Lake Murray Baptist Church

Missions, Service, and Evangelism Emphasis on Sunday, June 3

We are really excited about the worship service on Sunday, June 3rd!

1. Pastor Rob will be preaching from John 13:1-20, where Jesus washes his disciples' feet.  What was the purpose and meaning behind this gesture, and what does it mean for us as we seek to share and live the Gospel?
2. Members Richard and Brantley Freeman will be sharing about their mission experience in Uganda this spring.
3. We will be commissioning our second team (around 40 people!) heading to the Appalachia region for a sports/medical mission team.

You will not want to miss this service!  See you at 10:30 AM!

Worship Music Set for Sunday, April 22, 2012 (New Song!)

We've got a fantastic worship music set this Sunday, including a new song entitled "Behold our God."

With Scripture readings from 1 Peter 1, Zephaniah 3 and Revelation 4, we will be singing:

• Forever
• Mighty to Save
• He is Exalted
• Behold our God

As you can tell from the readings and the lyrics, our emphasis in worship will be God's authority and divine nature.

Get familiar with "Behold our God" before worship by listening here (lyrics included!).

 

Gideon Offering This Sunday, March 25

Representatives from Gideon International will be present this Sunday in the worship service.  They will be in the lobby and courtyard collecting a special offering for their wonderful ministry (evangelism and Scripture saturation worldwide).  For years, Lake Murray has done an incredible job blessing this ministry and I trust you will again this year!  You may also come by the church office and make a donation during the week of March 26th.

Worship for March 18th - The Shepherd Who Protects and Provides

Without my notes in front of me, I managed to make a couple of significant points in John 10:1-6 last week.

The primary thing that we need to remember in order for the message this coming Sunday to make sense (v. 7ff) is that Christians are sheep who have Jesus as their Shepherd.  Jesus called and we heard His voice and we follow Him.  We don’t follow other “thieves and robbers” of other faiths, as good or moral as they may be.  Jesus called, we heard his voice, and we follow Him.  Paul puts it this way in Romans 8:29-30: “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son ... and those He predestined he also called, and those whom he called ....”  

So, Jesus is gathering a flock.  That’s what he’s does when the Gospel is preached.  That’s what He does through you and I as we live and share the Gospel each day.  As Paul puts it in 2 Corinthians 2:15-16, whether in preaching in worship or in every day life lived for the Gospel, you and I are “the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved (called) and among those who are perishing.”  

And as we can see in John 10:6, the Pharisees aren’t getting it.  They are not responding positively as Jesus explains who He is.  "This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them."

So how will Jesus respond to their confusion ... their blindess?  He’s going to respond the same he did to them in chapter 6. When he called himself the bread of life (6:35) and they murmured: How can he be bread from heaven? His words meant nothing to them, as here. He went on and made himself look utterly grotesque: "Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me" (John 6:56). And when they gagged on this saying (6:60–61) he said, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father" (6:65).  So in one sense, Jesus was making things clearer.  But in their hardness of heart, the Pharisees were only increasingly confused and offended.  

This same structure of argument takes place in our passage this Sunday, and its implications are huge for all who will be present.  Knowing that Jesus provides access to the Father even as he rescues us from the Father's wrath ... how will you respond?  Will you be confused and offended, or will you have clarity and peace?  I pray for the latter, and look forward to seeing you Sunday.

Download the entire order of worship to see music, prayers, and Scripture readings. 

 

An Important Update from the Site Plan Development Team

On Sunday night, February 12, our Site Plan Development Team made an important presentation that many missed!  Therefore, I am publishing the content of their report here.

 

What has this team been charged with completing?

The Site Plan Development Team is charged with:

• Submitting to the church a near-term master plan for expanding our facilities
• Recommending a phased plan for completing the expansion
• Recommending a potential financial plan for completing the expansion

 

What are we reporting at this time?

As of February 12, 2012, we are reporting the following:

• The best way to expand our facilities and be excellent stewards of God’s resources is to:
  • Construct a building for children
  • Expand and renovate our existing auditorium.  Suggested elements include:
    • Senior adult sunday school suite/class
    • South entry/lobby/restrooms
    • Storage, Prayer, and Cry rooms
    • Designn, Comfort, and Audio/Visual improvements
  • Renovate a portion of existing adult education for youth, ideally to include west-side entry.
  • Expand our parking lot as needed to facilitate this square footage.

 

Why are we recommending this? 

We want to fulfill our vision of living boldly as Gospel-centered people who love God, share life, and serve others.

