What Visitors Have a Right to Expect

• What Will Their Impression Be?
• We often have visitors attend our services…
• From the community or those travelling
– A tourist area
– People move in and out
• We should be thrilled
– Interest in spiritual matters
– An opportunity to serve


• Should be concerned what the visitors find
• Possible reactions…

– 1 Cor. 14:23 “you are out of your mind”
– 1 Cor. 14:24-25 “God is truly among you”


• 1 Corinthians 14 in context…
• A church abusing miraculous gifts

• Contains principles true in any congregation…
– How visitors are impacted
• 1 Visitors should receive Edification
• Edification in the letter to Corinth
– 14:4-5 that the church may receive edification
– 14:12 for edification of the church seek to excel
– 14:26 Let all things be done for edification

• Application for Today
• “Edify” means “to build up”
– Assembly should cause people to leave stronger
– Sermons, songs, prayer, Lord’s Supper should be with this goal
• This goal should be in mind of
– Those who lead services
– All regular members who attend
• 2 Visitors can expect Exhortation and Comfort
• 1 Cor 14:3 speaks exhortation and comfort to men
– Exhort urges to do right and avoid wrong
– Comfort tells of God’s forgiveness

• Application for Today
• Reasons for assembling – Heb 10:24-25
• Must rebuke those who do wrong, yet mixed with longsuffering and hope
– Titus 1:9; 2:15
– 2 Timothy 4:2
– 1 Thess. 5:14
• 3 Teaching that can be Understood
• 1 Cor 14:19 – Paul wanted to be understood
– 1 Cor. 2:1 not excellence of speech or wisdom
– Mark 12:37 common people heard him gladly

• Application for Today
• Goal of sermon to be sure the hearers understand (instruct the uninformed)
• Our singing not to impress with our ability but to teach and admonish (Col. 3:16)
– Not to entertain but edify
• 4 Visitors see Partici-pation by the Members
• In Corinth, all members participated
– 14:15 – sing with spirit and understanding
– 14:16 – say “amen” at giving of thanks
– 14:26 – various men take part in leading
• Application for Today
• Members can all participate in worship and mutual edification
– Joining in singing, say amen
– Open Bible, follow and take notes
• Do visitors see all participating?
– Involvement shows interest

• 5 Decency and Order
• Paul gave instructions to create order
– 14:27-28 those gifted to speak in tongues speak one at a time and then have interpreter
– 14:29-32 those with prophecy speak one by one that all may be encouraged
– 14:40 all decently and in order

• Application for Today
• Start should start on time, all present when services begin
• Service shows planning and well organized
– Leaders should be well prepared
– Announcements submitted before
• 6 Visitors sense Peace in the Congregation
• Corinth badly needed this peace
– 3:3-4 envy, strife, divisions signs of carnality
– 14:33 God not author of confusion but peace
– 16:14 Let all be done in love (13:1-3)
• Application for Today
• Visitors have right to see a congregation at peace
– That we love one another
– Brethren are glad to be together
• Jesus wants us to be at peace
– John 13:34-35 – love one another
– John 17:20-21 - unity

• What is our objective toward our visitors
• That they may worship God –
• That they may say …
– “God is truly among you”