So if you turn in your Bibles to 2 Corinthians chapter 1, starting in verse 23 through to chapter 2, verse 11.
And I stake my life on it, that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth.
Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm.
So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you.
For if I grieve you, who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved?
I wrote as I did, so that when I came I would not be distressed by those who should have made me rejoice.
I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy.
For I wrote to 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.
If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you to some extent,
not to put it too severely.
The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient.
Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.
I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him.
Another reason I wrote to you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything.
Anyone you forgive, I also forgive.
And what I have forgiven, if there was anything to forgive,
I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake,
in order that Satan might not outwit us,
for we are not unaware of his schemes.
Thank you, Kirsty.
Let's keep our Bibles open.
Last week, we were looking at how we can comfort one another.
Today, we're going to be thinking about how we can love one another well.
So let's pray and ask for God's help.
Father, would you pour out your spirit upon us generously for our good,
that we may focus upon you today,
and that we may be attuned to your voice.
Father, do a work amongst us for our good and for your glory.
Amen.
Do you love me?
Thanks, Connor. Good man.
Yes, I'm talking about me.
Do you care about me?
If I was ill, would you come and visit me?
If I was discouraged, would you support me?
If I was in financial trouble, would you try to help?
And I'm glad, at least some of you are nodding your heads.
That's encouraging.
Of course you would,
because I have already experienced much love from you,
and I know you have experienced the same.
That's what it means to be a member of a local church.
You see, the church is a family,
an identifiable, committed family of brothers and sisters
who love the Lord Jesus
and love each other.
Now here's the big question.
Do you love me enough to correct me
when I'm out of line?
Do you love me enough to discipline me
if I am unrepentant?
Do you love me enough to forgive my wrongs
and restore me?
You see, true love,
genuine church family love
will do everything to ensure
that we are in a joy-filled,
right relationship with Christ.
We will do everything to ensure
that one another are in a joy-filled,
right relationship with Christ.
Look at Paul's desire for the church
in chapter 1, verse 24.
There we go.
Verse 24.
Not that we lord it over your faith.
He says we're not being pushy
or being superior.
But we work with you
for your joy.
Because it is by faith
you stand firm.
Paul's heart's desire
is to do all that he possibly can
to ensure they have a joy-filled life
by being secure in the faith.
Or we could summarize it like this.
our goal, the motto of this church
and what a great motto it would be
is that the church would be full of joy
as you stand firm in Christ.
That's what we long for one another.
You see, the greatest love
that we can have for each other
is to ensure that we're standing in Christ,
not falling from Christ.
And if you love me,
you will do whatever it takes,
even if that means
showing me my sin.
You see, the absence of correction
and restoration
is not loving.
To ignore things
is unloving.
It's unkind for a brother or sister
to ignore one another
if we're drifting from Christ.
You could imagine a father
out for a walk with his toddler
and the toddler
goes to run across the road.
The father grabs him
because the father loves his child.
A doctor warning a patient
to change his diet,
otherwise they'll have a heart attack,
is a loving intervention.
It would be unloving to do
or to say nothing, right?
Now, standing firm in Christ
means that we get alongside each other,
support one another,
encourage one another,
but sometimes
it's going to require hard conversations.
We can call it
tough love.
You see, Paul was concerned
that some of the church
were drifting.
Instead of standing firm in Christ,
they were falling from Christ
and he was grieving.
There was no joy.
They needed love.
Out of deep concern,
Paul had made a painful visit
to the church.
Chapter 2, verse 1.
Can you see there
the reference he makes there
at the end
where he talks about
a painful visit
that he had made?
And as a follow-up
to this painful visit,
he had to write
a tearful letter.
Chapter 2, verse 4.
For I wrote to you
out of great distress
and anguish of heart
and with many tears.
Paul had to make some,
say some difficult things
while he made this painful visit.
And he had to say difficult things
as he wrote his tearful letter.
In fact, Paul made another plan
to come back and visit the church
to see if they had put
everything in order
to make sure
that they were all standing
in Christ.
We read about that
in chapter 1, verse 16.
Have a look there.
Chapter 1, verse 16.
He says,
I wanted to visit you
on my way to Macedonia
and to come back to you
from Macedonia
and then to let you send me
on my way to Judea.
So during his travels,
he was going to take a detour
and go and visit the church
in Corinth.
But he changed his mind.
