One: Orderly Worship 1 Corinthians 14 Introduction

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One:

Orderly Worship

1 Corinthians 14

Introduction

This passage covers Tongues, Prophecy, and

women in the worship service. I don’t see

any pitfalls or problems in front of us this

morning. Either that or I will probably say

something that each of you disagrees with

this morning. And by the end I will have no

friends and no church body to Pastor.

Transition: You ready? I am working with

the assumption that you have read and even

considered this passage before you got here

this morning. Covering 3 controversial

subjects in one sermon, there is no way to do

it justice, nor cover all the Bible verses that

are brought to bear on the various arguments

to be considered this morning.

In regards to tongues and prophecy, this is

an area in my thinking that I am not

convinced on either side of the argument. I

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don’t want to cop out, and I don’t want to

lead Coastal into confusion, so in that regard

I preach this with fear and trembling this

morning.

I am not sure I have ever put together a

sermon in which I read more, and studied

more, and listened to more sermons. In my

theology and thinking I have some things

that are very, very clear to me on, things of

which I am very certain. At the very top of

things of which I am certain are key

doctrines, like the trinity, virgin birth, deity

of Christ, Substitutionary death of Christ,

Christ’s return, authority of Scripture, and

some others.

One of my behind the scenes observations of

Coastal is that this is the church where

“Baptist” and “Charismatics” come together

and serve together in unity. This, however,

is one of the key topics that tends to divide

these 2 groups, and my fear in my lack of

clarity on this subject may lead to disunity,

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which is where the bulk of my prayers have

been focused in regards to this sermon.

My hope in the end is to major on the majors

and end by giving the appropriate riverbanks

for CCC.

Transition: So when I say this is where

“Baptist” and “Charismatics” come together,

what I mean by those 2 groups: in regards to

what many call “sign” spiritual gifts, and

“signs and wonders” is that the Baptist

(Gross generalization) tend to come from a

background that are “Cessationist” (BTW:

this usually includes Methodist, Lutherans,

Church of Christ, to name a few others) (the

Cessationist believe that the sign gifts are no

longer gifts for today). “Continuationist”

believe the sign gifts are gifts for today. Of

those gifts, tongues and prophesy as

discussed in 1 Corinthians 14 are active gifts

for the church today.

I have set in front of you some of the men

and authors that I have leaned into my entire

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life. Some are still alive, some are not. All

of these men, have a very high view of

scripture. These men would affirm all the

key doctrines that we affirm at Coastal.

None of these men would add to scripture.

These men would affirm that the cannon is

closed. I think most of these men I would

agree with regarding soteriology (Which is

usually quite controversial), and doctrines of

God, Christ, church polity, roles of women

in the church and roles of men and women

in marriage, and I think most would even

agree on the broader and more normative

functions of the Holy Spirit.

Separate the book authors into the 2

groups. So, when we look at this passage (1

Corinthians 14), one’s interpretation is often

driven by their stance on the broader issue,

or broader hermeneutic. Let me start there

try to define each and then move into the

passage.

Continuationist:

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1. They believe the gift of tongues,

prophecy and miracles and wonders are

continuing and active today.

2. For the Continuationist the plain

reading of the text of scripture makes it

clear that there is still opportunity for

these gifts to function today.

3. Though many of the men I lean into

may suggest that this is not normative

spiritual gifts. None of these men

would fall into the extreme charismatic

camp, and most would focus on the

normative functions of the Holy Spirit

as given to us by Jesus Christ in John

16.

Cessationist view:

1. It is common for miracles to

authenticate an individual ministry, or

significant movements of God in

scripture. (Example: Moses, Elijah,

Elisha, Jesus, Apostles, by extension

the early church)

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2. The gift of tongues, office/gift of

prophets, office/gift of healing, have

ceased with the Apostles.

3. These gifts were part of authenticating

the ministry and mission of Jesus, the

Apostles and the early church.

4. Cessationist do believe God heals, it is

the office/gifting given to an individual

that has ceased.

5. After 1 Corinthians, no other NT book

or NT author mentions tongues –

possibly alluding to its fading after the

apostles and the church’s

establishment.

6. The early church fathers were

Cessationist, Chrysostom around 375

AD and with Augustine saying,

“Tongues have ceased.”

So where does Shaun Come down:

1. I think both interpretations have their

strengths and have some compelling

arguments and pull at various parts of

the hermeneutic that I lean into on

other theological issues.

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2. I am nervous of some of the abuses of

the broader Charismatic movement.

3. And there are pieces to the broader

Charismatic movement that are

unbiblical.

4. Specifically, regarding tongues:

5. (My Hermenutic) The first time we see

the gift in the New Testament it is

clearly a known language. (Let the

clear passages of scripture interpret the

unclear passages of scripture)

Acts 2:1-8

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they

were all together in one place. 2 And

suddenly there came from heaven a sound

like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the

entire house where they were sitting. 3 And

divided tongues as of fire appeared to them

and rested on each one of them. 4 And they

were all filled with the Holy Spirit and

began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit

gave them utterance. 5 Now there were

dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men

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from every nation under heaven. 6 And at

this sound the multitude came together, and

they were bewildered, because each one was

hearing them speak in his own language. 7

And they were amazed and astonished,

saying, “Are not all these who are speaking

Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear,

each of us in his own native language?

