Correction

1. 20 years ago some office workers believed they had very modern equipment.

2. Most had electric typewriters; these were was a big step up from manual machines.

3. On some electric typewriters there was a little button that helped correct mistakes.

4. In addition to having a printing ribbon, some machines had a little spool of correction tape.

5. When this feature was activated, it would help life off a single incorrectly type letter from a page.

6. This accessory was not perfect, but it was quite good.

7. Now corrections are a lot easier with computers.

8. We can edit documents with a single key or just a few keystrokes.

9. The word as well as the idea of correction is important in our world.

10. In many cases, correction is not something that we like.

11. If someone gives us a repair bill and has to correct their estimate to a higher amount, it’s frustrating.

12. Other forms of correction can also be less than enjoyable.

IN THE BIBLE WE FIND A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT CORRECTION. ONE OF THE POINTS THAT WE FIND IS THIS: CHRISTIANS ARE TO BE PEOPLE WHO ARE CORRECTABLE.

1) Saul was corrected, Peter was corrected, David and Solomon were corrected…the list goes on and one.

2) When Jesus spoke with religious leaders such as the Pharisees, He corrected them.

3) He corrected a woman at a well, people who had false ideas about the Messiah, and many other things.

4) Correction may come from God or it may be given by someone else.

a) Rom. 2:20 says the Jews like to be “correctors.”

b) 2 Tim. 3:16 says the Scriptures are to be used for “correction.”

c) 2 Tim. 2:25 (NKJV) refers to having “humility” if and when we correct others.

5) Correction can be looked at from different vantage points, two of which are these:

6) Our correction of others and our personal acceptance of correction.

a) Tonight I want to look at the second of these points.

b) When correction comes our way, how do and how should we handle it?

7) If someone tries to correct us, there are some things to consider.

8) First, we need to look at the correction and see if it is really needed.

a) In Gal. 6:1 Paul spoke about a member of the church “being overtaken in a fault.”

b) If a person is in sin, they need help. It is very probable that they need correcting.

c) What if Gal. 6 were to apply to us, and we are not the corrector? What if we are the sinner?

d) When someone comes to us, our duty is to listen.

e) We would need to evaluate the claim being made and determine if it is valid.

9) That is not always easy to do.

10) When someone tries to offer correction, a variety of responses may be received.

a) In certain cases, a person may try to withdraw and avoid the correction.

b) If we have been in the church for a while we have seen this happen.

c) An attempt was made to try and correct something and the person pulled away.

d) Instead of considering the information, the person may have said, “I am not going to come anymore.”

e) Or, they may have said, “We can talk about this later” and later never came.

f) Another response may have been, “You don’t understand” or “I am not willing to discuss it.”

g) Correction is right, we have given passages for it, but running from it is not the correct approach.

11) If a person does not run from correction, they may take the opposite extreme: fight or resist.

a) Some look at any form of correction as criticism and outright attack.

b) Correction is not always criticism and it is often not an attack.

c) Correction is more in line with improvement; betterment; growth and development.

d) This morning we looked at an event from the life of King Asa, one of Israel’s earlier kings.

e) When this king was offered correction he threw the corrector in jail.

f) There are those in the past and certainly now who will not take correction.

g) They will not accept it on the job, they will not accept it in the home or in the church.

h) The Bible has some things to say about this attitude but this will come a bit later.

12) If a person is not running or resisting correction, they are probably somewhat receptive.

13) That is, the person will listen to see if what is being said is true.

a) Jesus often talked about the need to have “ears.”

b) “He that hath ears, let him hear” (Mt. 11:15; 13:9).

c) While this expression applies to the Lord’s teachings, it may also be applied to correction.

14) I had been preaching for perhaps a year when an aged woman called me aside for some correction.

15) She had heard me say, “I don’t care” at least once, maybe more than once.

16) This expression was somehow used to stress the authority of the Bible.

17) This lady said, “The point is right; the expression of it doesn’t sound too good.”

18) Her correction was helpful and to this day I have tried to strike those words from my speech.

19) This good sister was not the last one to offer some correction.

20) Others throughout the years have tried to offer correction from sermons, classes, etc.

21) Each time it was my responsibility to carefully consider what was said.

22) Correction can be a very valuable thing.

a) When preachers train they typically take some type of class on preaching.

b) Waving hands like a car salesmen on television is discouraged.

c) Grabbing both sides of the pulpit so it looks the fellow is in fear for his life is also discouraged.

d) Men preach in class and corrections are offered to better their sermons.

e) Preachers are not the only ones who can benefit from corrections; we all can.

23) When a time of or for correction comes, there needs to be a willingness to listen.

