1 Corinthians 14:26-33, 40 How is it then, brothers? when you come together, every one of you has a psalm, has a doctrine, has a tongue, has a revelation… I. REFLECT UPON WHAT THE CHURCH IS. 1. It is the "Church of the living God" (1 Timothy 3:15). In its worship it worships the Eternal. It is the depository of his truth. It is the "temple of God" (1 Corinthians 3:16). 2. It is the Church of Christ. "My Church" (Matthew 16:18). It (1) bears his Name; (2) is the place of his presence (Matthew 18:20 and Matthew 28:20); (3) redeemed by his blood (1 Peter 1:18, 19); (4) his body (1 Corinthians 12:27); (5) identified with him by the world; (6) the chief means by which his Name is made known in the earth; (7) it is light derived from him shining in a dark place. 3. The abiding place of the Holy Ghost. (1 Corinthians 3:16.) 4. The great instrumentality for the conversion of the ungodly. II. THE IMPORTANCE OF EVERYTHING CONNECTED WITH THE CHURCH BEING AS FREE FROM FAULT AS POSSIBLE. Impropriety and disorder in the Church (1) dishonour God; (2) grieve Christ; (3) tend to quench the Spirit, and (4) to make the Church powerless for its mission. III. WHAT VAST RESPONSIBILITY RESTS UPON THOSE WHO VIOLATE THE APOSTOLIC COMMAND. (Ver. 40.) God is a God of peace, but in this way he is made to appear a God of confusion and disorder (ver. 33). - H. Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
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