ELNORA'S BIBLE STUDY WITH FRIENDS, 1 Corinthians, Chapter 14

                                                   Friday, August 16, 2024

 INTRODUCING 1 CORINTHIANS, CHAPTER 14 (NLT)

1 Corinthians 14 concludes Paul's teaching on the spiritual gifts begun in chapter 12. The small but powerful chapter 13 declared that Christlike love matters most of all and that spiritual gifts are useless if not practiced with love. Even though many wanted to show off and pretend they had the gift of tongues, Paul taught that the gift of prophecy, for example, would be better than the display of the gift of tongues in worship services unless someone with the gift of interpreting tongues is available. Only those things which edify or build up the church should be included in any service, and everything should be done in an orderly way, reflecting the character of God. (https://www.bibleref.com/1-Corinthians/14/1-Corinthians-chapter-14.html) 

Tongues and Prophesy, Part 1, Verses 1-12, TBA

 1Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy. ² For if you have the ability to speak in tongues,^[a] you will be talking only to God, since people won’t be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit,^[b] but it will all be mysterious. ³ But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them. ⁴ A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church. ⁵ I wish you could all speak in tongues, but even more I wish you could all prophesy. For prophecy is greater than speaking in tongues, unless someone interprets what you are saying so that the whole church will be strengthened. ⁶ Dear brothers and sisters,^[c] if I should come to you speaking in an unknown language,^[d] how would that help you? But if I bring you a revelation or some special knowledge or prophecy or teaching, that will be helpful. ⁷ Even lifeless instruments like the flute or the harp must play the notes clearly, or no one will recognize the melody. ⁸ And if the bugler doesn’t sound a clear call, how will the soldiers know they are being called to battle? ⁹ It’s the same for you. If you speak to people in words they don’t understand, how will they know what you are saying? You might as well be talking into empty space. ¹⁰ There are many different languages in the world, and every language has meaning. ¹¹ But if I don’t understand a language, I will be a foreigner to someone who speaks it, and the one who speaks it will be a foreigner to me. ¹² And the same is true for you. Since you are so eager to have the special abilities the Spirit gives, seek those that will strengthen the whole church.

^{SECTION QUESTIONS:} 

^{1. Above all else, what does Paul proclaim to be the number one goal of the Christian?} 

^{2. What is the gift of prophecy?} 

^{3. What is the gift of tongues?} 

4. In this passage, what is considered the greater gift of the spirit? What makes you say that? 

THOUGHT QUESTIONS: 

1. How are the gift of prophecy and the gift of tongues different? How are they the same? 

Tongues and Prophesy, Part 2, Verses 13-25, Destiny

¹³ So anyone who speaks in tongues should pray also for the ability to interpret what has been said. ¹⁴ For if I pray in tongues, my spirit is praying, but I don’t understand what I am saying. ¹⁵ Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the spirit,^[e] and I will also pray in words I understand. I will sing in the spirit, and I will also sing in words I understand. ¹⁶ For if you praise God only in the spirit, how can those who don’t understand you praise God along with you? How can they join you in giving thanks when they don’t understand what you are saying? ¹⁷ You will be giving thanks very well, but it won’t strengthen the people who hear you. ¹⁸ I thank God that I speak in tongues more than any of you. ¹⁹ But in a church meeting I would rather speak five understandable words to help others than ten thousand words in an unknown language. ²⁰ Dear brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind. ²¹ It is written in the Scriptures^[f]: “I will speak to my own people through strange languages and through the lips of foreigners. But even then, they will not listen to me,”^[g]
says the Lord. ²² So you see that speaking in tongues is a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for the benefit of believers, not unbelievers. ²³ Even so, if unbelievers or people who don’t understand these things come into your church meeting and hear everyone speaking in an unknown language, they will think you are crazy. ²⁴ But if all of you are prophesying, and unbelievers or people who don’t understand these things come into your meeting, they will be convicted of sin and judged by what you say. ²⁵ As they listen, their secret thoughts will be exposed, and they will fall to their knees and worship God, declaring, “God is truly here among you.”

^{SECTION QUESTIONS:} 

1. What is the distinction Paul makes between the use of the gift of tongues in private and in church/ publicly? 

THOUGHT QUESTIONS: 

1. What comes to mind when you hear the phrase "Prophetic Word"?

A Call to Orderly Worship, Verses 26-40, Teannie

²⁶ Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you. ²⁷ No more than two or three should speak in tongues. They must speak one at a time, and someone must interpret what they say. ²⁸ But if no one is present who can interpret, they must be silent in your church meeting and speak in tongues to God privately. ²⁹ Let two or three people prophesy, and let the others evaluate what is said. ³⁰ But if someone is prophesying and another person receives a revelation from the Lord, the one who is speaking must stop. ³¹ In this way, all who prophesy will have a turn to speak, one after the other, so that everyone will learn and be encouraged. ³² Remember that people who prophesy are in control of their spirit and can take turns. ³³ For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the meetings of God’s holy people.^{[h] 34} Women should be silent during the church meetings. It is not proper for them to speak. They should be submissive, just as the law says. ³⁵ If they have any questions, they should ask their husbands at home, for it is improper for women to speak in church meetings.^{[i] 36} Or do you think God’s word originated with you Corinthians? Are you the only ones to whom it was given? ³⁷ If you claim to be a prophet or think you are spiritual, you should recognize that what I am saying is a command from the Lord himself. ³⁸ But if you do not recognize this, you yourself will not be recognized.^{[j] 39} So, my dear brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking in tongues. ⁴⁰ But be sure that everything is done properly and in order.

^{SECTION QUESTIONS:} 

1. What were the specific rules for tongues? 

2. What are the specific rules for prophesy? 

3. What are the rules for women speaking in the church? Why? Is this discrimination? 

4. What does Paul say about those who refuse to listen to his commands in these areas? 

THOUGHT QUESTIONS: 

1. What do you think about the implementation of tongues in your private worship time? 

Bugle - a brass wind instrument resembling a cornet and sometimes having keys or valves, used typically for sounding military signals.

Cross-references:

Acts 2:1-13 – Tongues at Pentecost

Acts 10:46 – Speaking in tongues

Acts 19:6 – Speaking in tongues

Ephesians 4:12 – The purpose of gifts was the building up of the body.

1 Timothy 4:11-14 – Women can’t teach men in the church.

Prayer Confession for 1Corinthians, Chapter 14

Thank You, Heavenly Father, for Your Word and the truths that are contained within its pages. I praise You for the wonderful way You taught the early Church the truths of the gospel and for protecting its message, through the power of the Holy Spirit. I pray that I would say and do nothing that would communicate an indistinct gospel message to those I witness. Keep my heart pure and my actions honoring to You.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the words of instruction that were given to the Saints in Corinth. I pray that any ungodly or carnal attitude that I have developed in my Christian walk, would be identified and dealt with. Thank You that You are not a God of confusion. I pray that You would give me wisdom when I come across disunity within the Body of Christ so that I may know how to behave and what to do in a way that honors Your name and character. Help me to walk, day by day, in humility and godly righteousness to Your honor and glory. This I ask in Jesus' name, AMEN.

Source: https://prayer.knowing-jesus.com/1-Corinthians/14