WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.379 Let me say good afternoon as well, and let me try again and say 00:00:04.379 --> 00:00:11.259 I need to practice as much as possible. For those who don't know, that's me welcoming everyone in Cantonese. 00:00:11.720 --> 00:00:18.359 I'd also like to say to Anthony's group, which is thank you for all the work they put in to give us a delicious lunch. 00:00:19.019 --> 00:00:26.940 And I'd also like to say which is asking you how your food was, and John is letting me know it was good. 00:00:27.280 --> 00:00:29.100 For everyone else, how was your lunch? 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:36.179 Good, good to hear. So if you wanted to thank Anthony and his leaders later, you could say m'goy for what they did. 00:00:36.799 --> 00:00:40.920 Or you could ask them if I'm saying it incorrectly and say the correct thing. Either way. 00:00:41.659 --> 00:00:47.240 It is really great to be gathered today and to have a mix across congregations. 00:00:47.760 --> 00:00:52.659 But I do have a sense as we look at this passage that going on holidays was a mistake. 00:00:52.920 --> 00:00:57.859 I feel like going on holidays means that they have given me the controversial passage. 00:00:57.859 --> 00:01:00.519 So lesson learned. 00:01:01.859 --> 00:01:09.500 But I do want to warn us as we approach this passage to be careful of going in with preconceived ideas. 00:01:09.980 --> 00:01:14.640 We might have things that we believe to be true or that we want to be true. 00:01:14.739 --> 00:01:19.680 And it's really important that we don't read a passage like this with those things being our starting point. 00:01:19.680 --> 00:01:22.780 We want to come to the passage open to what God has to say. 00:01:23.380 --> 00:01:29.580 And we want to listen to what the passage is saying rather than trying to make it say what we want it to say. 00:01:29.660 --> 00:01:33.940 Rather than making it answer what we want it to answer, which was Steve's warning for us yesterday. 00:01:34.080 --> 00:01:35.980 This is a really specific passage. 00:01:36.240 --> 00:01:38.980 It's part of a letter written to a specific church. 00:01:38.980 --> 00:01:44.780 And so we need to hear what Paul was saying to them so that we can understand what God is saying to us. 00:01:45.359 --> 00:01:49.359 But let's pray and ask that God will give us hearts that are willing to do that. 00:01:49.800 --> 00:01:54.719 That have the humility to be taught things that may not be exactly what we want to hear. 00:01:55.580 --> 00:01:59.240 And ultimately that God will be glorified as we sit under his word. 00:01:59.439 --> 00:02:00.000 So let's pray. 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:07.439 Father God, we thank you for your word, the scriptures that you have given to us that we might know you. 00:02:07.760 --> 00:02:13.300 We acknowledge that there are parts of your word that are more difficult to read or understand than others. 00:02:13.639 --> 00:02:17.979 And we want to ask that this afternoon that you would protect us from our own agendas, 00:02:18.500 --> 00:02:23.740 protect us from our own prejudice, and give us hearts that are thirsty to have you speak. 00:02:24.340 --> 00:02:29.439 By your spirit, shape us through your word this afternoon so that we are more like Jesus. 00:02:30.000 --> 00:02:31.960 And so that we are better equipped to give you glory. 00:02:32.719 --> 00:02:33.039 Amen. 00:02:35.300 --> 00:02:36.979 Verse 1, chapter 14. 00:02:38.000 --> 00:02:44.960 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. 00:02:45.780 --> 00:02:48.599 That's pretty much what this chapter is going to be about. 00:02:48.900 --> 00:02:49.599 Three things. 00:02:49.800 --> 00:02:51.039 Follow the way of love. 00:02:51.300 --> 00:02:55.620 And I'm not going to talk too much about that because James is going to tell us about that later on this afternoon. 00:02:55.860 --> 00:02:59.879 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts. 00:03:00.580 --> 00:03:03.419 Especially the gift of prophecy. 00:03:04.300 --> 00:03:10.400 You could read it something like follow the way of love by desiring spiritual gifts. 00:03:11.539 --> 00:03:15.599 The and desire spiritual gifts, it's really a method of following the way of love. 00:03:16.439 --> 00:03:21.120 The desire for spiritual gifts has been something that Paul is challenging the Corinthians on, 00:03:21.199 --> 00:03:23.680 but he's not saying stop desiring the spiritual gifts. 00:03:23.680 --> 00:03:26.920 The desire for spiritual gifts is a loving act. 00:03:27.140 --> 00:03:31.420 Because really what you're saying is I want to be beneficial for the church. 00:03:31.760 --> 00:03:35.280 I want to be skilled to be a blessing to the church around me. 00:03:35.540 --> 00:03:43.020 And the desire for gifts is good and right because God has made it clear to us that all in his church have the spirit. 00:03:43.020 --> 00:03:47.719 And therefore all are empowered by the spirit for the church. 00:03:48.280 --> 00:03:51.379 Steve showed us in chapter 12 of 1 Corinthians verse 7, 00:03:51.379 --> 00:04:21.379 00:04:21.379 --> 00:04:26.639 It's talking about the future day when the spirit will come, which is what we have now. 00:04:27.740 --> 00:04:28.259 And it says, 00:04:28.259 --> 00:04:49.680 Jesus has died and Jesus is risen and God has poured out his spirit on men and women. 00:04:49.680 --> 00:04:54.780 On all those who call themselves Christians, followers of Jesus. 00:04:54.939 --> 00:05:02.259 And so the call to desire spiritual gifts is a call to recognize the fact that God has given his spirit to you, 00:05:02.400 --> 00:05:08.980 not just so that you have it, but so that you might be used for the sake of the church. 00:05:09.840 --> 00:05:14.160 First thing, the third thing in the passage, in verse 1 there is, 00:05:14.660 --> 00:05:17.660 especially the gift of prophecy. 00:05:17.660 --> 00:05:21.760 This is where it starts to get a little bit curly for us to understand. 00:05:22.840 --> 00:05:28.520 Is Paul saying that even though we all have the gift of the spirit, some people are more important than others? 00:05:30.220 --> 00:05:34.280 Is Paul saying that some gifts are more exciting than others? 00:05:35.100 --> 00:05:40.820 Is Paul saying we should appreciate some people with their gifts more than other people with their gifts? 00:05:41.800 --> 00:05:47.160 And if so, which people should we appreciate and which people should we not worry about because their gifts aren't as impressive? 00:05:47.160 --> 00:05:51.760 What does he mean when he says, especially the gift of prophecy? 00:05:52.620 --> 00:05:53.500 Why that one? 00:05:54.500 --> 00:05:57.220 Well, let's have a look and begin to unpack this chapter. 00:05:57.939 --> 00:05:58.500 Verse 2. 