Patriot Christian Ministries

I’m looking forward to seeing you at caregroup tonight.  Seita is going to be giving an overview of the college ministry and I’m going to be talking about outreach opportunities on campus.   VH

A 3-part videography class taught by Andrew Gallo is being offered here at the church building in Room 102.  The dates will be Friday, June 13^th, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m., Saturday, June 14^th, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., and Saturday, June 28^th, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.  Come learn about video making and how it can be used to serve the church.  If you would like to attend, sign up online at www.sovgracefairfax.org/event-registration by June 7^th. 

What is one sentence we have been using to define/explain the Trinity?

There is one God who exists eternally as three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each person is fully God.

Scriptures-

The Oneness of God: Deut. 6:4, Mark 12:29, 1 Tim. 2:5, James 2:19

The Deity of Jesus Christ: John 1:1, Matthew 1:23, Hebrews 1:1-4, Colossians 2:9

The humanity of Jesus Christ: Philippians 2:6-8, Matthew 1:18-25, Mark 15:37

OT evidence that there is more than one divine person: Isaiah 9:6, Gen. 1:1-2, Gen. 1:26, Ez. 36, Joel 2, Psalm 110, Psalm 2:7

Trinitarian reference in NT: 1 Peter 1:2, Matt. 3:16-17, Eph. 1:3-13, Eph. 2:18, Rev. 1:4, Jude 20-21, 1 Cor. 12:4-6, 2 Cor. 13:14

ps sorry i posted this late

I read some good articles/blog posts and I thought it would be about time to start sharing the love-

Listening to God Through Other People

The Morning I Heard the Voice of God - read this, it could change your life.

The Bondage of "Guidance"

I will start posting links to things that would be worth your time to read.

Talking about the authority of the Father and the submission of the Son in the Trinity Dr. Ware says - "The lessons here are manifold– in our relationships with one another in ministry, in the workplace, in our homes, between husbands and wives, parents and children, pastors or elders and their staff and congregation. While those in authority need to be more like the Father, who lavishes favor on others by calling them to participate in his work, often putting the spotlight on them for their labors of love, those under authority need to be more like the Son, who gratefully and obediently embraces the work given him by his Father, and gives highest honor to the Father for all that is accomplished. What a revolution would take place in our homes and churches if such reciprocal honoring of one another took place, all the while maintaining clearly the lines of authority that exist, by God’s good purpose and wise design. What lessons we learn, then, from seeing more clearly the distinct role of the Father among the Persons of the Triune Godhead." (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: Relationship, Roles, & Relevance. Bruce Ware, pg. 67.)

How can you be like the Father and put spotlight on others today?

How can you be like the Son and gratefull and obediently embrace the work given to you by those in authority?

Answer: If we are prizers of Christ, then we will part with our dearest pleasures for him. Paul said of the Galatians that they so esteemed him that they were ready to pull out their own eyes and give them to him (Gal. 4:15). He who esteems Christ, will pull out that lust which is as precious as his right eye! A wise man will throw away a poison for a medicine. He who sets a high value on Christ will part with his pride, unjust gain and sinful ways (Isaiah 30:32). He will set his feet on the neck of his sins.

The above is a quote from a book by Thomas Watson called "The Godly Man’s Picture".

One of my current dearest pleasures is the good approval of man. I am not bold and courageous in evangelism because I want men to like me and I want to have their approval. Oh may I prize Christ more then men and be bold to tell others about him!

There is nothing that is not worth giving up so that we can see and savor Jesus more! Let us make him our ultimate Treasure!

Only Jesus! Only Jesus!

Below is a message from Steve Whitacre-

I want to invite you all to a 4-week Sunday School class that begins next week called:

The Giver and the Gifts

What the Holy Spirit Does in the Christian and the Church

Mark taught a wonderful message on Sunday about the Majesty Holy Spirit and his role in the Trinity. For some people, a message like that raises question:

    * What does the Holy Spirit do?

