Grace Life Weekender with Dr. Ernie Baker

by Brian and Beverly Chan

Editor’s Note: Audio from the conference can be found here; a brief overview of Dr. Baker and some of his additional materials can be found here.

1) What happened at the Grace Life Weekend Conference? Who was the speaker? What was the theme?

The Gracelifers had our annual three-day conference at church. Dr. Ernie Baker was the speaker and the theme was on “parenting as a discipleship ministry.”

2) What topics were covered in the main sessions?

The main topic was on keeping critical parts of your marriage and parenting front and center by organizing you family life around those things. This was huge as it provided the foundation from which we could build the rest of the material off of.

Other topics were parenting as a discipleship ministry, peacemaking as a family, the discipline of children, and a healthy dose on the importance of family worship.

3) How was the conference helpful, encouraging, and/or challenging?

First, the conference was helpful in affirming the things we have been taught at Lighthouse through the years. There wasn’t anything new that we haven’t already been taught by the current or previous leadership (Pastors Patrick Cho and John Kim). So in that sense, it was a great endorsement that the teaching we get at Lighthouse is reliable and trustworthy.

Second, it was encouraging to hear from someone who has gone through the journey of parenting, is now a grandparent, and can share reflections and lessons learned from this journey. While the same biblical principles apply, how it gets played out in life may differ from family to family. You’re really just looking for nuggets of practical suggestions that may or may not work for your family. Ultimately, you have to decide what to try out; there’s no chapter and verse for what date nights should look like or how family devotions should be conducted. So hearing what some of Dr. Baker’s family traditions were, how they handled certain discipline situations, how they worked on their marriage throughout that time, and how they handled different family struggles were all very challenging and encouraging to hear.

Lastly, Dr. Baker was a great speaker who was easy to follow and understand. He presented an even mix of theology and practical suggestions that we feel was worth the time.

4) What has been some of the positive feedback you’ve heard about the conference from others?

People are motivated. We understand how much we really are under-performing in the eyes of the Lord and how much work still has to be done in our own hearts before turning our attention to our children. None of us know how much time God has given us with our children and we definitely need to do a better job of redeeming our time with them. We need to strive to be more mature in following God’s prescription for parenting while understanding that ultimately, the salvation of our children is in God’s hands alone.

While the degradation of American culture does make it harder, we are still called to follow the timeless biblical principles for parenting. It’s encouraging to know that even though we fail time and time again, we serve a gracious God and are thankful for His continual forgiveness of our failures and shortcomings. There’s still a tremendous amount of work to do and with the help of the Spirit and the encouragement of our peers at church, we’re ready to make the changes we need to make and help improve the spiritual health of the church one family at a time.

The Joy of Contentment Versus the Evil of a Murmuring Spirit

by Pastor John Kim

Jeremiah Burroughs provides a helpful definition of contentment in his classic work The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment:

Christian contentment is that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God’s wise and fatherly disposal in every condition.

If there is one character quality that really stands out in someone’s life, it would be this quality of contentment. While it is not something that seems flashy and glamorous compared to other qualities, there is something about contentment that really sets apart those who have it as ones who shine the light of Christ compared to those who don’t.

I suppose all of us would have to admit that it’s easy to murmur, complain, or grumble about our circumstances, whether those manifest as struggles with difficult people or being subjected to tests or trials that range anywhere from inconvenience to trauma. When we face those various trials that James 1:2 talks about, we are called to consider it joy knowing that God’s purposes in shaping our character are at work. But do we just grin and bear it? Or are we actually able to experience joy in the midst of trials?

When we are called to bear a cross or to suffer in some way, it is hard to imagine that we can respond with joy and not let it affect us. So how can we experience joy?

