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OUR
VISION
A. Mission (Matthew #5:14-16):
To be God's light unto the world
B.
Vision: To be a Church of healing for broken people
C. What needs to be healed?
(1) People's broken relationship
with God
(2) People's broken relationship
with one another
(3) People's broken relationship
with their community
(4) People's broken relationship
with their world
(5) People's
broken relationship with their Church
D. How did these relationships
break?
(1) People's broken relationship
with God:
a. I John 3:4 - Man disobeyed
God's law:
1. Genesis 3:1-19 - Adam and
Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden
2. Genesis 6: 5-7 - After
their disobedience mans' wickedness increased
3. Isaiah 64:6 - So bad
was mans' wickedness that even his righteousness was seen as filthy rags
b. Romans 5:12, 16, 19 - Since
one man disobeyed God's law all are guilty:
1. Romans 3:23 all have sinned
and come short of the glory of God
2.
Psalm 14, Romans 3:9-18 - Thus all people were defined as sinners
3. Romans 6:23 - As a
result of this sin death is passed to all people
c. Every part of man is sinful:
1. Ephesians 4:18 - His understanding
2. Jeremiah 17:9-10 -
His heart
3. Genesis 6:5, Titus
1:15 - His mind and conscience
4. II Corinthians 7:5
- His flesh and spirit
5.
Romans 7:18 - His will
d. Man is utterly destitute
of any God like qualities which meet His requirements for holiness:
1. Though man is not absent
of conscience and morals he is totally destitute of love toward God which
is the chief commandment of the law (John 5:42)
2. Man is not prone to
serve or follow God
3.
His nature is corrupt and he is totally unable to free himself from such
a condition
(2) People's broken relationship
with one another
a. Genesis 3:9-12 - When God
questioned Adam about his disobedience he blamed it on Eve
b.
Genesis 4:1-12 - The first murder was committed by Abel's broken relationship
with Cain:
1. God had respect unto Abel's
sacrifice, not Cain's
2.
In his anger Cain killed Abel, whose blood cried out to God
c. Genesis 9:20-25 - When Ham
saw his father naked he did not cover him:
1. He ran and told his brothers
2. His father cursed
him because of this
3.
Their relationship was broken
d. Genesis 11: 1-9 - When men
were of one language they tried to build a tower to heaven:
1. They did not want to be
scattered but God was not pleased
2.
God scattered them throughout the world
e. Genesis 16:11-15 - Abraham
had a child with his handmaid, Hagar:
1. Ishmael was not welcomed
by Sarah, Abraham's wife, because of her son, Isaac
2. Hagar and Ishmael
was banished from Abraham's presence
3. However, God promised
Ishmael a blessing
4.
Part of that blessing was being a nuisance to his half brother Isaac
f. Genesis 27:41 - When Jacob
stole Esau's birthright Esau wanted to kill his brother and they had to
split up
g. Matthew 10:21, 34-37
- Jesus ministry was defined by people fighting with each other
h.
Acts 15:36-41 - Even Paul and Barnabas relationship was broken over John
Mark
(3) People's broken relationship
with their community
a. Genesis 3: 23 - Adam and
Eve were banished from their garden community
b. Genesis 4: 14 - Cain
was banished from his home community and ran from town to town
c. Genesis 27: 41-45 -
Jacob had to leave his home community because of Esau's anger
d. Genesis 37: 18-28 - Joseph
was banished from his home community because of a dream
e. Numbers 32: 13 - Israel
was stopped from entering their promised home community because of sin
f. Matthew 9: 9 - Matthew
was banished from his home community because he received taxes for Rome
g. Luke 8: 26-27 The man
of Gadara was banished from his home community because he was demon possessed
h. John 4: 9 - Samaritans
were banished from their home community because their blood was mixed
i. The town drunk, the
town drug dealer or addict, the town harlot, the town pedophile, the town
jail bird, the town wife and child abuser, and the town bum have all been
banished from their home community because of sin against God and fellow
person
j. These people
are not welcomed in their community thus their relationship is broken
(4) People's broken relationship
with their world
a. Genesis 3: 6-19 - After
Adam and Even left the garden their world forever changed:
1. They left God's presence
2. They had to work extra
hard
3. Their son's fought
with each other
b. Genesis 6: 1-7 - So bad
was their sin that God regretted that He created man at all
c. Genesis 11: 1-11 -
The tower of Babel split people up among different languages and each started
their own culture
d. Genesis
13, 14 - When Lot separated from Abraham he took what seemed pleasant to
the eye:
1. He ended up in slavery
and in a land of people engulfed with sin
2.
