January 31, 2009


Hello everyone, and thank you for signing up for the Faith Miracle newsletter. This is the first issue. We will be sending out these newsletters on the last Saturday of each month. I hope they bless you.

Straight from the Heart



I just feel it on my heart today to talk a little bit about love. To start off the topic, I would like to use a well known verse.

Mark 12:30-31 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

In times of hardship and trials, love is what helps us get through it all. It is through love that the church family can lift each other up and give support. When we show our fellow believers the love of Christ, it brings forth encouragment, and helps the body grow. Likewise, when we show the lost the love of Christ, it leads them into the kingdom. Whereever love abounds, so does God because God is love. Let us go forth this February remembering to love each other on until the Kingdom comes. After all, February is the month of love.

Monthly Laugh



A Sure Cure


Three Pastors in the south were having lunch in a diner.
One said "Ya know, since summer started I've been having trouble with bats in my loft and attic at church. I've tried everything--noise, spray, cats--nothing seems to scare them away.
Another said "Yea, me too. I've got hundreds living in my belfry and in the narthex attic. I've even had the place fumigated, and they won't go away."
The third said, "I baptized all mine, and made them members of the church... Haven't seen one back since!!!"

What is a Disciple?



Jesus commanded His servants to "make disciples of all the nations" (Matthew 28:19). But what is a "disciple"? Have you ever asked yourself what it really means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? What exactly would that involve? If we really look at our life as a Christian we might find where we fall short.

Learner, Imitator


JOHN 8:31: "Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, 'If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.'"

1. A 'disciple' was not only a pupil, but an adherent; hence they are spoken of as imitators of their teacher." So a disciple of Jesus Christ follows His example: 1 Peter 2:21.

MATTHEW 9:14-15: "Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, 'Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?' And Jesus said to them, 'Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.

2. Jesus' disciples learned from Him as they lived with Him for more than 3 years. Jesus taught them by how He lived -- by His example. He instructed them by word, and they asked Him questions. They asked about scripture (Matthew 17:10), about what He meant by what He had said (Luke 8:9), about how to live (Mark 10:10), about their failures (Mark 9:28), and about His will (Luke 9:54).

2 PETER 3:18: "… but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

MATTHEW 28:19-20: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

3. After His death and resurrection, we are commissioned to be the hands and feet of Christ and live as He Lived.

Bring Forth Fruit



JOHN 15:8: "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples."

1. Christ's disciples "bear much fruit." (glorify the holy name of Christ.) We are all called to the ministry.

Love One Another



JOHN 13:35: "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

1. They will know we are Christians by our love.

Christians



ACTS 11:26: "…And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch."

1. Anyone who calls himself or herself a Christian are as a disciple, and should strive to be as Christ.

2. Christians do sin, but not willfully so. Read 1 John 1:6 - 2:6. True disciples have the choice of continuing in that way of life or turning to God in true obedience.

2 TIMOTHY 2:19: "…Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity."

Cost



LUKE 14:26-27,33: "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. (33) So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple."

MATTHEW 16:24-26: "Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?'"

1.The word hate in the gospel of Luke means to love less (not as much as). We must love Christ above anybody else.

2. The original twelve disciples gave up their lives to follow Jesus and no less is expected of the disciples of today. We may not be called to lay down our life, but we are called to give it up.

Events



February 11th - Is "Special Persons Day" Please bring a special guest to the service. There will be a fellowship dinner, and a Bible study.
February 15th - The church will be showing the movie "FireProof" to all those interested in seeing it.

Prayer Requests

Please join us in prayer over these following items:



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