Here's what you'll learn from this course...
Core insights into Matthew 5 on what it means to be a light to the world
Practical biblical interpretation skills in reading and understanding the Gospels
Engaging insights into how the modern-day lighthouse can teach us about being lights in the end times
“You are the light of the world…”
About the Study
When telling his disciples that they are to be the “light of the world,” Jesus describes a person placing a lamp on a stand. What better modern-day illustration than a lighthouse? In our study we use the stories we uncover about these mystical maritime monuments to learning key aspects about what Jesus desires of us as lights to the culture around us.
Episodes In This Series
At the southern end of the ‘Graveyard of the Atlantic’ lies the still-visible 100-year-old wreck of the Bendigo. In the absence of a lighthouse, the captain misjudged his proximity to the shoals and ran aground. In the opening episode of ‘The Lighthouse’ we visit the actual wreck and explore the imperative of Jesus that we be lights to the world. Specifically we want to understand the consequences… often for others… when we fail to see the world around us as one in darkness.
DARKNESS
For Jesus, the lamp in his illustration in Matthew 5 needs to be placed on a stand in order for everyone to benefit from it. In other words, it is to be stationary. Our exploration of this imagery in the context of the story of the Oak Island light seeks to understand how the culture today forces many Christians to drift in their convictions. In doing so, they end up moving the light of God’s truth. The end result does not provide light to the people they think but instead casts those around them into darkness
STATIONARY
In Jesus’ illustration in Matthew 5… the light in the house needs to be elevated. This gives it a wider visibility with Jesus saying it gives light to “everyone” in the house. So how does God elevate our light? We explore the connection of Matthew 5 to John 12 and how God often uses our suffering as a means of elevating our witness.
ELEVATED
In the closing episode of Season 01, we offer a small primer on the text of Revelation. Episode 04 looks into the role of the church as a light to the world. We dig into the connection of the lampstand in Matthew 5 to the lampstands mentioned in Revelation. Our core takeaway will be to understand the warning of our Lord that churches must not fail in the priority of shining the Gospel to the dark world around us.
ILLUMINATED
Sample the Teaching
View these segments to see how we blend in-depth instruction with engaging story-telling and add leadership training support.
COURSE TEACHING SAMPLE
Our methodology is to combine the engaging elements of a story with the educational regimen of serious bible study. In this sample from Episode 03 of 'The Lighthouse,' we track down a decommissioned lightship mentioned in Episode 02 that has since been converted into a floating restaurant. In the central text of Matthew 5 Jesus asks the redundant question about the worth of salt that has lost it's preservative qualities. The imagery of the lightship-turned-restaurant helps to cement that concept in an unforgettable way.
In small group settings, the quality of the content can't compensate for the unpreparedness of an ill-equipped leader or facilitator. We strive to close that gap. Our leadership training videos walk the group facilitators through the provided answer key to the study guides. Leaders gain insights on how we arrived at our answers as well as practical pointers on ways to encourage discussion. Watch these as a group or have leaders view them at their own pace.
LEADER TRAINING SAMPLE
Our Study Guides encourage both individual and group exploration of the text
Think Depth exists to help foster biblical competency in the life of the Christ-follower. To that end, we see our videos as only part of that solution. We also provide guides for further exploration of the scriptures.
Explore key points in more depth
Practice principles of bible study
Learn how to use free digital resources
Dig into deeper group conversations on Christian living
Leadership training resources available for all episodes
If you're purchasing as a church or simply leading a group of friends through the study... you'll find these invaluable. Our leadership videos offer you the following...
Full walkthroughs of the answer keys to the study guides
Deeper insights into each episode's teaching
Tangible pointers to leading your group and encouraging discussion
We can handle the marketing and promotion for you!
Are you purchasing as a church? Need to promote your groups and encourage people to consider additional pathways to spiritual growth? We've got you covered! In every church subscription we give you the following...
Customizable artwork to add your logo and information
Posters & Invite Cards for your foyer
16:9 Screen-Ready graphics and video promos
Short-form video clips for Instagram, Facebook & TikTok
INVITE CARDS
SOCIAL MEDIA SHORTS
Who would benefit from this study?
Individual Study
Personally study the text with the benefit of pausing or replaying video segments to explore key insights on your own.
Small Groups
Watch the videos as a group and then use the study guides to foster discussion and challenge each other to life changes.
Church Classes
Use the marketing package to advertise a Sunday AM or Midweek class for people interested in the Scripture's view of the end times.
Family Devos
Replace Netflix or other streaming favorites once a week with spiritual insight and guidance in God's Word.
Payment Options
All access pass to our growing collection of video-based biblical studies. Enjoy your own personal enrichment and grow in your own competency in scriptural interpretation.
Content plan allowing for individual member access as well as gated access for leaders . Video studies make great content for small groups, on-campus classes or even all-church seminars.
Cinematic study on the call of Jesus to be the "light of the world." The 4-part study explores the teaching of Christ as recorded in Matthew's Gospel and uses the lighthouse as the modern-day illustration of Jesus' "lamp on a stand."