The world he knew with Abraham was broken and he needed to get back home
e. Isaiah 1: 1-23, Amos 5,
Micah 6: 1-8 - Israel was to be a light to the world of God's glory but
she lost that relationship during captivity
f. John 3: 19 - People's
relationship with the world is broken because the fall forever broke them
from God's presence and original intent for mankind
g. Matthew 9: 10-13 - Even
publicans and sinners were mistreated by the world
(5) People's broken relationship
with their Church
a. Matthew 21:1-13 - Jesus'
Church was to be a house of prayer:
1. The people made it a den
of thieves
2. The religious leaders were
to be godly examples but were not
3.
Because of this both people and leaders missed God's presence among them
b. Acts 5 - Ananias and Sapphira
were not totally honest with God and they lost their relationship with the
church
c. I Timothy 1: 18-20 - Paul
turned Hymenaeus and Alexander over to Satan so they could learn to do right
d. II Timothy 2: 20-21
- There are many kinds of people in the Church; but those who truly belong
to God will purge themselves from those who do wrong\
e.
Is it any wonder that people quit attending Church; some have no depth,
some have little knowledge, some are not truly dedicated, but others see
those in the Church living a double standard; as a result their relationship
with the Church is broken
E. How will the Lighthouse Church
of God fulfill this vision?
(1) Through Prayer:
a. This church will be a house
of prayer (Matthew 21:13)
b.
This house of prayer will follow the Old Testament tabernacle model:
1. Psalm 98, 100, 105, 107,
148, 149, 150 - Enter His gates with thanksgiving in our hearts and give
Him praise
2. Become
a dead person (at the brass altar):
(a) Colossians 3:5-9, II
Timothy 3:1-5 - To sin
(b) Romans 6:4, 22,
8:1, 12:1-2 - To self
(c)
I Corinthians 12:12-14, 25, 27, Ephesians 6:15 - To division
(d) I Timothy 1:15, Hebrews
9:11-14, Revelation 5: 1-10 - Praise the Lamb (Jesus)
3. John 17:17, James 1:22-27,
4:8 - Become a sanctified person thru living a holy life (hands = deeds,
feet = habits) by the prayer of purity (laver)
4. Psalm 119:105, Romans
12:2, II Corinthians 10:5-6 Philippians 2:5 - Become a church person and
allow the Word to become part of our lives (at the golden table)
5. John 15, I Corinthians
2:3-4, 12:7-11, 13, Galatians 5:22-23 - Become a spirit filled person
allowing the Holy Spirit to rule and reign in our lives (fruit and fire
of lamp stand)
6. Psalm 130:1-2, Joel
2, Matthew 6:5-13, Ephesians 5:1-2, - Become a worshipper of God (the
golden altar - incense/worship)
7.
Habakkuk 2:14, Haggai 2:5-9, Zechariah 2:4-5, 10-11 - Become a praying
person (at the Ark of the Covenant): pray for the glory of God, pray for
total commitment of self
c. This house of prayer will
dedicate rooms for specific needs:
1.Prayer room for lost souls
2. Prayer room for direction
from God
3. Prayer room for church
family
4. Prayer room for community
and world missions
5.
Sanctuary room given totally for worship of God
(2) Through example:
a. Be a light unto the world:
1. I Corinthians 9: 26-27
- Be disciplined in our lives
2.
Hebrews 5: 12-14 - Be teachers of how to live for Christ
b. Let that light shine before
all people:
1. John 15: 1-8 - Be a fruit-bearing
Church
2. I Corinthians
9: 19-22 - Be accepting of all people who come our way
3. Ephesians 4: 1-16
- Be a Church for people to grow in Christ
4. Matthew 25: 14-29
- Be investors of our time, talents, and treasures to accomplish that
task
c. Colossians 3: 17 - Glorify
God in all we do; whether in word or deed, we do all to the glory and honor
of Jesus Christ
(3) Through evangelism:
a. Luke 14: 15-23 - Go out
and compel people to come into God's house
b. Acts 1: 8 - Be preachers
of the Gospel from the Church to the uttermost parts of the Earth
c. Matthew 28: 19-20
- Make disciples of all nations
d.
