1 Cor 14:26-40

1 Corinthians 14:26–40 CSB

What then, brothers and sisters? Whenever you come together, each one has a hymn, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Everything is to be done for building up. If anyone speaks in a tongue, there are to be only two, or at the most three, each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no interpreter, that person is to keep silent in the church and speak to himself and God. Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should evaluate. But if something has been revealed to another person sitting there, the first prophet should be silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, so that everyone may learn and everyone may be encouraged. And the prophets’ spirits are subject to the prophets, since God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, the women should be silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but are to submit themselves, as the law also says. If they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home, since it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church. Or did the word of God originate from you, or did it come to you only? If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, he should recognize that what I write to you is the Lord’s command. If anyone ignores this, he will be ignored. So then, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But everything is to be done decently and in order.

“Not a God of disorder/chaos but order/peace”

this is one of the main themes of the whole bible!

from the very beginning of Genesis!

the Spirit hovered over the chaos

Genesis 1:1–3 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.”

in our hearts

and looking forward to the new creation

how are you doing that in your part of the world?

in your vocation

In your home

In your garden/lawn

In your finances

In your body/health

In your relationships

In your mind/attitude

We want to know and to live in the peace of God

a peace that comes from participating in His ordering of disorder… of “peace-ing chaos”.

In every aspect of our lives…

How then do we reflect God’s good order when we gather?

Orderly worship

“… everything is to be done decently and in order”

Not “boring” worship, but orderly

Spirit-led doesn’t necessarily (or even usually) mean unplanned, spontaneous, chaotic, ecstatic.

Because you’ve all got gifts, and God gave them so you’d exercise them.. use them!

last week - some for personal building up, most for mutual building up

That’s the purpose of these gifts.

1 Corinthians 14:31 “… so that everyone may learn and everyone may be encouraged.”

So, God’s ordering of gathering is for His glory and our encouragement

we exercise them how they’re meant to

Some people hold the normative view vs regulative (vs affective)

this is in scripture so we do it.. it’s not forbidden so we can

it’s expressly commanded in scripture, so we do it

it feels good, so we do it.

“everyone brings”

means coming prepared and expectant

but in the gatherings according to the building up of the body

so, just because you’ve got a song, doesn’t mean you’re getting a microphone

The gifts have their right context for usage, and depending on our maturity in that gift.

The Spirit doesn’t work contrary to Himself… so we never say “well, I have a word, so I should be able to give it”

no, we submit to the Holy Spirit to whom we belong.

just because you’ve got an encouragement, doesn’t mean this is the place that will be shared

DGs are essential for this

Paul’s concern is for the church, not for our individual fulfilment.

that’s why he slammed them a few chapters earlier about how they approached the gatherings… selfishly, eating and drinking to get full and drunk while others who come late get nothing at all, etc.

Paul isn’t trying to dampen their enthusiasm, but rather direct it in a God-honouring way.

1 Thess 5 - don’t treat prophecy with contempt

we’ve had people who’ve said they have a word for the church (from inside and outside CityLight)… and we hear them and weigh them as elders.

This is what Paul is referring to here.. the weighing of prophecy is done by leaders in the church.

It’s important, as God can and does guide His people today, and speaking on behalf of God has done a lot of damage when done erroneously.

we tend to adopt the disposition we hear from the Apostles in Acts “it seems good to us and to the Holy Spirit”, as we always want to humbly pursue what God has for us, but our earthly authority is scripture alone… no prophetic utterance, and not even an angel with a new teaching supersedes the scripture we already have in the Bible.

What about women remaining silent?

1 Corinthians 14:32–36 “And the prophets’ spirits are subject to the prophets, since God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, the women should be silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but are to submit themselves, as the law also says. If they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home, since it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church. Or did the word of God originate from you, or did it come to you only?”

The lone “as in all the churches of the saints” will be attached to either the sentence before or the sentence after, depending on your Bible translation.

