While the church is a place where our gifts can be used, it is not a talent or beauty contest but displays the marvelous grace of God. A church community that uses their gifts for others shines like a light in the dark. Newcomers or unbelievers can see how each person cares for one another in love and truth. Each person is important and can be themselves and use their unique gifts to serve one another.
When God’s grace and truth is evident, each person can be seen exactly as they are. There is no pretense or fake smiles. Everybody can feel free to be themselves and be loved and accepted just as God loves and accepts all those who come to him. The church is a place where sin, shame, addictions, and trauma can find healing and support in the love of God.
Jun 25, 2026
A TRULY INSPIRING COMMUNITY
Passage: 1 Corinthians 14:13-25
Key verse: 25
NIV
chapter 14
13. For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say.
14. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
15. So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding.
16. Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer, say "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying?
17. You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.
18. I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.
19. But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
20. Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.
21. In the Law it is written: "With other tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord."
22. Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers.
23. So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?
24. But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all,
25. as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, "God is really among you!"
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Prayer: Lord, may our church be a place where your grace and truth is practiced.
One Word: God dwells in a loving community