1 Corinthians Week 32

Day 1 

RECEIVE 

1 Corinthians 14:18-19 

¹⁸ I thank God that I speak in tongues more than any of you. ¹⁹ But in a church meeting I would rather speak five understandable words to help others than ten thousand words in an unknown language. 

Before the time the Bible was completed Paul was able to say, “I thank God that I speak in tongues more than any of you.” But notice he also said, “But in a church meeting I would rather speak five understandable words to help others than ten thousand words in an unknown language.” He continued to emphasize the importance of building up the entire group. 

REFLECT 

May God use you with whatever spiritual gift you have to benefit the entire church.  

RESPOND 

With a friend consider what Paul said about the “whole church.” See 1 Corinthians 14:5, 12. Read also 1 Corinthians 14:19 where he refers to helping others in the church group. 

Day 2 

RECEIVE 

1 Corinthians 14:20-21 

²⁰ Dear brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind. ²¹ It is written in the Scriptures: “I will speak to my own people through strange languages and through the lips of foreigners. But even then, they will not listen to me,” says the Lord. 

Paul begins to explain to the Corinthians the background of different languages. In the Old Testament the common language was Hebrew. When God wished to discipline His people He would bring against them those who spoke other languages (see Deuteronomy 28:49; Isaiah 28:11; Jeremiah 5:15).  

REFLECT 

Have you considered the background of how God used other languages (tongues) in the Old Testament? 

RESPOND  

With a friend examine the Scriptures referred to in Deuteronomy, Isaiah and Jeremiah. This will give you a better understanding for what Paul later writes in 1 Corinthians 14.  

Day 3 

RECEIVE 

1 Corinthians 14:22-23 

²² So you see that speaking in tongues is a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for the benefit of believers, not unbelievers. ²³ Even so, if unbelievers or people who don’t understand these things come into your church meeting and hear everyone speaking in an unknown language, they will think you are crazy. 

The apostle Paul wrote “speaking in tongues is a sign . . . for unbelievers.” Of what were they a sign? This indicated it was a sign of God disciplining or changing His program for the Jews. This is the indication of what occurred in Acts 2. The speaking in tongues indicated God was turning to the Gentiles. Paul gave reasons for not using tongues to reach unbelievers in the local church. 

REFLECT 

Have you thought before about what speaking in different languages was a sign of? 

RESPOND 

When discussing the controversial issue of speaking in tongues it is good to talk about the background of them. This helps to know why God used them.  

Day 4 

RECEIVE 

1 Corinthians 14:24-25 

²⁴ But if all of you are prophesying, and unbelievers or people who don’t understand these things come into your meeting, they will be convicted of sin and judged by what you say. ²⁵ As they listen, their secret thoughts will be exposed, and they will fall to their knees and worship God, declaring, “God is truly here among you.” 

Paul had said that tongues were a sign to unbelievers. Here he explained what it would seem like to interested unbelievers who came into a church that was speaking in tongues. What such a person needed was the prophesying, or giving out the truth of God. They needed to hear the gospel in a language they could understand. 

REFLECT 

Hopefully you are being helped in understanding what the apostle Paul wrote. Make a list of some important truths you have learned. 

RESPOND 

Talk with a friend about what you can do in communicating the gospel in an understandable language to another person. It is regretful if those who know the language of others do not share the message of eternal life. 

Day 5 

RECEIVE 

1 Corinthians 14:26 

²⁶ Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you. 

Paul gave a summary of what he had been writing. He mentioned those who sing; those who teach; those who have a special revelation from God; those who speak in tongues; and those who interpret what was said in the tongues. His bottom line was that “everything that is done must strengthen all of you.” This meant all had to be done to build up the entire church group.  

REFLECT 

How is it done in your church group? Is everything done to strengthen the entire group? 

RESPOND 

Visit with a fellow church member to talk about the service in your church. Are things done to help everyone grow stronger in the Lord? What would you suggest to the leadership if you were asked?