The written Word of God from Genesis to Revelation will always lead us to the “living word”…“the seed”…“the light” Jesus the Christ (Messiah).
Book of John: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. … There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. … He (John) came as a “witness” to “bear witness” about “the light” … He (John) was “not” the Light. The “true Light” … was coming into the world. Jesus our Lord, Savior, Redeemer and King!
The Lighthouse believes you came here at the appointed time. The Lighthouse seeks to be a “living & written”testimony “recognizing and affirming” what the Lord is doing to grow and continue His Church: the Bride of Christ.
The Lord declares in Jeremiah 29:1 … I know the plans I have for you.
The purpose of the Lighthouse will be to encourage the Church, the “body” of Christ to be Disciples who desire to make disciples! … as we “grow up” together in the “unity” of “faith”. In “unity” of the “Spirit” through the Word of God, we can have true fellowship!
We the “body of Christ” called the Church collectively and individually are called by God to be Disciples of Jesus with the unique opportunity to “be a witness” to the “Light”.
We become a “witness” and “our story” becomes “God’s story” called a “testimony”. A “testimony” of what God has done in our lives! (If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation). “Our story” begins upon a physical birth which can be recognized as our “first” birthday! Our story can continue moving forward and become “God’s story” upon our “second” birthday called our spiritual birthday! Death can now be viewed as our “third” birthday. My “third” birthday is still to come: Faith, Hope, Love! Love never ends! I Want to be a Christian by J. I. Packer.
Upon our spiritual birthday, we can begin to see forming in our lives: the “King’s Way” in us! The “Kingdom of God” begins as a “seed called Faith” in hearts and “the seed” has been named “Jesus” as written down (recorded for history) in the Word of God called the Bible. The true light, which gives light to everyone, came into the world!
We can begin looking back over our lives and see this “new desire / new heart” growing in us to be a “Disciple”, when we grow up, “who desires” to Make Disciples!
We begin to see that God’s love is a choice given to us as a “response” to God’s truth shared with us in love!
A “Life on Life”: Spirit led “way of life”! Galatians 2:20
2 Corinthians 5:17 – 21 says … (summarized) If anyone is “in Christ”, he is a new creation! … all of this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us (Disciples) the ministry of reconciliation … and entrusting to us (Disciples) the message of reconciliation.
Jesus came so that we may have life and have it abundantly: a life with purpose and meaning. We have this daily opportunity to allow God’s love to flow from our “hearts and lives” out of “gratitude” for the act of Love that Jesus did by taking our place on a cross (for all our sins: past, present, future, so we might become the righteousness of God) and changing history on this day:
October 24, 2023: (+ or -) 2023 years ago!
(This date will identify the last update to the Lighthouse.)
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Key updates / milestones / history of this website:
June 2019: Our story becomes God’s story as we move forward in “time” and begin to live life by Faith: Galatians 2:20.We begin to recognize “seasons” & “events” in our lives that teach us how to live by Faith. Trials & Tribulations will come into our lives: “when” not “if”. God uses tribulation in our lives for His own purposes in getting us “ready”.
July 2022: The gospel (Faith, Hope & Love) message continues to grow in us: Faith, Fellowship & Freedom: in Christ. Outlines help us to learn and know the Gospel of Jesus. Light. Love. Life. Lord. Live.
May 2023: We learn together “collectively” how to live by Faith in our daily “life on life” situations. Mathew 18:20 … where 2 or 3 are gathered in my name, there am I among them. Life on Life together in the Faith! The Centrality of the Gospel of Jesus becomes our life foundation. The Lighthouse seeks to be a “living document” to encourage all Disciples to grasp the “centrality of the gospel” for their lives: not as a “one time event” but a “way of life”.
October 2023: The “importance of understanding” the Word of God “including” the book of Revelation! Highly recommend a book written by Bob Eson, Jr. called Meeting Him on His Way Back: The Case for the Post – Trib Rapture. … “Eson states in his book …” “God uses tribulation in our lives for His own purposes in getting us ready”. “I simply would like to see more churches with open Bibles and open minds. We need the Bible to be our authority, and not our pastor, our denomination, or our creeds and (God forbid) this book.” The Holy Spirit must be allowed to speak in our churches through the Word of God. It is to that end that this book is intended.” Agree!!! …Thoughts from the Lighthouse on this day!
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Words and thoughts for encouragement: as we move forward in life collectively as the Church: the Bride of Christ!
Word of God: The Gospel of “Jesus” becoming the “main thing” in our lives and in our hearts.
The Lighthouse being a “living document” and “confession of Faith” to what the Lord is doing to build His Church: the King’s Way! The invisible made visible! We observe what God has done in us and in history based on the Word of God!
Jesus says in John 14:6 … I am the the Way, the Truth and the Life.
A Life on Life understanding of the Word of God by the power, strength and wisdom of God’s Spirit: a Holy Spirit led life begins the “deliberate & intentional” Evangelism and Discipleship process.
We are called to be Ready: Acts 1:11 … This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven. We need to always be Ready for Death or the “2nd coming” of Christ called the Day of the Lord. God uses tribulation in our lives for His own purposes in getting us ready!
