1Corinthians 14D. There are probably as many ways to conduct a church service as there are churches. Styles vary from denomination to denomination

Transcription

1 1Crinthians 14D There are prbably as many ways t cnduct a church service as there are churches Styles vary frm denminatin t denminatin And even within a certain traditin, individual cngregatins will each have their wn style Musical styles, the rder f events, the apprach t teaching, the schedule fr the Lrd s Supper But despite all ur differences, the Christian gathering has maintained a remarkable cnsistency ver the centuries We have sngs f praise, whether with instruments r nt We have prayers, whether alud r privately We have the Lrd s supper, whether every week r ccasinally We have teaching, hpefully frm the text f scripture We have recitatin f creeds, testimnies, persnal cnfessins, annuncements, cllectins fr the saints, hails and farewells, and ccasinally smething ut f the rdinary This pattern is mre than habit...it s a fulfillment f the purpse f the gathering We gather fr the same reasn a sprt team practices tgether We each have a rle t play, but ur rle is meaningless apart frm the rest f the team We depend n the gathering fr ur chance t serve Christ by serving His peple in ur spiritual gift As chapter 14 ends, Paul is ready t leave this church with a prescriptin fr hw everyne gets their chance t serve prperly Paul wants everyne t play their part, but he als wants every cntributin t edify Like a sprt team, everyne has t participate in a crdinated, selfless manner ensuring the team is successful 2014 Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

2 1Crinthians 14D 2 f 13 Church is n place fr prima dnnas The nly One in the sptlight is Christ We re all supprting cast members, rle players S t end his discussin n spiritual gifts, Paul leaves crrectin and returns t teaching t explain hw the church gathering shuld prceed 1Cr. 14:26 What is the utcme then, brethren? When yu assemble, each ne has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelatin, has a tngue, has an interpretatin. Let all things be dne fr edificatin. What is the utcme then, Paul asks? Tday, we wuld prbably say smething like, S what? In ther wrds, after all Paul s said abut spiritual gifts, the need t edify and respect the pririty f gifts, s what d we d nw? Hw des the bdy f Christ wrk tgether with a diversity f spiritual gifts t edify each ther? Hw d we juggle these pririties? Paul answers his wn questin by instructing the church n hw t cnduct a church service prperly His slutin is deceptively simple It s general enugh t allw a wide variety f styles and traditins But it ensure the service will serve its intended purpse f edifying believers and glrifying the Lrd First, Paul says when yu assemble... Paul starts with a simple statement, but take nte Paul never prescribes the frequency f assembly Earlier when teaching n the Lrd s supper, Paul had said as ften as yu gather In fact, n New Testament writer ever prescribes the frequency f the gathering f the bdy 2014 Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

3 1Crinthians 14D 3 f 13 Nevertheless, the expectatin is that we gather regularly The writer f Hebrews says: Heb. 10:24 and let us cnsider hw t stimulate ne anther t lve and gd deeds, Heb. 10:25 nt frsaking ur wn assembling tgether, as is the habit f sme, but encuraging ne anther; and all the mre as yu see the day drawing near. While n specific frequency fr ur gathering is prescribed in the Bible, we are called t never frsake the assembling tgether T frsake means t desert r give up n smething It s desn t mean t miss church ccasinally It means t stp ging t church services altgether This is nt an ptin fr any Christian And when we assemble, Paul says each ne is t arrive at the gathering with the expectatin that they have smething t ffer fr the benefit f ther believers Paul says each ne has smething We shuldn t pass by thse simple wrds t quickly...each ne Nt sme, nt a few, but each ne Everyne shuld cme ready t ffer smething t the bdy f Christ If yu rutinely cme t church and leave having given nthing t the assembly, then yu haven t met the purpse in gathering Can we g t ur wrkplace and cntribute nthing everyday? Can we attend schl and accmplish nthing day after day? Even if we assemble fr an entertainment event like a cncert r a sprts game, we still cntribute smething We cntribute ur mney t fund the event If we gather fr a service prject, we cntribute ur labr If we gather at a wedding we bring gifts If we gather at a funeral we bring wrds f encuragement 2014 Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

