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Speaking God’s Truth 

November 3, 2024 
 
1 Corinthians 14:1-25 
1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. 2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. 4 Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified. 
 
6 Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? 7 Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? 8 Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? 9 So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. 10 Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. 11 If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me. 12 So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church. 
 
13 For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15 So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. 16 Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer, say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying? 17 You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified. 18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue. 
 
20 Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. 21 In the Law it is written: 
“With other tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.”  
22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. 23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 24 But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, 25 as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!” 
 
Read 1 Corinthians 14:1-5 
1. From this passage we understand that the Corinthian church seemed to be fascinated and focused on the gift of speaking in tongues, especially the practice of that gift during the public time of worship. Paul takes the opportunity to compare that gift with another gift that involves speaking: prophecy. As best you understand them, describe what the gifts of speaking in tongues and prophecy are. How are they similar? How are they different? 
2. Why does Paul prefer prophecy over the gift of tongues in the context of public worship services? 
3. Occasionally we might encounter somebody wanting to prophesy over us. That is, they may believe God has given them a specific message to deliver to us from Him. Have you ever experienced this? How does this passage help us to evaluate whether or not that message is truly coming from God? 
 
Read 1 Corinthians 14:6-12 
1. It is helpful to see this entire passage as a bridge between verses 5 and 13. Both those verses highlight the need to have the gift of interpretation of tongues operating alongside the gift of speaking in tongues. How does this passage portray the chaos that can occur if the gift of tongues is practiced without interpretation? 
2. Verse 12 reminds us of the overall purpose of all the gifts. What is that purpose? 
 
Read 1 Corinthians 14:13-19 
1. How does verse 19 reinforce and support what we just discussed regarding verse 12? 
 
Read 1 Corinthians 14:20-25 
1. How are tongues a sign for believers? Hint: Take a look at Acts 2:1-11 
2. What kinds of things make you say, “God is really among us”? Can you tell about a time that you felt or perceived God’s presence in a unique, powerful, or intense way?