Reverence and Order in Worship: Aligning with God
Summary
In today's exploration of 1 Corinthians 14, we delved into the challenges faced by the Corinthian church and how they resonate with issues in modern congregations. The church in Corinth, despite its potential, was misfiring due to a focus on self rather than God. This misalignment was evident in their public gatherings, where personal preferences overshadowed the mission of glorifying God. The Apostle Paul addressed this by highlighting the need for order and reverence in worship, akin to the decorum expected in a courtroom. Just as contempt of court disrupts legal proceedings, contempt of church disrupts spiritual gatherings.
We examined the concept of "contempt of church," where personal desires and consumerist attitudes take precedence over God's glory. This manifests in various ways, such as treating church as a social event, prioritizing personal preferences, and using spiritual gifts for self-promotion. Paul urged the Corinthians to evaluate their worship practices and align them with God's commands, emphasizing the importance of building up the body of Christ rather than individual agendas.
The sermon also addressed the role of women in the church, clarifying that Paul's instruction for women to remain silent was context-specific and not a blanket prohibition. Women played significant roles in the early church, and their contributions were vital. The key is understanding the biblical order and ensuring that all actions within the church serve to glorify God and edify the congregation.
To avoid contempt of church, we must address issues causing spiritual gridlock, agree on a plan for worship, and appoint the right leaders to guide the congregation. Worship should be God-centered, involve gifted individuals, discern the Spirit's leading, help people discover Jesus, and develop believers for greater works in the world. By adhering to these principles, the church can thrive, with believers growing in faith and the lost being drawn to Christ.
Key Takeaways:
- Reverence in Worship: Just as a courtroom demands respect and order, our worship gatherings should reflect a deep reverence for God. We must approach church not as consumers but as worshippers, prioritizing God's glory over personal preferences. [06:16]
- Self-Examination: We are called to examine our motives for attending church. Are we there to receive or to give glory to God? This introspection helps us align our worship with God's purpose, ensuring that our gatherings build up the body of Christ. [11:29]
- Role of Women in Church: Paul's instruction for women to be silent was context-specific, addressing issues of order and submission. Women have always played vital roles in the church, and their contributions should be celebrated within the biblical framework. [25:29]
- Order and Leadership: Effective worship requires a plan and leadership. By appointing qualified leaders, the church can maintain order and ensure that worship services are God-centered, edifying, and Spirit-led. [41:09]
- Purpose of Worship: Worship services should glorify God, develop believers, and help seekers discover Jesus. By focusing on these goals, the church can thrive, with believers growing in faith and the lost being drawn to Christ. [47:14]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [06:16] - Contempt of Church
- [11:29] - Self-Examination in Worship
- [20:56] - Spiritual Gifts and Self-Promotion
- [25:29] - Role of Women in Church
- [32:53] - Biblical Order and Submission
- [41:09] - Order and Leadership in Worship
- [44:07] - Spirit-Led Worship
- [47:14] - Purpose of Worship Services
- [50:00] - Conclusion and Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- 1 Corinthians 14:26-40
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Observation Questions:
1. What specific issues did the Corinthian church face in their public gatherings that Paul addressed in 1 Corinthians 14? [06:16]
2. How does Paul describe the proper use of spiritual gifts in the church, according to 1 Corinthians 14? [11:29]
3. What does Paul say about the role of women in the church in this passage, and how does he clarify this instruction? [25:29]
4. What are the three main problems identified in the sermon that can create gridlock in church gatherings? [32:53]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of "contempt of church" relate to the issues Paul addresses in 1 Corinthians 14? What modern behaviors might reflect this contempt? [06:16]
2. In what ways does Paul suggest that worship should be orderly and God-centered? How does this compare to the Corinthian church's practices? [41:09]
3. How does the sermon explain the context-specific nature of Paul's instruction for women to remain silent in church? What does this reveal about interpreting biblical texts? [25:29]
4. What role do spiritual gifts play in building up the church, and how can they be misused according to the sermon? [20:56]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own church attendance. Are there times when you approach church with a consumer mindset rather than as a worshipper? How can you shift your focus to prioritize God's glory? [06:16]
2. Consider the spiritual gifts you have. Are you using them to build up the body of Christ, or are there ways you might be using them for self-promotion? How can you align your gifts with God's purpose? [20:56]
3. How do you respond to church leadership and the order of worship? Are there areas where you struggle with submission or have personal preferences that conflict with the church's mission? [41:09]
4. The sermon discusses the importance of self-examination in worship. What are some questions you can ask yourself to ensure your motives align with God's purpose for the church? [11:29]
5. How can you contribute to creating a worship environment that is God-centered and Spirit-led? What specific actions can you take to support your church's mission and leadership? [44:07]
6. Reflect on the role of women in your church. How can you celebrate and support the contributions of women within the biblical framework discussed in the sermon? [25:29]
7. Identify one area in your church life where you might be causing "spiritual gridlock." What steps can you take to address this and promote unity and growth within your congregation? [32:53]
Devotional
Day 1: Reverence in Worship
In our worship gatherings, we are called to approach God with the same respect and order that is expected in a courtroom. This reverence is not about adhering to rigid rituals but about prioritizing God's glory over our personal preferences. When we gather as a church, it is essential to shift our focus from what we can get to what we can give in worship. This mindset helps us to honor God and create an environment where His presence is felt and His name is glorified. [06:16]
