Grace Blog
Counsel on Giving and Receiving Correction
In his message on giving and receiving correction, Pastor Tom concluded with the following points of application on how to give and how to receive correction. Here they are:
On Giving Correction
1. Correct in love
a. Proverbs 3:11, 12 says, “My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor detest His correction; For whom the LORD loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights.”
b. Don’t let your frustration of pain drive your words. Deal with any personal issues in your own heart first before you try to speak correctively.
c. Pray before you speak. Ask the Lord to help you love the one you will address.
2. Correct with a redemptive purpose
a. Christ died to redeem us, to make us holy; you can be a means of your brother’s or sister’s sanctification by offering godly correction.
b. Do not let it be personal—revenge; wanting her to feel as badly as you do; wanting to make yourself look better, etc.
c. Ask yourself what God wants for this person, and see yourself as an instrument in the Lord’s hands to bring it about
d. Matt 18:15-18—remember that the goal is always “to win your brother”
e. Begin with words of affirmation
f. Examine yourself before you offer your appraisal of someone else. Matthew 7:1-6, first get the log out of your own eye before you help your brother get the speck out of his. Speak, as you would like to be spoken to
g. Speak as one who has been rescued and not one who is immune to the problem you are correcting
3. Correct plainly
a. Proverbs 26:28 says “A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.”
b. Don’t beat around the bush or merely imply what should be plainly stated. Nathan did not leave David guessing about his sin but said to him, “You are the man!”
4. Correct privately (usually)
5. Correct with well-chosen words
a. Proverbs 25:11, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold In settings of silver.”
b. Col. 4:6, “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt…”
On Receiving Correction
1. Admit that you need correction and always will as long as you are alive
2. Recognize that God uses the critical and corrective words of others to help you overcome the deceitfulness of sin
3. Refuse to respond defensively
4. Refuse to respond despairingly
5. Accept correction and criticism as coming from God
6. Resolve, by God’s grace, to benefit from and grow as a result of criticism
7. Meditate deeply on the cross of Jesus
a. It has criticized you
b. It has justified you
8. Meditate deeply on the resurrection of Jesus
a. His resurrection guarantees yours
b. The power that raised Him from the dead resides in all those who trust Him, giving us the ability to change!
Labels: Change, Christianity, Community, Correction, Criticism | posted by TimBrister at 8:55 am | Categories: Change, Community, Reflection and Review, Words |
Perspectives on What God Can Do
In light of what is going on here at Grace, I thought this short video from Peacemaker Ministries would encourage you.
Perspectives from Peacemaker Ministries on Vimeo.
Labels: God, Peacemaker Ministries | posted by TimBrister at 10:27 am | Categories: Change |
Preserving Essentials, Embracing Change
John Stott has written what many have considered to be the best commentary on the book of Acts. In that commentary, he addresses the changes the early church faced. Below is an excerpt from Stott which came through the “Langham Partnership Daily Thought“. The daily excerpts from Stott’s writings are worth subscribing.
When Paul and Barnabas set out into the unknown on the first missionary journey, they found (as Abraham, Joseph and Moses had found before them) that God was with them. That is exactly what they reported on their return (Acts 14:27; 15:12). Indeed, this assurance is indispensable to mission. Change is painful to us all, especially when it affects our cherished buildings and customs, and we should not seek to change merely for the sake of change. Yet true Christian radicalism is open to change. It knows that God has bound himself to his church (promising that he will never leave it) and to this Word (promising that it will never pass away). But God’s church means people not buildings, and God’s Word means Scripture not traditions. So long as these essentials are preserved, the buildings and the traditions can if necessary go. We must not allow them to imprison the living God or to impede his mission in the world (emphasis mine).
Labels: Acts, Change, Early Church, John Stott | posted by TimBrister at 10:30 am | Categories: Acts, Change, Encouragement |
