FBC’s proximity to the Lake Murray dam affords us a unique opportunity: to serve those who walk and run there by giving out water. Last year we received many positive comments and had some encouraging interactions with folks. It’s a great way to serve our neighbors and increase FBC’s visibility in the community.

We are planning to serve water on the dam for the last four Saturdays in June – June 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th. To make it happen we need volunteers to take one-hour shifts between 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Each shift requires two volunteers.

All that is involved is handing out cups of water to walkers and runners passing by. Some people may ask where the church is, or have some other basic questions about the church, but most are just very appreciative to receive the water. Because we set up at the middle of the dam, you need to be able to walk two miles (one mile from the parking lot to the middle, and then one mile back after your shift). Unless you take an early morning shift, you also need to be able to withstand the higher temperatures this time of year.

Sign up using the link below, or email or call Randy Thompson directly – ranandjan@sc.rr.com, 782-1945 (home)

Paul wrote of his own ministry in 2 Corinthians 6:3, “We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.” Yet for the Jews (and many others), Paul realized that the Gospel of salvation through faith in Jesus and not by works would cause many to stumble. So in Romans 9:32-33 he wrote, “They stumbled over the ‘stumbling stone.’ As it is written: ‘See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.’”

Perhaps you’ve heard it prayed in putting these together, “Lord, if people stumble let it be over the offense of the Gospel and not because I am personally offensive.”

A recent conversation with a young man put me in mind of those things. He told me of his struggle with what might be called “Evangelical Arrogance.”

We are sure that Jesus is God’s Son, the Savior of the world, and that through faith in him we find life and forgiveness in a relationship with God. We are sure about Jesus because we are sure that the Bible is God’s word.

How can we be so sure without coming across as arrogant, intolerant, and prideful?

Into these thoughts came the release of a very timely article written by John Dickson, an Australian writer, historian, minister and Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Ancient History at Macquarie University. He is co-founder and director of the Centre for Public Christianity, a media company that seeks to “promote the public understanding of the Christian faith.” He also serves as senior minister of St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, Roseville, Australia. Whew.

Dickson’s article is “The Church in Secular Culture” and can be found at the following web site: http://christianitytoday.imirus.com/Mpowered/book/vcat12/i2/p5. I tried to get permission to post the whole article but could not. So here’s the thought that grabbed my attention:

I think the very first thing to do is to adopt a stance of mission instead of admonition toward the world.

Are we too busy telling others they are wrong? Too busy proving we are right when we ought to be loving and serving first?

Here’s where the article intersected my recent conversation. We are convinced we are right about the Gospel. Are we certain about everything else? This is where my young friend struggled. It seemed like the Christianity he grew up with acted as if it were right about everything. It was bent on admonishing anyone who disagreed on anything.

My own experience resonated with his comment. One man left my previous church because I could not agree that the only possible Christian position on Genesis was that of a literal six-day creation and a young earth of 10,000 or fewer years old. Really? Of course, only one view is true. But are we to say now that we know the origins of life on earth with such certainty that people who do not agree are less than Christian? Even non-Christian?

Is there only one Christian position on healthcare? On birth control? On welfare? Must all good Christians be capitalists? Or Republicans? Or Democrats? Is Christian socialist an oxymoron? Having the truth of the Gospel, do we act as if we have the truth about everything else and that, of course, all good Christians will think as we think?

How do we draw others to Christ without being arrogant? Maybe it’s by admitting that we are not so sure about everything. That we too have many unanswered questions. Maybe it’s about humility, love, and caring first.

This movie and discussion will be especially good for dads with kids at home. The event will be Friday, March 9th, 7:00 p.m. at the home of Vijay Paul (140 Settlers Bend Court, Lexington). We need an RSVP by Wednesday, March 7th. Please contact Jeff deBessonet if you’d like to come (351-1067 or debessonet@bellsouth.net). Depending on the number of respondents, we have a second viewing location. Please note that we welcome those who have already seen the movie! It will be great to watch it again together and talk over our impressions and ideas with the movie fresh in our minds. Please join us!

Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to ungrateful and evil people. (NET)

I recently read the verse above in my personal devotions. Several parts stopped me in my tracks and called for my attention.

First, Jesus’ words probed my motives for doing good and for loving. If I am to love my enemies, then my motive for loving can’t be that the people I love are my friends. Nor can it be that I expect something tangible, here and now, in return if I do good, lend, and expect nothing from those people in return. Nor can my motive be the expected gratitude and appreciation that I might receive from them. Not, if by definition, the people to whom I am to be kind are ungrateful and evil people.

So why should I love, do good, give generously and be kind? Because in so doing, I would become a son or a daughter (masculine gender used inclusively) of God Most High.

Wait. I thought we became children of God by receiving Jesus through faith as our Savior?

We do. Galatians 3:26 says, “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” Jesus is not teaching that we earn the right to become children of God by doing good deeds. So what’s going on here? Look at the following verse: (Mark 3:17) “James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder).”

Jesus is using a figure of speech. To be a son of means to reflect similar qualities and characteristics. James and John had thunderous personalities.

Have you ever heard a mother say, “Well, he’s his father’s son.” The idea is the same thing. It means to be like our Father. When we show love to our enemies, give to those who will not or cannot give back, and are kind to the ungrateful and evil, then we are acting like our Father who is God Most High.

So why do it? It’s a motivation every child knows who has a loving father. I want to be like my dad. Yes, I want to be like my Father.

Then there’s an added bonus: our Father will reward us. Longing and striving for heavenly reward is a good biblical motivation (see 1 Cor 3).

But there’s something disturbing about this verse. Are there times you are ungrateful? Sometimes I’m ungrateful. What’s uncomfortable, disturbing really, is how ungrateful and evil are linked together. I think Jesus is saying that to be ungrateful is to be evil. Lack of thankfulness is evil? Wow.

More than that it seems to me that the connection as the verse turns back on itself is that I show my gratitude to God by loving my enemies because when I was his enemy he loved me. He does good to me and I cannot pay him back. He continues to be kind to me when I am ungrateful and evil.

That messes with my mind. It is deeply disturbing and deeply comforting at the same time. And you know what? It makes me all the more want to be like my dad. I want to be a son of my Father in heaven. Don’t you?

You can visit One Purpose’s website at http://onepurpose.com/

To register, please fill out the form below, or contact our Women’s Ministry for more details!

As is our custom at this time of the year, the men gather for a morning of personal reflection on the course of their lives, the goals they’d like to achieve, personal planning, and delighting themselves in the Lord. The majority of the morning is your time to “getaway” and be with the Lord to do what you think is important and ending with a few minutes of group interaction. Don’t know what to spend your time doing? We’ll have plenty of suggestions in the form of handouts.

Join us Saturday morning, February 25th from 9 am to 12 noon. Bring your Bible, pen and paper. We’ll have the coffee and donuts. Questions? Contact Mike Harvell (803-447-9991) or Jeff deBessonet (803-351-1067).

Prayer and Reflection Time

When: February 25, 2012
Where: At the church
Time: 9am – 12 noon
Click here for more information

Movie Night and Discussion

What: The movie “Courageous”
When: March 9, 2012
Where: In a home – TBA
Time: 6:30pm

BBQ and Challenge for Men

When: Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Time: 6:30pm
Where: Lake Frances Club House (Lake Frances Drive off Ramblin Road, West Columbia)

Please make your checks payable to FBC and write “Bible Study” in the memo line. For more information, please contact Bobbie Humphries at 803-781-4829 or Leslie Cirrincione at 803-767-5220. Childcare is provided.

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