Lighthouse Foundations

SESSION ONE

OUR OPPORTUNITY

This session is the basic introduction to our church family. Since we have members from different church backgrounds, this session was designed to clearly explain who we are as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.

THE BIBLICAL BASIS FOR SESSION ONE

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household.” (Ephesians 2:19)

KEY TRUTHS

The church is a family. God expects you to be a member of a church family. A Christian without a church family is a contradiction.

THE GOAL OF SESSION ONE

That I will commit myself to Christ and to Lighthouse Baptist Church.

WHAT MAKES LIGHTHOUSE BAPTIST A FAMILY?

Jesus prayed that we would be one.

“That they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.” (John 17:21)

The Holy Spirit makes us one.

“For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.” (I Corinthians 12:13)

We are to maintain the unity that the Spirit gave us.

“Being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3)

The Apostle Paul gave us several basic doctrinal truths that unite us.

Ephesians 4:4–6 (CSB)

4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope at your calling—

5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

6 one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.

OUR SALVATION

“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.“ (Galatians 3:26-28)

WHY AM I HERE?

We were created to enjoy a personal relationship with God and to manage the rest of God’s creation.

This makes us special!

“God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth." (Genesis 1:27-28)

“... I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.“ (John 10:10)

WHAT’S THE PROBLEM? Man has a natural desire to be his own boss and to ignore God’s principles for living.

THE BIBLE CALLS THIS ATTITUDE SIN

“All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way;” (Isaiah 53:6)

“If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:8)

Sin breaks our close relationship with God. It causes us not to fear God and try to live our lives outside His will. When we have no relationship with God, it causes PROBLEMS in every area of our lives – marriage, career, relationships, finances, etc.

Proverbs 16:25 CSB

25 There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way to death.

Even when we know that our deepest need is God, we often try wrong ways of getting to know him. For example: “My mother was a Christian, so...” “I’ll give up all my bad habits.” “I’ll work real hard and earn it.” “I’ll be religious and go to church.” “It doesn’t matter what you believe, just be sincere.”

WHAT’S THE SOLUTION?

John 14:6 CSB

6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

God Himself came to earth as a human being to bring us back to Himself. If any other way would have worked, Jesus Christ would not have had to come.

The Way is a Person!

Jesus has already taken care of your sin problem!

Romans 6:23 CSB

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God did this for us because He loves us and wants us to know Him.

1 Timothy 2:5 CSB

5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,

God has already done His part to restore our relationship to Him. He took the initiative. Now He waits for each of us to individually accept what He has done for us.

WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?

Admit that God has not been first place in your life and confess that you have sinned against Him.

1 John 1:9 CSB

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Believe that Jesus died to pay for your sins, He rose again, and is alive today.

That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;” (Romans 10:9)

Acts 4:12 (CSB)

12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”

Accept God’s free gift of salvation. Don’t try to earn it.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God not as a result of work, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Invite Jesus Christ to come into your life and be the Lord (Master, Ruler) of your life.

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13)

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.” (Revelation 3:20)

YOU CAN TAKE THESE STEPS BY PRAYING A SIMPLE, BUT SINCERE, PRAYER OF COMMITMENT TO GOD: “Dear Lord, I know I am a sinner and cannot save myself. Thank you for loving me and for dying on the cross for my sins. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus, and forgive my sins and save my soul. I give you my life. Make me the kind of person you want me to be. Take control of the throne of my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

“For "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED." (Romans 10:13)