These Things Do
By Mike Riley
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As Christians, we understand that God’s word is essential to our salvation. In fact, the Scriptures tell us that the word of God is able to save our souls (Romans 1:16; James 1:21). We don’t always realize, however, the many ways the word of God can influence us. The apostle Paul advised Christians, “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:9 – NKJV). In this single verse, Paul mentions four avenues by which we gain knowledge of God’s word.
1) The things which you “learned” — We learn through study – the diligent pursuit and application of knowledge (2 Timothy 2:15 – NKJV). Learning never comes easily. The person who desires to learn the practice of medicine or law, knows that he or she faces many years of training just to gain a minimum of proficiency. Once this level is reached, one must devote oneself to ongoing study in the latest techniques or legislation to remain competent. For the Christian, the learning phase continues through life. We will always need to mine the Scriptures for the knowledge that enables “life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3).
2) The things which you “received“ — Learning is more than simply the intake of information. The term, “receive” suggests the idea “embracing” something or “making a thing one’s own.” This idea takes us beyond a mere understanding of God’s word, to an implanting of it in our hearts (James 1:21). During my college years, I learned many things, but I didn’t “receive” everything I learned, as evidenced by the fact that since those years, I’ve forgotten a great deal of the material that was presented. Those things I truly received – that is, the information I impressed into my mind and put to good use in later years – I still remember to this day. When Simon Peter preached his great sermon on Pentecost, “those who gladly received his word were baptized” (Acts 2:41). Clearly, these not only learned the lesson of the sermon, but took it to heart and obeyed its precepts and commands (cf. Acts 10:48).
3) “The things which you “heard“ — Some of what we learn and receive we gain through our own individual study. But many things we have learned because we heard them from sound teachers who instructed us in the word. Those who are taught inherit a responsibility to teach others also (2 Timothy 2:2). Hearing God’s word taught by godly teachers is invaluable. We could never in a lifetime learn by ourselves all there is to learn. When we hear the instruction of others, we benefit from their study and gain the advantage of their wisdom and insights into the Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:14-15). We must be careful, though, to examine in the light of the Bible everything we hear (Acts 17:11), because not every teacher speaks the truth (Gal. 1:6-9; 1 John 4:1).
4) The things which you “saw“ — One vital outcome of our association with mature Christians is their example. Paul not only taught people what God wanted them to do – he demonstrated it (1 Thessalonians 2:8-12; 2 Thessalonians 3:7-9; 1 Corinthians 11:1). We can glean much by following the path of those who have walked in faith before us (Hebrews 13:7). By imitating the example of righteous men and women, we avoid many of the errors and pitfalls we would otherwise have to experience on our own (Hebrews 6:12). We just need to take care that we imitate what is good and not what is worldly (3 John 1:11).
By whatever means we learn of God’s word – either through personal study, instruction by others, or a godly example – “these things do.” All the learning in the world is of no avail to the one who fails to act as he knows he should (James 4:17). As David taught his son Solomon, so God in Scripture says to us, “Let your heart retain My words; Keep My commands, and live” (Proverbs 4:4 – NKJV).
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Elders
Leon Cort
Mark Craigwell
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Minister
Mark Craigwell
Assistant Minister
Denver Simmons
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Deacons
Raleigh Gallington
Anthony Johnson
Gregory Johnson
Carlfred Malcolm
Albert Martin, Jr.
Walter Maxwell
Richard Meuse
Barry Person
Jason Reid
James Wade, Sr.
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Sermon for Sunday, October 23, 2022
Be Not Ashamed
1 Peter 4:14-16
Speaker: Mark Craigwell
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DON'T FORGET YOUR MASK!
Remember that masks are required at all of our in-person events, including services, classes, and meetings. Please also remember to bring your mask with you. We have a limited supply of masks available for those who do not have them.
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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 auditorium is sanitized between services. The weekly 10:30 a.m. devotional/adult Bible class will continue as scheduled. The usual sign-up rules and COVID protocols remain in effect. 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
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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.
See the following sections for new/updated announcements.
- News & Notes
- Youth & Family Ministry Movie Night, 11/11
- 2022 Thanksgiving Outreach
- Worship & Class Schedule - Links to Services & Classes; link to worship attendance registration form for next week.
- Latest on COVID-19
- Vaccine available for ages 6 months and up. Booster shots available for J&J, Moderna, and Pfizer. Walk in appointments available at many clinics.
- Current and Upcoming Events
- Community Outreach Monthly Grocery Distribution, Saturday, November 19th - Thanksgiving Outreach
- Ladies Take Note
- 4th Sunday Ladies' Class, 10/23/22 @5pm at the church building.
- Kittery CoC Ladies' Day, 10/29/22 in Kittery, Maine
- Mature in Heart
- 2022 Pennsylvania Dutch Country Excursion, October 28-29
- Men Take Note
- 4th Sunday Men's Class, 10/23/22 @5pm at the church building.
