THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13
1 Corinthians 14:26-33
1 Corinthians 14:40

“For God is not the author of
confusion, but of peace.”

AN ORDERLY WORSHIP SERVICE

A worship service must not be chaotic, for God is not the author of confusion but of peace (1 Cor 14:33). A chaotic worship service will cause unbelievers to accuse believers of being mad (1 Cor 14:23), but an orderly worship will show others that God is indeed in the midst of His congregation (1 Cor 14:25). Therefore, a worship service must be conducted decently and in order according to biblical principles.

With regard to tongues and prophecies in the worship service, Paul established the principle that they must be understood so that believers can be built up in the most holy faith. Based on this principle, Paul gave the following regulations for tongue-speaking and prophesying (as summarised by Khoo):

Rules for Tongue-Speaking (1 Cor 14:26-28):
• No more than three persons may speak in tongues at any time.
• The tongue-speakers are to take turns to speak (i.e. they must not speak spontaneously at the same time for that would be chaotic).
• A person must interpret the message.
• There must be no public tongue-speaking if there is no interpreter.
However, the tongue-speaker may speak privately to himself and to God.

Rules for Prophesying (1 Cor 14:29-33):
• Not more than two to three prophets to speak in a service.
• Only one prophet to speak at a time.
• Those with the gift of discernment are to judge what was prophesied.
This judgment is to be made according to God’s Word.
Do you know the biblical basis for your church’s order of worship?

THOUGHT: Worship must not be chaotic but orderly.

PRAYER: Help me, Father, to know the biblical basis for all that I do.