Paul constantly urges believers to grow up. In 1 Cor 14:20, he says, ‘Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults’ (see also Eph 4:11-16). We are not to be gullible or ignorant about evil (2 Cor...

Paul tells us that spiritual gifts are given to the church ‘for the common good’ (1 Cor 12:7) and expands on that in 1 Cor 14:3 by saying that they should build up, encourage and comfort the church. Building up (strengthening, edification) is a common theme in...

Tonight’s Bible study looked at 1 Cor 14:1-25, the first part of Paul’s specific instructions to the Corinthian church regarding the spiritual gifts of tongues, interpretation and prophecy. Having urged the Corinthians to use the different gifts given by God in love...