Ascension Lutheran Church

Our theme today is: LOVE AS GOD LOVES. How can we sinful human beings love as God loves? As we’ll see, God not only teaches us what love really is, God enables us to love.
The Apostle Paul tells us, “You are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the Church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that
miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.” The New Testament “apostles” like Paul, the Old Testament “prophets,” and our “teachers” all teach us God’s Word. Paul speaks of “varieties of tongues,” which refers to the ability God gave some back then to speak in a unique language. God also gave others the ability to interpret what was spoken in tongues (1 Cor. 12:10, 30.). With someone to interpret, speaking in tongues was a way to communicate God’s Word to others. Paul speaks of the ability to work “miracles” and “healings;” again, gifts God gave to some back then. Paul speaks of “helps” and “administrations” – the different gifts God gives each of us in the things we do as a congregation.