Behold, Thou Art Fair, My Beloved

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Song of Solomon 1:16

From every point our Well-beloved is most fair. Our various experiences are meant by our heavenly Father to furnish fresh standpoints from which we may view the loveliness of Jesus; how amiable are our trials when they carry us aloft where we may gain clearer views of Jesus than ordinary life could afford us!

We have seen Him from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon, and He has shone upon us as the sun in his strength; but we have seen Him also ‘from the lions’ dens, from the mountains of the leopards,’ and He has lost none of His loveliness. From the languishing of a sick bed, from the borders of the grave, have we turned our eyes to our soul’s spouse, and He has never been otherwise than ‘all fair.’ Many of His saints have looked upon Him from the gloom of dungeons, and from the red flames of the stake, yet have they never uttered an ill word of Him, but have died extolling His surpassing charms.

Oh, noble and pleasant employment to be for ever gazing at our sweet Lord Jesus! Is it not unspeakably delightful to view the Saviour in all His offices, and to perceive Him matchless in each?-to shift the kaleidoscope, as it were, and to find fresh combinations of peerless graces? In the manger and in eternity, on the cross and on His throne, in the garden and in His kingdom, among thieves or in the midst of cherubim, He is everywhere ‘altogether lovely.’ Examine carefully every little act of His life, and every trait of His character, and He is as lovely in the minute as in the majestic. Judge Him as you will, you cannot censure; weigh Him as you please, and He will not be found wanting. Eternity shall not discover the shadow of a spot in our Beloved, but rather, as ages revolve, His hidden glories shall shine forth with yet more inconceivable splendour, and His unutterable loveliness shall more and more ravish all celestial minds.

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Weekly Links (5/20/2016)

Our pursuit of knowledge ought to be motivated by love for those whom it might benefit, whether inside or outside of the church, living or not yet born. It ought also to be marked by love. The manner in which we treat those with whom we engage in our intellectual work—our classmates, our colleagues, those whom we study, those with whom we debate—ought to reflect the selfless love of the triune God. (Derek Halvorson)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! Short and sweet, so have at it!

  • Though I haven’t written about him in awhile, a lot has happened since David Daleiden posted videos exposing the character of some of the top leaders of Planned Parenthood. Randy Alcorn gives a small update. Please be in prayer for him.
  • In a recent Ask Pastor John podcast, John Piper discusses the issue of Target’s new transgender bathroom policy. Make sure you take a listen to this. Also having a compassionate approach would be a great addition to having a winsome apologetic in this culture.
  • Fred Butler contends that many who are in the classical apologetics camps misuse Scripture regularly, and shows how they do this with a number of passages that are regularly cited when discussing apologetic method. This will be a helpful corrective in service to the church.
  • How much is the Church responsible for our corrupt culture? Dr. James Benecke provides a response that needs to be heard (or read, in this case).
  • Tim Challies writes about why he is not an atheist. That should be enough to pique your interest.
  • In case you missed the Truth in Love podcast, ACBC posted a transcript of an interview between Heath Lambert and David Powlison on having a biblical response to panic. There is much wisdom to glean from these two. So glean!
  • Al Mohler predicted that court-ordered same-sex marriage cannot deliver on its promises. Professor David Murray agrees, providing support from professor Jason Hill, who identifies as gay.
  • What is the prayer of faith, and how is it demonstrated in the life of a believer? Sinclair Ferguson writes a simple answer that has dramatic ramifications. You may never look at prayer the same way again.

That’s all for this week! Please be in prayer for the Czech Missions Team from LBCLA as they will be giving a presentation and a lunch fundraiser on Sunday! See you then!

Soli Deo Gloria

A Little Known Man Worth Following

by Roger Alcaraz

Not a lot is known about Epaphroditus. Even as you read his name, you might have thought, “Who?” I’m talking about the man who was sent to Paul’s imprisonment and then later was sent back to the Philippians. We read a little bit about him in Philippians 3:25 where Paul writes, “I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need.”