(ESV)

5. Is there an unknown language or prayer

language?

a. For me, this is where the Bible is less

than clear in my understanding.

b. My hermeneutic is to have the clear

passages of scripture interpret the

unclear.

c. Is there an unintelligible, ecstatic

language that could also be a prayer

language?

d. For me it is unclear.

1 Corinthians 13:1

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If I speak in the tongues of men and of

angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong

or a clanging cymbal. (ESV)

1 Corinthians 14:2

For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not

to men but to God; for no one understands

him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.

(ESV)

Maybe Romans 8:26 – Spirit intercedes for

us, but the context in Romans does not seem

to be tongues.

Some abuses of Tongues that I completely

reject as unbiblical:

a. This is a gift you need to have, a

higher spiritual experience or a

higher spiritual plane: Paul makes it

clear in this text that tongues is a

lesser gift in comparison to prophecy

or understanding what is happening.

b. I completely reject the idea that

tongues are a second blessing of the

Holy Spirit – The Holy Spirit gives

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spiritual gifts and not everyone gets

the same ones – No one ever prays to

receive the gift of giving.

c. The scripture rejects the idea of any

gift or action happening outside of a

person’s control – fruit of the Spirit

is self-control and Paul tells the

Corinthians to sit quiet without an

interpretation, and the prophets to sit

quiet and wait their turn – so there is

not lack of control. (Revivals where

there is a loss of control – not

revival)

6. Biblical hermeneutic: For those that

would say, it is right in the Bible – Just

read the plain reading of the text.

a. Yes, that is true, but we also should

consider the hermeneutic of the

author’s intent – clearly in 1

Corinthians this is a rebuke to the

Corinthians.

b. Second, we do this without thinking

about it in other passages…. Jesus

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said, “if your eye causes you to

stumble,” what he says next?

“Gouge it out.” Or Chapter 11 with

headcoverings, long-hair, and short-

hair.

c. We commonly do not make

normative interpretation of Abraham

sacrificing Isaac.

Where does Shaun come down:

7. Regarding tongues and prophecy, the

canon of scripture is closed – we are in

no way adding to scripture, on this is

suspect we all agree.

So back to me: I am probably an

extremely cautious Continuationist or a

practical Cessationist.

My preference regarding the Holy Spirit is

to focus on what I would call “Normative”

works of the Spirit like:

1. Fruit of the Spirit. (Gal 5)

2. Conviction of Sin. (John 16)

3. Revelation of the Truth

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Transition: So with that as introduction, let

me go highlight what I think are the 2 main

points of this text.

I. Worship should be done intelligently

and in control.

A. Goal of tongues (And all spiritual

gifting) is to build up the church.

1 Corinthians 14:1-4

Pursue love, and earnestly desire the

spiritual gifts, especially that you may

prophesy. 2 For one who speaks in a tongue

speaks not to men but to God; for no one

understands him, but he utters mysteries in

the Spirit. 3 On the other hand, the one who

prophesies speaks to people for their

upbuilding and encouragement and

consolation. 4 The one who speaks in a

tongue builds up himself, but the one who

prophesies builds up the church. (ESV)

1 Corinthians 14:12

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So, with yourselves, since you are eager for

manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in

building up the church. (ESV)

B. Tongues is a lesser gift.

1. There are other gifts that better

benefit the church body.

1 Corinthians 14:5

Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but

even more to prophesy. The one who

prophesies is greater than the one who

speaks in tongues (ESV)

2. In fact, verse 39, for me feels like

Paul is rebuking this church for

elevating tongues as a superior gift.

1 Corinthians 14:39

So, my brothers, earnestly desire to

prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in

tongues. (ESV)

C. Paul advocates the supremacy of the

mind in corporate worship.

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Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue

should pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I

pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my

mind is unfruitful. 15 What am I to do? I will

pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my

mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit,

but I will sing with my mind also. 16 Otherwise, if you give thanks with your

spirit, how can anyone in the position of an

outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving

when he does not know what you are

saying? 17 For you may be giving thanks

well enough, but the other person is not

being built up. 18 I thank God that I speak in

tongues more than all of you. 19 Nevertheless, in church I would rather

speak five words with my mind in order to

instruct others, than ten thousand words in a

tongue. (ESV)

BTW: To me it makes perfect sense that

Paul, the missionary to the Gentiles, and

foreign languages, would often speak in

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tongues, as we see in Acts 2, for the

forwarding of the gospel.

1. Paul is not advocating

mindlessness in worship.

2. He is encouraging us to think

and understand.

