Lighthouse Ventura Messages

Acts 20:17-38, How to Change a City

2010-06-13T17:00:00Z

Biblical discipleship changes people and therefore changes cities.

Acts 17:16-34 : Sharing Jesus

2010-06-06T17:00:00Z

The Holy Spirit showed Paul how to use culture to share Jesus. We can do the same today.

Acts 16:6-10, Hearing God

2010-05-30T17:00:00Z

Pastor Mike Cormode shared about hearing God.

Acts 11:19-26 - Be An Advocate

2010-05-23T17:00:00Z

Barnabas was a voice for Paul at a time when the majority was skeptical of Paul's calling. Barnabas spoke on behalf of Paul and affirmed his character. When there was a need, Barnabas went looking for Paul to give him further opportunity. When a missionary trip was needed, Barnabas took Paul with him and eventually the student surpassed the master.

The picture of Barnabas is one of being an advocate for someone. It is a model of disciple making.

Acts 11:19-30: Grace & Truth in Antioch

2010-05-16T17:00:00Z

The church in Antioch was marked by God's grace. Grace was poured on them by God and it overflowed to others. It caused derogatory statements made against the church to become a label of honor. What people meant for harm was transformed by grace.

Jesus is filled with grace and truth. Barnabas exhorted the church in Antioch to remain faithful to Jesus - to live in grace by embracing the Truth. Without grace and truth, the church community would stop being effective.

A community marked by grace, that remains devoted to God will transform accusations. So how do we remain true to God with devoted hearts?

Experience the Grace of God: prayer, quiet reflection, worship songs
Know the Truth of God: read the Bible and allow it to change us
Live in the overflow of God's grace: Be a friend of sinners, help those in need, share the grace of God with the world, care for one another.

Paul - Changed

2010-05-02T17:00:00Z

Paul was focused, zealous and wrong. His actions could not stop the church; instead the church spread out to a wider group as people fled from Paul's path. What no one saw was that the man bent on the church's destruction was actually God's chosen instrument to carry the message to the world.

Righting a Wrong

2010-04-25T17:00:00Z

Acts 6:1-7

Helenists were being overlooked in the daily distribution. No one person can see everything at once - it is inevitable that things get missed. How do we handle the cases where something that is important to us is being overlooked. Do we get angry and leave? Do we make accusations? Or is there a better way.

The family of God is needed to take care of the family of God.

Acts 4:32-5:11 - "Why Did I do That?"

2010-04-18T17:00:00Z

Ananias and Sapphira tried to look good. What they said they did was good (selling property to help people). How they did it was horribly wrong (claiming they did something when they did not). Faking it and lying to the church community is lying to the Holy Spirit and it does not produce health and life - it brings death.

When we fake something that is good, it is a tragic substitution. Rather than fake what we wish we would be, we are called to live out that act in the power of the Holy Spirit. Allow God to form in us the characteristics and actions that do not need to be inflated or hidden.

We are called to live true and faithful lives. Religion worries about what others think. (My works justify me, so I must look like I am doing better than I really am). We are crippled under religion when in the name of looking bad, we pretend like when are doing something we are not, or know something we do not.

Being honest with God, ourselves and the community of believers brings health. Hiding under a facade of "righteousness" is death. Let's live the lives we long for. God is calling us out to live for real and not fake it, in His power and through Jesus.

Acts 3 - Do Something

2010-04-11T17:00:00Z

Peter and John had a history of following Jesus. Because they faithful did what He asked, they also saw God work wonderful miracles through them. They were in the right place and the right time and did what God commanded. The result was salvation and healing.

Consequently we need to be people who are doing something. As we actively obey, we are positioning ourselves to be used by God to do wonderful and amazing things.

Easter Sunday

2010-04-04T18:00:00Z

Jesus is the Light. He entered into the world and it was not able to comprehend Him. With His death on the cross, darkness seemed to overcome the Light. But it was not a meaningless death - it was an intentional one. Jesus chose to die, because through that death He would overcome the darkness in humanity and we could have a relationship with God.

With the resurrection of Jesus, hope rose. Hope that we would not worship God from a distance, but through Jesus, He is right here. Hope for a future with God forever. Hope for a new body, free from disease and decay. Hope to be someone who spreads the Good News that the Light has come. Hope that no matter what I face right now, Jesus is with me and I can make it.

Mary lost hope with the death of Jesus. Hope returned when she heard His voice calling her. The God who created the universe calls out to you, will you turn to Him?