Benefiting From The Bible — 3 Key Words (PART 2)
Mike Riley
|
2) “Reflect” On The Word – To benefit from the Bible, we must also be willing to “reflect” on the Word. Once again, James tells us, “For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who look intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like” (James 1:23-24 ESV).
The main purpose for owning a mirror is for self-examination. The mirror allows us to see our outward appearance in order to readily identify areas in need of improvement, the goal being to make ourselves look as clean and neat as possible.
The same hold true with God’s Word. As we look into its “mirror,” we gaze at our “inward” appearance, in order to see ourselves as we really are (Hebrews 4:12), and make any necessary improvements. If we are to use God’s mirror profitably, then we must gaze into it carefully and with serious intent (James 1:25 – note the word “look“). No quick glances will do! We must examine our own hearts and lives in the light of God’s Word. This requires time, attention, and sincere devotion.
3) “Respond” To The Word – Lastly, to benefit from the Bible, we must be willing to “respond” to the Word. James tells us, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22). It is not enough to merely read or hear the Word; we must “do it” in order to be blessed (James 1:25).
In Acts 2, we find a group of hearers that were blessed in responding to the Word. To those hearers who believe in Jesus and were convicted of their sin of crucifying the Son of God, Peter gave the following words of instruction: “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized [the response]; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them” (Acts 2:41).
Conclusion:
James tells us that in order to be “blessed,” or to receive any benefit from God’s Word, one must not only read and study it, but be willing to make proper application of it. “He who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does” (James 1:25).
Dear reader, will you not “receive,” “reflect” on, and “respond” to the Word of God this very day? God will bless you if you do!
|
|
Elders
Leon Cort
Mark Craigwell
|
Minister
Mark Craigwell
Assistant Minister
Denver Simmons
|
Deacons
Raleigh Gallington
Anthony Johnson
Gregory Johnson
Carlfred Malcolm
Albert Martin, Jr.
Walter Maxwell
Richard Meuse
Barry Person
Jason Reid
In Memoriam
Gone, but never forgotten, our beloved brother,
James W. Wade, Sr.
|
|
|
Sermon for Sunday, July 9, 2023
Title: Are We There Yet?
Text: 2 Peter 2:20-22
Scripture reading: Romans 1:16-20
Speaker: Phillip Morrison
|
|
Masks are now optional for our in-person services and events, but all other COVID protocols remain in effect, including signing up for Sunday worship services in advance.
Wedding Bells
-
Veloz/Malcolm Wedding: Saturday, July 22nd. See Upcoming Events section for details and registry information.
Upcoming Events:
-
Area-Wide Men's Breakfast: Saturday, July 15th, 9-12 @Warwick (RI) Church of Christ. See Men Take Note below for details.
-
Community Shred Day, Saturday, July 29th, 9am-12noon in church parking lot. See Upcoming Events below for details.
Mature in Heart
-
Mature in Heart Pennsylvania Trip Payments: All payments are due by the end of June. Please see Bro. Gallington to find out how much you owe, and please submit any payments to Sis. Keitrice Johnson or Sis. Elizabeth Nagarajah. See details below.
|
|
Don't Miss Out! Please scroll through the entire e-bulletin each week to be certain not to miss any important announcements or links. Many items are repeated each week, but there are also new announcements that you'll miss if you don't scroll through the entire bulletin.
|
|
We will continue to offer two Sunday morning worship services to accommodate in-person attendees
The first service begins at 8:30 a.m. and runs until approximately 9:45 a.m.; the second service begins at 11:00 a.m. The weekly adult Bible class/devotional begins at 10:00 a.m. The usual sign-up rules and COVID protocols remain in effect, except that effective Sunday, May 14, 2023, masks will be optional at all in-person events (see detailed COVID response notice under NEWS & NOTES above). When you access the online sign-up form, you will be required to specify which service you would like to attend. Once capacity has been reached for a particular time slot, the form will no longer accept new registrations for that time slot. We will continue to livestream the 11:00 service on our YouTube channel, and we encourage members to utilize e-giving, even when attending in person.
PLEASE NOTE: THE LINK BELOW IS FOR NEXT WEEK'S SERVICE
In-Person Worship Sign-up
Please also note that there is a new registration link each week.
E-giving link
Livestream link
|
|
Carl and Michelle invite you to join them for their open wedding ceremony on Saturday, July 22nd at 3:30 p.m. at the church building. Please arrive early.
|
|
Shredding services provided by Bay State Shredding
Questions? See Bro. Gallington
|
|
Thank you to all who assisted with our June Community Outreach on Saturday, June 24th. Our monthly community outreach will resume in September. |
|
Remote & In-Person
Class/Meeting Schedule
|
|
Wednesday Night In-Person & Dial-In Bible Study
Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. in-person and via freeconferencecall.com.
