This Weekend's Message: The Role of a Lifetime

The actor John Cazale had a short but memorable career in the 1970s. He appeared in only five films before his premature death from cancer, but all five of his movies were nominated for Best Picture and three of them won. He played supporting parts in The Godfather, The Godfather: Part II, Dog Day Afternoon, The Conversation, and The Deer Hunter. Most actors would consider any of his five roles as the role of a lifetime. While his film list pales in comparison to that of most actors, the impact of his brief career far exceeds most others.

Most of us live our lives as if we aspire to be the star of a story. Frankly, we don’t even tend to care how great the story is, just as long as we get to star in it. Through His gospel, however, Jesus calls us to play a role in His story. We are not the star, but instead we are role players. At the same time, taking part in His story is the role of a lifetime. This Sunday we will talk about what it takes for each of us to embrace the role that we have been given.

Dan

Perspectives Course Coming Our Way

By Carol Hawkins, Missions Coordinator 

There’s a course coming to our area that I want to tell you about. It’s called Perspectives. It’s an exciting 15-week course that teaches about God’s perspective on the World Christian Movement, and it helps all believers see how they can get threaded into God’s story of redeeming people from every tribe, tongue, and nation. This isn’t a class about “missions,” but it’s about how every believer can be intimately woven into the story of God using His people to be a blessing to all the peoples of the earth. It takes you through the scriptures to show you how God has been working in His people to be a light that draws others to Himself.

Each week there is a different instructor who may be a biblical scholar, a missionary, a pastor, or professor. These instructors are experts in their field, giving an excellent perspective on their topic.

There are three options in taking this course: for undergraduate or graduate level credit, for a certificate, or to just take the course for your own benefit. Each level requires a different amount of reading and homework.

I took this course several years ago and it was such an encouragement and blessing. I highly recommend it.

Perspectives begins September 15 and will be held in Chino at The Bridge church on Sundays, from 5-8 p.m. 

If you’d like more information, please check out the website, perspectives.org. Or please email me with questions.

This Weekend's Message: Private and Public Purposes

When a football team is assembled, it has one purpose: to win. To win games, to win a division, and to win a championship. Now, each player on the team has his own purpose. Some players’ purpose is to block. Other players have the purpose of tackling. Other players have the purpose of running or throwing or catching or kicking. But in the end, each player has the same purpose: to win. It is meaningless to them if they technically fulfill their purpose, but the team is unable to fulfill its purpose. Their individual purposes are all wrapped up in the team purpose.

Many people want to discover their purpose in life. Bookstores are filled with books (both Christian and secular) concerning how people can find purpose in life. Most of the time, we are told to discover what we want to do, and then to make that of utmost importance to us. By contrast, the gospel of Jesus tells us that there is something that is of utmost importance, and then invites us to make our lives all about that. We do each have an individual purpose and calling, but those purposes are all swallowed up in God’s purpose. It matters very little if we succeed in some chosen purpose if we do not revolve our lives around God’s purpose.

On Sunday we will look at the fact that God has a purpose for each of us, but we only find our purpose when we allow ourselves to be caught up in His big purpose.

Dan

Now’s the Time to Join a LIFE Group

By Phil Shahbaz, Pastor of Community Life 

The purpose of the LIFE Groups program at LBF church is simply stated: The LIFE Group program exists to connect us to scripture, and connect us to other Christians.

“Church” should follow us home. When at home, with a small group of believers, we can experience Christ in deep and meaningful ways. In the LBF LIFE Group model, we are able to take the sermon home to continue our learning, and we are able to meet with our friends from church to strengthen our relationships.

Ultimately, we become more able to practice giving and receiving grace to one another (2 Corinthians 13-14), giving and receiving mercy to one another (1 Timothy 1:16), and giving and receiving compassion to one another (Ephesians 4:32). If we can reflect Christ to one another through grace, mercy, and compassion, we will be able to create a safe environment that allows us to talk about our burdens with one another (James 5:16), and most importantly, support one another.

There is no better way to stay connected to the church than by joining a LIFE Group. We began LIFE Group sign-ups on August 25 and conclude on September 15, with most groups beginning shortly thereafter. Look for the insert in your bulletin this Sunday for specifics on how to join a group. You can also contact Phil Shahbaz at phil@lbfchurch.com or call at (909) 981-4848.

Loving the Homeless

By Gary Keith, Lead Pastor 

For several years now I have had a growing desire to see our church become involved with helping the needs of the homeless. I naively thought it would be a simple thing to find a homeless person and have our church, with its many resources, step in and turn someone’s life around. But the more I learned about the issue of homelessness, the more I learned that it was a complex subject with challenging solutions.

But I’m glad to say that we are now at a place where LBF is ready to put our “Love in Action” as it relates to homelessness. Let me explain.

Starting in September, LBF will adopt one or two families who are currently residing at the Foothill Family Shelter (FFS) in Upland. FFS has been doing a wonderful job for the last 25 years in taking people off the street and providing them a place to live, along with providing the kind of support they need to return to a healthy lifestyle. They provide a four-month program and after that, they continue to provide guidance. But they can use support from local churches at this point to help a person or family continue on the road to sustainability.

