Edifying the Church Through God's Word and Prophecy
Summary
In today's gathering, we explored the profound significance of focusing on God's Word and the impact of intelligible instruction within the church. Just as families adapt to ensure everyone benefits, the church, instituted by Jesus, must mature and focus on what edifies all its members. The early church experienced miraculous gifts like speaking in tongues, which served to verify the gospel's message. However, as the church matured, the emphasis shifted towards gifts that edify the entire body, such as prophecy, which involves delivering God's truth in a way that builds up, encourages, and consoles the congregation.
True Christian love aims at internal impact, meaning that our spiritual gifts should be used to benefit others rather than elevate ourselves. The Apostle Paul addressed the Corinthian church, urging them to pursue love and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, especially prophecy. Prophecy, in this context, is not about predicting the future but about conveying God's truth to edify the church. This is crucial because intelligible instruction yields a greater impact than tongues, as it allows the congregation to understand and apply God's Word to their lives.
We also discussed the importance of addressing spiritual immaturity through sound teaching. Just as individuals grow from consuming milk to solid food, believers mature through the consistent intake of God's Word. This maturity is fostered not only in Sunday sermons but also in small groups, mentorship, and personal study. The goal is to build up the church, ensuring that everyone, from the youngest to the oldest, is growing in their faith.
Finally, we considered the impact of prophecy on newcomers to the church. When God's Word is shared clearly and lovingly, it convicts, calls to account, and reveals the secrets of the heart, leading to genuine worship and transformation. As a church committed to making disciples, we prioritize the proclamation of God's truth, knowing that His Word is life-giving and transformative.
Key Takeaways:
- True Christian love is demonstrated through the use of spiritual gifts that benefit others, not ourselves. This love aims at making a meaningful impact within the church community, encouraging and building up one another in faith. [16:11]
- Intelligible instruction, such as prophecy, is more impactful than speaking in tongues because it provides clear understanding and application of God's Word. This clarity is essential for spiritual growth and maturity. [33:37]
- Spiritual maturity is achieved through consistent exposure to sound teaching. Just as physical growth requires nourishment, spiritual growth requires the intake of God's Word, which builds us up and prepares us for greater works. [33:37]
- The presence of prophecy in the church leads to conviction, accountability, and transformation. When God's truth is shared, it reveals the heart's secrets and leads to genuine worship and acknowledgment of God's presence. [33:37]
- As a church, we are committed to making disciples by prioritizing the proclamation of God's Word. This commitment ensures that we are fulfilling our purpose and equipping believers to live out their faith in meaningful ways. [33:37]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - Introduction to the Importance of God's Word
- [03:45] - The Early Church and Spiritual Gifts
- [07:20] - True Christian Love and Internal Impact
- [12:00] - Pursuing Love and Spiritual Gifts
- [16:11] - The Role of Prophecy in the Church
- [20:30] - Intelligible Instruction vs. Speaking in Tongues
- [25:00] - Building Up the Church Through Prophecy
- [30:15] - Addressing Spiritual Immaturity
- [33:37] - The Impact of Prophecy on Newcomers
- [38:00] - Encouragement to Share God's Word
- [42:15] - Conclusion and Call to Action
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- 1 Corinthians 14:1-25
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Observation Questions:
1. What was the primary issue Paul addressed in the Corinthian church regarding spiritual gifts, and how did he suggest they resolve it? [16:11]
2. How does Paul describe the purpose of prophecy in the church, and what are its intended effects on the congregation? [16:11]
3. What analogy did the pastor use to explain the importance of intelligible instruction in the church, and how does it relate to spiritual maturity? [33:37]
4. According to the sermon, what role does prophecy play in the experience of newcomers to the church? [33:37]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. Why does Paul emphasize the pursuit of love alongside the desire for spiritual gifts, and how does this balance affect the church community? [16:11]
2. How does the pastor's explanation of prophecy differ from common misconceptions about predicting the future, and what implications does this have for how we understand spiritual gifts? [16:11]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that intelligible instruction contributes to spiritual maturity, and how might this be reflected in a church's teaching approach? [33:37]
4. How does the pastor's story about the early church's use of tongues illustrate the shift in focus towards gifts that edify the entire body? [33:37]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own spiritual gifts. How can you use them to benefit others in your church community rather than seeking personal recognition? [16:11]
2. Consider a time when you received encouragement or consolation from a prophetic word or sermon. How did it impact your spiritual journey, and how can you offer similar support to others? [16:11]
3. The sermon emphasized the importance of intelligible instruction for spiritual growth. What steps can you take to ensure you are consistently exposed to sound teaching, both in church and in personal study? [33:37]
4. How can you contribute to creating an environment in your church where newcomers feel welcomed and can understand the message being shared? [33:37]
5. Identify a specific area of spiritual immaturity in your life. What practical steps can you take to address this through increased engagement with God's Word? [33:37]
6. Think about a recent sermon or Bible study that challenged you. How can you apply its teachings to your daily life this week?
