for the week ending February 12

A Note from the Parson’s Desk

Greetings from Pigeon Forge, TN. Carol and I are taking a couple of days “vacation” for our 44th Anniversary (which was back in December.) I put “vacation” in quotes because these days are filled with various tasks – for both the ministry and for our reenacting demos.
I look forward to seeing many of you on Wednesday evening as we read and discuss 1 Corinthians 12, where Paul begins by saying, “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.” Let’s jump into this passage! Wednesday with Parson John is on the Parson John & Maggie Facebook page, Wednesday at 6 PM central 7 PM eastern time. https://www.facebook.com/parsonandmaggie
On Sunday, we will begin unpacking the 12th chapter of Romans – which begins the application portion of Paul’s letter to Rome. It is exciting that we are in the 12th chapters of 2 epistles – and both have such important teachings that we must apply to our lives and churches.
I am looking forward to seeing you this Sunday at 8:00 central, 9:00 eastern time on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ParsonJohnMaggie

Links to Sunday Services are also available at https://travelingchurch.org/videos/.

This week’s scripture readings

Gospel: Matthew 5:21-37
Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire. So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell. “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. “Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.’ But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’ or ‘No, No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one.”

Epistle: 1 Corinthians 3:1-9
Brothers and sisters, I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but rather as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for solid food. Even now you are still not ready, for you are still of the flesh. For as long as there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not of the flesh, and behaving according to human inclinations? For when one says, “I belong to Paul,” and another, “I belong to Apollos,” are you not merely human? What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose, and each will receive wages according to the labor of each. For we are God’s servants, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building.

Psalm: 72
Of Solomon.
1 Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness.
2 May he judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice.
3 May the mountains bring prosperity to the people, the hills the fruit of righteousness.
4 May he defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; may he crush the oppressor.
5 May he endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations.
6 May he be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth.
7 In his days may the righteous flourish and prosperity abound till the moon is no more.
8 May he rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.
9 May the desert tribes bow before him and his enemies lick the dust.
10 May the kings of Tarshish and of distant shores bring tribute to him. May the kings of Sheba and Seba present him gifts.
11 May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him.
12 For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help.
13 He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death.
14 He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight.
15 Long may he live! May gold from Sheba be given him. May people ever pray for him and bless him all day long.
16 May grain abound throughout the land; on the tops of the hills may it sway. May the crops flourish like Lebanon and thrive like the grass of the field.
17 May his name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun. Then all nations will be blessed through him,and they will call him blessed.
18 Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.
19 Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen. This concludes the prayers of David son of Jesse.

Prayer Requests

I will call on You, My God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer. Psalm 17:6

We invite you to share your needs as well as your praises. Unspoken requests will be honored. To add or update this list, send updates to: eric@fairewynds.com. For private messages or consultations please contact Frank directly at parsonjohn@parsonjohn.org

Wednesday Night Bible Study

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needed not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. II Timothy 2:15

Join us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/parsonandmaggie for a time of study, fellowship and prayer.

This weeks study will be I Corinthians 11:17-39

The Parson’s Schedule for both Live and Online services

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25

The sermon text will be from Romans 12

Online services will go live at 9:00 Eastern, 8 Central on Facebook at https://www.youtube.com/@ParsonJohnMaggie

Our Post Script

We will be finishing up our look at ‘THE TABERNACLE IN THE WILDERNESS: AN OVERVIEW IN 14 LESSONS on Saturday. Starting Monday February 13th we will be introducing a new study: ‘THE BIG WORDS OF THE BIBLE’. This is going to be fairly ‘open ended’, as we are going to ‘plug’ in words and questions you might have. But to start, ever wonder just what this ‘propitiation’ thing that Frank keeps using is all about? How about ‘sanctification’-do we need it? And what’s up with Jesus saying fornication is the only just cause for divorce-isn’t ‘fornication’ before marriage so how can married couples be guilty of it?

Well, that’s a few to start. I am currently working up a few more but HERE is YOUR chance to get involved! Curious about a word, phrase or meaning and want to know a bit more? Drop me a line and I’ll see what I can find out. No question too small, no word too big! It’s just a way for all of us to grow.

To date there are 8 sets of ‘devotions’ that we have online. We will be working in the next few weeks to make them easily accessible to everyone. Suitable sharing for Sunday School (flannel graphs NOT included) Wednesday Evening services (for those of you not following Frank) Bible Studies (cause after all, that’s what these are, anyway!) Personal study (actually, they are my own personal studies) and Birthday Parties! (A good break between eating ice cream cake and playing ‘Pin the Tail on the Heretic’)

So any questions you have or word you stumble over, drop me a line and we will learn together! Starting next Monday, but as we gather more and more up we will be periodically inserting them.

Until then, I remain in Christ,

Eric (eric@fairewynds.com)

Join us on Facebook for the 2023 Daily Bible Reading-where we will be reading the Bible through in one year. Starting January 1, but all are welcome whenever they can start. This is a private group so for information and to join, contact us at parsonjophn@parsonjohn.org or eric@fairewynds.com to be added.

Please feel free to share this email with friends you know would be interested in The Traveling Church.