While we don’t know many details about him, we do know some things. We know that while Paul was in prison, the Philippian church heard of his situation and sought to help by sending money to support his ministry. The man who delivered the money was Epaphroditus (c.f. Phil 4:18) But the Philippian church instructed him not only to deliver the money but to stay and serve Paul however he needed. So he was a messenger and minister representing the church. And you can be sure that the church would have chosen a man of good character and faith to represent them.

And over time, Paul saw him not just as a messenger, but as his “brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier” (Phil 2:25). He partook the the same work as Paul, labored by his side, and endured trials together. Thus, he carried a good reputation in the church for his godliness. He had a servant mindset, and he was brave, even risking his life.

But he was also desperate–desperate to go back and see his church family. Paul writes, “for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill” (Phil 2:26). Because of his illness, Paul actually decides for him to go back. If it were up to Epaphroditus, he probably would have stayed with Paul as long as he could, because that was the nature of his commitment and servitude.

But Paul could clearly see how his being separated from his church family was affecting him and so he decides to send him back, but look closely at the wording for the reason he wants to go back so badly. It reads, “for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. Indeed he was ill, near to death.”

It’s not because he was sick that he wants to go back, but because the church heard that he was sick. That is quite a selfless love–that in his pain, he would be focused on how his pain is affecting others rather than himself.

I think most of us are the opposite. The more natural thing to do when we’re suffering is to focus on how our suffering is affecting us and how others ought to be serving us. Now granted, our suffering will primarily affect ourselves, but that doesn’t mean it has to be our primary concern.

For Epaphroditus, he missed his church very much. But what he missed more than the blessings he would receive from them were the blessing he could offer to them.

That was why he wanted to go back. He couldn’t bear the fact that he had been the cause of pain and worry in the church, and he so desperately wanted to go back to comfort and encourage them with the news that he’s okay.

How about you? When you’re sick for a while, are you more upset by the fact that you’re unable to minister the way you would if you were healthy, or are you upset by the thought that people should be ministering to you?

Now you might be wondering, “Wait, shouldn’t others be caring for me when I get sick?” And yes, they should. But that’s their priority; it shouldn’t be yours. And we see a perfect picture of what it looks like from both sides.

Epaphroditus fell ill, almost to the point of death, even. And yet his desire was to not cause pain by the news to his church. That was his desire. But the church said “Too bad! We’re gonna hurt along with you, and so long as you’re suffering, we’re suffering.” Each side is more concerned about the other. And this is God’s design for how we ache and suffer for one another.

Epaphroditus sets for us, a true display of love in that no matter how much he suffered, he always thought of others. And the church also displays true love in that no matter how little the person wanted them to carry his burden, they carried it. You might talk to someone who tells you of a trial in their life and they tell you not to worry about it. That is no licence for you to say, “Okay, I won’t worry about it.” Fortunately for everyone involved, God had mercy on him and on Paul who would also have experienced great sorrow if he died.

My point in all this is simple. Epaphroditus as a great man of faith and love. So much so that the church decided to send him to Paul as part of their gift to him. But his love for the church was so great that it brought anguish upon him and eventually, he had to go back to see and comfort them. He didn’t write Scripture. He didn’t perform outstanding miracles. But he serves as an example of great faith and love found in an ordinary man. And while he has mostly been forgotten throughout history, he undoubtedly received great honor from the one who matters the most. Let us follow in his footsteps and receive the same honor from Christ.

Ministering with a Mother’s Heart

“But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.” (1 Thessalonians 2:7–12)

“As mothers are absolutely and indisputably essential to the well- being of children, so spiritual leaders who minister with a mother’s gentleness, intimate affection, sacrificial love, and unselfish labor are essential for the health of the church.” (John MacArthur)

by Pastor John Kim

This is not something you often hear regarding church leadership, that you should reflect the character of a mother. But the apostle Paul shares about this kind of perspective, something that is very much needed in today’s churches, especially as you hear about pastors these days who have been dismissed from their churches due to a harsh spirit, a domineering spirit, where people are being spiritually abused and severely traumatized due to a lack of love.