He decided not to visit them.
And here's why.
Chapter 1, verse 23.
I call God as my witness
and I stake my life on it.
I am telling you
the absolute truth
that it was in order
to spare you
that I did not return
to Corinth.
Chapter 2, verse 1.
So I made up my mind
that I would not make
another painful visit
to you.
You see,
he loved them so much
that he didn't want
to have to visit
and have to go over
old ground again
and rebuke them
and say,
guys,
you shouldn't be doing this.
He said,
I hope that you would have
listened and done
the right thing
and turned back
to Christ.
Despite what they
thought of Paul,
he was for them,
not against them.
Yes, he had many
hard things to say,
but it was for their joy.
It was to see them
built up in their faith
and encouraged.
And that's what
loving relationships
are all about.
It's a commitment
to do all that we can
to make sure
we are firm
in the faith.
faith.
As our motto said,
our goal is that
we would be
full of joy
as we stand
firm in Christ.
how joyful it is
to know that our
brothers and sisters
are walking with Christ,
to stand with them
on that day
when the risen Lord
Jesus comes again.
What joy it will be
to know that you're there
and I'm there.
Well, how can we ensure
that we keep on
and have a joy-filled life?
Well, two things
we're going to look at.
First,
loving correction.
Loving correction.
Look at chapter 2,
verse 3.
He says,
I wrote as I did
so that when I came
I would not be distressed
by those who should
make me rejoice.
He said,
look,
I had to write
difficult things
but it was all
for the hope
that you would have
listened and changed
and brought me
great joy.
In fact,
end of verse 3,
I had confidence
in all of you
that you all
would share
my joy.
I was confident
that you would
listen
and that you would
be standing firm
in Christ.
Now, we don't know
what Paul said
in his letter
but we do know
that it was
very difficult
for him to write.
Look at verse 4.
For I wrote to 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.
My father used
to remind us
of kids
as when we were little
of an experience
that he had
when he was a child.
One day
his two pals
came to the door
knocked on the door
asking him
to come out
and play.
They were going
to go down
to the river
and all excited
my dad ran
to his mum
Michael,
I'm sorry
you can't go.
It's not safe.
My dad
was upset
and my mum
was even upset
for my dad
because he was upset.
Please
can I go?
I'm sorry
Michael
you can't go
you've got
to stay
at home.
Later on
that day
there was
another knock
on the door
a neighbour
to say
that one
of his friends
had fallen
in the river
and drowned.
You see
my dad's mum
could have
ignored
the danger.
she could have
turned a blind eye
and said
sure Michael
off you go
enjoy yourself
and hoped
for the best.
But she did
the right thing
didn't she?
Though it caused
her some distress
it was the most
loving
thing
to do.
Even though
it hurt
my dad
in that very
moment
that he couldn't
go
it was the most
loving
thing
he needed.
You see
Paul knew
that his
correction
would be
painful.
He knew
it would
hurt them
but it
caused him
greater pain
having to be
the one
to confront
them.
It wasn't
easy.
Look at
verse 4
I wrote
out of
great distress
and anguish
of heart
and with
many tears
things.
Why did
he put
him through
so much
anguish?
Why not
just turn
to blind
eye and
hope for
the best?
Well look
at the rest
of verse 4
it wasn't
to grieve
you
but to
let you
know the
depth of
my love
for you.
My goal
is that
you would
be full
of joy
as you
stand
firm
in
Christ.
If you're
a member
of this
church
or any
church
if you're
visiting
do you
love
the
church?
Do I
love you
enough to
correct
any
spiritual
drift?
Do you
love me
enough
to
rebuke
me
over
some
sinful
behaviour
or
attitude?
You see
such action
isn't
pushy
or superior
or
judgmental
it's an
expression
of our
love.
The easiest
thing would
be to
ignore it
and say
sure it's
just the
way they
are.
That's
unloving.
Loving
correction
comes from
a heart
of deep
concern
for a
brother
or sister
who is
drifting
away.
Our
goal
is that
we would
together
be full
of joy
as we
stand
firm
in
Christ.
With
loving
correction
comes
loving
restoration.
So far
as we've
studied in
this section
we haven't
been told
what the
issue was
that needed
corrected.
But I
think in
verses 5
following
we're given
a clue.
Let's read
verse 5.
He's
talking about
a particular
person.
