Scripture passage: 1 Corinthians 5: 1-13

Pastor Ryan spoke on church discipline and what it looks like to lovingly and boldly approach tough conversations within the church body. It is not godly to ignore sin and it is not ungodly to discern between right and wrong. Some important points he made regarding church discipline include:

1. Notice the Spirit of Correction: Sorrow

When talking to people who are walking in sin, our hearts should not come from a place of arrogance, pride, anger, or mockery, but instead from a place of humility and brokenness.

2. Notice the Goal of Correction: Restoration

Pastor Ryan talked about the importance of a circle of influence and finding wise counsel we can talk to who are honest with us. Within the church body, Matthew 18 speaks to how we can biblically approach correction.

3. Notice the Implications of Correction: Protecting the Body

We do not need to validate actions or be passive to sin. When that happens, it eventually leads us to grow callous to sin and both the Body and us as believers will suffer as well.

4. Notice the Focus of Correction: Believers

1 Corinthians 5:11 says, “But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immortality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler- not even to eat with such a one.”

Sometimes we shrug our shoulders at the church’s sin, but shake our fist at the world’s sin. But if we aren’t careful, we look more like the world when we grow apathetic to sin. God desires to show us the fruits of righteous living.

Questions:

● Are there areas in your own life where you need to confess to one another and repent?

● How have you grown apathetic to sin within the church?

● How do you approach people with correction?

Remember to go before the Lord and ask Him to show you how you can approach people in love and boldness and ask Him to move in the hearts of His people in ways that you cannot. Ultimately our motive should be desiring freedom in love for our brothers and sisters.