Lift Them Up For Ever

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

From Psalm 28:9

God’s people need lifting up. They are very heavy by nature. They have no wings, or, if they have, they are like the dove of old which lay among the pots; and they need divine grace to make them mount on wings covered with silver, and with feathers of yellow gold. By nature sparks fly upward, but the sinful souls of men fall downward. O Lord, ‘lift them up for ever!’ David himself said, ‘Unto Thee, O God, do I lift up my soul,’ and he here feels the necessity that other men’s souls should be lifted up as well as his own. When you ask this blessing for yourself, forget not to seek it for others also. There are three ways in which God’s people require to be lifted up.

  1. They require to be elevated in character. Lift them up, O Lord; do not suffer Thy people to be like the world’s people! The world lieth in the wicked one; lift them out of it! The world’s people are looking after silver and gold, seeking their own pleasures, and the gratification of their lusts; but, Lord, lift Thy people up above all this; keep them from being ‘muck-rakers,’ as John Bunyan calls the man who was always scraping after gold! Set thou their hearts upon their risen Lord and the heavenly heritage!
  2. Moreover, believers need to be prospered in conflict. In the battle, if they seem to fall, O Lord, be pleased to give them the victory. If the foot of the foe be upon their necks for a moment, help them to grasp the sword of the Spirit, and eventually to win the battle. Lord, lift up Thy children’s spirits in the day of conflict; let them not sit in the dust, mourning for ever. Suffer not the adversary to vex them sore, and make them fret; but if they have been, like Hannah, persecuted, let them sing of the mercy of a delivering God.
  3. We may also ask our Lord to lift them up at the last! Lift them up by taking them home, lift their bodies from the tomb, and raise their souls to Thine eternal kingdom in glory.

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Weekly Links (10/17/2014)

“The independent, self-sufficient culture in which we live causes many people to lose sight of how interrelated the body of Christ is meant to be. God intends for us to truly depend upon one another. A person in the midst of a serious struggle, however, often feels shame over his condition and reluctance to reach out to others for help. Mental difficulties may make it necessary for that person to learn to trust others to help him understand what is true, because his mind is not always reliable. Such trials can serve as opportunities to bring the body of Christ together, poignantly demonstrating how incomplete we really are without one another. It is not just the weak who need the strong. Paul reminds us that the weaker parts are indispensable, and God has designed it in this way so the body together can glorify him (1 Cor. 12:14-27).” (Craig Marshall, “Caring for Those in Distress” Modern Reformation Magazine July/August 2014 Vol: 23 No: 4)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! Are you excited for this week’s links? Well, here they are!

  • Pastor Jeramie Rinne reflects on the mentor who guided him into becoming a shepherd at his first pastorate, and gives some godly wisdom for believers to become mentors to those under our care in the church. Are you a mentor to someone currently? If not, are you being mentored?  Maybe it’s time to begin the process.
  • The Council for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (CBMW) has written a series of articles on how to practically live out biblical masculinity. When the leading spokesmen for biblical manhood write about biblical manhood, it’d be wise to listen up. Better yet, let’s apply their counsel.
  • In this culture of celebrity hookups and breakups, glorifying relationships rather than the Creator, Fabienne Harford gives an honest, inside look into her thoughts regarding singleness and how her struggles have helped her shift her view upward towards God and outward towards others. A fascinating read.
  • John MacArthur comes back with an article that he’s written for The Master’s Seminary Journal, but is being posted on the Grace to You blog in parts. Entitled, “Strange Fire Redux,” MacArthur writes concerning the background of the charismatic movement, along with a critique from Scripture and church history. If you haven’t read the book or watched any of the sessions, this can be a good primer to jump into it.
  • With the recent death of an American doctor who contracted Ebola, and another just diagnosed, Miguel Nuñez gives some answers to the many questions that have been of concern to us in the states about this disease.
  • Pastor David Murray writes about the passive and aggressive natures found in many husbands who neglect or have abandoned the biblical ideal of leading and loving their wives. Addressing the passive husband, here are five ways to lead your wife.
  • Since some of our members went to the Institute for Creation Research conference recently, I thought I’d point people to their Acts & Facts Magazine, which is their monthly magazine detailing new discoveries that confirm biblical creation as the best model for origins. Their October magazine is titled, “Doing the Lord’s Business” and has some really interesting articles. Check it out!
  • Going back to the theme of marriage, biblical counselor Ed Welch has some seasoned words of wisdom concerning some spouses’ sense of hopelessness in marriage. Read and prepare (or apply).
  • A simple but insightful look from this week’s PeaceMeal deals with the priority of peace in your many relationships. Which comes first? Read on and find out.
  • Is there pain in your marriage? Do you know why it’s there? This may be a good article to be reminded of that reality.
  • We live in a world of believers and unbelievers, but sometimes, when spending periods of time with believers, we may be taken aback that when we encounter an unbeliever who sins. Surprisingly, Puritan John Owen has some great advice for those who expect unbelievers at times to act like believers.
  • In his extended series on apologetics and worldview analysis, Joe Carter addresses the common subject of time and infinity (more common when discussing math than any other time) as pointers to a Creator. Collegians, take note(s)!

