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Feb 21, 2021

Teachability (click for resources)

Passage: 2 Corinthians 1:23-2:4

Speaker: Brian Land

Series: 2 Corinthians

Category: Grace Brevard

Keywords: love, humility, repentance, change, help, mentor, critique, instruct, teachable

We tend to despise and reject being corrected because it requires deep humility, leading us to typically dig in our heels and reject the corrector. Likewise, it is difficult to lovingly correct someone because it hurts us to hurt them (though we are often very happy to lovelessly correct others online). The Gospel assures us that God loves us just the way we are, but loves us too much to leave us there.

2.21.21 GBV Livestream from Grace Brevard on Vimeo.

MESSAGE TITLE: “Teachability”

CENTRAL TEXT: 2 Corinthians 1:23 - 2:4 

1:23 But I call God to witness against me—it was to spare you that I refrained from coming again to Corinth. 24 Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith. 2:1 For I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you. 2 For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? 3 And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all. 4 For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.

ILLUSTRATIONS

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

Click HERE for printable version

The Pain of Correction:

What are some memories you have of being corrected (work, family, friends...)?

What about when you’ve had to correct others?

What are some different motives behind correcting someone?

How can under-correcting and over-correcting be from the same self-centered heart?

    If I don’t correct you, what does that say?

    If I enjoy correcting you, what does that say?

What is the point of correcting somebody (or being corrected)?

Which of these two reactions to being corrected do you find in yourself the most (and why are they there?)?

    - Bow up and defend yourself and how you aren’t wrong.

    - Wallow in self-pity because you believe you are horrible.

 

The Love of Correction:

Paul says that he is deeply pained to correct these brothers and sisters...why is he pained?

He also says that he will (despite the pain) because of his abundant love for them.

    How is proper-correction a loving thing?

For instance: If your friend wasn’t paying attention and walking into oncoming traffic, it would be downright hateful and selfish to NOT pull them back from danger.

How can the idea that “loving correction” adjust the way you receive correction?

Jesus has given us a glorious tool for correcting and receiving correction called the “Matthew 18 Principle.”

Read through Matthew 18:15-17 and spell out the order, method, safeguards and hopeful results of correction.

How can this play out in real life?

The Joy of Correction:

Psalm 51 is King David’s glorious repentance song, which includes 51:12 that says “return to me the joy of my salvation.”

How is salvation itself, at its very core, us receiving God’s correction...and how does this correction result in insurmountable and eternal joy?

Give examples of how everyday-life correction can lead to joy.

What stands in the way of it happening?