In 1 Corinthians 14:1, Paul instructed, “Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.” Second, desire to prophesy. (1) Bring Revelation, Knowledge, Prophecy, or Teaching (v1–6) ! We will see that we must seek to build up the church, the assembly. (6) Do All Things Decently and in Order! v34–40 (5) Know that God is not a God of Confusion! v27–33 (4) Speak to the Congregation to Convict Outsiders! v20–26 (3) Worship with your Spirit and with your Mind! v13–19 (2) Strive to Excel in Building Up the Church! v7–12 (1) Bring Revelation, Knowledge, Prophecy, or Teaching! v1–6 Here is simple break down of 1 Corinthians 14: The church at Corinth had many problems and their factions appear to have changed the assembly. He spoke of discipline in the assembly (1 Cor 5:4), teaching in assembly again (1 Cor 7:17), the Lord’s Supper in assembly (1 Cor 10:16 11:17–34), and the order and decency of the assembly (1 Cor 14). Have you noticed how most of the verses on the assembly come from 1 Corinthians? Paul planned to address the assembly as is seen from his mention of teaching in the assembly (1 Cor 4:17). There were prayer meetings and other gatherings (Acts 12:12 20:20). The assembly is not every meeting of Christians. The assembly is the gathering where the congregation partakes of the Lord’s Supper every single time (1 Cor 11:17–34). The assembly is in Jesus’ name (1 Cor 5:4). What is the assembly? The assembly is “the whole congregation gathered together” (1 Cor 14:23).
Some also call the assembly “the services” or “worship services” referring to formal services in assembly. Before a look into 1 Corinthians 14, one must ask again, “What is the Assembly?” People often call the assembly “worship” and it is, but this is not the Scriptural title for the assembly. Many are afraid of this chapter because of the references to spiritual gifts given by the laying on of the Apostles’ hands. The largest section of Scripture on the decency and order of the assembly is 1 Corinthians 14.
Christians must recognize the authority of the words of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians and recognize that these are the words that Jesus gave to Apostles and prophets. Paul wrote the commands of God, and those commands addressed the assembly (1 Cor 14:37). Christians must consider what the instruction means, “But all things should be done decently and in order” (1 Cor 14:40). Many will forsake the assembly by not assembling with a congregation to worship and edify decently and in order. In a sense, many Christians are tempted to forsake the assembly (Heb 10:25). Why? Many do not really know the Scriptures and what Christ would have us do. Generations have struggled with decency and order in the assembly. How should worship in church look? Did Christ have a plan or any instructions regarding what the New Testament calls the assembly? The assemblies of the churches of Christ look different from the “worship services” today.
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