1 Corinthians 5
August Memory Verse: So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV)
Read: 1 Corinthians 5
Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth is strong because this church had allowed sin to go undealt within their midst. In this case, a man who was a part of their church was immorally living with his stepmother. Paul speaks against this and gives clear instructions for action for this church, but he also condemns their attitude toward sin. They had accepted and condoned it.
Calling out sin and dealing with it in an assembly of believers is a challenging thing, but it is important. Paul reminds us that allowing sin to go unchecked in a church or in your heart will bring great consequences.
Your boasting about this is terrible. Don’t you realize that this sin is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough? (v.6)
How are we to deal with sin in a church? Matthew 18 gives us a clear formula.
If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector. Matthew 18:15-17
STEP ONE: Go to the believer privately and point out the offense
If they repent, you’re done. No further action is required or permitted.
STEP TWO: If the believer does not repent and change, take a brother or sister with you and go to the believer and point out the offense again. This will allow someone else to be there to clarify and as a witness. If they repent, you’re done. No further action is required or permitted.
STEP THREE: If the believer does not repent and change, take your case to the leadership of your church. They will approach the believer. If they repent, you’re done. No further action is required or permitted. If they do not repent, the church will practice church discipline and remove them from the assembly.
This is the ONLY Biblical way to deal with a brother who sins against you.
Paul reiterates the seriousness of taking sin lightly in our lives. What things have you found yourself turning a deaf ear to, and accepting? Sin is not determined by the media or by popular opinion – it is determined by the Word of God.
What are some things that you’ve seen Christians wink at that God calls sin?
Survey your own life – are there any of these things you’ve excused?
Ask God to give you a sensitive heart to sin and a commitment to live pure.
By: Tim Parsons
Read: 1 Corinthians 5
Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth is strong because this church had allowed sin to go undealt within their midst. In this case, a man who was a part of their church was immorally living with his stepmother. Paul speaks against this and gives clear instructions for action for this church, but he also condemns their attitude toward sin. They had accepted and condoned it.
Calling out sin and dealing with it in an assembly of believers is a challenging thing, but it is important. Paul reminds us that allowing sin to go unchecked in a church or in your heart will bring great consequences.
Your boasting about this is terrible. Don’t you realize that this sin is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough? (v.6)
How are we to deal with sin in a church? Matthew 18 gives us a clear formula.
If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector. Matthew 18:15-17
STEP ONE: Go to the believer privately and point out the offense
If they repent, you’re done. No further action is required or permitted.
STEP TWO: If the believer does not repent and change, take a brother or sister with you and go to the believer and point out the offense again. This will allow someone else to be there to clarify and as a witness. If they repent, you’re done. No further action is required or permitted.
STEP THREE: If the believer does not repent and change, take your case to the leadership of your church. They will approach the believer. If they repent, you’re done. No further action is required or permitted. If they do not repent, the church will practice church discipline and remove them from the assembly.
This is the ONLY Biblical way to deal with a brother who sins against you.
Paul reiterates the seriousness of taking sin lightly in our lives. What things have you found yourself turning a deaf ear to, and accepting? Sin is not determined by the media or by popular opinion – it is determined by the Word of God.
What are some things that you’ve seen Christians wink at that God calls sin?
Survey your own life – are there any of these things you’ve excused?
Ask God to give you a sensitive heart to sin and a commitment to live pure.
By: Tim Parsons
3 Comments
I have dealt with sin in my life and have repented of it . I have seen one occasion where a person was brought before the church because of her sin .However after that she repented of her sin and turned around and I believe to this day is doing well and living a Christian life . By the way Tim it was at Praise Center in Clarksville Tn
I think gossip is something that we as Christians tolerate more than we ought to. It's very easy to get involved in and at times we don't even realize we are doing it. I personally am working on it and am starting to catch myself before beginning it.
This is a hard thing, but necessary! And it shows that judgment is important of other believers; helping them by gently loving and bringing them back to God by telling them of their offense