Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day.

Our shout-out today goes to Ken Gagnon from Fort Kent, ME. Thanks for your partnership in Project23. We cannot do this without donors like you.

Our text today is 1 Corinthians 14:13-19.

Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also. Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say "Amen" to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up. I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue. — 1 Corinthians 14:13-19

We now correct a dangerous assumption. That the less engaged the mind is, the more spiritual the moment must be. Paul rejects that outright.

"For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful." — 1 Corinthians 14:14

Mental fruitlessness. That is not prayer or praise at all, and it is not the goal of gathered worship.

But Paul's solution is not less Spirit. It is more Spirit by linking the Spirit and mind together.

"I will pray with my spirit… and with my mind also." — 1 Corinthians 14:15

The Spirit is not anti-intellectual or an empty intellectual. The Spirit who inspired Scripture does not sidestep understanding when he works.

In fact, Paul presses this matter further. If others cannot understand your thanksgiving in the Spirit, how can they say "Amen"?

Corporate worship is not a private experience performed publicly. It is a shared experience with shared understanding. If your Spirit-given gift and the expression of it cannot be affirmed by the gathered church, it may not be serving you, and it is definitely not serving the church.

And note who is saying this—Paul. Paul, who declares that he speaks in tongues more than all of them. But in church? He would rather speak five understandable words than ten thousand words in tongues that leave people confused.

Let your worship be truly Spirit-Led—engaging heart and mind together. Refuse mindless worship, and pursue understanding that builds others up.

DO THIS:

When you pray or sing this week, pay attention to what you understand. Ask God to deepen both your affection and your comprehension of what you are saying.

ASK THIS:

1. Do I equate emotional intensity with spiritual depth?
2. Am I comfortable with experiences I cannot explain?
3. Does my worship engage both heart and mind?

PRAY THIS:

Lord, unite my heart and mind in worship. Guard me from chasing experiences that bypass understanding. Let your Spirit produce clarity, conviction, and truth in me and through me. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

"Christ Be Magnified"

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day.

Our shout-out today goes to Carlos Andino from Allentown, PA. Thanks for your partnership in Project23. We cannot do this without donors like you.

Our text today is 1 Corinthians 14:6-12.

Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air. There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church. — 1 Corinthians 14:6-12

Shouts of sincerity do not equal suitability.

Paul piles on illustrations. A flute without clear notes. A harp without distinction. A trumpet without a clear call.

Sound can be present, while meaning is absent. And where meaning is absent, growth is impossible.

Again, Paul is not anti-spiritual gifts. But he is anti-confusion.

Paul's reflective question is relentless: "How will my spiritual gift benefit you?"

That is the standard. If speech is unintelligible, it could "feel" intense to one, but it does not edify the whole. If language is unclear, it may "sound" spiritual, but it does not strengthen anyone.

The goal of gathered worship is not to display spiritual ability. It is to build up the body. Notice verse 12:

"Strive to excel in building up the church." — 1 Corinthians 14:12

Not strive in expression. Not strive in volume. Not strive in uniqueness. But strive in building up everyone in the church.

Intensity without clarity is just noise. So don't be noisy in the body, be edifying to it. Use whatever gift you have not for yourself, but for building someone up today.

DO THIS:

Before you speak in any church setting this week—class, group, prayer—ask: Will this be clear? Will this strengthen someone else?

ASK THIS:

1. Do I care more about sounding spiritual than being understandable?
2. Is my speech shaped by love—or by the desire to be noticed?
3. Would someone unfamiliar with church language understand what I'm saying?

PRAY THIS:

Lord, guard my words from becoming noise. Make my speech clear, humble, and useful so that others are strengthened in Christ. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

"Goodness Of God"

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day.

Our shout-out today goes to Eric Plummer from Huntersville, NC. Thanks for your partnership in Project23. We cannot do this without donors like you.

Our text today is 1 Corinthians 14:1-5.

Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up. — 1 Corinthians 14:1-5

If your version of spiritual expression cannot be understood, it will not build up the church.

That is Paul's opening correction, in a chapter that is full of corrections. But here is how he begins.

"Pursue love." — 1 Corinthians 14:1

His correction in this chapter does not drift away from the unpoetic hardcore love of Chapter 13. Gifts are good, and we should desire them. But we must measure them rightly.

But next, Paul contrasts tongues and prophecy to demonstrate how to regulate them. Tongues without interpretation speak to God with personal edification. Prophecy speaks to people, edifying the church.

One edifies the individual. The other edifies the church.

And Paul is unapologetic about which one he prioritizes.

He would rather speak ten words that edify a church than ten thousand words that don't.

Adding spiritual intensity to a spiritual gift is not a display of maturity in the church. Volume is not power in a church. Private ecstasy is not corporate edification in a church.

Because the Spirit's work is never self-exalting. It is Christ-exalting and church-building.

If any church gathering leaves you confused or overwhelmed—but not edified in truth—Paul would call that a miss.

The questions are simple:

1. Did the church understand?
2. Did the church grow?

Growth and understanding are love applied to the church and, therefore, true edification. Don't confuse intensity with maturity — the Spirit builds through clarity.

DO THIS:

When you gather for worship this week, evaluate what builds others up—not what excites you most. Prioritize clarity in your speech, prayers, and encouragement.

ASK THIS:

1. Do I equate emotional intensity with spiritual depth?
2. Would an unbeliever understand what is happening in my church?
3. Am I seeking personal expression—or corporate strengthening?

PRAY THIS:

Lord, keep me from confusing spectacle with maturity. Teach me to value clarity, truth, and edification above personal experience. Build your church through speech that strengthens, not impresses. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

"Speak, O Lord"