That’s all for this week! Looking forward to another weekend in worshiping our all-knowing, all-wise God!

Soli Deo Gloria

Single Life Ministry Update

by Elder Johnny Kim

With summer behind us, the Single Life ministry had been gearing up for the new term which started in October. Since the Single Life year typically follows the academic year, in some sense, it feels as though we too are heading back to school. With that mentality, we find ourselves thinking ahead, anticipating what we might learn and experience in the upcoming year, determined to do our best to make it profitable and fruitful. Whether it’s through the Wednesday night Bible studies, the fellowship with like-minded brothers and sisters, or through the accountability we receive in small groups, opportunities abound for us to grow spiritually within the Single Life ministry. However, to borrow more from the analogy to school, unfortunately we can sometimes find ourselves fired up at the beginning of the year, resolved to make the most of those opportunities for the sake of our spiritual growth only to find that after a month or so, that fire of determination has fizzled out. We put our lives on cruise control and coast for the rest of the year without making much headway or progress, but doing enough just to “get by”. If we could be given the ability to take a snapshot of our spiritual state at the beginning of the year and at the end, one might even be hard pressed to see any difference.

As we look forward to this upcoming year in Single Life, it’s a good time to be reminded that the Christian life in general is meant to be a life of ongoing sanctification. In Philippians 3:13-14, Paul likens our Christian life to a race and like those who run in a race, we are to be constantly moving forward, pressing on and striving towards greater Christ-likeness in our lives. Those who run in a race, be it the 100 meter dash or a marathon, don’t stop to rest or to lie down and take a break in the middle of it, or worse, start going in the opposite direction. In the same way, Christian sanctification means that we are continually seeking to be more like Christ. To anyone observing a race, it’s clear the direction that the runners are headed. To anyone observing a Christian life, it should be just as clear that it’s a life headed in the direction of holiness.

The Single Life ministry is for those who desire to run the Christian race together. It’s a ministry devoted to the sanctification of singles and for those who desire to become more like Christ in every aspect of life (2 Corinthians 3:18). With each passing week, with every message preached, and with every small group accountability meeting, we should find ourselves that much closer to walking like Christ, talking like Christ, and loving like Christ. And as we worship together as one body, we are to constantly encourage one another and exhort one another toward that end. Throughout this year, my hope is that the singles would gain a greater understanding of God and who He is, a deeper desire and hunger for His Word, and a greater love for Christ and more joy in obeying Him. And at the end of this Single Life year, my hope is that we could somehow look back to the image of our spiritual lives now and see a difference that would be unmistakably clear and unmistakably positive.