There is something about a mother that resonates universally – from the time you are born, your mother is the one who will not only take care of you, but love you, and gently, tenderly, affectionately be there for you. This is not just a sentimental thing – to be gentle, tender, and affectionate is not something that will always come naturally.

Sure, there are times when a mother sees her child and thinks, “Oh how I love this child!”
There are other times when a mother sees her child and can’t help but think “I can’t handle this craziness!” To choose to be gentle, tender, and affectionate is not based on someone being deserving or worthy but it is a deliberate choice to work toward being that way.

Paul uses the imagery of a mother going through labor in his ministry towards the church:

“My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you-” (Galatians 4:19)

The word “labor” here in this verse is the word used for the labor pain at the birth of a child. It is the most intense and prolonged pain that only a mother who has given birth can truly understand. But it is a pain that is embraced and endured because the mother knows what will be the end result – the birth of a child.

It is as if Paul says, not only did I labor to see you be brought to spiritual life but that he is also laboring to see them grow in Christlikeness.

This is what the perspective of a mother should bring to the leadership of the church. It is a long term commitment not only to the beginning stages but to the long-term growth of a congregation where there should be a very clear and unmistakable sense where the leaders show a gentle, tender, and affectionate care for the members.

Gentleness

The abuse of a baby is one that is completely inexcusable. To hurt one that is incapable of defending himself, to be so hard-hearted that you would inflict pain on a little one is something that most people would find deplorable.

Instead you can imagine the kind of treatment that a baby would receive, especially when he or she is just born. You can only expect there to be a gentle handling of that baby by all involved.

In many churches today, you do not see this kind of mentality toward people. In fact, it is only maybe in the nursery that you might see it, but I would like to use the nursery ministry as a very visible way to drive home this point. What if parents were to walk in the nursery and see the nursery workers treating their little ones in a rough manner? What if they were just yelling at the child and handling them harshly? There is no way you would put them in the nursery, would you? What would you expect in the nursery? I can tell you what you should expect in the nursery – you should see that there are those who have committed themselves and prepared themselves to be gentle – gentle toward a child that will typically come in crying, not wanting to be there, not immediately cooperative, not willing to to share, not willing to listen to instructions, but still be gentle toward them. Why? Because that is the kind of character you are to display to these little ones.

But to be gentle is not limited to the children. The apostle Paul is talking about the church.
He is sharing how he and his team did not come with flattering speech (2:5) and they were not there to seek glory from men (2:6). He did not assert even his apostolic authority in ministry but instead ministered to them as a mother would to her children.

To be gentle is not a small thing nor is it something to be associated with being weaker. It actually takes great strength to be gentle as a mother is gentle with her child. You will see a mother talk gently and gently handle her little child, who has just thrown up, who has just soiled the diaper for the 20th time today, who has just thrown a tantrum over eating vegetables. If an adult treated you the way a child treats his or her parents in these ways, there is no way you would respond gently in response to them.

But this is the picture of strength – to display gentleness, a meek and quiet spirit that brings peace and calm. Gentleness is something that we need to value more in the life of the church as well as in the home.

Gentleness is a manifestation of the work of the Holy Spirit in your life as well.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22–23)

Note that the fruit of the Spirit is a multi-colored expression of different character qualities and gentleness is highlighted as a quality that reflects the work of the Holy Spirit in your life.

“Now I, Paul, myself urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am meek when face to face with you, but bold toward you when absent!” (2 Corinthians 10:1)

The apostle Paul urges by the gentleness of Christ – what a picture of one who instead of asserting apostolic authority instead appeals to the gentleness of Christ as the means by which he would exhort and even correct those who had stubbornly questioned his apostleship.

“Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1–3)

Again Paul highlights among other things the quality of gentleness to be that which reflects a worthy walk as well as that which contributes to the preserving of the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace in the life of the church.