Some think this is a cultural command, so the placement of that line is important.

But either way, this is still true and authoritative for us today.

While I don’t believe it is cultural, I DO believe it’s contextual.

Paul isn’t, and can’t be saying women can’t speak in a church gathering

At the start of this section of his letter in chapter 11, he talks about what it looks like when men and women speak in church… so he can’t now be saying women can’t speak in church

It’s contextual to what he’s talking about here.

who is doing the work of curating the teaching of the church? Who is weighing up prophecy? It’s the elders. Paul doesn’t explicitly mention them here, but it’s the context of his paragraph - who can weigh prophecy?

“Or did the word of God originate from you, or did it come to you only?”

He’s throwing back to how the Jewish synagogues would operate.

the elders would sit at the front and give their “amen” to the preacher or prophet.. they were in real time saying, “amen, this is good teaching”, or “what do you mean by that.. explain please”

this is one of the reasons it was so controversial for Jesus to say “amen amen, I tell you”

And people would marvel and say “he preaches as one with authority”.

He didn’t look for the ratification of the elders or teachers of the law, He amen-ed Himself!

When He hears them question His teaching or practice (or even when they just think it), He knows and asks THEM a question to demonstrate His authority, rather than submitting to them.

“Did it originate with you” is a rhetorical question… the Jewish priests were only qualified men (Levite, for example)- this was Gods order

The church elders were only qualified men.

As the NT is being written, the prophets are to curate the prophetic… as churches are planted and elders are established, and the scriptures are being recognised, the elders had the responsibility before God for the sound doctrine of the church they served.

So, for this passage, we can say in our context, “when a man or woman speaks in a church, it is the elder’s responsibility to ensure it is in accordance with sound teaching”

It spans culture, but is still true today.

in our context, we tend to do this curative work before the Sunday gatherings… and in our context, someone saying “amen” to a point they find encouraging or convicting or worship-inspiring, or just true, can be encouraging to all the congregation, so I encourage you to do it.. no-one here in our context thinks that’s the job of an elder only, so there’s no confusion.

It’s also why we have women speaking, and using our definition from last week, prophesying, most weeks when we gather.

we have women worship leaders, women leading discipleship groups, on and leading the association board, leading ministry teams, running Bible studies, preaching, heading up our CityLight cares and worn again team, serving on our staff team… all exercising their gifts according to God’s good order..

and we have qualified and called men serving as elders - according to God’s good order.

Calvin said it’s about “decency in that moment,” not a forever rule. Keller adds, “It’s local chaos control, not a gender shutdown.”

see how Paul tells different people to be silent.

tongues out of place? Not building up the church and contributing to disorder? Be silent

Prophet speaking when another has a superior word? Be silent. Pursue order

Want clarification on what’s being taught? We don’t have people speaking over each other… rather, ask in your homes (again, why we have DGs.. we make time each week to specifically ask questions of the sermon and scriptures)

C.S. Lewis “order frames freedom”

God isn’t trying to withhold good things from you. We know as parents that good boundaries frame freedom for our kids, and our Heavenly Father has gifted us boundaries, so that we might join Him in His ordering work in the world, and that we might enjoy His freedom.

Corinth’s church was gifted but sloppy—everyone doing their thing, no unity. Paul’s pulling them back to God’s heart: worship that’s alive yet ordered, reflecting His peace. This follows verses 1-25—love and edification first, now the how-to. John 16:13 ties in—“The Spirit guides into truth”—not randomness. We can drift too—chasing hype or egos—but God’s order unleashes His power.

He rebukes any Corinthian who might think they can disregard his teaching. The church is not free to invent its own practices—God’s Word, not personal preference, determines how we worship.

• If someone is truly spiritual, they will recognise Paul’s words as the command of the Lord (v. 37).

• If they ignore this order, they themselves will be ignored (v. 38).

