Gifts that Fit
Published on Jul 16, 2021
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PRESENTATION OUTLINE
1 Corinthians 14:1-5
Photo by Daniel Y. Go
Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. For anyone who speaks in a tongue[a] 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.
Some Background
Only NT passage that teaches on the subject of tongues
Corrective teaching for the most openly “spiritual” yet divided and quarreling church in the New Testament
Prominence in notoriously unspiritual church
Teaching was how to regulate the gift rather than encourage its use
Book of Acts is only other book that deals with the subject
Corrective teaching for the most openly “spiritual” yet divided and quarreling church in the New Testament
Prominence in notoriously unspiritual church
Teaching was how to regulate the gift rather than encourage its use
Book of Acts is only other book that deals with the subject
Photo by Justin in SD
Some Definitions
- Prophecy – explaining, under the Holy Spirit’s influence, the significance of God’s words and actions for the present or revealing what God intends for the future
- Tongues – ability to speak another language that one has never learned used to verify Holy Spirit’s work
Some Perspective
When tongues is over emphasized......
Sign for the unsaved 1 Corinthians 14:22
Acts 2 Pentecost hearers
Acts 10 Message to Cornelius
Acts 19 message to 12 disciples of John the Baptist
No instance where doctrine is revealed
In Acts 2 the Jews on Pentecost were converted not after they heard tongues but after Peter’s preaching
Sign for the unsaved 1 Corinthians 14:22
Acts 2 Pentecost hearers
Acts 10 Message to Cornelius
Acts 19 message to 12 disciples of John the Baptist
No instance where doctrine is revealed
In Acts 2 the Jews on Pentecost were converted not after they heard tongues but after Peter’s preaching
Photo by Anika Huizinga
Paul does not say...
- Tongues are evil
- Tongues have ceased
- Tongues are for everyone - don't miss out
- Tongues are evidence of real spirituality
Tongues are evil
Tongues have ceased
Tongues are for everyone – don’t miss out
Which leads us to Paul’s recurring point – if you exercise your personal spiritual gifts in the context of the larger church you will be fulfilled, happy, sense of importance etc.
– but it’s a by product not the primary goal
Tongues are evidence of “real spirituality”
Tongues have ceased
Tongues are for everyone – don’t miss out
Which leads us to Paul’s recurring point – if you exercise your personal spiritual gifts in the context of the larger church you will be fulfilled, happy, sense of importance etc.
– but it’s a by product not the primary goal
Tongues are evidence of “real spirituality”
Photo by Kyle Glenn
Build the Church
constantly vs. 1,5,12
Run after – pursuing love
strive, desire, exert oneself earnestly - word we get zeal from
Emphasize prophecy – to expound scripture, to speak and preach under the influence of the Holy Spirit.
Liddell, H. (1996). A lexicon : Abridged from Liddell and Scott's Greek-English lexicon. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
Keep on pursuing love
Keep on striving for spiritual things
Keep an emphasis on prophecy
Keep an emphasis on what builds up the church – 4,5,12,18,26
strive, desire, exert oneself earnestly - word we get zeal from
Emphasize prophecy – to expound scripture, to speak and preach under the influence of the Holy Spirit.
Liddell, H. (1996). A lexicon : Abridged from Liddell and Scott's Greek-English lexicon. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
Keep on pursuing love
Keep on striving for spiritual things
Keep an emphasis on prophecy
Keep an emphasis on what builds up the church – 4,5,12,18,26
Photo by Josh Olalde
“Better” Ministry Choices
vs. 2-5
Tongues
Speaks to God
Is not understood
Utters mysteries
Edifies himself
Tongues is OK
Lesser gift
Prophecy
Speaks to men
Strengthen
Encourage
Comfort
Edifies the church
Prophecy is better
Greater gift
Speaks to God
Is not understood
Utters mysteries
Edifies himself
Tongues is OK
Lesser gift
Prophecy
Speaks to men
Strengthen
Encourage
Comfort
Edifies the church
Prophecy is better
Greater gift
Photo by Brendan Church
Evaluate
regularly
Evaluate Regularly - Assess the value of a ministry choice 6-12
Does some good - Provides some assistance
Reveals some truth - revelation
Explains God’s words and actions - prophecy
Provides doctrinal instruction - instruction
(Illus. 3 fold purpose of the message in a worship service)
Information is distinctive unless I can make out the different points it is just noise
Application is clear – when the trumpet is sounded it means time to obey a call to action – gearing up for some major activity
Words are intelligible – I might as well be trying to decipher a foreign language…….
(Illus. Implications for us as we attempt to connect with our culture in ways that they can understand)
Identify the goal of the ministry
Preaching/teaching has a goal
Done with excellence
Building up the church
Does some good - Provides some assistance
Reveals some truth - revelation
Explains God’s words and actions - prophecy
Provides doctrinal instruction - instruction
(Illus. 3 fold purpose of the message in a worship service)
Information is distinctive unless I can make out the different points it is just noise
Application is clear – when the trumpet is sounded it means time to obey a call to action – gearing up for some major activity
Words are intelligible – I might as well be trying to decipher a foreign language…….
(Illus. Implications for us as we attempt to connect with our culture in ways that they can understand)
Identify the goal of the ministry
Preaching/teaching has a goal
Done with excellence
Building up the church
Photo by Ashkan Forouzani
Be Aware
of other's needs
remember tongues is a very personal gift.....me centered and is easily pointed in teh wrong direction
Pray for interpretation if you pray in a tongue
Spirit with our spirit and our mind
Sing with our spirit and our mind
Praise God with our spirit and our mind
So the result is….
Understanding - Aha!
Affirmation - Amen
Edification – Thanks, I needed that
Pray for interpretation if you pray in a tongue
Spirit with our spirit and our mind
Sing with our spirit and our mind
Praise God with our spirit and our mind
So the result is….
Understanding - Aha!
Affirmation - Amen
Edification – Thanks, I needed that
Photo by ºNit Soto
Worship
can be outreach
Curiosity will result – not revulsion
Conviction will result – not ridicule
Contrast will result – not rejection
Cleansing will result – not resistance
If it is understandable.....
Conviction will result – not ridicule
Contrast will result – not rejection
Cleansing will result – not resistance
If it is understandable.....
Photo by Ahad Uddin
Gifts that Fit
- Build up constantly
- Better ministry choices
- Aware of other's needs
- Worship as outreach
Be a Continual Builder
Make “better” ministry choices
Evaluate regularly
Be aware of the needs of others
See the worship service as outreach tool
Make “better” ministry choices
Evaluate regularly
Be aware of the needs of others
See the worship service as outreach tool
Photo by Treddy Chen
