Positive Examples1 Corinthians 14:26b
All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.
Thoughts for Today:I think it is interesting to look at how early church believers used various ways to express and describe their worship of the Lord. For example:
Praise: "In order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory." (Ephesians 1:12)
Blessing: "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ." (Ephesians 1:3)
Psalms, hymns, and songs: "Speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord." (Ephesians 5:19)
Giving: "But since you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you --see that you also excel in this grace of giving." (2 Corinthians 8:7)
Thanksgiving: "Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God." (Romans 14:6)
Boasting and rejoicing: "So that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me." (Philippians 1:26)
Giving glory to God: "And every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:1)
In our passage today, Paul uses the Greek word OIKODOME (translated as "strengthening" or "edifying") to describe how it is each believer's responsibility to conduct themselves in a way that will strengthen the church as a whole. Each of the foregoing is a positive example of how we can do so.
Questions to Ponder:When you attend church, are you strengthening the church? How can you do so? By the way we worship together. How does this change your perspective regarding worship services?
All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.
Thoughts for Today:I think it is interesting to look at how early church believers used various ways to express and describe their worship of the Lord. For example:
Praise: "In order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory." (Ephesians 1:12)
Blessing: "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ." (Ephesians 1:3)
Psalms, hymns, and songs: "Speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord." (Ephesians 5:19)
Giving: "But since you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you --see that you also excel in this grace of giving." (2 Corinthians 8:7)
Thanksgiving: "Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God." (Romans 14:6)
Boasting and rejoicing: "So that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me." (Philippians 1:26)
Giving glory to God: "And every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:1)
In our passage today, Paul uses the Greek word OIKODOME (translated as "strengthening" or "edifying") to describe how it is each believer's responsibility to conduct themselves in a way that will strengthen the church as a whole. Each of the foregoing is a positive example of how we can do so.
Questions to Ponder:When you attend church, are you strengthening the church? How can you do so? By the way we worship together. How does this change your perspective regarding worship services?
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