When it comes to relationships, most Christians tend to favor niceness over honesty. Fear of losing a relationship and fear of being disliked are just two things that make us casually overlook habitual sin in our friends. God tells us that there is a better way which leads to greater relational health. Come and hear the wisdom of God’s word as we learn to correct our friends, part of our Strengthening Church Relationships Series.
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MESSAGE STUDY NOTES
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WARM UP
Were your parents more of the “correct you here and now in front of everyone” types or more “wait until we’re alone to correct?” Describe an example.
SCRIPTURES USED
Hebrews 3:13-14; I Timothy 5:1-2; Galatians 6:1; Titus 1:10-13; Luke 17:3; II Corinthians 2:4, 10:6; Revelation 3:19; II Corinthians 7:8-11; John 3:16
MESSAGE POINTS
1. Your friends can be deceived by sin and hardened against God
2. Appeal respectfully – gently, humbly
3. Reprimand them sternly
4. There are consequences to disobedience
5. Love should motivate us
6. Correction leads our friends away from sin
Friendship Covenant: “I will lovingly correct you”
GENERAL QUESTIONS
1. What do you think are the greatest barriers to correcting our friends?
2. Do you think most Christians do well at correcting their friends? Why or why not?
APPLICATION QUESTION
What sin (if any) have you noticed in your Christian friends that you think needs to be addressed? Why haven’t you addressed it to this point?
MENTORING QUESTION
What do you wish someone had been brave enough to lovingly correct you on a long time ago? What difference might it have made?