For all of us who are Christian, regardless of whether we’re in Single Life or not, sanctification is going to be a lifelong process (Proverbs 20:9). And as long as we are sinners and as long as God is holy, we will face a constant struggle to conform our lives to the standard in His Word. It is a process that doesn’t let up, nor should it ever slow down even as we get older. So then, for all those who seek to be sanctified, the question we need to ask ourselves at the end of each day is simple: “Does my life look more like Christ’s today than it did yesterday?”

Signs of Spiritual Maturity #17: Lonely, Not Lonely

by Elder Peter Lim

As far back as I can remember, I’ve never been a needy person. That is, I never really felt like I needed other people to live a happy life. This was especially true when I first learned computer programming in 8th grade and felt like I would never run out of projects to work on. As I started to grow more spiritually mature, I wanted to read many books, particularly theological books. But I felt like I never had enough time for all of them. I started working with wood and started to acquire tools for my workshop. Again, I never run out of ideas for projects to work on. Sometimes I miss my shop because of my busyness so I just open it up, take a deep breath of the smell of wood and close it back up because I have other priorities. Ever since I was in the Boy Scouts, I love to go fishing. But alas, I don’t have much time for this. I have so many hobbies and no time to do them. How could I ever be lonely? To cap it off, I want to spend all my time with my wife and kids so how could I ever feel lonely? I found that through discussions with others and somewhat by my own experience, that people feel lonely in various common situations.

Soon After Graduation from High School

Whether someone had a dynamic social life during HS or an awkward adolescence, many people are looking for a new social life as college begins. Some even look forward to going out of town for college in search of creating a new life for themselves. They try out new groups and experiences to find satisfaction and community. For many who grew up in the church, they go searching for Christian groups to see whether their faith can withstand what they perceive to be logical arguments from other world views. It is helpful when they find a church where they are fed from the solid food of God’s Word. When this happens along with a community of strong believers, it’s the best of both worlds. But for those who don’t find both, it can become a very lonely place. It can seem like everyone else is enjoying a renewed vigor in their faith but that God has abandoned them. It’s easy to become bitter, resentful, and lonely.

Soon After Graduation from College

There’s only been one time in my whole life that I can remember feeling lonely. It happened a few months after graduating from college and I had moved back home with my parents. It was nearing Christmas time and there was a Christmas Concert at Grace Community Church that I was interested in going to. I didn’t feel like going alone so I started going through a mental list of people that I could ask to go with. It turned out that they were busy, didn’t want to go, or not in town. It hit me all of a sudden that I didn’t have any friends who were available to go with me. It was the only time in my life that I ever shed tears over the feeling of loneliness. People who get lonely soon after graduation are oftentimes those who had a busy social life during college. They had taken advantage of the many occasions to enjoy the convenience of college life, enjoying YOLO moments and spending many hours just hanging out. When removed from this environment, they find that life isn’t as fun and even start questioning whether those relationships were even real. They realize what older people meant whenever they talked about college life not being the real world.

Lonely in a Crowd

It would seem improbable that anyone could feel lonely in an environment where there are many others who are enjoying Christian fellowship, but it’s possible to feel lonely in the midst of a crowd. This often happens when it feels like everyone else is enjoying a closeness that is not available to oneself. They may have thoughts such as ” Would it make any difference in anyone’s life if I were to cease to exist?” These feelings can occur whether others are experiencing a genuine fellowship or even a shallow one. For the moment, even a shallow relationship is desired but doesn’t seem available. Cynical feelings of shallowness in all relationships can jade one’s attitude. Even married people can feel lonely when their spouse is busy with work or things other than oneself, even when those other things are admittedly good and profitable things to do.

Celibate for Life

Perhaps nothing causes as much loneliness as the feeling that this loneliness will continue to be a reality for the rest of their life. When strong desires to get married go unfulfilled and there’s not even a prospect of a future with a special someone, it’s difficult to be content. It’s nearly impossible to imagine a future where loneliness will be bearable.

