Thematic Bible: In congregations


Thematic Bible



for you are still unspiritual. For when there are still jealousy and wrangling among you, are you not still unspiritual and living by a human standard? For when one says, "I belong to Paul's party," and another, "I belong to Apollos' party," are you not acting as mere human creatures?

For, in the first place, when you meet as a congregation, I hear that there are cliques among you, and I partly believe it. Yes, indeed, there must be parties among you, in order that people of approved fitness may come to the front among you.

Now I beg you all, brothers, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ, to be harmonious in what you say and not to have factions among you, but to be perfectly harmonious in your minds and judgments. For I have been informed about you, my brothers, by Chloe's people, that there are wranglings among you. I mean this, that one of you says, "I belong to Paul's party," another, "And I belong to Apollos' party," another, "And I belong to Cephas' party," another, "And I belong to Christ's party." read more.
Christ has been parceled out by you! It was not Paul who was crucified for you, was it? You were not baptized in Paul's name, were you?

Therefore, the man who speaks in ecstasy must pray for power to explain what he says. Verse ConceptsInterpreting LanguageMental Abuse

to another, power for working wonders; to another, prophetic insight; to another, the power to discriminate between the true Spirit and false spirits; to another, various ecstatic utterances; and to another, the power to explain them. Verse ConceptsDiscernment, Nature OfSpiritual DiscernmentPower, HumanProphecy, In NtSpiritsSpirit BeingsDiscerning God's ThingsInterpreting LanguageOther MiraclesProphesying In The ChurchTesting SpiritsProphecyLanguageDiscernmentSpiritual GiftsExerciseGifts And Talentsdiscrimination

Not all are people with power to cure the sick, are they? Not all are ecstatic speakers, are they? Not all can explain ecstatic speaking, can they? Verse ConceptsInterpreting LanguageHealing Through DisciplesFaith And HealingSpiritual GiftsGifts And Talents

I would like for all of you to speak in ecstasy, but I would rather that you prophesy. The man who speaks with real prophetic insight renders greater service than the man who speaks in ecstasy, unless the latter explains it, so the congregation may receive an uplift. Verse ConceptsProphecy, In NtBuilding Up The ChurchInterpreting LanguageEach Local ChurchRight DesiresProphecyProphecies concerningLanguageThe church

Then what is our conclusion, brothers? When you meet together, everybody has a song, something to teach, a revelation, an ecstatic utterance, or an explanation of one. It must all be for the upbuilding of all. If anybody speaks in ecstasy, there must be only two, or three at most, and let one speak at a time, and someone explain what he says. But if there is no one to explain it, let him keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God alone.