1. Building up the church is the responsibility and joy of the whole church—it’s not a show or dominated by individual preferences.

2. Spiritual gifts should function in an orderly way—pointing to Jesus, not causing confusion. We all have been gifted, and we all need to use our gifts.

3. Submission to God’s order brings life and freedom, not restrictive subjugation. When we obey His design and participate in His order, we flourish.

[ 4. The foundation is the Gospel. Christ came to bring us near to God. The gifts, the gathering, the order—it’s all about Him. ]

Final Challenge:

As we gather each week, and as we scatter into the week, let’s ask:

• Are we seeking to edify the body or just have an experience?

• Are we submitting to God’s Word even when it confronts us?

• Are we worshiping in a way that reflects God’s peace, not confusion?

Pray

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Grok:

Sermon: God’s Order, God’s Power

Text: 1 Corinthians 14:26-40

Opening: Chaos or Christ?

Alright, church, let’s dive into 1 Corinthians 14:26-40—Paul’s dropping some serious wisdom here, and it’s all about how we roll when we gather. “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.” That’s verse 26, and it’s like Paul’s handing us a playbook: everyone’s got something to bring, but it’s gotta point to Jesus and lift us up together. This isn’t a free-for-all—it’s God’s design for a gathering that’s alive, Spirit-filled, and ordered around His heart.

Corinth was a mess—imagine a worship service like a rowdy marketplace, everyone shouting over each other, tongues flying, no one listening. Paul’s like, “Hold up—this isn’t how it’s meant to be!” We’re not here to show off; we’re here to meet God and grow as His family. Sound familiar? We can slip into chaos too—chasing our own agendas instead of His. But God’s got a better way, and it’s electric when we get it right.

Digging In: God’s Blueprint for Worship

Let’s unpack this, straight from the Word.

Verses 26-28: Tongues in Check

Paul starts with the vibe: everyone’s got a gift to share—hymns, teachings, revelations, tongues. Awesome! But here’s the catch: “If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret.” No interpretation? “Keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.” Why? Because God’s not about noise for noise’s sake—He’s about building us up. Tongues are a gift, but without clarity, they’re just clutter.

Verses 29-33: Prophecy with Purpose

Next, prophecy: “Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.” If someone else gets a word, the first guy yields—orderly, not a shouting match. Why? Verse 33: “For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.” This isn’t stifling the Spirit; it’s channeling Him so everyone hears God’s voice clearly. The Spirit moves, but He’s not a wrecking ball—He’s a builder.

Verses 34-35: Women and Silence

Now, Paul says, “The women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home.” Whoa—this hits hard today, right? Let’s unpack it. In Corinth, worship was chaos—people interrupting, talking over each other, maybe even women blurting out questions in a culture where that disrupted everything. Paul’s not banning women from ministry—look at chapter 11, where they’re praying and prophesying! This is about order in that moment, that context. He’s saying, “Let’s keep it focused—questions can wait.”

But let’s be real: this doesn’t mean women are second-class in God’s kingdom. Scripture’s clear—men and women are equal in Christ, both gifted by the Spirit. Think Priscilla, teaching Apollos, or Phoebe, a deacon. Here, Paul’s tackling a practical issue, not laying down a universal gag order. For us? It’s a call to honor God’s design—everyone has a role, and we submit to His order so the whole body thrives, not just a few voices.

Verses 36-40: Who’s in Charge?

Paul wraps it up with a mic drop: “Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only ones it has reached?” He’s saying, “Don’t act like you own this—God does.” Prophets and tongues-speakers, test it all against His Word. “Let all things be done decently and in order.” Why? Because when we align with God’s way, His power flows—undiluted, unstoppable.

The Bigger Picture: Why Order Matters

Corinth’s church was gifted but wild—everyone doing their own thing, no unity. Paul’s pulling them back to God’s heart: worship that reflects His character—peaceful, purposeful, Jesus-centered. This sits right after verses 1-25, where he’s already pushing love and edification. Now he’s showing us how—gifts are awesome, but they’re not the boss. God is. And when we get that, our gatherings become a powerhouse of His presence.

