Lighthouse Ministry FAQ

What is a Lighthouse?
Lighthouses are small groups of adults, who meet in homes on a weekly basis to study God’s Word, share together, and support one another in their Christian lives. Groups consist of up to but no more than 16 adults (10-14 is our goal for each group). Lighthouses meet on various days and times of the week, and meetings last for approximately 90 minutes. Group meetings consist of Bible study – usually a follow-up study to the previous Sunday’s message – fellowship, prayer and encouragement.

Example of a typical 90 minute Lighthouse meeting (not in any particular order):

• Fellowship/Sharing (20 minutes)
• Bible Study (50 minutes)
• Prayer (20 minutes)

Note: There are times in the life of a Lighthouse when the group may need to forego the lesson to concentrate on meeting specific needs of a group member.  There will also be instances when the entire night is dedicated to fellowship (potlucks, dessert nights, BBQs, holiday parties, etc.)

Lighthouses are also encouraged to serve the local community by working together on community service projects each year. Lighthouses are the place where FFCers establish relationships and grow towards spiritual maturity together.

Lighthouses are the place to grow at FFC!

How Important Are Lighthouses?

The goal of Lighthouses is personal spiritual growth.

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. — 2 Peter 3:18

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s 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. — Ephesians 4:11-13

The Foundational Elements of Lighthouses Are: Bible Study, Fellowship and Prayer

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. — Acts 2:42-47

They devoted themselves to learning God’s Word, fellowship and prayer. The natural outcome of this was spiritual growth. Caring for each other and caring for others was included in their spiritual growth process. As a result of their personal spiritual growth, God blessed them and added to their number. These early believers grew closer to each other (horizontal growth) and closer to God (vertical growth) at the same time.

Bible study, fellowship and prayer. These elements are taken from the example of the early church in Acts Chapter 2. By being dedicated to these three primary elements, the members of the early church grew spiritually to a point that God was able to use them to expand His kingdom. These three elements are non-negotiable and should represent the foundation of every Lighthouses at First Family. At FFC, Lighthouses are the place where the real ministry of the church takes place as we encourage, support and love one another. We believe no one walks alone. We need each other!

What do Lighthouses Study?

Most of the studies are based on the previous weekend’s message. These “sermon-based” Lighthouses are built on what we call a “Lecture-Lab” model. Imagine the weekend message as a lecture from God’s Word, and the Lighthouse as a lab where you get to roll up your sleeves and discuss how the weekend’s message works in real life.

What About Child Care?

Lighthouses are for adults only. (Exceptions can be made for nursing newborns, up to six months.) We leave it up to each family to work out their own child care. Sometimes it works best for families to share a sitter or to swap child care with another family whose Lighthouse meets on a different evening.

Which Lighthouse Should I Join?

When selecting a Lighthouse, we strongly recommend you choose a group based on its leader-host team and station-in-life, rather than its location. We’ve found that groups do best when members share a common station-in-life and other interests with their leaders, hosts, and other group members.

If you have any questions (especially if you are new to First Family Church), please don’t hesitate to call the church, and we will gladly assist you. Keep in mind that it might take two or three groups before you find the perfect fit, but don’t worry, you’ll find it!

How Do I Sign Up to Be in a Lighthouse?

Before each Lighthouse quarter begins there are three ways to sign up for a group – online, at our weekend services, or by calling the church office during the week before each of our Lighthouse Sessions. We also offer “Newcomer Lighthouses” which run for three weeks and are offered throughout the year.  These Lighthouses are designed for people new to First Family Church who would like to find out more about the church, how a Lighthouse functions, and needs some direction finding the right group. You can call the church office at any time for assistance in finding and signing up for a Lighthouse, or answer any questions.              515.965.8300      .