Dial in number: 978-990-5000
Access Code: 261232#
|
|
REMINDER: Please remember to mute your phone or computer when joining any of the above conference calls to avoid interrupting the class or service you are entering, particularly if you are joining the call after the event has started. |
|
COUPLES' MINISTRY MEETINGS WILL RESUME IN THE FALL via Zoom the second and third Fridays of the month at 7:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
|
|
This month's Women's Class will be held on Sunday, July 23, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. at the church building, and via Free Conference Call for those who cannot attend in person.
Dial in: 978-990-5000
Access Code: 261232#
Or, join the class online at
Presenter: Sis. Elizabeth Nagarajah
|
|
July 2023
Visitor Thank You Letters - Sis. Estela Rosario
Visitor Gift Bags - Sis. Veronica Tejeda
Baptistry -Sis. Sarah Williams
|
|
Please note that the dial-in number for this conference call has changed. The new number is 945-218-0112. The access code remains the same, 3730930. |
|
2023 Mature in Heart Pennsylvania Dutch Country Excursion: Our 2023 trip is scheduled for Thursday, September 14th through Friday, September 15th to see a production of “Moses” at the Sight & Sound Theater in Lancaster at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 14th. The cost for bus, hotel, dinner and show is as follows:
- $340/person for quad occupancy (families)
- $358/person for triple occupancy (families)
- $393/person for double occupancy
- $514 for single occupancy
- $830/couple for grand king room
Sign up is open now and a $75 deposit is required by to hold a spot. The number is limited by bus capacity and hotel availability. If you have not already done so, please get your deposit in ASAP to secure your spot so we can finalize the theater seating. Seats can only be assigned for purchased tickets.
Payments can be made via our e-giving link at:
https://www.churchofchristinroxbury.org/e-giving. Please follow up any payments with an email to cocroxbury@gmail.com with the subject line "Pennsylvania Trip Payment" and your name and payment amount in the body of the email so that your payments can be properly recorded.
|
|
Our monthly Men's Class will be held on Sunday, July 23, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. at the church building.
|
|
Questions? See Bro. Phillip Morrison |
|
Young Adult Ministry (YAM) |
|
Date of next meeting will be announced. |
|
Monthly Ministry Meeting
1st Sunday of each month at 1:00 p.m.
|
|
Meetings & Events
7/4 - Men's Work Day at Maxwells' home.
7/3 - Ministers/Elders/Deacon's Meeting
7/9 - Deacons' Meeting following 11:00 service @church building.
7/16 - Retention Ministry Meeting following 11:00 service @church building.
7/22 - Veloz/Malcolm Wedding, 3:30pm @church building
7/23 - Men's and Women's Classes, 5 p.m. @church building
7/29 - Free Community Shred Day, 9am-12noon in church parking lot
|
|
Ministry Meetings - Please contact your ministry coordinator for remote meeting schedules.
|
|
- Sunday New Converts' Class, 10:00am @church building
- Sunday Bible Class (children) Sundays at 10:00am @church building
- Sunday Adult Devotional/Bible Study, 10:00am @church building
- Sunday Worship Service 8:30 and 11:00 am in person and 11:00 a.m. via livestream on YouTube. See above for details.
- Men's/Women's Classes, 5pm (4th Sunday of the month) @church building
- Youth & Family Ministry (1st Sunday of the month at 2pm)
-
Mature in Heart Women's Prayer (Tuesdays @ 10:30am) VIA TELECONFERENCE (connection info above)
- Prayer Meeting (Tuesdays @ 7pm) VIA TELECONFERENCE (connection info above)
- Mid-Week Bible Study (Wednesdays @ 6:30pm) in person and VIA TELECONFERENCE (connection info above)
- Mid-Week New Converts' Class (Wednesdays @ 7pm) @church building
-
Healing Hearts (Thursdays @6:15pm) VIA ZOOM
- Couple's Ministry (2nd & 3rd Fridays @ 7 pm)
- Women's Prayer (Saturdays 9:30am) VIA TELECONFERENCE (Connection info above)
- Ministers/Elders/Deacons Wives Meeting, (3rd Saturday @10 am) @church building
|
|
Bro. John Kurpiel, minister for the Lawrence congregation, hosts an international radio program, “Soul Food,” on Mondays and Tuesdays from 11AM until 3PM. The program airs on Ignite Radio Broadcast via Mixlr, an interactive internet radio platform. Use the link below to tune in to listen, or to participate in the conversation. Always free to listen. https://mixlr.com/ignite-radio-broadcast.
|
|
Church of Christ in Roxbury
81 Walnut Avenue
Roxbury, MA 02119
617-442-5826
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
