Church is Not About You!

A series on the “one another’s”

Part 5 – Instruct One Another

Romans 15:14

I.                 Introduction

-Before I started attending Eternity Bible College I was watching an online video of Francis Chan preaching.  He is preaching along and really driving home his point.  I mean he is just going to town, he is one of my favorite preachers.  He is very animated when he speaks and he was just letting it rip.  And then someone in the crowd caught his eye and he stops dead in his tracks.  He looks them in the eye and says, “What?”  Well, on the video you cannot see the person nor can you hear what they are saying, but by Francis’ reaction we know what they said.  Francis goes, “Oh,” and he turns from the crowd and zips up his zipper!  There he was standing in front of a room of 1,000+ people with his zipper down.  Now, the chances are that someone in that large crowd saw it before he went up on stage but was too embarrassed to say anything to him.  Or perhaps they were worried that he would be embarrassed.  But by not instructing him on an oversight they have increased his embarrassment, not only was he in front of 1000+ people but that sermon is on the internet for all to see!

II.            Instruction—What is it?

-The different translations use different words to translate the Greek         word which literally translated means “to put in mind, to caution, to

admonish”.  As we read, the ESV and NIV use “instruct”, the NASB uses “admonish”.  The Greek word doesn’t refer to casual conversation, but rather a direct definite exhortation, correction and warning. 

-Let’s take a look at some of the other ways that this word is used in            the NT.

1Th 5:14  And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.

Act 20:31  Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears.

1Co 4:14  I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children.

Col 3:16  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

                -Are you getting the sense of the meaning of this word? 

                        -This is no light suggestion…”um, I think, um, that maybe you                                 might want to, um try not to do that anymore.”

                        -This word, when used in Scripture, only applies to saved people.                          We are not exhorted to admonish the unsaved.  We are exhorted                         to preach the Gospel to the unsaved.  We are not called to                                   promote moralism, for that saves no one.

-On the surface, this exhortation to instruct one another seems to                contradict the idea that we are to love each other.  That we shouldn’t

judge each other, etc.

-Like so many things in Scripture there is a divine balance between those things and this passage.  In this lesson we will try to bring light to that balance.

III.       Instruction vs. Judgment—What’s the difference?

                -Paul complimented the Roman Christians by letting them know that he                   was confident that they were “competent to instruct (or admonish) one                 another”.  He gives two reasons in our text as to why he has that                          confidence.

-#1.  They were “full of goodness”.

                                -The first qualification for being “able to instruct” is                                            that you are full of goodness.  Basically what Paul is saying is                                 that they were, generally speaking, living holy, Christ-like                                      lives.  In the words of Jesus Christ himself, they were                                         mature enough to take the plank out of their own eye                                           before removing the speck from their brother’s eye. (Matt                                   7:3-5)

Mat 7:3-5  Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?  (4)  Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye?  (5)  You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

                                -Christians who are sensitive to their own walk with God are                         capable—and responsible—to admonish other Christians.                                       They have “earned the right”, for lack of a better term, to                                   warn those who display characteristics that directly violate                                  the teaching of the Scriptures.

-Let me take this opportunity to say this.  None of us are perfect and I understand that.  This verse is not saying that you have to be perfectly sinless before admonishing someone.  If that were the case no one would ever be admonished!  What Paul is saying is that you’re not going to get anywhere talking to someone about their greed if you yourself are greedy.  You cannot confront someone about their jealousy if you are still clinging to yours. 

-What the text means by full of goodness is that you have goodness in your heart as you confront.  You can be a prideful person who goes to another prideful person and says, “Hey, we have a pride problem, let’s work on that together.”  You are still admonishing even though you have the problem.

                        -#2.  They were “filled with knowledge”

                                -The second qualification for being “competent to instruct”                                   is an adequate knowledge of God’s Word. 

                                        -Admonishment MUST be based on the Word of God.                                          It is not to be based on our personal preferences.  We                                         must be careful of this point.  Many Christians tend to                                 confuse absolutes (God’s Word) and non-absolutes                                               (personal opinion).  If we admonish Christians in areas                                          that are extra-biblical, that is areas that are not                                         specifically spelled out in Scripture, we are in                                                      danger of imposing standards contrary to Scripture.

                                                -Music

                                                -Bible Translation

                                                -Smoking

                                                -Drinking

                                                -Dancing

                                                -Etc.

IV.           Instruction—How to give it properly

-Other Scriptural examples of admonishment give us some helpful                guidelines for practically carrying out this process. 

Act 20:28-31  Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.  (29)  I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;  (30)  and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.  (31)  Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears.

Paul exemplifies all 5 of the guidelines that we are going to look at.

                        -#1. Admonishment must be done in love and with deep concern

                                -There would be no doubt in the minds of these                                                   men that Paul loved them, his tears are a                                                             reflection of that love.

                        -#2. Admonishment, to be effective, must frequently be                                              done personally.

                                        -Note that Paul reminded “each of them”

-This is not to say that general, corporate admonishment isn’t scriptural, Paul admonished large groups of people in some of his letters as well.  And, this is what I do every week during our worship time.