- Men's Retreat Details
TextAlertz: If you are signed up to receive church text blasts via textalertz, but have stopped receiving the blasts, please email Sis. Gallington at ggallington@gmail.com so she can troubleshoot the issue.
Please keep us updated: Please keep us apprised of any changes to your address, phone number and email address so that we can maintain an accurate database of member information. Please notify Sis Nagarajah at enagarajah@gmail.com or Sis Gallington at ggallington@gmail.com of any changes to your contact information.
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Midweek Bible Study
Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.
via freeconferencecall.com
(Click image at left to join the class online, or see remote class schedule below for dial-in info)
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Current & Upcoming Events |
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Our November monthly grocery distribution outreach will be replaced by our annual Thanksgiving Outreach on Saturday, November 19th. The completed Thanksgiving Gift Bags will be delivered to Madison Park Community Development at 12 noon on that date. Please see Thanksgiving Outreach under News & Notes above for details.
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The Department of Public Health continues to urge all who are eligible to be vaccinated and/or boosted to do so, as vaccination is currently the best medical defense against the potentially deadly effects of COVID and its variants.
All Massachusetts residents ages 6-months and up are now eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine, and many facilities have walk-in hours. Booster shots are available for the Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines at many pharmacies and health care facilities. Use the link below if you need assistance scheduling an appointment or locating a facility.
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Click here or anywhere in the announcement above for more information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). |
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Remote & In-Person
Class/Meeting Schedule
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Wednesday Night Dial-In Bible Study
Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m.
Dial in number: 978-990-5000
Access Code: 261232#
Or join the class online at
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Women's Saturday Prayer Meeting
Join us for prayer on Saturday mornings at 9:30 a.m. via freeconferencecall.com
Dial-in: 701-802-5069; Access code 3730930#
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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. |
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Meetings will resume on November 11th and 18th
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4th Sunday Ladies Class
Sunday, October 23rd at 5 p.m.
IN-PERSON at the church building
and via free conference call:
Dial in number: 978-990-5000
Access Code: 261232#
Presenter: Sis. Miranda ADEkoje
Supporting Your Husband in Ministry
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Details, Details...: Our 2022 Mature in Heart Pennsylvania Dutch Country Excursion, scheduled for October 28-29, is fast approaching. We ask that all participants be at the church building by 3:30 a.m. on Friday, October 29th so that we can load the bus and depart by 4:00 a.m. Remember that we will go to the theater before we check into the hotel, so whatever you wear on the bus is what you will wear to the show. Casual attire is fine. Also remember to that masking is required on the bus and all participants are expected to follow whatever COVID protocols are in place at all venues we visit. The detailed trip itinerary was sent via email to all participants for whom we have email addresses. If we do not have your email address or if you do not have an email address, please see Bro. or Sis. Gallington for a hard copy of the itinerary on Sunday.
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Sunday Morning Devotional: Brothers, please see Bro. Phillip Morrison if you would like to present a Sunday morning devotional at 10:30 a.m., prior to our Sunday morning worship service.
4th Sunday Men's Class Sunday, October 23, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. at the church building.
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No announcements at this time. |
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Young Adult Ministry (YAM) |
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Date of next meeting will be announced. |
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Monthly Ministry Meeting
1st Sunday of each month at 2:00 p.m.
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Meetings & Events
10/2 - Youth Ministry Meeting, 2:00 p.m.
10/3 - Ministers/Elders/Deacons Meeting
10/3-7 - Daily Lunch Distribution 1:30-2pm @church building
10/-8 - Roxbury Men's Retreat in New Hampshire (details above)
10/9 - Deacons' Meeting, following 11am service @church building
10/14 - COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic, 1-5pm (details above)
10/15-19 - Roxbury Fall Gospel Meeting with Bro. Eric Owens (See above for schedule)
10/22 - Community Outreach, 10am @ church building
10/23 - Roxbury 4th Sunday Ladies' Class 5:00pm
10/23- Roxbury 4th Sunday Men's Class, 5:00pm @church building
10/28-29 - Mature in Heart Trip to Sight and Sound Theater (details above)
10/29 - Kittery CoC Ladies Day in Kittery, Maine (details above)
Masks are required for all in-person events
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Ministry Meetings - Please contact your ministry coordinator for remote meeting schedules.
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- Sunday New Converts' Class, 10:00am @church building
- Sunday Bible Class (children) Sundays at 10:00am @church building
- Sunday Adult Devotional/Bible Study, 10:20am @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); Men @church building; Women via Zoom (details above)
- Youth & Family Ministry (1st Sunday of the month at 2pm)
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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) VIA TELECONFERENCE (connection info above)
- Mid-Week New Converts' Class (Wednesdays @ 7pm) @church building
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Healing Hearts (Thursdays @6:15pm) VIA ZOOM
- Couple's Ministry (1st & 2nd 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
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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.
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Church of Christ in Roxbury
81 Walnut Avenue
Roxbury, MA 02119
617-442-5826
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