An Apostolic Pattern for Church Assembly

Intro

Text - 1 Corinthians 14:26–33

1 Corinthians 14:26–33 NASB 2020

26 What is the outcome then, brothers and sisters? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. All things are to be done for edification. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, it must be by two or at the most three, and each one in turn, and one is to interpret; 28 but if there is no interpreter, he is to keep silent in church; and have him speak to himself and to God. 29 Have two or three prophets speak, and have the others pass judgment. 30 But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, then the first one is to keep silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted; 32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets; 33 for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,

Title - An Apostolic Pattern for Church Assembly

Background

Definition: ASSEMBLE

Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words Assemble

sunerchomai

Paul used the word in this epistle, from chapters 11 to 14, to refer to the gathering of the church in one place, which we call today “church service”

a similar word is used in Hebrews 10.25

Hebrews 10:25 NASB 2020

25 not abandoning our own meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

meeting together - grk. episynagoge, from synagoge (synagogue)

the assembly of the early church was largely patterned from the synagogue of the Jews, but with different elements implemented.

Main Idea

People come together for a reason?

What is the reason of our coming together today?

What was the reason of the assembling of the saints back in the apostles’ day?

Is our church assembly patterned after the apostolic way?

there have been changes in the way Christians gather throughout the ages,

however, it is important that we understand how the early church came together so that we can do the same today

The Activities of the early church

What are the activities of the early church when they assembled?

They had the Lord’s Supper

Paul was rebuking the church in the way they conducted the Lord’s Supper - 1 Cor 11.17-22

1 Corinthians 11:17–22 NASB 2020

17 Now in giving this next instruction I do not praise you, because you come together not for the better, but for the worse. 18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it. 19 For there also have to be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you. 20 Therefore when you come together it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper, 21 for when you eat, each one takes his own supper first; and one goes hungry while another gets drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What am I to say to you? Shall I praise you? In this I do not praise you.

note - the word “come together” was mentioned 3 times

Paul then reminds them of the purpose of the Lord’s Supper - 1 Cor 11.23-34

it is done in remembrance of Christ

it is to be done until He comes

it is to be done with self-examination

They have the spiritual gifts operating in the assembly

Paul reminds them how the spiritual gifts function - 1 Cor 12.1-12

Paul also reminds them what the gifts are for in the body - 1 Cor 12.13-31

This sets apart the church assembly from jewish synagogues

There was aliving presence of God among them

The Holy Spirit was moving through the gifts

They have songs, teaching, revelation, etc.

Paul gives them a list of church activities - 1 Cor 14.26

1 Corinthians 14:26 NASB 2020

26 What is the outcome then, brothers and sisters? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. All things are to be done for edification.

Other activities are mentioned in 1 Tim 4.13

1 Timothy 4:13 NASB 2020

13 Until I come, give your attention to the public reading, to exhortation, and teaching.

public reading - the reading of the Scriptures done during the service, because not everyone had a copy of It.

The Order of the church service

1 Cor 14.26 is very likely the order of the service in the assembling of the saints

There was an existing order of the service

Paul was not setting a new order, but affirming the order that is already practiced in the Corinthian church

Singing - they sang songs one after the other

Ephesians 5:18–19 NASB 2020

18 And do not get drunk with wine, in which there is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your hearts to the Lord;

Teaching - elders took turns teaching

There were probably 1 or 2 elders who taught them the Scripture

The teaching was probably taken from the reading of the Scripture

in Luke 4, Jesus taught from the Scripture reading

Revelation - those with the gift of prophesied spoke in turns

Revelations probably came through prophesying

Lastly, speaking in tongues and interpretation of tongues

Important considerations

speaking in tongues was conditional - “if…” 1 Cor 14.27-28

1 Corinthians 14:27–28 NASB 2020

27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, it must be by two or at the most three, and each one in turn, and one is to interpret; 28 but if there is no interpreter, he is to keep silent in church; and have him speak to himself and to God.

prophets/prophesyings were common, 2 or 3 - 1 Co 14.29-31

1 Corinthians 14:29–31 NASB 2020

29 Have two or three prophets speak, and have the others pass judgment. 30 But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, then the first one is to keep silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted;

The Principles applied in the church assembly

Wait for one another

1 Corinthians 11:33–34 NASB 2020

33 So then, my brothers and sisters, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34 If anyone is hungry, have him eat at home, so that you do not come together for judgment. As to the remaining matters, I will give instructions when I come.

The Last supper probably came in last in the order

the people cannot wait - they were eating by themselves

Pursue the best gifts

1 Corinthians 12:31 NASB 2020

31 But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And yet, I am going to show you a far better way.

1 Corinthians 14:1 NASB 2020

1 Pursue love, yet earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

Some gifts are for personal benefits, others benefit the church.

speaking in tongues - 1 Cor 14.2-4

1 Corinthians 14:2–4 NASB 2020

2 For the one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people, but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries. 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for edification, exhortation, and consolation. 4 The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but the one who prophesies edifies the church.

Other gifts that are self- benefiting

gift of word of wisdom

gift of word of knowledge

gift of faith

gift of healing

discerning of spirits

Learn the best way to use the gifts - by love

1 Corinthians 12:31 NASB 2020

31 But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And yet, I am going to show you a far better way.

why love? It edifies 1 Cor 8.1

1 Corinthians 8:1 NASB 2020

1 Now concerning food sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes one conceited, but love edifies people.

gifts without love is nothing

1 Corinthians 13:1–8 NASB 2020

1 If I speak with the tongues of mankind and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I give away all my possessions to charity, and if I surrender my body so that I may glory, but do not have love, it does me no good. 4 Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not arrogant. 5 It does not act disgracefully, it does not seek its own benefit; it is not provoked, does not keep an account of a wrong suffered, 6 it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 it keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away with; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away with.

Love is supernatural

Love never fails

Do all things for edification

1 Corinthians 14:12 NASB 2020

12 So you too, since you are eager to possess spiritual gifts, strive to excel for the edification of the church.

1 Corinthians 14:26 NASB 2020

26 What is the outcome then, brothers and sisters? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. All things are to be done for edification.

Do all things properly and in order

1 Corinthians 14:39–40 NASB 2020

39 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But all things must be done properly and in an orderly way.

Conclusion