If
anyone has
caused
grief
through
their
sin
that is
he has
not so
much
grieved
me
as he
has
grieved
all of
you
to some
extent
not to
put it
too
severely.
The
punishment
inflicted
on him
by the
majority
is sufficient.
Now
instead
you ought
to forgive
and comfort
him
so that
he will
not be
overwhelmed
by excessive
sorrow.
It seems
that there
is a
member of
the church
who was
not walking
with Christ
and was
unrepentant.
Despite
being told
nothing seemed
to change.
It could
be
that the
issue being
referred to
is what we
read about
in 1
Corinthians.
So you
can put
a finger
in 2
Corinthians
and go
back to
1
Corinthians
chapter
5.
1
Corinthians
chapter
5.
It could
be the
issue here
that we're
about to
read.
If it's
not, it's
certainly a
good example
and helps
explain what
might be
going on.
1
Corinthians
5
verses
1
to 2
Paul
says to
the same
church,
it's actually
reported
that there
is sexual
immorality
among you
and of a
kind that
even pagans,
that is
those who
are not
yet Christians,
do not
tolerate.
A man
is sleeping
with his
father's
wife or
a man
is sleeping
with his
mother-in-law.
Verse 2,
6.
And you
are so proud.
Shouldn't
you have
gone into
mourning and
have put
out of
your
fellowship
the man
who has
been doing
this?
Verse 6,
your
boasting
is not
good.
Don't
you know
that a
little yeast
leavens the
whole batch
of dough?
Just as
yeast
goes and
works in
the whole
loaf of
bread,
so he's
saying
undealt
with
sin
will
affect
the
whole
church
family.
Let's
go back
to
2 Corinthians.
So the
concern is
that a
member of
the church
has been
having an
affair
and despite
the seriousness
of it,
despite the
warnings and
the
encouragements,
has remained
unrepentant.
And not
only that,
the church
is turning
a blind
eye to
it as
well.
They're
ignoring
it.
The church
has become
desensitized
to the
issue.
So what
harm are
they doing?
It doesn't
matter.
It's just
the way
they are.
Let them
be.
Well,
thankfully,
the church
had listened
to Paul's
correction,
even though
it was
painful
and tearful.
He was
disciplined
by the
church and
treated as
someone,
well,
who was
not yet a
Christian.
They needed
the gospel.
Look at
verse 6.
This is 2
Corinthians
chapter 2
verse 6.
He says,
the punishment
inflicted on
him by the
majority,
that is,
the members
of the
church,
is
sufficient.
Now,
we must
think about
this and
wonder,
well,
if I
sin,
is that
going to
happen to
me?
Well,
I think
what's being
talked about
here is
something
serious.
It's about
persistent
sin,
rejecting
correction,
and
remaining
unreplaced.
unrepentant,
persisting
in a
particular
behavior or
attitude,
rejecting
correction,
and
remaining
unrepentant.
That is
why the
church had
to act in
such a
way to
say,
you are
no longer
a part of
this
fellowship.
You are
not living
as a
Christian.
Now,
again,
this is
hard for
us maybe
to hear,
but it's
not being
judgmental.
This is
driven by
a heart
of love
and concern
for their
brother and
sister,
in the hope
that they
would turn
back to
Christ.
It's not a
case of the
religious police
coming along
and kicking
people out
left,
right,
and center.
It's about
the restoration
of the
church family.
it's about
that they
may know
a joy-filled
life of
being firm
in Christ.
One author
put it
like this,
a critical
test of
genuine
love is
whether we
are willing
to confront
and discipline
those we
care for.
Nothing is
more difficult
than disciplining
a brother or
sister in
Christ who
is trapped
in sin.
That's why
Paul was
of great
anguish
and great
distress.
Or as
Jesus himself
says to
the church
in Revelation,
those whom
I love
I rebuke
and discipline.
So be
earnest
to repent.
You see,
the purpose
is that they
might be
restored in
their relationship
with Christ,
standing
firm.
The goal
is that
they would
have a
joy-filled
life and
that the
church
together
would be
filled
with joy
as together
they stand
firm in
Christ.
Thankfully,
the correction
had the
desired effect.
Look at
verse 7.
Now
instead,
you ought
to forgive
and comforted
him so
that he
will not
be
overwhelmed
by
excessive
sorrow.
I urge
you
therefore,
reaffirm
your love
for him.
Isn't
it wonderful?
