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Soli Deo Gloria,
Pastor Sean
•I Corinthians 14:6-12
•Congregational Gatherings
•The Wide World
•Corinth
6 Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 7 If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? 8 And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? 9 So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air. 10 There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, 11 but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. 12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.
(I Corinthians 14:6-12, ESV)
Main Point
• Further establish the purpose for coming together
• If Paul came only speaking in a tongue then no one else would benefit
• Our eagerness should not be found in our own personal individual fulfillment
• But in seeking to be faithful what we are called to do for the benefit of the congregation
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Application Points
• Congregational Gatherings
– Paul recognizes the greater benefit to the congregation for the one who prophesies
– He is emphasizing the gathering of fellow believers and the purpose of that gathering
– We can understand the emphasis Paul places on the Church being built up
– Why do we gather?
– To build up the Church
– It requires us to speak intelligently to one another
– As we gather the main purpose is to establish everyone in what it means to be a faithful follower of Jesus
Application Points
• Congregational Gatherings (2)
– Unfortunately this is not often the case when it comes to many congregation
– We have de-emphasized the things Paul is now saying is necessary
– Bringing a revelation, knowledge, prophecy, and teaching
– Not all teachings given will automatically sit well with us
– The concept of Christian particularism is not new
– No other way, no other person, no other being, can accomplish this apart from Christ
– This is particular
– Most people do not like this teaching because they begin to wonder about other peoples, cultures, and beliefs
– “Surely you don’t mean Jesus is the only way”
Application Points
• Congregational Gatherings (3)
– We can speculate about how God might still save these people through Jesus
– The teaching is still the same…it is only through Jesus we find salvation
– Because we have not focused on teachings
– We have become stagnant unable to discern the times, unable to discern spiritual attacks, unable to provide responses to the world around us
– Is Paul saying emotional or personal experiences aren’t a good thing?
– His concerning is about the corporate setting
– What is the emphasis for when we gather?
– It is the proclamation of the truth
– To engage by learning about God
– Doing this together so that when we face the world as individuals, we will all be on the same page knowing how to face the world
Application Points
• Congregational Gatherings (4)
– The bugle in context was meant for warfare
– The gathering should be the bugle
– Warning of the dangers and getting us prepared
– Armies and groups are only as strong as the individuals who are within them
– All it takes is for one line to break
– Our gathering for Sunday is meant to be a time of equipping
– This also leads to the problem when it comes to the congregation when it comes to leadership
– Oftentimes leaders need to be watchful, knowing where the battles are taking place, and being able to rally the lines
Application Points
• Congregational Gatherings (5)
– In order for leadership to do this they cannot be at every front line
– The leader will be unable to do anything about it because they have so focused on one side
– There are expectations of leadership to constantly be leading the charge
– But the leadership responsibility is to prepare by teaching and being watchful
– Not everyone is called to fight the same battle the same way
– There are those on the front lines
– There are reinforcements
– There are medics for the wounded
– The way the Spirit manifests Himself in us will define our particular role
Application Points
• Congregational Gatherings (6)
– Congregational gatherings are for teaching and preparing us so that throughout our lives as individuals we can be prepared to engage by being faithful to our King who is Christ
– When we gather we should be learning these things
– There is going to be more as Paul continues to focus on corporate worship
– Let us…be faithful to learn what we are called to learn in truth
– Recognizing personal blessings…come naturally as we are obedient and faithful to Christ
– We can rejoice in the fact that God has so organized us into this kind of people
– We can rejoice in the fact that not everyone is called to the same ministry
– We can rejoice in the fact that we are called together to learn and to be built up in the truth that God gives through His Spirit
•Application Points
•The Gospel of Christ
–Origins
–Where we began
–Fall
–What went wrong
–Redemption
–How it is fixed
–Glorification
–Where it at leads
