2 Corinthians 2 Love Discipline Love Discipline 2

2 Corinthians 2 Love & Discipline

Love & Discipline 2 Corinthians 1: 23 – 2: 4 I call God as my witness that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth… 2: 1 So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you. 2 For if I grieve you, who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved?

Love & Discipline 2 Corinthians 1: 23 – 2: 4 3 I wrote as I did so that when I came I should not be distressed by those who ought to make me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy. 4 For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.

Love & Discipline 2 Corinthians 2: 5 -7 If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you… 6 The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient for him. 7 Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.

Love & Discipline 1 Corinthians 5: 1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father's wife.

Love & Discipline 1 Corinthians 5: 2 And you are proud! Shouldn't you rather have been filled with grief

Love & Discipline 1 Corinthians 5: 2 And you are proud! Shouldn't you rather have been filled with grief and have put of your fellowship the man who did this? Harsh!?

Questions Raised Isn’t the church supposed to show love and support, and not reject? Isn’t it judgmental to kick someone out just because he or she has a problem? Won’t this push this person further into his or her problems?

3 Areas of Disagreement 1. The nature of real love. 2. The nature of human beings. 3. The difference between judgment and discipline.

Disagreement: The nature of real love. Modern View Based on feeling or experience Biblical View Based on decision and commitment. 1 John 3: 16 -18 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

Disagreement: The nature of real love. Modern View Biblical View Based on feeling or experience Based on decision and commitment. Can’t be controlled. Can be controlled and moral. Mark 12: 28 -31 “Of all the commandments, which is the most important? ” 29 "The most important one, " answered Jesus, "is this… 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. ' 31 The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself. ' …

Disagreement: The nature of real love. Modern View Biblical View Based on feeling or experience Based on decision and commitment. Can’t be controlled. Can be controlled and moral. Depends on the other person. Depends only on God and I. Romans 5: 10. . . when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son. . .

Disagreement: The nature of real love. Modern View Biblical View Based on feeling or experience Based on decision and commitment. Can’t be controlled. Can be controlled and moral. Depends on the other person. Depends only on God and I. Self-Affirming Self-Sacrificial 1 Corinthians 13: 4 -5 Love is patient … it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

Disagreement: The nature of real love. Modern View Biblical View Based on feeling or experience Based on decision and commitment. Can’t be controlled. Can be controlled and moral. Depends on the other person. Depends only on God and I. Self-Affirming Self-Sacrificial Meets others’ desires. Meets other’s needs. Proverbs 13: 24 He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.

Disagreement: The nature of humans. Modern View Biblical View Humans are basically good. Humans are lost without God. Isaiah 53: 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was Mark 1: 15 crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that "The time has come, " he said. "The kingdom of God brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds is near. Repent and believe the good news!" we are healed.

Disagreement: The nature of humans. Modern View Biblical View Humans are basically good. Humans are lost without God. The natural way is right. Natural desires are often distorted.

Disagreement: The nature of humans. Modern View Biblical View Humans are basically good. Humans are lost without God. The natural way is right. Natural desires are often distorted. Don’t know what change is Many areas: information needed. provided by God. 1 Corinthians 5: 9 -10 I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people-- 10 not at all meaning the people of this world…

Disagreement: Discipline & Judgment Looks to the past, in order to punish the person. Huge difference Discipline Looks to the future, for the benefit of the person.

Discipline in Love According to the Bible, failure to discipline is a lack of love. 2 Timothy 3: 16 -17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for Galatians 6: 1 teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are 2 Timothy 2: 24 -25 righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be spiritual should restore him gently. But watch The Lord's bond-servant must not be thoroughly equipped for every good work. yourself, or you also may be tempted. quarrelsome. . . 25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth.

Categories of Discipline Matthew 18: 15 -17 Instruction "If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in Correction private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. 16 "But if he does not listen to you, take one Reproof/Rebuke or two more with you… 17 "If he refuses to listen to Rebuke with Sanctions them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen Reserved for: even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and § Certain serious sin a tax collector. § Ongoing § Refusal to change § Leadership agrees

Questions Answered Isn’t the church supposed to show love and support, and not reject? Isn’t it judgmental to kick someone out just because he or she has a problem? Won’t this push this person further into his or her problems?

Conclusions Groups that are not loving enough to discipline become soft and disengaged. Groups that discipline out of anger or spite will be judgmental and harsh.

Love & Discipline Questions? Comments? Experiences?