Grover Park Baptist Church - Warrensburg, Missouri

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Grover Park Baptist Church
“Dealing With Specific Problematic Situations In The Church”
Dr. Randall S. Neal
2 Corinthians 13:1-10
October 25, 2020

I. Dealing With A Specific Problematic Situation In The Church Requires The Presence Of Several Witnesses. (2 Cor. 13:1)
“This will be the third time I am coming to you.
By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.”

1. Paul Was Making A Special Trip to Discipline The Contentious False Apostles Who Were Sewing Discord In The Church.

2. Paul Knew That The Men From Jerusalem Were False Witnesses, And So Biblically He Quotes Deut. 19:15-20 As The Proper Means For Dealing With Them By Calling For Two Or Three Witnesses.

II. Dealing With A Specific Problematic Situation In The Church Requires
Multiple Exhortations. (2 Cor. 13:2a)
“I have told you before, and foretell as if I were present the second time.”

1. Children Usually Have To Be Told More Than Once.

- Paul referred to the Corinthians as “babes.” (1 Cor. 3:1)

2. Concerning Church Discipline, The Bible Lays Out A Plan Of Multiple Confrontations Or Exhortations As Suggested In 2 Cor. 13:2.
“The second time”

3. Jesus Gave This Advice In Matthew 18:15-17, As He Likewise Quotes From Deut. 19:15-20: “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone… But if he will not hear you, take with you one or two more, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses, every word may be established.”

4. These Multiple Modes Of Exhortation Might Include:

(1) Admonition: Avoid being contentious and “reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.” (Titus 3:10-11)

(2) Rebuke: “Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. Those who are sinning (divisively); rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest may fear.”
(1 Tim. 5:19-20)

III. Dealing With A Specific Problematic Situation In The Church Requires
Formal Documentation And Proof. (2 Cor. 13:2b-4)
“I write to those who have sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again I will not spare-since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me.”

1. In The World, Most Personnel Policies Require A Company Supervisor To Document Factually An Employee Problem.

- Legally, a business is required to do so.

2. Paul Put Everything Into Writing So That It Didn’t Become A
“He Said/She Said” Situation.

3. There Are Several Reasons For Documenting:

(1) Documenting, Records Things While One’s Memory Is Fresh.

(2) Documenting Presents A Clear Picture Of The Problem.

(3) Paul Documented The Problem Not Just For Himself Or The
Accused, But For “all the rest.”

4. “Proof” Becomes An Important Part Of Dealing With Problematic
Situations As Opposed To Circumstantial Evidence.

IV. Dealing With A Specific Problematic Situation In The Church Requires
Self-Examination Of Everyone Involved. (2 Cor. 13:5-9)
“Examine Yourselves...Test yourselves.”

1. Amazingly Enough, Paul Admonishes Divisive People To Question Whether They Are Truly Saved.
“Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith.”

2. Two Different Words Are Used In 2 Cor. 13:15 That Shed Light On This Process.

(1) Examine (Peirazo) “to prove or tempt”. (Matt. 4:1)

(2) Test (Dokimazo) “to approve after testing”. (Rom 12:2)

3. True Examination Of Oneself Can Only Result From The Inward
Presence Of Christ In A Saved Person’s Life. (2 Cor. 13:5)
“Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?
- Unless indeed you are disqualified.”

4. The Goal Is To Bring A Divisive Person To “Completion.” (2 Cor. 13:9)
“And this also we pray, that you may be made complete.”

* The word “complete” (katartisis) means to overcome one’s mental dislocations which are brought on by the arrogance of being too proud to repent.

IV. Dealing With A Specific Problematic Situation In The Church Requires The Setting Aside Of Our Emotions. (2 Cor. 13:10a)
“I write these things being absent, lest I should use sharpness.”

1. It Is So Easy To Become Emotionally Involved When Dealing With
Personal Problems.

2. Anything We Can Do To Keep Ourselves Objective, We Should Do In Dealing With People Problems.

3. Paul Knew It Would Be Better For Everyone Involved To Write First
Before He Came In Person. (2 Cor. 13:10)
“Therefore, I write these things being absent.”

4. Paul Preferred Not Using “Sharpness” In Dealing With These People, Even Though He Could Have Biblically Done So.
“The word ‘sharpness’ (apotomos) means abruptly curt, or severe.”
“Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith.”
(Titus 1:13)

Conclusion: We Must Do All Things For Edification. (2 Cor. 13:10b)
“For edification and not destruction, I write these things.”Show More
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