24) Being unwilling to hear a correction suggests this:

25) We are so perfect we have no need of correction.

26) As we said at the start of this lesson, Christians need to be people who are correctable.

27) When we deal with people who need correcting, it is important to seek wisdom.

a) We would like to believe everyone would be open to receiving correction.

b) It doesn’t take long to find that not everyone accepts correction.

c) God and people like His prophets tried to correct people but some of those who needed correcting retreated.

d) Others dug in their feet and would not accept correction.

e) Man has not changed too much and we can expect these same negative responses today.

28) Prov. 9:8 says that correction will cause some to “hate” us.

29) This is exactly right. A “wise man” will appreciate correction (same verse).

30) Also helpful in this regard is Prov. 13:1; some will not listen to correction.

31) A wise son is willing to hear his father’s correction; a scoffer will not listen.

IDEALLY WE WILL NEED LITTLE CORRECTION IN LIFE BECAUSE THE BIBLE TELLS US TO CHECK OURSELVES (2 COR. 13:5). JAMES 1:25 SAYS WE ARE TO LOOK INTO GOD’S LAW (IT IS TO BE LIKE A MIRROR).

a) These two verses remind me of camping.

b) People who camp often speak about “policing” an area (they try to pick up trash).

c) In the military this same terminology is used.

d) People look at themselves and their surroundings for defects (things to be corrected).

e) If we can find a problem, we can take care of it before it grows.

f) Sometimes we need help in this regard.

g) 20 years ago I met a man in the military who had worked in an automobile plant.

h) What he described seemed so fascinating; now I get to see some of what he told me first hand.

i) I see correction day after day, and what I see is practical in the spiritual realm.

j) I see defects in automobiles that were missed by some people who do the assembly.

k) People do not always see a defect or a problem.

l) Such is true in the spiritual lives of people.

m) We may have a defect that we do not see; in times such as this someone can come forward and help us.

n) Another can come forward and see, “Were you aware of, Did you see, Do you know?”

o) When others have a good spirit and try to help correct problems, people are better off.

p) The corrector and the one needing correction get something accomplished if things are done correctly.

2) I have also seen multiple examples of corrections needing to be done in the right way.

3) If a vehicle has a paint problem, they don’t use a .99 can of paint from Mennards.

4) Proper tools are needed for correction and such is true in the spiritual realm.

5) In the ancient world light typically came from lamps. Lamps were how people saw things after dark.

6) It is therefore not surprising to find the Bible being compared to lamps.

a) Prov. 6:23 says God’s words are “like a lamp.”

b) In this same verse it is said “the law is light.”

c) God’s word is a source of correction that helps us have a better life and be better people.

d) Many things can be said about the Bible – it is a book of many wonderful stories.

e) It tells man about sin and how to be saved.

f) It is also a document offering correction for us and others.

7) We have already mentioned 2 Tim. 3:16, a very that makes this same point.

8) In addition to the Bible, we have other sources of correction to aid.

a) When there are children in a home, they sometimes require correction.

b) Prov. 22:15 says “foolishness” is in a child’s heart.

c) A “rod” can help take that away; in this verse we find a “rod of correction.”

d) Correction is not cruelty; it is correction.

e) In the next chapter (Prov. 23:13-14), the Bible says parents are not to withhold correction from a child.

f) Children need correcting; there is a right way to do it, and doing it correctly is an expression of love.

9) As we think about correction, we also see that it can come from older people.

10) Not everyone gets wiser as they get older, but that is how things are supposed to work.

11) Tit. 2:1-5 refers to older men and women in the church.

12) Brethren who are in this stage of life can serve as correctors (if in no other way through their example).

13) Elders have responsibilities in the area of correction (Tit. 1:9-11).

a) Shepherds are to “exhort in doctrine” and “convict gainsayers.”

b) Elders are told to “stop” the mouths of certain people.

c) Preachers also correct (2 Tim. 4:2-5).

d) Preachers “reprove, rebuke and exhort.”

e) Even Christians correct; Lk. 17:3 – if a brother sins, “rebuke him” (here is a form of correction).

f) Rom. 15:14 tells us to “admonish one another.”

g) Col. 3:16 says that in our singing we “teach and admonish.”

h) Even when we sing, there is an implied form of correction.

14) True correction is not done to “get” someone.

15) Neither is it designed to be mean or hateful or some kind of special attack.

16) True correction—Bible correction is designed to help people.

17) A lack of correction or a lack of willingness to accept correction leads to weak Christians and weak churches.

18) Much of the New Testament is about correction.

19) From becoming a Christian to becoming a true jewel in the Kingdom of God, correction is a key.

20) Are we wiling to accept correction?