7. How can you encourage others in your small group to pursue love and spiritual gifts in a way that builds up the church community? [16:11]
Devotional
Day 1: Spiritual Gifts as Acts of Love
True Christian love is demonstrated through the use of spiritual gifts that benefit others, not ourselves. This love aims at making a meaningful impact within the church community, encouraging and building up one another in faith. The Apostle Paul emphasized the importance of pursuing love and desiring spiritual gifts, especially those that edify the church. When believers use their gifts selflessly, they reflect the love of Christ and contribute to the spiritual growth of the entire congregation. This approach fosters a community where each member is valued and supported, creating an environment where faith can flourish. [16:11]
1 Corinthians 14:12 (ESV): "So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church."
Reflection: Identify a spiritual gift you possess. How can you use it this week to serve and uplift someone in your church community?
Day 2: The Power of Intelligible Instruction
Intelligible instruction, such as prophecy, is more impactful than speaking in tongues because it provides clear understanding and application of God's Word. This clarity is essential for spiritual growth and maturity. When God's truth is communicated in a way that is understandable, it allows individuals to apply it to their lives, leading to transformation and growth. The early church recognized the importance of this shift from miraculous signs to edifying gifts, as it ensured that all members could benefit and grow in their faith. [33:37]
1 Corinthians 14:19 (ESV): "Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue."
Reflection: Think about a recent teaching or sermon you heard. How can you apply its message to a specific area of your life today?
Day 3: Nourishment for Spiritual Maturity
Spiritual maturity is achieved through consistent exposure to sound teaching. Just as physical growth requires nourishment, spiritual growth requires the intake of God's Word, which builds us up and prepares us for greater works. Believers are encouraged to move from spiritual milk to solid food, deepening their understanding and application of Scripture. This growth is not limited to Sunday sermons but extends to personal study, small groups, and mentorship, ensuring that every member of the church is equipped for their spiritual journey. [33:37]
Hebrews 5:14 (ESV): "But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil."
Reflection: What is one area of your spiritual life where you feel you need to grow? What steps can you take this week to seek deeper understanding and maturity?
Day 4: The Transformative Impact of Prophecy
The presence of prophecy in the church leads to conviction, accountability, and transformation. When God's truth is shared, it reveals the heart's secrets and leads to genuine worship and acknowledgment of God's presence. This transformative power is especially impactful for newcomers, as it can lead to a profound encounter with God. The church is called to prioritize the proclamation of God's Word, knowing that it has the power to change lives and draw people closer to Him. [33:37]
1 Corinthians 14:24-25 (ESV): "But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt convicted or transformed by a message from God. How did it change your perspective or actions?
Day 5: Commitment to Proclaiming God's Word
As a church, we are committed to making disciples by prioritizing the proclamation of God's Word. This commitment ensures that we are fulfilling our purpose and equipping believers to live out their faith in meaningful ways. By focusing on clear and loving communication of Scripture, the church creates an environment where individuals can grow, be challenged, and be transformed. This dedication to God's Word is foundational to the mission of making disciples and impacting the world for Christ. [33:37]
2 Timothy 4:2 (ESV): "Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching."
Reflection: How can you personally contribute to the mission of your church in proclaiming God's Word? What is one action you can take this week to support this mission?
Quotes
Well, did you ever wonder, as I was mentioning in my prayer, do you ever wonder why is it that we spend so much time talking about the Bible? Do you ever wonder like, okay, let's go to church today and see what's going to happen and surprise, we're hearing from God's Word again. Do you ever wonder like, why is that such a focus? Well, that's a great question. Let me illustrate it a little bit like this. Well, as each one of our families grow, we want to be focusing in on things that are going to be meaningful for everyone. [00:01:06] (37 seconds)
God's church was instituted by Jesus. Jesus launched it after he rose from the grave, defeating sin and death. And he sent out his disciples to go carry the good news of Jesus throughout the world he instituted the church and at the very beginning of the church there were some extremely exciting things going on there were people being healed from their maladies there were people speaking in tongues when peter got up to preach one of the greatest sermons of all time as he preached a crowd of 3 000 people came to know jesus because god miraculously allowed what he was sharing to be translated without google translator chat gpt so that everybody could understand the message of the gospel. [00:04:26] (48 seconds)
So like I said, this is one of the very exciting things that God put in place at the early church to verify the message of the gospel, to build a bridge, and to overcome. At the cross, Jesus overcame God's judgment and the things that we had deserved for ourselves. At the Tower of Babel, there was a separation of people through languages as a judgment because they were not willing to fill the earth and subdue it. [00:13:50] (26 seconds)
Sharing God's Word with you in a way that you can understand and that you can apply to your life makes a greater impact than someone speaking in tongues. Here's what we see in verse 6. See, we're in the Bible, guys. We're here. Verse 6, here's what he says. Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? [00:20:08] (36 seconds)
But Paul says the benefit and love for the whole church happens when intelligible instruction from the Word is given. I actually had an experience in high school. I was visiting at another church and was kind of poking around as a larger building and I noticed something was going on and I went into one room and I can't remember exactly. There's probably somewhere between like 20 and 50 people, okay? Kind of wandering around in this room and I couldn't understand what anybody was saying. [00:22:58] (32 seconds)
If you want to learn more about our church's position on the signed gifts, we've actually got a QR code. If you want to go ahead and throw that up on the screen. It was supposed to be in your outlines, but that was my fault. We mixed some things up there. If you scan this QR code or visit that URL, you're welcome to take a picture of one or both of these. That is a signed gifts distinctive. [00:31:22] (24 seconds)
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