 Hi everyone, welcome back to the second session of the local church. We've been talking about the two divine sacraments that was instituted by Jesus. One was the water baptism and the other is the Lord's table. The bottom of page 125, there are some common questions that's being answered. Let's go through some of them regarding the Lord's table and also water baptism. The first question is, I mean these are just some of the common questions guys and it's not the questions keep on coming, keep getting evolved in different forms. This is just a little bit for us to understand. Here's a question. If I was baptized before either sprinkled or just went through immersion without having been born again, that means without having repented or really understood, understand what baptism is all about, is it necessary or all right for me to be baptized again? So if you've been just sprinkled and if you just went through the whole process without really understanding what the process is all about, if you didn't repent and whatnot, should you be baptized again? Is it necessary or whatnot? So the answer is now that you are a believer, yes it is all right to be baptized again and do it as an expression of your faith in Jesus Christ. So now you understand what this whole process is all about right and so we have such an instance in Acts chapter 19 verse 1 to 6. We can read that later when Paul encountered some disciples who had been baptized by John the Baptist. He updated them about Jesus Christ and after they believed they were baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ again. So I would encourage you to read Acts chapter 19 verse 1 to 6. So that's one answer that you can respond to if anybody comes to you with a similar question in a different form. Second question is, do I need to reach some spiritual level or spiritual maturity before being water baptized? What's the only requirement guys? Do you remember? What's the only requirement for water baptism? Do you need to become holy in order to get water baptized? To believe in Jesus. Yes, you repent and you believe right? So no, the only requirement we see that one is born again. It becomes a believer in Jesus Christ and you read all about it in the book of Acts. The third question, can one believer baptize another believer in water or should water baptism be conducted only by a pastor or a spiritual leader? It's a million dollar question right there isn't it? Yeah, so what do you think? I think believers can do things. Okay, Yeah, Anitha, what do you think? Any believer can baptize a pastor. Have you baptized anyone? No pastor. I'm just kidding. Okay, all right. Yeah, I mean the answer is pretty simple, straightforward guys. You don't have to be a pastor or some sort of a spiritual leader in order to baptize anyone right? So the example taken mentioned there is from the book of Acts once again is we see Philip baptizing right? So in the book of Acts we see Philip who was a deacon at the church in Jerusalem baptizing new believers. We also see Ananias who was a believer sent to baptize Saul. So yes, any believer can baptize another believer in water. What if I took part in the Lord's table in an unworthy manner not really understanding or having faith in what I was doing? Will I be struck down with some deadly disease? Like being from above and you know, and no, just recognize that you took this lightly. Tell the Lord you're sorry that means that you repent of doing this in an unworthy manner. So now that you have an understanding or a revelation of what it really means, you repent and just move on. So going forward, you do this the right way. So that's another question. Another interesting question is question number five, should I take part in the Lord's table when the person leading the celebration himself does not believe in what he is doing? Wow. I wonder, my first thought was, how did that person get there in the first place? Okay, so the response is, okay, so the question one more time is, should I take part in the Lord's table when the person leading the celebration himself does not believe in what he is doing? So in general, there is no value in taking part in the Lord's table if the person leading the celebration does not believe in what is being done. Having said that, in spite of this, if you have no other option, you can choose to do this meaningfully through your personal faith. Right, guys? So you can choose to do this meaningfully through your personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and what he did for you on the cross. So this is regardless of who the person or what the person's background is or personal life is or the person's testimony is, doesn't matter as long as you do it meaningfully, because of faith, then it takes a different meaning altogether. So ultimately, each one has to examine himself and discern the Lord's body for himself or herself. The next question, can I as a believer take part in the Lord's table at home? A simple answer is yes. Okay, so let's move on. I think we did that for two and a half years during the pandemic. So let's not discuss too much about it. The short answer is yes, you can. All right, any other questions guys regarding the Lord's table or anything that we've learned about so far? Why is it not served every Sunday? In churches, they do it like first Sunday, third Sunday. Some people do it once in a month. Yeah, that I think it's up to the church's, I think it's up to the leaders and how