TONY CLASSEN&BEN DEAVER

NEW ELDERS

Progress up to this point

The Cross & Christian Unity (1:10-4:16)

Christian Sexuality & Marriage (4:17-7:40)

Christian Freedom & Responsibility in Relating to the World (8:1-11:1)

New Essay – Good Christian Meetings (11:2-14:40) Women leading in Christian meetings The Lord’s Supper (Consuming or Serving?) Spiritual gifts & the gift of the body The high road of love

#1: Unity

#2: Sexuality

#3: Freedom

#4: Meetings

#5: Resurrection

HYMN TO

LOVE

#4: Meetings

SELF-GIVING LOVE GUIDES OUR GIFTS & OUR MEETINGS1 Corinthians 14:1-20

What is “the church”?

It is not an amorphous blob with no direction, but it is a body of interdependent members. (Ch. 11-12)

It is not an optional, felt needs driven social club, but it is a family bound together by self-giving love. (Ch. 13)

It is not an impersonal & private association, but it is a personal & intimate army on mission together. (Ch. 11-14)

It is not just a big meeting in a big building, but it is a multiplying movement that does life together in a multitude of settings. (the NT)

What is “the church”?

It is not an amorphous blob with no direction, but it is a body of interdependent members. (Ch. 11-12)

It is not an optional, felt needs driven social club, but it is a family bound together by self-giving love. (Ch. 13)

It is not an impersonal & private association, but it is a personal & intimate army on mission together. (Ch. 11-14)

It is not just a big meeting in a big building, but it is a multiplying movement that does life together in a multitude of settings. (the NT)

1 Cor. 14:34a -- the women should be silent in the churches1 Cor. 16:19 -- The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, along with the church that meets in their home.

(See also Romans 16:5,10,11,15,23; Colossians 4:15; Philemon 2)

1 Corinthians 14

1 Cor. 14:1 -- Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, and above all that you may prophesy.

Self-giving love is to be our ultimate pursuit

Desiring spiritual gifts is a good thing Prophecy is to be desired above all

Prophecy unpacked

Contributive Action = to speak a word from God’s Spirit to God’s people

Can involve a predictive quality Can be sudden impulse Usually is a “word from the Word” All are called upon to pursue this

Prophecy unpacked

Role/Gift = a person who has been gifted to regularly & intentionally prepare “words from the Word led by the Spirit” for the church

Various expressions: Central & house church teaching Disciplemaking Counseling Leadership training

Some are gifted to do this and lead out in this Do it often Train others to do it

Prophecy unpacked

Role/Gift = a person who has been gifted to regularly & intentionally prepare “words from the Word led by the Spirit” for the church

Various expressions: Central & house church teaching Disciplemaking Counseling Leadership training

Some are gifted to do this and lead out in this Do it often Train others to do it

You don’t have to have the role/gift to offer the

contributive action to the body!

1 Corinthians 14

1 Cor. 14:2 -- 2 For the person who speaks in another language (tongues) is not speaking to men but to God, since no one understands him; however, he speaks mysteries in the Spirit.

The Corinthians were obsessed with speaking in tongues Acts 2 – literally speaking other human

languages they did not know for the sake of evangelism

What Paul is talking about here does not seem to fit that description

Their tongues obsession was actually self-obsession

1 Corinthians 14

1 Cor. 14:3-4 -- 3 But the person who prophesies speaks to people for edification, encouragement, and consolation. 4 The person who speaks in another language (tongues) builds himself up, but he who prophesies builds up the church.

Prophecy is superior because it is others-focused

Tongues is inferior to prophecy because it is self-focused

1 Corinthians 14

1 Cor. 14:5 -- 5 I wish all of you spoke in other languages (tongues), but even more that you prophesied. The person who prophesies is greater than the person who speaks in languages (tongues), unless he interprets so that the church may be built up.

Tongues are not evil & can lead to edification if there is an interpreter

1 Corinthians 14

1 Cor. 14:5 -- 5 I wish all of you spoke in other languages (tongues), but even more that you prophesied. The person who prophesies is greater than the person who speaks in languages (tongues), unless he interprets so that the church may be built up.

Tongues are not evil & can lead to edification if there is an interpreter

1 Cor. 14:39-40 -- 39 Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in other languages (tongues). 40 But everything must be done decently and in order.

1 Corinthians 14

1 Cor. 14:5 -- 5 I wish all of you spoke in other languages (tongues), but even more that you prophesied. The person who prophesies is greater than the person who speaks in languages (tongues), unless he interprets so that the church may be built up.

