1 Corinthians 14:26-33

26 What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. 28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.

29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. 30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. 31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. 32 The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. 33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people. 

-1 Corinthians 14:26-33

---

It’s not about you.  That’s the focus of this passage.  In the Church of Corinth almost 2,000 years ago, their services were very scrappy.  It was very formal or planned.  During their church serve, people just jumped in to share a thought or to pray or to prophecy or to “speak in tongues.”  It must have been pretty chaotic.

What made it more chaotic was the fact that everyone was trying to jump in to speak in tongues to show off how spiritual they were.  The Apostle Paul was basically discouraging from doing so because it was making the service crazy long and disorganized.  He was pleading with them for the sake of the community to stop trying to show off your “spiritual” gifts.

When people in the church or a faith community only care for themselves, the community begins to break down and feel chaotic.  But when the people begin to care for one another and put others first, the community becomes strong and healthy.

I’m so grateful that you are all part of the Harvesters / AYL family!  May we be a community that puts others first and not ourselves and our own egos.

In what ways can you put others in Harvesters or AYL first?