Meeting guide · command 56

Gain Your Brother

Address a fellow disciple's sin directly and progressively with restoration, truth, and accountable community as the goal.

Read

Read the complete passage aloud.

Primary passage

Matthew 18:15–20

15 “If your brother sins against you, go, show him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained back your brother. 16 But if he doesn’t listen, take one or two more with you, that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the assembly. If he refuses to hear the assembly also, let him be to you as a Gentile or a tax collector. 18 Most certainly I tell you, whatever things you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever things you release on earth will have been released in heaven. 19 Again, assuredly I tell you, that if two of you will agree on earth concerning anything that they will ask, it will be done for them by my Father who is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the middle of them.”

World English Bible

Luke

Luke 17:3–4

3 Be careful. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him. 4 If he sins against you seven times in the day, and seven times returns, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”

World English Bible

Jesus gives a measured process beginning with private conversation, widening only when necessary, while Luke joins rebuke to repentance and forgiveness.

Discuss

Listen carefully to what Jesus says.

  1. What does Jesus command?
  2. What does this passage reveal about Him?
  3. Where do we resist this command?
  4. What is difficult or unclear?
  5. How do privacy, evidence, accountability, forgiveness, and safety work together in Jesus' process?

Practice

Choose one specific act of obedience.

If a safe conversation is needed, speak privately about one specific action and its impact, listen carefully, and avoid recruiting others before the first step is attempted.

Return

Come back and discuss what happened.

What step did you take, how was it received, and what is the next faithful level of response?

Close together

Pray. Then prepare to teach.

Pray

Jesus, make us truthful and restorative. Guard us from gossip, avoidance, retaliation, and misuse of authority.

Teach

Do not apply this process mechanically to abuse or crime; protection, reporting, and qualified help may need to precede private confrontation.