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When We Come Together... Series
Contributed by Kurt Lindgren on Nov 26, 2012 (message contributor)
Summary: What should church be like?
When We Come Together...
1 Corinthians 14:26-40
Kurt Lindgren
www.pastorkurt.com
INTRO: 4 IMPORTANT ASPECTS TO BEING A CHRISTIAN:
1.BEGINNING - STARTING POINT / YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN
2.FINISHING - STRIVE / DONT QUIT / GET BACK IN RACE
3.PERSONAL WALK - DAILY, BATTLE SIN, TEMP, TALKING TO GOD, LISTENING TO GOD, DISCIPLE MAKING
4.CORPORATE WORSHIP - V.26 "when ye come together"
I want to talk about the 4th one - Corporate Worship (United or combined into one body; collective) / Worship is Church
I love going to church / been going a long time /seen many unusual things
Many of you have different church experiences - Pentecostal, JW, Catholic
The way Corinth was doing church - was a 3-ring circus / Jerry Springer
TRANS: WHAT SHOULD CHURCH BE LIKE? 4 THINGS
1. COME TO CHURCH TO PARTICIPATE
v.26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
The first key to participation is being here
The second key to participation is WORSHIP
The third key to participation is to build each other - Let all things be done unto edifying.
1. Self-centeredness walks into church "about me"
2. Love walks into church and says - Who here needs my help?"
When we gather to worship / bring all of our gifts, our insights, and our experiences
Church is not a spectator sport
2. COME TO CHURCH THOUGHTFULLY
v.32-35 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
Paul dealing with CHAOS in the church / setting parameters
1. v.31 - Take turns speaking
2. v.32 - People who preach must control themselves.
3. v.34 - Women must not disrupt worship (EXPLAIN)
v26 - come together everyone has a word, hymn etc”
11:5 - And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head
Women were part of church worship
This issue was about women questioning, calling out disrupting of the flow of worship
Corinth people were coming to church only thinking about themselves!
v.33 God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
Thoughtfulness considers the people around you
Thoughtfulness realizes importance of not hindering Spirit of God
3. COME TO CHURCH TO LEARN
v.30-31 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
I’ve been to church services where I didn’t learn a thing
Bible clear / God is clear - Wants all to learn / Learning is Revelation
4. COME TO CHURCH HUNGRY
v39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.