition for one’s works – for after all the great apostle Paul encouraged his protégés Timothy and Titus to show themselves as examples to all believers. Was Paul encouraging his younger students in the faith to lose their rewards? May one never think such. But beware of forgetting that Paul pushed the younger pastors to show themselves as models to be emulated, not as idols to be worshipped. May you then remember that earthly recognition for what you did will be approved by Christ’s testing fires only in so much as the extent to which they stimulated, challenged, and encouraged others to become fellow disciples of the Master. It was no wonder that Paul rejoiced in the lordship of Christ over his beloved Thessalonians, for they were his crown of exultation. Let your works, then, be acknowledged by those to whom you minister – but only in such a way that encourages them and challenges them to follow Christ and minister to His people even more fervently than you do. Otherwise, let it be seared in the core of your heart that the Lord rewards a man by who he is before Him and no one else. Oh may we renounce, then, all earthly accolades! Oh may we mortify all desires to be idolized, for eternal treasures are certaily better!

by Pastor JR Cuevas

“in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.” (1 Timothy 4:12)

I recall several conversations I had with seasoned pastors when I was on the brink of graduating from college – contemplating the idea of applying to seminary and pursuing a vocation in full-time ministry. Having heard the saying, “If you can see yourself doing anything else, do it…because being a pastor isn’t for everyone,” I entered into these conversations with the agenda of asking these godly men what it is about pastoral ministry that made the job so difficult. I heard many of the same things from them:

“You have to be one who does all out of a love for God,” some would say.

“You have to be a man who seeks the approval of God and not man at all times,” another would counsel.

“You need to discipline yourself more than you ever have before,” one would exhort.

“Your heart for people must be so big that you are willing to give your life up even for the most difficult of them,” another would warn.

One that particularly stood out was:

“You have to be able to live for your heavenly rewards, and be willing to forsake all earthly things.”

After pondering their counsel and after much prayer, I began to realize that the things that these men were saying all had nothing to do with skill, but everything to do with character. Or, more specifically, they had everything to do with godly character. As I prayed and wrestled with my emotions, I realized that – pastor or no pastor – I was called to pursue these character qualities that these men were remarking about, for as a Christian I was called to discipline myself for the purpose of godliness. In a nutshell, they were saying: “Being a pastor is so difficult, because in order to be one you really have to be like Christ!”

And, unless you call yourself an unbeliever, don’t we all? When Paul instructed Timothy to be an example – in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity – he called him to be so to all those who believe. The implication: Timothy was a model to be imitated not only by the other pastors and elders, but by the older men, younger men, older women, younger women, children, and widows. In other words, everyone – not just the leaders – were called to look to Timothy as their model for living. Why is topic of such importance today? It is because many in the church fail to see pastors as their examples. They see them as great preachers of the Word to be listened to, but when it comes to everyday living many a lay-person would deem the examples that their pastor puts forth as simply impractical for them. We’ve heard it too often: “It’s great that Pastor Bill does that, but he’s a pastor! You can’t expect me to do the same thing!” Because the congregation is deemed to consider their pastors and leaders as worthy of double honor, people often mistakenly place them on unfair pedestals. It often shows in either an overflow of criticism every time a pastor errs, or in a lack of emulation whenever a pastors excels. Pastors, as well as great men of the faith, are many times seen as figures to be admired, rather than as examples to be emulated. They are deemed as passionate men to be flattered, rather than as practical models to be followed. Sometimes, it’s as if there are two different Jesus figures to be conformed to: one for the pastors and leaders, and another for the lay-people.

But there is one Christ, and He alone is the head of the church. He alone is to be emulated, for those who follow Him are called to walk in the same manner that he walked. The Jesus that pastors are called to conform themselves to is the same Jesus that the rest of the church is called to emulate. He’s the same Jesus whom Jonathan Edwards and Charles Spurgeon followed. He’s the same Jesus whom Jim Elliot followed. He’s the same Jesus whom Paul followed. Thus, when we look at the exemplary lives of our senior (or associate) pastors and the great men of the faith, we are called to do more than to give them our applause while sitting back and excusing ourselves from doing the same thing. Rather, they do what they do so that we may look at them and say, “as a fellow follower of Christ, I shall do the same.” Practically, the pastors life is different from that of a lay person. A pastor is called to preach weekly; a lay-person is not. A pastor usually spends most of his work hours in the church; they lay-person spends most of his at a secular workplace. But though the practical outworking of things may be different, the essence of the example is the same. The faithfulness that a pastor shows to his people is the same faithfulness that every lay-person should exhibit. The sacrificial love that a pastor shows to his congregation should be exhibited by the latter to the same degree. The dignity and discipline of conduct that a pastor is called to is the same dignity and discipline that any other person in church is called to exhibit in his or her life. Thus, let us all give our leaders the honor and respect that God wills for us to give them, and let us do so by striving hard to emulate their example.