Correct Correction, p.1

What take your Bibles and go to first Timothy chapter 5 would you do that as we continue our series beautifying the bride as Paul writes to Timothy, he's writing to the man he's left behind in Ephesus to oversee the church function as pastor if you will let me not technically been his title.

That's the office is functioning in and he's giving Timothy Exley in one since Paul is pastoring the church through Timothy because he's giving him all of these guidelines precepts disciplines instructions on how the local church is to be organized and how the local church is to function.

That's what we call it her fashion how she structured and her function has ceased to function. Now these pastoral epistles as we call them first Timothy second Timothy Titus are not the totality of all that the church is to know, but it's a great bulk of what we are to know and understand. So now we come to chapter 5 of first Timothy and what you will get verses one and two first Timothy chapter 5 verses one and two, Paul writes to Timothy now insists do not sharply rebuke an older man, but rather appeal to him as a father to the younger men as brothers to the older women as mothers and the younger women as sisters and all purity.

This is Timothy there's a certain way you relate to older men, Timothy. There's a certain way as a young passenger to relate to the younger men to believe there's a certain way or to behave yourself and act for the older ladies and a certain way your act toward the younger ladies now as we look at this text I want to know.

I've entitled this exposition correct correction correct correction because this tax is not primarily about church relation relations between the genders, male and female are relations between the generations the young and the old and old to the young is not actually primarily about the relations between the pastor and his people, though it does have much to say about all of those things but the main emphasis of the text is about correction Timothy as a pastor when you correct an older man with this way when you have to correct the younger man good that way when you're correcting an older lady do it this way when you're correcting a younger lady. Make sure you do it that way. So that's what primarily the text is about how a young pastor like Timothy can relate in his pastoral admonitions and corrections to all segments of his church, let me say again that even though this is addressed to a young man who's a pastor it's applicable for all pastors of all ages to all churches of all time. And by the way, these are general truths that all of us out to be observing and following, as we have our interactions one to another in the body of Christ. But this is particularly about Timothy's role in the office of pastor and particularly on a personal level when he is having to give correction to those in his flock. Now let's remind ourselves that we cannot be like Cain who ask will in my my brother's keeper will know where you are our brother's keeper.

Matthew 1815 Jesus said, go and show him his fault, in private. This is talking about private faults and private correction and can I exhort you again about church discipline and grace like church always always always do everything possible to bring a correction to a brother in absolute confidentiality and in privacy unless it's the type of sin that's unable to do that in this case that's basically where Paul's go Timothy, when you are dealing with the person in a personal setting. Remember how to correct them appropriately.

Now let me remind you that love must always direct our motives whenever you're correcting someone with your pastor. Our small group leader are just brother to brother. Sometimes people so who does church discipline.

We do every church member is a part of admonishing one another and encouraging one another and exhorting one another and correcting one another when possible and when will it's profitable right to do so. But make sure. Love is the motive. Now here's the three things now say this several times because I want you to remember it. Make sure your motive number one is the glory of God on correcting this brother sister because the glory of God's on the line if this scene continues. All they can dishonor God's reputation. People go to see them and say that's not what Christians like. Secondly, not only the glory of God. Secondly, your motive must be the good of the church. If they continue on. The Bible says a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough that's in the context of multiple local church, sin, and so if this lady or this man continues on with this attitude disposition date or whatever it is they're going to create disciples after them and polluting damage. The church so the mullah motive must be the glory of God may suffer here.

The good of the church from which Christ died could suffer because of this sin and then thirdly the good of the individual. Your trip you're correcting them because the Bible says the wages of sin is death.

If they continue on without a fight of repentance and bidding with sin. They will destroy themselves.

Notice I didn't say anything about you the correct tour is not about you going to die to yourself in these things now as we get into this list. Remember the familial aspect here, he says, correct. An older man like a father, a younger man like a brother and older lady like a mother and a younger lady like a sister. He's reminding Timothy were family cannot say that to you this morning Grace left the shows your part of an eternal family on the literary this local church were a loving spiritual, eternal family, so that solves a lot of problems right there in trying to rectify improper correction.

Just remember how you love your family, no one older men are be to corrected as fathers.

He says in verse correct older men as you would your father.

That means with humility and with honor, the exorcist, specifically verse one don't sharply rebuke the word sharply rebuke has the idea of force to strike it means to bring a student told of Isis severity to bear, just Timothy noticing there's always balance in this, but as a pattern. Timothy, you don't go to the older man is a younger man and make a sharp forceful correction to the ESA. Don't do that. He says rather appealed to him verse. The word therefore appeal is the same word that is translated spirit or Holy Spirit per click toss it means to come alongside the black one who comes alongside and sort of mentor him. If you will, our God him through as you're trying to correcting and then the word older man press material offices. The word here older man and a sword.

