Sermon Tone Analysis

Decently and in Order

Key Verse: “Let all things be done decently and in order.” 1 Corinthians 14:40 (NKJV)

Purpose: The purpose of this lesson is to help the disciple understand the nature and model of Christian ministry that is appropriate and orderly.

God is not the author of CONFUSION but of POWER.

1 Corinthians 14:33 (NKJV) “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.”

The Greek word for “confusion” can also be translated “disorder”.

God is not the God of disorder.

Where God’s order is established, His peace will reign.

The churches where God’s Spirit is in control will not be characterized by chaos and disorder.

Rather, they will be characterized by peace.

God’s peace rests upon His order.

Chaos and confusion rests upon disorder.

Every expression of ministry in the church must be done DECENTLY and in ORDER.

The Greek word for “decently” refers to a manner that is “proper” or “pleasing”.

The Greek word for “order” refers to the right “arrangement” of affairs.

What is meant by “Decently and in Order”?

We must distinguish between man's idea of "decently and in order" and God's meaning.

The religious leaders in Christ's day felt Jesus was indecent and out of order on many occasions, especially in the synagogues and on the Sabbath day.

It was their own religious traditions that were out of order.

Jesus was not hindered in doing the will of God because of their objections.

So, what does Paul mean by "let all things be done decently and in order"?

The meaning is found in the context of Paul's entire discourse on the operation of spiritual things in the church as found in chapters 12-14.

The presence and operation of spiritual things in the church is by nature subjective rather than objective.

The operation of spiritual things is subjective because it is subject to an individual's personal perception of what God is doing at any given time.

If everyone was allowed to do whatever they “felt” was of God without any accountability, the unity and good will of the meeting would be soon overtaken by chaos and confusion.

Freedom of the Spirit?

Some have the mistaken idea that “freedom of the Spirit” in the church meeting means that anything should be allowed to manifest if individuals claim to be “led by the Spirit”.

Paul rejects this kind of self-determined and untethered activity (1 Corinthians 14:27-32).

God’s peace requires everything to be done in a decent and orderly way.

The Holy Spirit is not schizophrenic.

He did not inspire the order of spiritual things in the church gathering as outlined in Scripture only to disregard it in a so-called “move of the Spirit”.

The subjective nature of spiritual things must be accountable to the objective guidelines of Scripture, the purpose of edification of the body, and the motivation of love.

Otherwise, God’s order will be overtaken by spiritual disorder and the blessing and peace intended for the church gathering will be replaced by chaos and confusion.

The church gathering is bigger and more important than any single individual or faction.

Church leadership must ensure that church meetings follow the order of Scripture and are not hijacked by independent and unruly people.

The objective of the church gathering is the edification of the church in love (Ephesians 4:12; 1 Corinthians 14:26).

Whatever hinders this objective is to be regarded as indecent and out of order.

Throughout 1 Corinthians 14 Paul gives us clear details on what is meant by “decently and in order.”

We will now consider the guiding principles of what is decent and in order.

Everything must be done with the motivation of LOVE.

1 Corinthians 16:14 (NKJV) “Let all that you do be done with love.”

1 Corinthians 13:1–3 (NKJV) “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

2And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.”

Speaking in a known LANGUAGE.

1 Corinthians 14:5–19 (NKJV) “I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.

6 But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching?

7 Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played?

8 For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle?

9 So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken?

For you will be speaking into the air.

10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance.

11 Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me. 12 Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.

13 Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.

14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.

15 What is the conclusion then?

I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding.

I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.

16 Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? 17 For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.

18 I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; 19 yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.”

1 Corinthians 14:27–28 (NKJV) “If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret.

28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God.”

Simple TERMINOLOGY.

Education is important.

Mastery of the language is important in communication.

However, we are not to seek to impress others with our education or spiritual knowledge.

Such is rooted in spiritual pride.

Humility and love for the people will motivate us to communicate with people in words and concepts that the listeners can understand.

The rule applied to speaking in a language the people can understand might also be applied to speaking words that the listener can understand.

1 Corinthians 14:11 (NKJV) “So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken?

For you will be speaking into the air.

Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me.”

Charles Spurgeon: “Christ said, ‘Feed my sheep…feed my lambs.’

Some preachers, however, put the food so high that neither lambs nor sheep can reach it.

They seem to have read the text [as], ‘Feed my giraffes.’”[1]

INTERPRETATION of what is legitimate but unclear.

Spiritual things can be confusing or misunderstood.

We should seek to give interpretation and understanding to the spiritual things taking place within the service for the sake of those who need answers.

This includes the manifestation of the interpretation of tongues.

It could also include the interpretation of obscure prophetic acts, explanation of various kinds of spiritual activity occurring in the church whether they be holy, fleshly, or demonic, or explanation of corrective measures by leadership.

1 Corinthians 14:13 (NKJV) “Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.”

Acts 2:12–16 (NKJV) “So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘Whatever could this mean?’ 13 Others mocking said, ‘They are full of new wine.’

14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, ‘Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words.

15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.

16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:’”

COURTESY toward fellow believers.

Believers are to be courteous and not pushy or hoggish in their participation and contribution to the meeting.

Believers should show respect to one another, allow opportunity for others to participate, and consider the benefit of others above their own.

1 Corinthians 12:23–25 (NKJV) “And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24 but our presentable parts have no need.

But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.”

1 Corinthians 14:27–32 (NKJV) “If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret.

28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge.

30 But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent.

31 For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged.

32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.”

CONSIDERATION of unbelievers and unlearned.

While believers who have experienced a freedom in spiritual things may feel restricted by boundaries, we are nevertheless instructed restrain our liberty in consideration of how it might negatively affect unbelievers and the unlearned (ungifted) in the meeting who do not understand.

1 Corinthians 14:20–25 (NKJV) “Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.

21 In the law it is written: ‘With men of other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; and yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,’ says the Lord.

22 Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe.