San Francisco Lighthouse

Big Picture. Lighthouse stages its mission of being a disciplemaking community around three distinct callings that Jesus gave in the Fourth Gospel–”Come and See,” “Follow Me,” and “Shepherd My Sheep.”   Hippolytus,around A.D. 215, in his work The Apostolic Tradition, developed a disciple formation process with a similar trajectory–inquiry, instruction, and service.

“Come and See.”  In the first call Jesus summoned two of John the Baptists disciples to, “Come and see” what he was about and who he was (John 1:39).  This call is an invitation to explore and weigh out whether or not a commitment is in order.  Its a time to investigate and vet what is involved and what it would look like to be a committed disciple.  For Lighthouse, its a brief class that shares a table of contents to what Lighthouse is about–as a Gospel-Centered church and as a missional people who love and serve their community.  Attending this course will assist in helping to make an informed decision about Lighthouse.

“Follow Me.”  In the second call Jesus summoned Philip, “Follow me”  (John 1:43).  This call is to those who are ready to learn and commit to Jesus and his teachings.  Its a call to find one’s identity in Jesus and to allow Jesus to live through us.  ‘Follow’ is the verb most frequently associated with disciples of Jesus.  It is a call to learn trust, to embark on an apprenticeship in Jesus’ Kingdom, and to surrender one’s life to the mission of God.  For Lighthouse, this begins with a six week course explaining how we interpret being disciples and making disciples in San Francisco.  This course prepares you for an apprenticeship of service in community, love for the city, and living as a missionary in San Francisco.  Once the “Follow Me” course concludes you will be prepared for hands-on-training and living out the part of the mission we believe God is calling us to do.

“Shepherd My Sheep.”  In the third call Jesus summons Peter to a life of service to overseeing and caring for the Jesus’ drove, “Shepherd my sheep” (John 21:16).  This is a call to serve in equipping, encouraging, directing, caring and protecting the followers of Jesus Christ.  Once someone has developed the skill to follow Jesus they may be called to care for others who are developing that call.  Jesus, after three years of intense training, called Peter to “Shepherd my sheep.”  At Lighthouse we practice developing and equipping leaders to reach their full potential in the Kingdom of God.  This means some will go on to pastor, others to teach, others to serve, and others to oversee, and so on.  We actively develop and invite others into becoming all that God is calling them to be.  We believe that as the Kingdom grows more and more shepherds and teachers, servers and artists will be needed.