4 1Crinthians 14D 4 f 13 Virtually every gathering f peple functins nly because f the cntributins f the individuals assembled Church is n different In fact it s all the mre the case Since ur gathering has n purpse apart frm giving pprtunity fr us t use ur spiritual gifts Therefre, Paul says everyne is t bring smething Is that yur mindset when yu leave yur hme n Sunday mrnings? D yu get in yur car fr the drive t church with the mindset that yu re bringing smething fr smene else? Are yu thinking abut wh yu want t pray fr r pray with? D yu cnsider wh might need sme encuraging wrds? D yu have a testimny t share? A teaching t ffer, whether t child r adult? Are yu bringing an instrument t play, a card t give smene? Are yu bringing yur checkbk r wallet? All f these things and many mre are the means by which we edify fellw believers But we have t discipline urselves t think this way abut church Otherwise we ll miss the chance t play ur part And the gathering is diminished as a result We have a diversity f gifts fr a reasn S everyne is imprtant Dn t ever think yur participatin r attendance isn t imprtant t this gathering It s eternally imprtant As Paul lists examples f different cntributins, he includes a wide variety f gifts frm acrss the spectrum f pririties 2014 Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

5 1Crinthians 14D 5 f 13 He says ne cmes with a psalm, anther with a teaching, anther with a revelatin, ne with a tngue and anther with an interpretatin A psalm refers t a mment f praising the Lrd in wrship Tday, we d say a sng f praise A teaching refers t any frm f instructin, whether at the pulpit, in a class r ne-n-ne during a cnversatin in Fellwship Hall A revelatin refers t a statement f prphecy r ffering smene a wrd f cunsel under the guidance f the Spirit A tngue and interpretatin refers t the gift we studied earlier, speaking in a freign language while anther persn interprets Even thugh sme f these gifts have a greater ptential t edify than thers, nthing is excluded frm the gathering Everything has a place and a reasn t exist S lng as everything is dne fr the purpse f edifying the bdy, Paul says That s ur ultimate test as we make decisins abut what t include r exclude frm the assembly Can we allw drama skits? Sl musical perfrmances? Mvie excerpts? Original sngs? In every case, the questin is did it give smene a chance t use their talent and express lve fr the Lrd and His church? Des it edify the believer and testify t the glry f Christ? These are the tests we shuld apply But they are nt the nly tests we must apply There is anther equally imprtant test fr what t include in the gathering and hw t rchestrate everyne s cntributin 1Cr. 14:27 If anyne speaks in a tngue, it shuld be by tw r at the mst three, and each in turn, and ne must interpret; 1Cr. 14:28 but if there is n interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak t himself and t Gd Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

6 1Crinthians 14D 6 f 13 1Cr. 14:29 Let tw r three prphets speak, and let the thers pass judgment. 1Cr. 14:30 But if a revelatin is made t anther wh is seated, the first ne must keep silent. 1Cr. 14:31 Fr yu can all prphesy ne by ne, s that all may learn and all may be exhrted; 1Cr. 14:32 and the spirits f prphets are subject t prphets; 1Cr. 14:33 fr Gd is nt a Gd f cnfusin but f peace, as in all the churches f the saints. The additinal test is respectfulness Are we cntributing ur gifts in a respectful manner Respectful t the purpse and value f ur gifting Respectful t the needs f thers Respectful t the purpse f the gathering Respectful t Christ Paul uses sme example gifts t illustrate his pint, and nce again, Paul includes the gift f tngues in his list t crrect the church s use f this particular gift If smene in the bdy has the gift f tngues and intends t cntribute with their gift, then it must be dne in a respectful way Speaking in a freign tngue n ne understands shuld nly be dne in the gathering if smene is available t interpret An interpretatin culd cme frm smene with a gift f tngues Or it cme cme frm smene wh speaks the language naturally But withut an interpretatin, the speaker shuld remain silent jeeping the gift t himself ut f respect fr the gathering Then ntice Paul says that even if interpretatin is available, the use f speaking in tngues shuld be limited t n mre than 2 r 3 We limited tngues in the gathering ut f respect fr the limited edificatin affrded by this gift 2014 Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

7 1Crinthians 14D 7 f 13 As well because we need t leave rm fr thers pprtunity t cntribute Furthermre, tngues are t be used nly ne at a time If tw r mre peple are trying t speak ver ne anther, then we are being respectful t ne anther If yu ve ever been expsed t the mdern versin f s-called tngues practiced in sme churches, then yu will ntice they typically perate in direct vilatin f this biblical mandate As I ve witnessed it, the rm is filled with multiple peple attempting t speak in smething they think is tngues There are far mre than tw r three allwed t speak Everyne is speaking at the same time, s it s a cnfused cacphny f useless nise And f curse, n ne makes any effrt t interpret We need g n farther than v.28 t see that such behavir is unbiblical And if it is cntrary t the wrd f Gd, than it cannt be the prduct f the Spirit But in case we think Paul is singling ut tngues, he gives similar cunsel fr ne f the mst imprtant spiritual gifts: prphecy He says prphecy is als limited t 2 r 4 utterances in the gathering And after each persn speaks a prphecy, the rest f the gathering is t immediately pass judgment n what is said Passing judgment means t discern whether the wrd was truly prmpted by the Spirit Paul hld prphecy t the same standard as any ther gift Is it dne with respect t the gathering? And in respect t its purpse? In particular, Paul is cncerned abut any gift f utterance leading t chas when used withut the necessary respect 2014 Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

