What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.
1 Corinthians 14:26 (ESV)
A large portion of the fourteenth chapter of 1 Corinthians deals with speaking in tongues and properly using this gift within public worship. But with this verse, Paul turns to a more general discussion of what is appropriate in a public assembly of the church.
What did a “worship service” in the early church look like? Some early sources, such as the Didache, give some instruction for public gatherings of the church. But this is the closest we get in Scripture itself for what that might look like. However, it is not a directive concerning what should be included in a service. Instead, it is more of a general statement of what the Corinthians were doing.
It is probably best not to try to put this into the context of our modern-day worship services with rows of people facing a stage with a worship team and a preacher. More likely, this was taking place in people’s homes. People probably sat or stood wherever they could find a place. And there would be no standard order of service, but it would be more free-flowing.
Look to Build Up
What I find significant about this verse is not the specifics of their service. Instead, it is Paul’s concluding remark: “Let all things be done for building up.” Regardless of what our services look like today, or any other activity of the church, this should be one of the guiding principles.
It is worth examining each element of our worship service. Does it serve to build up the body? Are we stronger because of it? Or are we doing it just because we always have–tradition? Or because it is appealing to us? Along with that, we might consider what we might do differently that would help to build up the body.
While our primary focus in worship should be to honor and glorify God, let’s do it in a way that draws the worshippers together into God’s presence. That builds up the body.