By the way that's often used for the office of pastor, but it didn't mean a man in the office of pastor here. It just means an older man chronologically. An older man who deserves honor and deserves respect. Now this.

It was the wisdom young Timothy was to have and if he is a brand-new pastor on the field here flew into some of the older men who have or who have earned respect and honor, even if they are guilty and need correction. It has to happen.

That's the pastor's role. That's all of our roles. Your to do so with a difference with a humility with a respect with a spirit of honor for him. So there to be corrected.

But with the humble and subdued tone and appealing to him. Remember, he is your father because all the older men in the church are our fathers in the Lord and your father even if he's failed even he if he's guilty in the matter. He should be reproached with this necessary respect and honor couple Proverbs that add some guidance here. Proverbs 1624 pleasant words are honeycomb sweet to the soul and healing to the bone you're correcting an older man as a younger man and by the way, that should be rare.

Younger men should not go around trying to correct older man. I was in a meeting one time and the NetMeeting was a dinner meeting. There were probably 78 men around the table, who averaged 30 to 50 years in ministry together and then there was one younger man.

There he proceeded to correct one of those older man on the point of doctrine will look this younger brothers a good man. He loves the Lord. He didn't mean anything bad, but it did sit and go over well. So often it did need to be even done to be some room to let the Holy Spirit deal with me. But sometimes it has to be done in evidently so, because that's why Paul telling Timothy when you do this you may have to correct some older men from time to time but do it as you would a father. And remember that pleasant words are honeycomb sweet to the soul and healing the bones and also Proverbs 15 one just inside here. A gentle answer turns away wrath but a harsh word stirs up thing. Now some of you are like me. I turned 60 next Sunday.

Aren't you old and I'm not so much the younger guy anymore. I'm getting to be one of the older God's will just be honest it's a little bit difficult when a young guy who's as stupid as I was comes up says now you out of bed and you all didn't know this. Even if they're right it's hard to take. But if they come with humility and honor. It's amazing how you think like you, I can receive that in all of your settings, especially in your household. I don't care how long that he may be you honor your father.

He has positioned deserves he's done things you do not know of these fall fights you don't know about first started. You can't even fathom yet. Yes, there may be a point where he needs correction but you might not even be the young guy that needs to do it different for Timothy. He had the office of pastor teacher.

He had to do that from time to time. It's been years ago we were is a true church conference and I was with the right that heroes with the group of men and they were mostly men who been in the ministry 3040 50 years and we were just talking theology and stuff and a young God runs up, he might've been 2021 and he just jumped in the conversation was carrying on with us on religion but nothing about it. Got on that boy's shoulder and pulled him aside and that hand wed the hand and say at the mouth connected Lancet said unit come with me and he took that young men away and I asked that staff member later said why did you come to that. He said he didn't know his place. He's got no rock jumping in that conversation is not where you men are the well I might not of done that but I know what he saying so can I cite all of us this morning as were dealing with respecting older men for all of us who are younger men, and even younger ladies know your place. Older men are to be honored to be respected, even when they have to be corrected by their pastor. The pastor should remember to steal them honor and respect equally so well when you don't.

Don't jump to them just yet, but let's talk about. Secondly, the younger men are to be corrected as brothers while you correctly younger men in your church as brothers because that's what they are there. My brothers, it's not about correcting them. It's not about me feeling as an elitist and superior got to make sure my motive is about them when you corrected brother. Let's remind ourselves that you desire that to win them back from error and from sin and truthfully always destruction sin leads to death. At least destruction early early on in our ministry as we talked about the very principles of correction and discipline in the church. Brother Tim, you don't so well in your presentation people's I will that won't work. We don't you'll upset the harmony you will upset the unity of the church that is the most upside down thinking that is the at the thesis of reality listen when I brother is sending he's grieving the Holy Spirit and the only unity we have is the unity of the spirit and if he's grieving the spirit, unity is already broken. The unity is already being absolved. If you will when you corrected brother and bring him back to repentance. You restore the unity you don't create disunity because this is a spiritual body pierced with a really say we've maintained the unity of the flesh around here, not a unity of the spirit, so we cannot tolerate each other say and so we all can't get along together that's not a church that's a false congregation that we never arrive at it. There's always things that need to be addressed, but correcting one who is in willful unrepented of sin is necessary to restore and then maintain true unity in the church but can I remind you again that our motive is this his family are motive is.