00:05:58.500 --> 00:06:03.060 Anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. 00:06:03.379 --> 00:06:04.759 Indeed, no one understands him. 00:06:05.279 --> 00:06:12.319 He utters mysteries with his spirit, but everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. 00:06:12.959 --> 00:06:18.620 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 00:06:19.000 --> 00:06:23.660 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. 00:06:23.660 --> 00:06:34.540 He who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be edified. 00:06:34.920 --> 00:06:37.140 So there's some distinction going on here. 00:06:37.280 --> 00:06:41.780 Prophecy is in some way more prominent for Paul than tongues. 00:06:41.879 --> 00:06:42.660 But what does he mean? 00:06:42.700 --> 00:06:45.180 He's not saying that we need one and not the other. 00:06:45.620 --> 00:06:55.040 He's not saying as long as you've got prophecy, forget about tongues, because he's made it clear in chapter 12 that we're a body, that we need all the parts doing their bit. 00:06:55.139 --> 00:06:56.160 So what is he saying? 00:06:56.579 --> 00:07:02.439 Not that one is more essential, but that one is more beneficial. 00:07:03.439 --> 00:07:04.519 Let me show you what I mean. 00:07:04.579 --> 00:07:08.660 Have a look really closely at the second half of verse 5. 00:07:08.660 --> 00:07:14.780 He who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues. 00:07:15.100 --> 00:07:23.000 It's a reasonably absolute statement, unless he interprets so the church may be edified. 00:07:23.320 --> 00:07:26.200 The benefit of prophecy is that it is plain. 00:07:26.360 --> 00:07:26.960 It is obvious. 00:07:27.100 --> 00:07:32.600 Its whole function is speaking of simple and understandable words so that the church may be edified. 00:07:32.980 --> 00:07:34.040 And tongues aren't bad. 00:07:34.040 --> 00:07:36.580 Paul's desire is that everyone would speak in tongues. 00:07:36.579 --> 00:07:41.719 But they're not beneficial for you if you don't understand them. 00:07:42.819 --> 00:07:45.579 It might be positive for the person praying them. 00:07:45.659 --> 00:07:48.740 They might be having a fantastic time of intimacy with God. 00:07:49.399 --> 00:07:52.219 But the point is, gifts exist. 00:07:52.779 --> 00:07:59.459 Gifts are correctly used when they achieve the maximum possible edification for the rest of the body. 00:08:00.639 --> 00:08:05.219 That is how we measure what gift is greater, what gift is more beneficial. 00:08:05.220 --> 00:08:10.420 I don't know how many of you have been bothering to get up early to watch the World Cup at the moment. 00:08:11.360 --> 00:08:12.200 I haven't. 00:08:12.280 --> 00:08:15.360 But I'm told Australia has been less than embarrassing, so that's good. 00:08:16.060 --> 00:08:21.520 But can you imagine if a team turned up to the World Cup and put 11 forwards on the field? 00:08:22.120 --> 00:08:25.500 11 fantastic strikers who were brilliant at scoring goals. 00:08:25.500 --> 00:08:27.660 Chances are they would lose. 00:08:28.459 --> 00:08:34.659 They may be the 11 best players in their country, but that team still needs the different gifts. 00:08:34.740 --> 00:08:38.059 They still need someone to stand in the goal and block when the other team has shots. 00:08:38.600 --> 00:08:43.580 Otherwise, with all 11 of them waiting for the ball to be passed to them, they're going to get beaten pretty embarrassingly. 00:08:43.580 --> 00:08:47.660 The point is to maximise edification. 00:08:48.759 --> 00:08:52.320 The point is not so much what gift you have, whether that's prophecy or tongues. 00:08:52.620 --> 00:08:55.860 The point is that it's used in a way that will be beneficial. 00:08:56.660 --> 00:09:00.280 So the reason Paul would say something like, he who prophesies is greater, 00:09:00.940 --> 00:09:05.520 is because there is no barrier between the one who prophesies and us as we listen. 00:09:05.519 --> 00:09:12.519 We can listen to the words they say, we can weigh them in our heart, and we can hear what God is trying to teach us. 00:09:12.819 --> 00:09:17.559 But the one who speaks in tongues speaks as one slightly removed from us, 00:09:18.199 --> 00:09:19.840 speaks in a language we don't understand. 00:09:19.960 --> 00:09:22.039 We need another gift for that to be beneficial. 00:09:22.899 --> 00:09:26.419 We need someone to tell us what he's saying so that we can say, amen, we agree. 00:09:26.899 --> 00:09:31.539 So that we can be encouraged by the richness of their relationship as they pray to God. 00:09:32.379 --> 00:09:34.460 Again, tongues are not a bad thing. 00:09:35.519 --> 00:09:40.139 Paul says, I would rather you all have the gift of tongues. 00:09:41.319 --> 00:09:44.059 But the issue here is not what gift you have. 00:09:44.519 --> 00:09:50.399 It's that you use it to the maximum potential so that the whole body gets edified. 00:09:50.919 --> 00:09:53.259 The question is, which will be more beneficial? 00:09:54.679 --> 00:09:55.980 Not which one is better. 00:09:56.799 --> 00:09:58.879 There's a couple of things that we can pick up really quickly there. 00:09:59.779 --> 00:10:04.759 Paul says, I wish that all of you could speak in tongues, which means not everyone speaks in tongues. 00:10:05.519 --> 00:10:11.840 This passage is one of the passages that is often taken to say that there are certain gifts you have to have to mark your maturity. 00:10:12.220 --> 00:10:14.419 And Steve challenges that that's not the case. 00:10:14.500 --> 00:10:15.699 And Paul is really clear here. 00:10:16.340 --> 00:10:18.399 Corinthians is the tongues church. 00:10:19.100 --> 00:10:23.899 They had probably more tongue speakers than we can even begin to comprehend in terms of percentage. 00:10:23.899 --> 00:10:28.340 And Paul says, I wish that every one of you could speak in tongues. 00:10:28.480 --> 00:10:29.799 Not every one of them could. 00:10:30.840 --> 00:10:32.439 But also tongues isn't bad. 00:10:32.440 --> 00:10:39.480 Just because there are certain gifts or things that people may do in church that are not familiar for us, 00:10:39.580 --> 00:10:44.400 or a little bit outside of our normal realm of experience as a body of Christ, doesn't mean it's wrong. 00:10:46.160 --> 00:10:51.320 We need to be really open to the fact that God has gifted people in ways that we're not aware yet. 00:10:51.320 --> 00:11:00.760 That God has equipped people to serve within the body that might be completely different to anything we have ever seen before within our relationships and even within our gatherings. 00:11:02.020 --> 00:11:04.740 God gifts us with the things that we need. 00:11:05.879 --> 00:11:12.280 But again, the agenda, regardless of what the gift is, is will this be beneficial? 00:11:12.279 --> 00:11:15.699 And which will be most beneficial? 