8 1Crinthians 14D 8 f 13 In the case f prphecy, Paul asks that if a revelatin is given cncerning smene wh is seated, then a special test must fllw He s talking abut a situatin where smene is standing and speaking t the cngregatin in sme manner And while this persn is standing, ne wh is seated, that is smene wh did nt have the flr t speak, receives a revelatin frm the Lrd Paul says that the ne wh is standing shuld stp speaking lng enugh fr the ne seated t add his vice t the gathering Paul s pint is that the mvement f the Spirit must be respected by all The Spirit may mve in a way cntrary t ur rder f service When that happens, we make rm fr it, but nly t the extent that we can discern it is frm the Lrd The gathering isn t a free-fr-all, but it des need t remain flexible Paul gives the rule fr hw speaking gifts perate in the gathering in vs Paul says that everyne can cntribute t the edificatin f the bdy by speaking in turn But the spirits f the prphets are always subject t the prphets Paul means that we aren t acting ut f cntrl Prphets f the OT weren t rbts wh acted pssessed and spke withut cntrl ver their bdies On the cntrary, these men were always in full cntrl f their faculties When they spke, they spke inspired wrds, but they never lst cntrl ver their muths r bdies Similarly, Paul reminds the church that just because yu have a speaking gift desn t mean yu ve lst all self cntrl If yu cry ut in the middle f a church service, speaking ver the tp f smene else, yu can t claim that the Spirit made yu d it 2014 Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

9 1Crinthians 14D 9 f 13 The Spirit has never wrked that way in past, and He s nt wrking that way nw We are t remain in cntrl at all times, carefully selecting the pprtunity t cntribute and always with respect and accrding t the rules established in scripture If we can t cntrl urselves in this way, then we are nt perating by the Spirit We are indulging ur flesh Or wrse, we re under the influence f a false spirit When it cmes t gifts f utterance, Paul says let s be careful t keep everything we d in the gathering sensible, understandable and respectful t the Lrd Because Gd is nt a Gd f cnfusin In ther wrds, ur Gd desn t prduce cnfusing, nnsense displays That s nt He perates, fr it des nt glrify Him t d s The implicatin f Paul s wrds is that when we see a gathering perating in a fashin cntrary t these instructins, we simply can t be watching smething prduced by the Lrd Fr the Lrd is nt a Gd f cnfusin, s if cnfusin reigns in the gathering, then the Lrd s Spirit is absent He s been pushed t the side, and in His place the flesh has taken ver T cnclude the chapter, Paul gives ne additinal cmmand t ensure a respectful gathering 1Cr. 14:34 The wmen are t keep silent in the churches; fr they are nt permitted t speak, but are t subject themselves, just as the Law als says. 1Cr. 14:35 If they desire t learn anything, let them ask their wn husbands at hme; fr it is imprper fr a wman t speak in church. In the cntext f individuals cntributing teaching and revelatin t the gathering, Paul cmmands that wmen may nt speak In mdern culture, these cmmand raises cncerns 2014 Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

10 1Crinthians 14D 10 f 13 Is Paul saying that a wman with a speaking gift can never use it? Was he a mysingist? N First, let s nt divrce Paul s wrds frm the cntext f this chapter Paul didn t insert these wrds ut f thin air He s in the middle f a line f thught, teaching n hw t ensure a respectful, edifying gathering Secndly, Paul has just been addressing the use f speaking gifts All speaking gifts wrk t edify in a similar manner They teach spiritual truths, whether by revelatin, r crrectin r teaching S it s in that cntext that Paul asks that wmen refrain frm cntributing t the teaching, because wmen teaching men is cntrary t respect Elsewhere Paul writes: 1Tim. 2:11 A wman must quietly receive instructin with entire submissiveness. 1Tim. 2:12 But I d nt allw a wman t teach r exercise authrity ver a man, but t remain quiet. Paul equates a wman teaching a man with a wman having authrity ver a man Anyne wh teaches smene else becmes an authrity ver that persn And in the prper rder f the family and church bdy, the Lrd has appinted men t lead Therefre, Paul instructs wmen nt t take a teaching rle in a gathering that includes men, because they assume a psitin f authrity ver the men when they teach Ntice in 1Cr 14:34 Paul says that they shuld remember that they are t submit t male authrity We discussed headship earlier in this bk, s I wn t repeat the lessn here 2014 Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

