The family of God here at Dowagiac Church of Christ wishes to extend to you a warm welcome. If you have questions about our worship services and why we do what we do, we will be glad to give you a biblical answer. The uniqueness of the Church of Christ is that we are trying to restore to the best of our ability those things that we see the first century Church doing. We are also working hard at building the spirit, unity, and love that Jesus taught and prayed for. We have no clergy, but are working together as equal co-workers trying to serve one another and the area in which we live. Come study with us, grow with us, and serve with us as we strive to do God’s will in all things.


Larry Brewer is continuing to guide us through the Book of James this morning. When we meet on Wednesday evening Bill Gibson leads us in a search of Old Testament prophecies pertaining to Jesus and how those prophesies were fulfilled in the New Testament.

Larry Brewer will be speaking both this morning and this evening.

Let us remember all the people we know who are in need of our prayers. John Clayton is traveling to Ontario, Canada, for a series of lectures and a retreat in the woods. Let us keep him in our prayers.


This message from the Web expresses our feelings for this congregation. We have been here several years and we feel very much at home here. Every time we walk in the door we are greeted with smiles and a look that you all are glad to have us here. Like the following message says, we should all have a good fit in the congregation so that individually and as a group we can do a lot for the congregation, the community, and the world, all because we are followers of Christ.


You may or may not have noticed that the frequency of the messages has fallen off for the past few weeks. The reason for this is that my wife and I are undergoing a change, a period of transition if you will. In fact it is a major life change taking place. No, it’s nothing bad, but it is challenging for us.

You see, I have been looking for another congregation with which to work and trying to let God work in our lives in the process. The fact is that I have just accepted the position as the minister for the Church of Christ in Tehachapi, California. The transition of course is our coming move 2,600 miles across the continent to a new place, a new environment and in some ways a new culture. We have begun packing, making plans for moving and trying to find a house in the new city.

We have traveled to; preached for and met with churches in several locations in the United States in the past few months and firmly believe that God has led us to this group of Christians in a small town in a mountain valley in Southern California.

One of the elders of that church asked us, “Why would you want to come to a small town church like us, when you are qualified to minister to a larger place?”

My answer encompassed “the fit” I mentioned in the title.  I use the term to describe the hard to define, yet keenly felt relationship between us and the church. For the past several months Melody and I have prayed for God to bring us to a church where we can used the talents He has given us and with which we fit well. After recently spending 6 days in Tehachapi we feel He has done just that.

My question for you is, for what do you pray? You see, we haven’t prayed that God would send us to a large church, a rich church, or a church with a multi-million dollar facility. We prayed that God would send us to a place that would be a good fit for us and our talents.

I know that a lot of folks pray that they can win the lottery, or find a better paying job, or perhaps have success of some kind in this world. But is that really what we should be praying for? Shouldn’t it be for a good fit for our life?

Do you remember the passage in Matthew where Jesus says these words: “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light” (Matthew 11:28-30, NLT).

I’m told that this is really a better translation of the verse than some. You see, Jesus was a carpenter and part of His job was to make ox yokes. Ox yokes were custom tailored to fit each individual ox. A good carpenter made a yoke that did not chaff on the neck of the ox and allowed them to pull the load given to them much more easily.

I don’t know about you, but that’s what I’m looking for!  I want what I do to be a good fit for my talents. I want to be able to labor for the Lord and not feel the work chaffing on my neck, but fitting well and giving me a sense that I am accomplishing something that will help grow the kingdom of God.

My prayer for you  is that you have a “Good Fit” in the service of the Lord and that you will start praying for that in your own life!

Russ Lawson, Messages From The Heart (http://mfth.net)