It would
be unloving
to leave the
brother or
sister who
had been
unrepent and
had now
turned back
to the
Lord
outside.
That would
be
judgmental.
Instead,
they are
now to
embrace
them and
welcome
them to
celebrate
their return.
Verse 8,
I urge you
therefore,
reaffirm
your love
for him.
Make it
your goal
that they
have a
joy-filled
life.
They are
right with
Christ and
right with
each other.
are you
a member
of this
church?
Do you
love the
church?
Do you
love your
brothers and
sisters so
much that
you will do
whatever it
takes to
restore them
if they
have drifted
from Christ?
Will I
forgive them
just as God
has forgiven
them?
Will I
comfort them
and embrace
them and
welcome them
home?
You see,
to withhold
forgiveness is
a serious
matter.
Instead,
we embrace
and reaffirm
our love.
Loving
restoration
comes from
a heart
that cares
deeply for
the spiritual
health of
our brothers
and sisters.
Our goal,
our motto
is that we
would have
a joy-filled
life as we
stand firm
in Christ.
You see,
what this
text is
really getting
at
is that we
would have
a Christ-like
love.
The members
of the church
are to
love one
another just
as Christ
loved us.
And how
did he love
us?
Well,
God loved
the world.
He loved
his church
so much
that he
gave his
one and
only son
into the
world for
us.
And Christ
coming into
the world,
it was a
most painful
visit.
a life
filled with
tears as
he longed
for people
to return
to him,
as he
wept over
the city.
He came
to take
my sin
and your
sin on
himself.
On the
cross,
Jesus Christ
was corrected
for us.
There he
faced the
greatest
discipline
as he
was punished
by God
for the
wrong things
you and
I have
done.
In love
he took
our sin.
But that
wasn't the
end,
was it?
Three days
after his
death,
Jesus was
raised to
life again.
He was
lovingly
restored,
crowned
with honour
and glory.
That's the
love of
Christ for
us today.
Christ was
corrected so
that by
faith in
him we
are corrected.
And just
as Christ
has been
restored,
so by
faith in
him we
are
restored.
What's that
going to
look like
for us
tomorrow as
we go to
our college,
our school,
our work,
at home?
Well, it
causes us to
gaze at
Christ.
Because as
we look to
the cross,
we see on
the one
hand the
seriousness of
our sin,
but also we
see the
greatness of
God's grace.
True love
will both
correct us
and restore
us.
The love
of Christ
leads us
daily in
repentance
before him
and
receiving
his freeing
forgiveness.
Not
least does
it affect
our
relationships
with each
other.
Look at
verse 10.
He says,
anyone you
forgive,
I also
forgive.
And what I
have forgiven,
if there was
anything to
forgive,
I have
forgiven in
the sight
of Christ
for your
sake.
just as
we have
been
forgiven,
we need
to forgive
one another
and show
grace to
one another,
not to
do so.
To
withhold
that
forgiveness
and grace
is so,
so dangerous.
And here's
why.
Look at
verse 11.
We
forgive
in order
that Satan
might not
outwit us,
for we
are not
unaware of
his schemes.
Satan
would love
nothing more
than for us
to turn a
blind eye
to each
other and
say it
doesn't
matter.
But not
to repent
will mean
sin is
ignored and
that will
lead to
greater
hardness
of heart.
And not
to forgive
will mean
grace is
withheld
and will
result in
deeper
bitterness
amongst
one another.
So
together
we fix
our eyes
on Christ.
We
remember
his great
embracing
love for
us and
we love
each other.
Our goal
is that we
would have
a joy
filled
life as
together
we encourage
and support
one another
to stand
firm
in Christ.
So let
me ask
us all
do you
love the
church?
Do you
love one
another?
Do you
love and
care for
your brother
and sister
so much
that you
will do
all that
it takes
to ensure
they are
standing firm
in Christ?
Let's
pray.
Father,
your word is
good.
yes it
is difficult
sometimes
it's hard
to take
in
but it
is good
it is
wonderfully
good.
Would you
please help
us
that we
may increase
our love
for one
another
just as
you loved
us
that there
would be
no bounds
to the
extent
of our
love
to support
build up
and encourage
correct
and restore
that we
would do
all that
we possibly
can
to walk
beside our
brothers and
sisters
that we
would stand
firm in
Christ
filled
with confidence
assurance
and rejoicing
together
as we
stand before
Christ on
the last
day.
