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WHY JESUS? Why life? Why forgiveness? Why purpose? Why future? Why comfort? Why peace? Why hope? Why meaning in life? Because Jesus Christ is the answer to all of those questions!
Jesus is not just a figure in history, He is the answer to questions of life and death here and now.
(John 11:25:"I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me will live, even though they die.")
Jesus is not a mere man, He is the God-man, true God that took on human flesh and was born as a baby in Bethlehem. (John 1:14: "And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.")
Jesus is not one way to truth, not a way to God, not an answer to life, He is "the Way, the Truth and the Life." (John 14:6)
Simply put, Jesus Christ is the most important person in life. It is through Him that we know and understand that God our Father loves us, forgives our sins, and wants a personal relationship with us both now and forever. His life, death on the cross, and resurrection from the dead still define what is important for us in life today. That’s why!
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WHY CHURCH? A good question…a very good question. Perhaps the answer lies in a few more questions. Why food? Why shelter? Why community? Why service?
Church is the God-given answer to those questions. In a local congregation like Lighthouse Village we are fed. We feed on God’s Word, are washed through Holy Baptism, and are refreshed through the Lord’s Supper.
In the church, we find shelter and community in a difficult and oftentimes challenging world. We meet people who care, share, and help. We find support from those struggling with us to find God’s way for us in life. We find healing, as God brings forgiveness and hope and joy to our lives through His Word and through those around us who live out His Word.
In the church, we find meaningful service. We have opportunity to use the gifts, abilities, talents and passions that God has given us to work with others for the greater good of God’s kingdom. We are able to be equipped, not only for the growth of our own faith, but so that we can reach out to others with that same faith.
Why church? It is God’s plan for bringing us closer to Him as we journey through life!
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WHY LIGHTHOUSE VILLAGE CHURCH OF GOD ? Well, to be honest, LIGHTHOUSE VILLAGE may not be for everyone. God gives each of us different personalities, different gifts, and calls each of us to the place where those gifts and personalities can bring glory to Him. We live in a country where we still have freedom to worship God publicly, and here in New Buffalo and the surrounding community, there are literally dozens of Christian churches from which to choose! Each local congregation also has its own personality. So perhaps a better question is, what makes LIGHTHOUSE VILLAGE different? At LIGHTHOUSE VILLAGE Church our mission is “Equipping Saints to Make Disciples.” God’s purpose for us is to guide people to go out – out into the community, among their friends and neighbors, out into the city, among those who need help, and out into the world, among those who may have never heard of Jesus. This going out is a command and a promise from Jesus – “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20). Christ gives us a command to go and tell, and a promise that He will be with us. God’s Word, the Bible, guides and directs all that we do at LIGHTHOUSE VILLAGE . We hold it high above everything else, and all that we do flows from that Word. God’s Word is taught and modeled to children and adults, all those who gather for worship here. The focus of God’s Word, Jesus Christ, is the focus of mission and ministry at LIGHTHOUSE VILLAGE . Because God has called us to serve at this time and in this place, opportunities abound for anyone connected to our congregation to serve the Lord with their gifts, whatever they might be. We expect that every member of our fellowship will discover and use their God-given spiritual gifts and passions in active service. We encourage and invite new ideas for reaching all people with God’s love! To shine a light into the darkness in an effort to point others to a relationship with God through Jesus. Here you will find a gathering of Christians – a congregation of sinners who have been forgiven by Jesus’ death and resurrection through faith – who love the Lord and who love people. We welcome you to come and see what the Lord is doing in this place, and to see if He has called you to join with us in using your gifts and passions to bring Jesus to the world!
Receive the Promise of Salvation Through Christ: A Matter of FAITH (submitted by Pastor Fields) What do you think it takes for someone to get to heaven? Is it luck? Good deeds? Nothing at all? Or is there something more? The Bible has the real answer to this question. It's a matter of FAITH. F stands for FORGIVENESS. We cannot have eternal life without God's forgiveness. Ephesians 1:7a says, "In Him (Jesus Christ) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins." A is for AVAILABLE. Forgiveness is available for all. John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." But forgiveness is not automatic. "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven," says Matthew 7:21a. I is for IMPOSSIBLE. It is impossible for God to allow sin into heaven because of who He is and because of who we are. God is loving and just, but His judgment is against sin. James 2:13a says, "Because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful." We are sinful people. Romans 3:23 tells us, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." T is for TURN. To turn means to repent. We can repent -- or turn -- from our sin and from ourselves. "But unless you repent, you too will all perish," Luke 13:3b says. We can also turn to Someone. Trust Christ alone. Romans 10:9 tells us how: "That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." H is for HEAVEN. Heaven is eternal life. Here, that means life "to the full:" "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10b)." In the hereafter, it means the promise of heaven: "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am (John 14:3)." So how can a person have God's forgiveness, heaven and eternal life, and Jesus as personal Savior and Lord? By trusting in Christ and asking Him for forgiveness. Take the step of faith described by another meaning of FAITH: Forsaking All I Trust Him. You do this through a simple prayer reflecting your desire for Christ to change your life. You don't need fancy words--only an honest heart. You can pray something like this: Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner and have displeased You in many ways. I believe You died for my sin, and only through faith in Your death and resurrection can I be forgiven. I want to turn from my sin and ask You to come into my life as my Savior and Lord. From this day on, I will follow You by living a life that pleases You. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen. Accepting Christ is just the beginning of a wonderful adventure with God! Get to know Him better in a number of ways: - Follow Christ's example in baptism.