00:11:16.139 --> 00:11:21.100 The nature of the church, Paul goes on to explain, is that the church is a community. 00:11:22.139 --> 00:11:23.679 It's not an organization. 00:11:24.659 --> 00:11:25.799 It's not a principle. 00:11:25.939 --> 00:11:26.879 It's a group of people. 00:11:26.980 --> 00:11:27.939 Have a look at verse 6. 00:11:28.639 --> 00:11:36.779 Brothers, 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? 00:11:36.779 --> 00:11:46.379 Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? 00:11:47.199 --> 00:11:50.620 Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? 00:11:51.339 --> 00:11:52.419 So it is with you. 00:11:53.299 --> 00:11:58.399 Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? 00:11:59.019 --> 00:12:00.839 You'll just be speaking into the air. 00:12:01.579 --> 00:12:05.539 Undoubtedly, there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. 00:12:05.539 --> 00:12:13.240 If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker and he is a foreigner to me. 00:12:14.740 --> 00:12:16.679 The church is a community. 00:12:17.399 --> 00:12:18.419 It's a group of people. 00:12:18.620 --> 00:12:19.919 It's a web of relationships. 00:12:20.259 --> 00:12:25.139 And so anytime we talk about the church, we shouldn't think about a structure or a program. 00:12:25.500 --> 00:12:29.659 We need to think about the impact that this has through those relationships. 00:12:29.659 --> 00:12:41.959 So when you talk about gifts, it's not what place you might have on a roster, but it's how will me doing this thing or exercising this gift or ability impact on the people that I gather with in God's name? 00:12:42.679 --> 00:12:47.559 The agenda here, Paul says, brothers, he talks to them with a level of intimacy and closeness. 00:12:47.559 --> 00:12:54.039 And he says, what matters is that what I do and what you do is beneficial to one another. 00:12:54.879 --> 00:12:56.879 It doesn't matter how well you do it. 00:12:57.399 --> 00:13:01.859 If it doesn't help me, then it doesn't help the church. 00:13:02.579 --> 00:13:05.659 The church is not you being a good Christian. 00:13:05.659 --> 00:13:14.959 The church is us relating to one another as people who have together been forgiven by the grace of God in Jesus. 00:13:15.939 --> 00:13:19.100 Church is necessarily a communal activity. 00:13:20.339 --> 00:13:28.279 And so we need to be really careful about thinking through it as my gifts or my platform for serving or the place where I get what I need. 00:13:29.539 --> 00:13:32.299 This is how relationships work. 00:13:32.299 --> 00:13:43.019 We come to this community with our energy and focus on those to whom we're relating, not on what I want or what I need or what I think is best. 00:13:43.699 --> 00:13:45.959 We come with that selfless servant heart. 00:13:46.259 --> 00:13:48.259 And this is exactly God's agenda as well. 00:13:48.919 --> 00:13:50.299 This is the way God works. 00:13:50.399 --> 00:13:53.439 We did a series in the Trinity, I think, at the start of last year. 00:13:53.440 --> 00:14:04.620 And we're reminded that the way God works as Father, Son and Holy Spirit is not for the Father to say, I'm the most important or for the Son to say, I'm the King because I went to the cross and now I'm on the throne. 00:14:04.940 --> 00:14:07.260 But they love and serve one another. 00:14:07.820 --> 00:14:11.960 The way they interact is driven by loving service and honouring of one another. 00:14:11.960 --> 00:14:24.120 And as his community, that is what God has designed for us, both for our benefit and so that we are an accurate reflection of the God that we represent in the world. 00:14:25.240 --> 00:14:26.680 There's this amazing picture there. 00:14:26.740 --> 00:14:36.780 We're going to come back to it in a sec in verse 22 to 25, where Paul says, if unbelievers come in and everyone's prophesying, which we know is more beneficial, 00:14:36.779 --> 00:14:55.199 then those unbelievers, have a look at it in verse 24, if he comes in while everybody's prophesying, he'll be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare so he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, God is really among you. 00:14:56.819 --> 00:15:04.959 Surely that is an exciting and glorious picture of what church and church community should be, of what your community group can be as it gathers, 00:15:04.960 --> 00:15:10.879 of what we can be as we gather informally as the people of God for lunch or to watch a movie. 00:15:13.759 --> 00:15:26.620 A community where people see God's love, see humble service, hear God's word proclaimed through the way that we interact and the way that we speak to the point where they fall down and exclaim, God is here. 00:15:27.759 --> 00:15:29.280 God is among this community. 00:15:29.840 --> 00:15:30.940 These are his people. 00:15:30.940 --> 00:15:35.100 Church is a community. 00:15:36.040 --> 00:15:45.440 And that means that gifts are only exercised well when they're exercised with regard to the community, when they're exercised with regard to the people that they're around. 00:15:45.560 --> 00:15:46.540 Have a look at verse 11. 00:15:47.660 --> 00:15:54.620 If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker and he is a foreigner to me. 00:15:54.620 --> 00:16:02.340 If we come to our church gatherings, if we come to our community groups, if we come to the times where we're gathered as God's people, 00:16:02.799 --> 00:16:09.560 it doesn't matter how well you pray, if I don't know what you're doing, what you're doing is actually pushing me out. 00:16:10.580 --> 00:16:12.620 You're making me an alien in that community. 00:16:13.139 --> 00:16:15.080 You're making me feel like I don't belong. 00:16:15.080 --> 00:16:25.280 If I come and exercise my gift in a way that you can't follow, that you don't understand, Paul says I'm doing the exact opposite of what the gift exists for. 00:16:26.879 --> 00:16:28.500 I'm making you feel uncomfortable. 00:16:29.200 --> 00:16:31.200 I'm making you feel like you don't belong here. 00:16:31.980 --> 00:16:34.180 I'm making you feel like this isn't your community. 00:16:34.179 --> 00:16:38.699 And that's what verses 22 to 25 are talking about as well. 00:16:39.359 --> 00:16:49.939 We can alienate outsiders just by doing things for ourselves, by being driven by an agenda of this is my ability, this is my skill set and I need to use it. 00:16:51.459 --> 00:17:02.699 Now we do need to be a little bit careful because the instruction then isn't to make our Christian community so like everything else that's around the world that anyone can walk in and think everything's totally fine. 00:17:02.700 --> 00:17:05.220 Christians are weird. 00:17:06.160 --> 00:17:07.660 We do weird things. 00:17:08.380 --> 00:17:14.180 If somebody who's never been to church was to come in here today, they would think it's weird that we're all singing along to some words on a screen. 