Bible Study - 1 Corinthians Chapter Fourteen (26-40)
Bible Study on 1 Corinthians • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 4 viewsNotes
Transcript
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. 27 If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. 28 But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. 30 If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, 32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. 33 For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, 34 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. 35 If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church. 36 Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached? 37 If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. 38 If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. 39 So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But all things should be done decently and in order.
Study Questions
Study Questions
Verse 26
Verse 26
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.
1.What is Paul referring to when he say’s, “When you come together...”?
1.What is Paul referring to when he say’s, “When you come together...”?
A church service. Which is when the church comes together to worship God together.
2. Some denominations follow a rigidly set plan of service that does not waver from the “planned” service. How could this verse be brought into the conversation to discourage a robotic pattern-following church service? How might you use this verse to point out the Biblical case that a “recipe” for a church service is not necessary?
2. Some denominations follow a rigidly set plan of service that does not waver from the “planned” service. How could this verse be brought into the conversation to discourage a robotic pattern-following church service? How might you use this verse to point out the Biblical case that a “recipe” for a church service is not necessary?
Paul does not prescribe a recipe when he is clearly speaking of how to conduct a church service.
3. Who is responsible for how a church service is conducted? Who is to take part?
3. Who is responsible for how a church service is conducted? Who is to take part?
Everyone in the church who is led of God to do so.
4. What is the Biblical goal of all activities in a church service?
4. What is the Biblical goal of all activities in a church service?
To “build up”
Verses 27-28
Verses 27-28
27 If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. 28 But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.
5. Do you have any thoughts on why Paul was so interested in limiting the use of tongues in Corinth?
5. Do you have any thoughts on why Paul was so interested in limiting the use of tongues in Corinth?
It seems to have been a point of stumbling for the Corinthians and seems to have been elevated to a place that it ought not to have been.
6. Though different from the use of “tongues”, have you ever had God reveal something to you in a church service that you knew He was telling you, but that would only cause distraction or confusion if you shared it openly? What is a key litmus test that can be used to discern if what God is speaking to you is something you are to share, or if it is something that ought to remain between yourself and God? (refer back to verse 26).
6. Though different from the use of “tongues”, have you ever had God reveal something to you in a church service that you knew He was telling you, but that would only cause distraction or confusion if you shared it openly? What is a key litmus test that can be used to discern if what God is speaking to you is something you are to share, or if it is something that ought to remain between yourself and God? (refer back to verse 26).
Yes — many times.
The test is whether it will “build up” others.
Verses 29-33a
Verses 29-33a
29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. 30 If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, 32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. 33 For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,
7. How might the act of “prophesying” end with the same result as tongues?
7. How might the act of “prophesying” end with the same result as tongues?
If the prophesying is not understandable because of a chaotic atmosphere.
8. According to verse 29, what should you do with the sermons you hear? Do you? How do you do this? How do you know if a sermon was a “good” sermon?
8. According to verse 29, what should you do with the sermons you hear? Do you? How do you do this? How do you know if a sermon was a “good” sermon?
“Weigh” them.
Think deeply about them. Put the things being said next to our lives. Test the things beings aid with Scripture.
Verses 33b-35
Verses 33b-35
33 For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, 34 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. 35 If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.
9. In what way is confusion the opposite of peace?
9. In what way is confusion the opposite of peace?
You cannot have peace without clarity. Confusion always leads to a lack of peace.
10. Refer back to 1 Corinthians 11:5 - Can these verses in chapter 14 be an absolute/categorical restriction on women speaking in the church in the context of chapter 11?
10. Refer back to 1 Corinthians 11:5 - Can these verses in chapter 14 be an absolute/categorical restriction on women speaking in the church in the context of chapter 11?
No.
Consider also Anna from Luke 2:36, Deborah from Judges 4, and the various passages in Acts that speak of women prophesying.