Today? We can drift into chaos too—chasing experiences over truth, or letting egos run the show. But God’s inviting us into worship that’s alive and ordered, where the Spirit moves and Jesus shines.

Living It Out: Order That Unleashes Power

So, church, here’s the takeaway:

Bring What You’ve Got Got a song, a word, a prayer? Bring it! But make it about Jesus and the family—not your stage time.

Keep It Clear and Controlled Tongues, prophecy—awesome gifts! But let’s use them God’s way: orderly, interpretable, building us up.

Submit to the Bigger Picture We’re all in this together—men, women, everyone. It’s not about silencing anyone; it’s about honoring God’s design so His voice cuts through.

Expect the Spirit to Move When we line up with God’s order, it’s not dead—it’s dynamite. Lives change, hearts open, Jesus gets lifted high.

The Gospel Heart: Jesus Brings the Order

This all ties back to the Gospel, friends. Jesus didn’t come in chaos—He came with purpose, bringing peace through His cross. He poured out His Spirit not to scatter us, but to unite us under Him. Every gift, every moment here, it’s about Him—His death, His resurrection, His reign. When we worship in order, we’re showing the world the God who makes sense of it all.

Closing: Let’s Get After It!

Church, let’s do this! Bring your gifts, keep it Jesus-focused, and watch God move. Don’t hold back—step into His order with boldness. Think it’s too structured? Trust me, when the Spirit flows in God’s way, it’s wilder than chaos ever could be. Been chasing your own thing? Come back to Jesus—He’s got you.

Let’s pray: “Lord, You’re the God of peace and power. Shape us—move through us. Make our gatherings a place where Your Spirit’s free and Your Son’s exalted. Use us, Jesus. Amen.”

Who’s with me? Let’s worship like God’s here—because He is!

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Grok:

Sermon: God’s Order, God’s Fire

Text: 1 Corinthians 14:26-40

Opening: Let’s Get This Right!

Alright, church, we’re diving into 1 Corinthians 14:26-40—Paul’s handing us the keys to worship that’s alive and on point. “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.” That’s verse 26, and it’s a banger—everyone’s got something to bring, but it’s gotta lift us up together toward Jesus. This isn’t chaos; it’s God’s design—ordered, Spirit-charged, and ready to rock.

Corinth was wild—think worship like a street party gone rogue, tongues everywhere, no one hearing God. Paul’s like, “Nah, fam—this isn’t it!” Three times he calls for silence in this passage, and it’s not about muting people—it’s about making space for God’s voice. We’re in a noisy world too, chasing our own beats, but God’s got a rhythm that changes everything.

Digging In: God’s Playbook for Worship

Let’s break it down, straight from the Word, tying those “silent” moments together.

Verses 26-28: Tongues with Purpose

Paul starts: “If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.” First “silent”—why? No interpretation, no edification. Tongues are a gift, but without clarity, they’re just background noise. Psalm 46:10 whispers here—“Be still, and know that I am God.” Silence isn’t dead air; it’s room for Him.

Verses 29-33: Prophecy in Sync

Next: “Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent.” Second “silent”—a prophet yields when God shifts the spotlight. It’s teamwork, not a solo gig. Verse 33: “For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.” Augustine saw this as God’s beauty—order reflects His nature. Spurgeon preached, “The Spirit’s fire burns best in a steady lamp.” Silence here keeps the focus on God’s word, not ours.

Verses 34-35: Women and Order

Then: “The women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. If there’s anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home.” Third “silent”—tricky, right? Corinth’s chaos had folks—maybe women especially—disrupting with questions in a culture where that derailed everything. Paul’s not gagging women—chapter 11 has them prophesying! Calvin said it’s about “decency in that moment,” not a forever rule. Keller adds, “It’s local chaos control, not a gender shutdown.” Galatians 3:28 backs this—“neither male nor female, all one in Christ.” Acts 2:17—“Your daughters will prophesy.” Silence here is practical, keeping worship on track so everyone hears God.