“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.” (Colossians 3:12–14)

How do you show that you are one of God’s chosen? By a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

“Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1)

Even in your confronting of a fellow believer in sin, true spirituality is shown in the pursuit of restoration in a spirit of gentleness.

“But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.” (1 Timothy 6:11)

Instead of being the kind of person who seeks the sordid gain of the love of money, Paul urges Timothy to flee from such things and instead among other things, pursue gentleness.

“What do you desire? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?” (1 Corinthians 4:21)

You can only imagine as Paul is being tested by what he has heard going on in the Corinthian church. There were those who questioned his authority and were arrogant because Paul wasn’t there. But even then, Paul questions them as to how he should come – whether with the rod or with love and a spirit of gentleness?

A good question to ask is how would you want your spiritual leaders to come to you when you are caught up in your sin. Sometimes there is a call for strong reproof and discipline when there is a stubborn, rebellious heart. But how must more would it be preferred to not have it come to that but instead invite a gentle response. So there is a time for a stern reproof but even so, there would be a preference to display gentleness.

“The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.” (2 Timothy 2:24–26)

Again, even when facing opposition, there is a maturity and a sense of perspective that looks beyond the immediate situation and expresses gentleness in the hope of seeing God grant repentance.

“Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” (James 3:13–18)

Spiritual wisdom, wisdom from above, is the kind of wisdom that is characterized by gentleness. It stands in opposition to bitter jealousy and selfish ambition, to arrogance and lies.

Wisdom from heaven is characterized by a gentleness that exudes both in the content and in how it is presented.

Tender Care

The primary thought behind this word is the idea to cherish. It is to treat with tenderness and affection. It is to have a nurturing spirit, one that would figuratively warm someone with their care. The same word is used in Ephesians 5:29 in the context of how a husband is to cherish his wife, just as Christ cherishes the church

Probably the most significant picture of tender care would be that of a mother nursing her child. That’s why Paul uses this description to convey the heart attitude of how ministry should be conducted.

This tenderness is not something to be seen as just a feminine trait.

“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
For you will go on before the Lord to prepare His ways;
To give to His people the knowledge of salvation
By the forgiveness of their sins,
Because of the tender mercy of our God,
With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us,
To shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
To guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:76–79)

God Himself exercises a tender mercy. This is something that one might not expect to be highlighted of the omnipotent God but when you consider the whole gift of salvation, is it not appropriate to see the tenderness of God revealed to undeserving sinners?

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

If we have experienced the tender mercies of God in being granted forgiveness of Christ, you would think that this would have a profound impact in the life of His children. There is something to be said about a congregation that is tenderhearted toward one another. You will also see a kindness, an atmosphere of forgiveness because it all points to the reality of the gospel

Fond Affection

The idea behind this quality is that of a strong and persistent longing, a yearning, a very strong affection. John MacArthur notes that ancient inscriptions on the tombs of dead babies sometimes contained this term when parents wanted to describe their sad longing for a too-soon-departed child.

You can see this in the heart of a mother toward her child, especially when she is separated from her child for any reason. Try talking to a mother who is longing for her child – that is the only thing on her mind! But why? Because there is this strong affection, a longing, a persistent yearning.

This is the kind of affection that should exist within the church as well, especially in the leaders.
There should be such a sense of affection that there would be the willingness to lay down your life. The ministry of the gospel was not just one of imparting information but one of imparting life. A true minister of the gospel is one who is willing to give his very life for the sake of those that God has given to minister in the church body.

Paul shows such an example, that at the heart of his ministry was not just cold obligation, not just an imparting of information, but a fond affection.

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me. For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6–8)

There are some pastors and church leaders who show absolutely no affection toward the members of the church. There is a business mentality, almost like looking at people simply as commodities or numbers instead of thinking of how to truly shepherd them as Christ would shepherd the flock. It is tragic when you see this kind of attitude, especially in the leaders of the church. They fail to represent and reflect the Savior, who presented Himself to be gentle and humble in heart.

