(remember, these are unedited/draft show notes, not a transcript — listening is always better…and if you listen AND follow along below, you’ll see how)
Focus Question:
What does it mean for me to prophesy?
Intro:
If I told you, “You should prophesy,” what comes to mind? Well, that’s what Paul’s about to tell you today, and so we’ll turn it into today’s focus question, “What does it mean for me to prophesy?”
Hey, before we get rolling, though, today’s a friend’s birthday, so at the very end of the show today is a short birthday song I recorded on an iPhone. Just thought you should know as it makes the episode look a couple minutes longer. And it’ll be at the end so you don’t have to hang out for that.
1 Corinthians 14 is the third of three chapters that speak to spiritual gifts, and you’ll recall that all of this Paul responding to questions he apparently received from Corinth about the nature of worship in the Corinthian church. Back in chapter 12 we heard that we are not our own — that our gifts are for the benefit of others — and that concluded with Paul acknowledging that not all have the higher gifts, but we all should desire them. Then in yesterday’s ‘love’ chapter, he says that it’s all a fart in the wind if we use our gifts devoid of faith, hope, and love (with love being the big kahuna of the three).
Today you’ll hear about why that “way of love,” including that you should prophesy. And hear how the chapter ends…remember how many times we’ve talked about Paul grounding his arguments in the orderly nature of God? Well…
New Testament segment:
Passage: 1 Corinthians 14
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 40
Words: ~848
What does it mean for me to prophesy? Prophecy can mean future-telling, but that’s actually the minority of usage in the Bible. Most of the time it’s not future-telling, it’s forth-telling. As in telling the truth. Perhaps in a manner that requires a bit of courage, albeit something we should do always with gentleness and respect. So, does that sound like something we all should desire? You bet.
And as for that bit about Paul talking about orderliness…we’ve hit that theme a bunch because, well, Paul does. Of course that could be done legalistically, but broadly speaking, you see now why Paul talks in other places (like Ephesians) about, for instance, roles… employer/employee, husband/wife, etc…because he’s hardcore about saying that life is rightly ordered after the nature and character of God.
So…off to Isaiah where
Isaiah guides the people of God of all ages into the reviving power of the truths and promises of chs. 1–55, so that they may prepare for the salvation that will renew all things forever.(1)
Let’s roll
Old Testament segment:
Passage: Isaiah 58-60
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 57
Words: ~1555
To summarize,
God’s true people experience his blessing in a personally godly and socially responsible way of life, owning up to their offenses. (And) God, the only Savior, through his covenant with the Redeemer, will glorify his people as the predominant culture of a new world, for his own glory.(2)
Wisdom segment:
Passage:
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses:
Words: ~
The bottom line:
Love you!
Roger
ForTheHope is a daily audio Bible + apologetics podcast and blog. We’ve got a passion for just keepin’ it real, having conversations like normal people, and living out the love of Jesus better every single day.
Roger Courville, CSP is a globally-recognized expert in digitally-extended communication and connection, an award-winning speaker, award-winning author, and a passionately bad guitarist. Follow him on Twitter -- @RogerCourville and @JoinForTheHope – or his blog: www.forthehope.org.
Sources and resources:
(1) Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1342.
(2) Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 1348