“But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.” 1 Corinthians 12:31 (Read 1 Cor. 13)

After pointing out in 1 Corinthians 12 that the spiritual gifts God gives to those who trust in Jesus Christ and His cross for pardon and forgiveness are to be used for the benefit of the body of Christ, His church, made up of all who trust in Him, the Apostle Paul shows the believers in Corinth “a more excellent way” — how God would have us use the gifts and abilities He gives to us. Paul’s message in 1 Corinthians 13 is a powerful reminder that all our gifts, knowledge, and actions are to be exercised in conjunction with selfless love — the love of Christ!

We are prone to measuring our spiritual success by our gifts, like speaking in tongues, prophesying, or having great faith. But Paul says in verses 1-3, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.”

Paul isn’t devaluing these gifts; he’s elevating love to its rightful place. Without love as the motive, our most impressive acts of service or our deepest spiritual experiences are just noise. They’re empty gestures. Love isn’t just one virtue among many; it’s the very foundation of the Christian life.

After establishing love’s supremacy, Paul defines it. In verses 4-7, he gives us a comprehensive portrait of what love — specifically, agape love — is and isn’t. “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” Love isn’t a passive emotion; it’s an active way to live one’s life.

This passage is a mirror. As we read through these characteristics, we should ask ourselves: Do I suffer long with others, or am I impatient with them and quick to anger? Am I kind, or do I gossip and speak harshly? Do I rejoice in the success of others, or do I envy others and take joy in their sins and failures? This description challenges us to live out the love of Christ daily in our interactions with family, friends, and strangers. It’s a high standard, but it’s the standard to which we’re called.

Before we can ever hope to live out this kind of love, we must first recognize its true source: Christ’s selfless love for us. It is only because of His atoning sacrifice on the cross that we can love at all. He didn’t just tell us to love; He showed us what it meant by willingly going to the cross to die in our place. He bore our sins, not because we were worthy, but because He is love. His patience with us, a patience that “suffers long,” is demonstrated in how He continues to bear with us, preserving us in the true and saving faith until the end of our lives.

The love we are called to embody is not a human invention. It is a divine reflection, a response to the unmerited love God first showed us in His Son. Our ability to “bear all things” and “endure all things” is a mirror of His perfect endurance for us on the cross and in our daily lives.

In the final verses of this chapter, Paul reminds us that everything else will eventually pass away, but love will last forever. Verses 8-10 state, “Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.”

Our earthly gifts and knowledge are temporary and incomplete, like a child’s understanding. “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known” (1 Cor. 13:11-12). Our current knowledge is like a fuzzy reflection in a mirror. But one day, when we are with the Lord, we will have perfect knowledge. In that moment, the temporary gifts will no longer be necessary.

Paul concludes with a powerful summary in verse 13: “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” Faith and hope are essential to our spiritual journey, but love is the source. It is the very nature of God Himself (1 John 4:8). It moved Him to give His only-begotten Son to be our Savior. Let God’s love be the driving force behind everything we do, for without love, all we say and do are empty and will profit us nothing.

Grant that I know Your love, O Lord, and trust in You and Your gracious promises. Move me to reflect Your perfect love for me in my dealings with others, loving them as You have loved me and given Your Son to die in my stead, so that I might receive Your gift of pardon and life through faith in Christ Jesus. In His name, I pray. Amen.

[Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.]

Merciful Savior Lutheran Church

Holding Fast the Word of Life

2879 W. Walnut Street, Suite. 110, Rogers, Arkansas 72756

www.mercifulsaviorlutheran.net / www.bible-byte.net

Bible Study: 8:30 a.m. / Worship: 10 a.m.

Worship

CLH #294 “I Lay My Sins on Jesus”

Invocation
 (Congregation Stands)
O almighty God — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — we come into Your presence to seek Your mercy, to hear Your Word, and to offer up to You our prayers and praises. Hear us for the sake of the Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and His atoning sacrifice on the cross for our sins. Amen.

Confession of Sins
P: The Bible tells us: “If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared.” It calls upon us to “hope in the LORD; for with the LORD there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption” (Psalm 130:3-4, 7). We therefore confess our sins to the Lord and look to Him for mercy.
C: Almighty God, our Maker and Redeemer, we poor sinners confess to You that we are by nature sinful and unclean and that we have sinned against You in our thoughts, desires, words, and deeds. We, therefore, flee for refuge to Your infinite mercy, seeking and imploring Your grace for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ and His blood, shed on the cross for our sins.
P: Again, the Bible tells us “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3-4). Through faith in Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice on the cross, God forgives our sins and cleanses us from all unrighteousness. Amen.