The Mature Response

It is not a sign of a mature Christian who is struggling with feelings of loneliness to simply stop feeling lonely, as if that is possible. This kind of advice is never helpful. The best examples from the Bible are when those who struggle with these feelings discipline their minds and hearts to be satisfied with God alone. When they hear God’s Word and switch their perspective to see Gods perspective, that’s when they are able to give praise to God and take their eyes off of their own feelings of loneliness. They focus on the character of God, that He makes a home for the lonely. (Ps. 68:6) David often felt alone during his distresses. (Ps. 25:16, 102:7) Job felt alone when the words of advice coming from his “friends” and even his wife were unhelpful. (Job 2:9, 19:14, ) But when they heard from God, they were instantly convicted and were able to focus on God. Their situations didn’t change right away but they were able to trust in God for their satisfaction and for their future. The mature but lonely Christian will shift his focus toward God and His character rather than his own situation.

A good church will also help minister to lonely people by providing opportunities and exhorting people to reach out to those who may be struggling with various issues, including loneliness. A mature Christian understands that in the church, the Body of Christ, every member is essential to the well being of the whole. Someone who has not been seen in a while should be pursued but the lonely, mature Christian won’t wait for that to happen. He will reach out and join small groups where people will keep each other accountable. If others are not helpful, they are not to blame. The mature Christian will understand that others have their weaknesses too so he will continue to reach out and not give up. A practical suggestion to those who are lonely is to focus on serving others who are also feeling lonely. Perhaps you can be a blessing in someone else’s life. So there is a responsibility of the members of the church to look for opportunities to serve those who are suffering in loneliness and there is responsibility on the part of the lonely but mature Christian to seek help. We are all in this together. We don’t need to hide behind a facade that everything is wonderful for a Christian but that we continue to strive to move forward because we trust in God and His goodness even during difficult circumstances. (Prov. 3:5-6) The more we focus on Him, our loneliness will turn into not being lonely.

My God, My God, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me?

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

From Psalm 22:1

We here behold the Saviour in the depth of His sorrows. No other place so well shows the griefs of Christ as Calvary, and no other moment at Calvary is so full of agony as that in which His cry rends the air-‘My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?’ At this moment physical weakness was united with acute mental torture from the shame and ignominy through which He had to pass; and to make His grief culminate with emphasis, He suffered spiritual agony surpassing all expression, resulting from the departure of His Father’s presence. This was the black midnight of His horror; then it was that He descended the abyss of suffering. No man can enter into the full meaning of these words. Some of us think at times that we could cry, ‘My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?’ There are seasons when the brightness of our Father’s smile is eclipsed by clouds and darkness; but let us remember that God never does really forsake us. It is only a seeming forsaking with us, but in Christ’s case it was a real forsaking. We grieve at a little withdrawal of our Father’s love; but the real turning away of God’s face from His Son, who shall calculate how deep the agony which it caused Him?

In our case, our cry is often dictated by unbelief: in His case, it was the utterance of a dreadful fact, for God had really turned away from Him for a season. O thou poor, distressed soul, who once lived in the sunshine of God’s face, but art now in darkness, remember that He has not really forsaken thee. God in the clouds is as much our God as when He shines forth in all the lustre of His grace; but since even the thought that He has forsaken us gives us agony, what must the woe of the Saviour have been when He exclaimed, ‘My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?’

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Weekly Links (10/11/2014)

Creation is either the result of an eternal, personal, and intelligent being or the accidental effect of eternal, impersonal, and mindless matter with unknowable origins. It should be the life quest of every responsible and thinking individual to determine which account of the cosmos best answers the ultimate questions and sufficiently accounts for our day-to-day lives. (Dan DeWitt, Jesus or Nothing)

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Feliz Friday! Let’s get to this week’s links!