Verses 36-40: God’s Word Leads

Paul wraps it: “Did the word of God originate with you?” Check everything—tongues, prophecy—against Scripture. “Let all things be done decently and in order.” Those “silent” calls connect—tongues quiet without meaning, prophets pause for clarity, questions wait for the right space. C.S. Lewis nailed it: “Order frames freedom.” It’s all so God’s voice cuts through the noise.

The Bigger Picture: Why This Matters

Voices from the Past: Wisdom That Sticks

Big thinkers have wrestled with this. Augustine loved the peace in verse 33—worship should echo God’s calm strength. Calvin saw the Spirit’s gifts needing guardrails, not a free-for-all. Spurgeon roared, “Order’s no shackle—it’s the Spirit’s runway!” Tim Keller ties it to today: “Paul’s fixing chaos so the Gospel shines.” These giants agree—God’s order isn’t dull; it’s the spark for His move.

Living It Out: Worship That Works

Here’s the rubber hitting the road:

Bring What You’ve Got Song, word, prayer—bring it! But make it about Jesus and the crew, not your spotlight.

Know When to Hush Tongues unclear? Prophets clashing? Questions off-time? Silence isn’t weakness—it’s strength for the body. Ephesians 4:12—“equip the saints, build the body.”

Honor the Flow Men, women, all of us—submit to God’s rhythm. It’s not about who’s loud; it’s about who’s lifted: Jesus.

Expect the Fire Order doesn’t quench the Spirit—it fans it. Colossians 3:16—“Let Christ’s word dwell richly.” When we get this, God shows up—big time.

The Gospel Heart: Jesus Holds It Together

This is all about Jesus, friends. He brought peace—John 14:27—“My peace I give you.” Died to unite us, rose to reign, sent His Spirit to guide. Every “silent,” every order, points to Him—the Word who shaped chaos in Genesis 1, who stilled storms in Mark 4:39. Worship in His way shows a world in pieces the God who makes us whole.

Closing: Let’s Roll With It!

Church, let’s do this! Bring your gifts, lean into God’s order, and watch Him move. Don’t shy from the quiet—it’s where He speaks loudest. Been chasing your own tune? Turn to Jesus—He’s got you. Let’s pray: “Lord, You’re peace, You’re power. Shape us—quiet us where You need, fire us up where You will. Make this place Yours. Amen.”

Who’s in? Let’s worship like God’s here—because He is!

How It’s Better

“Silent” Connection: Woven naturally into each section—tongues (v28), prophets (v30), women (v34)—showing silence as a tool for God’s clarity, not a killjoy, keeping the flow intact.

Thinkers: Sprinkled in (Augustine, Calvin, Spurgeon, Keller, Lewis) to add depth without hijacking the sermon—short, punchy insights that fit the vibe.

Scripture Ties: Added Psalms, Galatians, Acts, Ephesians, Colossians, John, and Mark to back up points, shed light, and tie it to Jesus, blending seamlessly with the original structure.

Kept the Good: Held onto the passion, practical application, and Gospel core, enhancing—not replacing—what worked.

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Chat:

I. Worship Is About Building Up the Church (v. 26)

Paul begins:

“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.” (v. 26)

This verse gives us a picture of early church gatherings—everyone participating in some way, bringing contributions that strengthen the body.

• Worship isn’t passive. The New Testament church wasn’t about spectators; it was about Spirit-filled believers contributing to the life of the church.

• But participation must have a purpose: “Let all things be done for building up.” Gifts exist to encourage, edify, and mature the body—not for personal showmanship or emotional highs.

