The last verse, "But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way" sums up much of Paul's preceding chapters. The true gospel is so precious that no church should assume the right to adapt it to suit what they liked; nor should they prevent the gospel message reaching unbelievers. The Good News was not theirs to play with, but given to them by God, through the apostles, to build and extend His church. The Corinthians needed to be reminded that theirs was not the only church. Believers could be found in many countries around the Eastern Mediterranean – and they all believed the apostles' teaching.
 
But some people in Corinth who claimed to be spiritually gifted were distorting the gospel (1 Corinthians 4:18-21). They were spiritually dangerous and Paul needed to rebuke them. Were they willing to submit to his authority given by Jesus? If they were, then they should publicly say so; if not, the whole church should ignore them (and as the letter was to be read out publicly, that was quite a rebuke).
 
Meanwhile, the church should continue to be eager to hear and share God's Word. He is the Lord and Head of the church which is His Body; so His voice must be heard. Paul did not want to stop people speaking in tongues but was insistent that the church should be accessible to unbelievers, as Jesus was, and not just a club for believers. It is a necessary personal discipline to choose to restrain from behaviour which could take people away from trusting and obeying the crucified and risen Jesus (1 Timothy 4:12-16). Church leaders are wise when they insist on clearing away the distractions in order that believers and unbelievers can focus on God's Word (2 Timothy 4:2-5).
 
Every church should develop its agenda directly from God's Word. But in practice it is often shaped by its tradition, its leaders or its activists. If they delight to hear and obey God's Word and want to share it, they will choose to remove anything which pulls people away from the gospel and godliness. Their authority for doing so comes from the apostles who Jesus appointed (Mark 3:14, Acts 26:15-18). And yet there will be others who want to prioritise personal agendas the Lord has never authorised, or distort the apostles' teaching or even invent a false gospel. The test of being willing to submit to apostolic authority still applies. Those who ignore the apostles and their God appointed authority should also be ignored (Galatians 1:6-9).