Now that we know we have gifts from the Spirit, we need to know the proper way to use them. We don\u2019t want anything to get out of hand. We want to be selfless with our gifts. But what does that look like?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1 Corinthians 14 is another one of those sticky passages we mentioned. We aren\u2019t going to get that deep into the issue of speaking in tongues or where women can or can\u2019t serve in the church in this study because that\u2019s not the point of this passage. As we\u2019ve already seen this week, these chapters are about how to lovingly serve the church. In chapter 14, Paul uses tongues and prophecy as an example of how not <\/em>to handle our gifts in the local church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read through 1 Corinthians 14 to get a general understanding of the issues there<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 1<\/strong> Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives\u2014especially the ability to prophesy. 2<\/strong> For if you have the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking only to God, since people won\u2019t be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will all be mysterious. 3<\/strong> But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them. 4<\/strong> A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 5<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 6<\/strong> Dear brothers and sisters, if I should come to you speaking in an unknown language, 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<\/strong> Even lifeless instruments like the flute or the harp must play the notes clearly, or no one will recognize the melody. 8<\/strong> And if the bugler doesn\u2019t sound a clear call, how will the soldiers know they are being called to battle?<\/p>\n\n\n\n 9<\/strong> It\u2019s the same for you. If you speak to people in words they don\u2019t understand, how will they know what you are saying? You might as well be talking into empty space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 10<\/strong> There are many different languages in the world, and every language has meaning. 11<\/strong> But if I don\u2019t 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<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 13<\/strong> So anyone who speaks in tongues should pray also for the ability to interpret what has been said. 14<\/strong> For if I pray in tongues, my spirit is praying, but I don\u2019t understand what I am saying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 15<\/strong> Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the spirit, 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<\/strong> For if you praise God only in the spirit, how can those who don\u2019t understand you praise God along with you? How can they join you in giving thanks when they don\u2019t understand what you are saying? 17<\/strong> You will be giving thanks very well, but it won\u2019t strengthen the people who hear you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 18<\/strong> I thank God that I speak in tongues more than any of you. 19<\/strong> But in a church meeting I would rather speak five understandable words to help others than ten thousand words in an unknown language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 20<\/strong> Dear brothers and sisters, don\u2019t 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<\/strong> It is written in the Scriptures:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI will speak to my own people<\/p>\n\n\n\n through strange languages<\/p>\n\n\n\n and through the lips of foreigners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But even then, they will not listen to me,\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n says the Lord.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 22<\/strong> 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<\/strong> Even so, if unbelievers or people who don\u2019t understand these things come into your church meeting and hear everyone speaking in an unknown language, they will think you are crazy. 24<\/strong> But if all of you are prophesying, and unbelievers or people who don\u2019t understand these things come into your meeting, they will be convicted of sin and judged by what you say. 25<\/strong> As they listen, their secret thoughts will be exposed, and they will fall to their knees and worship God, declaring, \u201cGod is truly here among you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n 26<\/strong> Well, my brothers and sisters, let\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 27<\/strong> 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<\/strong> But if no one is present who can interpret, they must be silent in your church meeting and speak in tongues to God privately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 29<\/strong> Let two or three people prophesy, and let the others evaluate what is said. 30<\/strong> But if someone is prophesying and another person receives a revelation from the Lord, the one who is speaking must stop. 31<\/strong> 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<\/strong> Remember that people who prophesy are in control of their spirit and can take turns. 33<\/strong> For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the meetings of God\u2019s holy people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 34<\/strong> 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<\/strong> If they have any questions, they should ask their husbands at home, for it is improper for women to speak in church meetings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 36<\/strong> Or do you think God\u2019s word originated with you Corinthians? Are you the only ones to whom it was given? 37<\/strong> 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<\/strong> But if you do not recognize this, you yourself will not be recognized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 39<\/strong> So, my dear brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and don\u2019t forbid speaking in tongues. 40<\/strong> But be sure that everything is done properly and in order.<\/p>\n1 Corinthians 14 (NLT)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Take a look again at the verses in 1 Cor.14:12 and 1 Cor.14:26. According to these verses, what\u2019s the goal of using our gifts in the church?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The word “strengthen” is the Greek word oikodome<\/em>, oiko<\/em> is “house” and dome<\/em> is “build”. It can also be translated \u201cbuilding up\u201d in English, to describe what the spiritual gifts should do for the church. Oikodome <\/em>can also mean to increase someone or something\u2019s potential, to make more able, or to strengthen. Paul wants the Corinthians to realize that the gifts they have aren\u2019t to prop themselves up, which seems to be what\u2019s happening in their church. Instead, our gifts are to strengthen the church, to make it better and sturdier. Anything that tears down the church or causes division is outside God\u2019s intention for spiritual gifts<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n No matter what gifts we have, we should always use them to build up the church. They should never be the tools we use to gain popularity or recognition. Jennie talked about it a lot in her teaching and Paul reminds us yet again in this chapter: Spiritual gifts are not about you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reflect on the gifts you have. Would you say you\u2019re using them for yourself or for the church? