The good news of the gospel is good because it not only brings us to salvation in proclaiming the death of Christ on our behalf but it continues to be good in providing the basis for our obedience and following Christ, both individually and corporately as a church. The past few months have been humbling and encouraging, for I have found that the neglect of the gospel has lead many down the road to legalism and a pharisaical attitude, including myself. It is easy to use a performance mentality in gauging spirituality, both in my own life as well as in others. Yet the mindset that says we need to try and earn God's favor through our hard work and labor for the sake of the kingdom can lead to a works mentality that contradicts the foundation of living by grace through faith. We are not only saved by grace through faith in our justification, we are also continually to walk in grace through faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross. As Jerry Bridges notes, "Your worse days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God's grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God's grace." This is indeed comforting news for those of us who are so performance oriented that we can go from one extreme to the other. We feel good about ourselves when we are doing well with all our spiritual disciplines and maintaining a high level of activity. We then feel bad about ourselves when we miss our quiet times and go through prolonged periods of spiritual lethargy. While Romans 6 reminds us not to abuse grace, we must remember to also consider that we forget about grace as we live out the Christian life.
The reminder to "preach the gospel to yourself" has been something that I have heard before, but it has not been so prominent as it has become now. The gospel must be central to my life's purpose and message. I am called to live in a manner worthy of the gospel and I am to partner with fellow believers for the sake of the gospel (Philippians 1:27). If this is so, then the gospel needs to be constantly on my mind from my waking moments to the time I go to bed.
It is no surprise to see the apostle Paul so focused on the cross of Christ. One of my favorite verses since high school has been 1 Corinthians 2:2 - "For I determined to know nothing among you except Christ and him crucified." This verse has been revived in my heart and I see how easy it is for me to then walk in the flesh when I forget to fix my eyes on Christ (Hebrews 12:2).
As we celebrate our 10th anniversary at Lighthouse, I would like to again reiterate what was preached this past Sunday. The mission of Lighthouse - to make disciples of Christ, is no less than a call to go and proclaim the gospel, making disciples who will then be baptized and taught to live in light of the gospel for the rest of their days. The vision of Lighthouse - to plant churches, gives us the goal of taking the gospel ministry, both for the purpose of evangelism and edification, to places where there is a need for the gospel to be made known. The passion of Lighthouse - to love God and people, can only be truly experienced when the gospel is driving our loving so that it really is the love of Christ that both motivates us and energizes us to love in the way God defines true love.
The gospel is precious - don't let it become something that you think is so basic that you are not in need of preaching it to yourselves daily. My prayer is that the gospel would become the beacon of your heart, your mind, your mouth, and the unifying factor in all your relationships so that Christ might receive all the glory.
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Church Planting and the Call to Discipleship
You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
~2 Timothy 2:1-3
I recall once reading the words of a man who said that at the heart of Christian ministry is the ministry of discipleship. In fact, he argued that calling oneself a Christian is synonymous to saying that one is a disciple maker. As a youth pastor and one who strives for the ministry of the church, I could not agree more strongly.
When I first became a Christian, I saw discipleship as a strange thing. When friends would tell me that they were being “discipled” by some other older guy, I would get these strange pictures in my head of an older man reading his Bible to a younger man in the middle of some lake wearing a tunic and sandals as if to emulate scenes from Jesus’ talking to His disciples in a boat along the Sea of Galilee. The world “discipleship” conjured up all of these strange pictures consisting of nothing more than old-fashioned fishing nets. It was not until I myself began to be discipled by Peter Park that I received the true picture of what Christian discipleship truly looks like. Every week, for over a year, Peter would pick me up (either from school or home), take me out of some restaurant, sit down with me for an hour (sometimes two), and teach me how to follow Christ. He would listen to me share my greatest struggles with him, and in the most loving, caring, and sympathetic way, he would firmly admonish me and encourage me to turn from my sinful habits and instead live life in a God-honoring manner. He would get beneath the externals, and probe the desires of my heart, and work from there. Rather than simply correcting me, he would teach me from the Bible and from his own life how to practically live out my own. Peter’s discipleship relationship with me was not that of a boss lecturing his employee in a meeting, or a professor teaching his student in a classroom; it was the investment of his heart into mine, founded in a relationship based on true fellowship in Christ. I knew that when we would meet up, that I would have something new to work on and chew on for the next week. It was Peter’s investment in me that compelled me to devote my entire life endeavors to the making of disciples. Hence, a few months after we first met, I sent my application to The Master’s Seminary.
