Participatory church meetings

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PARTICIPATORY CHURCH MEETINGS

The Practice Of The Early Church

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“everyone”

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“everyone”

“only one”

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“Lord’s command”

— 1 Corinthians 14:47b

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How does this compare to your church

meetings?

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. . . on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets the synagogue

officials sent to them, saying, "Brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say it.“

— Acts 13:14-15 (NASV)

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. . . in Iconium they entered the synagogue of the Jews together, and spoke in such a manner that a great multitude believed, both

of Jews and of Greeks.— Acts 14:1 (NASV)

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. . . they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the

Jews. And according to Paul's custom, he went to them, and for

three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures . . .

— Acts 17:1-2 (NASV)

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. . . when they arrived*, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble-minded than

those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great

eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things

were so.* Berea

— Acts 17:10-11 (NASV)

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So he (Paul) was reasoning in the synagogue* with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles . . .

* Athens— Acts 17:17 (NASV)

Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue*, trying to

persuade Jews and Greeks.* Corinth

— Acts 18:4 (NIV)

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Paul entered the synagogue* and

spoke boldly there for three months,

arguing persuasively about

the kingdom of God.

*Ephesus— Acts 19:8 (NIV)

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SingingI Corinthians 14:26Colossians 3:16Ephesians 5:19

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Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the

Lord . . .— Ephesians 5:19 (NASV)

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Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the

Lord . . .— Ephesians 5:19 (NASV)

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with

psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your

hearts to God.— Colossians 3:16 (NASV)

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Teaching1 Corinthians 14:26Matthew 28:19-20Acts 2:42Romans 12:71 Corinthians 12:28Ephesians 4:111 Timothy 1:3, 2:11-15James 3:1

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"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them

in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,

teaching them to observe all that I commanded you . . .”

— Matthew 28:19-20 (NASV)

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And they were continually devoting themselves to the

apostles' teaching . . .— Acts 2:42 (NASV)

We have different gifts, according to the grace given

us. If a man's gift is . . . teaching, let him teach . . .

— Romans 12:6-7 (NIV)

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God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third

teachers . . .— 1 Corinthians 12:28 (NASV)

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some

to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers . . .

— Ephesians 4:11 (NIV)

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Church Meetings

— Versus —

Ministry Meetings

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Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing

that as such we shall incur a stricter judgment.

— James 3:1 (NASV)

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Command certain men not to teach strange doctrines any

longer.— 1 Timothy 1:3

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Let a woman learn quietly with all

submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she

is to remain quiet.— 1 Timothy 2:11-12 (ESV)

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PreachingActs 20:7

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And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to

depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until

midnight.— Acts 20:7 (KJV)

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dialegomai

dialog (a reciprocal conversation)

“to consider and discuss, argue” — Bauer, Arndt, Gingrich, Dankert, p. 186

ESV ~ “Paul talked with them”

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Various Charismatic Gifts1 Corinthians 14:26

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Acts 2:421 Corinthians 14:14-151 Timothy 4:13Acts 14:26-28

Other Appropriate Contributions

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And they were continually devoting themselves to . . .

prayer.— Acts 2:42 (NASV)

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Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of

Scripture . . .— 1 Timothy 4:13 (NIV)

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. . . they sailed back to Antioch . . . On arriving there, they gathered the

church together and reported all that God had done through them

and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

— Acts 14:26-27 (NIV)

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Edification1 Corinthians 14:26

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A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of

silver.— Proverbs 25:11 (NIV)

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If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of

God. — 1 Peter 4:11

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“Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the

habit of some, but encouraging one another . . .”

— Hebrews 10:24-25 (NASV )

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• Is there a testimony the Lord would have you to bring?

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• Could you purpose to begin a time of conversational prayer?

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• Is there a song you like that would edify the church?

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• Is there some subject or passage of Scripture to teach on?

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• Is there some subject or passage of Scripture to teach on?

• What has the Lord shown you this week in your time with Him?

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Does your wife spend more time preparing for the meeting (cooking)

than you do (considering how to encourage the

church)?

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Worship ServicesRomans 12:1-2John 4:21-24

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I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you

may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and

perfect.— Romans 12:1-2 (NASV)

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Worship

proskuneo

latreia

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LORD, WITH GLOWING HEART I’D PRAISE THEE

Lord, this bosom’s ardent feeling Vainly would my lips express:

Low before Thy footstool kneeling,Deign thy suppliant’s pray’r to bless:Let Thy love, my soul’s chief treasure,

Love’s pure flame within me raise;

And, since words can never measure,Let my life show forth Thy praise.

Amen.—Francis Scott Key (1819)

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Tongues1 Corinthians 14:27-28

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1 Corinthians 14:29-331 Thessalonians 5:19-22

Prophecy

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Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances. But

examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.

— 1 Thessalonains 5:19-22 (NASV)

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The Role of Women1 Corinthians 14:33b - 35

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1 Corinthians 14:36

Two Questions

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1 Corinthians 14:37

The Lord’s Command

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1 Corinthians 14:38

The Penalty

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1 Corinthians 14:39-40

The Three Imperatives

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What conclusions can be drawn about the way God desires church meetings to be conducted?

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1. PARTICIPATORY (1Co 14:26).

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2. FITTING & ORDERLY (1Co 14:27, 31, 40)

— ONE AT A TIME.

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— ONE AT A TIME.

3. EDIFYING (1Co 14:3, 4, 5, 12, 26, 31).

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— ONE AT A TIME.

3. EDIFYING (1Co 14:3, 4, 5, 12, 26, 31).

4. “LORD’S COMMAND” (1Co 14:37). Revised 12/04/09

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Participatory church meetings