1 Corinthians 14:40 (ESV): "But all things should be done decently and in order."
Reflection: How can you shift your focus from personal preferences to God's glory in your next worship gathering?
Day 2: Self-Examination
Self-examination is a crucial aspect of our spiritual journey, especially when it comes to our motives for attending church. Are we there to receive or to give glory to God? This introspection helps us align our worship with God's purpose, ensuring that our gatherings build up the body of Christ. By examining our hearts, we can identify areas where we may be prioritizing our desires over God's will and make necessary adjustments to align with His purpose. [11:29]
Psalm 139:23-24 (ESV): "Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!"
Reflection: What is one motive for attending church that you need to surrender to God today?
Day 3: Role of Women in Church
The role of women in the church has been a topic of much discussion, but it is important to understand that Paul's instruction for women to remain silent was context-specific. Women have always played significant roles in the early church, and their contributions are vital to the body of Christ. It is essential to celebrate and encourage the gifts and talents of women within the biblical framework, ensuring that all actions within the church serve to glorify God and edify the congregation. [25:29]
Acts 18:26 (ESV): "He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately."
Reflection: How can you support and encourage the women in your church to use their gifts for God's glory?
Day 4: Order and Leadership
Effective worship requires a plan and leadership. By appointing qualified leaders, the church can maintain order and ensure that worship services are God-centered, edifying, and Spirit-led. Leadership in the church is not about power or control but about serving the congregation and guiding them towards a deeper relationship with God. It is crucial to have leaders who are committed to God's vision and are equipped to lead the church in fulfilling its mission. [41:09]
Titus 1:5 (ESV): "This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you."
Reflection: What qualities do you believe are essential in a church leader, and how can you support your leaders in their roles?
Day 5: Purpose of Worship
Worship services should glorify God, develop believers, and help seekers discover Jesus. By focusing on these goals, the church can thrive, with believers growing in faith and the lost being drawn to Christ. Worship is not just about singing songs or listening to sermons; it is about encountering God and being transformed by His presence. As we gather to worship, let us keep our eyes on Jesus and seek to fulfill His purpose for our lives and our church. [47:14]
Colossians 3:16 (ESV): "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God."
Reflection: How can you contribute to making your church's worship services more God-centered and impactful for both believers and seekers?
