Your Meetings Should Help the Church

²⁶So, brothers [and sisters], what should you do? When you meet together, one person has a song, another person has a teaching, another person has a new truth from God, another person speaks in a [different] language, and another person interprets that language. The purpose of all these things should be to help [the church] grow strong. ²⁷When you meet together, if any person speaks to the group in a [different] language, then it should be only two or not more than three people that do this. And they should speak one after the other. And another person should interpret [what they say]. ²⁸But if there is no interpreter, then any person that speaks in a [different] language should be quiet in the church meeting. That person should speak only to himself and to God. ²⁹And only two or three prophets^*should speak. The others should judge what they say. ³⁰And if a message from God comes to another person that is sitting, then the first speaker should be quiet. ³¹You can all prophesy^*one after the other. In that way all the people can be taught and encouraged. ³²The spirits of prophets are under the control of the prophets themselves. ³³God is not a God of confusion but a God of peace. ³⁴Women should keep quiet in these church meetings. This is the same as in all the churches of God's people. Women are not allowed to speak. They must be under authority, like the law [of Moses] says. ³⁵If there is something the women want to know, then they should ask their own husbands at home. It is shameful for a woman to speak in the church meeting. ³⁶Did God's teaching come from you? No! Or are you the only ones that have received that teaching? No! ³⁷If any person thinks that he is a prophet^*or that he has a spiritual gift, then that person should understand that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command. ³⁸If that person does not know this, then he is not known [by God]. ³⁹So my brothers [and sisters], you should truly want to prophesy.* And don't stop people from [using the gift of] speaking in [different] languages. ⁴⁰But everything should be done in a way that is right and orderly.

prophet(s) People that speak for God. prophesy To speak or teach things from God.