Gracious Lord, who loves each of us and wants none of us to be lost, let us not be too quick to judge one another, but help us to listen, to seek discernment, and to find the wisdom in your body, the church, that we would with gentleness help one another to overcome our sins and align ourselves with your ways, through Jesus Christ, who with you and the Holy Spirit is patient with us and seeks to love us into your kingdom. Amen. ‘ If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.’ – Matthew 18:15-17
Matthew R Green
PhD