It would be hard to summarize all of Jeremiah Burroughs’ book in one article so I’ll have to encourage you to read it. But if there are two thoughts that have come out of studying the theme of contentment, it would be these:

1. A Murmuring Spirit Is An Evil Thing.

To have a grumbling, complaining heart is not something to be treated lightly. In fact, if you look at the nation of Israel when God delivered them from Egypt and was taking them to the Promised Land, the one thing that stood out was that they continually grumbled. Whether it was about the pursuit of the Egyptians, the lack of food, the kind of food, the lack of water, or disagreement with the leadership of Moses, there was a constant grumbling that took place. What is pretty serious to note is that God was not pleased and actually judged the people for their complaining. 1 Corinthians 10 highlights this in a way that we should carefully consider and take to heart:

“Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness.

Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to play.” Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents. Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” (1 Corinthians 10:5–11)

Note that the penalty for grumbling was destruction. Not a warning, not a time out, not a “please stop” for the hundredth time. This should be a sobering thought to all of us. Verse 5 says that “with most of them, God was not well-pleased” and twice in the next several verses we are warned to consider their example so that we would not do the same.

A grumbling heart manifests a discontentment that ultimately shakes its fist at God because there is a dissatisfaction with His wise and fatherly disposal in all things. Our view of God is revealed to not be so high, so exalted, so sovereign. Instead, our complaining hearts reveal that until we get things our way, when we want it, how we want it, and in what color and size we want it, we are not freely submitting to and delighting in God’s course that He has laid out for us.

2. True Contentment Only Comes in Christ Alone

A temporary and superficial contentment can be experienced to some degree, but a lasting and deep contentment that perseveres–particularly in the midst of suffering–can only come when Jesus is truly seen as all we need.

In a famous passage that is often used in ways that are not justified by the context, there is one thing that is very clear: contentment is only possible through the strength that Christ provides.

“But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:10–13)

Paul knew how to get along with humble means, and during times of prosperity. That was because those things did not define him. His greatest point of identification was in Christ because what he valued more than anything was knowing Christ.

“But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:7–11)

Christian contentment is only possible because Christ is seen as our greatest gain, to the point where we would count all other things as loss. This is obviously easier said than done when it comes to daily life. So we must cultivate and nurture a love for Christ, and grow in appreciation for the love of Christ in order to become more and more content despite whatever circumstances might surround us at any given time.

As we consider the daily pull of the things in life that seem to highlight what we don’t have, let us consider what we already have in Christ. Then we can have a heart of contentment that will also reveal itself through a life of thanksgiving, rejoicing, hope. After all, Christians are more focused on the future than the present: on the promises that we look forward to being fulfilled.

When we genuinely look to our Savior as the Author and perfecter of our faith, we can lay aside every encumbrance and the entangling sins that trip us, and run with endurance the race that is set before us, because Jesus has set the way for us to follow and has promised the strength to pursue it.

In The World Ye Shall Have Tribulation

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

John 16:33

Art thou asking the reason of this, believer?

  • Look upward to thy heavenly Father, and behold Him pure and holy. Dost thou know that thou art one day to be like Him? Wilt thou easily be conformed to His image? Wilt thou not require much refining in the furnace of affliction to purify thee? Will it be an easy thing to get rid of thy corruptions, and make thee perfect even as thy Father which is in heaven is perfect?
  • Next, Christian, turn thine eye downward. Dost thou know what foes thou hast beneath thy feet? Thou wast once a servant of Satan, and no king will willingly lose his subjects. Dost thou think that Satan will let thee alone? No, he will be always at thee, for he ‘goeth about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.’ Expect trouble, therefore, Christian, when thou lookest beneath thee.
  • Then look around thee. Where art thou? Thou art in an enemy’s country, a stranger and a sojourner. The world is not thy friend. If it be, then thou art not God’s friend, for he who is the friend of the world is the enemy of God. Be assured that thou shalt find foe-men everywhere. When thou sleepest, think that thou art resting on the battlefield; when thou walkest, suspect an ambush in every hedge. As mosquitoes are said to bite strangers more than natives, so will the trials of earth be sharpest to you.
  • Lastly, look within thee, into thine own heart and observe what is there. Sin and self are still within. Ah! if thou hadst no devil to tempt thee, no enemies to fight thee, and no world to ensnare thee, thou wouldst still find in thyself evil enough to be a sore trouble to thee, for ‘the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.’

