The Lighthouse

29/05/2026

28/05/2026

The Holy Spirit is not always well understood. But the Bible says he's a person who can be grieved, who intercedes and comforts us. In this message, our pastor Andrew explores why Jesus told us he needed to go away and let the Holy Spirit come.

28/05/2026

"And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment" (John 16:8).

Many Christians have a narrow view of why the Holy Spirit came. Since the birth of the Church at Pentecost was accompanied by signs and wonders, they reason that the Holy Spirit is single-mindedly concerned with the supernatural, namely the gifts.

However, the Bible presents a broad and balanced view of the mission of the Holy Spirit. While the gifts that the Holy Spirit imparts are necessary for the Church, an over-emphasis in one area may leave us with an unbalanced comprehension of the Spirit’s work.

We need only look at the various names, designations, and symbols pertaining to the Holy Spirit to mine a deeper understanding of who the Holy Spirit is and why He came:

That the Spirit is Holy, tells us that He is righteous, other-worldly, and set apart for God’s eternal purposes. The Holy Spirit is known as the Advocate, Counsellor, or Comforter, and the Spirit of Truth. These identifiers give us insight into His personhood and the fruit-producing work He accomplishes in the life of the believer.

Additionally, the Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of God, and the Spirit of Adoption, thereby telling of His relationship to Christ and the Godhead, and of the inner conviction that we are God’s children.

A broader sweep of scripture reveals that the Holy Spirit is the Breath of the Almighty, powerful in essence and in deed, larger than His creation, but personal enough to be a Helper to all believers.

He comes in fire, in wind, and as a dove to make His presence and power known. But perhaps His greatest miracle is not found in signs and wonders – since these are a means to an end – but in His ability to convict the world concerning sin (the nature of mankind), and righteousness (the nature of Christ) and judgment (the collision of these two truths).

And when such conviction leads to repentance and belief in Jesus Christ, a miracle - greater than signs and wonders can offer - has just taken place!

Blessings,
Andrew Woodbridge
[email protected]

28/05/2026

Welcome to this week's Lighthouse Church newsletter!

Please contact the church office for more information about our Life Groups that meet during the week. The profiles of the groups that meet regularly are up on the website.

26/05/2026

The last episode of our What We Believe series is all about the Holy Spirit. Watch Andrew's message on what the Lighthouse believes about this important topic right here:

21/05/2026

https://mailchi.mp/eaa6879427d8/the-lighthouse-church-weekly-newsletter-12754587
Our latest newsletter is out!

Please contact the church office for more information about our Life Groups that meet during the week. The profiles of the groups that meet regularly are up on the website.

21/05/2026

"But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep" (1 Cor 15:20).

We first read about Firstfruits in the Old Testament in the book of Exodus. This feast was held in the early Spring at the beginning of the grain harvest, and was a time of thanksgiving for God’s provision, where the first and best of the harvest would be offered to God.

In the New Testament, Firstfruits finds it fulfilment in Jesus, since he was the first and best offering made to God on our behalf.

This is significant for the Christian, because the crucifixion of Jesus coincided with the Passover festival, which remembered the day that the angel of the Lord passed over those in Egypt whose doorposts were covered with the blood of the sacrificial lamb.

Jesus dying during Passover reveals how God can pass over our sins because of the blood of Christ, the Lamb of God, who was slain.

Jesus rose during the Festival of Firstfruits, which occurred on the first Sunday immediately following Passover.

Then fifty days after the Firstfruits festival, Israel commemorated the Feast of Weeks, also known as Pentecost (meaning fiftieth), to celebrate the harvest.

It is no wonder then, as recorded in the book of Acts, that during Pentecost we see a harvest of another kind when the Holy Spirit comes upon the disciples of Jesus and there is a spiritual harvest of souls for the Kingdom!

We read that 3000 were initially added to their number, and the Church was born! We are here today because Jesus, the Passover Lamb, died in our place and He is the “firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”

Blessings
Andrew Woodbridge
[email protected]

20/05/2026

How do we define "the church"? Is it a building, or a time we set aside on Sundays? Or is it something much, more more? Our pastor Andrew Woodbridge unpacks this meaty issue. You'll find the full message on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bG60pJv6Zng&t=520s

19/05/2026

When we talk about being part of a church, or going to church, is that the same as what was meant in Biblical days? In our continuing series on What We Believe, Andrew unpacks the Biblical definition of the church - and how we fit in.

In our continuing series about our foundational beliefs, Andrew looks at what the Bible means when it talks about the church.