35 - Tongues & Prophecy in the Church (Part 1)

1 Corinthians 14:1-19

January 23, 2022 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann • 1 Corinthians 14:1–19

There is nothing wrong in praying repetitively with purpose, heart, and meaning. In fact, Jesus told two different parables about the value of persistent repetition in approaching God with our requests. Rather, what is wrong is the mindless, indifferent recital of spiritual-sounding incantations and babble masked as prayer (Matt. 6:5-15). In 1 Corinthians 14:1-19, the apostle Paul once again confronts the Corinthians in regard to their lack of love for each other and their misunderstanding and misusing of the gift of tongues. At issue was the the priority of mindless tongue-talking in the church service compared to other mindful gifts, such as prophecy and preaching. While a good gift from God, Paul admonishes the Corinthians to put the legitimate expression of tongues in its rightful place on their list of priorities.

01 - Introduction: Pitfalls Of An Imperfect Church

January 31, 2021 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann

The one theme that drives everything Paul writes in 1 CORINTHIANS is the gospel. One way to define the gospel is that Jesus lived, died, and rose again for sinners and that, through Jesus Christ, God saves those who come to Him in repentance and faith. That's the gospel. That's the good news. And it permeates the entire letter. Christ crucified. Christ risen. Sinners forgiven. The gospel solves every issue Paul addresses in 1 CORINTHIANS.

02 - The Sainthood Of Believers

February 7, 2021 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann

As Christians, we are no longer condemned by God as sinners but are declared holy by God as saints. And since our new nature in Christ is holy, Scripture teaches, our living should be also be holy. That Paul referred to the carnal believers at Corinth as saints gives us hope (since they were anything but saintly in their conduct). It tells us that the title saint has nothing whatsoever to do with one’s spiritual maturity or deeds. Paul called them saints because that’s who the Corinthians were (as well as all believers) by calling and position.

03 - A Church Divided

February 14, 2021 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann • 1 Corinthians 1:10–17

The apostle Paul longed to see the practical outworking of Christian unity and spiritual oneness in the Corinthian church--a church plagued by division and dissention. Short of the salvation of all men, unity among the saints was his chief desire for all churches in all ages. We are to be of the same opinion with regards to the fundamental doctrines of Christianity, our standards as a local church, and our principles for Christian living. Short of that, petty fights and various disagreements are bound to occur from time-to-time, even among those with whom we are most united.