BBC Sermon Cast

Paul knew that our view of God (theology) shapes our corporate worship and that our corporate worship shapes our view of God (theology). This is at the heart of his concern about this church’s obsession with the spectacular gift of speaking in tongues. Previously, we considered vv. 20–25 under the broad theme of mindful worship. In this study, we will consider, from vv. 26–40, that rightly understanding the character of God results in:

1. Meaningful Worship (vv. 26–33)

2. Mundane Worship (vv. 34–40)

Prayer is a privilege Jesus purchased for his people. In Luke 6:12–13, Jesus spent all night in prayer prior to appointing his apostles. We will take a brief look at what Dr Luke records for us about this prayer and see what lessons we can learn to apply to our own times of prayer. We see here that:

1. Jesus’ prayer was deliberate (v. 12a)

2. Jesus’ prayer was intense (v. 12b)

3. Jesus’ prayer was followed by action (v. 13)

The death, burial, and resurrection are the fundamental elements of God’s good news for believing sinners (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). Jesus’ death informs us that the penalty has been paid on our behalf. Jesus’ burial declares that that price really was paid. Jesus’ resurrection declares that the price was accepted. But with the resurrection, we are reminded that Jesus is alive. But where is he alive? What is he doing? Why does this matter? What does this mean for his people?

How the church behaves in corporate worship communicates something about the nature and character of God. This was Paul’s concern as he addresses the Corinthian church about their exercise of the gifts of tongues and prophesy. This is a major theme in this passage which we will study under two headings: (1) Mindful Worship (vv. 20–25) and (2) Meaningful Worship (vv. 26–33).

To call upon the Lord’s name is the essence of prayer. As we, in Christ, call upon his name, we stand upon the eternal majesty of his perfect person and work and by him alone are granted access to have communion and pray to our God. Yet for all that God has done in Christ, men are not prayerful.

Psalm 32 is a Psalm of David, which rejoices in the blessedness of those who have repented and embraced God’s forgiveness. As we study this Psalm together, we will consider the wonderful reality that joy comes to those who are forgiven (vv. 1–2), confessing (vv. 3–5), and prayerful (vv. 6–11).

It has been said of John 1:1 that it “deserves to be written in golden letters in every Christian church.” In our fallenness, we are prone to think of our sin as a small thing. When we see how John magnifies Christ in this short verse, we are reminded of its true cost. We consider four things:

1. Our sin must be big because Jesus is revealer

2. Our sin must be big because Jesus is eternal

3. Our sin must be big because Jesus is the Son

4. Our sin must be big because Jesus is God

Spiritual maturity requires biblical corporate worship, unlike the kind experienced by the church in Corinth. Lots of people wanted to speak, but what they had to say was, for the most part, unhelpful. In chapter 14, Paul aims to set the matter right and, in doing so, helps us to see the best way to use our tongues in corporate worship. We will look at this under three headings:

1. Corporate worship must be informed

2. Corporate worship must be intentional

3. Corporate worship must be intelligible

Paul unlocks the secret to being content, no matter his circumstances. Through our study, I trust we will be encouraged, as the church at Philippi was. As G. K. Chesterton once said this: “Christians ought not to be better than other people ought to be. But they ought to be better than other people are.” Why? Because we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. We consider three truths from Philippians 4:13:

1. Suffering Saints

2. Suffering Saviour

3. Suffering’s Secret

Whether the Beatles understood the nature of true love is highly questionable, but they weren’t far off the mark when they sang, “All you need is love.” The church at Corinth needed to learn this. And perhaps so do you and I. To help us to see, savour, and seek this love, we will study 1 Corinthians 13:8–14:1a under three headings:

1. The Permanence of Love (13:8–12)

2. The Pre-eminence of Love (13:13)

3. The Pursuit of Love (14:1a)