11 1Crinthians 14D 11 f 13 Except t reiterate that this rder is Gd s design and nt ne we re free t rethink r change in respnse t culture On the ther hand, Paul is nt prhibiting a wman frm using her speaking gift He nly asked that it nt be used in the cntext f the main gathering because it challenges male authrity Instead, wmen with teaching r ther speaking gifts can exercise their gift thrugh their husbands r fathers in the gathering And they can use them when teaching children r ther wmen If that sunds unfair r limiting, remember that in mst churches the wmen and children cnstitute the majrity f the church bdy We all have plenty f pprtunity t edify with ur speaking gifts, whether men r wmen In fact, we can have wmen speaking during the gathering in a nn-teaching rle Wmen culd perfrm scripture readings withut cmmentary, sing wrship sngs, give missin updates, annuncements, and ffer prayers These speaking rles dn t suggest authrity ver thers But teaching is reserved fr times and places where wmen aren t taking psitins f authrity ver men Just in case any husbands are feeling smug at this pint, yu shuld ntice that Paul called us ut als in v.35 Paul said that since the wives are called t respect ur authrity, we in turn need t be ready t answer their questins In ther wrds, men are expected t be the teachers in their hmes Husbands, if yu desire a gdly wife wh respects yur authrity, then yu had better give her smething t respect We need t knw ur Bible, fr that s ur bligatin 2014 Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

12 1Crinthians 14D 12 f 13 Certainly, wives are called t knw their Bibles just as much as the husbands But if yur wife knws mre than yu, then yu have a prblem Yu need t race ahead, s that as she has questins abut scripture during the gathering, she can seek yur cunsel cnfident that yu ll have smething helpful t say Ladies, if yu knw the Bible better than yur husband, dn t slw dwn...keep the pedal t the metal And challenge yur husband t catch up and pass yu as yu bth pursue Christ thrugh His wrd When everyne is ding their part in the assembly with respect and accrding t the wrd f Gd, then the gathering functins in a beautiful, balanced way We have latitude but dn t have a right t wrk utside the guidelines f scripture We have an bligatin t serve thers in Christ, in lve and with a desire t edify This is Paul s summary 1Cr. 14:36 Was it frm yu that the wrd f Gd first went frth? Or has it cme t yu nly? 1Cr. 14:37 If anyne thinks he is a prphet r spiritual, let him recgnize that the things which I write t yu are the Lrd s cmmandment. 1Cr. 14:38 But if anyne des nt recgnize this, he is nt recgnized. 1Cr. 14:39 Therefre, my brethren, desire earnestly t prphesy, and d nt frbid t speak in tngues. 1Cr. 14:40 But all things must be dne prperly and in an rderly manner. Paul asks sarcastically if the Crinthian church was the authr f Gd s wrd? Or perhaps this church is the nly place n earth that knws what Gd has said? Paul s pinting ut that they dn t have a crner n the truth That Gd s instructins came t them n different than any ther place 2014 Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.

13 1Crinthians 14D 13 f 13 S Crinth didn t have the right t make up their wn rules fr the gathering and claim they were perating under instructins frm Gd Gd didn t tell Crinth smething different than He tld everyne else in His wrd Our brthers and sisters wh repeat the Crinthian mistakes in tngues r wmen teaching men r ther guidelines are wrking against the wrd f Gd They can t claim t be enlightened r t have new revelatin They can t claim t have a greater prtin f the Hly Spirit Or t be mre sensitive t His leading Just as Paul says, if anyne thinks he is mre spiritual than thers, then let him shw that spiritual maturity by greater bedience t Gd s wrd - nt less And Gd s wrd has spken n the prper use f the gifts in the bdy If a brther r sister fails t acknwledge that Paul s teaching is a cmmand frm the Lrd, then we aren t t recgnize them We are t separate frm them fr ur wn gd and as discipline t them Meanwhile, Paul finishes saying desire the greatest gift f prphecy ver the rest, but dn t despise lessr gifts like tngues Each has it s place in the bdy when used respectfully and in lve All things we d shuld be dne prperly Everything must be rderly, in cntrl And with a ptential t edify believers As we perate under these cnstraints, we please the Lrd And we serve Him as He called us T the glry f His name befre the natins 2014 Verse By Verse Ministry Internatinal ( May be cpied and distributed prvided the dcument is reprduced in its entirety, including this cpyright statement, and n fee is cllected fr its distributin.