Read 1 Corinthians 14:26-40
In worship, everything must be done with propriety and in an orderly fashion, especially when the gifts of the Holy Spirit are being exercised. When there is chaos and disorder in the church, God cannot work, for he is not a God of confusion but of peace.
Does Paul mean that women should not speak in church services today? It is clear from chapter 11 that women prayed and prophesied in public worship. It is also clear in chapters 12-14 that women are given spiritual gifts and are encouraged to exercise them in the body of Christ. Women have a lot to contribute and can participate in worship services.
In the Corinthian culture, women were not allowed to confront men in public. Apparently some of the women who had become Christians thought that their Christian freedom gave them the right to question the men in public worship. This was causing division in the church. In addition, women of that day did not receive formal religious education as did the men. Women may have been raising questions in the worship services that could have been answered at home without disrupting the services. Paul was asking the women not to flaunt their Christian freedom during worship. The purpose of Paul’s words was to promote unity, not to teach about women’s roles in the church.
Worship is vital to the life of an individual and to the whole church. Our church services should be conducted in an orderly way so that we can worship, be taught, and be prepared to serve God. Those who are responsible for planning worship should make sure it has order and direction rather than chaos and confusion.
Everything done in worship services must be beneficial to the worshipers. This principle touches every aspect: singing, preaching, and the exercise of spiritual gifts. Those contributing to the service must have love as their chief motivation, speaking useful words or participating in a way that will strengthen the faith of other believers.