3. In Romans, he reminds us that

sanctification is a result of right

thinking…

Romans 12:2

Do not be conformed to this world, but be

transformed by the renewal of your mind,

that by testing you may discern what is the

will of God, what is good and acceptable

and perfect. (ESV)

D. Corporate worship service should be

understandable to all. (Seeker

sensitive)


Brothers, do not be children in your

thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your

thinking be mature. 21 In the Law it is

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written, “By people of strange tongues and

by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this

people, and even then they will not listen to

me, says the Lord.” 22 Thus tongues are a

sign not for believers but for unbelievers,

while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers

but for believers. 23 If, therefore, the whole

church comes together and all speak in

tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter,

will they not say that you are out of your

minds? 24 But if all prophesy, and an

unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted

by all, he is called to account by all, (ESV)

Which is it Paul? Are tongues a sign to

unbelievers on not. In other words, it is a

sign for unbelievers, yet the unbelievers will

see tongues going on in your midst and think

you are crazy. Which is it?

So here is what it is:

1. The Corinthians loved the

miraculous, and stories of the

supernatural. Possibly more

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than the simple preaching of the

gospel – Check out 2

Corinthians and Paul’s defense

of his Apostleship, (Tell us your

visions like the “Super

Apostles” – Corinthians loved

that stuff.

2. They were building the case

that ecstatic expression of

tongues and possibly other

supernatural movements of God

would lead unbelievers to faith.

BTW: This is much the same argument that

many, more extreme, Charismatic churches

make today.

3. But Paul is saying not so.

4. Tongues is a curse for

unbelieving Jews – strange

languages are now bringing the

gospel to the Jews (I don’t have

time to spend more on this)

5. And Paul says the opposite of

what the Corinthians are

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thinking – unbelievers are

convicted by the Holy Spirit not

through the unexplainable, but

through the understandable

engaging the heart and mind.

6. The corporate gatherings should

be understandable. Why?


But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or

outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is

called to account by all, 25 the secrets of his

heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his

face, he will worship God and declare that

God is really among you. (ESV)

E. The miracle we should be hoping and

praying for is repentance and faith in

the gospel.

1. Not tongues, or healing, or some

manifest miracle.

2. It is when the Holy Spirit works in

such a way as a person repents of sin

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and believes in the person and work

of Jesus Christ.

3. This why Paul spends the longest

part of the letter unpacking God’s

greatest work for all to see – the

resurrection of Jesus Christ.

4. This section of the disorderly

corporate worship, centered on the

abuse of the gift of tongues, is

bookended by Love is the greatest,

and the resurrection is the greatest

miracle.

5. He makes sure we understand that it

is this miracle that is the linchpin of

all Christianity, not a gifting of the

Spirit.

6. This is the revival that I hope for in

our culture.

Transition: Next Paul makes clear that the:

II. Corporate worship should be

orderly.

A. Specific instruction to Corinth.

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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. (ESV)

BTW: I would suggest that there is a hint

here that the tongue speaker and the

interpreter knew each other, and knew

beforehand what was going to take place.

B. Order flows from God’s character.

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1 Corinthians 14:33

For God is not a God of confusion but of

peace. As in all the churches of the saints,

(ESV)

C. Cultural order of how men and women

interact in the corporate service.


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. (ESV)

1. In this culture, a married

woman would never speak to a

married man – and it is likely

that women, being new to the

opportunity to learn, were

speaking up and asking

questions.

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2. On top of disrupting the

corporate service of the church,

it was probably culturally

uncomfortable for all involved

(Like a close talker).

3. Paul is saying there is a healthy

way to do this, but not in the

corporate worship.

4. And far from oppressing

women, Christianity opened the

door for women.

Main Point: This was a revolutionary

thought in Ancient Near Eastern Culture. At

this point in history women in general were

not permitted to learn. Not so in the church.

Women were to be educated in the things of

the Lord. Women are encouraged to learn.

But they were to learn quietly. Paul women

are encouraged to learn in a humble, gentle

manner; no different than anyone in the

congregation should learn, including men.

So, let me give some river banks at

Coastal. Coastal’s Statement of

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Corporate worship: Worship is reserved

for God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit only

and is made possible through the mediation

of Jesus Christ alone. We believe that

worship should be present in every aspect of

the believer’s life and is not limited to music

and the preaching of the Word. Biblical

worship involves both Spirit and truth. We

encourage believers to worship both

privately and corporately in community with

other believers. True worship must be made

with understanding, reverence, humility,

fervency, faith, love & perseverance and

cooperate worship and prayer must be made

in a known language.

Transition: Why do we give those river

banks. Because at Coastal we keep in mind

the bigger picture of corporate worship, and

church gatherings.

III. The goal of corporate gatherings.

A. Believers are to be built up.

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1. We are to exercise our gifts in love

and unity.

2. We are to focus on the greater gifts,

that bring understanding to the

gospel of Jesus Christ.

3. So that…

B. Believers and unbelievers can be

confronted with the gospel.

1. Character of God – Holy and

sinless.

2. Human heart – sinful and rebellious.

(Apart from the work of the Holy

Spirit)

3. Solution:

a. Christ alone.

b. His person (God/man)

c. His work – life, death, and

resurrection.

d. His offer – Eternal life – the

ultimate victory over our greatest

need to be saved from the penalty

of our sin – Death (Physical, and

eternal).

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e. That is going to be the focus of

our ministry at CCC.

Pray

One: Orderly Worship 1 Corinthians 14 Introduction

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