often they want to do it. I mean, for the longest time at APC, we were doing it for once a month. That was basically, it was purely because of the logistical challenges as in getting the elements and distributing it to different locations and all of that. And the team was a lot smaller and whatnot. So and then about two years ago, we started partaking twice a month. And then about a month ago or two months ago, I think we received a suggestion saying, it's like, can we partake of the Lord's table every Sunday from one of the church members on the congregation? And so we discussed as a church staff with the pastoral team and the church staff. The church staff is important because they're the one who administrate and execute what we think of, isn't it? So we need making sure when to buy the elements and we have to send it to a church in Mangalore as well. And so all of these things had to be taken into consideration before we came to a conclusion and said, okay, all the associate pastors were fine saying, okay, yeah, I think we can do this every Sunday. And so from last month on, I think, or this month, yeah, we decided to partake of the Lord's table every Sunday. So yeah, this is just as APC. And, you know, all of these factors go into decision making when it comes to other churches, they might have their genuine reasons as to why they do it all Sundays, why they do it only two Sundays or why they do it in the last Sunday. It's just up to them really, as long as they're partaking it, partaking of it and they're doing it meaningfully. Any other questions? Anita, Leah, Enoch, Subashish, Rosalind? Okay, so if we have no other questions, we will move on to chapter 20, Church Discipline, page 127. Okay, Church Discipline. This is an exciting chapter. Okay, it's, yeah, I'm sure all of us will relate to this chapter. Okay, so it starts off by saying, while leading the local congregation of believers, there will be internal problems. Praise the Lord. Right? While leading a local congregation of believers, there will be internal problems, I mean, it's not like there can be or there would be, there might be, there may be, there will be, because, you know, people are involved. Anytime people are involved, even in churches or ministry, there are going to be challenges or issues of, bluntly to say, problems. Okay, so some of these problems will have to do with the believers. Some may have to do with the individual conduct or moral or lifestyle issues itself. So there may even be problems with leaders. So that's what this chapter is all about. We're going to cover some of it and see what the Bible has to say about it and how we can address certain certain conflicts. Okay, because this is very real. This is very important. And I think all of us, if you're either part of a congregation or if you're a leader in any ministry, you know what we're talking about, right? It's very important. It's very real. We can't just ignore this topic. Okay, so the first thing is resolving conflicts. Resolving conflicts, right? Can someone read Matthew chapter 18 verse 15 to 22 from the notes itself, please? Matthew 18, 15 to 22, anyone? Matthew chapter 18 verse 15 to 22. Moreover, if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. Okay, so it says moreover, if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. Okay, you might want to highlight it if you want to. But if he hears you, you have gained your brother. That means if he accepts your correction, you have won him. All right, let's go on. Thanks. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses, every word may be established. And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. Surely, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you lose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by my father in heaven. For the two or three of gathered together in mining, I am there in the midst of them. Then Peter came to him and said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me? And I forgive him up to seven times. Jesus said to him, I do not say to you up to seven times, but up to 70 times seven. Okay. Yeah, thank you. So, you know, resolving personal conflicts or conflicts in general, how can we do that? Right? The first thing is, so if there are conflicts between two individuals, the preferred solution is that they resolve it between themselves. So, let people try to resolve it peacefully among themselves. And as Paul has mentioned in Matthew, sorry, if that doesn't happen, get another believer to mediate between the two. Another individual who knows both the individual who will not be partial or what's the word? Yeah, I think partial is the word or biased between one drawn just who would lean towards another individual, even if they're wrong. All right, so take another believer who would mediate between the two and elder. So, the first thing is, it's best that they resolve it between themselves, which is good for all of them. It saves a lot of people's time and energy. If that doesn't happen, get another believer from the church or an elder from the church and see if that helps. Well, even if that doesn't help in resolving the conflict, then that's when the leader or leaders from the church can step in to resolve the matter. Right? So, to have a discussion with the individuals involved, with the people involved. And the whole point of these meetings will be to encourage and work towards forgiveness and the conciliation, not to make the problem a