Psalm 17 A Prayer of David.
1 Hear a just cause, O LORD, attend to my cry; give ear to my prayer which is not from deceitful lips. 2 Let my vindication come from Your presence; let Your eyes look on the things that are upright. 3 You have tested my heart; You have visited me in the night; You have tried me and have found nothing; I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress. 4 Concerning the works of men, by the word of Your lips, I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer. 5 Uphold my steps in Your paths, that my footsteps may not slip. 6 I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God; incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech. 7 Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand, O You who save those who trust in You from those who rise up against them. 8 Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me under the shadow of Your wings, 9 From the wicked who oppress me, from my deadly enemies who surround me. 10 They have closed up their fat hearts; with their mouths they speak proudly. 11 They have now surrounded us in our steps; they have set their eyes, crouching down to the earth, 12 As a lion is eager to tear his prey, and like a young lion lurking in secret places. 13 Arise, O LORD, confront him, cast him down; deliver my life from the wicked with Your sword, 14 With Your hand from men, O LORD, from men of the world who have their portion in this life, and whose belly You fill with Your hidden treasure. They are satisfied with children, and leave the rest of their possession for their babes. 15 As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.

Apostles Creed
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost; the Holy Christian Church, the Communion of Saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

CLH #221 “Spirit of the Living God”

Scripture Lesson: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 (Congregation Stands)
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Offering

Prayer (Congregation Stands)
Merciful Father, for the sake of the shed blood of your Son, Jesus Christ, forgive us for failing to walk by faith in the promises of your Word. Move us to read and study our Bibles regularly and to come before you with our petitions and praises. Keep us from being overcome by our sinful inclinations and preserve us in the true and saving faith unto life everlasting.
O Christ Jesus, eternal Son of God and our Savior, you gave your life for ours when you died on the cross and made atonement for our sins. Bless the work of faithful pastors, missionaries, and congregations everywhere, so that your life-giving Word might be proclaimed and those who hear might repent and look to you for pardon and forgiveness.
O Holy Spirit, do not forsake us because of our weakness and disobedience to your Word. Be patient with us and move us to continually repent of our sins and look in faith to Jesus our Savior for mercy. Teach us from your Word and strengthen us in the true and saving faith.
O loving and merciful God, our nation is living in darkness and is under your judgment. Open the eyes and ears of our people and rulers that they might see and hear the truth of your Word, repent of their evil deeds, and fall down at the feet of Jesus, pleading for pardon and forgiveness.
O Healer and Preserver of our bodies and souls, we ask you to provide for all our needs and to preserve us from all harm and danger. We lift up to you those among us who are afflicted. Have mercy on us, grant healing to the sick, comfort to the oppressed, and strength for all to endure the troubles of this life in the hope of everlasting glory for the sake of Christ Jesus, our Savior.
Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer. Amen.

Lord’s Prayer
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” (Matt. 6:9-13)

CLH #330 “Let Us Break Bread Together”

Lord’s Supper
“For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ In the same manner, He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.” (1 Cor. 11:23-26)

Prayer of Thanksgiving (Congregation Stands)
O LORD Jesus Christ, Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, we thank You for fulfilling all righteousness in our stead and then taking upon Yourself the guilt and punishment for all our sins and making full atonement for us by Your perfect sacrifice on the cross. And we thank and praise You for giving us to partake of Your one holy sacrifice so that we might also partake of the blessings that You won for us by Your death and have made sure to us by Your glorious resurrection. Strengthen and keep us in the true and saving faith, and move us to live our lives for You while we await Your glorious return and the joys of Your everlasting kingdom. Amen.

Benediction (Num. 6:24-26)
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.” Amen.

CLH #517 “God Is So Good”

[Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.]

ANNOUNCEMENTS

For pastoral care, please call Pastor Moll at 479-233-0081 or email him at randy@mercifulsavior.net.

Our next Business Meeting will be held following our worship service on Sunday, September 14.

A detailed Bible study on Genesis 21 reveals God’s faithfulness to His covenant promises, highlighting themes of faith, laughter, divine provision, and the complexities of family relationships. The chapter is a pivotal point in the lives of Abraham and Sarah, as they finally see the fulfillment of the promise of a son.

God’s Promise Fulfilled: The Birth of Isaac (Genesis 21:1-7)

This section begins with a clear statement that “the Lord visited Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as He had spoken” (v. 1). This is a direct reference to the promises made in Genesis 17 and 18, where God promised Abraham that he and Sarah would have a son in their old age. The birth of Isaac is not a random event but the direct result of divine faithfulness.

Laughter: Sarah’s reaction is significant. When the Lord first told her about the promise, she laughed in disbelief (Genesis 18:12). Now, she says, “God has made me laugh, and all who hear will laugh with me” (v. 6). Her laughter of disbelief has turned into laughter of joy and wonder. The name Isaac means “he laughs,” a permanent reminder of God’s miraculous work and Sarah’s profound emotional journey. This change in her laughter is a testament to the transformative power of faith and the fulfillment of God’s promises.

