How Spiritually Hungry Are We?
Mike Riley
|
In Matthew 5:6, when Jesus used the figurative terms, “hunger” and “thirst,” He conveyed the idea of strong desire and longing. These two physical appetites are very compelling drives that God has placed in human beings. Unless we have never been without nourishment or been deprived of water for a long period of time, we cannot really appreciate the figures used by Jesus in this verse.
Since most Americans fare sumptuously every day (in fact, many are obese), the only real hunger we ever experience is that which comes from various self-imposed diets. Unfortunately, these diets are usually doomed to failure, because of insufficient self-control over our appetites to continue deprivation for long periods of time.
We know that when an individual cultivates an appetite for junk foods, he may feel temporarily satisfied, but eventually his body will suffer from malnutrition.
For example, children love ice cream, but a steady diet of it would not be good for the proper nourishment of their bodies. Left to themselves, they would prefer sweets over essential protein, vitamins and minerals in other foods, and their bodies would suffer for it.
Let’s bring the above physical observations down into the spiritual realm. While most men and women have a spiritual appetite, not all spiritual “hungering and thirsting” produce the proper spiritual nourishment for the soul.
The New Testament states that proper “hungering and thirsting” must be “after righteousness” (the quality of being right or just before God). For example, Paul said of the gospel, “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith…” (Romans 1:17).
“The righteousness of God” here does not refer to God’s personal righteousness, but to God’s “way” of making man righteous through the gospel message – “by faith” (Romans 1:17b). Man’s ways (Proverbs 16:25) of seeking God (through various religious organizations and doctrines), though they may temporarily satisfy one’s personal desire, will never make him truly righteous in the sight of God (cf. Matthew 7:21; Romans 10:1-3).
Those individuals who have no intense spiritual appetite, can never be “filled,” because there is no incentive or desire which will motivate them to seek God and His forgiveness (cf. Luke 18:9-14). And those who gorge themselves with false teachings from false teachers, may inwardly “feel” satisfied, but their souls are not really nourished – their eventual end being destruction (cf. 2 Peter 2:1-22).
Only those who intensely hunger and thirst after God’s righteousness (“His way” – Psalm 25:8-10; cf. 2 Timothy 2:15 ASV; Acts 17:11), will be filled!
Are we really spiritually hungry? For God’s way?.
|
|
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, June 25, 2023
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
2 Peter 2:20-22
Speaker: Mark Craigwell
|
|
Congratulations to Joshua Creech on his completion of 5th grade at Roxbury Prep! On to middle school! |
|
|
Thank You from Frank & Ekua Addae |
|
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:
- Youth & Family Ministry
- Boys 2 Men, originally scheduled for Saturday, June 17th has been postponed until further notice.
- Film Screenings
-
YE! Film Screening: Sunday, June 25th, at Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Film by John ADEkoje. Details below.
-
Area-Wide Men's Breakfast: Saturday, July 15th, 9-12 @Warwick (RI) Church of Christ. See Men Take Note below for details.
-
Work Day at Bro Maxwell's House: Tuesday, July 4th, 9-12. Details below.
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
|
|
Click here for more information
|
|
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.
|
|
Thank you to all who assisted with our June Community Outreach on Saturday, June 24th. Details regarding our July outreach will be announced. All are welcome and encouraged to participate. Masks optional. |
|
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. |
|
The Couples' Ministry meets 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, June 25, 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. Gloria Gallington
Topic: This is Love!
|
|
June 2023
Visitor Thank You Letters - Sis. Chardria Sands
Visitor Gift Bags - Sis. Sandra Wade
Baptistry -Sis. Caroline Myers
|
|
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, June 25, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. at the church building.
|
|
- WHO: ALL AVAILABLE BROTHERS
- WHEN: TUESDAY, JULY 4TH, 9AM-12 NOON
- WHERE: BRO. MAXWELL'S HOME IN HYDE PARK
- WHAT: TO HELP WITH MUCH NEEDED REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE.
SEE BRO. BARRY PERSON FOR DETAILS.
|
|
Questions? See Bro. Phillip Morrison |
|
Retention Ministry Fellowship
Sunday, June 18, 2023
|
|
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
6/2 -Xavier Craigwell's Graduation, Weston Town Green
6/3 - Look Good, Act Good, Feel Good, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. @church building
6/5 - Ministers/Elders/Deacon's Meeting
6/11 - Deacons' Meeting following 11:00 service @church building.
6/12 - America Cross's 6th Grade Graduation - details above
6/14 - Ramon Rodriguez Fernandes Wake in Lawrence. Details above.
6/15 - Ramon Rodriguez Fernandes Funeral in Lawrence. Details above.
6/17 - Jennifer Lewis Wake/Funeral, 10 a.m. @ church building
6/18 - Retention Ministry Meeting following 11:00 service @church building.
6/24- Community Outreach, 10 a.m.
6/25 - Men's and Women's Classes, 5 p.m. @church building
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
