1 Corinthians Week 5
Notes for the September 6, 2026 message:
Scriptures used: 1 Corinthians 5:2-13; 6:1, 5-8; Matthew 18:15-18
Scriptures referenced: 1 Corinthians 5-6; John 6:60-69; Matthew 7:1-6
Don’t turn private problems into public debates.
Corinth had turned private church confrontations into public spectacles. Sin and conflict in the church is not meant to be spectacles that entertain the public.
To treat someone unjustly is to act unjustified.
Truth and love belong together.
“Judge not” doesn't mean we ignore sin or stop discerning right from wrong. It means we deal with our own hearts first before confronting others, and we refuse to condemn people as hopeless.
Speaking the truth in love is not judging someone—it is an act of love towards them.
Sin affects more than the individual.
Paul compares sin to yeast that spreads through dough. What we tolerate in our lives can eventually influence the people around us.
There is a right way to handle conflict.
Jesus gives us a pattern for dealing with problems in the church:
Go privately. Talk directly to the person.
Bring wise counsel. If necessary, involve a few trusted, godly people.
Involve the church. When appropriate, seek the help of church leadership.
The goal of correction is restoration.
Biblical correction isn't about being the “spiritual police.” It's about compassionate people helping restore someone who has wandered from God's will & way.
The importance of correction
For the sake of the sinning person.
For the sake of the church body.
For the sake of Christ.
For the sake of the unbelievers watching.
The Bottom Line
God takes sin seriously—and so should we. The goal in confronting sin is never shame, condemnation, or public humiliation. The goal is repentance, healing, restoration, and a life transformed by Christ.
Personal Application & Reflection
Am I talking to the person I have an issue with or that I see living in sin, or am I talking about them to everyone else?
Before I confront someone else, have I honestly examined my own heart?
What am I tolerating that could eventually affect my family, relationships, faith, or church?
Does the way I handle conflict or confrontation make people want to know Jesus, or does it make the church look just like the world?
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