00:17:14.460 --> 00:17:15.120 That's okay. 00:17:15.920 --> 00:17:24.000 It's okay to be weird but there's a difference between being weird and intentionally doing something that will isolate you from others. 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:34.660 There's a difference between doing things which are distinctively Christian and doing things that separate you out from the community. 00:17:36.180 --> 00:17:37.799 I mean singing is a great example. 00:17:38.460 --> 00:17:44.440 One of the reasons we sing is because we get to do it together in unison and we get to do it using the same words. 00:17:44.440 --> 00:17:55.900 But if instead you decide that you just want to do your own song that no one else knows and just kind of wander off to the side and sing it over the top of us like my son does sometimes, 00:17:56.279 --> 00:17:59.860 that could actually be something that's unloving. 00:18:00.840 --> 00:18:06.180 That could be a way of you alienating people who are in this community who are actually your brothers and sisters in Christ, 00:18:06.180 --> 00:18:22.420 who have also been loved and adopted by the blood that he shed on the cross and simply because you feel gifted to pick that song or to sing that song does not mean that you should do it when we gather with no regard for the people around you. 00:18:24.620 --> 00:18:27.440 Building up is the agenda that God has for his people. 00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:38.000 Whenever we are together, whenever we think of the people that we are in church with here, that we are in relationship with, the agenda is how can I be beneficial? 00:18:38.620 --> 00:18:39.740 How can I build up? 00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:42.500 He makes it explicit with gifts in verse 12. 00:18:43.620 --> 00:18:48.860 Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church. 00:18:49.340 --> 00:18:51.660 There are some gifts that are going to be more beneficial. 00:18:51.660 --> 00:18:55.920 He's already explained that tongues is still a gift and a good gift and a valid gift. 00:18:57.440 --> 00:19:08.400 But prophecy is more beneficial for the church because prophecy is the chance to speak the truth of God and to live the truth of God and to be Christ-like in our relationships with one another. 00:19:09.900 --> 00:19:12.580 And so there's got to be something that shifts for us. 00:19:12.960 --> 00:19:19.580 We don't look at the Bible and look for the set of gifts and pick the ones that we like or we think we'd like to have and then put our hand up and say, 00:19:19.580 --> 00:19:21.440 that's what I can do, that's how I'm going to serve. 00:19:22.960 --> 00:19:27.180 We don't come to church and say, this is what I've done before and therefore that's what I'm going to do now. 00:19:27.440 --> 00:19:37.539 It may be that you end up doing the same thing and it may be that that's your gifts, but the encouragement here is to desire the gifts that we'll build. 00:19:38.680 --> 00:19:48.180 So change your heart to want what is needed for the church rather than what might be exciting for you or impressive. 00:19:48.180 --> 00:19:52.140 Or public or visible. 00:19:54.340 --> 00:20:03.400 When we're called to desire spiritual gifts, there's a sense that God may give us different manifestations of the spirit at different times for different purposes. 00:20:03.400 --> 00:20:11.320 I pray that right now God by his spirit is giving me a manifestation so that I can teach God's word well. 00:20:12.040 --> 00:20:19.160 But it might be that in another season of my life, I need a completely different manifestation of the spirit for the sake of the body that I'm in. 00:20:20.660 --> 00:20:22.920 And that needs to be my heart's desire. 00:20:23.360 --> 00:20:24.820 Not what do I want to do. 00:20:25.240 --> 00:20:26.580 Not what have I done before. 00:20:27.060 --> 00:20:28.640 Not what makes me comfortable. 00:20:28.640 --> 00:20:31.580 But what does this body need? 00:20:32.040 --> 00:20:32.940 God give me that. 00:20:33.600 --> 00:20:35.840 That needs to be the thing that marks our prayer. 00:20:35.980 --> 00:20:36.660 What is needed. 00:20:37.520 --> 00:20:39.480 Not what is impressive or wanted. 00:20:40.240 --> 00:20:44.880 I've had the chance to spend a bit of time in Singapore over the last few years doing some ministry. 00:20:45.100 --> 00:20:50.259 And I've got some guys over there who I consider friends now and brothers and partners in ministry. 00:20:50.400 --> 00:20:52.000 And one in particular, his name is Roger. 00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:54.880 He studied for Bible College here. 00:20:55.319 --> 00:21:01.039 He's Singaporean nationality but came over here to study and is now back there serving in a church as a youth pastor. 00:21:01.720 --> 00:21:07.940 And I've been over there doing some youth ministry training with him and a few other bits and pieces and preaching and spending time with his family. 00:21:08.559 --> 00:21:10.440 And I was chatting to him about youth ministry. 00:21:10.599 --> 00:21:14.599 And it's clear that youth ministry is not his first preference. 00:21:15.640 --> 00:21:17.559 He doesn't love spending time with teenagers. 00:21:18.279 --> 00:21:20.519 He doesn't love running around and playing soccer. 00:21:20.519 --> 00:21:25.079 He doesn't love the things that might normally strike you as a youth minister type of gifts. 00:21:25.740 --> 00:21:31.200 And I was asking him if he's frustrated because he's been put in that role because he's the youngest member of the ministry team. 00:21:31.960 --> 00:21:34.019 And he was really quick to say to me, 00:21:35.180 --> 00:21:40.559 I firmly believe that God will equip me to do whatever he puts in front of me to do. 00:21:41.019 --> 00:21:43.579 And this is what my senior pastor has asked me to do. 00:21:43.759 --> 00:21:44.879 So this is what is needed. 00:21:46.019 --> 00:21:49.339 He wasn't being unnecessarily firm or ungracious. 00:21:49.339 --> 00:21:56.019 He was just deeply convicted that the gifts God gives are what the body needs, not what we want. 00:21:56.720 --> 00:21:59.359 And I was really challenged and rebuked and encouraged. 00:21:59.519 --> 00:22:02.980 And I emailed him a few weeks after when I got home to say, 00:22:03.119 --> 00:22:07.980 you've really humbled me to reflect on why I do what I do and what I'm willing to do, 00:22:08.399 --> 00:22:10.000 even in our church family here. 00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:15.019 Do you approach our Sunday gathering? 00:22:15.420 --> 00:22:17.160 Do you approach your community group? 00:22:17.259 --> 00:22:21.440 Do you approach the life of our church asking the question, 00:22:21.920 --> 00:22:23.339 what is needed? 