"WHAT VISITORS HAVE A RIGHT TO EXPECT"

INTRODUCTION
  1. It is not unusual for visitors to attend services of the church...
    1. From the community, or those who are traveling
    2. In tourist areas, or in regions where people move in and out frequently
  2. A congregation should be thrilled to have visitors...
    1. Those who visit display an interest in spiritual matters
    2. It provides an opportunity for the church to be of service to them
  3. A congregation should be concerned about what the visitors find...
    1. One possible reaction, if things are amiss: "You are out of your mind" - cf. 1Co 14:23
    2. A preferable reaction: "God is truly among you" - cf. 1Co 14:24-25

[What do visitors have a right to expect? While 1 Corinthians 14 describes a church that was abusing miraculous gifts, it contains principles that would be true in any given situation. For example, visitors have a right to expect...]

  1. EDIFICATION
    1. IN THE LETTER TO CORINTH...
      1. The word "edification" appears many times - e.g., 1Co 14:4,5, 12
      2. A guiding principle to govern any assembly: "Let all things be done for edification" - cf. 1Co 14:26
    2. MAKING APPLICATION FOR TODAY...
      1. The word "edify" means "to build up"
      2. An assembly should have people leaving stronger than when they came
      3. Sermons, songs, prayers, etc., should be with this goal in mind
      4. This goal should always be in the mind of:
        1. Those who lead the services
        2. The regular members who attend

        [Every word spoken before, during, and after the services has an impact on whether visitors find edification. The visitors also have a right to expect...]

  2. EXHORTATION AND COMFORT
    1. IN THE LETTER TO CORINTH...
      1. The words "exhortation" and "comfort" are also mentioned - 1Co 14:3
      2. Commenting on this passage, Sewell Hall notes:
        1. "Exhortation urges those present to do right and avoid wrong."
        2. "Comfort is accomplished by telling them of God's forgiveness and longsuffering toward those who are weak so long as they are diligently seeking to do His will."
    2. MAKING APPLICATION FOR TODAY...
      1. Exhortation is a primary reason for assembling - cf. He 10:24-25
      2. Exhorting people to do right often involves rebuking those that do wrong - cf. Tit 1:9; 2:15; 2Ti 4:2
      3. Yet it should be mixed with longsuffering and an offer of hope - cf. 2Ti 4:2; 1Th 5:14
      4. "Sin must be condemned, but there must be the encouragement to do what is right and the assurance that one can please God." - Hall

      [Visitors should leave knowing that a church encourages people to do right, and offers comfort for those wanting to repent of their wrong. The visitors should also find...]

  3. TEACHING THAT CAN BE UNDERSTOOD
    1. IN THE LETTER TO CORINTH...
      1. Paul said he sought to be understood - 1Co 14:19
      2. He earlier wrote that he did not use "excellence of speech or of wisdom" - 1Co 2:1
    2. MAKING APPLICATION FOR TODAY...
      1. Some challenging thoughts from Sewell Hall regarding preaching:
        1. "The purpose of preaching is not to showcase the eloquence, the vocabulary or the education of the preacher."
        2. A sermon, regardless of how sound or erudite, is worthless if the hearers do not understand it. It was said of Jesus that 'the common people heard Him gladly' (Mk 12:37)."
        3. "As we preach, we should be more concerned for instructing the uninformed and unbelievers among us than for gaining the approval of those who already know and believe what we are saying."
      2. Equally challenging thoughts from Sewell Hall regarding singing:
        1. "Similarly, our singing should not be to impress visitors with our ability as leaders or with the congregation's ability to sing hard songs, or even to sing simple ones artfully."
        2. "The purpose must be 'teaching and admonishing one another' (Col 3:16)."
        3. "I am afraid too many of our songs produce more entertainment than edification."

        [Visitors have a right to understand what is being said or sung. They are to be won over by the content of the words, not the delivery. Visitors also have a right to observe...]

  4. PARTICIPATION BY THE MEMBERS
    1. IN THE LETTER TO CORINTH...
      1. It is assumed brethren participated by saying 'amen' in giving thanks - 1Co 14:16
      2. In this way demonstrating their participation in the prayer offered
    2. MAKING APPLICATION FOR TODAY...
      1. Members can show their participation in several ways
        1. Expressing 'amen' when prayers are offered - cf. Ps 106:48
        2. Offering 'amen' when agreeing with a point made in the sermon
        3. Joining in the singing, to the best of one's ability
        4. Opening their Bibles, reading along, taking notes
      2. When visitors attend, do they see members participating?
        1. Is their impression one of active involvement by the members?
        2. Or is it one disinterest or distraction?

        [Visitors have a right to see members involved in the service, with ears to hear and tongues to speak and sing. Visitors are impressed when they see such involvement, for it implies interest in something important and worth learning! Visitors also have a right to expect...]

  5. DECENCY AND ORDER
    1. IN THE LETTER TO CORINTH...
      1. Paul gave instructions designed to create order
        1. For those gifted to speak in tongues - 1Co 14:27-28
        2. For those gifted to prophesy - 1Co 14:29-32
      2. His final charge: "Let all things be done decently and in order." - 1Co 14:40
    2. MAKING APPLICATION FOR TODAY...
      1. Services should start on time
        1. Members should be present when services begin
        2. Otherwise their late arrival can be distracting to the visitors
      2. Services should show evidence of careful planning
        1. Those who lead should be well-prepared
        2. Announcements should be submitted in advance to avoid shouting from the audience

        [If visitors are to "worship God and report that God is truly among you", an orderly and reverent service contributes to that end. Finally, visitors should expect to find...]

  6. PEACE IN THE CONGREGATION
    1. IN THE LETTER TO CORINTH...
      1. Paul stated God was not the author of confusion, but of peace - 1Co 14:33
      2. He also wrote that envy, strife, and divisions were indicative of carnality - 1Co 3:3-4
    2. MAKING APPLICATION FOR TODAY...
      1. Visitors have a right to see a congregation at peace
        1. Where brethren love one another
        2. Where brethren are glad to be together
        3. Where brethren work through their differences
      2. Jesus wants His disciples to be at peace
        1. For our love for one another shows that we are his disciples - Jn 13:34-35
        2. For our unity demonstrate demonstrates God's love - Jn 17:20-23
CONCLUSION
  1. What is our objective when visitors are present...?
    1. That they may be able to worship God - 1Co 14:25
    2. That they may be able to say, "God is truly among you" - 1Co 14:25
  2. We should also hope that when visitors are present...
    1. The Gospel of Christ will have free course
    2. Everything we do encourages reception of the Word
    3. We do nothing to hinder their obedience to the Gospel
  3. Some with 'ears dull of hearing' and 'hard hearts' will not be impressed regardless of our efforts, but those with 'good and noble hearts' have every right to expect...
    1. Edification
    2. Exhortation and comfort
    3. Teaching that can be understood
    4. Participation by the members
    5. Decency and order
    6. Peace in the congregation

Note: The main points and many of the observations were taken from an article by Sewell Hall by the same title ("What Visitors Has A Right To Expect") in Focus Magazine, Vol. 7, No. 3, Issue No. 68.