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30)

My hope and prayer is that our Lighthouse churches, especially the leadership of all the churches, would reflect these kind of qualities in such a way that the watching world can see the absolute stunning brilliance of how the gospel has transformed our lives and how we treat one another. It really goes against everything the world would value and highlights what would reflect our Savior in the most appropriate ways, especially in the life of the church.

He Led Them Forth By The Right Way

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Psalm 107:7

Changeful experience often leads the anxious believer to enquire ‘Why is it thus with me?’ I looked for light, but lo, darkness came; for peace, but behold trouble. I said in my heart, my mountain standeth firm, I shall never be moved. Lord, thou dost hide Thy face, and I am troubled. It was but yesterday that I could read my title clear; to-day my evidences are bedimmed, and my hopes are clouded. Yesterday I could climb to Pisgah’s top, and view the landscape o’er, and rejoice with confidence in my future inheritance; to-day, my spirit has no hopes, but many fears; no joys, but much distress. Is this part of God’s plan with me? Can this be the way in which God would bring me to heaven?

Yes, it is even so. The eclipse of your faith, the darkness of your mind, the fainting of your hope, all these things are but parts of God’s method of making you ripe for the great inheritance upon which you shall soon enter. These trials are for the testing and strengthening of your faith-they are waves that wash you further upon the rock-they are winds which waft your ship the more swiftly towards the desired haven. According to David’s words, so it might be said of you, ‘so He bringeth them to their desired haven.’ By honour and dishonour, by evil report and by good report, by plenty and by poverty, by joy and by distress, by persecution and by peace, by all these things is the life of your souls maintained, and by each of these are you helped on your way. Oh, think not, believer, that your sorrows are out of God’s plan; they are necessary parts of it. ‘We must, through much tribulation, enter the kingdom.’ Learn, then, even to ‘count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.’

‘O let my trembling soul be still,
And wait Thy wise, Thy holy will!
I cannot, Lord, Thy purpose see,
Yet all is well since ruled by Thee.’

5.22a

Weekly Links (5/13/2016)

“We must be honest about the hostility, or we’ll have wrong expectations and give up on evangelism. But we must also be excited about the hunger, or we’ll have no expectations at all, and never start evangelism. Hostility and hunger: that’s what you’ll find as you tell others about Jesus.” (Rico Tice, Honest Evangelism: How to Talk about Jesus Even When It’s Tough)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! I hope your week has deepened your knowledge of God and your love for God. Hopefully, these links will serve to that end. So here are your week’s links!

  • Many theologians practice what is called, ‘biblical theology,’ which is the discipline of studying the progressive nature of divine revelation, seeing how these truths are given to us by God chronologically. They seek to trace the many themes of the Bible, emphasizing the importance of reading Scripture in this progressive manner. While many adhere to this perspective, Jesse Johnson mentions one theme that is interestingly silent in theologians’ treatment of the subject: Israel. It’s more interesting than It sounds. Read on.
  • How can marriage be lived to the glory of God? John Piper spends 22 minutes answering that. Carve out some time for this!
  • How does one grow in humility? Geoffrey Thomas provides an answer devoted to the life and death of Christ.
  • Dr. Howard Glicksman has been writing a year-long series of articles explaining the design of the human body as evidence of an intelligent designer. This is a fascinating look at the intricate detail which God has structured the body to function, and you would be remiss in skipping out on this stimulating study. This week he covers the role of calcium in the body. Don’t miss out!
  • If you wondered how to become knowledgeable in Christian ethics, who better than Russell Moore to provide an answer? Well, here it is!
  • The Master’s Seminary recently posted some videos detailing some of their distinctives as a seminary. Currently, they’ve posted on having a high view of God and a high view of God’s Word.
  • Stand to Reason interviewed Christian screenwriter and author Brian Godawa on his new book, God Against the gods: Storytelling, Imagination and Apologetics in the Bible, who advocates pursuing beauty and subverting the cultural narrative to show the superiority  of the Christian worldview, as exemplified in Scripture.
  • Joe Carter created a mini-glossary of a number of terms that have been used in discussing gender identity, and the revolution that is at the forefront of media coverage. This can be a great tool to be informed and share about these issues with those around you. This will be especially helpful in light of President Obama’s letter issued today, calling for all public schools to accept those who identify as transgender to use the bathroom that matches their gender identity. Denny Burk provides an initial analysis.
  • Professor Michael Kruger gave a workshop at The Gospel Coalition’s 2015 National Conference answering the question, ‘How do we know the Bible is God’s Word?’ Trust me when I say this was one of the best answers I have ever heard. Listen carefully!

