As Christians we have to look out for one another. This involves helping those around you to overcome their sin. But what are you supposed to do if another believer just keeps sinning?
Look to yourself first
When you are trying to help others confront their sin, you first have to evaluate yourself.
Galatians 6:1-2 (NASB) Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
The reason you should look to yourself first is to ensure that you don’t become arrogant. You don’t want to just dismiss your sin and not accept criticism. This can also cause you to look down on the person you are trying to help because they are stuck in a sin that you may not struggle with. You then step away from the spirit of gentleness that you should have when discussing the sins of others.
1 Corinthians 16:14 Let all that you do be done in love.
If you realize that you are also a sinner you can adopt this attitude of love and approach this problem with grace.
Don’t sweat the small stuff
You can overlook minor offenses. A minor offense is something that doesn’t dishonor God, doesn’t damage your relationship with that person, doesn’t damage other people, and doesn’t hurt that person’s testimony. One example of a minor offense is something like the way a person dresses. As long as it is modest it shouldn’t be a problem to you. You can’t begin to be nitpicky of everything your fellow believers do. This can push you into that attitude of arrogance and superiority.
Don’t overlook the big stuff – Sin is big
Sin is anything that dishonors God, damages relationships, and hurts that person’s testimony of faith.
Matthew 18:15-16 If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
This passage gives you practical action step on what to do if your friend keeps sinning after you confront them privately. This can be hard, but it is more detrimental to allow another believer to stay comfortable in their sin.
So, don’t let other remain complacent in their sin. Help them to confront their sin and become repentant. They may not always listen, but if you do your part God will work on the rest.
Discussion Questions:
- Watch the video together or invite someone to summarize the topic.
- What is your initial reaction to this video? Do you disagree with any of it? What jumped out at you?
- Have you ever tried to call someone out on a sin issue before? Explain.
- Has anyone ever called you out on a sin? How did you react and why?
- Read Galatians 6:1-2. Why is it important to first check your own motives before confronting someone? What do you think it means to “obey the law of Christ”?
- Read Proverbs 19:11. What’s a “minor offense” (a “wrong” to overlook) vs. a “major offense” (a sin to address)? Make a list of examples.
- Why is it important to call a person out on their sin even if it’s hard to do?
- Write a personal action step based on this conversation.