The preaching of God’s Word is the foundation of the doctrine from which the church takes root. But it is through discipleship that a church will be reproduced. When Christ discipled His apostles, He did more than preach to them; He lived with them and poured His life into theirs. Through all the time He spent with them, He imprinted His convictions and passions into their hearts, with all patience and compassion and firmness. This is the example by which the mandate to make disciples is to be accomplished. A disciple is made when an older, mature man or woman of God attaches himself to a younger, less experienced believer in order to teach him or her to walk in the manner with which Christ walked. It requires one’s time. It requires one’s energy. It requires one’s resources. It requires one’s heart. It requires one’s soul. Is this not why Paul, upon writing to the Thessalonians, expressed, “We were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives”?
This has several implications. First, discipleship implies that one must be strong in the grace of God. It is not something that one engages himself in apart from God’s power and apart from the knowledge of God’s love and mercy in his life. Second, discipleship implies that one must first be a disciple and continue to be discipled. I understand that I’m constantly in need of teaching and instruction, and have actively sought to attach myself to older men who can continue to guide and encourage me in the faith. Every Christian ought to seek discipleship from an older Christian; a refusal to do this is nothing less than pride. Third, this implies that discipleship requires a focus on teaching. Without the aspect of teaching someone how to honor God and be like Christ, discipleship would be nothing more than hanging out. It also implies that discipleship must continue on; one must disciple another with the purpose of raising up someone who will eventually be able to do the same to others.
I say this passionately in light of the up-and-coming church plant in 2010. A year-and-a-half is not a long time to prepare for such a monumental event. Since the Sunday that the plan for the church-plant to San Jose was announced, I’ve been peppered with questions dealing with the logistical aspect of things: “Who’s going? Who’s staying? JR, are you going? JR, where do you want to go?” While I understand the need to get the practical aspect of things, I’m afraid that for those who constantly ask these questions, the focus has been shifted from where God may want our minds and hearts to focus on. Instead of asking, “Should I go or should I stay?” one should be asking, “Will I be ready to go or stay?” Should one ask himself the latter, he is in good hands, for he has a tangible goal in mind: to step it up spiritually. Regardless of if you go to San Jose or stay in San Diego, one common necessity remains: faithful men and women of God who are willing to give their lives for Christ’s church. In a year and a half, we’ll need warriors to both spearhead the church plant or hold down the fort in San Diego. Both will require that the men courageously step up in leadership. Both require that the women firmly support and complement that leadership. Both need men and women of God. Both need disciples of Christ.
Thus, as young men and women, we ought to dedicate our lives to disciple-making. It will be crucial in the next year and a half that each and every one of us devote our lives to both discipleship and being discipled. We need to start asking, “Am I living life today the way Christ Himself would live it, and am I dedicated today to the things that Christ would dedicate Himself to?” If you’re not, attach yourself to an older Christian and beg him or her to teach you how. If you are, attach yourself to a younger Christian and strive to teach him or her how. I am confident that if we all do this for the next year while relying on the strength provided by God’s grace, we will be better equipped to take the next step.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Shine the Light in San Jose
It's finally happening! After ten years of ministering in San Diego, Lighthouse is going to act on its Vision Statement and plant a church in the San Jose area. Even while typing these words, it seems a bit surreal. Most of the members at Lighthouse probably remember the spiel from their membership interview about how one day John would go up to the pulpit and announce that we are going to plant a church in some Podunk city in Oklahoma (not that Oklahoma is a bad place to live!).
But the day has come. The location is not Podunk, but San Jose, and the goal is summer of 2010. Make no mistake! This is going to require a lot of hard work and diligent planning if we are going to be able to get a team up to San Jose by then. When Lighthouse first began about ten years ago, there was an exciting buzz in the air. Everyone came out to everything. People were excited to be together and to be a part of the ministry. We knew that one day some of that would fade and that the "honeymoon" phase would eventually come to an end, but it was still exciting to be a part of that time. There was an intense commitment and consistency on the part of each member. If this church plant is going to succeed, it will require similar commitment and consistency on the part of all the members.
One of the most encouraging things about this new direction is the response we received from the members. There was a feeling of genuine excitement at the members meeting on Sunday. A few came and communicated their support afterwards and I appreciated their kind words. Most who talked to me promised that they would pray for me and the leadership. I appreciated that as well. Now is the time to make good on those promises. A year from now, hopefully we can all say that we have faithfully prayed for Lighthouse. We're going to have to pray.
