Head it off at the pass! One of the biggest issues crippling the church is how people talk about other people. Sometimes there is absolutely no connection between the person talking and the person being talked about, but somehow it has becomes something very destructive…very fast.

 

Stepping In: READ IT

Read Matthew 18:1-35

 

Building Up: STUDY IT

Focus on Matthew 18:15

 

Admittedly, today I’d rather focus on verse 6. God sure cares about children! However, we all need to let the practical plan laid out for us in verse 15 soak in. When I have a problem with someone, I need to go and talk to them. Bam. Simple.

 

That’s is not our first choice. It’s easier and much less awkward to talk to someone else about the person that has hurt us, is bothering us or is simply not doing what we think they should. So, Jesus lays it out for us. In fact, in 90% of the cases (I just made that percentage up) you’ll never need to go on to the following verses. They are there just in case, but let’s just focus on verse 15.

 

Living Out: APPLY IT

 

Application questions (Is there a… 1. Sin to CONFESS 2. Promise to CLAIM 3. Attitude to CHANGE 4. Command to OBEY 5. Example to FOLLOW (or not) 6. Prayer to PRAY 7. Error to AVOID 8. Truth to BELIEVE 9. Something to PRAISE GOD FOR). 

 

Here there is sin to confess as well as a command to obey as well as an example to follow as well as an error to avoid.

 

I can’t even tell you how many times someone has come to me all upset. They get about two paragraphs into their speech about how they’ve been wronged and I stop them and ask this simple question, “Have you talked to them about this?” Most of the time the answer is no. I give them some pointers on how to go about it, but then tell them we aren’t talking about it any further until you go and do what Jesus told you to do.

 

Dear Father, this verse isn’t just for someone else. It’s for me. I need to not run to my wife or friend or staff member when someone has done something to me. I need to go to them. Frankly God, I need more guts to do what I need to do in those moments. It’s sure not easy, but I want to handle this the right way. When I have, I’ve seen your wisdom pay off big time. Thank you for always being right!