This must come from love. It's not about correction. The chief motive is love for the glory of God love the good of the church and then thirdly love the good of that individual. I'm correct some guiding verses here.

Galatians 61 brother and even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in ice noticed a spirit of gentleness. That's love right there. Each one looking to yourself so that you too will not be tempted. What it says look to yourself, your to go to that person saying but for the grace of God.

I'd be worse than him for the grace of God be worse than her that home should be there. Galatians 526 let us not become boastful, challenging one another, ending one another. This is a spirit not to have a challenging spirit. How could you do that a demeaning spirit. No, no, no, no, that's not love. Correction. Yes, Timothy's young pastor had to create correct, but he needs to do it with the spirit of love Romans 15 verse one that we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves.

Do you correct someone else we can all be honest just for moment because it's really about you and you really say no. It's about the glory of God. It's about the good of the church and it's about the good individual and purpose in the data myself in this the firm and forceful review especially on a private level should be of last resort. I have done it but I think I can count on one hand, and 40 years of pastoral ministry. We got a lot of discipline. I count one time one hand the times I've had lots of money and be firm and forceful in correcting. Usually it's just not necessary. Occasionally it is but sometimes it's usually it's not now. III correct.

An older woman as a mother, your mother's again the familial as this is family again.

This is, this comes from love.

Now we really said much about this will be talked about correcting the older men as fathers is the same tone in the same spirit that we should have. But no matter the guilt I can never see a young pastor talking harshly to a senior lady in the church Bob another say it. We we have some dear dear senior adult ladies who make quilts here for missions and they needed a room they wanted a room with a lock on it so they could lock their stuff up and take care of their stuff and that's what I was appropriate and some of the staff asked me about it. I said you have them call me. So one of the ladies came to see me. I said you pick out the room. I'll put the lock on an insurer's why wouldn't we be sweet to our mothers while we try to prove our authority. While what we defer to them if he possibly could now treat me know. There are times when Timothy as God's pastor had to correct an older lady, but he was to remember she deserves the utmost honor and respect not to come to her with deference and humility and kindness. We got off a new church plant actually kind of a replant done in southern Mississippi and Chris Shepherd is the pastor there and he he took over this little congregation is pastor some time ago and you understand this is way, way back in the Mississippi and this little congregation probably had six or eight people in average attendance for the last 20 years, and there were two ladies that kinda kept the church going and thank God for that. But as the years went by one of the ladies begin to count the money and the other lady kept the bank account and they were the only ones to get back and Chris found I have to bless her heart. One of the singlet rats move the little old ladies on Amanda Griffith show that we make in the moonshine. Bless her heart. This little lady had started her a cemetery fund and was funneling money in it and nobody knew the cemetery fund existed, and I still don't know where all the money came from, but she put in the in her motives may be impure, but the end of the night here was the point she had control of it. Well, they found actually the other lady told him that the lady that had the sacred phone and so Chris is 40 something Ms. ladies her 70 something maybe 80 something years old and he had to pull them aside with the other church elders and correct them but I'm so proud of Chris. He was the most deferring, honoring, and sweet to those ladies just told obviously we can't do things in the church. This way you can't take ties and offerings and put them in a secret take account's put your name I just we just don't do that and it all got worked out and he was sweet and kind and the correction was fixed. That's the way you handle things now that couldn't happen in a place like this. We have so many men who are overseeing and are accountable for our funds and God is my witness, I don't know who takes up the money. I don't know anymore who counts the money on a couple of them I don't know who deposits them in alimony. I don't know if that so there's in a church beside you, there's lots of accountability. That's as it should be.

But in that case that was special situation.

Now I will say that there has been one time I remember when I gave a fairly firm correction to one of our senior lady who ought to have known better. He was meeting in a ladies group in town that were off-track theologically and I charged her don't don't do that.

That's not where you need to be her husband's deceased and as of today she hasn't listened to me and she's not here this morning so don't look around say that you, but in that case I felt very strongly course I've known for a long long time that I needed this give up firm correction because I could see where that's going and it has gone where I thought it was going well. Timothy is a young man as a young pastor you have to correct the older ladies to make sure you do it the way you would your mom make sure you have respect and honor. When you do it. IV.

I will say for tonight and this is the one we were going to get them to where the rubber meets the road to listen to me about how men handle themselves around young women with all purity for the Texas something we all need and those of you who don't come back tonight will probably want to need it the most. Just know that I love you and I appreciate you