Expect trouble then, but despond not on account of it, for God is with thee to help and to strengthen thee. He hath said, ‘I will be with thee in trouble; I will deliver thee and honour thee.’

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Weekly Links (8/7/2015)

“I simply argue that the cross be raised again at the centre of the market place as well as on the steeple of the Church. I am recovering the claim that Jesus was not crucified in a cathedral between two candles; but on a cross between two thieves; on a town garbage heap; at the crossroad of politics so cosmopolitan that they had to write His title in Hebrew and in Latin and in Greek…And at the kind of place where cynics talk smut, and thieves curse, and soldiers gamble. Because that is where He died, and that is what He died about. And that is where Christ’s men ought to be and what Church people ought to be about.” (George Macleod)

by Stephen Rodgers

Well, after a month on hiatus here we go again! And is our custom, the first WL of the month is given over to alerting you to some free resources to help you profitably spend your time for the rest of the month…

  • The free resource from christianaudio.com this month is Rosaria Butterfield’s The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert which is really, Really, REALLY good. You should imbibe this book…read it, listen to it, absorb it…whatever works. It’s…as the kids say these days…stupid good…which means it’s actually very smart. And good.
  • Logos’ free resource this month is the Paideia Commentaries on the New Testament: Acts. I’m afraid I don’t know too much about this one, but there it is.
  • The August edition of Tabletalk is out, and it deals with the topic of “Persecution.” On top of it always being an excellent resource, this month, Ligonier is making it free in every digital form imaginable, so you are without excuse (unless you only read printed material, in which case you probably don’t read the Beacon).

So, that address the new and recurring stuff, but let’s take a look at two other resources for you:

That’s it. See you Sunday!

Pro Rege

Sow Bountifully

by Haiqiao Lin

Like it or not, money is a big part of our lives today. Every day, we are bombarded with advertisements telling us how to spend money. At the same time, we are reminded that we need to use our money wisely and save for retirement. As Christians, we are additionally concerned with giving away some of our money. Despite the weekly reminder during the offering time at church, I find that I often have a distorted view of giving that is influenced more by the world than by the Bible. So I am thankful that in the Singles Ministry, we recently had the opportunity to hear a very practical message about this important topic. We have been going through 2 Corinthians in our Wednesday night Bible studies. In the 9th Chapter of the book, the Apostle Paul addresses topic of money to the Corinthian church. In the first part of the chapter, he commends the Corinthians for their promise of a generous donation. Then, in the second part of the chapter (verses 6-15), he gives a brief discourse on the theology of giving. Alex Ko’s message entitled “Sow Bountifully” outlined 5 blessings we can reap from giving generously, based on this passage:

  1. We receive love from God. Verse 7 says that “God loves a cheerful giver.” We don’t often read in the Bible that God loves us based on something that we do. So when we see it put this plainly, we ought to pay attention!
  2. We receive generosity from God. We read in verse 10-11, “he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way.” When we give generously, God promises to supply us everything that we need. There is an emphasis here on spiritual blessings; sowing righteous works will result in reaping an “increased harvest of righteousness”. However, God may also bless us with material prosperity so that we in turn would be able to give even more generously
  3. We give glory to God. Verses 12-13 read, “for the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God… they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others.” Our generous giving brings glory to God in two ways. First, we supply the needs of other believers, which causes them to give thanks to God. Secondly, our giving demonstrates our obedience to the gospel of Christ, which causes other believers to glorify God for the transformation he has worked in our lives.
  4. We gain friends from God. Verse 14 continues, “they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you.” Even though we should not give with the expectation of being repaid (Luke 6:34), we learn here that one of the blessings of generosity is that we gain friends who will pray for us and fellowship with us. This is a far greater reward than financial repayment!
  5. We grow in likeness to God. The chapter concludes with verse 15: “thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!” We are reminded here that the ultimate reason for us to give generously is because God first demonstrated great generosity to us by providing salvation through Jesus Christ. In the previous chapter, Paul makes this connection explicitly: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich” (2 Cor. 8:9). Through the act of giving, we have the opportunity to demonstrate Christlike behavior in a very practical way.