Application:

Do you come to church simply to receive, or do you come prepared to contribute? Even if you’re not preaching or leading worship, do you pray for the gathering, encourage others, or serve in some way?

II. Order for Tongues and Prophecy (vv. 27–33)

Paul sets boundaries for how tongues and prophecy should operate in the gathering:

A. Tongues with Interpretation (vv. 27–28)

• If someone speaks in tongues, it should be two or three at most, and one at a time.

• There must be an interpreter—otherwise, they should remain silent.

Paul isn’t forbidding tongues, but he’s ensuring they serve the body rather than cause confusion. If no one understands what’s being said, the focus shifts from worship to spectacle.

B. Prophecy with Discernment (vv. 29–33)

• Again, two or three at most should speak, and others should weigh what is said.

• If someone else receives a revelation, the first should stop.

• The prophets should speak one by one—not all at once—so that “all may learn and be encouraged.”

This teaches us something crucial: The Spirit’s work is not chaotic or uncontrollable. The Corinthian church may have thought that interrupting or speaking out of turn showed zeal, but Paul says, “The spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.” (v. 32)

Key Principle:

Being “led by the Spirit” never means abandoning self-control. True Spirit-led worship reflects God’s order, not disorder.

III. Women in the Worship Gathering (vv. 34–35)

Now, we come to a challenging passage:

“The women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says.” (v. 34)

How Do We Understand This?

1. Context Matters:

• Paul has already acknowledged that women pray and prophesy in church (1 Cor. 11:5). So this isn’t a blanket prohibition against all speech.

• The immediate context is prophecy and the weighing of prophetic words (vv. 29–33). It seems Paul is addressing a specific issue of disorder when prophecies were being evaluated.

2. Submission and Order:

• The phrase “should be in submission” ties back to God’s created order and the principle of male leadership in the church (see 1 Tim. 2:11–12).

• Rather than interrupting or questioning prophecies publicly, Paul directs women to ask their husbands at home—a cultural practice that also prevented dishonouring their husbands publicly.

3. The Broader Principle:

• This passage doesn’t diminish the value or spiritual gifts of women—it highlights God’s design for order in worship and affirms the role distinctions He established.

• The call to quiet learning and submission is not about inferiority but about honouring God’s ordained structure in the church.

Application:

This challenges all of us to embrace God’s design with humility. Men are called to lead sacrificially, and women are called to honour that leadership within the gathered church. True biblical order doesn’t suppress gifts—it channels them rightly.

IV. God’s Word, Not Our Preferences (vv. 36–38)

Paul anticipates pushback:

“Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached?” (v. 36)

He rebukes any Corinthian who might think they can disregard his teaching. The church is not free to invent its own practices—God’s Word, not personal preference, determines how we worship.

• If someone is truly spiritual, they will recognize Paul’s words as the command of the Lord (v. 37).

• If they ignore this order, they themselves will be ignored (v. 38).

Challenge:

Do we approach worship according to God’s instructions or our own ideas? Do we submit to Scripture, even when it cuts against cultural norms?

V. Conclusion: All Things in Order (vv. 39–40)

Paul closes with a final encouragement:

“So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But all things should be done decently and in order.” (vv. 39–40)

Key Takeaways:

1. Worship should engage the whole church—not be dominated by individuals.

2. Spiritual gifts should function in an orderly way—pointing to Jesus, not causing confusion.

3. Submission to God’s order brings life, not restriction. When we obey His design, we flourish.

4. The foundation is the Gospel. Christ came to bring us near to God. The gifts, the gathering, the order—it’s all about Him.

Final Challenge:

As we gather each week, let’s ask:

• Are we seeking to edify the body or just have an emotional experience?

• Are we submitting to God’s Word even when it confronts us?

• Are we worshiping in a way that reflects God’s peace, not confusion?

When we align with God’s order, our worship becomes a powerful testimony of His presence. Let’s step into that calling with joy, reverence, and expectation.