Matthew 10 - Do it with JesusŐ power, authority, and love
(4) Through outreach - a Ministry
Center to meet the needs of broken people:
a. A center for kids:
1. 3 full length basketball
courts
2. 1 full length acrobatic
court
3. 2 full length volleyball
courts
4. 1 large size Olympic
pool
5. 1 large game room
6. 1 large multipurpose
room
7. 1 large computer/classroom
b. A center for adults:
1. 1 large workout room
2.
1 large multipurpose room:
(a) Room for healing
(b) Room for direction in
life
(c) Room for overcoming
addictions
3. 1 large room for education/training
for better jobs
c. A center for single moms:
1. 1 large daycare
2. 1 large resource
storeroom
3. 1 large
training room for better jobs
d. a center for disenfranchised:
1. 4 apartments for expectant
mothers
2. 4 apartments for
people who lose jobs or homes
3.
4 apartments for prison ministry
e. A center for God's glory:
1. 1 large room dedicated
for praise
2. 1 large room dedicated for
prayer
3. 1 large Sanctuary
to fulfill vision
(5) Through dedication:
a. One soul at a time
b. One prayer at a time
c. One day at a time
d.
One dollar at a time
OUR VALUES
(1) That every person is a
person of worth to God
(2) That every person
is given an opportunity to come to Christ
(3) That every person has an
opportunity to live and grow in a God-given purpose
(4)
That every person is given this opportunity because of what Christ done
on the cross
OUR CONFESSION OF FAITH
We believe in one God, Creator
of Heaven and Earth, and in Jesus Christ, our Lord, who was born of a virgin,
died, and rose again in order to restore humankind's broken relationship
with God. We believe that Holy Scripture is God-breathed and infallible
in everything that it affirms. We believe in the Holy Spirit, who convicts
us of sin, sets us apart for ministry, and gives us gifts for the edifying
of the Church. We believe in the Church, both as a universal body of believers
in Christ, and as a local community, where the Scriptures are taught, the
sacraments are administered, and fellowship between God and believers is
received. We believe in the second coming of Jesus Christ; first, Christ
will appear in the clouds before His thousand year reign, receive the Church,
both dead and alive, unto Himself, and return to Heaven. Second, Christ
will return with His Church to reign on earth for one thousand years.
OUR DOCTRINAL COMMITMENTS
(1) In the verbal inspiration
of the Bible
(2) In one God eternally existing
in three persons; namely, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
(3) That Jesus Christ is the
only begotten Son of the Father, conceived of the Holy Ghost, and born of
the Virgin Mary. That Jesus was crucified, buried, and raised from the dead.
That He ascended to heaven and is today at the right hand of the Father
as the Intercessor
(4) That all have sinned
and come short of the glory of God and that repentance is commanded of God
for all and necessary for forgiveness of sins
(5) That justification, regeneration,
and the new birth are wrought by faith in the blood of Jesus Christ
(6) In sanctification
subsequent to the new birth, through faith in the blood of Christ; through
the Word, and by the Holy Ghost
(7) Holiness to be God's standard
of living for His people
(8) In the baptism with the Holy
Ghost subsequent to a clean heart
(9) In speaking with other tongues
as the Spirit gives utterance and that it is the initial evidence of the
baptism of the Holy Ghost
(10) In water baptism
by immersion, and all who repent should be baptized in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost
(11) Divine healing is
provided for all in the atonement
(12) In the Lord's Supper and
washing of the saints' feet
(13) In the premillennial second
coming of Jesus. First, to resurrect the righteous dead and to catch away
the living saints to Him in the air. Second, to reign on the earth a thousand
years
(14) In the bodily resurrection;
eternal life for the righteous, and eternal punishment for wicked
OUR AFFILIATION AND FORM
OF GOVERNMENT
(1) We are affiliated with
the Church of God headquartered in Cleveland, Tennessee
(2) We have a central
form of government; that is the General Assembly composed of the ordained
ministers' in Church of God is that organized body with full power and authority
to designate the teachings, government, principles, and practices of all
the local churches composing said assembly
(3) This form of government is
explained in the Church of God Polity manual, fourth printing 1985, Pathway
Press, Cleveland, Tennessee
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