                                                        -When a particular Christian has a                                                                       particular problem, some pastors will                                                                   exhort the whole church, hoping the person                                                 who is in need of exhortation are listening.                                                           This can be a “cop-out”—a way to avoid                                                               personal confrontation.  If the person in                                                             need of exhortation is listening, they know                                                           that the pastor is speaking about them in                                                             front of the whole congregation and can                                                             resent it.  Far better to make such                                                                      admonishment a private matter.

                        -#3.  Admonishment must be persistent

                                        -Paul’s admonishment to the Ephesian elders was                                                  “night and day” and for a period of “three years”

                                                        -Admonishment must be continual, it cannot                                                         stop after a brief period.  The Word of                                                              God is filled with a multitude of                                                                          exhortations, warnings and instructions.  It                                                         takes a lot of time to communicate them                                                             all—and a lifetime to apply them.

                        -#4.   Admonishment must be done with pure motives.

1Co 4:14  I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children.

-Paul wasn’t trying to shame the Corinthians, but                                  to warn them as dear children (see also 1 Thes   

2:11) 1Th 2:11-12  For you know how, like a father with his children,  (12)  we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

                                                        -We must do all we can not to embarrass                                                            people—even those who are guilty.  This is                                                            why personal confrontation should precede                                                         public confrontation.

                        -#5.  Admonishment must be done with a proper goal

Col 1:28-29  Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.  (29)  For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

                                                -Paul admonishes and teaches for one purpose—                                                  “so that we may present everyone perfect in                                                       Christ”

                                                        -There should be only one basic objective                                                            when we admonish others—to help them                                                              become more mature in Jesus Christ.

V.                Instruction—How to receive it properly

I have noticed over the course of my time in ministry that you can tell a lot about a person’s walk with the Lord based on how the receive instruction.  A wise man once said, “If everyone says you’re drunk you’d better sit down.” The Bible makes it very clear that it is wise to heed the instruction of others.

Pro 1:7  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Pro 10:17  Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray.

Pro 15:32  Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.

It is sin that clouds our judgment, and when sin is present in our lives there is good reason why we cannot see it.  This is why God has put others in our lives.  Hopefully, those around us are discerning and loving in their approach.  So think about this.  When you are approached about doing something wrong (by a spouse, friend, roommate, coworker, whoever) do you respond with gratitude and concern or do you respond with denial and self-righteousness?

But, having said that, may I say also that majority does not always rule in the arena of instruction.  There are biblical examples (the golden calf, Israel in the wilderness, etc.) when the majority was flat out wrong!  This is why it is important to be sure that your admonishments to others are grounded in the Word, rather than preference. 

Now, back to how to receive instruction.  If someone or two people come and approach you about something, and you just don’t see it, I would recommend that you ask those that are closest to you if this is a problem in your life.  Do not just write it off as being wrong.  Seek out godly counsel.  Receive it in love!  Understand this, it is extremely hard to approach someone about their sin.  If someone takes the time to do that it means that they love you and care for you.  Even if they don’t do it in a loving manner!  So be humble when instruction comes.  But there is no need to be undiscerning.  Your ultimate goal is to please God, not man. 

VI.           Conclusion

                Every Christian must evaluate his own life before trying to admonish                     others.  The following questions will serve as personal criteria:

                        -#1.  Can I say my own life is “full of goodness”?  That is, am I                            living holy and righteous before God?  If I am deliberately                                   violating Scripture, I am not in a position to admonish others.  I                             must first “remove the plank” of sin from my own life before I                             deal with the “speck of dust” in someone else’s life.

                        -#2.  Do I really know what the Bible teaches about Godly and                             righteous living?  If I don’t, I have incomplete knowledge and am                         not in a position to admonish others.

                        -#3.  When I admonish other Christians, do I do so, reflecting                              deep love and concern?  Or, do I come across in a harsh manner                           and appear angry?  (2 Timothy 2:24-25)

                        -#4.  When a Christian needs admonishment regarding specific                             sins, do I seek that person out in a private setting, rather than                              using a “pulpit tactic” that makes it appear that I am speaking to                           everyone?  Do I use the crowd to cover up my speaking to just                             one person?

                        -#5.  Am I persistent in my admonishment without being                                       obnoxious or over bearing?

                        -#6.  Do I admonish others—not to tear them down and                                       embarrass them—but to build them up?

                        -#7.  Do I admonish others for one basic purpose—to help them                           become mature and complete Christians?

                -Remember that the Roman Christians were not perfect, and there                       were problems in the church.  Some people were weak, others were                      strong.  Both the weak and strong were judging one another.                                Otherwise, Paul would not have had to “admonish” them about this                         matter.  But even with these weaknesses, Paul said: “I myself am                          convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness,                                 complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another.”

                        -Because we are not qualified to admonish others does not                                   exempt us from the responsibility.  Rather, we are responsible                              before God to become mature in Christ so we in turn can help                               others become mature in Christ.