Read 1 Corinthians 14:26–35
God is not a God of disorder but of peace.
1 Corinthians 14:33
We must use the Word of God to test every message we hear, asking the Spirit to guide us. There are false teachers in the world, and
we must beware (1 John 4:1). But even true teachers and preachers
sometimes make mistakes. Each of us must evaluate the message and
apply it to his or her own heart (Acts 17:11).
Our public meetings are more formal than those of the early
church, so it is not likely that we need to worry about the order of
service. But in our more informal meetings, we need to consider one
another and maintain order. I recall being in a testimony meeting
where a woman took forty minutes telling of a boring experience and
as a result destroyed the spirit of the meeting.
Evangelist D. L. Moody was leading a service and asked a man to
pray. Taking advantage of his opportunity, the man prayed on and on.
Sensing that the prayer was killing the meeting instead of blessing it,
Moody spoke up and said, “While our brother finishes his prayer, let
us sing a hymn!” Those who are in charge of public meetings need to
have discernment—and courage.
Something to Ponder
If you were a professional church consultant, what objective suggestions would you give your pastor for how to improve your church
worship services?