A More Excellent Way – The Character of the Heart
Pastor Tan Thai · Jul 21, 2019
This sermon, based on 1 Corinthians 12:31–13:3, teaches that inward character of the heart matters more than spiritual gifts, leadership abilities, or outward sacrificial service. The Holy Spirit transforms the heart to produce genuine love, which is the 'more excellent way' the Apostle Paul calls the church to pursue.
The sermon opens by situating the message within a series titled 'A More Excellent Way,' transitioning from the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30 to the teaching on spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12. The pastor explains that the closing verse of chapter 12 — 'eagerly desire the greater gifts' — leads into chapter 13 not as a poetic celebration of love, but as a sharp rebuke to the Corinthian church for lacking the very character qualities Paul enumerates. Against the backdrop of a prosperous, morally loose city marked by division and pride, the church possessed many gifts but lacked character of the heart.
The first major section argues that character of the heart surpasses talent and leadership gifting. The pastor examines three leadership gifts in 1 Corinthians 13:1-2 — communicative ability in many languages, knowledge and understanding of mysteries, and mountain-moving faith — and demonstrates that even possessing all three leaves a person spiritually empty without love. Paul's teaching is connected to Matthew 7:21-23, where Jesus declares to miracle-workers that He never knew them. Theologian Jonathan Edwards is cited to reinforce that talent and results are not reliable evidence of a heart truly belonging to God.
The second major section addresses character of the heart surpassing sacrificial service. The pastor draws on 1 Corinthians 13:3 — giving away all possessions and surrendering one's body to flames — to show that even the most extreme sacrifice 'profits nothing' without genuine inner love. He illustrates with the philanthropic pledges of billionaires such as Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, observing that God examines motive and heart, not merely action. Jesus' teaching in Matthew 6:1-4 about giving in secret is invoked to reinforce that the inner disposition matters more than the visible deed.
The sermon closes with practical applications for the congregation. The pastor warns that both American and Vietnamese society elevate talent and success over character, and the church is equally susceptible to this error in selecting leaders. Parents are reminded they cannot delegate character formation to schools or social media. The pastor honestly shares his own struggle with serving while craving recognition, and calls every believer to honestly examine the true motive of their heart in service and generosity.