What joy
that we
would be
there
together
because
you
helped
me
and I
helped
you.
Thank you
for your
church.
Thank you
for your
people.
Amen.
We're
going to
sing
together.
There is
an everlasting
kindness you
lavished on
us.
With the
radiance of
heaven you
came to
rescue the
lost.
Here is the
love of
God.
Let's
stand
together,
worship and
praise him
and give
thanks for
his love.
happy
!
happy
Thank you.
Amen.
Please take your seats.
We continue in our worship as we remember our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
The Lord's Supper, or Communion, well it's a family gathering, isn't it?
It's a family meal where we remember God's love to us and our love for one another.
A meal where we are reminded of God's commitment to us and our commitment to each other.
Together, we remember Jesus.
We look at the cross afresh and we remind ourselves that he was corrected for us.
Disciplined for us.
Punished, shut out from the Father for you and I.
So that we could be restored.
So that we could be forgiven.
So that we could be comforted afresh in the love of God.
As we eat and as we drink, we are reaffirmed of God's love for us.
And we reaffirm our love for one another.
Who can share in this meal, simple as it is, of bread and juice?
The bread speaking of Christ's body.
The juice speaking of the blood shed on the cross for our sins.
Who gets to eat and drink?
It's for the repentant.
Not the unrepentant.
It's for those who know their need of Jesus.
To see the seriousness of sin and the greatness of God's grace.
If you have your Bibles, please turn to 1 Corinthians chapter 11.
Before we eat the bread and drink the juice,
we're going to remind us of the words Paul spoke to the church,
which are written and recorded for us today,
as we remember Jesus.
1 Corinthians chapter 11, verse 23.
Remember this is written to people just like us,
messy and broken,
hidden sins and public ones.
We come afresh that we might know God's grace
and know his love.
Verse 23.
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you.
The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed,
took bread,
and when he had given thanks,
he broke it and said,
this is my body,
which is for you.
Do this in remembrance of me.
In the same way,
after supper,
he took the cup saying,
this cup is the new covenant in my blood.
Do this whenever you drink it,
in remembrance of me.
for when you eat this bread
and drink this cup,
you proclaim the Lord's death
until he comes.
So if you are trusting in Christ today,
if you come with your repentance,
needing grace afresh,
reminded of his love,
then come and share
in this meal together.
Let's pray.
Lord Jesus,
we thank you so much
for your death on the cross
on our behalf.
Thank you that you were disciplined for us.
that through faith,
we might be restored
in right relationship with you,
never to face condemnation again,
forgiven,
freed,
comforted,
and loved.
thank you,
for dying for us.
Thank you for your commitment
that nothing in all this world,
not even our sin,
can ever separate us
from your love.
In Jesus' name we pray.
Amen.
It's our practice as a church
to receive the bread,
hold on to it,
and then as a family,
we will eat together
as brothers and sisters.
Please take a piece
and then we will wait
until we're all served.
Please use this time
in the quietness
to bring your own confession
to the Lord.
And there's no idea
of holy holy
Thank you.
We remember God's love to us, shown to us through his Son, Jesus Christ.
And we remember our love for one another.
As a family, let us eat together in thanksgiving.
And as we drink as you receive.
Nick and Tricia are going to serve the juice
and as we do, please drink as you receive
and as it's being passed around,
let us celebrate God's forgiveness of us
the comfort that we have in his love
and our commitment to love one another.
Amen.
As you are served or wait to be served,
I encourage you just in the quietness of your heart
to pray for the person beside you or in front of you.
Pray that they would know God's love afresh
and that God would strengthen the bonds
of our love for one another.
Amen.
Thank you.
Please feel free to talk to me afterwards or give me a ring.
Two things.
We're going to have tea and coffee, so invite everybody to stay and chat and catch up.
It would be great to talk with you further.
And there's a big, big card on the table as you came in for Amy, Amy Patterson, who's serving in Sheffield.
Nick and Trish are going to be heading there next weekend to say hi and encourage and support her.
So if you'd like to write a message, it's a nice big one so you can do all kinds of pictures and squiggles and all sorts of things.
Something that Amy would appreciate.
So please do that on your way out.
Let's pray.
Father, may we know the blessing of your grace and your peace upon each one of us this coming week.
Thank you for your love.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
Thank you.