Progress up to this point  The Cross & Christian Unity (1:10-4:16)  Christian Sexuality & Marriage (4:17-7:40)  Christian Freedom & Responsibility in Relating to the World (8:1-11:1)  New Essay – Good Christian Meetings (11:2-14:40)  Women Leading in Christian Meetings  The Lord’s Supper (Consuming or Serving?)  Spiritual Gifts & the Gift of the Body  The High Road of Love  Self-Giving Love Guides Our Gifts & Meetings

#1: Unity #2: Sexuality #3: Freedom #4: Meetings #5: Resurrection HYMN TO LOVE #4: Meetings

SELF-GIVING MEETINGS 1 Corinthians 14:21-33a

Individualism (Orphan)Member of a Family Self-Determination: My life My terms My agenda Interdependence: I am not my own, but I belong to God I am not my own, but I belong to the body Self-Reliance: My strength & gifts “I must come through.” Dependence: God’s strength & gifts “I must trust & cultivate faithfulness.” Results: Alienation & abuse Competition & comparison Anxiety & exhaustion Results: Humility& unity Serving spirit Peace & self-giving love!

1 Corinthians It is written in the law: I will speak to these people by people of other languages and by the lips of foreigners, and even then, they will not listen to Me, says the Lord. 22 It follows that speaking in other languages is intended as a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers. But prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers.  Prophets spoke to the people, but they didn’t listen  God sent the Assyrians to conquer them, and rule them as a sign of God’s judgment upon them

1 Corinthians Therefore, if the whole church assembles together and all are speaking in other languages and people who are uninformed or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds? 24 But if all are prophesying and some unbeliever or uninformed person comes in, he is convicted by all and is judged by all. 25 The secrets of his heart will be revealed, and as a result he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, “God is really among you.”

1 Corinthians Therefore, if the whole church assembles together and all are speaking in other languages and people who are uninformed or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds? 24 But if all are prophesying and some unbeliever or uninformed person comes in, he is convicted by all and is judged by all. 25 The secrets of his heart will be revealed, and as a result he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, “God is really among you.” If everyone is uttering strange words in an unintelligible heavenly language, then the uninformed/unbelievers who come in will think you are nuts!

1 Corinthians Therefore, if the whole church assembles together and all are speaking in other languages and people who are uninformed or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds? 24 But if all are prophesying and some unbeliever or uninformed person comes in, he is convicted by all and is judged by all. 25 The secrets of his heart will be revealed, and as a result he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, “God is really among you.” If everyone is prophesying (speaking forth God’s truths in an intelligible, applicable way), then the uninformed/unbelievers who come in will have opportunity to have their minds & hearts engaged by the truths of God.

1 Corinthians Therefore, if the whole church assembles together and all are speaking in other languages and people who are uninformed or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds? 24 But if all are prophesying and some unbeliever or uninformed person comes in, he is convicted by all and is judged by all. 25 The secrets of his heart will be revealed, and as a result he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, “God is really among you.” Heb. 4: For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the ideas and thoughts of the heart. 13 No creature is hidden from Him, but all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account.

Takeaways for us?  We are to be intentionally including unbelievers/seekers in our midst  We are to be sensitive to & accommodating to unbelievers/seekers in our midst  We are to be open about how we are being impacted by God’s Word (prophesying)  We need to realize that our failure to honor prophecy (exhortations to follow the Word) will lead to God’s discipline

Takeaways for us?  We are to be intentionally including unbelievers/seekers in our midst  We are to be sensitive to & accommodating to unbelievers/seekers in our midst  We are to be open about how we are being impacted by God’s Word (prophesying)  We need to realize that our failure to honor prophecy (exhortations to follow the Word) will lead to God’s discipline Heb. 12: Endure suffering as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? 8 But if you are without discipline—which all receive—then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we had natural fathers discipline us, and we respected them. Shouldn’t we submit even more to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time based on what seemed good to them, but He does it for our benefit, so that we can share His holiness. 11 No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the fruit of peace and righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

1 Corinthians What then is the conclusion, brothers? Whenever you come together, each one has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, another language, or an interpretation. All things must be done for edification. 27 If any person speaks in another language, there should be only two, or at the most three, each in turn, and someone must interpret. 28 But if there is no interpreter, that person should keep silent in the church and speak to himself and to God. 29 Two or three prophets should speak, and

1 Corinthians 14 the others should evaluate. 30 But if something has been revealed to another person sitting there, the first prophet should be silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that everyone may learn and everyone may be encouraged. 32 And the prophets’ spirits are under the control of the prophets, 33 since God is not a God of disorder but of peace.

1 Corinthians What then is the conclusion, brothers? Whenever you come together, each one has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, another language, or an interpretation. All things must be done for edification. 27 If any person speaks in another language, there should be only two, or at the most three, each in turn, and someone must interpret. 28 But if there is no interpreter, that person should keep silent in the church and speak to himself and to God. 29 Two or three prophets should speak, and Here is what I am getting at through this whole argument…

1 Corinthians What then is the conclusion, brothers? Whenever you come together, each one has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, another language, or an interpretation. All things must be done for edification. 27 If any person speaks in another language, there should be only two, or at the most three, each in turn, and someone must interpret. 28 But if there is no interpreter, that person should keep silent in the church and speak to himself and to God. 29 Two or three prophets should speak, and Each of you needs to intentionally prepare for your meeting.

1 Corinthians What then is the conclusion, brothers? Whenever you come together, each one has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, another language, or an interpretation. All things must be done for edification. 27 If any person speaks in another language, there should be only two, or at the most three, each in turn, and someone must interpret. 28 But if there is no interpreter, that person should keep silent in the church and speak to himself and to God. 29 Two or three prophets should speak, and Each of you needs to be ready to offer something to build up others in the church.

1 Corinthians What then is the conclusion, brothers? Whenever you come together, each one has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, another language, or an interpretation. All things must be done for edification. 27 If any person speaks in another language, there should be only two, or at the most three, each in turn, and someone must interpret. 28 But if there is no interpreter, that person should keep silent in the church and speak to himself and to God. 29 Two or three prophets should speak, and The meeting must be run with order & direction (leadership)

1 Corinthians 14 the others should evaluate. 30 But if something has been revealed to another person sitting there, the first prophet should be silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that everyone may learn and everyone may be encouraged. 32 And the prophets’ spirits are under the control of the prophets, 33 since God is not a God of disorder but of peace. The meeting must be run with order & direction (leadership)

1 Corinthians What then is the conclusion, brothers? Whenever you come together, each one has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, another language, or an interpretation. All things must be done for edification. 27 If any person speaks in another language, there should be only two, or at the most three, each in turn, and someone must interpret. 28 But if there is no interpreter, that person should keep silent in the church and speak to himself and to God. 29 Two or three prophets should speak, and Each one must interact in a way that is sensitive to others in the group.

1 Corinthians 14 the others should evaluate. 30 But if something has been revealed to another person sitting there, the first prophet should be silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that everyone may learn and everyone may be encouraged. 32 And the prophets’ spirits are under the control of the prophets, 33 since God is not a God of disorder but of peace. Each one must interact in a way that is sensitive to others in the group.

1 Corinthians 14 the others should evaluate. 30 But if something has been revealed to another person sitting there, the first prophet should be silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that everyone may learn and everyone may be encouraged. 32 And the prophets’ spirits are under the control of the prophets, 33 since God is not a God of disorder but of peace. The more people that come & operate under this mindset, the better the meeting & the healthier the church.

Takeaways for us?  Remember that the context for this instruction is mid-sized house church meetings  To experience these realities you must commit to gather regularly in house church meetings

Takeaways for us?  Remember that the context for this instruction is mid-sized house church meetings  To experience these realities you must commit to gather regularly in house church meetings Heb. 10: Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Takeaways for us?  Remember that the context for this instruction is mid-sized house church meetings  To experience these realities you must commit to gather regularly in house church meetings  Prayerfully prepare for your gatherings with your house church

Takeaways for us?  Remember that the context for this instruction is mid-sized house church meetings  To experience these realities you must commit to gather regularly in house church meetings  Prayerfully prepare for your gatherings with your house church Heb. 10: Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Takeaways for us?  Remember that the context for this instruction is mid-sized house church meetings  To experience these realities you must commit to gather regularly in house church meetings  Prayerfully prepare for your gatherings with your house church  Offer yourself in the gatherings

Takeaways for us?  Remember that the context for this instruction is mid-sized house church meetings  To experience these realities you must commit to gather regularly in house church meetings  Prayerfully prepare for your gatherings with your house church  Offer yourself in the gatherings 1 Cor. 14: Otherwise, if you praise with the spirit, how will the uninformed person say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying? 17 For you may very well be giving thanks, but the other person is not being built up.

Takeaways for us?  Remember that the context for this instruction is mid-sized house church meetings  To experience these realities you must commit to gather regularly in house church meetings  Prayerfully prepare for your gatherings with your house church  Offer yourself in the gatherings  Love one another enough to hold each other to these things

Takeaways for us?  Remember that the context for this instruction is mid-sized house church meetings  To experience these realities you must commit to gather regularly in house church meetings  Prayerfully prepare for your gatherings with your house church  Offer yourself in the gatherings  Love one another enough to hold each other to these things What you “get out of the group” will be directly proportional to “what you put into the group”!!!

Takeaways for us?  Leaders should be primarily evaluated not by how entertaining they are, but by how well they are working to foster these conditions & this mindset within their group.  This is why healthy groups will eventually multiply.

Takeaways for us?  Leaders should be primarily evaluated not by how entertaining they are, but by how well they are working to foster these conditions & this mindset within their group.  This is why healthy groups will eventually multiply. It is like “spiritual pregnancy”…