Lesson #4 - Admonishing One-Another

Terry Siverd
06/16/19 - Sun AM

LESSON #4 – ADMONISHING ONE-ANOTHER

A FORM OF INSTRUCTION

1. What is the difference between providing instruction and administering admonition?

Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words notes: 

“The difference between 'admonish' and 'teach' seems to be that, whereas the former has mainly in view the

things that are wrong and a call for warning, the latter has to do chiefly with the impartation of positive truth.”

~ Admonition is training by word (nouthesia).  It involves “verbal instruction” given via a variety of postures.

cf. Col.1:28 & 3:16;  Acts 27:9;  1Tim.1:3-4;  1Tim.5:1-2  and Rom.15:14

The act of admonishing others is not a license to run roughshod over others.  cf. 2Tim.2:25/correcting with gentleness

However, admonitions often come with a firmness (an edge).  cf. 2Tim.4:2/reprove and rebuke

~ There are various other words that can help us better understand the concept of admonition, such as:

correction … forewarning … opposition … persuade … punish … rebuke … refute … reprove … and warning.

- Admonishing others often employs an element of seriousness.

Lk.17:3 / be on your guard!  If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.

1Cor.5:5 / I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan... cf. 1Tim.1:20

2Cor.10:6 / we are ready to punish all disobedience

Gal.2:11 / I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned

Gal.5:21 / ...I forewarn you...that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God

1Tim.5:20 / those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest may be fearful of sinning

Titus 1:10-11 & 13 / ...there are many rebellious men...who must be silenced...reprove them severely

Titus 3:10 / reject a factious man after a first and second warning...

cf. 1Cor.11:17 & 22 and 2Cor.13:2-3 & 13:10

  THE GOAL OF ADMONITION

2. What is the ultimate aim of admonishing others?

~ It is certainly not to provide an ego trip for one over another.  Neither is the goal to destroy another.

- One needs to first examine his/her own intentions and behavior (Mt.7:5 and Lk.6:42).

- The intention is not to treat the wrongdoer as an enemy but as a brother (2Thess.3:15).

- Gal.6:1 / ...restore such a one in the spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted.

~ Ideally, corrections are best done in private (Mt.18:15-17), but sometimes the church needs to be included.

ELI AND HIS SONS

3. Why do you think we are sometimes too reticent in admonishing our brothers and sisters?

~ Eli, who was an Old Testament priest, may have had some commendable qualities but he failed to admonish his sons.

- Read from 1Sam.2:12-17;  2:22-25  and  3:10-18.

- The story of Eli illustrates the difference between remonstrance (toothless protest) and genuine rebuke.

4. Do you find it hard to speak the truth in love?  cf. Eph.4:15 & 25

~ Does “peace at any price” sometimes come with a high a price to pay?

P On deck"  Encouraging one another...