rediscover order- administration title: the mature church text: i corinthians 14:26-40 theme: god...

Rediscover Order- Administration

TITLE: The Mature Church

TEXT: I Corinthians 14:26-40

THEME: God calls for his church to function in a decent and orderly manner.

How is the church to function at a gathering?

I. Within the Context: Are principles confined to time/context or universal?

Historical/ Theological Contexts

• The last book of the Bible was written 2000 years ago

with the first being almost 3,600 years ago.



with the first being almost 3,600 years ago. • The New Testament written over a fifty-sixty year period

during the time the church was in an infant state.




during the time the church was in an infant state. • The New Testament is written to this infant church

to instruct on matters of doctrine and practice.




during the time the church was in an infant state. • The New Testament is written to this infant church

to instruct on matters of doctrine and practice. • During that interim time period God provided special gifts

to guide and instruct this infant church who needed it.

Key Question: Were these special (spectacular) gifts intended to be permanent or are they limited to the historical/theological context

of the infant church?

Cultural vs. Universal Principles:

Cultural or Relative values are those that are limited to time and place.


Cultural or Relative values are those that are limited to time and place.• Example: Opening the door for a woman or

going to PG-13 or up movies.


Cultural or Relative values are those that are limited to time and place.• Example: Opening the door for a woman or

going to PG-13 or up movies.• NT Example: Meat offered to idols, or

working on the Sabbath (Saturday)


Universal values are those that supersede time and space- cross all cultural contexts.


Universal values are those that supersede time and space- cross all cultural contexts.• Example: Murder, Rape, Stealing.

Key Question: When Paul speaks to the issue of women in the

church is it cultural, universal or some of both?

Goal of Interpretation

Premise: The Bible is God’s revealed Word and is authoritative for faith and practice.



Therefore, we are trying to discover what God wants us to know.• Our Goal is to find the author’s one

intended meaning.



Therefore, we are trying to discover what God wants us to know.• Our Goal is to find the author’s one intended

meaning.• Application follows Interpretation. Once the meaning

is determined we must address how it is to be applied in a given context (Neutral, Universal, Cultural).

I. Within the Context: are principles confined to time/context

or universal?A. Chaos in the service/

I. Within the Context: are principles confined to time/context

or universal?A. Chaos in the service

B. Gifts limited to time/maturity


1. I Cor. 12:7-10- Three groups (knowledge, prophecy, tongues)- Divided by “allos” and “heteros.”


1. I Cor. 12:7-10- Three groups (knowledge, prophecy, tongues)- Divided by “allos” and “heteros.”

2. I Cor. 13:8-12- When maturity comes they will cease.

I. Within the Context: are principles confined to

time/context or universal?

A. Chaos in the service


C. Role of Women in the church

Gen 1:27

So God created mankind in his own image,

in the image of God he created them;

male and female he created them.

Galatians 3:26-28

26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

In neither the Old nor New Testament are women ever

regarded as sub-rate or second class citizens.

The key difference between our cultures understand of equality

and the Bibles. • Equality does not equal identity- we are

equal but different.

The key difference between our cultures understand of equality and the Bibles.

• Equality does not equal identity- we are equal but different.

• Men and women are biologically and emotionally different




• Leadership in the home or church involved men in the New Testament.




• Leadership in the home or church involved men in the New Testament.

Is this NT understanding cultural or universal?

Role of Women in the church

Three passages

I Cor. 11:1-16

I Cor. 14:34-35

I Tim. 2:9-15)

I Cor. 11:

But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved. 6 For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head. (Her covering demonstrates submission).

I Cor. 14:

34 Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. 35 If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.

I Timothy 2:

11 A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. 15 But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.


2. Limited to Time- Head coverings and silence: Based on Cultural Context


2. Limited to Time- Head coverings and silence: Based on Cultural Context

3.Universal- Submission: Based on Creation (I Tim. 2:14).

Order in Godhead

• Eph. 1 shows the role that each member of the Godhead plays. The Father is the Architect, the Son is he builder and the Spirit is the Maintainer.

Order in Godhead


• I Cor. 11:3 But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man and the head of Christ is God.

Order in Godhead


• I Cor. 11:3 But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man and the head of Christ is God.

• Phil 2:6 shows that Jesus Christ is equal with God (deity for Him was not something to be strived for). Christ submits himself to the Father, to us and even death

Principle

Humility and submission are values God admires. It does not

imply inferiority.

II. With purpose: so the church may be built up (26-33)

I Corinthians 14:26-33

26 What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. 28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.


29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. 30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. 31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. 32 The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. 33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people


A. In regard to tongues- an interpreter


A. In regard to tongues- an interpreter

B. In regard to prophecy- two to three limited.

How is the church to function at a gathering?

III. With Order: God is a God of order (34-40)


34 Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. 35 If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.


36 Or did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? 37 If anyone thinks they are a prophet or otherwise gifted by the Spirit, let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command. 38 But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored.


39 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.


A. In regard to women- silence.


A. In regard to women- silence.

B. In regard to pride- it is from God and not yourself.

APPLY TO SPECIFIC AUDIENCE

The purpose of this sermon was not to deal with controversial issues like tongues, prophecy or the role of women in the church. They just happened to topics the passage included and could not be avoided. I learned it is best for me to provide my opinions on controversial issues so that people have something work from.


The purpose of this sermon is show that God is a God or order- not of chaos and confusion. The church needs to do things decently and in order. This is the role of administration. Let leaders lead.


In last five sermons we have talked about the five purposes of the church while revisiting the five G’s. How we make decisions and how we administer these things can make or break us. All of us have roles to play

rediscover order- administration title: the mature church text: i corinthians 14:26-40 theme: god...

Documents

infant church

universal principles

universal values

cultural contexts

infant state

new testament

interim time period

relative values