• We need a senior-friendly space for a growing retirement community
• We need room for more to park.
• We need more space for children to hear the gospel and follow Jesus.
• We need adequate and more space for teenagers to hear and grow in the Gospel.
• We need space for more adults to hear the gospel and follow Jesus.  
• We need more space to express our love for God through worship, and a better space for doing so (think “a worship space you can use recreationally” rather than “a recreational space you can worship in”).
• We want to live out the graces of stewardship and generosity by investing our lives and our money in the cause of Jesus Christ.
• We want to exercise biblical wisdom by planning and preparing for the future. 
• We want to live lives of radical faith and obedience as we trust Jesus and follow Him. 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why are we considering building at all?  Can we not simply add services and Sunday school hours?
    
   1. All of our facilities are at capacity and have been for some time
   2. Historically, the personality of Lake Murray has been such that having two Sunday school, two services, or some other combination of the two has been more harmful than helpful.  Simply put, Lake Murray Baptist Church loves to be together when we gather, and that is a great thing!
   3. Two Sunday schools is particularly painful for youth and children, not to mention their adults, for a church our size and our personality.  Classes tend to be quite small and/or mixed according to age, making it difficult for children and youth to make friends and for parents to connect with other parents.
   4. While growth may necessitate an adjustment to our schedule in the future, even doing so does not solve the long term opportunities/challenges growth brings to our facilities.
2. We’ve only been debt free for 7 months.  Why are we now talking about building and (presumably) taking on debt? 
    
   1. Being debt free has primarily allowed us to reinforce our key ministries, make much-needed repairs and improvements with our existing facilities, and return to a full staff.
   2.  We have a conservative-minded pastor, administrator, and finance committee.  All have little interest in burdening the church with an excessive debt (Proverbs 22:7 … borrowing from a position of poverty so that a bank might “rule” over us). 
   3. We have a church committed to simplicity and making the most of space that we have.  This leads to little wasteful spending.  Think quality, not luxury.
   4. Borrowing wisely can be biblical financial stewardship.  There are proper scenarios for borrowing that are biblically sound and allow us to do more sooner.  Paying a proper/reasonable amount of interest in order to minister to more people more effectively can be a sound investment.
3. The financial world is very different these days.  Has the Site Plan Team had any discussions with any lenders?
    
   1. Yes.  Interest rates are highly favorable and local banks have given us verbal affirmations that something more than fair would be available to us.
   2. Building rates are reasonable at this time as well.
   3. An estimated cost (EXTREMELY ROUGH) would be 3 million.
   4. The church has retired 3.5 million since 2001.
4. Why a childhood education building first?
    
   1. God is bringing many young families to Lake Murray Baptist Church.  A major key to reaching young families is to offer a safe, high quality environment for their children.
   2. The existing building is at capacity (like all of our buildings).
   3. Building one properly designed and sized children’s building also creates adult and youth space with our current facilities. 
       
5. Earlier plans placed a sanctuary on the place you are recommending a children’s facility.  Why are we not considering a sanctuary?
    
   1. The plan we are recommending gives us the most amount of the right kind of space for the least amount of money (Sunday school and worship space for approximately 1000 in the same area of the property).
   2. Students become a true part of the “flow” of life together on campus AND receive a space dedicated to their needs.
   3. Seniors will be able to study and fellowship in an area close to handicapped parking and to the worship facility, reducing the need to walk unnecessarily far for either, AND removing the burden for many who often choose between Sunday school or worship.
   4. Our current children’s facility is at capacity downstairs, and there is room only for two small classes upstairs.
   5.  Building a children’s facility and creating proper student ministry space communicates the value we place on ministering to the entire family AND gives us 16 adult education spaces to replace the 9 we would lose with the student ministry renovation/addition.
   6. Building a sanctuary is not only likely more expensive than all of the projects presented, but it gives us no more functional ministry space for growth.
   7. Renovations and additions to the existing worship area will bring much needed changes that will give us an environment far more conducive to worship (sound, lighting, design, chairs, etc.).

Where do we go from here?

1. The Site Plan Development Team is accepting feedback from members via email to Pastor Rob: RTims@lakemurraybaptist.org.
2. The Site Plan Development Team is planning to reconvene in early March to chart a path forward, and greatly appreciates your prayers.

 

Bean and Bailey Will Be Here February 19th!