bigger problem. That's not why the leaders would have to, I mean, some leaders or people would just do that. They would just jump in with an excitement to make a small problem, a bigger problem, because that's who, it's some weird reason they get some kind of a joy out of watching other people beat each other up. But then the whole point of a godly leader, a godly spiritual leader is to make sure that you advocate forgiveness and reconciliation. Right? And so, they try to resolve between themselves, the two individuals. If that doesn't happen, the third individual can step in as a witness and just to make sure everything, if that doesn't happen, the leaders can step in and push for forgiveness and reconciliation. Now, it is possible that if it's not sorted by that, then, I mean, it's up to them, right? They can be released from the fellowship. Now, it's saying in Matthew here, right? Which verse is that, per 17. And if he refuses to hear them, tell him to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. Let him just, it could be like a nobody, you know, basically a stranger. It's okay. Just wash your hands off it, move on in lifetypes because you've done everything you can. And collectively, we've done everything we can to help those individuals. If nothing has helped, it comes to a point where we just wasting energy and time and whatnot. So, we just move on and let them live their life. Okay? Can someone read the following scripture that's in the notes? 1 Corinthians chapter 6 verse 1 to 8. 1 Corinthians chapter 6 verse 1 to 8. Somebody else please? Yeah, okay, sure. Go ahead. Anita, please. Thank you. Where any one of you having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteousness and not before the saints. Do you not know that the saints will judge the world and if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more things that pertain to this life? If then, if then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? I say this to you your shame. Is it so that there is not a wise man among you, not even one who will be able to judge between his brethren, but a brother goes to law against brother that before unbelievers. Now, therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourself be cheated? No, you yourself do wrong and cheat and you do these things to your brethren. Thank you, Anita. Appreciate it. Right. So, you know, there are certain issues that that passage kind of indicates certain issues that are more serious that would need more serious intervention from the church leaders itself. For example, business matters or family matters or divorce, anything to do with real estate, land, financial matters. And it could be anything's sexual immorality and whatnot. So, the other situations are typically that would need legal proceedings. Right. So, the scripture that is mentioned that we just read is instructing believers to bring even such matters to God's people typically. Like first, because it says, hey, you know, we are God's people, you know, we can make decisions about this on this. And of, you know, having taken certain decisions, we can't choose for people. We can't impose a certain decision on the people, but we can teach them about what the scripture has to say about it. Right. For example, if there's a couple who's dealing with, who's fighting for divorce, filing for divorce, who's going through a tough period, you tell them what it really means, what marriage stands for in the kingdom of God. Right. Option for divorce is really not an option kind of a thing and see if there's anything in there that can be saved to make this happen. Right. And so that's what's being instructed. And then at the same time, we also need to know our limits when we say that we can't make certain decisions for that. And I say this to some of my young leaders, which is something I have learned is that I make myself available for certain young people, full group of young people or anyone who's going through a tough period or tough time, who are just conflicted with some things or they have something going on in their personal life. I need to know my limit, like, yeah, okay, I'm their pastor. I give them a certain counsel regarding the issue, see, tell them what the Bible has to say about this thing and whatnot. And then there comes a point where I need to know that, hey, I am not a counselor. I am not a professionally trained counselor. And so after a certain point, it becomes physically draining and tasking on myself as well. And so it is at that point where I need to be wise enough to direct them to a professionally trained counselor, who will continue to guide them and guide them. It's a very important guys as leaders to know when to know your limit as a professional person and send them to a professional counseling as well, because it'll start taking toll on your body and on your mind as well. So some of the guidance when dealing with such matters, one is if possible, or necessary, have a team of one or more elders or a team of people qualified, experienced in both spiritual and practical aspects, relating to the situation who can help with the problem resolution. Okay, have one or more elder or a team who are qualified both spiritual and both who are savvy with practically as well, to help resolve this issue. Make it clear that all decisions will be made without any partiality based on God's word and for the case for the cause of justice, righteousness, forgiveness, reconciliation. Being