Commerce Church of Christ

06/07/2026

Not Far
by David Gibson

►Almost there!

Once a scribe asked Jesus, “What commandment is the foremost of all?” Jesus answered that loving God with all your heart comes first, followed by loving others as yourself. The scribe heartily agreed, adding that love of God and others “is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

“When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God’” (Mark 12:28-34 NASB; see Matthew 22:34-40).

Unlike many Pharisees, he had a clearer grasp of what mattered most (Luke 11:42). To stand with Jesus could cost him the favor of his peers (John 12:42-43; Matthew 23:13). Would this unusually perceptive Pharisee be willing to buck the establishment and enter the kingdom?

►But still not there

James Burton Coffman has written, “‘Not far from the kingdom . . . .’ Alas, this is the epitaph for many. Men behold, in some glorious burst of apprehension, the majesty and truth of the Son of God; but the road of acceptance is rugged, being blocked at every milestone with difficulties and opposition” (Commentary on Mark, pp. 235-236).

If you are “not far,” then you are close. But “not far” is not “in”. One can be close yet remain outside. One can believe but still lack the blessings that come with obedient faith (James 2:14-26; Romans 1:5; 16:25; John 3:3, 5; Mark 16:16).

Don’t let his happen to you! If your convictions really line up with the Scriptures, then please act on them—NOW!

Then instead of being “not far from the kingdom of God,” you’ll be all the way in!

For further study consider these books by David Gibson:
First-Century Truth for a Twenty-First Century World ● Revised Edition (Xlibris)

Rightside-Up Living for an Upside-Down World (21st Century Christian)

06/07/2026

New Events

Please welcome Zach White and wife Victoria as Zach preaches today. They are planning to start his studies at Sunset International Bible Institute in Lubbock this August.
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1st Sunday Potluck Meal today in the Fellowship hall
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OJT (On Jesus Time) Group is June 20th Fellowship Hall 9:30 – Noon
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Dorcas Day is scheduled for Saturday, June 27th. This year, we are only accepting donations during designated drop-off days. In the continued effort to make the process more efficient, we are NO LONGER taking drop-offs the day of the event. Please make note of the following:

Clothing Drop-Off: Sunday, June 21 @ Fellowship Hall
Before & After Service

---->If you are donating clothing to Dorcas Day, it needs to be dropped off Sunday, June 21. Clothing ONLY. No other items accepted on this day.

All clothing must be clean and in good condition
All clothing must be separated and labeled into the following:
--Women’s
--Men’s
--Baby (0-5T)
--Girls (6-18)
--Boys (6-18)

All Other Items Drop-Off: Friday, June 26 @ Fellowship Hall
1pm-7pm

---->If you are donating any other items besides clothing to Dorcas Day, it needs to be dropped off Friday, June 26. We are not accepting items on Saturday, June 27.

!!IMPORTANT NOTE!!
If you cannot make one of the above designated drop-off dates, please get with Jonathan to arrange an alternate plan.

DO NOT drop off any items without prior approval and arrangement with Jonathan.

06/07/2026

Prayers & Sympathy

Vicky N is scheduled for a lumpectomy on June 10. They caught her cancer early, and the prognosis is good. Later she will have radiation

Wiers Family
Jodi R, her oldest daughter Jo'Anna
Danielle C .
Shirley D
Tommy N
Mary S
Debra S, Phil and their daughter Wendy B
Mitzi M's mother
Mary E
Hosti V
Deadra H's brother, two of her nephews, for her friend Whitney C
Larry K
Jodi R's brother-in-law's wife Chris
Angela B's mother Becky J
Mary S's sister Juanita
Penny W
Phil N
Bill P and Sherry M

Our condolences to Mike and Penny Wicks in the loss of Lee Swann who was the husband of Mike's first cousin Sandra Swann.

06/07/2026

Reminders

Family Night on Thursdays 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM in the Fellowship Hall. Bring your own snack

06/06/2026

Over Our Heads?
by David Gibson

►They just didn’t get it!

When Jesus offered the Samaritan woman “living water”, she responded, “Sir, give me this water, so I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water” (John 4:13-15). By “living water” Jesus meant the Holy Spirit (John 7:37-39).

When Jesus said, “I have food to eat that you do not know about,” His disciples assumed He meant literal bread. Jesus explained, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work” (John 4:31-34).

►Why He spoke as He did

Jesus aimed to elevate His listeners from the earthly to the heavenly. He was trying to make people think—something many of us would rather not do.

“Destroy this temple,” Jesus said, “and in three days I will raise it up.” They thought He meant the Jerusalem temple, but He was referring to His death and resurrection.

Afterward, “. . . his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken” (John 2:19-22).

It finally clicked!

►When we delve deeply!

I once heard a highly-educated and accomplished man say that in all the various fields of study he had pursued, he has found none more challenging than the study of the Scriptures. How true!

This is but another evidence that the Bible is what it claims to be: the inspired and living and powerful word of God (1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; 1 Peter 1:23-25; 2 Peter 1:20-21).

No book of human origin could have such depth, such astounding power.



Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

06/05/2026

Oh, to Believe It!
by David Gibson

To be convinced that doing God’s will is truly to our great advantage, here is what we must believe:

●God knows best. We do not. He is far wiser than we.

●His way brings far greater benefits than any supposed gain we might receive from going our own way. “. . . whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matthew 16:25 NASB).

●Sin means doing our own will when it runs counter to His will. Obedience means voluntarily yielding our will to His.

●The rewards far outweigh anything we may give up in order to obey (Mark 10:28-30; Romans 8:18). God is the Great Compensator.

●Satan will make sin look so attractive, so glamorous, but it is all a sham, a pretense, a lie. Satan does not deliver the goods.

●Sin brings momentary pleasure (Hebrews 11:25), but sin will destroy us if we don’t repent (Romans 6:23).

●In view of the blessings God pours out on the truly penitent, repentance must be one of the most sensible, positive things we can do for ourselves (Acts 3:19).

●His way may not be easy, but His way is always best.

Now if we can just keep believing that—and act accordingly.

06/04/2026

The Value of Good Intentions
by David Gibson

When you hear the expression “good intentions,” what comes to mind? A noble desire that fizzles out? We even have a saying, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”

►Empty promises

An example of good intentions gone awry is that of the Israelites’ repeated pledge to obey God (Exodus 19:8; 24:3, 7). But soon they were worshiping the golden calf (Exodus 32).

►Promises kept

And yet, Ruth expressed her determination never to leave her widowed mother-in-law Naomi (Ruth 1:16-17). She kept her word.

Hannah promised if God would give her a son, she would give him back to God (1 Samuel 1). She did.

Paul announced his plans to visit Rome. In spite of tremendous hardships, with God’s help he finally arrived at his destination (Acts 19:21; 23:11; Romans 1:10-15; 15:22-32; Acts 28:14-31).

The problem, then, is not with good intentions per se. Countless great accomplishments began with good intentions.

►Three stages

So what do we need? Follow-through, dogged persistence, tenacity. In other words:

Good Intentions → Consistent Effort → Mission Accomplished

Paul was concerned that the Corinthians’ zeal for sending aid to their poor Jewish brethren had cooled. He urged them, “. . . for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you . . . . But I have sent the brethren, in order that our boasting about you may not be made empty in this case, so that, as I was saying, you may be prepared; otherwise if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to speak of you—will be put to shame by this confidence” (2 Corinthians 8:11; 9:3-4 NASB).

Paul’s appeal was successful. They came through! (Romans 15:25-28).

How we need good intentions! No other kind will do.

06/03/2026

How to Love Someone You Don't Like
by David Gibson

►One of life’s greatest challenges

Our class was studying 1 John 4: “The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love . . . . Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:8, 11 NASB).

A class member asked, “What do you say when someone tells you, ‘I can’t stand that person’?”

Other class members suggested the following:

♥First, liking and loving are two different things.

To love others in the biblical sense means we desire what is best for them and then act accordingly (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a).

♥Second, pray for them (Matthew 5:43-44; Luke 23:34; Acts 7:60).

By asking God to bless them and also to help us overcome our aversion, we will likely find ourselves feeling more positive toward them.

♥Third, get better acquainted.

Are there people you initially disliked, but after getting to know them you gained a different perspective? We may discover some good qualities we were unaware of, or we may learn why they are the way they are.

♥Fourth, do something good for them (Romans 12:20-21). This can actually soften attitudes on both sides.

►Replacing ill will with goodwill

“If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men” (Romans 12:18). In spite of our best efforts, the other person may never move in our direction. But at least we’ve done what we could. And we do have control over our own attitudes.

If we make a sincere effort to apply these principles, we may be pleasantly surprised by what God enables us to do.

We’ll never know until we try.

06/03/2026

06/02/2026

Why Was Jesus Rejected?
by David Gibson

For centuries they had been looking for the Messiah, yet when He finally came, they killed Him! But why?

►Jesus told the truth.

He said, “The world . . . hates me because I testify of it that its works are evil” (John 7:7).

►Jesus claimed divinity.

“. . . the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He . . . was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God” (John 5:18; see Matthew 26:62-68; John 7:28-30; 8:51-59; 10:30-39).

►Jesus violated their Sabbath traditions.

He always observed the Sabbath as prescribed in the Law of Moses, while ignoring the Pharisaic Sabbath traditions (Mark 3:1-6; Luke 13:10-17; John 5:8-18; 9:13-16).

►They were envious of Him.

When Jesus came on the scene, the Jewish leaders no longer had the power and influence over the people they once had (Matthew 27:18; John 12:19).

►And today?

Jesus’ contemporaries had other reasons for rejecting Him. That was back then. But today many still reject Him.

Some acknowledge Him as a great teacher or prophet, but deny His claims to be the Christ, the Son of God.

We can reject Jesus by putting our agenda ahead of His, keeping busy with the routine of our own day-to-day affairs—in effect shutting Him out. It’s a subtle form of rejection, but it is rejection nonetheless.

“He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born . . . of God” (John 1:11-13; see John 3:3-5; Titus 3:5).

Why reject the One, the only One, who offers us the greatest privilege of becoming God’s own children?



Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.Used by permission. All rights reserved.