Order in the Church

Max Fernandez

Let's Be a Christ-Centered Church • Sermon • Submitted 6 years ago

1 Corinthians 14:34–40

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Title: Order in the Church

Text:

Series: Let's Be a Christ-Centered Church

Illustration:

99 piece Craftsman socket set

- as it hath pleased him...

There are several points of emphasis in the passage. Note:

"speak" (v. 34, 35, 39)

"law" (v. 34)

"word of God" (v. 36) - same as word "saith" in (v. 34)

"commandments of the Lord" (v. 36)

We also note that the church service is to reflect the character of God -

This means that people will be involved in using their gifts, but it will be done in a way that is orderly.

What then does it mean that the service is to have order? How does this happen?

It means that we will chase love at church (14:1)

It means that we will be devoted to what builds up the brethren (14:5, 14:12)

It means that we will be devoted to what builds up unbelievers (14:23 - 25)

It means that there is an established order that will be followed (POINT ONE)

(1.) What does the command regarding women at church have to do with order? (v. 34 - 35)

Mind the context:

The context of weighing prophecies -

The context of women who are married -

Mind the potential conflict ()

How can women like Euodia and Syntyche (), Prisca (; ), Mary (), Junia () and Tryphaena and Tryphosa () function as co-workers in the churches if they cannot speak in those churches? How can Phoebe fulfill her role of [servant] deacon () if she cannot speak out in the assembly? How can a woman like Nympha, who is influential enough to host a house church (), have been required to remain silent in her own home (cf. also Prisca, the wife of Aquila, 16: 19)?

Garland, David E.. 1 Corinthians (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) (Kindle Locations 15225-15230). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Mind the Creator & the Creation (scriptures)

Remember the verse just before our text -

Remember Paul called upon this created order already -

Paul can speak to these individuals about the original created order because they are new creations - they are part of God’s beginning work of restoring all of creation back to it’s original intent.

Paul can speak to these individuals about the original created order because they are part of a brand new body (a new man) that has been created. It is the church. ,

Paul can speak to these individuals who are part of this new body that was created by the incomparable submission of Jesus Christ.

What sin had destroyed in the original created order, Jesus Christ has died to restore something even better.

Jesus died for the formation of a bride, and within this bride are many individuals who are diverse in function but they are equal in value.

And for those who are foreshadowing the ultimate Marriage of Jesus & the Church, you get the privilege to live NOW, by his grace, within God’s created order as a new creation.

Women who are restored to Christ and have entered into the covenant of marriage should reflect God's created order when considering/weighing those using their gifts in the public service. You should want your obedience to reflect that you are a new creation in Christ.

Illustration:

Application:

This means that you don’t see your role as less than a man’s but you see our role as a reflection of Christ’s submission.

This means that you do participate, but that you participate according to created, marital order.

(2.) What will prohibit orderliness in the church (v. 36 - 38)

(v. 36) Paul’s rhetorical questions here are to confront their maverick approach to worship.

(v. 37) The test of spirituality here is whether they acknowledge the commandments of the Lord

There is more to this that should be considered.

The test of spirituality is whether they have the Spirit of God

The test of whether they have the Spirit of God is what they say about Jesus -

Here, if they claim to be led of the Author of the Scriptures, then their worship should be consistent with the Scriptures of the Author [the Holy Spirit].

(v. 38) If someone rejects this truth, let him be rejected.

Paul is addressing an apparent self-inflated view that is causing them to behave like this in the assemblies. See, for order to be the standard, this requires cooperation. This cooperation requires humility. This cooperation requires obedience.

There is one sin that does prohibit this kind of cooperation and humility. It is the sin of Pride.

Illustration:

Virtues Leading to Pride

Topics: Arrogance; Good Deeds; Human Power; Hypocrisy; Legalism; Limitations; Pride; Sanctification; Self-reliance; Vices; Virtue

References: ; ; ; ; ;

Humanist Benjamin Franklin rejected the graces of religion and wrote his own. For example:

Silence: “Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.”