  • Call this an example of the reason we need to engage in apologetics with those whom we may not feel comfortable speaking with. David Wood points to the childhood and, later, the horrendous act of Alton Nolen as an example of someone who was raised in the church, yet abandons the faith and adopts Islam, with an inaccurate understanding of his prior Christian upbringing. Wood answers the objections Nolen raises against Christianity and brings out the apologetic implications of one who was raised in a religious home and left unprepared to handle objections from other religions without a proper understanding of Christian faith, and where it could lead (not that it necessarily leads one to where Nolen went). Very eye-opening.
  • Highlighted this week at Triablogue, Joseph Mizzi, who has a website dedicated to evangelizing Roman Catholics, has written a short book on the issue of justification that looks to be very clear and helpful. Called ‘Right with God,’ Mizzi explains the concept of justification biblically, and the relationship between justification and Christ, the law, grace, and faith. There are no shortages of books on this subject, but there will always be a need to understand this doctrine, even more so to remind us that our faith is a gift of God, not of works.
  • On Monday, the Supreme Court turned down every appeal from a number of states on the issue of same-sex marriage. Al Mohler reminds us that Supreme Court Judge Antonin Scalia predicted that when the Supreme Court rejected sodomy laws back in 2003, it could lead to the embracing of same-sex marriage, since the moral disapprobation would no longer be there, leading to this week’s news. Ryan Anderson responds with the legal ramifications of upholding lower court laws, and also the way forward. We must pray for the state of our nation and plead with God to bless America with repentance.
  • When it comes to issues of the canon of Scripture, Michael Kruger stands out as a leading evangelical scholar today. On his blog, he responds and refutes an article that argues that the church created the canon, exposing the vacuous objections for what they are. If you have discussed the canon with a Roman Catholic, a Mormon, or even an agnostic, you are bound to discuss this issue. Come prepared.
  • Tim Challies gives six reasons to study doctrine. You’d be surprised at the reasons he gives, and none of them involve being a Bible geek or seminarian (not that there’s anything wrong with that).
  • Though it has been a few years since R.C. Sproul Jr. lost his wife to cancer, he reflects on one of his biggest regrets: not holding her hand more. Husbands, please read this and hold your wife’s hand more.
  • In anticipation of Vern Poythress’ next book, Redeeming Philosophy: A God-Centered Approach to the Big Questions, Poythress calls believers to engage in philosophy as an act of love to those who think they have the answers to the big questions, especially since we actually know the One who created us to ask those questions in the first place. Being a philosophy major certainly draws you to think more deeply about the ultimate issues of life, but if you want a short summary of the ultimate problem in philosophical activity, look no further.
  • If you aren’t in the know, this month is pastors appreciation month! In celebration, Crossway has decided to make one of their books available for free download: The Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor by D.A. Carson . To turn a famous phrase, “One does not simply walk (away from a free D.A. Carson book).” Be wise and click that link!
  • Pastor Matt Mitchell, author of the book Resisting Gossip: Winning the War of the Wagging Tongue, has created a series of videos that goes into a deeper study from the book related to gossip. Best thing is, it’s free! Spread it around (I promise it isn’t gossiping if you do so).
  • In this week’s PeaceMeal (Peacemaker Ministries’ weekly devotional), there are some statements that Satan promotes, which believers can be susceptible to accepting. If you’ve heard of any of these statements, be aware of Christ’s response to Satan’s lies, and learn.
  • Denny Burk asks a simple question that is worth considering, given recent events: Do you have a confidence in Christ that can handle Ebola?

That’s all for this week! Looking forward to another weekend to celebrate and worship our God with you all!

Soli Deo Gloria

Being Part of the Local Church

by Roger Alcaraz

The new school year for College Life has officially begun and it’s while the engines are still warming up that it’s good to remember what the overall goal of the ministry is. It’s easy to do things because we did them last year but we want to be more intentional because worship requires the heart, soul, and mind. That’s why I’ve written a philosophy of ministry for College Life that will remind me of some of the fundamental values and goals we have in the ministry. Below is a section on College Life as it relates to the rest of the church body.