In addition to describing the benefits, Paul also explains what generous giving looks like: “each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” From this single verse we can learn 5 different aspects of generous giving:

  1. It is a decision. We should not limit ourselves to reactive giving (i.e. in response to a sudden or urgent need) or occasional giving (i.e. when we happen to remember or are “in a giving mood”). On the contrary, generous giving involves deliberate, purposeful planning.
  2. It is decided in the heart. Giving should be determined privately, between a person and God. We shouldn’t determine our giving based on social expectations or comparison to others.
  3. It is not done grudgingly. While Paul certainly expects Christians to give, he makes it clear that giving is a privilege that we should participate in joyfully, not an obligation that we perform reluctantly.
  4. It is not done under compulsion. While giving a tithe was expected out of the Israelites under the Mosaic law, it is never commanded in the New Testament. Paul’s instructions here should be understood as a fulfillment of that Old Testament law. God doesn’t need our money to accomplish his will.
  5. It is done cheerfully. Note that Paul doesn’t say that God loves a “sacrificial” or “big” giver. I’ve heard it suggested that we should give until it hurts, or until our giving has a noticeable impact on how we spend the rest of our money. This might be helpful advice for some people. However, I think Paul’s words here imply that we should not only consider how our giving affects us financially, but also how it affects us emotionally!

These instructions make it clear that while the practical aspects of giving are important (e.g. how much and to whom we give), the attitude behind our giving is even more important. This is consistent with what we know about God’s character, that while man looks at outward appearances, God looks at the heart (1 Sam. 16:7). As someone who often finds it difficult to be generous with my money, this is an uncomfortable teaching. It means I can’t truly become more generous simply by trying harder and giving more. However, the good news is that because of the gospel, true internal change can and does happen in the lives of believers! I pray that this biblical teaching on the blessings of giving generously will help me to not only truly desire to become more generous, but to work hard at it, knowing that it is really the Holy Spirit which empowers such change in my life. I’m really grateful for the solid teaching that we receive at LBC, and I look forward to the remainder of the series and the continued chances to learn and fellowship with the other members!

@LBC (July 2015)

by David Zhang

Sermons

The Truth Remains by Pastor Patrick

Theophobia: Fear of God by Nigel Shafer

The Radiant Glory of God’s Character and the Blindness of Pride by John Zheng

Lessons From the Lazy by John Pleasnick

The Stone and the Glory by Dr. Greg Harris

The Strategic Importance of Family Worship by Dr. Ernie Baker

Special Features

Theology and Practice of Corporate Worship (Part 2)

Editor’s Note: This article is part 2 of an ongoing series by Pastor Jim Kang on corporate worship. Click the following link to find the previous article: part 1. 

by Pastor Jim Kang

Who should worship God?

The answer: all of God’s creations!

But there is a problem. In fact, a big problem. Presently all creation is tainted with sin and experience the consequence of sin. This is what Paul means in Romans 8:22, “For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.”

This is doubly true of man. The whole mankind is presently experiencing the consequence of sin, such as, either sinning to fellow man or others are sinning against him. Most of all, due to sin man is in the state of rebellion against God and refuses to submit to God’s authority and his rulership. As a result, man worships not his creator, but himself. If not, he worships someone else or something else.

It is true that we are created to worship God and to enjoy God. That is the implication from Genesis 1 and 2 before the fall. But something happened in Genesis 3, namely man chose to disobey and sin against God. So, what hinders us presently to worship God is the natural disposition of our sin. As a result, God is not the sole object of our worth, passion, affections, prize, priority, treasure, but now God is replaced with something else, someone else, or our self. That is why, at this very moment, if you are not worshiping the true and the living God, it is inevitable that you are either worshiping yourself, someone else, or something else. Everyone worships. But the question is, who do you worship?