Frugality: “Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself, that is, waste nothing.”

Industry: “Lose no time, be always employed in something useful, cut off all unnecessary actions.”

Tranquility: “Be not disturbed at trifles or accidents common or unavoidable.”

Franklin set up a book with a page for each virtue, with a column in which to record “defects.” Choosing a different virtue to work on each week, he daily noted every mistake, starting over every thirteen weeks to cycle through the list four times a year. For many decades Franklin carried his little book with him, striving for a clean thirteen-week cycle.

As he made progress, he found himself struggling with yet another defect: pride. Franklin wrote, “There is perhaps no one of the natural passions so hard to subdue as pride. Disguise it. Struggle with it. Stifle it. Mortify it as much as one pleases. It is still alive, and will every now and then peep out and show itself.… Even if I could conceive that I had completely overcome it, I should probably be proud of my humility.”

—Philip Yancey, What’s So Amazing about Grace? (Zondervan, 1997)

Larson, C. B., & Ten Elshof, P. (2008). 1001 illustrations that connect (pp. 492–493). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.

Application:

Pride manifests itself in service that is self-centered.

Service rendered

Pride manifests itself in service that is self-assertive.

Pride manifests itself in service that is scripturally-insensitive. (Savior - insensitive)

(3.) What should be everyone's desire so that there will be order in the church? (v. 39 - 40)

Paul wraps this section up by tying it all together

- “covet” (be jealous, strive for)

- “desire”

Illustration:

Illustration 962

Overlooked Asset

Topics: Coveting; Greed; Help; Money; Needs; Provision

References: ; ;

Danny Simpson, twenty-four, robbed a bank in Ottawa, Canada, of $6,000 in 1990. He was caught and sentenced to six years in prison. He used a.45 caliber Colt semiautomatic in the robbery, which turned out to be an antique made by the Ross Rifle Company, Quebec City, in 1918.

It was worth up to $100,000—much more than Simpson stole. If he had just known what he carried in his hand, he wouldn’t have robbed the bank.

In other words, Danny already had what he needed.

—The Province, Vancouver, British Columbia (September 19, 1990)

Larson, C. B., & Ten Elshof, P. (2008). 1001 illustrations that connect (p. 517). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.

Application:

How often do we find ourselves coveting things that are far lesser in value?

How often do we covet our personal time over time edifying other believers?

How often do we covet our comfort of sitting in a pew rather than loving other Christians through teaching?

How often do we covet personal recognition over building up others?

We hold our membership hostage:

“Pastor never came to see me.”

“She didn’t say ‘hi’ to me”…etc

Conclusion:

Order in the church then sees the value of Christ’s submission and lives according to His created order.

Order in the church sees that Pride is the enemy

Order in the church then desires that all gifts be used to build up the body.

Questions:

(1) Are you even part of the local church?

(2) How can you serve harmoniously, using your gifts, if you have not declared your loyalty to those with whom you will be serving?

(3) Are you just an attender?

(4) Have you taken time to examine your heart for prideful thoughts?

(5) Why do you or don’t you value the body of Christ?

It is a joyful venture for new creations in the new body of Christ to show for God's character by living according to His created order.

Illustration:

It is a joyful thing to see God’s creation living according to God’s intended purpose. We have a dog. To watch the dog play is a joyful thing. I have a game I play with him, grabbing his paws, he scurries quickly....watching him play with toys that we have bought…there is something joyful about that.

It is a joyful venture for new creations in the new body of Christ to show for God's character by living according to His created order.

Questions:

(1) Are you even part of the local church?

(2) How can you serve harmoniously, using your gifts, if you have not declared your loyalty to those with whom you will be serving?

(3) Are you just an attender?

(4) Have you taken time to examine your heart for prideful thoughts?

(5) Why do you or don’t you value the body of Christ?

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