Note 14 at 1 Cor. 14:9: Paul has drawn on physical examples to make his point (see note 13 at v. 6). He continues his com-parison by pointing to musical instruments. They play melodies not just disconnected notes that don't harmonize (verse 7). In war, the trumpeter (or bugler) sounds precise notes to signal instructions to the troops (v. 8). Likewise, in church, we need to limit our utterances to those that everyone can understand, so they can be edified.

Note 15 at 1 Cor. 14:9: Paul is speaking about refraining from speaking in tongues in church, unless there is an interpreter. This is so that everything done in church will edify the whole group, not just an individual. However, this same principal can be applied to other activities in the church besides speaking in tongues.

Someone who preaches at an intellectual level which is above everyone else in the congregation is certainly not uttering "words easy to be understood." False intellectuals have bored many a congregation to sleep. A truly smart communicator is so easy to understand that everyone can grasp his meaning. This is also the logic behind special ministries to different age groups. They must understand the Word, or Satan will come immediately and steal the Word of God out of their hearts (Mt. 13:19).