Lighthouse Church Durban Lighthouse Church Durban

Just as little children learn to walk and run with practice and exercise, we mature spiritually as we practice and exercise spiritually. We start with "baby steps", but develop into maturity as we practice the new ways of the Kingdom of God. As we invest time and effort into things like prayer, Bible reading, obedience and persistence, we "build spiritual muscle" and mature as disciples of Jesus.

God also gives us tasks, opportunities and spiritual gifts. As we serve him faithfully, he entrusts us with more. We grow!

Hebrews 5:11-14, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Matthew 25:14-27, Ephesians 2:10, 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, Acts 6:1-5, Acts 8:4-8

When we first put our faith in Jesus, we began a new life - as spiritual babies. But God intends for us to grow up into mature men and women of God who live the way that Jesus lived.

Because Jesus is the source of our spiritual life, we need to live in a close relationship with him. 

To do this, we need to

- spend regular, significant time in his presence;

- learn his words and ways and obey them;

- persist when things get hard (God is "pruning" us).

Ephesians4:11-16, Hebrews 5:11-14, 1 Corinthians 3:5-7, John 15:1-5, Matthew 11:28-30

God chose Noah to rescue his family and all created animals from the flood that covered the whole earth. The only way to be rescued was to get on board the ark.

A pivotal moment was when the flood began, but the door was still open. This exposed them to the flood. But God closed the door and they were secure.

When God gives us something to do, we need to trust him and "leave the door open" - for his surprising work. We should not try to do his job for him, but simply do what he tells us to do and trust him with the rest! We are not in control of the mission, he is!

Genesis 7:11-16, Isaiah 55:9, 1 Peter 5:6-11, 1 John 4:4, Matthew 6:33

Jesus is like a farmer and the world is his field. Jesus plants his people as good seed (wheat) - but the devil also plants his people as bad seed (weeds).

Jesus has intentionally planted us where we are, to bear fruit where we are.

We are planted, not buried!

When we are "sleepy", the devil can sow his seed in our field!

Matthew 13:24-30 & 36-43, Matthew 4:3-4, Song of Solomon 2:15

The battle recorded in 2 Chronicles 20 teaches some invaluable lessons for the battles we face in life:

-Seek the Lord

-Remember what God has done before

-Realise that the Battle belongs to the Lord

-Have faith and allow God’s strength to work through you

-Praise and worship the Lord

2 Chronicles 20:1-24, Ephesians 6:12, Luke 18:27, Jeremiah 29:13, Matthew 6:33

Jesus calls us to extend grace in the form of forgiveness to those who sin against us.

Jesus also calls us to extend grace in the form of redemptive confrontation:

 - to confront privately, to explain the offence

 - if this fails, to try again with one or two others

 - if this fails, to try again with the voice of the church.

Forgiveness does not make the sin OK - the sin needs to be dealt with so that we can live in freedom.

Matthew 18:32-35, Matthew 6:12, Matthew 18:15-18