Remember the Goal: Do all things to the glory of God in thought, word and deed. 1 Corinthians 10:31.
The Bible says … in the Revelation of Jesus the Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the Word of God and to the testimony of Jesus the Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy and blessed are those who hear and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. (The book of Revelation: Chapter 1:1-3.)
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5 main components of the Gospel: Template.
A possible outline of the Gospel:
Light: Jesus is Light. Word of God. Gospel of “Grace”.
Love: Act of Love, Jesus on the Cross for “man’s” sins.
Life: Jesus is Life. “God” is just & merciful (&) love.
Lord: Jesus is Lord, Savior, Redeemer & King. “Christ”.
Live: Live by Faith. “Faith” is the key to Heaven.
Outlines help us learn and know the Gospel of Jesus more and more (knowing God!). The “centrality of the gospel” becoming a “way of life” and not a “one time event”.
Begin to form your own thoughts and words in “Knowing God” more and more in your life! Our story becoming God’s story called a “testimony!
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Key observations over Church history: Draft thoughts forming … as we move forward in “time and history” …
Israel of God: Thoughts and observations … the covenant community became people of the Faith. “If” you are Christ’s (the seed), then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise: Galatians 3:29
Covenant Community: Thoughts and observations … Circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit: How do we become part of the covenant community of Faith? Answer: God’s choice (will) is based on His Grace. One remains in the true covenant community only by Faith. Meeting Him on His Way Back: The Case for the Post – Trib Rapture, written by Bob Eson, Jr. speaks on the Israel of God and the Covenant Community.
Baptism: Thoughts and observations … John the Baptist sent from God became a witness to the Light teaching Repentance and Faith with the symbol of Baptism.
Communion / Lord’s Supper: Thoughts and observations… more to come here as a placeholder for future updates.
Catholic (means Universal) Church formed 2023 years ago: Thoughts and observations … more to come here as a placeholder for future updates.
Apostles Creed around the 5th century: Thoughts and observations … more to come here as a placeholder for future updates.
Protestant Reformation October 31, 1517: Thoughts and observations … began in Wittenberg, Germany on October 31, 1517 when Martin Luther published a document or 95 Theses / 95 ideas about Christianity.
Birth of America (formation / reformation) 1776: Thoughts and observations … we observed the reformation of the Church in 1517 and the “formation” and “birth” of America in 1776 and recognized a constant “need” for reforming our lives daily: Faith in Christ. Fellowship in God’s Family. Freedom in Christ.
King James Bible (English): 1611. Thoughts and observations … the Printing Press being invented around 1436 with the Latin Vulgate Bible translation being put into “print” as early as the 1450s.
Westminster Confession of Faith 1646: Thoughts and observations … birth of the English speaking Presbyterian Church and movement forward of the Church to America.
Church government formed: 1646: Thoughts and observations … begin to see the formation of 3 prominent Church governments: Episcopal, Presbyterian, Congregational, Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem.
English Standard Version (ESV) of the Bible: 2001: Thoughts and observations … more to come here as a placeholder for future updates.
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Template: Church Constitution / Statement of Faith
- Church defined. Guiding principles of the Church.
2. Statement of Faith. Defines what we believe.
3. Church government. Purpose: order and accountability. Presbyterian Elder-led Authority (top down accountability) or Congregational Authority (bottom up accountability)?
4. Church membership responsibilities. Expectations.
5. Church history. The importance of writing down Church history: provides a “living document” to remind us what the Lord taught us and affirm what the Lord is doing to build His Church: individually (locally) and collectively.
6. Servant Leadership observations for the office of Elders & Deacons: Relates with the understanding of Headship and Sonship – Adoption.
A. Engage in consensus decision making rather than authoritarian or compromise. Marriage, Family and Church.
B. Actively seek to understand His wife’s (and/or members of the Church) and families’ thoughts, feelings and needs.
C. Encourage his wife (and/or members of the Church) and family to develop their full spiritual potential and use all their spiritual gifts.
D. Be more interested in personal spiritual growth and development than tasks and roles. Marriage, Family and Church.
E. Place high priority on time with his wife and family (and/or members of the Church in fellowship).
Comment 1: Ephesians 5 … This mystery is profound, Saying that how we relate to our wife refers to Christ and the Church example. Adding in the perspective of the Church in place of our wife provides focus as to the spiritual leadership role for both the family and Church. We see this in the qualifications for Elders and Deacons.
Comment 2: Galatians 3 and 4 … Headship in Ephesians 5 connects to Sonship and Adoption. In Christ: all are sons & daughters of God, through faith. God sent forth his son to redeem us / adopting us into the family of God, the Church, as sons & daughters … siblings!
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Discipleship pathway (suggested template):
Knowing God & I Want to be a Christian by J I Packer
Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem
Meeting Him On His Way Back: The Case for the Post – Trib Rapture by Bob Eson, Jr.
“2nd Book” by Bob Eson, Jr. coming: to discuss Congregational Authority and Church government impacts.
Prayer: Thank you; Father, Son & Holy Spirit for this day!