That’s all for this week! Pray for the upcoming SDSU graduates, as this will be their time of transition into post-college life. See you all on Sunday!

Soli Deo Gloria

Sister’s Appreciation Night

by Humphrey Lin

The church was unrecognizable, as black and white streamers drooped from the ceiling, string lights snaked up the sanctuary poles, and hand-painted portraits of flowers, fruits, and sceneries covered the walls of the foyer. A hundred collegians crowded the foyer, the men dressed sharply in black and white, and the ladies looking stunning in colorful dresses and elegant heels. A hush came over the crowd as a voice announced: “please enter the sanctuary, Sister’s Appreciation night is about to begin.”

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The Preparation

Hours before the event, the church was bustling with commotion, as the College Life men busied themselves decorating the sanctuary and foyer, setting up chairs and tables, and creating centerpieces for the night. Twenty to thirty collegian men of all classes worked tirelessly as the church was slowly transformed into an elegant banquet hall, while more labored in the kitchens of the Costa Verde apartments, creating over a hundred portions of stuffed mushrooms, bruschetta, pork loin, and panna cotta. This night would be the culmination of weeks of planning, deliberation, and practice, not to mention hundreds of dollars in donations. But it was all worth it—to appreciate our sisters to the glory of God.

The Night

The freshman guys darted between tables of excited diners, delivering food, clearing trash, and refilling empty cups of water. Dinner was in full swing, as collegians laughed and conversed over plates of handmade Italian cuisine and an eclectic band of College Life men played Italian folk songs in the background. A short intermission followed dinnertime, and as the guests sat back down, stage lights dimmed, and an unexpected video started playing. A moustache-twirling villain had stolen the freshman guys’ meal cards, and the girls must solve a riddle to get them back. It appeared that each class of the collegian men was in some sort of danger, and the girls must rescue them in turn. As the villain’s plans (and accent) evolved, so did the challenges, and interweaved between hilarious videos, chaotic games, and over-the-top theatrics, each class of College Life men shared special performances to express their appreciation for their sisters in Christ. More than a few tears were shed.

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The Reason

The Bible instructs us as a church to encourage one another with words and acts of service (Ephesians 4:29; Romans 12:10-11). Nights like these are for the purpose of building up, that through our displays of gratitude and service, members of the body would be pushed more towards love and strive more towards Christlikeness (Ephesians 4:15-16). But why specifically the sisters?

Throughout much of history and in many places around the world today, it is incredibly difficult to be a woman. The curse of sin resulted in cruel and oppressive cultures in which the women are regarded as second class citizens and objects of men’s selfish desires. Even though it is much easier to be a woman socially and economically in modern day America, Bible-believing Christian women face pressures from all sides to conform to the twisted beliefs of the world; on one side, media and pop culture seek to objectify women and glorify the physical image and on another, feminism seeks to destroy the Biblical foundations of marriage, submission, and the sanctity of life.

The women of Lighthouse Bible Church College Life live in a world that says physical perfection is beauty, submission is humiliation, and gentleness is weakness. But as a shining light in a time of darkness, they live in a way that demonstrates that the Bible is their foundation and Christ is their Lord, and to be wise is to be beautiful and to submit is to be exalted. Their worth is not found in physical beauty or social status, but rather in “the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious” (1 Peter 3:4). The women of College Life are rare and beautiful, and they often don’t realize it. But we (the brothers) do, and so does the Lord our God. So with a collective voice and a small token of our appreciation, the men say “thanks, hope you enjoyed the night.”

