I can sometimes check out in a church service.  The music might be rocking, the preacher might be dynamic – but I sometimes check out.  I think about … I don’t even remember what I think about.  In today’s passage Paul talks about how mindless worship (especially with tongues) is a complete waste of time.  We should be present in spirit and mind.  We worship in spirit and in truth.  Sometimes I have sat in old-school congregations with tears running down my face as I contemplate the words of “How Great Thou Art” or “When I Survey”.  Sometimes a dusty old preacher has rocked my world with his profound words.  Sometimes we come into church that seems to be full of life, but

“Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.” (Macbeth)

The style of worship can be quite varied for my tastes.  It is the substance that is essential.  The substance of my worship starts with me as I come prepared to think about who God is and worship him for it.

1 Corinthians 14: 13-17

¹³For this reason anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret what he says. ¹⁴For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. ¹⁵So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. ¹⁶If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand^[e] say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? ¹⁷You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other man is not edified.

Questions

1. What should anyone who speaks in a tongue do?
2. What two entities should be engaged in prayer in public worship?
3. Why is intelligible worship important to the Corinthian church?
4. How intelligible is your worship at home and at church?
5. How intelligent is your worship at home and at church?

Going Deeper

http://www.hymnlyrics.org/mostpopularhymn.php

http://www.christian-lyrics.net/#axzz0zVrJie8n

Look through Christian Hymns and Songs and think about them.  What are they saying about God?  What are they saying about man?

Which songs or hymns connect the most with your situation right now?