Tongues are not evil & can lead to edification if there is an interpreter

Tongues are not normative

1 Corinthians 14

1 Cor. 14:5 -- 5 I wish all of you spoke in other languages (tongues), but even more that you prophesied. The person who prophesies is greater than the person who speaks in languages (tongues), unless he interprets so that the church may be built up.

Tongues are not evil & can lead to edification if there is an interpreter

Tongues are not normative

1 Cor. 12:13 -- 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. 

1 Corinthians 14

1 Cor. 14:5 -- 5 I wish all of you spoke in other languages (tongues), but even more that you prophesied. The person who prophesies is greater than the person who speaks in languages (tongues), unless he interprets so that the church may be built up.

Tongues are not evil & can lead to edification if there is an interpreter

Tongues are not normative

1 Cor. 12:13 -- 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. 

1 Cor. 12:29-30 -- 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all do miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in other languages (tongues)? Do all interpret?

1 Corinthians 14

1 Cor. 14:5 -- 5 I wish all of you spoke in other languages (tongues), but even more that you prophesied. The person who prophesies is greater than the person who speaks in languages (tongues), unless he interprets so that the church may be built up.

Tongues are not evil & can lead to edification if there is an interpreter

Tongues are not normative Tongues are not a measure of

spirituality

1 Corinthians 14

1 Cor. 14:5 -- 5 I wish all of you spoke in other languages (tongues), but even more that you prophesied. The person who prophesies is greater than the person who speaks in languages (tongues), unless he interprets so that the church may be built up.

Tongues are not evil & can lead to edification if there is an interpreter

Tongues are not normative Tongues are not a measure of

spirituality

1 Cor. 14:13-19 -- 13 Therefore the person who speaks in another language should pray that he can interpret. 14 For if I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15 What then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with my understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with my understanding. 16 Otherwise, if you praise with the spirit, how will the uninformed person say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying? 17 For you may very well be giving thanks, but the other person is not being built up. 18 I thank God that I speak in other languages more than all of you; 19 yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, in order to teach others also, than 10,000 words in another language.

1 Corinthians 14

1 Cor. 14:5 -- 5 I wish all of you spoke in other languages (tongues), but even more that you prophesied. The person who prophesies is greater than the person who speaks in languages (tongues), unless he interprets so that the church may be built up.

Tongues are not evil & can lead to edification if there is an interpreter

Tongues are not normative Tongues are not a measure of

spirituality

1 Cor. 14:13-19 -- 13 Therefore the person who speaks in another language should pray that he can interpret. 14 For if I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15 What then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with my understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with my understanding. 16 Otherwise, if you praise with the spirit, how will the uninformed person say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying? 17 For you may very well be giving thanks, but the other person is not being built up. 18 I thank God that I speak in other languages more than all of you; 19 yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, in order to teach others also, than 10,000 words in another language.

True spirituality must involve the mind, not just emotions or physical ecstasies.

1 Corinthians 14

1 Cor. 14:20 -- 20 Brothers, don’t be childish in your thinking, but be infants in regard to evil and adult in your thinking.

Their biggest need was total transformation of their thinking About themselves & the purpose of the church About spirituality About one another

Their way of thinking was destroying the church & rendering them ineffective in their mission

1 Corinthians 14

1 Cor. 14:20 -- 20 Brothers, don’t be childish in your thinking, but be infants in regard to evil and adult in your thinking.

Their biggest need was total transformation of their thinking About themselves & the purpose of the church About spirituality About one another

Their way of thinking was destroying the church & rendering them ineffective in their mission

1 Cor. 14:6-12 -- 6 But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in other languages, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you with a revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 7 Even inanimate things that produce sounds—whether flute or harp—if they don’t make a distinction in the notes, how will what is played on the flute or harp be recognized? 8 In fact, if the trumpet makes an unclear sound, who will prepare for battle? 9 In the same way, unless you use your tongue for intelligible speech, how will what is spoken be known? For you will be speaking into the air. 10 There are doubtless many different kinds of languages in the world, and all have meaning. 11 Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker will be a foreigner to me. 12 So also you—since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek to excel in building up the church.

1 Corinthians 14

1 Cor. 14:20 -- 20 Brothers, don’t be childish in your thinking, but be infants in regard to evil and adult in your thinking.

Their biggest need was total transformation of their thinking About themselves & the purpose of the church About spirituality About one another

Their way of thinking was destroying the church & rendering them ineffective in their mission

1 Cor. 14:6-12 -- 6 But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in other languages, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you with a revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 7 Even inanimate things that produce sounds—whether flute or harp—if they don’t make a distinction in the notes, how will what is played on the flute or harp be recognized? 8 In fact, if the trumpet makes an unclear sound, who will prepare for battle? 9 In the same way, unless you use your tongue for intelligible speech, how will what is spoken be known? For you will be speaking into the air. 10 There are doubtless many different kinds of languages in the world, and all have meaning. 11 Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker will be a foreigner to me. 12 So also you—since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek to excel in building up the church.

