Commerce Church of Christ

06/20/2026

REMINDER!

Tomorrow is the drop-off day for clothing donations. No other items accepted on this day. 9am-12pm in the fellowship hall.

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)

06/20/2026

Knowing When to Listen—and When Not To
by David Gibson

Note these contrasting proverbs: “Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days” (Proverbs 19:20 NASB). “My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent” (Proverbs 1:10). One proverb says listen; the other says not to. They are both right.

►There were times when David was wise not to listen:

●When Saul suggested that David was too inexperienced to fight Goliath (1 Samuel 17:33).

●When his men on two occasions tried to persuade him to kill King Saul (1 Samuel 24, 26).

●When some said that the ones who could not go into battle should have no share in the spoils (1 Samuel 30:21-25).

►Then there were times when David was wise to listen:

●When Abigail persuaded him not to take vengeance on Nabal and his men (1 Samuel 25:18-34).

●When Nathan the prophet rebuked him for his sin of adultery and murder (2 Samuel 12:1-13).

●When Joab urged David to relate to his people in spite of his grief over Absalom’s death (2 Samuel 19:7-8).

In these cases David shows himself to be a man of restraint (Abigail), of penitence (Nathan), and prudence (Joab).

Steve Singleton pointed out to me one occasion when David should have listened, but didn’t. Joab tried to persuade David not to take a census of his people, but David insisted. He and Israel paid dearly for his refusal to listen (2 Samuel 24).

It takes a humble person to be willing to listen when he should, and a strong person to refuse to listen to those who would lead us astray. It is a foolish person who listens to those who would lead him away from God’s will, and a stubborn, prideful person who will not listen when the truth is spoken.

“A man who hardens his neck after much reproof will suddenly be broken beyond remedy” (Proverbs 29:1).

Let’s learn when to listen—and when not to.

06/19/2026

The Exclusive/Inclusive Christ
by David Gibson

►Christ is exclusive.

Jesus said, “I am THE WAY, and the truth, and the life. NO ONE comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

So we are left with but two alternatives: Christ or destruction (Matthew 7:24-27; Mark 16:16; John 8:24; 12:48).

“And there is salvation in NO ONE ELSE, for there is NO OTHER NAME under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

“. . . at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and EVERY TONGUE confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. . .” (Philippians 2:10-11).

►Christ is inclusive.

His salvation is for ALL without distinction. Christ invites the poor, the oppressed, and people of EVERY nation to receive freely the blessings that are in Him (Mark 16:15-16; Luke 14:21-23).

Jews and Gentiles are saved on the SAME basis (Acts 10:1-11:18; Ephesians 2:11-22).

Slave and master stand as EQUALS in His sight (Galatians 3:28).

“. . . He died for ALL . . . .” (2 Corinthians 5:15).

►Offensive?

Some find repugnant His claim to be the only way to God. Please consider:

●We all deserve hell because of our sin (Romans 3:23; 6:23).

●God owes us nothing, yet He offers to everyone the gift of salvation in His Son. What love!

●Yes, there is only one way, but there is a way.

What if there were no way?



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.

06/18/2026

Guilty/Forgiven/Transformed
by David Gibson

►Many ways to sin

Several New Testament passages cite a number of sins (Matthew 15:19-20; Romans 1:28-32; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:25-31; Colossians 3:5-9; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; Revelation 21:8; etc.). Notice how many sins are indicted in this passage:

“Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, or**es, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21)

►How we respond

There are at least three ways we can read this passage:

1) We can feel superior to people those who are guilty of these sins (Luke 18:9-14).

2) We can be convicted of those sins we are guilty of and truly repent (Acts 2:36-41; 2 Corinthians 7:6-16).

3) We can read it without giving it much thought one way or another (Ezekiel 33:30-32).

Of these three options, which would the Lord want us to take?

Regarding the sins listed above, we may have never become involved in the occult (sorcery), but have we ever let anger get the best of us? Etc.

►What we most need

Yes, we need to be personally convicted of our sins so we can repent and be forgiven. But we need something more. We need encouragement that victory over our sin is possible through Jesus Christ. In another passage Paul lists ten specific sins, but then he says, “And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11).

What an encouraging passage! These former pagans had been convicted, cleansed, and consecrated to God. What they experienced we can experience.

There is hope!



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.

06/17/2026

IMPORTANT:

This year, we are only accepting donations during designated drop-off days for Dorcas Day. In the continued effort to make the process more efficient, we are NO LONGER taking drop-offs the day of the event. We have TWO days set aside for drop-offs----one for clothing and one for everything else.

If you cannot make one of the below designated dates, please get with Jonathan to arrange an alternate plan.

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

CLOTHING ONLY: Sunday, June 21 @ Fellowship Hall 9am-12pm

----> 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: 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.

06/17/2026

Putting Anger in Parentheses
by David Gibson

►Caution!

Anger, like gasoline, is volatile, explosive, and dangerous. It must be handled with utmost caution.

In our world today we are witnessing a volcano of rage, leading to deadly consequences.

The Scriptures offer at least two guidelines for managing anger.

First, be “slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God” (James 1:19-20 NASB; see Proverbs 14:29).

Second, “Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity” (Ephesians 4:26-27).

►Applying the brakes

While anger is appropriate on some occasions (Mark 3:5), it can so easily lead to sin.

James teaches us to have a long fuse. Paul teaches us to extinguish our anger by day’s end.

In other words, be SLOW to anger, but QUICK to end it.

Putting these “parentheses” around anger is the effective way to control one of the most dangerous emotions known to man.

06/16/2026

What Price Obedience?
by David Gibson

What it cost Abraham: his homeland (Acts 7:2-3; Hebrews 11:8-10)

What it cost Joseph: imprisonment (Genesis 39)

What it cost Moses: the pleasures of sin and the treasures of Egypt (Hebrews 11:24-26)

What it cost Jesus: His blood (1 Peter 1:18-19).

What it cost John the Baptist: his head (Mark 6:17-29).

What it cost Stephen: his life (Acts 7:54-60).

What it cost Matthew: his job (Matthew 9:9).

What it cost Paul: his prestige (Philippians 3:4-8).

What it cost John: exile (Revelation 1:9).

What it cost the Hebrew Christians: loss of their property (Hebrews 10:32-34).

What it cost Epaphroditus: his health (Philippians 2:25-30).

What it cost the Christians of Asia Minor: rejection by their peers (1 Peter 4:1-4).

They believed it was well worth it. For those who are faithful, for every cost there is abundant compensation (Mark 10:28-30).

What has it cost you?

06/15/2026

June 14, 2026.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

06/15/2026

06/15/2026

Comfy?
by David Gibson

►Reducing discomfort

Technology enables us to enjoy an increasingly comfortable existence.

Who’d want to go back to the days before indoor plumbing, A/C, and automatic washers? We can be thankful for these things.

But there’s a subtle danger in all this: What happens when doing right isn’t comfortable—or safe?

►Getting out of our comfort zone

Nothing is more incompatible with comfort than the cross. “And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:38).

Without this Christ-like toughness in our commitment, we’ll bail out when faithfulness has a sharp edge to it (Matthew 13:20-21).

Let’s share Paul’s perspective, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18).



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.