Core Value #1: Anchoring Ourselves to God’s Word 

“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through Jesus Christ.  All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”   2 Timothy 3:14-17

“The Bible — banned, burned, beloved.  More widely read, more frequently attacked than any other book in history.  Generations of intellectuals have attempted to discredit it; dictators of every age have outlawed it and executed those who read it.  Yet soldiers carry it into battle believing it more powerful than their weapons. Fragments of it smuggled into solitary prison cells have transformed ruthless killers into gentle saints.  Pieced-together scraps of Scripture have converted whole villages of pagan Indians.  Yearly, the Bible outsells every best-seller. Five hundred million copies were published last year alone [1982].Portions have been translated into more than 1800 languages and even carried to the moon.”   Charles Colson, Loving God

Q. Why is the Bible so important?  Why is our first core value to anchor ourselves to it?

1.  Because of its ultimate PROVIDER:

-all scripture is “God-breathed” 

-its source is not from man (see also 2 Peter 1:21)

-we should, then, listen to what it says

2.  Because of its stated PURPOSE:

-it is to “make you wise for salvation through Jesus Christ” 

-not given to gratify our curiosity or prove certain points

-not a scientific or astronomical textbook — but not be proved wrong, either

3.  Because of its intended PRODUCT:

-so that “the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work”

-for our growth; to “teach, rebuke, correct and train us in righteousness”

-literally, means to be “in shape” with God — get on a spiritual health kick!

We live in changing times, as restless as waves of the ocean.  We need our anchor to catch onto something solid and firm and unchanging.  We believe we have found that in God’s Word, the Bible, and so we will continue looking to it for our life-lessons.

Why not come and join in that Search with us?  We would welcome you with open arms. 

Core Value #2: Serving Our Neighbors

The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught.  Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.  But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them.  When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.  So he began teaching them many things.

By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him.:  This is a remote place,” they said, “and it is already very late.  Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”  But he answered, “You give them something to eat.”  They said to him, “That would take eight months of a man’s wages!  Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?”

“How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.”  When they found out, they said, “Five — and two fish.”

Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass.  So they sad down in groups of hundreds and fifties.  Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves.  Then he gave them to his disciples to set before the people.  He also divided the two fish among them all.  They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish.  The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.  Mark 6:30-44

The Biblical formula for service is as follows:  Compassion + Commitment = Compensation

COMPASSION

When we move out of our own Circumstances 

(Max Lucado, In The Eye of the Storm, calls this Jesus’ 2nd most stressful day)

And into a real Concern for others…

(Jesus has much going in his own life, but still models feeding/teaching others)

COMMITMENT

From our own human Rationalizing

(Listen to the disciples: “It’s late; It’s a remote place; It’s too expensive,”

To a divine, seemingly illogical Risking

(All those things are true, but disciples put themselves on the line with Jesus)

COMPENSATION

We move from receiving what Man can do

(When we handle things our own way, take care of selves, we get only that)

To receiving what God can do

(Using the most unlikely gifts, resources, people, etc.  God makes miracles)

When we put ourselves at the disposal of God and others, we get far, far more than we could ever give.  Serving others in the Name of Jesus is a great privilege as well as being energizing and community-forming.  Come and share our community service with us!  

Core Value #3: Enfolding the non-Churched

The next day John was there again with two of his disciples.When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”

When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.  Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”
They said, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?”

“Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”

So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him.  It was about the tenth hour.

Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus.  The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ).

Then he brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon, Son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).  John 1:35-42

Andrew, who is often called the “First Home-Missionary,” gives us four tips on how to reach out and enfold our neighbors who do not yet know Jesus:

1. FORSAKE our former way of life

-sometimes we are more into Comfort than we are into Change

(we will have to change sinful habits, activities, etc to walk with Jesus)

-sometimes we are more into Maintenance than we are into Mission

(even if we are already in a church, we cannot just sit there— just “get by”)

2. FOLLOW Jesus Christ

-be careful we are not just following the Messenger, but the Messiah

(we need more than a good pastor or mentor, we need Jesus)

-be careful we are not just Curious, but Committed

(Andrew left John and “stayed with” Jesus)

3. FIND others who need Jesus

-this should not just be Incidental, but Intentional

(word in v.41 indicates an intense, deliberate searching)

-this should not just be for Foreigners, but for Family and Friends

(not need to go to Russia, Africa— start in our neighborhood)

4. FETCH them to Jesus

-not just Tell people, but Take them to Jesus

(65% of people not try church because no one invites/brings them)

-not just One time, but Over and Over and Over

(whenever we meet Andrew always bringing people to Jesus, 6:8, 12:22)

We need to act on our faith that God can change lives around us, just like he has changed our lives and then we need to invite our friends to come and meet Him with us.

Core Value #4: Adoring the Triune God

Praise the Lord.  Praise the Lord, O my soul.  I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.  Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save.  When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing.  Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea and everything in them—the Lord, who remains faithful forever.  He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry.  The Lord sets prisoners free, the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous.  The Lord watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.  The Lord reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations.  Praise the Lord.

                                                                                                                        Psalm 146

This Old Testament Psalm (song) reveals three things about our adoration of God:

1. We see the MOVEMENT of godly adoration (vs. 1,3,4)

-it is to be vertical, not horizontal (do not give ultimate praise to men, but to God)

            three times in the first 3 lines we read “Praise the Lord!”

            Corrie Ten Boom: “Gather compliments like a bouquet, then give to God.”

-it is to be hopeful, not historic  (against our tendency to base praise only on past)

1. We see the MANNER of godly adoration (vs. 2)

-it is to be central to our being (“O my soul” where “soul” = core/essence of life)

-it is to be comprehensive to our being (“I will praise God with my life”= my all)

-it is to be continuous to our being (“as long as I live” = as long as I am breathing)

1. We see the MOTIVE of godly adoration (vs. 5-10)

-because He is a faithful Creator  (Maker of everything, including me)

-because He is a gracious Provider (cares for the oppressed, hungry, lowly, etc.)

-because He is an eternal King (reigns forever, for all generations)

At Searchlight Ministries we work hard to make our communal adoration of the Triune God both authentic to the biblical record and relevant to today’s worshipper.  Why not come on a Sunday morning and join with us as we Praise the Lord together.

Core Value #5: Renewing Our Minds

Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, in the gateways of the city she makes her speech:  “How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? How long will you mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?  If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you.  But since you rejected me when I called and no one gave heed when I stretched out my hand, since you ignored all my advice and would not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh at your disaster; I will mock when calamity overtakes you—when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and troubles overwhelm you.  Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me.  Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord, since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of there schemes.  For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools with destroy them; but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.  My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands with you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.  For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.  He holds victory in story for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.  Proverbs 1:20- 2:8

1.            The BREADTH of renewing our minds

-in the “street”                                                 this is about the common/ordinary

-in the “public squares”                                   this is about  business/market

-at the “head of the…street”                          this is about the family/ “Road of the Roofs”

-in the “gateways of the city”                                     this is about government/politics

2.      The BARRIERS to renewing our minds

-“rejected  God’s call”                                    this is called anarchy (no ruler)

-“ignored God’s advice”                                 this is called apathy (no feeling)

-“hated knowledge”                                        this is called apostacy (no standing)

3.      The BASICS in renewing our minds

-“whoever listens to me”                                 this is attentiveness to God

-“if you accept my words”                              this is acceptance of God’s Word

-“applying your heart”                                    this is application of God’s Truths

-“if you look…and search”                             this is aspiration to know more of God

4.      The BLESSINGS by renewing our minds

-“understand the fear of the Lord”                 this is salvation (God’s past gift to us)

-“victory in store for the upright”                   this is success (God’s future gift to us)

-“guards and protects his faithful”                 this is security (God’s present gift to us)

As Christians, we are not asked to “check our minds in at the door” or undergo a lobotomy simply because we have entered the realm of faith.  On the contrary, God lays claim to our minds as well, and longs to remold our entire thought process after the pattern of His Son, Jesus.  Care to join with us in this exciting and challenging journey?

Core Value #6: Creating Christian Community

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.  Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:  Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!  Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.                                                        Philippians 2:1-11

               Men can build buildings and erect dwellings, but only God can create Christian Community:  The passage of scripture above shows that He does this by sharing with us the following four favors of His grace:

1.      A biblical POWER (vs.1)

-this belongs to the church by virtue of  being united with Christ

               -this belongs to the church by virtue of being in fellowship with the Holy Spirit

2.     A biblical PURPOSE (vs.2)

-living in community (unity) helps complete the joy of fellow Christians

-living in community (unity) helps bring glory to our Heavenly Father (Jn. 17)

3.        A biblical PRACTICE (vs.3, 4)

-He changes our attitudes to consider others better than ourselves                                       

-He changes our actions so we look first of all to the interest of others

4.       A biblical PATTERN (vs.5-8)

-Jesus, who surrendered up the very thing(s) He wanted to enjoy (equality with God)

-Jesus, who submitted to the very thing(s) He wanted to escape (Golgotha’s shame)

The Christian Community is like no other community on earth, for by its very definition it is identified with the Christ of God, Who came to serve and not be served, to give and not take, to offer and not demand!  In fact, the leader of “Our Community,” even after His great victory over sin and death and Satan, was still recognizable by one thing—His scars!  We are honored to be marked with the mark(s) of Christ.  Come join us some Sunday and experience what that’s like.

Core Value #7: Hungering After God’s Spirit

Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living.  Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. You know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.  It is God’s will that you should be holy; that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you.  For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.  Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.                                                                                I Thessalonians 4:1-8

               Here at Searchlight, we do not believe that Christians are called to be “holier-than-thou,” that is, a group of people who think themselves better than all others. On the other hand, we do want to honor this Godly Word that calls us to be different from the ways of the world around us.  Concerning our holiness, we see these three things:

1.         A life of holiness is DEMANDED

-God Himself instructs us in it, through His Word and Spirit and Servants (v1, 2)

               -God Himself wills it for us, choosing for us to be holy (v.3)

               -God Himself calls us to holiness, not wanting us to continue in impure lives (v.7)

2.     A life of holiness is DESCRIBED

-negatively: we are to avoid evil!  The sin mentioned here for the Thessalonians

                    is sexual immorality, accepted by their society but hated by God (v.3)

-positively: we are to act honorably! Good is not just the absence of evil, but the

                   actual performance of good (e.g., exercise self-control, etc.  v.4)

-neutrally:  we always affect others! Our lack of holiness will, at times, either

                  “wrong our brother” or “take advantage of him” (v.6)

3.        A life of holiness is DEFENDED

-to reject this is to reject not men, but God Himself (v.8a)
many around us say, “Can’t live that kind of life today!”  God disagrees   

-to receive this is to receive not men, but God Himself (v.8b)

            living a holy and set-apart life is to trust in God’s Spirit, not in ourselves

The essence of living a holy life is illustrated by the little girl who was confused by two seemingly contradictory statements her Sunday school teacher made:  “God is bigger than you and I” and “God lives in us by His Spirit.”  Her response was very insightful:  “If both of these are true, then shouldn’t God show through us?”  This is what holiness is really all about—it has to do with walking in such close relationship with Jesus Christ that His Life and His Spirit show out through us.  And No! We aren’t doing this perfectly at Searchlight!  But it is still our goal!