“What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up” (1 Cor. 14:26).

In 1 Corinthians 10-14, Paul addresses issues in the Corinthian assemblies, climaxing in several guiding principles in chapter 14. Bible study requires reading other people’s mail (like this epistle) and drawing principles from other church’s problems (like the tension between different gifts and the chaos of their church gatherings). Their debate over prophecy versus tongues won’t make much sense if we don’t understand that context.

After Jesus ascended, he sent the Spirit to guide the church (John 16:33; Acts 2:33). At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit poured out on the disciples, and they began to speak “other tongues” (Acts 2:4), letting different nationalities hear the word in their language (Acts 2:5-11). People that day were “amazed” (Acts 2:12) by the tongues, which were a sign to bring unbelievers to confirm the word (1 Cor. 14:22; Mark 16:20; Heb. 2:3-4).

Later, we learn that gifts of the Holy Spirit were passed on at the laying on of the Apostle’s hands (Acts 8:17-19; Acts 19:6; 2 Tim. 1:6). Paul had laid his hands on many in Corinth so that he can say they “are not lacking in any gift” (1 Cor. 1:7; 1 Cor. 9:2). Though we don’t have apostles today (Acts 1:8-26), their word continues to guide us (1 Cor. 14:37; Eph. 2:20; 2 Pet. 1:21). So what can we learn from this text to apply to our worship?

The Understandable Assembly

Our praying, singing, and speaking must communicate with others using understandable language.

1. Use Language to Communicate Meaning (1 Cor. 14:7-11). If someone spoke in a different tongue, they needed to find an interpreter to translate. God’s people have a rich history of overcoming the language barrier to bring God’s word to others, from Ezra (Neh. 8:5-8) to modern-day translations.

Speaking the prophetic word clearly, boldly, and faithfully can turn “outsiders” into insiders.

2. Sing & Pray with Your Spirit & Mind (1 Cor. 14:15). Our prayers and praise must have “the understanding” (KJV). You have to grasp what you pray and sing. Because “if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful” (1 Cor. 14:14). As Barclay puts it, “worship must be intelligible … In the end, only what satisfies my mind can comfort my heart, and only what my mind can grasp can bring strength to my life.” But the assembly isn’t just for you. If “the other person is not being built up” by my thanksgiving (1 Cor. 14:17), it’s not fit for the gathering.

3. Preach the Word to Outsiders (1 Cor. 14:23-25). A church needs to welcome unbelievers, and what we do can either turn them off so that they say “you are out of your minds” or expose them to God’s mighty word so they say, “God is really among you” (1 Cor. 14:23-25). If the word is clear, God is here. If they’re convicted, they’ll become worshippers. Speaking the prophetic word clearly, boldly, and faithfully can turn “outsiders” into insiders. As worship leaders, we must work to articulate our meaning. Prepare your thoughts to give as much clarity as possible. We’re all only human, but try to speak loud and clear, avoiding mumbling. Use words people understand, and when you need to use a new word, try to explain it.

The Edifying Assembly

We build people upward, growing God’s temple (1 Cor. 3:9-17; Eph. 2:20-21) by investing in each other’s faith.

1. Let All Things Be Done for Building Up (1 Cor. 14:12,26). Always “strive to excel in building up the church” (1 Cor. 14:12). When you come to church, are you more concerned about what you get out of it or how you strengthen others (1 Cor. 14:17,19; 12:25-26)? When I consider others, I’ll strive to be consistently present in our gatherings and aim to “stir” others towards “love and good works” (Heb. 10:23-25).

2. Pursue Love & Aim to Benefit Others (1 Cor. 14:1,6; cf. 8:1; 12:31-13:13). Paul’s great love chapter sits between two chapters about “spiritual gifts” (1 Cor. 12 and 14). It might seem like an off-topic tangent, but it captures the heart of his argument about tongues, prophecy, and the assembly. If we don’t practice love (1 Cor. 13:4-7), none of it matters (1 Cor. 13:1-3). Paul knew prophecy and tongues would “cease” but “love never ends” (1 Cor. 13:8). We honor God by building each other up in love!

Our worship should reflect the one we worship.

The Orderly Assembly

We serve a God of peace and order (1 Cor. 14:33,40). From the beginning, he has brought order and life in everything he does (Gen. 1). Our worship should reflect the one we worship.

1. Do Everything Decently & Orderly (1 Cor. 14:40). Order doesn’t require formality, but “peace” and a sense of common decency as an alternative to “confusion” (1 Cor. 14:33,40).

2. One Speaker At a Time (1 Cor. 14:33-35). Though the Corinthian assembly was probably more spontaneous than ours, the speakers and leaders needed to be arranged for maximum edification. We have an important goal, so we strive to order our activities to achieve it “so that all may learn and all be encouraged” (1 Cor. 14:30). Paul also specifies that only two or three total should address each gathering (1 Cor. 14:27,29). Though the word has limitless value, our attention and time together are limited. On the other hand, ideally, no single member should dominate the church’s teaching (1 Cor. 14:29).

3. Weigh What’s Said (1 Cor. 14:29). When a prophet spoke, others needed to test it (1 Thes. 4:19-22; 1 John 4:1), like the Bereans who fact-checked Paul’s teaching by the Scriptures (Acts 17:11).

Though the word has limitless value, our attention and time together are limited.

4. Men Lead Congregational Worship (1 Cor. 14:33-35). Women should “keep silent” and not “speak” (1 Cor. 14:34), words used throughout the passage for addressing the church or otherwise directing worship (1 Cor. 14:28-30). It doesn’t forbid them from audibly participating in worship — like singing (Eph. 5:19) or saying “Amen” (1 Cor. 14:17) — any more than the silence of prophets keeps them from doing so (1 Cor. 14:29-30). The point is that godly men have a duty to lead. Paul says this command is universal (“as in all the churches“), timeless (“as the Law also says,” cf. 1 Cor. 11:8,9; 1 Tim. 2:12-14), authoritative (“not permitted“), and divine (“a command of the Lord“).

Jesus and his apostles elevated women’s status and consistently insisted that women have the opportunity to learn, like Mary studying under her Rabbi.

There is more to say about the issue than this lesson allows, but remember that God’s loving, orderly essence is the main issue (1 Cor. 14:33,40). God wants harmony and equality among members (Eph. 5:21. At the same time, he assigns some different authority, as exists within the trinity (1 Cor. 11:3). In contrast to Jewish culture, Jesus and his apostles elevated women’s status (Gal. 3:28) and consistently insisted that women have the opportunity to “learn” (1 Cor. 14:35; 1 Tim. 2:11), like Mary studying under her Rabbi rather than staying in the kitchen (Luke 1038-42).