Embracing Order and Growth in the Church
Summary
In today's exploration of 1 Corinthians 14, we delved into the importance of order within the church, emphasizing that God is not a God of confusion but of peace. The Corinthian church, much like the wild west, was a place of great opportunity but also great danger due to its chaotic nature. This chaos was evident in their worship services, which lacked the order that God desires. We are reminded that our worship services, regardless of whether they are high church or low church, should be orderly and focused on building up the body of Christ. The goal is to create an environment where believers are encouraged and unbelievers are pointed to Christ.
We also discussed the role of discomfort in our spiritual growth. Being uncomfortable does not necessarily mean there is confusion or chaos; rather, it can be a sign that the Holy Spirit is at work, challenging us to grow and become more like Jesus. This discomfort can manifest in various ways, such as being in a different worship setting or being prompted to step out in faith.
Furthermore, the church is a place of construction, where God is actively working in our lives to shape us into His likeness. This process involves different experiences and challenges, much like the various tasks in construction work. We are encouraged to recognize and embrace the areas where God is working in our lives, asking the Holy Spirit to do what is necessary to make us more like Christ.
Finally, we addressed the challenging verses regarding the role of women in the church. While women have significant roles and contributions, the leadership and direction of the church are entrusted to the elders, as outlined in Scripture. This is not a cultural issue but one rooted in the creation order and the commands of the Lord. We are called to follow these commands, recognizing the distinct roles God has given to each of us within the church.
Key Takeaways:
- Order in Worship: God desires order in our worship services, as He is a God of peace, not confusion. This order is essential for building up the church and pointing unbelievers to Christ. Our services should reflect this divine order, regardless of the style or tradition of worship. [07:00]
- Embracing Discomfort: Discomfort in our spiritual journey can be a sign of the Holy Spirit's work in our lives. It challenges us to grow and step out in faith, leading us to become more like Jesus. We should not equate discomfort with chaos but see it as an opportunity for growth. [10:50]
- Church as a Place of Construction: God is actively working in our lives, shaping us through various experiences and challenges. We are encouraged to recognize and embrace the areas where God is working, asking the Holy Spirit to make us more like Christ. [16:56]
- Roles in the Church: While men and women are equal in the eyes of God, they have distinct roles within the church. The leadership and direction of the church are entrusted to the elders, as outlined in Scripture. This is rooted in the creation order and the commands of the Lord. [20:35]
- Following the Commands of the Lord: The church is called to follow the commands of the Lord, as found in His Word. This includes recognizing the distinct roles God has given to each of us and seeking order, not confusion, as we fulfill these roles. [28:31]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:30] - Introduction to 1 Corinthians 14
- [03:45] - High Church vs. Low Church
- [07:00] - Order in Worship
- [10:50] - Embracing Discomfort
- [13:20] - The Role of the Holy Spirit
- [16:56] - Church as a Place of Construction
- [20:35] - Roles in the Church
- [23:00] - Women in the Church
- [25:07] - Context of New Testament Teachings
- [28:31] - Following the Commands of the Lord
- [30:45] - Cultural vs. Biblical Principles
- [33:00] - Conclusion and Reflection
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- 1 Corinthians 14:26-33
- Galatians 5:16-17
- 1 Timothy 2:8-15
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Observation Questions:
1. What specific instructions does Paul give to the Corinthian church regarding the use of spiritual gifts in worship? [07:00]
2. How does the sermon describe the Corinthian church's worship services, and what historical analogy is used to illustrate this? [07:00]
3. According to the sermon, what role does discomfort play in a believer's spiritual journey? [10:50]
4. What does the sermon say about the roles of men and women in the church, and how is this supported by Scripture? [20:35]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of order in worship reflect God's character as described in 1 Corinthians 14:33? What might this look like in a modern church setting? [07:00]
2. In what ways can discomfort be a sign of the Holy Spirit's work in a believer's life, according to the sermon? How should believers respond to this discomfort? [10:50]
3. The sermon compares the church to a construction site. What are some ways God might be "constructing" or shaping believers today? [16:56]
4. How does the sermon address the challenging verses about women's roles in the church, and what is the underlying principle behind these instructions? [20:35]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own church experience. Have you ever felt that a service was chaotic or confusing? How did that impact your worship and understanding of God? [07:00]
2. Think about a time when you felt uncomfortable in a spiritual setting. How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience? How can you embrace discomfort as a sign of growth? [10:50]
3. Identify an area in your life where you feel God is actively working or "constructing." How can you cooperate with the Holy Spirit in this process? [16:56]
4. How do you perceive the roles of men and women in your church? Are there areas where you feel these roles could be better understood or applied? [20:35]
5. Consider the idea of order in worship. What steps can you take to contribute to a more orderly and peaceful worship environment in your church? [07:00]
6. How can you support the leadership in your church while also ensuring that you are following the commands of the Lord as outlined in Scripture? [28:31]
7. Reflect on the sermon’s discussion about cultural versus biblical principles. How can you discern the difference in your own life and church practices? [28:31]
Devotional
Day 1: Divine Order in Worship
In 1 Corinthians 14, the emphasis is placed on the importance of order within the church, highlighting that God is a God of peace, not confusion. The Corinthian church struggled with chaotic worship services, which detracted from the purpose of building up the body of Christ and pointing unbelievers to Him. Regardless of whether a church follows a high church or low church tradition, the focus should be on creating an environment that reflects divine order. This order is essential for encouraging believers and guiding unbelievers towards Christ. [07:00]
"For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says." (1 Corinthians 14:33-34, ESV)
Reflection: How can you contribute to creating a more orderly and peaceful environment in your church's worship services this week?
Day 2: Embracing Spiritual Discomfort
Discomfort in our spiritual journey is not necessarily a sign of chaos but can indicate the Holy Spirit's work in our lives. This discomfort challenges us to grow and step out in faith, leading us to become more like Jesus. It may manifest in various ways, such as being in a different worship setting or being prompted to take a leap of faith. Embracing this discomfort allows us to see it as an opportunity for growth rather than a source of confusion. [10:50]
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." (James 1:2-3, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel spiritually uncomfortable? How can you invite the Holy Spirit to use this discomfort for your growth today?
Day 3: The Church as a Construction Site
The church is likened to a construction site where God is actively working in our lives, shaping us through various experiences and challenges. This process involves recognizing and embracing the areas where God is working, asking the Holy Spirit to make us more like Christ. Just as construction work requires different tasks and tools, our spiritual growth involves diverse experiences that contribute to our transformation into Christ's likeness. [16:56]
"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:6, ESV)
Reflection: Identify one area in your life where you see God actively working. How can you cooperate with His work in this area today?
Day 4: Distinct Roles in the Church
While men and women are equal in the eyes of God, they have distinct roles within the church. The leadership and direction of the church are entrusted to the elders, as outlined in Scripture. This is not merely a cultural issue but is rooted in the creation order and the commands of the Lord. Recognizing and respecting these distinct roles allows the church to function harmoniously and effectively. [20:35]
"Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet." (1 Timothy 2:11-12, ESV)
Reflection: How can you honor and support the distinct roles within your church community, even if they differ from your personal preferences or cultural norms?
Day 5: Following the Commands of the Lord
The church is called to follow the commands of the Lord as found in His Word. This includes recognizing the distinct roles God has given to each of us and seeking order, not confusion, as we fulfill these roles. By adhering to these commands, the church can effectively build up the body of Christ and point unbelievers to Him. [28:31]
"Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." (Philippians 2:12-13, ESV)
Reflection: What is one command of the Lord that you find challenging to follow? How can you take a step towards obedience in this area today?
Quotes
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And Bible-believing churches who meet in various ways and who have different practices, but they're Bible-believing churches, they should all have the same goal. And that goal is making and growing disciples who glorify God with their lives. They're Bible-believing churches. They're not to be shaped by culture, but they're to be orderly according to the Word of God. [00:03:18] (27 seconds)
For you can all prophesy one by one so that all may learn and all be encouraged. And the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. For God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. [00:05:09] (15 seconds)
The church should not be a place of confusion, but be careful not to equate you being uncomfortable with there being confusion. The second thing is this. The church should be a place of construction. Did you notice verse 26? Let all things be done for building up. So the hymn, the lesson, the revelation, the tongue, the interpretation, it should be done for building people up. [00:13:22] (30 seconds)
All the elements of our worship service should be employed in the job of helping people grow in their faith. For the Corinthians, it's not too much of a different list than we have. Not the exact same, but the music, the teaching, the tongues, the interpretation, the prophecy, all of it had to be building up of the body of Christ. There wasn't to be chaos and confusion. [00:14:03] (24 seconds)
In a believer's life, in a Christian's life, in a person who's a follower of Christ, who believes that Jesus died for my sin, he rose on the third day from the dead, I believe in Jesus, he's my Savior, he's my Lord. For those Christians, you have the Holy Spirit of God who has come inside of your life, and now he is at odds with our flesh, with the sin nature, with the desires that all of us have. [00:11:29] (26 seconds)
And the Holy Spirit is working in our life to make us more like Jesus, and sometimes he's going to ask us to do things that makes us feel uncomfortable. One of the things that I encourage my small group leader, because I'm not leading a small group anymore, and it's great, get to just be a participant in it, but to, and all of us as small group leaders should think about this, it's okay to ask a question, and then just to be quiet. [00:12:25] (30 seconds)
And ask the Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit, and this is uncomfortable, Holy Spirit, do what you need to do to make me be more like Jesus. And then get ready for him to bring some things to mind, to work on things in your life. This church, by God's grace, will be a place of construction, of work. We know that nobody's got it all together, which is a great place to start. But we know that God loves us too much to leave us the way that we are. [00:17:26] (35 seconds)
God has designed the church to be led by a group of elders. You can read this in other places. In 1 Timothy chapter 3 and Titus chapter 1, we read about the qualifications of the elders who are to lead the church. We see it practically played out in Acts chapter 20, when the apostle Paul meets with the elders of the church of Ephesus, and he's going to never see them again. [00:19:29] (24 seconds)
In the context of the New Testament, I want to zoom out to help us understand this a little bit better, okay? So let's look at context. The context of the New Testament, women are very important in the church. Jesus rose from the dead. The first people that he appeared to were women. Christians treated women better than anyone at the time. [00:21:44] (24 seconds)
And so in the context of the New Testament, men and women are both created in the image of God and are equal in the sight of God. And the gospel is for men and women. The church is for men and women. Now in the context of this letter, narrowing it down, we know that not permitted to speak does not mean that women can't speak in a worship service because in chapter 11, the apostle Paul says, when a woman prays or prophesies in the church, he talks about the head coverings. [00:23:31] (32 seconds)
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