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Our Goals For the Next Five Years & More by Dan Barnes

Twelve years ago, Lighthouse Baptist Church began as a desire to be a soul winning, Bible-based, community oriented congregation. Along our way we have been guided by the grace of God.

Much of our mission and vision is already being realized. Right now many critical pieces are coming to reality. The Time 2 Grow campaign hopes to move us forward into both the ministry and growth as our vision has described. The timing of our progress has been unpredictable. At one point we could not advance as we desired; at other points our movement toward the vision has been miraculous. This reinforces our belief that God is leading us-holding us back sometimes, and pushing us forward at others. It appears that now is one of those pushing times. We can take heart that the push is in the direction of the vision we began with-the vision we have worked and prayed for, the same vision that Time 2 Grow hopes to fulfill. It’s a good feeling to know that we are growing with vision-a vision to reach the lost of Jessamine County! A vision to become a great ministry so we can do more around the world.

God has blessed Lighthouse with bountiful provision for which we are thankful! Our members have opened their hearts and their wallets to build this ministry to where we are today! Now the future is before us and we must plan to do as much as we can for our Lord and Savior before His imminent return! Ephesians 5:14-17 says “Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”
Reach the lost at any cost ought to be our desire as a New Testament Church.
We have set 10 Outrageous Goals for the next 5 years, they are as follows:
1. 600 People Saved and Baptized.
2. Share Jesus Christ with 38,000 People.
3. Double the Size of Our Church to 850 People.
4. Develop 10 Adult Sunday School Classes.
5. 80% Church Involvement in Ministries.
6. Start 2 More Churches.
7. Partner with 5 Missionaries.
8. Raise-up 2 Full-Time Christian Workers.
9. Have One Community event per year.
10. Launch a Spanish Language Church.

We have set 6 goals for the next 6 Months (Now-December 31, 2008):
1. 60 People Saved & Baptized. 4. Finish Other Building by 3/1/09.
2. Record setting Generation X. 5. $25,000 Thanksgiving Offering.
3. Record Setting Fall Program. 6. Christmas Sing for Community.

How Can God Use Me To Help Things Grow? by Dan Barnes

James 4:13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

1. Pray Constantly

Seeking God’s will is the foundation for the Time 2 Grow Campaign.

Pray for your church, your pastor, and its ministries.

Pray that God will open your heart and mind and that this will be a building time in your faith.

2. Get Involved

See what is happening and what God is doing in your church.

Learn everything you can about our ministries, our vision, and the outreach of our church.

Attend all church services; volunteer for service; be faithful to your call.

3. Share Your Faith

Good things happen every week at our church. Friendship is extended, support and encouragement offered, and hope grows.

Find ways to share the excitement of how God is at work in your life and in your church with your friends and neighbors.

4. Be Faithful in Your Giving

Turn your prayers and faith into action. Make giving decisions that honor God and are right to do.

Faithfully and joyfully give to the work of God.

Sunday Evening Service - May 18, 2008

PREACHER: John Ritchie, Assistant Pastor

Sermon Outline: “Why sit we here until we die?”

II Kings 7:3-16a

Sometimes we think that after we get saved, everything will be peaches and cream from then on. We expect to never have any more problems from that point on. The truth is, living the Christian life is not always easy. It seems that those who are the most serious about their Christianity often have the most and biggest problems.

Often we find ourselves in desperate situations with no reasonable solutions at hand.

When difficulties come—and they will—they don’t necessarily indicate anything (like sin).

A. For a nation.

B. For an individual (vs. 3-4)

a. Bad things happen to good people. Good things happen to bad people.

b. Difficulties don’t define people. They don’t automatically mean that someone has done something wrong.

c. Don’t automatically assume that difficulties are God’s judgment in your own life. It could be that God is trying to teach you something or preparing to deliver you to glorify Himself.

These men in II Kings truly were afflicted, just as we are.

a. They were afflicted with leprosy—something they could do nothing about. We often dwell on the problems we can do nothing to fix or change—like our pasts.

b. They were afflicted with hunger—something they could possibly do something about. These show us situational difficulties. Given enough time, some relief can usually be found. These difficulties drift in and out of our lives.

These men accurately assessed their situation. They seemed to be between a rock and a hard place. Before they could find a solution, they had to assess their situation objectively.

a. Ask yourself, “Is this situation changeable?” Is it really a problem, or are you making a mountain out of a mole-hill? If it is not changeable, we need to move on. If it is changeable, we need to see what we can do about it.

b. Be honest with God and with yourself. Make sure that you are right with God. If you are, look elsewhere.

These men took action.

a. These men determined to do something.

b. These men ventured into the unknown. God already has all the answers for our unknowns. What appears to be desperate and hopeless to us appears to God as an opportunity for divine deliverance!

These men achieved.

a. Personally

b. For a nation

Conclusion:

A good relationship with God is gained when we develop a proper perspective on the trials of life. Instead of focusing on the hardship, focus on the fact that God is getting ready to do something!

Sunday Morning Service - May 11, 2008

PREACHER: Ed Schwarz, Associate Pastor

Sunday Evening Service - May 4, 2008

PREACHER: Pastor Dan Barnes

Sermon Outline: Things God Commands us (in Scripture) to Do for Each-other

1. We are to LOVE one another. (John 13:34-35)

a. Not to bad-mouth each-other

b. Not to destroy others

c. We are to love others as Christ loves us.

2. We are to be KIND to one another. (Eph. 4:32)

a. Be tenderhearted

b. Be forgiving

3. HONOR one another.

a. Prefer the needs and desires of others above your own.

b. Selfishness is inundating our society.

c. Have gratitude.

d. Do something that others may value more than you do.