Sunday, February 19th is firming up to be an amazing Sunday as we celebrate 30 years of ministry!  In addition to a new video we're producing about the last 30 years of God's faithfulness at Lake Murray, Singer/Comedians Bean and Bailey will be here as well!  They'll give us a taste of their gifts in the morning worship service, but the bulk of the fun will come that evening at 6:30 PM with a full concert followed by a dessert fellowship.

Here's a small taste of how Bean and Bailey will have you enjoying God's great gift of laughter!  Enjoy!

 

Join us TOMMORROW NIGHT, Wednesday, Nov. 2nd at 6:15pm for a Special Speaker from Israel

Tomorrow night, Wednesday, November 2nd at 6:15pm in the chapel, a special speaker, our tour guide for our next Holy Land Bible Study Tour in April 2012, will be with us for an evening of sharing about the land of the Bible.  He will be speaking on the connection between the end of Amos 9 and the speech of James in the book of Acts chapter 15. He will also be taking any quesions about Israel. Our special guest is a native of Israel as well as a Rabbi. 

Israel Holy Land Bible Study Tour planned for April 2012
We invite you to join us as we take a 13 day life changing study tour,    April 20-May 2, 2012. People from around the world come to walk in the footsteps of Jesus and see the places they have read about in the Bible. When you come to Israel, you will not only visit powerful historic sights, but you will experience the fresh footsteps that Jesus makes today. Just as Christ's encounter with people left them forever changed, you too can experience the powerful presence of Christ afresh in your own life.  April 2012 Trip Information/Itinerary sheetsare available at the Information Desk in the South Ministry Center, Adult Education Building, and in the church office.  Questions? Contact Shannon Madden at 803-359-1556, email smadden@lakemurraybaptist.org or Pastor Rob Tims at rtims@lakemurraybaptist.org.

 

The Gospel in our Tragedy

Most of us remember exactly where we were and what we were doing on September 11, 2001.

Holly and I lived in Dallas, TX at the time.  She had gone to work at the Hyatt downtown.  I was drinking coffee, trying to get motivated with a renovation project in our dated condominium.  Someone called me (I think it was my dad) and told me to turn on the television because there was a huge fire in one of the World Trade Center.  Just as I was becoming bored with the news, I watched on live television an airplane fly into the second tower.

It did not take long for many to wonder if there weren’t other planes destined for more famous buildings in other cities.  Holly worked in the basement of the most famous building in Dallas, so I called her and begged her to come home.  Her employer eventually decided they were in the clear, so I spent the entire day soaking in the news, following the events as they unfolded through the lens of our media.

Watching thousands die through an act of terror does something to a person.  It is deeply destabilizing ... unsettling ... humbling.  You carry with you this sense that security is nothing more than a facade ... that anything could happen at anytime. 

People immediately impacted by a tragedy like this do not necessarily feel the same way.  More than likely, such people are far too wrapped up in the pain of loss to think about humility.  Their questions and feelings are much more personal.  Some may be viscerally angry (“How dare someone do this to me.”), while others wander in a search for meaning (“Why did this happen to me?”).

A Christ-follower can feel all of these things, yet they are also certain to ask another set of poignant questions when tragedy strikes. 

• Does God really understand what is happening?
• Does God even care about what is happening?
• Where was God in the midst of this tragedy to begin with?
• If God is good, why would He allow such a tragedy to begin with?

Such questions are a reflection of a soul crying out for a truth that is deeper than logical, pat answers that are theologically sound.  Technicalities and theological intricacies are absolutely necessary, if not foundational, to the questions of the heart I just listed, but a more heart-felt, Gospel-laden answer is required for the person in pain due to tragedy.

What does the Gospel say to us in our tragedies?

That is the question I would like to answer on Sunday, September 11th, at 10:30.  Join us.

What to Expect on September 11th, 2011

Pastor's Update for September 11th, 2011 from Lake Murray Baptist Church on Vimeo.

 

David Madden Named Interim Worship Leader at Lake Murray Baptist!

Beginning Sunday, August 14th, David Madden will serve as Interim Worship Leader at Lake Murray Baptist Church!

David brings years of experience and expertise, and is firm believer in the vision and mission of our church, particularly as it applies to our worship.  Of course, being a member is a huge plus as well!

His primary responsibilities will be to plan services with the Senior Pastor, lead our choir (rehearsals return in late August), lead our praise band, lead the audio/visual team, and lead various aspects of our Sunday morning services.

Join me in giving thanks to God for providing David to us as we send Mike McCormick to Mt. Tabor in Anderson!