330 – Speaking in the Church

SEMESTER 2

330 – Speaking in the Church

BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE

COURSE:  ECCLESIOLOGY II LESSON # 30
SPEAKING IN THE CHURCH

Read Acts 1:15, Acts 2:14, I Cor. 14:1-40.

INTRODUCTION:

1. It is evident from the above verses in Acts and hundreds of others that speaking was an original and important function in the church.
2. Understand, I mean among the assembly of disciples, and not necessarily, though normally and logically, in a place designated and sanctified for that assembly.
3. It seems self-evident that much speaking in the church is meaningless, improper and even hurtful and sinful. (I Cor. 14:9-12)
4. What then is a proper criteria?

I. THE RIGHT MEASURE (ROM. 12:3-8)

1. The responsibility and privilege (always in that order) is not a matter of “equal time,” but of divine ordination. (Rom. 12:4)
2. Both Old Testament prophets and New Testament apostles spake as God gave them license and not as a matter of personal right.

II. THE RIGHT MOTIVE (I COR. 14:12)

1. The basic purpose is to teach what God has by His chosen means revealed to you. (Mat. 28:19-20, Acts 11:22-26, Acts 13:1)
2. It is to edify the church. (I Cor. 14:12 and 26)
3. It is the burden of the gospel, laid upon us by God’s sovereign choice. (I Cor. 9:16-17, Acts 9:15-20)

III. THE RIGHT MESSAGE

1. Never be anxious to speak in the church. If you have no necessity, do not. (James 3:1-13)
2. Never be presumptuous as to the accuracy of your message. (Gal. 2:2)
3. Your message should be one in which you diligently seek to convey revealed truth, never “air your views.”

III: A day when men’s views were aired. “I have a burr under my sad­dle blanket too.”

IV. THE RIGHT MANNER

1. Avoid any attempt at oratory or display of education or culture.

III: We preach not ourselves but Christ.

2. Speak words which are calculated to be understood by your hearers, not to impress them. (I Cor. 14:9)
3. Seek to enlarge your hearers capacity, but never to deliberately overload them for display.
4. Speak to draw attention to your subject and not to yourself.
5. Speak in a holy fear, knowing that God hears and is the real judge of your discourse.

V. THE RIGHT RESTRAINTS

1. We must not say, “just what we think,” but only what we feel God has directed us to say. ( I Cor. 14:32)
2. We must speak by course (in our turn) waiting until the first holds his peace.
3. Women are not to speak in the churches.

i. I Think this does not forbid greeting friends, singing, teaching children, making prayer requests, etc.
ii. It does forbid prophesying, speaking in tongues, teaching in the presence of men, exhorting the church, public prayer, etc.

4. Let us remember we are not authors of any divine truth, we are only conduits to be used as God says. (I Cor. 14:36-37)