This is where LBF will step in. Step one will be to sponsor families at FFS while they are in the four-month program. This will involve getting to know the family, building a trust relationship with them, and letting them get to know us. Once the four-month program is completed, LBF will adopt this family for one year. During this year we will continue to help them get back on their feet in the specific areas of need they have.

We will do this by providing a team of 10-12 people who will walk with the family personally for a year. Each person on the team will have a specific area of responsibility. For example, someone can help them obtain their Social Security support, someone can help with finding them a job or using a computer, and someone can help with providing food when necessary. There are 12 different areas in which we will be able to help.

One of the keys to make our effort in helping the homeless succeed was finding a partner who could show us the way. I have found such an organization: Open Table. They will provide all the training we need to successfully walk with someone for a year and be part of transforming their life out of poverty and into health.

To help get this moving I’m looking for an Open Table Church Coordinator. This will require some training and about five hours of ministry per week. Once we have that Coordinator trained, then we can move forward in training our Table Teams.

It’s hard to express this on paper, but you need to know that I’m very excited that soon we will be putting our “Love into Action” and tangibly helping people break out of poverty. I anticipate that God will use our love for Him and for people to make a significant difference in our own lives, as well as many lives within our city.

Please join me in prayer for the start of this new ministry. If you are interested in becoming involved, feel free to send me an email at gary@lbfchurch.com.

This Weekend's Message: Confronting a Customer Mentality

A short while ago I went to a restaurant with my family. While it was not a terrible experience, it certainly was nothing to write home about. It took a while for us to be seated, even though there were several open tables. The service was slow. My glass of water was never refilled. The food was decent...at best. Now, I didn’t complain or throw a fit. But as we walked out, I said in my head, “That is the last time this restaurant gets my business.” After all, I was the customer and my expectations were not met.

It may be reasonable to have a customer mentality in restaurants and department stores, but what happens when we bring a customer mentality to Jesus and to His church? Many of us do. We expect Jesus to give us safe and meaningful lives. When He doesn’t live up to our expectations, we get frustrated with Him. And when the church doesn’t fulfill our expectations (great sermons, catchy music, meaningful programs), we feel free to take our business elsewhere. While some of this is inevitable, we must ask ourselves if we have become customers (consumers) of Jesus and His church. And if so, have we begun to believe that the customer is always right?

On Sunday we will be invited to stop being customers and we will be challenged to embrace the fact that when God saved us, He activated us to live for something (and Someone) much greater than ourselves.

Dan

Activated in God’s Purposes

By Dan Franklin, Pastor of Teaching 

When I walk into a department store, I have clear expectations. I want to be left alone. I don’t want salespeople following me around, pressuring me to buy something. But I also want them to be available if I have any questions. It irks me when I have a need and no employee is around to help. I want them to be knowledgeable, polite, and efficient. I don’t want them to answer the phone while they are ringing up my purchase. I want them to attend to me.

The reason I want all of those things is because I am a customer in that store. If they want my business, then I need something from them. If they don’t give it to me, then I will take my business to one of their competitors.

Depending on your perspective, it may be perfectly fine for me to have this attitude when I walk into a department store. But what if I had this attitude toward my church?

The fact is that we live in a capitalistic, market-driven culture, and that setting paints the way that we, as Americans, think about church. I expect to be greeted warmly when I arrive. I expect people to be helpful, but not pushy. I expect good messages that help me in practical ways, but that don’t infringe too much on my freedom. I want good music that fits my tastes and preferences. I want good and safe programs to teach my children. I want good adult programs that I can opt into if I wish. And if I receive all of these things, then I will consider shelling out some money to show my appreciation. But if I don’t receive these things, then I will look for a church that can provide them.

Some of us might think that there is nothing wrong with this attitude. After all, doesn’t church exist to help me grow in my faith, learn things about God, have a meaningful time of worship, and train my children in Christian teaching? Isn’t the church supposed to be a dispenser of these religious goods and services?

The answer is yes and no. It is the role of church leaders to bring God’s Word to bear on people’s lives, to lead meaningful times of worship, and to facilitate programs that teach children, youth, and adults Christian doctrine. But to what purpose? Ephesians 4:11-13 says, “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

God gave leaders to the church not so that God’s people would be led into a tranquil and private spiritual life, but so that God’s people would be equipped for God’s work. Christians are not called to work for God in order to obtain His grace. The gospel tells us that, through Jesus, God saved us. But He didn’t save us to a privatized faith. He saved us so that we would be included in something much bigger than ourselves. We are absorbed into the family of God. And the family of God exists to reflect God to the world.

When God saves us, He not only rescues us from the penalty for our sins, but He also activates us to participate in His big mission to seek and save the lost. This fall we will embark on a six-week message series that will call each one of us away from a privatized faith – away from a customer mentality toward God and toward church – and toward lives that are caught up in the grand and gracious purposes of God.