To educate the congregation on the importance of spiritual gifts, their proper use, and the role of love in their application.
1. Emphasize the importance of love as the foundation for pursuing spiritual gifts. Highlight 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, where Paul explains that without love, even the most impressive spiritual gifts are meaningless.
2. Explore the purpose and benefits of speaking in tongues and prophecy. Use 1 Corinthians 14:2-5 to explain that speaking in tongues edifies the individual, while prophecy edifies the entire church. Discuss how these gifts can be used to build up and encourage believers.
3. Address the issue of understanding and interpretation. Refer to 1 Corinthians 14:6-12, where Paul emphasizes the importance of intelligibility in worship. Explain that while speaking in tongues may be a personal prayer language, it should be accompanied by interpretation for the benefit of the congregation.
4. Discuss the role of interpretation in public worship. Use 1 Corinthians 14:13-19 to highlight Paul's instruction on the importance of interpretation in order to edify others. Encourage church members to desire and seek the gift of interpretation to ensure that their worship is understandable and beneficial to all.
5. Address any potential confusion or misuse of spiritual gifts. Refer to 1 Corinthians 14:20-25, where Paul urges believers to be mature in their understanding and use of spiritual gifts. Emphasize the need for order and decency in worship, ensuring that all things are done for the building up of the church.