We're also going to have to rethink our lives. For many, this will be a time of thoughtful reevaluation. Do you live your life as if it is the Lord's or do you manage your life as if you are in control? Are you holding on to what you have loosely or is your life in San Diego so precious to you that you would be unwilling to go anywhere else the Lord would lead? Of course, we can't have everyone go. Knowing that I am now preparing to be the new senior pastor at Lighthouse, I can confidently say, "You better not all go!" =) But we are going to need some to go. We are going to want families to go. That is going to require a bit of faith and may prove to be quite challenging for some.
This is an exciting time for the church, but it is a time when we particularly need to lean on the Lord for His guidance and strength. People may tell us we're crazy (that's what they said ten years ago), but we are determined to believe that God can do seemingly impossible things through us if we allow Him to. Honestly, I'm excited for the next church plant. Perhaps it'll be in three years. Maybe it'll be in five. But now that the ball is rolling for Lighthouse Bible Church of San Jose, there's no telling where the Lord might have us plant next. The Vision of LBC doesn't end with LBC San Jose. I'm confident this is just the beginning. We just need the members to be onboard. We need to constantly ask ourselves, "Do we really believe in the MVP of LBC?" enough to act on it.
But the day has come. The location is not Podunk, but San Jose, and the goal is summer of 2010. Make no mistake! This is going to require a lot of hard work and diligent planning if we are going to be able to get a team up to San Jose by then. When Lighthouse first began about ten years ago, there was an exciting buzz in the air. Everyone came out to everything. People were excited to be together and to be a part of the ministry. We knew that one day some of that would fade and that the "honeymoon" phase would eventually come to an end, but it was still exciting to be a part of that time. There was an intense commitment and consistency on the part of each member. If this church plant is going to succeed, it will require similar commitment and consistency on the part of all the members.
One of the most encouraging things about this new direction is the response we received from the members. There was a feeling of genuine excitement at the members meeting on Sunday. A few came and communicated their support afterwards and I appreciated their kind words. Most who talked to me promised that they would pray for me and the leadership. I appreciated that as well. Now is the time to make good on those promises. A year from now, hopefully we can all say that we have faithfully prayed for Lighthouse. We're going to have to pray.
We're also going to have to rethink our lives. For many, this will be a time of thoughtful reevaluation. Do you live your life as if it is the Lord's or do you manage your life as if you are in control? Are you holding on to what you have loosely or is your life in San Diego so precious to you that you would be unwilling to go anywhere else the Lord would lead? Of course, we can't have everyone go. Knowing that I am now preparing to be the new senior pastor at Lighthouse, I can confidently say, "You better not all go!" =) But we are going to need some to go. We are going to want families to go. That is going to require a bit of faith and may prove to be quite challenging for some.
This is an exciting time for the church, but it is a time when we particularly need to lean on the Lord for His guidance and strength. People may tell us we're crazy (that's what they said ten years ago), but we are determined to believe that God can do seemingly impossible things through us if we allow Him to. Honestly, I'm excited for the next church plant. Perhaps it'll be in three years. Maybe it'll be in five. But now that the ball is rolling for Lighthouse Bible Church of San Jose, there's no telling where the Lord might have us plant next. The Vision of LBC doesn't end with LBC San Jose. I'm confident this is just the beginning. We just need the members to be onboard. We need to constantly ask ourselves, "Do we really believe in the MVP of LBC?" enough to act on it.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Love or Die
The most recent book by Alexander Strauch titled, "Love or Die" is a very serious and challenging work that needs to be read by anyone who loves the church. The rebuke of the Ephesian church in Revelation 2 by Christ is one that every church needs to take seriously because hard work, perseverance, and even doctrinal purity are no guarantee for success in God's eyes. What God is looking for is a heart that truly loves Him as well as loves others as Matthew 22:37-40 calls us to in what is known as the Great Commandment.