- Join a church where you can worship God and grow in your faith.
- In your church, get involved in Sunday School and Bible study.
- Begin a daily personal worship experience with God where you study the Bible and pray.
We’d love to hear from you -- Please feel free to ask us any questions you have about becoming a Christian, or tell us about your decision to follow Jesus Christ. Phone us at (269) 469-3441 email us: lhvcog@comcast.net
IS ATTENDANCE OPTIONAL.... We at Lighthouse Village, Church of God, do not hold the position that church attendance is optional. The Bible and common sense teach us that church attendance is not just a smart thing to do, but rather a necessary thing to commit to and participate in. Not Forsaking "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near." (Heb. 10:23-25) These words were written to people who were close to losing their faith in Christ. Something had to be done. Some of them were habitually forsaking the meetings of the church. The Hebrew writer came right to the point. He told them not to forsake the assembly. Look closely at the verses. Notice that church attendance has to do with holding fast without wavering, stimulating ourselves and others to love and good deeds, and encouraging one another. It is the experience of the writer of this article that those who forsake the assembly exhibit the very opposite tendencies. They waver in their faith (some fall away from it), they stimulate no one to love and good deeds, and they get increasingly more discouraged in their faith. One cannot say he or she lives by the teaching of the Bible and willingly forsake the assembly of Christians. Pillar and Support "I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long; but in case I am delayed, I write so that you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth." (1 Timothy 3:14-15) The church is the assembly of God's people. Notice its role in the above verses. It is "the pillar and support of the truth." If you take away the church, you take away the pillar and support of the truth in your life. Collapse of faith is inevitable. One cannot forsake the assembly and stay strong in the truth. This Do In Remembrance "And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.'" (Luke 22:19) This command of Jesus refers to communion or the Lord's supper. The early church, directed by the Apostles of Jesus, met regularly for communion. The one who forsakes the assembly disregards this command. Elsewhere Jesus said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves." (John 6:53) While some might argue that this does not refer directly to the Lord's supper, where else is the eating of His flesh and drinking His blood fulfilled in the Christian walk? He who forsakes the assembly forsakes the remembrance of the Lord's supper. It isn't long before the outcome of "no life" becomes reality. They Keep Watch "Obey your leaders, and submit to them; for they keep watch over your souls, as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you." (Hebrews 13:17) A responsibility of church leaders is to keep watch over the souls of church members. These leaders will someday give an account for their (the members) work. Such work is difficult enough when Christians assemble regularly and are in contact with one another. Can you imagine the complication when members are seldom or never present? If church leaders are expected to assume responsibility for such oversight, church members need to assume responsibility for regular attendance. We at Lighthouse Village, Church of God feel strongly about this. Members who chronically forsake the assembly with no good reason are admonished to return. If this is disregarded, they may be dropped from membership, not only in the family of God here, but it does stand to reason that they may be rejected from His presence in the world that is to come. Remove a fish from the water. He may flop around on the shore for awhile, but ultimately he dies. Remove a coal from the fireplace. It glows for awhile, but ultimately it dies. Remove a Christian from the assembly of other Christians. Though he may continue in faith for awhile,.. ...ultimately he dies. What Can You Do If you have forsaken the assembly of Christians, we encourage you to take the following steps: DECIDE to return immediately. Let your church leaders know of your decision. Make this a once-for-all lifetime decision, not a weekly one. ADJUST your schedule so that regular church attendance is a part of your life. If your work schedule conflicts, share your problem with church leaders. They and the congregation can pray with you for a resolution of the conflicts. RETURN to the assembly. Church attendance is not an optional matter. It is a way of life. Make it a habit. See you in the assembly...
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