All of this was for the purpose of pointing out their fundamental thinking problem…

1 Corinthians 14

1 Cor. 14:20 -- 20 Brothers, don’t be childish in your thinking, but be infants in regard to evil and adult in your thinking.

Their biggest need was total transformation of their thinking About themselves & the purpose of the church About spirituality About one another

Their way of thinking was destroying the church & rendering them ineffective in their mission

1 Cor. 14:6-12 -- 6 But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in other languages, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you with a revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 7 Even inanimate things that produce sounds—whether flute or harp—if they don’t make a distinction in the notes, how will what is played on the flute or harp be recognized? 8 In fact, if the trumpet makes an unclear sound, who will prepare for battle? 9 In the same way, unless you use your tongue for intelligible speech, how will what is spoken be known? For you will be speaking into the air. 10 There are doubtless many different kinds of languages in the world, and all have meaning. 11 Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker will be a foreigner to me. 12 So also you—since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek to excel in building up the church.

All of this was for the purpose of pointing out their fundamental thinking problem…

SELF-ABSORPTION!!!

What about us?

Some of us may have issues that stem from bad thinking about the purpose of church

Some of us may have issues that stem from bad thinking about spiritual gifts

Some of us may have issues that stem from bad thinking about spirituality & maturity

All of us have issues with self-giving love!!!

The American Problem

Individualism … disposes each citizen to isolate himself from the mass of his fellows… Such folk owe nothing and hardly expect anything from anybody. They form the habit of thinking of themselves in isolation and imagine that their whole destiny is in their hands…. Each man is forever thrown back on himself alone, and there is danger that he may be shut up in the solitude of his own heart.

-Alexis de Tocqueville in Democracy in America

Individualism (Orphan)

Member of a Family

Individualism (Orphan)

Member of a Family

Self-Determination:•My life•My terms•My agenda

Individualism (Orphan)

Member of a Family

Self-Determination:•My life•My terms•My agenda

Self-Reliance:•My strength & gifts• “I must come through.”

Individualism (Orphan)

Member of a Family

Self-Determination:•My life•My terms•My agenda

Self-Reliance:•My strength & gifts• “I must come through.”

Results:• Alienation & abuse• Competition & comparison• Anxiety & exhaustion

Individualism (Orphan)

Member of a Family

Self-Determination:•My life•My terms•My agenda

Interdependence:• I am not my own, but I belong to God• I am not my own, but I belong to the body

Self-Reliance:•My strength & gifts• “I must come through.”

Results:• Alienation & abuse• Competition & comparison• Anxiety & exhaustion

Individualism (Orphan)

Member of a Family

Self-Determination:•My life•My terms•My agenda

Interdependence:• I am not my own, but I belong to God• I am not my own, but I belong to the body

Self-Reliance:•My strength & gifts• “I must come through.”

Dependence:• God’s strength & gifts• “I must trust & cultivate faithfulness.”

Results:• Alienation & abuse• Competition & comparison• Anxiety & exhaustion

Individualism (Orphan)

Member of a Family

Self-Determination:•My life•My terms•My agenda

Interdependence:• I am not my own, but I belong to God• I am not my own, but I belong to the body

Self-Reliance:•My strength & gifts• “I must come through.”

Dependence:• God’s strength & gifts• “I must trust & cultivate faithfulness.”

Results:• Alienation & abuse• Competition & comparison• Anxiety & exhaustion

Results:• Humility& unity• Serving spirit• Peace & self-giving love!

Allow Jesus to entice you…

John 13:34-35 -- 34 “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

How had He loved them?

He had just taken on the role of the lowliest servant for them

He had just poured countless hours into these 12 men over the course of 3 years together

He had left heaven to enter their worlds

He was getting ready to die for them

He did all this because of His strong hope in resurrection

How had He loved them?

He had just taken on the role of the lowliest servant for them

He had just poured countless hours into these 12 men over the course 3 years together

He had left heaven to enter their worlds

He was getting ready to die for them

He did all this because of His strong hope in resurrection

Heb. 12:1-3 -- Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, 2 keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne. 3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, so that you won’t grow weary and lose heart.

He has loved you the same way!

2 Cor. 5:21 -- He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

He has called you to the same life that He called them to embrace!

John 10:10 -- I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.

John 14:6 -- Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

1 John 4:19 -- We love because He first loved us.