I have long feared that the day would come where our love would grow cold and it seems to be creeping into our church as the level of selfish ambition and empty conceit continue to rise in various forms. It breaks my heart to hear of the slander and gossip that takes place, the absolute refusal to apply the Peacemaker Pledge in dealing with conflict, and the lack of compassion that some have for others that don't seem to please them for one reason or another. I have realized that even as I have been reading the Old Testament record of the nation of Israel found in the Pentateuch that though they were privileged to have seen incredible signs and wonders by God, were delivered from slavery in Egypt, saw God part the Red Sea and destroy Pharoah's army, were fed with manna from heaven and all you can eat quail buffet line, had water drawn from rocks, it still was never enough to keep them from complaining and seeking to rebel against God's leadership. While we might think we could do better, I don't think so. Even with all God's blessings given to us, His grace and mercy being poured out through the cross of Christ, His mercies being made new every morning, people who claim to be Christians still have the audacity to hate their brother or sister. I think that's why the title "Love or Die" is very appropriate to consider. If we do not love the way God calls us to love, the church will die. Relationships will die. Pastors will die. Church member will die. It is a serious matter and I hope that everyone at Lighthouse will take the Passion statement serious - to love God and people. It's not enough to make it a nice slogan. It's not just something to recite at members meetings. It is the heart and soul of our Mission and Vision, for without true and genuine love for God and people, the mission will fail and the vision will fade.
It is the prayer of my heart that the members of our church will grow in their love, that it may abound more and more in real knowledge and all discernment so that we might approve the things that are excellent before God. We must help each other, for we are all incapable of doing it on our own. It truly is a team effort and I pray that we will be united in our love for God and people.
As it is our 10 year anniversary this year, let's make it our goal to really ask if we believe in our MVP statement and will we actually live it out? This coming Sunday we will talk about our Mission and Vision and I hope that you are ready!
In His grace,
Pastor John
I have long feared that the day would come where our love would grow cold and it seems to be creeping into our church as the level of selfish ambition and empty conceit continue to rise in various forms. It breaks my heart to hear of the slander and gossip that takes place, the absolute refusal to apply the Peacemaker Pledge in dealing with conflict, and the lack of compassion that some have for others that don't seem to please them for one reason or another. I have realized that even as I have been reading the Old Testament record of the nation of Israel found in the Pentateuch that though they were privileged to have seen incredible signs and wonders by God, were delivered from slavery in Egypt, saw God part the Red Sea and destroy Pharoah's army, were fed with manna from heaven and all you can eat quail buffet line, had water drawn from rocks, it still was never enough to keep them from complaining and seeking to rebel against God's leadership. While we might think we could do better, I don't think so. Even with all God's blessings given to us, His grace and mercy being poured out through the cross of Christ, His mercies being made new every morning, people who claim to be Christians still have the audacity to hate their brother or sister. I think that's why the title "Love or Die" is very appropriate to consider. If we do not love the way God calls us to love, the church will die. Relationships will die. Pastors will die. Church member will die. It is a serious matter and I hope that everyone at Lighthouse will take the Passion statement serious - to love God and people. It's not enough to make it a nice slogan. It's not just something to recite at members meetings. It is the heart and soul of our Mission and Vision, for without true and genuine love for God and people, the mission will fail and the vision will fade.
It is the prayer of my heart that the members of our church will grow in their love, that it may abound more and more in real knowledge and all discernment so that we might approve the things that are excellent before God. We must help each other, for we are all incapable of doing it on our own. It truly is a team effort and I pray that we will be united in our love for God and people.
As it is our 10 year anniversary this year, let's make it our goal to really ask if we believe in our MVP statement and will we actually live it out? This coming Sunday we will talk about our Mission and Vision and I hope that you are ready!
In His grace,
Pastor John
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Consider It All Joy
James 1:2 has long been instilled in my head and heart as a verse to keep in mind, particularly when things get difficult. But it is not easy to actually apply as the reality of life often overshadows the truth of God's Word and it is easy to dismiss Scripture as impractical. But I am thankful that despite how I might feel about this, the truthfulness and the trustworthiness of the Scriptures remains constant due to the fact that God's Word is inextricably tied to God's character and nature.