00:22:25.339 --> 00:22:27.900 Or do you approach it asking, what do I want to do? 00:22:27.900 --> 00:22:35.380 And maybe to push even further, do you approach it asking, what am I capable of? 00:22:36.519 --> 00:22:41.860 Or are you willing to be stretched and empowered by God's Holy Spirit to do something that you can't do by yourself? 00:22:41.859 --> 00:22:53.439 One of the curses of growing up in a family of five kids is that I was forced to become loud and arrogant fairly quickly. 00:22:54.359 --> 00:22:58.639 If you can't argue and defend your position, you are going to get eaten alive in a family of five kids. 00:22:59.719 --> 00:23:04.479 And that means I can stand in front of people and talk without it being a big issue of anxiety for me. 00:23:04.480 --> 00:23:07.579 That doesn't mean that I can preach the Bible well. 00:23:09.360 --> 00:23:13.779 The only thing that will enable God's word to take root in your heart and transform you 00:23:13.779 --> 00:23:17.920 so that you are better equipped to love and serve Jesus is the Holy Spirit. 00:23:19.319 --> 00:23:23.480 It's not a matter of me putting up my hand to preach because I can stand in front of people and talk. 00:23:24.140 --> 00:23:29.740 It's a matter of me begging God anytime I get the opportunity to please use someone as inadequate as me. 00:23:30.500 --> 00:23:33.620 And there is a challenge for us here, even in just that simple verse, 00:23:34.480 --> 00:23:40.380 may you desire the gifts that will build the church, even if it makes you uncomfortable, 00:23:40.660 --> 00:23:44.120 even if you think it's going to be difficult, even if you think it's beyond you. 00:23:44.839 --> 00:23:48.599 Try to excel in gifts that build up the church. 00:23:49.660 --> 00:23:55.140 Now we do need to remember as we jump into this next bit that this section is particularly a correction 00:23:55.140 --> 00:23:57.039 and a rebuke for the Corinthians. 00:23:58.000 --> 00:24:02.839 Their specific issue was they were obsessed with the exciting spiritual gifts. 00:24:02.839 --> 00:24:05.939 They thought that if you had tongues, you were more spiritual. 00:24:06.099 --> 00:24:09.659 They thought that if you had tongues, you should get up and do it at any opportunity. 00:24:09.819 --> 00:24:14.919 They thought that if you had gifts, everyone get out of my way and I'm going to use it when I want and how I want. 00:24:15.459 --> 00:24:20.740 And Paul challenges them in this next section to say what really matters is intelligibility. 00:24:20.740 --> 00:24:23.259 What really matters is understanding. 00:24:23.380 --> 00:24:25.880 When you begin to realise that your gift is for other people, 00:24:26.400 --> 00:24:28.539 it doesn't matter how much fun you're having doing it. 00:24:29.319 --> 00:24:31.319 What matters is that other people understand. 00:24:31.480 --> 00:24:36.900 And so there is a challenge for them to rein in their tongues usage because church isn't a circus. 00:24:38.400 --> 00:24:42.539 Church isn't a place for us to give you a platform and you come up and do whatever you want and we'll clap. 00:24:42.539 --> 00:24:50.200 Church is not the place for the staff to create a platform for your gifts. 00:24:50.639 --> 00:24:51.980 It's actually not how it works. 00:24:53.819 --> 00:24:54.960 Church is a body. 00:24:56.299 --> 00:25:04.720 And church is a whole body that all works and all serves so that we are all built up and all edified. 00:25:04.720 --> 00:25:34.700 Church is a whole body that all works and all works and all works and all works and all works. 00:25:34.720 --> 00:25:36.220 Church is Christ is a 업 to 210 X� years, 20. 00:25:36.220 --> 00:25:38.059 Church is a whole body that all works and all works and all works and all works. 00:25:38.779 --> 00:25:39.000 It doesn't matter how much you have to connect with church. 00:25:39.360 --> 00:25:40.259 Church is a part of the church. 00:25:40.600 --> 00:25:41.339 There are many talks and all works and all works as well and all works and all works. 00:25:41.380 --> 00:25:42.819 And until then, they never have to get up as good for you. 00:25:44.620 --> 00:25:46.880 And then, they thought that all works. 00:25:47.480 --> 00:25:48.500 They're talking aboutBoard. 00:25:49.400 --> 00:25:55.420 Because that is God's word lived out. 00:25:56.000 --> 00:25:58.360 That is the gospel lived out. 00:25:59.740 --> 00:26:03.579 There is no room in the gospel for being proud of something we're capable of doing. 00:26:04.319 --> 00:26:07.299 The gospel reminds us that we bring nothing, that we have nothing, 00:26:07.599 --> 00:26:11.259 and that it is only God's generosity and goodness that adopts us 00:26:11.259 --> 00:26:15.759 and forgives us and welcomes us and then empowers us 00:26:15.759 --> 00:26:18.240 to be a blessing to those around us. 00:26:20.159 --> 00:26:24.939 We all have the Spirit, therefore we are all gifted by the Spirit 00:26:24.939 --> 00:26:27.639 and have a role to play. 00:26:28.899 --> 00:26:31.799 This church needs every person in this room, 00:26:31.799 --> 00:26:35.059 and those who aren't here right now who call this church family home 00:26:35.059 --> 00:26:39.000 to recognise and use their gifts for the sake of the body. 00:26:39.639 --> 00:26:43.039 Until we do that, we function like a disabled body. 00:26:44.700 --> 00:26:47.139 So long as there are people here not using their gifts, 00:26:47.240 --> 00:26:49.680 there are things that this body needs that this body is not getting. 00:26:51.799 --> 00:26:55.899 Not all gifts are the same, not all gifts have the same requirements 00:26:55.899 --> 00:27:00.139 or the same visibility, but the question we all need to keep asking is, 00:27:00.140 --> 00:27:03.440 what is needed for this body to grow? 00:27:04.540 --> 00:27:07.340 Paul goes on to spell out the dangers of what church looks like 00:27:07.340 --> 00:27:08.900 when you're more interested in your gifts. 00:27:09.400 --> 00:27:13.580 It begins in verse 26 when he begins to describe people 00:27:13.580 --> 00:27:17.020 talking over the top of each other, setting their own show, 00:27:17.180 --> 00:27:19.420 and it just means they're more interested in themselves 00:27:19.420 --> 00:27:21.680 than they are in the body. 00:27:21.680 --> 00:27:26.360 Now, it's worth recognising that church services in Corinth 00:27:26.360 --> 00:27:29.060 probably weren't a lot like church services now. 00:27:29.640 --> 00:27:31.560 That's not to say one is better or worse, 00:27:31.820 --> 00:27:35.039 but we can't just go, he says this, therefore we need to stop doing this. 00:27:36.299 --> 00:27:39.960 Even that description there of everyone bringing a hymn 00:27:39.960 --> 00:27:42.580 or different people jumping up with words of instruction 00:27:42.580 --> 00:27:45.840 might sound a little bit outside the box for us in the way we work. 00:27:45.940 --> 00:27:47.259 And again, it doesn't mean it's wrong, 00:27:47.259 --> 00:27:51.359 but we do need to read this, understanding that a bit of work 00:27:51.359 --> 00:27:54.339 needs to be done for us to apply it in our context. 