Joel M Bradshaw

15“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.–Matthew 18

1. A person must address sin. This is a bitterness buster. Rather than saying nothing and feeling justified in prolonged jealousy, envy, or anger within you.
2. The circles keep getting bigger. This brings accountability and the church into matters.
3. If you are an accuser, you have witnesses. If you have been accused and forgiven, you also have witnesses.
4. At some point, if a person remains arrogant in the face of their sin, rather than humble and repentant, they are acting like someone who doesn’t follow Jesus.
5. The goal of all this is reconciliation. Letting the Gospel message transform a relationship.
6. The villains humbly own their sin. The victims who grace to the undeserving.
7. Loving confrontation is a blessing and looks for opportunities to forgive and have restoration. It pulls up bitter weeds so they cannot grow. It also gives opportunities for confession and repentance. How are you at this?–JMB