But to consider it all joy when various trials are encountered - this is something easy to tell someone else but it is a whole other story when it comes to me. Next to the spiritual battles that have been waged over the years, the next most challenging thing has been the trials of my physical health. The past few weeks were indeed filled with some minor issues, a bad cough, a cold (it is the cold season), and an allergic reaction to my blood pressure medication that caused me to go visit the hospital. This past week I was introduced to a pain that I had not had before, that of diverticulitis. At first my doctor thought it might be appendicitis and I was bracing myself for surgery. While I understand it to be a common procedure that many undergo, nothing seems to be common to me. But after a battery of tests, I was finally diagnosed and was given a number of medications to take, which my wife Angela promptly took care of getting for me. By the evening time after having taken the first dose of the antibiotics, I started to get an allergic reaction and I knew that it had to be because of the medications. So off I went back to the hospital and was given additional medication as well as a switch on the antibiotics. So here I am in bed now not being able to do much since I end up getting drowsy from both the painkillers (I was in a lot of pain in my lower abdomen due to the inflammation in my colon as well as my lower back) and the antihistimine (for the allergic reaction). I have anti-nausea medication to combat the nausea that comes from the other medications. I see why pharmicists have a job now - they need to know how everything works together. So now I understand why doctors keep asking if you allergic to medications - it is not helpful to take medications that cause your body to do crazy things. So I am thankful to be alive because I know it is only by the mercies of God that I am.
So the past year has been filled with so many visits to the hospital that I feel like I am really getting to know the place well. Drawing blood is like second nature. Getting hooked up to iv's and being subjected to swallowing all sorts of strange concoctions so that I can get scanned is old hat. But one thing I do know, I am able to truly say that it is causing me to appreciate all the more those who have suffered for the sake of Christ in ways that are unimaginable. As the end of Hebrews 11 shares, there were many who suffered horrendous deaths for the sake of Christ. If you have ever read J.C. Ryle's work on the martyrs of the English Reformation, "Light from Old Times" or Foxe's Book of Martyrs, you will see that today's sufferings for those of us who live in southern California don't even compare to those who willingly laid down their lives for the One whom they loved more than life itself. So I am thankful that my measly sufferings, as small as they might be, cause me to look forward and to press onward with endurance so as to run the race that Christ has called us to run.
At the same time I would ask for your prayers that I would be patient with the recovery time, that I would be diligent though I am dazed by the effects of all the medication I am taking, and that I would continue to experience joy in light of my Savior's love.
Thank you for those who have been praying. I am so thankful.
But to consider it all joy when various trials are encountered - this is something easy to tell someone else but it is a whole other story when it comes to me. Next to the spiritual battles that have been waged over the years, the next most challenging thing has been the trials of my physical health. The past few weeks were indeed filled with some minor issues, a bad cough, a cold (it is the cold season), and an allergic reaction to my blood pressure medication that caused me to go visit the hospital. This past week I was introduced to a pain that I had not had before, that of diverticulitis. At first my doctor thought it might be appendicitis and I was bracing myself for surgery. While I understand it to be a common procedure that many undergo, nothing seems to be common to me. But after a battery of tests, I was finally diagnosed and was given a number of medications to take, which my wife Angela promptly took care of getting for me. By the evening time after having taken the first dose of the antibiotics, I started to get an allergic reaction and I knew that it had to be because of the medications. So off I went back to the hospital and was given additional medication as well as a switch on the antibiotics. So here I am in bed now not being able to do much since I end up getting drowsy from both the painkillers (I was in a lot of pain in my lower abdomen due to the inflammation in my colon as well as my lower back) and the antihistimine (for the allergic reaction). I have anti-nausea medication to combat the nausea that comes from the other medications. I see why pharmicists have a job now - they need to know how everything works together. So now I understand why doctors keep asking if you allergic to medications - it is not helpful to take medications that cause your body to do crazy things. So I am thankful to be alive because I know it is only by the mercies of God that I am.
So the past year has been filled with so many visits to the hospital that I feel like I am really getting to know the place well. Drawing blood is like second nature. Getting hooked up to iv's and being subjected to swallowing all sorts of strange concoctions so that I can get scanned is old hat. But one thing I do know, I am able to truly say that it is causing me to appreciate all the more those who have suffered for the sake of Christ in ways that are unimaginable. As the end of Hebrews 11 shares, there were many who suffered horrendous deaths for the sake of Christ. If you have ever read J.C. Ryle's work on the martyrs of the English Reformation, "Light from Old Times" or Foxe's Book of Martyrs, you will see that today's sufferings for those of us who live in southern California don't even compare to those who willingly laid down their lives for the One whom they loved more than life itself. So I am thankful that my measly sufferings, as small as they might be, cause me to look forward and to press onward with endurance so as to run the race that Christ has called us to run.
At the same time I would ask for your prayers that I would be patient with the recovery time, that I would be diligent though I am dazed by the effects of all the medication I am taking, and that I would continue to experience joy in light of my Savior's love.
Thank you for those who have been praying. I am so thankful.
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