partial, being biased is a very important key thing is letting the individuals know that one person might have been, let's say, again, it's related to a couple. So the guy has been coming to my church for a period of time and the girl has not been, girl is part of another fellowship. Just because this person comes to my church, I'm not going to take his side or be partial only to him and say, even if he's wrong, he's right. So you're wrong, go away. Now it's very important as a spiritual leader to be unbiased. It talks about your character, your integrity as well, which is very important. The third point there is put everything down in writing so that there can be no one claiming anything different later. In other words, I thought you said this, no, oh, but I understood as that. I thought when you said this, you meant this. Communication, communicating, being crystal clear in resolving conflicts, I can't stress how important it is, right? To say, to make it, to write, to get it in paper, to get it in writing, to say it's important is an understatement, okay? So it's very important, right? So once the church leaders have provided their decision, the believers involved need to follow through. If the believers decide to proceed to legal court, the decision is left to them. The church leaders have done their part to provide a resolution, okay? So we've done our part. We leave the rest to the adults who can still have the freedom to make their own choice, okay? So I hope you are with me with regards to resolving conflicts. It's a big, big deal. It's very real, okay? The next section talks about bringing correction, okay? So as a leader, you see a certain things are not right, right? You need to remember that you are also a shepherd, right? Say you're leading a ministry, you're leading a church, you're the senior pastor, and you see something is not right, you have to correct them, or you have to discipline. There's a time where the shepherd uses the rod, you know? But bringing correction to individuals is best done in person, privately, not in publicly where your intention is to embarrass them and put them down. That is so not right. So as a general guidance, correct individuals in private and in person. If it's a critical feedback, or you think, okay, this feedback, you're saying it in truth. You know that's the truth, but you know that truth can hurt, and so you choose a setting. You take them aside, and you say, hey, this is my observation, this is my feedback for you, and you say to them in the best way possible because you want the best for the other individual. So when the other individual understands that you want the best for them, and that's when they will be willing to receive your feedback as well, right? They will also feel honored and respected, and they will know that your heart is not to shame them or put them down or embarrass them publicly and whatnot. So it's just simple maturity, isn't it guys? You get what I'm saying, right? Okay. So bringing correction, and there are also in churches, there will also be cultural problems. I want to kind of combine this with the other section as well with clicks and divisions. Cultural problems, any church that is rich in diversity where you have more than two or three cultural backgrounds, ethnicity in the church, again, prayerfully bring it to resolution, right? And we see that in Acts chapter 6, verse 1 to 4, there was a miscommunication where there was a group of people. The Hellenistic Jews thought that their widows were being neglected by the Jews who spoke Hebrew. Okay, they were serving food basically. The Hellenistic Jews are the Greek-speaking Jews who believed in Jesus. They thought their widows were being ignored by the Jews who spoke Hebrew. But the actual problem there was the language, administrative challenges, right? So it was not administrative properly, but immediately the response was, of the church was, they summoned 12 people, right? Let's get this right. Let's sort this. I think we need to get deacons. That's the beginning of the leaders called deacons, isn't it? Saying, okay, we need to find people who are with good reputation full of the Holy Spirit, wisdom, and let's choose them to resolve this problem and let's serve our people. So one of the things about the problems is for every problem, right, there is a solution. There is a solution that is provided under the sun. And so no problem is too big, which it does not have an issue, does not have an answer, so to speak, right? So cultural problems can be sorted and it was sorted by the church as we see. And the reason I wanted to combine the previous one, the cultural problems is, the next one is it talks about cliques and divisions. So cliques are a small group of people, right, that believe in a certain thing. Now it could be because culturally, like say, okay, I'm part of this cultural group, and so I form a clique. And I'm part of, you know, I'm part of this ethnicity, so that forms a clique. You know, I speak a certain language, you know, so that becomes a thing, and I follow basketball. So I'm part of that group. I'm part of, you know, and I don't really mingle with anybody else. So that's those are cliques. And it's this possibility that a certain clique or group of people can lead to a division of a church. And so Paul is writing in 1 Corinthians 3, verse 3 to 4 says, you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife and divisions among you, you are not carnal and