God's Church: Building up the Church…

Sermon & Small Group Resources

This is the fourteenth sermon in our series on God’s Church (1 Corinthians). This sermon is ‘Building up the Church…’. Preacher: The Rev’d Adam Lowe. Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 14:1-25

DOWNLOAD the Small Group Questions, Going Deeper, and Sermon Transcript (PDF).

Next Steps this Week

BIBLE READING: 1 Corinthians 14:1-25

Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.

Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me. So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.

For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer, say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying? You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.

I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. 21 In the Law it is written:

“With other tongues

and through the lips of foreigners

I will speak to this people,

but even then they will not listen to me,

says the Lord.”

Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”

SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS

Download in PDF format.

CONNECT: How could you demonstrate Christ’s love on your frontlines this week?

WARM-UP

1. Have you ever had the experience of being in a church service in which you couldn’t understand much of what was happening? What was it like? How did you feel?

Read 1 Corinthians 14:1-12

1. What are the two gifts of speech that Paul describes in this chapter? Can you define them?

2. According to these verses, what is the intended purpose of our gifts? What does edification mean?

3. Can you think of practical examples of what it looks like to build up God’s Church?

4. What are the three images that Paul uses? Why is helping to ensure ‘understanding’ so essential if our purpose is to build up God’s church? How do you see this as evident at St Bart’s?

5. Is Paul saying that the gift of tongues is unhelpful? Why does the context matter?

6. When we gather together on a Sunday, how often do you consider your role in helping to build up other brothers and sisters in Christ? How could we prepare more intentionally to do this?

Read 1 Corinthians 14:13-19

1. How does Paul describe the way that he would pray and speak? What does this mean?

2. What does using our gifts with our whole selves actually look like in practice?

3. Why is it a mistake to create a false dichotomy between ‘spirit’ and ‘mind’?

4. Do we ever rank particular gifts as more ‘spiritual’ than others? How so? Why is this so unhelpful?

5. How can we help ensure that people are able to fully participate together on a Sunday?

Read 1 Corinthians 14:20-25

1. Who is the gift of ‘tongues’ a sign for? What does Paul actually mean by this? How does the quote from Isaiah 28 help us understand this?

2. How does prophecy help those who do not yet believe? What does that look like in our context?

3. In what ways do you think our Sunday gatherings are mindful of those who do not yet believe? How could we even be more active in thinking about those who do not yet believe?

APPLY:  What are the key ways in which you could use your gifts more for the building up of God’s church?

PRAYER

Gracious Father, thank you for the gifts that you have entrusted to us for the building up of your church. Please help us to use these gifts always and increasingly for your good purposes. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

GOING DEEPER

On Your Frontline This Week: How is God using your gifts on your frontline? Maybe ask a colleague or friend if you’re not sure.

Listen, Watch, and Read:

• AUDIO: “Prophecy then and Now” by Dick Lucas
  Part 1 // Part 2

• AUDIO (Podcast): “Ask N T Wright Anything” on the gifts of the Spirit

• AUDIO: “Gifted and Godly” by Hugh Palmer

• AUDIO: “Tongues and Worship” by Tim Keller: