1 Corinthians“Church Purity in a Polluted Culture”

Part 20: Tools for Building the Church1 Corinthians 14:1-25

1 Corinthians“Church Purity in a Polluted Culture”

Part 20: Tools for Building the Church1 Corinthians 14:1-25

LOVEWe cannot forget as we tackle this difficult topic of spiritual gifts that love is the highest goal!

DISCOVERa spiritual gift is always realized and confirmed in the context of community

BUILD

prophecy

• one who speaks the words of God to man (broad definition)

• a "miracle of knowledge, a declaration or description or representation of something future, beyond the power of human sagacity to foresee, discern, or conjecture." - Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary

Different Views

Cessationist refers to someone who thinks that certain miraculous spiritual gifts ceased long ago, when the apostles died and the Scripture was complete.Charismatics believe the same miraculous gifts are still around for the church today much in the same way as it was in Christ’s and the Apostle’s time.

Different Views

Charitable Critic – the miraculous gifts are given at unique times for the building of the church, and while possible today they are not normative. Furthermore, any use of miraculous gifts must be in accordance with the Biblical guidelines and weighed against Biblical revelation.

Different Views on prophecy

Cessationist: the gifts of preaching and teaching

Charismatic: speaking the very words of God, with authority equal to the OT prophets and Scripture

Charitable Critic: speech that reports something that God has “revealed” to the speaker in conjunction with the Scriptures

tongues

• one who speaks in a language unknown to them (broad definition)

• an outward sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit among the disciples, typifying his manifold gifts, and showing that salvation was to be extended to all nations. - Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary

tongues

• actual languages spoken (which were previously unknown) to evangelize the lost or edify the church

• incoherent combination of syllables and vowels that can only be deciphered with the gift of interpretation.

• private prayer language

Different Views on tongues

Cessationist: a miraculous gift that was used to build the early church; one which ceased with the completion of the canon and/or the maturity of the church Charismatic: a gifting that is common in the body of Christ and designed for normative use Charitable Critic: a miraculous gift that is used to build the church at unique times, and while possible in this age, is not normative

PROPHECY VS.

TONGUES

1. By it’s very nature, prophecy is directed towards people while tongues is directed to God (vs. 2-5)

2. Tongues (without interpretation) is worthless in the general assembly because no one understands (vs. 6-12) - music - battle call - language

PROPHECY VS.

TONGUES

1. By it’s very nature, prophecy is directed towards people while tongues is directed to God (vs. 2-5)

2. Tongues (without interpretation) is worthless in the general assembly because no one understands (vs. 6-12) - music - battle call - language

*Remember, our gifts are tools to build others up, not to build ourselves up.

PROPHECY VS.

TONGUES

3. Tongues (without interpretation) repels the unbeliever (vs. 21-23)

4. Prophecy convicts of sin so that the unbeliever might worship God. (vs. 24-25)

1 Corinthians“Church Purity in a Polluted Culture”

Part 20: Tools for Building the Church1 Corinthians 14:1-25