Quotes
Pleasure to have each and every one of you with us today. My name is Tim Bedahl, and it's my great privilege to open up God's Word this morning. Turn in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 14 this morning. 1 Corinthians chapter 14, as we continue in this series that we've entitled, Firing on All Cylinders. And what we're gonna learn today is that the church in Corinth was misfiring. And we've known that for some time as we've studied this book and this long letter that the Apostle Paul had written to this church that had all the gifts and all the abilities and all the potential to be a vibrant and healthy and church on the mission for God and his kingdom work in the world. But sadly, they had allowed so many things to get into the way. And one of the things that he's been talking about that was getting in the way was their public times of gathering as a church, doing the very thing that we are doing right now in this place and in this moment, that which should advance the kingdom of God, that which should advance the mission of God, was being hindered. Instead of helping the people who were coming in and gathering to worship and praise the name of Jesus, they were hindering the work that God wanted to do in their lives. And Paul wants to communicate today that this is a real problem. And it was a problem in the church of Corinth and sadly, it's a problem in churches today. [00:00:00] (86 seconds)
When we come into this place, is there this same reverence? Is there this same understanding and sense of responsibility that we are entering a different kind of place for a different type of moment, for a different type of activity? Do we know and recognize what the Bible has clearly communicated that when we gather together in this place? And in this moment, God is in this place. And God serves as the judge and the witnesses as to whether or not what we're doing here, what we're accomplishing here is worthwhile to God. [00:04:54] (36 seconds)
And churches are filled all over this incredible nation for all manner of issues and all manner of reasons. And we have to stop and ask the question this morning, are we in contempt of church? The Corinthian church was for sure. So what might be causing us to be in contempt of church? Because the issues that are gonna have, there's not a one -to -one correlation of what the church at Corinth was dealing with are the same issues that Village Bible Church is. And so I thought it would be good not just to assume that we're all free and clear from this, but that we would stop and we would pause and we would evaluate and ask some interrogatory questions this morning of ourselves and our worship. Am I here for all the right reasons, doing all the right things in this moment? [00:06:00] (46 seconds)
Am I using my gifts in a self -centered way, whether it's I'm singing, whether it's I'm preaching, whether it's I'm doing some sort of teaching or some sort of gift, am I using that gift to say, it's all about me, look at me, give me the praise? Am I doing it in a posture of rejecting God's divine authority over us? Am I pursuing a worship that goes antithetical to what the elders have declared and have defined as the prescribed order of worship and structure of worship? Number five, am I a spectator? Am I watching the worship instead of engaging with my heart, my soul, and my mind? [00:07:03] (44 seconds)
And God is jealous for this time. And I want to encourage you and I want to exhort all of us to make sure that we make the most of this and we follow the right recipe and the right plan so that we may honor and glorify God. Because as the book of Hebrews says, it's a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. And so we want to get this thing right. And the church at Corinth wasn't getting it right. And God's judgment was on the church. And pastorally, Paul had come and he had communicated, listen, we need to fix this. [00:10:24] (36 seconds)
And in order for us to learn from their mistakes, we need to do three things this morning. I want to read our text. And there are three truths that I want us to see that will keep us from being guilty of contempt in court. But let's first of all address the text and let the text teach us this morning. 1 Corinthians chapter 14, starting in verse 26. What then, brothers, when you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. [00:11:01] (33 seconds)
And so we're going to believe that he knows what he's talking about, so this silence isn't silence altogether, it's silence in a particular way. Now context would also tell us that there's something going on here, and there's a dynamic of order and this issue of submission. And so mission is always the idea that God has put an order and structure together, and to live outside of that order, that prescribed structure, is to not submit. And so there's all kinds of submission that we're called to in the church as Christians. [00:27:21] (42 seconds)
There's submission within the role of the Trinity, where the son submits to the father, and the spirit submits to the son. We see that there's submission in the household, where the wife submits to the husband, and the children submit to mom and dad. We see submission within the church, that we are to be subject to those that rule in the church, and those that lead in the church to make their work a joy and not a burden. There's submission within the citizenry of any country, that we are to subject ourselves to the governing authorities. God has established a structure, and he says chaos, anarchy ensues, when we who are to be subject put ourselves in the place of those who we are to be in subject with. [00:27:49] (46 seconds)
And so it cannot mean that women are to be quiet and they are to be mute in their gatherings. It can't mean that based on what Paul has said already in this book, based on what we see in the New Testament. So what in the world does it mean that women are to remain quiet within the church? And most Bible scholars would say this, even though it is disputed, and it's disputed by a lot of people who say, man, we need equity within the church. And that is how this is written on the heels of submission and subject of what the spirits of the prophets are saying. [00:31:43] (39 seconds)
And so here, what we have is the call to do what we're doing. Now, this would seem very elementary from our text, but friends, every time that we gather together, and today is no exception to that rule, three services have taken place. Hundreds upon hundreds of people have been a part of these services, and there's not been a single outburst. And we would say, well, that's normal. That's how it should be. You're right. But we should not take for granted that it would always be that way. Because here we have a church where it wasn't. [00:40:07] (36 seconds)
And so the very fact that we've made this service about Jesus should remind us and should affirm to us we're doing the right things as we pick up this book. We're doing, even at times, the hard things, and that is calling out a specific group of people and trying to interpret what God's Word is saying. So real quickly, we're not going to belabor this, but what things should be a part of a service like this? Write these things down. They're going to be quick. I don't even have them on the screen. But number one, every service that you're a part of in a church, whether here or anywhere else, it should be designed to bring God glory, not us. [00:41:22] (40 seconds)
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