00:27:55.359 --> 00:27:58.879 The heading, I assume in your Bible, at verse 26 says this, 00:27:59.660 --> 00:28:00.779 orderly worship. 00:28:01.900 --> 00:28:04.500 I can't think of a less exciting adjective 00:28:04.500 --> 00:28:07.519 for what we're aiming to do when we gather. 00:28:07.640 --> 00:28:09.000 Now, it's a valid adjective. 00:28:09.200 --> 00:28:13.359 I'm not saying it's not good, but I can think of exciting worship, 00:28:13.359 --> 00:28:19.059 engaging worship, life-changing worship, world-impacting worship. 00:28:19.699 --> 00:28:23.099 But the adjective that we are given here is orderly. 00:28:24.559 --> 00:28:27.159 And I want to show you three things particularly 00:28:27.159 --> 00:28:28.659 that Paul wants to push us on 00:28:28.659 --> 00:28:31.359 as we approach our gatherings as a church family. 00:28:31.619 --> 00:28:33.000 First one is structure. 00:28:33.719 --> 00:28:34.699 Verse 26. 00:28:34.859 --> 00:28:36.219 What then shall we say, brothers? 00:28:36.259 --> 00:28:39.439 When you come together, everyone has a hymn or a word of instruction, 00:28:39.619 --> 00:28:41.659 a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. 00:28:41.660 --> 00:28:45.980 All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church. 00:28:46.080 --> 00:28:47.640 The same theme over and over and over. 00:28:47.900 --> 00:28:48.519 Verse 27. 00:28:49.120 --> 00:28:50.460 If anyone speaks in a tongue, 00:28:50.700 --> 00:28:53.340 two or at the most three should speak one at a time 00:28:53.340 --> 00:28:54.519 and someone must interpret. 00:28:55.000 --> 00:28:56.400 If there is no interpreter, 00:28:57.019 --> 00:28:58.900 the speaker should keep quiet in the church 00:28:58.900 --> 00:29:00.960 and speak to himself and God. 00:29:02.040 --> 00:29:03.640 Two or three prophets should speak 00:29:03.640 --> 00:29:05.640 and the others should weigh carefully what is said. 00:29:05.900 --> 00:29:08.340 And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, 00:29:08.420 --> 00:29:09.759 the first speaker should stop. 00:29:09.759 --> 00:29:11.920 For you can all prophesy in turn 00:29:11.920 --> 00:29:15.279 so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. 00:29:15.379 --> 00:29:17.039 If we're shouting over the top of one another, 00:29:17.220 --> 00:29:18.539 it's not going to be beneficial. 00:29:19.259 --> 00:29:20.000 Verse 32. 00:29:20.500 --> 00:29:24.579 The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets 00:29:24.579 --> 00:29:28.680 for God is not a God of disorder, but of peace. 00:29:29.599 --> 00:29:33.599 Order and structure within a gathering reflects the God who calls us. 00:29:33.599 --> 00:29:37.799 The creation that he has made reflects a structure and a goodness 00:29:37.799 --> 00:29:40.240 and so planning for our services, 00:29:40.779 --> 00:29:41.639 for our gatherings, 00:29:41.879 --> 00:29:44.059 brings added value to when we meet. 00:29:44.779 --> 00:29:48.019 It enables us to use our gifts in this kind of way 00:29:48.019 --> 00:29:49.119 that Paul is insisting on, 00:29:49.240 --> 00:29:50.480 for the benefit of everyone, 00:29:50.759 --> 00:29:53.219 so that nobody misses out on the words of encouragement 00:29:53.219 --> 00:29:54.619 that you have to bring. 00:29:55.059 --> 00:29:55.639 And in fact, 00:29:55.759 --> 00:29:58.099 the planning itself is an expression 00:29:58.099 --> 00:30:00.480 of spiritual gifts from God 00:30:00.480 --> 00:30:02.219 for the blessing of the church. 00:30:03.480 --> 00:30:05.719 Structure is beneficial and essential 00:30:05.719 --> 00:30:07.819 and so you might get intensely frustrated 00:30:07.819 --> 00:30:09.899 by the email that comes out every so often saying, 00:30:10.219 --> 00:30:12.679 can you tick this box to say you're going to do your roster work? 00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:13.779 You might think, 00:30:13.839 --> 00:30:15.399 I don't know what I'm doing in five weeks' time. 00:30:15.539 --> 00:30:16.799 Sure, and then forget about it. 00:30:17.240 --> 00:30:19.719 It might be something that annoys you at times 00:30:19.719 --> 00:30:20.740 and I understand that, 00:30:20.839 --> 00:30:22.079 but understand also 00:30:22.079 --> 00:30:24.599 that it is for the benefit of the body. 00:30:26.119 --> 00:30:28.220 If we know that someone will come prepared 00:30:28.220 --> 00:30:29.720 to read the word each week, 00:30:29.919 --> 00:30:31.259 that is to our benefit. 00:30:31.980 --> 00:30:34.159 As opposed to racing around on a Sunday morning, 00:30:34.279 --> 00:30:35.199 handing someone a Bible 00:30:35.199 --> 00:30:38.119 who has the ability to articulate words on a page 00:30:38.119 --> 00:30:39.579 and then them going through the motions. 00:30:41.480 --> 00:30:42.599 Preparation and planning 00:30:42.599 --> 00:30:45.519 are a blessing on the rest of the body. 00:30:46.299 --> 00:30:46.699 Structure. 00:30:46.859 --> 00:30:48.059 Second one, engagement. 00:30:48.899 --> 00:30:49.619 Verse 29. 00:30:50.299 --> 00:30:51.679 Two or three prophets should speak 00:30:51.680 --> 00:30:54.200 and the others should weigh carefully what is said. 00:30:55.580 --> 00:30:58.299 There's both the speaking and the listening 00:30:58.299 --> 00:31:00.440 in this gathering at Corinth. 00:31:01.080 --> 00:31:02.880 There is a temptation for us 00:31:02.880 --> 00:31:05.000 to particularly exalt the gifts 00:31:05.000 --> 00:31:07.120 that put people up on a platform like this 00:31:07.120 --> 00:31:08.440 or give them a microphone 00:31:08.440 --> 00:31:11.180 or give them the ability to speak. 00:31:11.600 --> 00:31:14.460 But actually, it is an exercise of your gifts 00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:16.580 and it is a blessing to the body 00:31:16.580 --> 00:31:20.000 the way that you receive what is spoken. 00:31:20.000 --> 00:31:23.579 The way you interact with what we do as a body. 00:31:25.299 --> 00:31:27.720 Our gatherings are not just about the preacher 00:31:27.720 --> 00:31:29.339 showing us that he can read the Bible 00:31:29.339 --> 00:31:30.660 and speak for 30 minutes. 00:31:32.220 --> 00:31:34.599 They're about the truth of God being spoken 00:31:34.599 --> 00:31:37.000 and heard 00:31:37.000 --> 00:31:40.839 and most importantly applied to our hearts and lives 00:31:40.839 --> 00:31:41.799 and the way that we live. 00:31:41.799 --> 00:31:44.059 And so I want to challenge you 00:31:44.059 --> 00:31:46.079 do you approach our church gatherings 00:31:46.079 --> 00:31:48.559 prepared to hear God's word? 00:31:49.980 --> 00:31:52.079 Do you ensure that you've had enough sleep 00:31:52.079 --> 00:31:53.019 or enough caffeine 00:31:53.019 --> 00:31:54.639 or whatever it is that's going to help you listen 00:31:54.639 --> 00:31:55.759 when you walk into the gathering? 