    * What are the spiritual gifts?

    * What are my spiritual gifts?

    * How can I grow in the spiritual gifts?

    * Are there other ways the Holy Spirit works?

These are some of the questions I’m hoping to answer in the class. This class is for anyone who wants to know more about who the Holy Spirit is and what he does, or for anyone who wants to experience more of the power of the Holy Spirit through the spiritual gifts.

Over the four weeks (Feb 17, 24; Mar 2, 9), we’ll cover the following topics, moving from the more general to the more specific:

   1. The Broad Work of the Holy Spirit

   2. The Spiritual Gifts

   3. Prophecy & Tongues

   4. Gifts of Healing & Ministry to the Sick

If you’re interested in coming, here is what you need to know:

    * You can sign up at the Welcome Center on Sunday.

    * There is no fee for the class.

    * Times are 8:30-9:45am in Room 204.

    * Read Acts 1-2 as homework before the first class.

Hope you decide to come!

“Paul’s example is impressive and clear: Put the advance of the gospel at the center of your aspirations. Our own comfort, our bruised feelings, our reputations, our misunderstood motives – all these are insignificant in comparison with the advance and splendor of the gospel. As Christians, we are called upon to put the advance of the gospel at the very center of our aspirations. What are your aspirations? To make money? To get married? To travel? To see your grandchildren grow up? To find a new job? To retire early? None of these is inadmissible; none is to be despised. The question is whether these aspirations become so devouring that the Christian’s central aspiration is squeezed to the periphery or choked out of existence entirely?”

This is a quote from D.A. Carson that David Hinders read during his sermon on January 6^th. David reminded us that the Lord wants to use us to advance the gospel no matter what the circumstance. He asked the question “Does everyone around you hear about Christ?” As school starts in a few days let us remember that along with our calling to be good students for the glory of God is the calling and privilege to speak of the glory of God seen in the gospel. Let us seek to me amazed by the grace of God! We will tell others if we are amazed.

Oh Lord take us deeper into the glories of Calvary! We want to be amazed by grace so that we will tell others about your amazing grace!

John Piper has pushed me into the pool of the Bible more than anyone I never talk to. His writings are of the best sort, they often cause you to put them down and pick up your Bible while you are reading or after you are done reading. If you have never read his book "When I don’t Desire God: How to Fight for Joy" you are in for a treat!

Last night at caregroup we talked about Bible reading and having a plan. Read these pages to see what John Piper has to say about Bible reading, you will not regret the 5 minutes it takes you to read them.

Speak Lord, for your servant hears!

When was the last time you thought about heaven? I don’t mean just a passing thought, but really thought about it. Have you taken time recently to think about the place where you will spend eternity? Have you thought at all about the Person that you will be spending eternity with? I haven’t. I have not spent anytime thinking about heaven in months, but there is something stirring in my heart, a yearning to think about heaven, and even a yearning to be in heaven. I don’t mean be in heaven one day; I mean there is a yearning to be in heaven today. Maybe it’s because I have been watching the news and have seen all the suffering that happens. Maybe it’s because I see broken relationships all around me. Maybe it’s because I am tired of living by faith.

I have two books on the nightstand now that I am going to be reading: Heaven – by Randy Alcorn, and In Light of Eternity – by Randy Alcorn. I have read In Light of Eternity in the past but it has been a few years. I think it will do my soul well to occupy my thoughts with this subject. Heaven is going to be a place of unbroken fellowship with Christ. When it comes down to it that is what I think is stirring in my heart. I want more fellowship with my Savior, I want communion with Him, I want to look into his eyes and see his nail-scarred hands and I want to hear his voice. My sin breaks this fellowship with him as I turn away from him and turn to other things, but in heaven there is NO MORE SIN! Which means UNBROKEN FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM!!

Let us make every effort in this life to live in communion with the One who loved us and gave himself for us.

Leave a comment and let me know if there is anything that helps you think about heaven more.