The Priority of the Church

The church is God’s primary vehicle for accomplishing his work in this age. As such, all believers need to identify with, function in, and submit to the leadership of a local church. Because of the emphasis that Scripture puts on this kind of involvement in the local church, College Life ministry must seek to foster in God’s people a deep love for and commitment to the church, as well as a biblical understanding of what it means to function as the church. For this reason, all leadership positions in College Life require the believer to be a member of the greater church body that College Life is a part of.

Our Mission, Vision, and Passion

The ministry of College Life exists in the greater body of Lighthouse Bible Church and should never compete against its theology and ministry. This means that Lighthouse’s Mission: to make disciples of Christ; Vision: to plant churches; and Passion: to love God and people, will be the same for College Life because the ministry of College Life itself comes out of the Mission, Vision, and Passion. Thus, everything College Life does should be done to fulfill our MVP.

The Role of Elders

All members within College Life, including its leaders, must submit to the loving rule of the church elders. As such, an elder will always be overseeing the ministry to ensure that sound teaching and biblical ministry are taking place and if there is a persistent problem, the elders have authority to make any necessary changes. This even includes removing the ministry of College Life all-together if it would serve the greater church.

Priority of Church Events

Because of the priority of the local church, if there is ever a conflict of schedule such as College Life scheduling an event at the same time as a churchwide event, College Life will reschedule or cancel theirs in order to be with the whole church body.

Location

While it seems logical to meet on a college campus, the location for the college wide Bible studies is at the church. The main reason is that we cater to multiple campuses and do not want to seem exclusive. People are welcome from all colleges to worship together. There are events that are done on campus when trying to reach out to the campus. These are mostly outreach events such as campus evangelism, tabling, seeker’s Bible studies, etc.

Summary (taken from the College Life Website)

Christ was passionate about his church. The apostles were passionate about the church. As such, we believe that every believer should have a healthy biblical perspective of the church. The Bible doesn’t prescribe “Lone Ranger” Christianity! Instead, all throughout the New Testament, you see believers incorporated into the local church. It is in the context of the local church that almost all the instruction of the New Testament is given. Since spiritual growth was intended primarily to be cultivated in the life of the church, we encourage all our collegians to be committed to the local church.

Weekly Links (10/6/2014)

by Stephen Rodgers

So we delayed the the Weekly Links from Friday until today in the hopes that more deals and free resources would appear over the weekend, but sadly that wasn’t the case. So in any event, here’s what I did manage to find (it’s not much).

  • The free book of the month from christianaudio.com is He Wins, She Wins…which seems to be a book on marriage. I don’t know how good or awful it is.
  • The free book of the month from Logos is The Crucified God by Jurgen Moltmann. I haven’t read this one, but I have a vague familiarity with Moltmann (he’s a modern experimental theologian who was famous a few years back for espousing a view of eschatology called “a theology of hope”), and what I know would cause me to be a bit skeptical and cautious about anything he puts out. So I’d probably pass on this one.
  • Finally, something I can recommend: the October edition of Tabletalk is on the topic of Biblical Dichotomies.

Like I said…slim pickings.

Pro Rege

 

Say Ye To The Righteous, That It Shall Be Well With Him

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

From Isaiah 3:10

It is well with the righteous ALWAYS. If it had said, ‘Say ye to the righteous, that it is well with him in his prosperity,’ we must have been thankful for so great a boon, for prosperity is an hour of peril, and it is a gift from heaven to be secured from its snares: or if it had been written, ‘It is well with him when under persecution,’ we must have been thankful for so sustaining an assurance, for persecution is hard to bear; but when no time is mentioned, all time is included. God’s ‘shalls’ must be understood always in their largest sense. From the beginning of the year to the end of the year, from the first gathering of evening shadows until the day-star shines, in all conditions and under all circumstances, it shall be well with the righteous.