behaving like mere men. For when one says I am of Paul, and another says I am of Apollos, are you not carnal? Verse 1 Corinthians 4, 21 says, what do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod or in love and the spirit of gentleness? So what is happening there? That means there were a clique of people, right, group of people who were taking Paul's side. And there were others. This is all in the church who would say I am of Apollos. And Paul is like, guys, seriously, grow up, stop behaving like kids, or, you know, stop behaving like, you know, carnal people. Okay, don't cause division or confusion in the church. When you do that, you are behaving carnal. So avoid that. This is a simple message to the congregation itself, right? So the Corinthian church had numerous internal problems. It was just one of many, right? One of which was strife and division because of people taking sides with different ministers of God. Or today, this pastor is speaking. So that's, I'm going to come to church. Or today, this so-and-so person is speaking, preaching. I don't like this person. I don't like the way he preaches. He preaches. So I'm not going to come to church as like, why is this person in the leadership? This person doesn't understand Bible or theology or doctrine, et cetera, et cetera. You see what can cause divisions, right? I'm kind of sure that most of us have been there, seen there, heard that, you know, you know what I'm talking about. So Paul addressed this issue by writing, teaching and instructing the believers in right conduct. Okay. Three phases to it. He's addressing this issue by writing and teaching. That's important, isn't it? So you're not just addressing the issue for the sake of, okay, this is the problem there. And he's not just walking away without providing them the solution. He's teaching them and then he's instructing them in the right conduct. And he also encourages their alignment to what he has to say and was prepared to deal with it in person, if necessary. He's like, okay, you either listen to me to what I have to write and say, or I have no problem coming and meeting you in person. And so Paul is almost like, you know what will happen if I come and meet you all in person, right? So can you just imagine how Paul could transform cities with just the power of a pen? It's just amazing, right? He could be sitting in another city and then just touch a nerve of, you know, other people living in another city and say, I know, I know what's happening, watch it types, you know. And so it's the same thing with, you know, creating division and all the other conflicts. And one of the other important conflicts that happens in the church is the moral issue. One among the many challenges in the Corinthians church was not just divisions, but they also had morality issues, right? So Paul addresses this sternly. You know, he's saying, you know, deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Okay, that's in 1 Corinthians chapter five verse five. And he goes on to say, put away from yourself this evil person once they had. And so once they had done this, you know, then Paul writes about the same person in 2 Corinthians chapter two verse six, eight. So the heart of correction, even when Paul is being harsh and very strict and stern, he's saying his heart is, do this so that this person will be saved on the day of Jesus, right? So once and then he corrects this person who's lived a immoral life. And then in 2 Corinthians two, six, eight, he says, this punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man. So that on the contrary, you ought to rather to forgive and comfort him. Let's perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. Therefore, I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. Okay. So correction for the sake of correction is not enough. You again, your intention, why are you correcting that person? Do you want to see the best for them? Is that your intention? Is that your heart for them? And that is when your correction, you know, takes on a different meaning altogether. Right. And so it, the bottom line is love, you're correcting the person because you love that person. You want the best for that person. Okay. So that is moral issues. And the other section talks about disorderly behavior, disorderly behavior. So can someone read 2 Thessalonians 3 16, 6 to 15, please, the one in the notes. 2 Corinthians, 2 Thessalonians chapter 3 verse 16 to 15. But we command you brethren in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. For you yourself know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you. Nor did we eat anyone's bread free of charge, but work with labor and toil night and day that we might not be aborted to any of you. Not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how we should follow us. For even when we were with you, we commanded you this, if anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but all busy bodies. Now those who are such, we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. But as for you brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. And if anyone does not obey our word in this abyssal, know that person and do not keep company with him that he may be ashamed. Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonishing as a brother. Yeah, thank you. And so here Paul is just talking about in disorderly behavior when if there is a person or an individual who is not working on their living, indulging in gossip or other behavior that is not appropriate for believers, Paul is simply saying they need to be warned, they need to be corrected, and you don't demonize that person. You don't demonize them, you don't treat them as an enemy, but then I bonus them. Again, the bottom line is love. So if they do not change, then we are not to continue encouraging them or not befriend them so that they realize what they are doing is wrong. So the whole point is that they realize what is happening, but we don't demonize them, so to speak. So that is correcting disorderly behavior as leaders, as ministers and say, he's like, hey, what's going on? Why are you living such a life? This is not right. Okay, so wake up, kind of thing. Okay, there are all kinds of people, isn't it guys, who comes in all different shapes and sizes. It's entertaining. The word that I would use is characters. We have all kinds of characters. So the other one is deceiving brethren, who talk about false doctrine, who deceive people or manipulate, that's again mentioned in Corinthians and Galatians. One of the challenges that Paul faced in the church of Corinth and Galatia is false apostles preaching wrong doctrines. And Paul addresses this in his letter to Galatians, where he amplified the truth of our liberty in Christ and challenges the brethren to walk in spirit and not by the law. So there was misunderstanding there was what Galatians, the Jewish would say that, okay, Gentiles, if you're going to believe in our gospel, you need to get circumcised and believe and live like us. And that was addressed by Paul and saying, that's not necessary. And there was conflict of truth between Paul and Peter. But then again, they met and they discussed and they took their stand. So that is deceiving brethren, false doctrine, false teaching. And then there are opposing brethren who would oppose your leadership or your authority or anything that you have to say or do. And this happens again to Paul at Ephesus. He faced opposition from a few men who probably had been believers from the local church body. And he's writing that in the letter to Timothy. He says, 1 Timothy chapter 1 was 1920 saying, having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck of whom are Hameneas and Alexander whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme. 2 Timothy chapter 2 verse 16 to 18 he says, but shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase no more ungodliness. They will increase to more ungodliness. And their message will spread like cancer. Hameneas and philatis are of this sort who have strayed concerning the truth saying that the resurrection is already past and they overthrow that faith of some. Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. Verse 15 says, you must also be aware of him, for he has greatly resisted words. So there are certain people who used to be with Paul seem to have kind of gone off track and started opposing him. We don't know the details of it, but then few names are being mentioned in Paul's letter to Timothy. So they somehow seem to have become rebellious and openly challenged Paul's teaching and promoted their wrong teachings. And Paul addresses this publicly by instructing believers not to be moved by their teaching. So there are certain things that needs to be addressed publicly as well. You see that certain things are causing harm to your congregation. Your flock is being deceived. And that's when you as a shepherd, you protect them and you correct them publicly and say it's like, hey, there are a few who's going about preaching the wrong doctrine. It's not what it is. This is what is right. So you correct them publicly for the sake of your congregation. So you guys, are you with me? You're following what's happening. These are all very real problems that happen in our churches internally. It's again very similar to the other topic there at the bottom of page 131 where it talks about correcting leaders. Correcting leaders. So as 1 Timothy chapter 5 verse 19 to 22 he says, do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear. I charge you before God that the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality. Do not lay hands on anyone hastily nor share in others people's sins. Keep yourself pure. Okay. So when it comes to correcting leaders, saying be extra careful. Why? Because don't just go ahead with what one person is saying. There are always two sides to a coin, so to speak. You need like two hands to clap. There are always two sides to a story. So don't come to a conclusion or jump to a conclusion based on one person's witness or testimony. Have multiple testimonies if possible before you take a decision of correcting a leader. So that's a gist of that passage is don't jump into conclusion. Because that leads, so say that the leader is found guilty and have done something wrong. How do you restore? We need to restore. I helped the person to restoration as well, isn't it? So Galatians chapter six was one says, brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of gentleness. Considering yourself less, you also be tempted. So as leaders, we've seen it that Christian leaders, men and women of God, fall, fail into various kinds of things like misuse of money, sexual immorality, abuse of people, and the list can go on, isn't it? And so as fellow leaders, it is our responsibility to not ignore of what is happening or just brush it under the carpet for the reputation of your ministry. Okay, if