“The Church is God’s people collectively carrying out God’s

mission of Redemption.”

Understanding

Belonging

Owning

Serving ServingServing

Serving

Serving

Owning

Owning

What is Truth?• Christ is Truth– John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and

the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.• Scripture is Truth – John 17:17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

• We are to speak the truth to each other as Christians– Romans 15:14 14 I myself am convinced, my brothers, that

you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another.

I. The Value of the Truth

• Telling the Truth was Central to Jesus’ Ministry – John 1:51 51 He then added, "I tell you the truth,

you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."

I. The Value of the Truth

• Telling the Truth is Central to Life in Christ – James 5:16 16 Therefore confess your sins to each

other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

I. The Value of the Truth• Telling the Truth is Central to the Health of

the Church– Galatians 6:1-2 Brothers, if someone is caught in

a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

II. Avoiding the Truth

• Judgment– Matthew 7:1-2 "Do not judge, or you too will be

judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

II. Avoiding the Truth

– Matthew 7:3-5 3 "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

II. Avoiding the Truth

• Silence – Proverbs 27:6 6 Wounds from a friend can be

trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.

II. Avoiding the Truth

• Gossip– Proverbs 16:28 28 A perverse man stirs up

dissension, and a gossip separates close friends.

III. Communicating the Truth

• Biblical Confrontation– Matthew 18:15-17 15 "If your brother sins against you, go

and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector. heaven.

III. Communicating the Truth

• Biblical Confrontation– Personal Communication– Bring Another to Establish the Fact– The Entire Church

III. Communicating the Truth

• Avoid Arrogance and Strive for Humility – Galatians 6:1-2 Brothers, if someone is caught in

a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

III. Communicating the Truth

• Treat Others as Brothers and Not Enemies – 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 14 If anyone does not

obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of him. Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed. 15 Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

III. Communicating the Truth

• Be Sorrowful Over Sin– 2 Corinthians 2:4 For I wrote you out of great

distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.

III. Communicating the Truth

• Always Have the Goal of Restoration– 2 Corinthians 2:7 7 Now instead, you ought to forgive and

comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.

– 2 Timothy 2:24-26 24 And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25 Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

III. Communicating the Truth

• Different People Need the Truth Communicated Differently– 1 Thessalonians 5:14 14 And we urge you,

brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

The Key is LoveEphesians 4:15

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.