Section 1

1.  When your church comes together to worship, is it characterized by “each one” (1 Corinthians 14:26) having the freedom to say something to build up of the church?  If not, why not?  If yes, do you prefer this or “only one” spectator approach? 

2. The prime directive for anything said in a church meeting is that it must be edifying (1 Corinthians 14:26). What does it mean to edify?

3. When your church comes together, is the focus on the leaders as star players or as slide-line coaches?  What are we missing if the focus is mostly on the leaders rather than on one another?

4. How should such situations be handled when brothers or sisters have spoken or done things which have not been appropriate or fitting for edification of the church? 

5. What duty do church leaders have in participatory church meetings?

6. What are the benefits of incorporating a principle of participation into our church meetings?

7. Have you participated in church meetings which were spontaneous, open and fluid, and the order of which were not predestined by church bulletins?  What might we be missing if we don’t allow church members the freedom to speak in a worship service?

8. Why do you suppose, in most church meetings, that the laity are not unleashed to spontaneously use their spiritual gifts with the purpose of strengthening the church?

9. Have you ever contemplated that Paul said open and orderly spontaneous church meetings were a “command” (1 Cor 14:37), and not an option? What steps can church leaders take to at least begin to obey this command?