If it is not God, it is your career. It could be material things. It could be relationship. For some they worship their parents. For some they worship their children or grandchildren. So the key question is, who do you worship? Or what do you worship? To whom or to what do you place your passion, affection, and priority?

The answer to that question has consequence. And its consequence is a matter of life and death. Perhaps nothing is more clearly stated by God than what he said in Deuteronomy 30:15-20. Certainly the consequence is not only true in the OT with the people of Israel, but also with us.

In Deuteronomy 30:15-20, who is God talking to? He isn’t talking to pagans! He isn’t talking to individuals who worship other gods, who worship their own ideologies, other people or things. Rather, God is talking to a particular group of people that he chose to redeem from the evil tyranny. God is talking to a particular group of people that he chose to redeem from their own self destruction and ultimately from God himself. Hence, God is giving this command to choose life to a particular group, namely the redeemed community. The implication is, even with God’s redeemed group, not everyone chooses life or chooses to worship God alone. This command carries a twofold purpose: 1) to encourage those who are walking in obedience to God to continue in their perseverance, and 2) to warn those who are not walking in the light. And this command still stands today.

So, the answer to who should worship God is God’s redeemed people. In fact, only God’s redeemed and spiritually regenerate people can worship God because the people who are not born-again are not bent to worship God naturally.

“But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.” (1 Corinthians 2:14)

So, all you saints of the Lord, come let us worship and bow down to our creator and redeemer.

July Hiatus (2015)

by Stephen Rodgers

As we’ve done in years past, we’ll be taking a brief hiatus for the month of July. In case anyone is curious as to the reasons behind that, in no particular order they are:

  • This is a time where a number of our members who support the Beacon directly and indirectly are unavailable: many collegians are out of town, summer mission team members are out of the country, etc.
  • This is a time where we like to give our pastors, elders, and ministry coordinators a little bit of a break from writing articles. Some use it to catch up, others to get ahead, but they really do appreciate a few weeks off. And this year, some of them are also out on the mission field.
  • Last but not least, this gives us on the Beacon staff an opportunity to update, upgrade, and generally tweak some of the code under the hood, without the fear that we’ll inadvertently bring the site down and prevent you from receiving fresh content. (We just inadvertently bring down the site and prevent you from receiving any content whatsoever…just kidding…mostly).

In the meantime, I’d encourage you to take the opportunity to explore and catch up on some past articles you may have missed.  Here’s a few of my favorites:

That’s it for now. See you in August!

Pro Rege

These All Died In Faith

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Hebrews 11:13

Behold the epitaph of all those blessed saints who fell asleep before the coming of our Lord! It matters nothing how else they died, whether of old age, or by violent means; this one point, in which they all agree, is the most worthy of record, ‘they all died in faith.’ In faith they lived-it was their comfort, their guide, their motive and their support; and in the same spiritual grace they died, ending their life-song in the sweet strain in which they had so long continued. They did not die resting in the flesh or upon their own attainments; they made no advance from their first way of acceptance with God, but held to the way of faith to the end. Faith is as precious to die by as to live by.

Dying in faith has distinct reference to the past. They believed the promises which had gone before, and were assured that their sins were blotted out through the mercy of God. Dying in faith has to do with the present. These saints were confident of their acceptance with God, they enjoyed the beams of His love, and rested in His faithfulness. Dying in faith looks into the future. They fell asleep, affirming that the Messiah would surely come, and that when He would in the last days appear upon the earth, they would rise from their graves to behold Him. To them the pains of death were but the birth-pangs of a better state.

Take courage, my soul, as thou readest this epitaph. Thy course, through grace, is one of faith, and sight seldom cheers thee; this has also been the pathway of the brightest and the best. Faith was the orbit in which these stars of the first magnitude moved all the time of their shining here; and happy art thou that it is thine. Look anew to-night to Jesus, the author and finisher of thy faith, and thank Him for giving thee like precious faith with souls now in glory.

5.2p