LBC Weekly SPARK – May 11, 2016

by Pastor Patrick Cho

Dear LBCSD family and friends!

I hope you are off to a great week! I hope you enjoyed the teaching series through the Book of Titus! I am looking forward to beginning the Book of Mark and would encourage you to go ahead and read through it several times before we begin in the summer. In the meantime, we’ll cover some very important topics throughout the remainder of the school year and into the summer. Some topics we’ll be studying are Missions and Church Planting and The Doctrine of Sanctification. We may also try to squeeze in a brief study in the short Old Testament book. The possibilities are endless! =)

As it is the end of another school year, please be in prayer for our college graduates. It’s an exciting time for them, but we ought to pray that they would be sensitive to the Lord’s leading in their lives and joyfully submit to His sovereign plan. Please also pray that the Lord would provide for them and care for them through this time of transition.

In His grace,

Pastor Patrick

Here are some ministry opportunities for you to consider:

  1. Midweek Bible Studies. Our regularly scheduled midweek Bible studies continue this week at the church. Lumos Youth and College Life meet on Friday at 7:00 pm. Single Life meets on Wednesday at 6:30 pm. Come out as Pastor Roger continues his series on dating and relationships. Lighthouse Kids’ Club will meet on Thursday at 6:30 pm.
  2. Grace Life Bible Study. Since the men’s Bible study was cancelled last week for Grace Life, this week will be a combined men’s and women’s study on Thursday at 6:30 pm. Nursery care will be provided. Come out for this wonderful time of worship and fellowship.
  3. Sunday School. Adult Sunday School classes continue this weekend. FOF will be covering Lesson 10: Spiritual Gifts. Pastor Roger will continue his series on Soteriology covering the topic of Sanctification. Pastor Patrick will continue in the Parenting Class syllabus finishing up Lesson 3: The Parents’ Challenges, and hopefully moving on to Lesson 4: The Parents’ Roles. Don’t forget to look at the homework for Lesson 3.
  4. Monday Night Volleyball. Every Monday at 5:30 pm, Lighthouse sets up volleyball at La Jolla Shores. We meet on the very north end of the grassy area. Come out for some fun and exercise!
  5. MEN’S SEMINAR! Calling all men! There will be a men’s seminar on Saturday, May 21, at the church. The theme for the seminar is “War with the World” addressing the problem of worldliness in the church. The cost is only $10 to attend and financial assistance is available to those in need. You can sign up with Shihong Zu on Sunday in the foyer. Contact Pastor Patrick if you have any questions.
  6. Summer Missions. On Sundays, May 22 and 29, we will focus on the theme of missions for our morning services. On May 22, the Czech Republic summer missions team from LBC Los Angeles will be presenting what will be happening this summer in Beroun. They will also be hosting a lunch fundraiser after the Sunday School hour. On May 29, we’ll switch gears and focus on the Argentina team being sent out by LBC San Diego. They will present the plans for this summer in Tucuman and San Justo. They will also host a lunch fundraiser after the Sunday School hour. Please mark your calendars and support our teams. For more information, support letters for each team are available in the foyer on Sundays.
  7. Vacation Bible School. Registration for VBS is now open! The dates for VBS are June 27 to July 1, and this year’s theme is “Operation: Worship!” We’ll be learning how God has created us to worship Him with our whole being! For elementary school-aged children (Grades 1-5), the cost for registration is $160 per child, with a $10 discount per subsequent elementary-aged child of the same household. For preschool-aged children (4 and up, fully potty-trained), the cost for registration is $50 per child. All costs will increase by $20 on May 29 and again on June 19. Contact Pastor Josh for a registration form or for more information (liu.joshuac@gmail.com).
  8. Congratulations to our SDSU graduates! Please pray for Sarah A, Angela K, Samantha L, and former member Kevin B as they finish up their programs and graduate this coming weekend!