11. Look back at your notes on chapter 11 with regard to women and head coverings. Recall why Paul instructed women to cover their heads. Applying the same thoughts/principles from chapter 11, what do you think Paul is saying in these verses? What is (or are) the fundamental issue(s) that you think Paul is addressing when it comes to women speaking in church?
11. Look back at your notes on chapter 11 with regard to women and head coverings. Recall why Paul instructed women to cover their heads. Applying the same thoughts/principles from chapter 11, what do you think Paul is saying in these verses? What is (or are) the fundamental issue(s) that you think Paul is addressing when it comes to women speaking in church?
I believe these passages are reminding the Corinthians that there are different roles for the genders as ordained by God. Not “better” roles, “more important” roles, but “different roles” holding different levels of authority.
Remember how women are to be in submission to.
THEIR OWN husbands.
I know…it’s not popular and does not sound correct in our ears trained for political correctness, but this is what the Bible says.
22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
But remember…the entire family is built around God’s authority structure.
Children in submission to their parents
The husband in submission to Christ.
The entire point of this passage is how a church service ought to be conducted and the recognition of God’s structure of authority should be observed.
There is an implied “without submission” in verse 34. They are clearly allowed to speak given the context of chapter 11, but never in such a way as independent of authority.
But again…the SAME prohibition rests upon everyone, including the husband.
NONE of us are to speak, act, etc. outside the authority structure God has ordained.
Verses 36-38
Verses 36-38
36 Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached? 37 If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. 38 If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.
12. Read Job 12:1-2. Job says this after he has been lectured by his friends who seem to have had all the answers to why Job was in such a sad state when he himself had no clue. What was Job saying to them in Job 12:1-2? Do you see a correlation to what Job said with what Paul said in verse 36?
12. Read Job 12:1-2. Job says this after he has been lectured by his friends who seem to have had all the answers to why Job was in such a sad state when he himself had no clue. What was Job saying to them in Job 12:1-2? Do you see a correlation to what Job said with what Paul said in verse 36?
1 Then Job answered and said: 2 “No doubt you are the people, and wisdom will die with you.
13. How can we accurately judge how “spiritual” a person is, and how “true” a prophet is?
13. How can we accurately judge how “spiritual” a person is, and how “true” a prophet is?
By how much they align with the Word written (the Bible)
14. When it comes down to what a person says (whoever they are and however much they may be respected/trusted), and what the Bible says, what is the clear choice we must make between the two? Though the answer is rather obvious, how can this choice be a difficult one to make, and exercise rightly?
14. When it comes down to what a person says (whoever they are and however much they may be respected/trusted), and what the Bible says, what is the clear choice we must make between the two? Though the answer is rather obvious, how can this choice be a difficult one to make, and exercise rightly?
The Bible must reign…but this is difficult when personalities get involved.
This goes both ways…supporting/defending someone’s wrong opinion because they are a loved friend or brother. As well as attacking/accusing someone’s right opinion because they are a hated enemy.
Verses 39-40
Verses 39-40
39 So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But all things should be done decently and in order.
15. What is the “bottom line” Paul is driving toward when it comes to how a church service should be conducted? If there is no specific recipe for a church service in the Bible, how can we know when we are moving away from Biblical ground in our church services?
15. What is the “bottom line” Paul is driving toward when it comes to how a church service should be conducted? If there is no specific recipe for a church service in the Bible, how can we know when we are moving away from Biblical ground in our church services?
They should be done “decently” and in “order”
66.4 εὐσχημόνωςb: pertaining to being proper, with the implication of pleasing—‘proper.’ πάντα δὲ εὐσχημόνως καὶ κατὰ τάξιν γινέσθω ‘everything must be done in a proper and orderly way’ 1 Cor 14:40.
When our service is not being conducted in a “proper, pleasing, orderly” way, we are drifting from the Biblical pattern of a church service, even if the Bible does not prescribe one form or format.
A check against human emotionalism that gets mis-labeled as the Spirit’s work.
This would also have been a challenge in Corinth, when services conducted to pagan idols often ended up in a show that was anything but “decent” and “orderly”.
ADVERTISEMENT