00:31:56.940 --> 00:31:58.539 Do you come and beg God 00:31:58.539 --> 00:31:59.680 to remove from your mind 00:31:59.680 --> 00:32:01.180 the things that might be a distraction 00:32:01.180 --> 00:32:04.539 so that you can eagerly soak under his truth? 00:32:05.279 --> 00:32:06.740 Do you give yourself opportunity 00:32:06.740 --> 00:32:08.259 to follow up what's been said 00:32:08.259 --> 00:32:10.059 to reflect on it in a community group 00:32:10.059 --> 00:32:10.940 or with friends? 00:32:13.139 --> 00:32:14.839 The way you engage 00:32:14.839 --> 00:32:16.519 even now as you sit and listen 00:32:16.519 --> 00:32:19.679 is part of the order 00:32:19.679 --> 00:32:20.819 that God has designed 00:32:20.819 --> 00:32:22.000 for us as his people. 00:32:23.019 --> 00:32:24.339 The way you are listening 00:32:24.339 --> 00:32:25.559 actually has 00:32:25.559 --> 00:32:27.359 a positive or negative effect 00:32:27.359 --> 00:32:28.259 on the people around you 00:32:28.259 --> 00:32:29.399 whether you're aware of it or not. 00:32:29.400 --> 00:32:34.060 your eagerness 00:32:34.060 --> 00:32:35.040 as you sit forward 00:32:35.040 --> 00:32:36.320 to hear what God will say 00:32:36.320 --> 00:32:39.640 or your tiredness 00:32:39.640 --> 00:32:40.340 as you tolerate 00:32:40.340 --> 00:32:41.140 until I finish 00:32:41.140 --> 00:32:41.860 and then you can go out 00:32:41.860 --> 00:32:42.560 to afternoon tea. 00:32:45.360 --> 00:32:46.380 That communicates 00:32:46.380 --> 00:32:47.259 to your brother or sister 00:32:47.259 --> 00:32:47.900 next to you 00:32:47.900 --> 00:32:49.560 how much you care 00:32:49.560 --> 00:32:50.440 about what's going on. 00:32:51.500 --> 00:32:52.360 How much you care 00:32:52.360 --> 00:32:53.200 about this community. 00:32:54.100 --> 00:32:54.880 How much you care 00:32:54.880 --> 00:32:55.740 about being shaped 00:32:55.740 --> 00:32:56.800 as part of this community 00:32:56.800 --> 00:32:57.759 under God's word. 00:32:57.759 --> 00:32:58.799 It's not to say 00:32:58.799 --> 00:33:00.519 every sermon's going to be riveting 00:33:00.519 --> 00:33:03.740 but it's kind of irrelevant. 00:33:04.920 --> 00:33:05.640 You're not here 00:33:05.640 --> 00:33:07.279 to get a riveting sermon. 00:33:08.140 --> 00:33:08.980 You're here 00:33:08.980 --> 00:33:10.220 to use your gifts 00:33:10.220 --> 00:33:11.940 to build your brothers and sisters. 00:33:13.400 --> 00:33:14.539 It's that subtle shift 00:33:14.539 --> 00:33:15.819 in agenda for us. 00:33:17.200 --> 00:33:18.400 Structure engagement 00:33:18.400 --> 00:33:19.379 and the last one 00:33:19.379 --> 00:33:20.579 and the controversial one 00:33:20.579 --> 00:33:21.180 that you didn't think 00:33:21.180 --> 00:33:22.000 we were going to get to 00:33:22.000 --> 00:33:23.079 and which I'm going to skip through 00:33:23.079 --> 00:33:23.660 really quickly. 00:33:26.059 --> 00:33:26.539 Silence. 00:33:27.759 --> 00:33:29.000 Let me read for you 00:33:29.000 --> 00:33:30.339 from halfway through 00:33:30.339 --> 00:33:31.099 verse 33. 00:33:32.099 --> 00:33:33.279 As in all the congregations 00:33:33.279 --> 00:33:33.879 of the saints 00:33:33.879 --> 00:33:34.819 women should remain 00:33:34.819 --> 00:33:35.980 silent in the churches. 00:33:36.660 --> 00:33:37.200 They are not allowed 00:33:37.200 --> 00:33:37.859 to speak 00:33:37.859 --> 00:33:40.319 but must be in submission 00:33:40.319 --> 00:33:41.379 as the law says. 00:33:41.720 --> 00:33:42.740 If they want to inquire 00:33:42.740 --> 00:33:43.319 about something 00:33:43.319 --> 00:33:43.920 they should ask 00:33:43.920 --> 00:33:44.660 their own husbands 00:33:44.660 --> 00:33:45.160 at home 00:33:45.160 --> 00:33:46.759 for it is disgraceful 00:33:46.759 --> 00:33:47.279 for a woman 00:33:47.279 --> 00:33:48.619 to speak in the church. 00:33:49.339 --> 00:33:50.039 Let me give you 00:33:50.039 --> 00:33:50.599 a few things 00:33:50.599 --> 00:33:51.160 really quickly 00:33:51.160 --> 00:33:51.799 on the assumption 00:33:51.799 --> 00:33:52.460 that this is going to 00:33:52.460 --> 00:33:53.200 come up in the panel. 00:33:53.200 --> 00:33:56.259 In chapter 11 00:33:56.259 --> 00:33:58.220 Chris showed us 00:33:58.220 --> 00:34:00.420 that women are prophesying 00:34:00.420 --> 00:34:00.900 in the church 00:34:00.900 --> 00:34:01.400 at Corinth. 00:34:02.019 --> 00:34:02.660 It happens 00:34:02.660 --> 00:34:03.460 because Paul gives 00:34:03.460 --> 00:34:04.480 a specific instruction 00:34:04.480 --> 00:34:04.840 to them 00:34:04.840 --> 00:34:05.759 when they prophesy 00:34:05.759 --> 00:34:06.299 or pray 00:34:06.299 --> 00:34:07.620 to do it a certain way 00:34:07.620 --> 00:34:08.460 with their head covered. 00:34:08.740 --> 00:34:09.699 So this silence 00:34:09.699 --> 00:34:10.659 in chapter 14 00:34:10.659 --> 00:34:12.220 cannot be absolute. 00:34:13.240 --> 00:34:14.099 There is a specific 00:34:14.099 --> 00:34:15.000 kind of silence 00:34:15.000 --> 00:34:16.380 that is being addressed. 00:34:16.860 --> 00:34:17.500 Second thing 00:34:17.500 --> 00:34:18.199 this silence 00:34:18.199 --> 00:34:18.840 is attached 00:34:18.840 --> 00:34:19.980 to the relationship 00:34:19.980 --> 00:34:20.820 between a husband 00:34:20.820 --> 00:34:21.599 and a wife. 00:34:21.599 --> 00:34:23.079 it says 00:34:23.079 --> 00:34:24.539 women should remain silent 00:34:24.539 --> 00:34:25.139 verse 35 00:34:25.139 --> 00:34:26.119 if they want to inquire 00:34:26.119 --> 00:34:26.639 about something 00:34:26.639 --> 00:34:27.219 they should ask 00:34:27.219 --> 00:34:28.039 their own husbands. 00:34:29.119 --> 00:34:30.279 So there is a specific 00:34:30.279 --> 00:34:31.539 relational context 00:34:31.539 --> 00:34:32.380 for this silence. 00:34:33.079 --> 00:34:33.559 Third thing 00:34:33.559 --> 00:34:35.480 the lack of silence 00:34:35.480 --> 00:34:35.880 here 00:34:35.880 --> 00:34:37.139 is equal 00:34:37.139 --> 00:34:38.299 to disgrace. 00:34:39.639 --> 00:34:40.440 Did you catch that? 00:34:40.839 --> 00:34:42.099 It is disgraceful 00:34:42.099 --> 00:34:42.599 for a woman 00:34:42.599 --> 00:34:43.819 to speak in the church. 00:34:44.299 --> 00:34:44.799 Now again 00:34:44.799 --> 00:34:46.579 not to speak at all 00:34:46.579 --> 00:34:48.039 because they are prophesying 00:34:48.039 --> 00:34:48.480 and praying 00:34:48.480 --> 00:34:49.619 a couple of chapters earlier 00:34:49.619 --> 00:34:51.119 but the kind of speech 00:34:51.119 --> 00:34:52.099 that Paul is challenging 00:34:52.099 --> 00:34:52.559 them on 00:34:52.559 --> 00:34:53.960 here is disgraceful 00:34:53.960 --> 00:34:55.059 and you've got to 00:34:55.059 --> 00:34:56.139 see this as coming 00:34:56.139 --> 00:34:57.239 in a list of things 00:34:57.239 --> 00:34:58.239 that Paul is outlying 00:34:58.239 --> 00:34:59.139 on orderly worship. 