I appreciate everyone who took the time to read this week's exploration of one local body of believers, Bethel Temple Assembly, and get involved, whether actively or simply in your own personal thought and reflection, in the discussion on certain spiritual gifts.

The message of "Every Person Matters to God" serves as an ongoing reminder to the body of believers to never forget the extent of God's grace. Grace is not just given to the sinner for the forgiveness of sins, but to the sojourner, for the continual repentance and turning from one's sins, over and over, day after day, as we struggle through the issues in this world.

God gives us, and everyone around us, the grace to change our lives. Change is sometimes a welcome friends, and other times change is rejected as the bane of one's existence. Change means something different, and often different is fearsome. But different is not always a terrible thing and I hope that this weeks discussion on the various perspectives on the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues speaks to this. I want to strongly encourage all of us, whether from a traditional, cessationalist upbringing, or from a Pentecostal persuasion, to understand this one thing: We are not enemies. We are the body of Christ. And each part fills a different role in that body, which is beautiful. There are no black sheep in the family of God.

So here, as the week draws to a close, and a new church Sunday morning will bring new insight into the mystery and beauty of the church, we recognize another difference defining this part of the body of Christ, and we celebrate in the unity that Jesus Christ is God, our Savior, who died and rose again, conquering death, and allowing you and I the opportunity to find a new life, one of abundance and diversity among the nations and peoples of the world. Amen.