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Close your time today in prayer. Confess to God any way you might be using your gifts selfishly. Pray that he would give you an opportunity to be selfless with the way he\u2019s gifted you. Ask for a chance to use your gift to care for someone in your church this week.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n And when he gives you that chance, do it. Allow the Spirit to use you to build up the church. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Without mentioning any name, how would you like to use your gift to care for a person in the church this week?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Text your response to the above prompting questions to your group and\/or share it as a comment below<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Now that we know we have gifts from the Spirit, we need to know the proper way to use them. We don\u2019t want anything to get out of hand. We want to be selfless with our gifts. But what does that look like? 1 Corinthians 14 is another one of those sticky passages we mentioned. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"\n Welcome!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Welcome to the book of 1 Corinthians. As we study this letter, we\u2019ll step into ancient Corinth while reading the words Paul wrote to the fledgling church. We\u2019re going to see that, like all churches, the Corinthian church wasn\u2019t perfect. They had a problem. A big problem. And it grew to such an epic proportion that it poisoned the church in various ways. Paul wrote to provide the antidote. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In this study, we\u2019re going to explore Paul\u2019s solution to both the problems in Corinth and in us. Through his words, we\u2019ll learn more about Jesus\u2019s plan for a people who live radically different lives than the world around them. But we\u2019ll also take a hard look in the mirror and ask the Spirit to point out our own self-centered attitudes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Reading the Bible isn\u2019t just something we do to impress people or to check off on a to-do list. It\u2019s about getting to know God. It\u2019s about shaping every minute of our lives to reflect Jesus. It\u2019s about thinking differently in the power of the Spirit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So as we approach each week, we\u2019ll focus on one main idea. That main idea will point us to change how we think, feel, and act. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This week, we\u2019ll see that resolving relational disunity begins in our hearts because division is a symptom of self-focus. From this main idea, we have three goals: <\/p>\n\n\n\n First Corinthians will take us on a journey. We\u2019ll look at the struggles of one of the first local churches in all of history. We\u2019ll see that the Corinthians weren\u2019t much different from us. And we\u2019ll realize that Paul\u2019s words to them still ring true today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But before we jump into 1 Corinthians, spend a few minutes writing out a short prayer to God. Ask him to use this study to change you. <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Open up your Bible to 1 Corinthians. Go ahead and read the entire first chapter. As you read, ask yourself this question: What was the problem in the Corinthian church?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 Corinthians 1:1\u201331 (ESV): <\/p> 1\u00a0Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, \u201cI will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.\u201d<\/p> 20\u00a0Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21\u00a0For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22\u00a0For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23\u00a0but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24\u00a0but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25\u00a0For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.<\/p> 26\u00a0For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27\u00a0But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28\u00a0God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29\u00a0so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30\u00a0And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31\u00a0so that, as it is written, \u201cLet the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n The Corinthian church suffered from division. We\u2019ll see it all throughout the book. The struggling church fought over leadership, spiritual gifts, food, marriage, and theology. Since the theme of disunity runs throughout the letter, it\u2019s tempting to think that was the church\u2019s problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But it wasn\u2019t. Disunity was only a symptom of a far more insidious\u2014and common\u2014 disease. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Did you catch the real issue that was going on in Corinth? It was selfishness. They were so consumed with themselves that they tried to solve their problems their own way, held on to their culture, and, as a result, blasted chasms between them and other Christians.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n No one likes to admit to selfishness\u2014 especially people who claim to follow Jesus. But it often sneaks into our lives in ways we don\u2019t readily see. And then it spills over in ways we never expect. For the Corinthians, their selfishness led to severe divisions in the church. What is it for us? We\u2019ll spend the rest of the study unpacking that very question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that we know the main problem Paul\u2019s tackling in 1 Corinthians, take a moment to be honest with God. Write down any fears or concerns you have about confronting the problem of selfishness. Ask God to use this study to turn your gaze to him.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-224042","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-1corinthians"],"yoast_head":"\n\n
2\u00a0To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:
3\u00a0Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4\u00a0I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5\u00a0that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge\u2014 6\u00a0even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you\u2014 7\u00a0so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8\u00a0who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9\u00a0God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
10\u00a0I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 11\u00a0For it has been reported to me by Chloe\u2019s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12\u00a0What I mean is that each one of you says, \u201cI follow Paul,\u201d or \u201cI follow Apollos,\u201d or \u201cI follow Cephas,\u201d or \u201cI follow Christ.\u201d 13\u00a0Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14\u00a0I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15\u00a0so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. 16\u00a0(I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17\u00a0For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
18\u00a0For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19\u00a0For it is written, <\/p>