00:34:59.719 --> 00:35:00.400 He said that when 00:35:00.400 --> 00:35:01.139 multiple people 00:35:01.139 --> 00:35:01.679 are speaking 00:35:01.679 --> 00:35:03.079 that's an issue as well 00:35:03.079 --> 00:35:03.699 so those people 00:35:03.699 --> 00:35:04.380 should be silent. 00:35:04.759 --> 00:35:05.599 He said that when 00:35:05.599 --> 00:35:06.099 there's tongues 00:35:06.099 --> 00:35:06.980 without interpretation 00:35:06.980 --> 00:35:07.739 that's an issue 00:35:07.739 --> 00:35:08.400 so those people 00:35:08.400 --> 00:35:09.139 should be silent 00:35:09.139 --> 00:35:10.239 and so he's got 00:35:10.239 --> 00:35:11.579 some specific issue 00:35:11.579 --> 00:35:12.359 here for women 00:35:12.359 --> 00:35:13.119 speaking in a 00:35:13.119 --> 00:35:14.259 particular way 00:35:14.259 --> 00:35:15.940 and those particular 00:35:15.940 --> 00:35:17.299 women need to be silent. 00:35:17.300 --> 00:35:19.860 But in honesty 00:35:19.860 --> 00:35:20.740 this passage 00:35:20.740 --> 00:35:21.640 doesn't give us 00:35:21.640 --> 00:35:22.360 enough detail 00:35:22.360 --> 00:35:23.180 for me to tell you 00:35:23.180 --> 00:35:24.060 exactly what these 00:35:24.060 --> 00:35:24.640 women are doing 00:35:24.640 --> 00:35:25.800 that needs to be silenced 00:35:25.800 --> 00:35:27.960 and so we need to 00:35:27.960 --> 00:35:28.400 approach it 00:35:28.400 --> 00:35:29.200 with a bit of humility. 00:35:30.840 --> 00:35:31.840 We need to be willing 00:35:31.840 --> 00:35:32.600 to say there is 00:35:32.600 --> 00:35:33.420 some issue here 00:35:33.420 --> 00:35:34.140 which is important 00:35:34.140 --> 00:35:34.940 and it includes 00:35:34.940 --> 00:35:35.700 the ideas of 00:35:35.700 --> 00:35:37.080 submission to authority 00:35:37.080 --> 00:35:39.500 it includes the idea 00:35:39.500 --> 00:35:40.200 of disgrace 00:35:40.200 --> 00:35:41.120 and shaming 00:35:41.120 --> 00:35:42.320 within relationship 00:35:42.320 --> 00:35:44.660 but the overarching 00:35:44.660 --> 00:35:45.940 principle that guides 00:35:45.940 --> 00:35:46.720 the way we read 00:35:46.720 --> 00:35:47.580 those couple of verses 00:35:47.580 --> 00:35:48.720 is right there at the end. 00:35:50.200 --> 00:35:50.720 Verse 39 00:35:50.720 --> 00:35:51.920 My brothers be eager 00:35:51.920 --> 00:35:52.539 to prophesy 00:35:52.539 --> 00:35:53.580 and do not forbid 00:35:53.580 --> 00:35:54.780 speaking in tongues 00:35:54.780 --> 00:35:56.160 but everything 00:35:56.160 --> 00:35:57.059 should be done 00:35:57.059 --> 00:35:57.740 in a fitting 00:35:57.740 --> 00:35:58.860 and orderly way. 00:35:59.480 --> 00:36:00.720 Fitting and orderly 00:36:00.720 --> 00:36:01.720 so that the body 00:36:01.720 --> 00:36:02.340 is built up 00:36:02.340 --> 00:36:03.740 so that the body 00:36:03.740 --> 00:36:04.420 is edified. 00:36:04.620 --> 00:36:05.320 That's the agenda 00:36:05.320 --> 00:36:06.680 start to finish. 00:36:06.880 --> 00:36:07.500 Paul is calling 00:36:07.500 --> 00:36:08.080 this community 00:36:08.080 --> 00:36:09.019 to be a community 00:36:09.019 --> 00:36:10.600 that reflects God 00:36:10.599 --> 00:36:12.099 that reflects 00:36:12.099 --> 00:36:12.860 his love 00:36:12.860 --> 00:36:13.699 his service 00:36:13.699 --> 00:36:14.440 his order 00:36:14.440 --> 00:36:15.579 his peace 00:36:15.579 --> 00:36:18.000 this community 00:36:18.000 --> 00:36:19.900 our community 00:36:19.900 --> 00:36:20.980 and your role 00:36:20.980 --> 00:36:21.299 in it 00:36:21.299 --> 00:36:22.259 has absolutely 00:36:22.259 --> 00:36:23.420 nothing to do 00:36:23.420 --> 00:36:25.059 with what you want. 00:36:28.559 --> 00:36:30.199 It is all about 00:36:30.199 --> 00:36:31.319 what we need. 00:36:33.480 --> 00:36:34.699 Say that again 00:36:34.699 --> 00:36:36.599 this community 00:36:36.599 --> 00:36:37.639 of God's people 00:36:37.639 --> 00:36:38.880 and your role 00:36:38.880 --> 00:36:39.299 in it 00:36:39.300 --> 00:36:40.580 has absolutely 00:36:40.580 --> 00:36:41.940 nothing to do 00:36:41.940 --> 00:36:43.160 with what you want. 00:36:44.860 --> 00:36:46.400 It has everything 00:36:46.400 --> 00:36:46.980 to do 00:36:46.980 --> 00:36:48.539 with what we need. 00:36:51.039 --> 00:36:52.260 But the blessing 00:36:52.260 --> 00:36:52.760 is 00:36:52.760 --> 00:36:54.300 that when we come 00:36:54.300 --> 00:36:55.039 to this community 00:36:55.039 --> 00:36:55.900 with that attitude 00:36:55.900 --> 00:36:57.560 when we serve 00:36:57.560 --> 00:36:58.440 with that heart 00:36:58.440 --> 00:36:58.880 position 00:36:58.880 --> 00:36:59.660 when we gather 00:36:59.660 --> 00:37:00.980 absolutely focused 00:37:00.980 --> 00:37:01.640 on edifying 00:37:01.640 --> 00:37:02.460 those around us 00:37:02.460 --> 00:37:03.460 and being a blessing 00:37:03.460 --> 00:37:05.720 we do it confident 00:37:05.720 --> 00:37:06.240 that God 00:37:06.240 --> 00:37:06.940 has provided 00:37:06.940 --> 00:37:07.760 what we need 00:37:07.760 --> 00:37:09.800 in those around us. 00:37:12.300 --> 00:37:13.440 Until we let go 00:37:13.440 --> 00:37:13.980 of that need 00:37:13.980 --> 00:37:14.579 to look after 00:37:14.579 --> 00:37:15.099 ourselves 00:37:15.099 --> 00:37:16.000 and trust God 00:37:16.000 --> 00:37:16.760 we will be 00:37:16.760 --> 00:37:17.440 incapable 00:37:17.440 --> 00:37:20.019 of using our gifts 00:37:20.019 --> 00:37:20.539 for the sake 00:37:20.539 --> 00:37:21.119 of the church. 00:37:21.280 --> 00:37:21.820 There will always 00:37:21.820 --> 00:37:22.519 be that niggle 00:37:22.519 --> 00:37:23.380 that we need 00:37:23.380 --> 00:37:24.220 to do it this way 00:37:24.220 --> 00:37:26.679 but when we do 00:37:26.679 --> 00:37:27.119 let go 00:37:27.119 --> 00:37:28.659 when we do 00:37:28.659 --> 00:37:29.720 serve just so 00:37:29.720 --> 00:37:30.240 that our brothers 00:37:30.240 --> 00:37:30.740 and sisters 00:37:30.740 --> 00:37:31.240 are blessed 00:37:31.240 --> 00:37:31.880 and encouraged 00:37:31.880 --> 00:37:32.480 and edified 00:37:32.480 --> 00:37:34.219 God gets glory 00:37:34.219 --> 00:37:36.480 we get joy 00:37:36.480 --> 00:37:38.320 and people 00:37:38.320 --> 00:37:38.940 come to know 00:37:38.940 --> 00:37:39.280 Jesus. 00:37:41.360 --> 00:37:42.079 That's why 00:37:42.079 --> 00:37:42.639 we exist 00:37:42.639 --> 00:37:43.400 as the church 00:37:43.400 --> 00:37:44.639 it's what the body 00:37:44.639 --> 00:37:45.179 is for. 00:37:46.199 --> 00:37:47.119 Please God 00:37:47.119 --> 00:37:48.719 make us more 00:37:48.719 --> 00:37:49.579 like the community 00:37:49.579 --> 00:37:50.280 you designed us 00:37:50.280 --> 00:37:50.679 to be. 00:37:52.300 --> 00:37:52.820 Amen.