Covenant Sign: The text notes that Abraham circumcised Isaac when he was eight days old, “as God had commanded him” (v. 4). This act is a visible sign of the covenant God made with Abraham and his descendants, marking Isaac as the promised heir.

Conflict and Banishment: Hagar and Ishmael (Genesis 21:8-21)

This part of the chapter introduces a difficult and painful family conflict. After Isaac is weaned, Sarah sees Ishmael, Hagar’s son, “scoffing” (v. 9). The Hebrew word suggests mockery or jesting, perhaps in the context of Ishmael, the older son, no longer being the primary heir. This mockery deeply offends Sarah, who demands that Abraham “cast out this bondwoman and her son” (v. 10).

Abraham’s Distress: The demand “was very displeasing to Abraham because of his son” (v. 11). This shows Abraham’s love for Ishmael. He is in a difficult position, caught between his wife’s demand and his affection for his firstborn son.

God’s Intervention: God intervenes and commands Abraham to listen to Sarah, assuring him that a great nation will also come from Ishmael. “For in Isaac your seed shall be called” (v. 12). This verse is critical. It clarifies the line of the covenant promise. While God will bless Ishmael, the promised Seed of Abraham, through whom all nations would be blessed, would come through Isaac.

Divine Provision: After being sent away, Hagar and Ishmael face a life-threatening situation in the wilderness as their water runs out. God, however, hears the boy’s cry and provides a well of water, saving them. This demonstrates God’s compassion and provision for all people, not just the chosen line. “And God was with the lad; and he grew and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer” (v. 20). This fulfilled the earlier promise to Hagar in Genesis 16 that Ishmael would be a “wild man” (a “wild donkey of a man”) and a great nation would come from him.

The Covenant at Beersheba: Abraham and Abimelech (Genesis 21:22-34)

This final section shows Abraham making a covenant with Abimelech, the king of Gerar. This agreement is a practical step to secure peace and land rights in the region where Abraham has settled.

A Pledge of Peace: Abimelech recognizes that “God is with you in all that you do” (v. 22).

He initiates a covenant to ensure that Abraham and his descendants will not deal falsely with him or his family. This shows Abraham’s reputation and God’s blessings on his life were evident to those around him.

The Well of the Oath: A dispute over a well leads to a formal agreement.

Abraham gives Abimelech seven ewe lambs as a witness that he dug the well. The place is then named Beersheba, which means “the well of the oath” or “the well of seven” (v. 31). This name serves as a permanent reminder of the covenant and a symbol of Abraham’s peaceful establishment in the land God had promised him.

Worship: The chapter concludes with Abraham planting a tamarisk tree and calling on the name of the “Lord, the Everlasting God” (El Olam, v. 33). This act of worship in a newly secured place signifies his continued faith and dependence on God.

Summary and Key Takeaways

Genesis 21 is a powerful chapter that highlights several key truths:

God’s Faithfulness: God’s promises are sure. Despite the long wait and human doubt, God fulfills His word precisely as He said He would.

Human Imperfection: The conflict between Sarah, Hagar, Isaac, and Ishmael is a stark reminder of the pain and complexity that human sin and impatience (seen in Genesis 16) can bring into a family.

Divine Compassion: Even in the midst of a difficult situation, God does not abandon Hagar and Ishmael. He hears their cries and provides for them, demonstrating His care for all people.

Peace and Provision: God’s blessings on Abraham lead to a stable and peaceful relationship with his neighbors, symbolized by the covenant at Beersheba. This shows that God’s provision extends beyond just family and into a person’s reputation and security.

The study of Genesis 22 is a profound and challenging study that explores themes of faith, obedience, and divine provision. This chapter, often called “The Binding of Isaac,” is a pivotal moment in the life of Abraham and a powerful foreshadowing of God’s ultimate sacrifice.

1. The Command: God Tests Abraham (Genesis 22:1-2)

The chapter begins with God testing Abraham. The Hebrew word for “tested” (נָסָה, nasah) carries the sense of a trial or a proving of one’s character, not a temptation to do evil.

Genesis 22:1-2: “Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, ‘Abraham!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ Then He said, ‘Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.’”

The Weight of the Command: Every phrase in God’s command increases the weight of the test. He specifies “your son,” “your only son,” “Isaac,” and “whom you love.” This wasn’t a casual request; it was a demand for Abraham’s most cherished possession, the very son through whom God’s covenant promises were to be fulfilled.