I correct this person and or say so and so, the person from my ministry has done such a thing. It's going to affect the image of my ministry. And so I'm going to ignore it. I'm going to brush it under the carpet. That's the worst thing that you can do. Right. And so it's your responsibility to address it. The issue, not ignore it of what is happening, but lovingly and bring healing and restoration. Right. So it is advisable. A practical thing to do is to ask that person to take a break from all kinds of ministry to step down from all kinds of ministry just to take time to be in God's presence until they're healed. And only when we recognize that there has been healing and strength restored, then we can release them back into ministry. Right. So in that period, we walk with them, you try to address what was the root of that issue, whatever the issue that caused them to sin or fall. If it is misuse of money, you sit with them, you walk with them and understand what was the root cause for this thing. And then once you realize that they have been restored and strengthened, then you can reintroduce them back into ministry. But until that happens, it's best that they are on a break for their own sake and for the sake of everybody else in ministry. Right. Hey Isaac, no worries. It's fine. Anyways, the sessions will be recorded and so you can catch up later on. No worries. Okay. And so, and it's also very important for us to understand that we don't use our authority as leaders to abuse people. And I mean, it's just, and this is also real where people misuse or abuse their leadership and authority over people to just embarrass them or bring them down unnecessarily and whatnot. So that will be spoken off against your integrity and your character. Right. And so guys, we've been talking about correction and correction. And if you've ever corrected someone, you know what, you know, what I'm talking about, you know, at the bottom of page 132, be prepared for different responses to correction. Okay. So when we bring correction, some people may receive it well, some may not receive it well, they may respond negatively. So receiving negative responses from the very ones you love could be very painful. Right. So when you correct someone, they may react in a certain way, complaining. Suddenly the world becomes totally different to the individual who has received correction. What was so wonderful and beautiful suddenly becomes a wilderness or a desert place. The individual begins to complain about every little thing. Or there can be withdrawal. The individual who was corrected withdraws or disconnects and hides away in a shell, goes into a shell. Or there's a retaliation. Because you did this, I'm going to make sure you're going to have a bad name or departure. Right. They would just leave the church and go because they received correction. They get offended and they think that they did not deserve it and they would leave the church and go. So what can we do in a certain situation? We need to understand as leaders do not take it personally. Someone else's inability to receive correction is not your fault. Okay. So you need to get that through your head. And another person's inability to receive correction when it is corrected with all the good intention with love. If they take it, if they take offense or retaliate or depart or complain, it's not your fault. Okay. You guard your heart. You don't get offended because of that. Give people time for people to change. If they need a break, if that's what they want, just give them their space, let them change, hope for them to change and allow them to move in, move on in peace. This is very important guys, is you need to allow them to move on. Like it's okay to wash your hands and just say, okay, I did what I had to do. If that person wants to move on, it's okay to let them go. Right. Don't be scared. It's okay. Oh, this person is an amazing musician. If this person walks away, I'm not going to have a, you know, a good musician. I'm going to be losing out. What is that? FOMO. That's the word that we use these days. Fear of missing out. It's okay. You don't need to have a FOMO. Okay. Let the person move on. It's all right. So don't take it personally. Don't get offended. Give people time, change. Allow them to move on in peace. But what is very important is that you do not procrastinate in correcting the individual. Okay. Don't delay. And I'm not just sharing this because it's in the notes, but that is something I've learned in the last four years of my life in being part of the full-time ministry is that the longer you delay in correcting an individual, the root just keeps growing so deep. And when the time comes to finally correct that, you know, just taking out a tree that's 100 years old is very, very hard, right? It's easy. It's very easy to just add to a mistake than to undo or not. Have you ever tried undoing or not? It's just not a pleasant thing. It's right. And so do not procrastinate when it comes to correcting an individual in a timely manner. You know, the time and how you do it, why you are doing it is very important. Right. So all of this is talking about the divine order of page of chapter 20. And so that's it about today, guys. I hope there was something that you could take away from today's lesson. We'll stop the class now. Apologies for going two minutes over time. We'll stop the recording now. And I'll see you all next week. Okay. You guys take care. Bye.