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RockPointe Church
Purpose in Gathering | 1 Corinthians 14
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RockPointe Church - Central Campus
4503 Cross Timbers Rd, Flower Mound, TX 75028, USA
Sunday 9:00 AM
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https://www.rockpointechurch.org/openingdoorsWhat is the primary purpose of the gathering / the assembly?
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To Edify, encourage and build one another up.
"Corporate worship is not about expressing yourself—it’s about building others up in love."
The church in Corinth was more focused on showing off, boasting and building themselves up than edifying others. This showed up in their inappropriate use of spiritual gifts in their worship service.
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To Edify, encourage and build one another up.
"Corporate worship is not about expressing yourself—it’s about building others up in love."
The church in Corinth was more focused on showing off, boasting and building themselves up than edifying others. This showed up in their inappropriate use of spiritual gifts in their worship service.
Paul is going to compare two manifestations of the spirit, tongues and prophecy, as a means to show how they can either help or hinder the goal of the gathering - edification.
The Priority of Prophecy
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1 Corinthians 14:1
“The edification of the church cannot occur apart from the practice of love.”
“Suppression of spiritual zeal is never the answer. Too much power is never the problem, but too little maturity is.”
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1 Corinthians 14:1
“The edification of the church cannot occur apart from the practice of love.”
“Suppression of spiritual zeal is never the answer. Too much power is never the problem, but too little maturity is.”
Prophecy
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Speaking forth in human words something God has brought to mind, a human report of a divine revelation.
- Not Just Future
- Not Just Teaching
- Not Just Spontaneous
- Not Limited
- Not Infallible
Why does Paul prefer prophecy in the gathering over uninterpreted tongues?
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Speaking forth in human words something God has brought to mind, a human report of a divine revelation.
- Not Just Future
- Not Just Teaching
- Not Just Spontaneous
- Not Limited
- Not Infallible
Why does Paul prefer prophecy in the gathering over uninterpreted tongues?
Paul says, tongues are speaking to God and prophesies speak to people.
Purpose of Prophecy: for upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. (to build up, to stir up and to cheer up).
“The prophets’ words connect to the hearers’ lives. They convey to others God’s comfort, which “strengthens weak knees and lifts up sagging spirits so that one faces the troubles of life with unbending resolve and unending assurance.”
Is it wrong to build yourself up? No. Just Has to be a the right time, place, environment.
Tongues build up the individual - similarly to the way intelligible prayer builds up the individual.
Purpose of Prophecy: for upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. (to build up, to stir up and to cheer up).
“The prophets’ words connect to the hearers’ lives. They convey to others God’s comfort, which “strengthens weak knees and lifts up sagging spirits so that one faces the troubles of life with unbending resolve and unending assurance.”
Is it wrong to build yourself up? No. Just Has to be a the right time, place, environment.
Tongues build up the individual - similarly to the way intelligible prayer builds up the individual.
Prophesies build up the church: “The contrasts between tongues and prophecy do not have to do with their inherent value, but with the direction of their edification. The edifying of oneself is not a bad thing; it simply is not the point of gathered worship.”
The Necessity of Intelligibility
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1 Corinthians 14:7-12
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1 Corinthians 14:7-12
"Paul’s critique of uninterpreted tongues in the gathering implies that it does more than create frustration; it erects barriers of alienation – when one is supposed to feel welcomed, included and at home."
What are we to do about tongues in the assembly/gathering?
What are we to do about tongues in the assembly/gathering?
How could an interpreted tongue build up?
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1 Corinthians 14:16-17
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1 Corinthians 14:16-17
"Edification is the benchmark by which to measure what goes on in the public worship.”
"Corinthians believed whoever spoken in a tongue in the gathering was greater than those who spoken intelligible words - Paul inverts their pyramid of values."
"Corinthians believed whoever spoken in a tongue in the gathering was greater than those who spoken intelligible words - Paul inverts their pyramid of values."
The Impact on Outsiders & Unbelievers
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1 Corinthians 14:20-23
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1 Corinthians 14:20-23
“In the Corinthian context, speaking in “other tongues” will fail to convey any meaningful message or bring repentance, just as it failed to do in Isaiah’s day. The citation from Isaiah makes clear that tongues are not a saving sign but a sign of retribution. They do not stimulate belief but instead seal unbelief.”
“The sure sign of the presence of God in the believing community is this deep plowing work of the Spirit, whereby through prophetic revelation the secrets of the heart are laid bare. No wonder the Corinthians preferred tongues; it not only gave them a sense of being more “spiritual” but it was safer! In a society concerned about external appearances, the message rips away the camouflage used to hide who one really is. It unmasks secrets but also reveals the one who loves and accepts them even when they are fully exposed."
Do we come to come to church looking to see how we can use our gifts to encourage, benefit, bless and build up others?
What would you do differently or what would need to change if your primary aim was to show love and to build others up?
What would you do differently or what would need to change if your primary aim was to show love and to build others up?