Gregory Blvd Church of Christ

7109 Raytown Rd

Raytown, MO 64133

816-356-1262

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Audio
Program
THIS WEEK    6/15/25


Praise the Lord we're open for business!
TODAY:

Cam A - Morning Class
Cam A - Speaker
WEDNESDAY: Bill N will continue a Study in Zechariah


Bill is doing the announcements and Paul is in charge of the program.

Serving one another is how we help and encourage each other. Please let the Elders know how you can serve.



THIS AND THAT

 

June:

Communion Preparation - Ladeanna

Collection Counting - Chris/Kenny

 

 

 

 

“If Satan can erode the foundations of a society by belittling and discrediting  GOD given task and make people feel righteous when against the will of the LORD,  he is well on his way to corrupting many men and souls.”   Richard Garbi

 

 

By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world.  Hebrews 11:7

 

In discussing Noah and the great flood we sometimes get lost in the debate over the probability of such a great catastrophe actually happening or the logistics of how so many animals would possibly fit on one boat. These questions tend to miss the true point being made by God in the flood event. The Hebrew writer clarifies this when he states that Noah's building of the ark was a gesture or witness by which he condemned a sinful and unbelieving world.

In the same way, we today who are building the Church (the vessel by which we will be saved from the destruction of the material world) are condemning the present sinful and unbelieving world. Make no mistake! We may be reaching out, helping the poor, paying our taxes, and being good neighbors as Christians but the Church we belong to and are in the process of building is a modern-day witness.

When Jesus returns the Church will serve, as did the ark, to witness against all who refused to believe and seek safety for their souls. Both angels and men will thus be judged by its very presence.

(Mike Mazzalongo) 

PRAYERS NEEDED:

Cancer
Titus Star G Steve S Tony H Dan G
Kim & Dave R Jack D Barbara N Ed S Brian R
Carol R Wes S Debra B The See sisters Jim G
Kathy T Janel R Marlene B    
Other Health
Sheena     Carolyn G Carroll B Dora B Kristopher B
Jerry N Juna R  John R Michael S Daniel
John M McKenzie L  Dakota Jackie D Kari Ann
Ed S Conner B  Harriet N Noah W Gaylene G
Shawn C Sandra H Gavin F Debbie Z Bill N
Nina B        
         
Upcoming Surgeries/Procedures
         
Elderly & Shut-In
Carol G Juna R Jerry N  Rita P Shirley V
         
Others:
         
         
Service Men & Women
         
         
Expectant Mothers
         



Always remember our young people who have grown out of the family home and are pursuing studies and careers, that they continue to seek wisdom from the omni-present Father. And that they continue to hold Him first in their lives.

 

 

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK  


“There are no weekends off when chasing your goals.”


“All or nothing!”


“Every day we have hundreds of choices to make. How important is your health?...Do you value health over other things or not at all? Can you live the life you want with your current health?”


“Stop doing all the stuff you know you shouldn’t be doing and start doing all the stuff you know you should be doing. Be relentless in your pursuit of your goals!”
Finally, “Must learn to suffer more.”


Okay I’m cheating. All of these statements were made by fitness “motivators” this week. When we are talking about the fitness world, there are hundreds of MOTIVATORS!(Most of them are “hawking” a clothing line, diet/exercise plan or some line of supplements.)


Paul wrote “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (Ephesians 5:1).” Talk about a MOTIVATION!


Just like these fitness “motivators” want us to become chiseled with a low body fat count like them, Paul is encouraging us to be like God, be imitators of Him. These fitness “motivators” are selling themselves as an example of what we should look like (and making a living from their products). God has no need for all of this. He wants all men to repent and be like Him, but He has no need for your money (except as a means of emptying ourselves and helping others).


“WALK in love” (Have we heard this word before?). Then, we are given an example of what love is. Jesus gave Himself up as a fragrant sacrifice to God.


Many people know that God is love; that Jesus exercised His love for us. Many people stop their reading right there. But, the story ain’t over. Paul then looks at what love isn’t. Love is not doing our own things, but what is pleasing to Him.


In our unofficial vows that my Wife and I made to one another we defined some things that would please us and what wouldn’t. She hates, with a passion, mayonnaise. I’ve witnessed her scrape it off a bun well the preparation instructions were not followed. For 32 years we have not had any mayonnaise in our home. This necessitates some sacrifices on my part. This means that we can never eat coleslaw, seven layer salad and the like in our home. For the same period of time I have not been subjected to being served meatloaf! I will spare you the why’s of my thinking that meatloaf is a waste of good meat or that it resembles “Kenel-ration”, a type of canned dog food. (Please spare me the “but you haven’t tried mine” speech. I’ve heard it all before!) The point here is that we show our love for each other by seeking to please the other and by honoring the other’s feelings.


When verses 1-2 are divorced from the context of chapter 5 of Ephesians, we get a “good feeling” of love without seeing the impact. LOVE DOES NOT INSIST ON ITS OWN WAY. Love seeks out what is pleasing to the other party and seeks to honor them! LOVE HURTS!


So, Paul continues by saying “Look carefully then how you walk (there’s that word again), not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is (5:15-17).”


Here’s motivation for us - LOVE!! We don’t imitate God by giving cheap and inferior love back! We walk in a manner pleasing to Him!


This whole thought is an application for me. God so loved that He gave His best! How can I return His love by offering a knockoff, a self serving/self love back? I can’t. I must learn what pleases Him and honor Him with my walk!


Let’s return to the statements made by the fitness motivators. If there’s no weekends off when you are chasing your goals for fitness, how can I have a “cheat day” or a day off from my goal to please Him?


If everyday we have hundreds of choices to make, how important is my spiritual well-being? Can I life the live I want imitating God with my current state? All in or nothing! I must learn to suffer more. How bad do you want it?


“Stop doing all the stuff you know you shouldn’t be doing and start doing all the stuff you should be doing. Be relentless in the pursuit of chasing your goals!”


When put in a spiritual realm, the things that these “motivators” said shake me up and cause me to examine myself.


Jack (3/8/19)

 
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Last modified: 6/14/25