Paul writes this chapter to the church in Corinth for the purpose of Spiritual “housekeeping”.  He equips the reader to steward the house of God in directing the ministry in Corinth to best serve the mutual upbuilding of the people of God. The benefits of prophecy listed in verse 3 serve to summarize the priorities of Christian worship and assembly with reference to fellow congregants. These ordering principles provide the main points of our outline today, expounding the first half of I Cor 14.  As a church and as members of the Body of Christ, may we heed the admonition to grow in the upbuilding, encouragement, and consolation of each other for the glory of God and the health of the church.