Monthly Archives: January 2025

What Concern of This is Ours?

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1 Corinthians 12-13 English Standard Version

Spiritual Gifts

12 Now concerning[a] spiritual gifts,[b] brothers,[c] I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

One Body with Many Members

12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves[d] or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts,[e] yet one body.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts.

And I will show you a still more excellent way.

The Way of Love

13 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned,[f] but have not love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;[g] 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Friday’s Word

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Discovering God Class Resumes

On Monday, we began to function as an oligarchy.

“Oligarchy” is rule by a few wealthy and powerful (mostly) men who use their power for their own (often corrupt) ends.

Lincoln’s “of the people, by the people, and for the people” is over.

It is now “of the few, by the few, and for the few.”

But I predict chaos.

Someone in an NDE got a glimpse of hell. He saw selfish and vengeful people in endless war with one another.

Selfish and vengeful people have trouble getting along with one another. They lack the capacity to care deeply about anyone but themselves.

So—a friend one day is an enemy the next.

Evil is self-defeating.

Lincoln also said, “You can fool all of the people some of the time, and some of the people all of the time.”

“But,” he said, “you can’t fool all the people all the time.”

People will notice:

  • The rich getting richer.
  • The poor getting poorer.
  • Families separated.
  • Mothers crying for their children.
  • (And, of course, the price of eggs continuing to rise.)

And when people do notice, things will begin to change. But until then, the journey will be rough.

On Monday, an order was issued to end the task force working to reunite parents with children taken from them at the border.

A thousand children will not see their parents again. The evil has begun.

But it will not win. This is still God’s world.

Lord, hear our prayers.

My Discovering God class resumes, 9:45 Sunday.

Come. Be encouraged.

Max’s Corner

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Discovering God Resumes

The Discovering God class resumes this Sunday at 9:45. We will be discussing the “light” many people encounter in religious experiences and in NDEs. Our discussion may lead to new understandings about who we are and our relationship with God.

You may join this class at any time. It is intended to be a weekly dose of encouragement as we grow in grace together.

Breakfast this Sunday

It will be warmer this Sunday. Breakfast as usual.

This is a “We-bring” Sunday, and your help is appreciated.

To the Doctor Tomorrow

I will be taking my knees to the doctor tomorrow, two months after my first visit. I may get some word on what the future holds concerning treatment. I’ll let you know Sunday what the doctor says.

This Sunday

Mary will be preaching.

We were gratified by attendance last Sunday—the coldest Sunday we have had in years.

So!!—we expect a full house this week!

God Bless,
MB

Mary’s Corner

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Hello, Beloved Children of God,

As I write this newsletter, I am feeling two things: First, very blessed to be one of God’s beloved. And second, COLD! I’m so very grateful for an indoor job! The next couple of weeks will be chilly. If you or someone you know needs assistance with housing, utilities, or groceries, please email me at mary.teague@saintmatthewumc.com. You may also text me if that is easier. God has blessed Saint Matthew with a group of generous, loving people who are always willing to take care of each other. We are extremely blessed.

Shannon performed another amazing song for us on Sunday morning, “Footprints in the Sand.” The music and lyrics touched my soul, but it was the passion in Shannon’s voice that brought tears to my eyes:
“I promise you, I’m always there, when your heart is filled with sorrow and despair. And I’ll carry you when you need a friend, you’ll find my footsteps in the sand.”

Shannon sings like someone who believes God is always present, always offering comfort and peace. Her voice, those lyrics, and that music give me hope. Thank you, Shannon, for singing God’s truth and love into our lives.

I am preaching this Sunday, so I will keep this newsletter brief. My sermon will be from 1 Corinthians 12 and 13 if you want to read ahead! Bring a friend if you can. We are going to talk about being the body of Christ to the world. I look forward to seeing you.

Love to all,
Mary

P.S. You didn’t really think I was finished, did you? We have a couple of important business meetings coming in February, and I am asking for specific prayers for our church as we enter another year of serving God on the Eastside of Fort Worth. Thank you!

Kids’ News

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After God led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, but before they reached the Promised Land, they spent forty years wandering in the wilderness. During that time, God’s people had to trust in Him and follow His directions. One specific instruction from God was to build the Tabernacle—a structure that symbolized a permanent temple but was designed to be mobile.

The construction of the Tabernacle was a monumental task, but it was accomplished as a community. The Israelites gave so generously toward the project that Moses eventually had to ask them to stop giving! Their combined efforts demonstrated the incredible things that can be achieved when people work together.

As God’s house, the Tabernacle became a sacred place where the people of God could come together and encounter Him. Today, the church continues this tradition as a place of Christian community and a reminder of our ongoing connection to God.

This week, we learned about the fabrics, colors, and lengths of the Tabernacle’s curtains. Join us in the church to discover more about the gold that covered the Ark of the Covenant. See you Sunday!