The Land of Moriah: The specific location is also significant. Mount Moriah is traditionally identified as the site where the temple in Jerusalem would later be built, the place where God’s presence would dwell, and where sacrifices would be offered for Israel. This geographical detail links the story of Abraham’s faith to the future of God’s people and the ultimate place of redemption. Cf. 2 Chronicles 3:1; 1 Chronicles 21:1ff.

2. The Obedience: Abraham’s Unwavering Faith (Genesis 22:3-10)

Abraham’s response is one of immediate and silent obedience. There’s no protest, no argument, just prompt action.

Genesis 22:3: “So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.”

A Journey of Faith: The three-day journey to Mount Moriah gave Abraham ample time to reconsider, but he remained steadfast. His words to his servants—“The lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you”—show an incredible faith that, even if he sacrificed Isaac, God would somehow bring him back to life to fulfill His promise (Hebrews 11:17-19).

Isaac’s Question: The dialogue between Abraham and Isaac is heartbreakingly simple. When Isaac asks, “Where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Abraham’s response, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering,” is both a statement of faith in the moment and an unintentional prophecy of God’s ultimate provision.

3. The Provision: The Lord Will Provide (Genesis 22:11-19)

At the final, dramatic moment, God intervenes.

Genesis 22:11-12: “But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, ‘Abraham, Abraham!’ So he said, ‘Here I am.’ And He said, ‘Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.’”

The Ram in the Thicket: Just as Abraham was about to sacrifice his son, he saw a ram caught in a thicket. This ram became the substitute sacrifice. The name Abraham gives to the place, “The-Lord-Will-Provide” (YHWH Yireh), becomes an enduring testimony to God’s faithfulness and provision.

Reaffirmation of the Covenant: Because of Abraham’s obedience, God reaffirms and expands His covenant promises, swearing by Himself to bless Abraham’s descendants and make the promised Seed of Abraham a blessing to all nations. This demonstrates that God values faith and obedience arising from faith above all else.

4. Theological Significance and Foreshadowing

This passage holds deep meaning for Christians and is a powerful foreshadowing of the gospel.

Abraham and God the Father: Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his beloved only son is a direct parallel to God the Father giving His only Son, Jesus, as a sacrifice for humanity. The love and pain in Abraham’s heart mirror the immense love of God.

Isaac and Jesus Christ: Both Isaac and Jesus were the “only begotten” sons who were willingly offered for sacrifice. Both carried the wood for their own sacrifice to the place of offering. However, there is a critical distinction: Isaac’s life was spared, but Jesus was the Lamb who was not spared. He became the ultimate and final sacrifice, the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

The Lord Will Provide: The theme of YHWH Yireh culminates in Jesus. God provided a ram for Abraham, but He provided His own Son for all of humanity. The story isn’t just about Abraham’s faith; it’s about God’s perfect plan to provide salvation through Christ.

[Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.]

“For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.” 1 Corinthians 12:12 (Read 1 Cor. 12)

The apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth to address a problem many churches still face today: division and a sense of spiritual superiority. The people were arguing over who had the “better” or more important spiritual gift. In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul provides profound clarity on this issue by using a beautiful and simple analogy: the church is likened to a human body.

Paul begins by establishing the source of all gifts. He states, “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all” (1 Cor. 12:4-6). This teaching emphasizes that while our functions may be different, our power and purpose come from the one and only God. There is no room for competition when we are all serving the same Lord.

He then presents the central metaphor of the chapter. Just as a physical body is composed of many different parts, each with a unique purpose, so the Church, the body of Christ, is composed of many individual believers. Each of us is a vital member, given a specific gift for the benefit of the whole. Paul writes, “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’” (1 Cor. 12:21). This reminds us that we are interdependent. No part is superior to another, and no one is so insignificant that they can be dismissed.

Perhaps the most comforting and challenging verse is 1 Corinthians 12:18: “But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.” This is a powerful reminder that our position and gifts in the church are not accidents. God, in His perfect wisdom and love, has placed us exactly where we need to be to fulfill our purpose. Our job is to embrace our role, whether it’s public and visible or quiet and unseen, with humility and gratitude.

The ultimate goal of this diverse body is not individual glory, but mutual love and care. Paul concludes the analogy by saying, “that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another” (1 Cor. 12:25). When one part of the body hurts, the whole body hurts. When one part rejoices, the whole body rejoices. Our connection to one another in the body of Christ is meant to be a deep bond of empathy and shared experience.

Today, reflect on your place in the body of Christ. How are you using your unique gift to build up others and serve the whole? Remember that you are a vital, intentional part of God’s design, and every single member is needed.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for placing me in the body of Christ through faith in Jesus and His atoning sacrifice on the cross. Help me to understand my role and use the gifts You have given me to build up my brothers and sisters. Remove any sense of pride or jealousy from my heart, and fill me with Your love and care for others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

[Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.]