It is so well with him that we could not imagine it to be better, for he is well fed, he feeds upon the flesh and blood of Jesus; he is well clothed, he wears the imputed righteousness of Christ; he is well housed, he dwells in God; he is well married, his soul is knit in bonds of marriage union to Christ; he is well provided for, for the Lord is his Shepherd; he is well endowed, for heaven is his inheritance. It is well with the righteous-well upon divine authority; the mouth of God speaks the comforting assurance.

O beloved, if God declares that all is well, ten thousand devils may declare it to be ill, but we laugh them all to scorn. Blessed be God for a faith which enables us to believe God when the creatures contradict Him. It is, says the Word, at all times well with thee, thou righteous one; then, beloved, if thou canst not see it, let God’s word stand thee in stead of sight; yea, believe it on divine authority more confidently than if thine eyes and thy feelings told it to thee. Whom God blesses is blest indeed, and what His lip declares is truth most sure and steadfast.

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LBC Weekly SPARK – October 3, 2014

by Pastor Patrick Cho

Dear LBC family and friends!

I hope this week has been good for you all as you remember who you are in Christ and what He has done for you. Whether your week has been good or challenging, it is always amazing to consider what undeserved grace we have received and continue to receive from the God of all grace. He not only has saved us from our sins, but continues to walk with us, causing us to grow up in Him. There is certainly great benefit for the one who places his faith in Jesus Christ. We have much more than we could have possibly hoped for because of our God who seeks us out and takes us in to be His own.

Praise God for the glorious grace we receive in Christ!

In His grace,

Pastor Patrick

Here are some of the upcoming opportunities to get involved at LBC San Diego!

  1. Midweek Bible Studies. Don’t forget that our midweek Bible studies are all back up and running. Check out the church calendar on the website as well as the various ministry webpages to find out more information about Kids’ Club, Lumos Youth Ministry, College Life, Single Life, and Grace Life Family Ministry.
  2. All Church Retreat. Our annual all-church retreat is coming up on October 24-26. The theme for this year is “The Cup and the Glory: Suffering and the Glory of God.” We are pleased to have Dr. Greg Harris of The Master’s Seminary as our speaker. The cost is $150/adult and $75/child (ages 3-12; $450 max/family). Space is limited so you’ll want to sign up soon. The last day to sign up for the retreat will be October 12.
  3. Flocks. Each month or so, we take a break from our regularly scheduled midweek Bible studies to break up into regional flock groups. We are currently taking flocks sign ups in the foyer on Sunday mornings. Find Cesar Vigil-Ruiz to sign up! If you are interested in opening up your home to host a flock this year, please contact Pastor Patrick.
  4. Membership Class. Our next two-part membership class will be on Saturday, October 18, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, and on Sunday, October 19, from 2:00 to 5:00 pm. Attendance at both classes is required. If you’re interested in applying for membership, please contact Pastor Patrick for an application.
  5. LBCOC Inaugural Service. LBC Orange County will be having their official inaugural service on Sunday, October 12, at 4:30 pm. Since Pastor James Lee needs to have an approximate headcount of those planning to attend, we will be taking a rough count on Sunday morning during the announcements.
  6. Fall Festival. Fall Festival is our annual Halloween alternative event for our children. It has been one of the highlights of each year for our kids (and a lot of fun for grownups as well!). We need some help planning. If you are interested in helping, out please contact Josh Liu as soon as possible! There will be a planning meeting this Sunday, October 5, at 1:30 pm.
  7. Sunday School. Our adult Sunday school classes will begin this weekend! This time around, we will be offering two classes, which will both meet in the main sanctuary during second hour.

FOF (Instructors: Min Kim and Ryan Short). As usual, we will be offering Fundamentals of the Faith. This is a great class for anyone desiring to learn more about the basics of the Christian faith. It is also a required class for anyone pursuing membership at Lighthouse.

Answers to Common Questions (Instructor: Peter Lim). Elder Peter Lim has compiled a list of questions that are commonly asked by people at Lighthouse about various theological issues. This is a great introductory class to find out a little bit about why Lighthouse holds to some of the views that it does.