If we use the phrase, we’re more sinful than we realize and more loved than we can imagine, we help each other see our sin more clearly and see/experience His love more sweetly.

We’ve said our response to the Gospel is repentance and faith. Repentance and faith are the fundamental pieces of receiving the Gospel and living in the Gospel. Preaching the gospel to one another means we help each other repent of our sin and trust in Jesus, turn from sin and turn toward Jesus.

In our verse today, I might consider admonishing to mean correcting us from error, exposing our sin, and teaching to mean showing us more of Jesus’ gracious work.

Married people illustrate this fact. “The main problem in our marriage is you.” “If only you weren’t so (critical/stubborn/lazy).” “Yeah, I shouldn’t have (called you names/gotten angry), but its because you were (nagging so much/so unresponsive).”

We genuinely think it’s the other person’s fault. How can every married person think that it’s their spouse that’s the problem? It’s because none of us see our own sin and we don’t want to see it. Spouse are not asking, “Honey, I may have sinned against you, but I’m not entirely sure how. Would you please explain it to me.” We have a self-protective instinct. We’re blind and biased.

It is often in community, in relationships, in marriage, that we are confronted with our sin.

The Gospel response to seeing our sin is not to blame or deny or excuse. It is to repent. The Gospel says I am a hell-deserving sinner, far more sinful than I even realize.

We seek God’s forgiveness, and then we seek forgiveness from our brothers and sisters. Last week we talked about forgiveness and reconciliation. We talked about asking for forgiveness.

How do preach the Gospel to one another? I think one of the most effective ways to help others see their need of Jesus is by showing our own need of Jesus. As we confess our sin, others more clearly see their need to confess their own sin.

How are we on confessing our sins, on asking for forgiveness? Is there some sin we should confess or someone from whom we should ask forgiveness? Last week we said this is one of the characteristics of a gospel community (result). Today I want to point out that this is one practical way of preaching the Gospel to one another (promote).

Some people are very confrontational, but often it’s because they want to get their own way. They have no patience, or they have to some chip on their shoulder.

On the other side, some people are very non-confrontational. They are avoiders or yielders. These guys tend to be people-pleasers who are afraid of being disliked or rejected. Or they may live in some degree of denial, not wanting to face problems. It’s easier to avoid confrontation than to stir up the messiness of relationships.

Consider a 3^rd option:

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. ²Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:1-2)

We’re to confront those in sin so we can gently restore our brothers and sisters. We confront, not so we can get our way, we don’t avoid confrontation so we can avoid rejection or messiness. We can confront because it’s good for our brother/sister, for their sake. We can help them get free from sin and be restored to a healthy relationship with God and with others.

This is a way of bearing each other’s burdens, and fulfilling the law of Christ. The law of Christ is love. We love one another by helping to carry the weight of our sin struggles.

This is done by those who are spiritual. You may think this is the job of pastors or elders. In the context of our message today, I’m going take this to mean “by those who are living in the Gospel, by those who have the Gospel dwelling in them”—which we hope will be all of us.

There is a warning. Confronting others opens us to a temptation. I think it opens us to the sin of self-righteousness. We overtly or subtly think that we’re better than the other person. We’re in some way more righteous, we’ve got our act together. But if we’re “spiritual,” if the Gospel is dwelling in us, then we know that we’re more sinful than we realize. We see ourselves and others in the same category of “sinners saved by grace.” If we do not have the Gospel first in our own lives, we’ll lack humility, gentleness, grace and wisdom. Instead of restoring we may insult and offend our brother or sister.

In a Gospel community where we realize more of our sin, there is more confession and apologies, and there is more confrontation. This is where we don’t pretend we’re righteous. We all understand that we’re sinners, and that we need Jesus.

Parents, as we raise our kids, our message is not, you better behave, be kind, show good manners, stop fighting, don’t whine, etc. Of course, we need to train and correct their behavior. But we don’t want the message to be, “Try harder and make yourself good enough.” No, the Gospel message, “We’re sinners, and that’s why we need Jesus.” Stop and pray, “Jesus, please forgive us and help us. We cannot make ourselves good and loving. We need you.”

I think the most obvious way the Word of Christ dwells in us richly as we teach one another is by studying the Bible together. It is God’s Word where Jesus and the Gospel are directly revealed to us. The Bible isn’t a book telling us what to do, it is a story telling us what God has done for us.

In particular, I’ve recommended for a long time, that we study God’s promises. These promises are explicitly what God has, is and will do for us.

As we discuss various passages in our CG’s, let me encourage us to point out (1) what the passage reveals about our need for Christ and (2) what this passage says about what God does for us.

But promises are not empty words. They translate into personal stories of how God has kept those promises. We have promises of God’s faithfulness and love, and then we want to have our personal stories of God’s faithfulness and love in our daily lives. We want to share about answered prayers, provisions, blessings, lessons, etc. Tell each other about what God is doing in our lives.

We’ve mentioned how we’re to be thankful (3x in this passage). Share about what you’re thankful for. What are the many blessings God has graciously given. The Bible says God is good, and our lives are to be living testimonies of that fact.

If you recall our first sermon in Colossians, we said that Paul gives thanks for the Gospel and its fruit in the lives of the Colossians. He says the Gospel has produced love, which Epaphras has reported to Paul.

What an encouragement to hear things like: I see the Gospel bearing fruit in your life. I see more joy, thankfulness, peace and love. A year ago, if you had a crisis like this, I think you would have been so much more distraught. I see a confident humility and a gentle boldness. I see that you love Jesus more.

I have shortcomings as a pastor, and I know that there are people who’ve felt unshepherded, uncared for, and they’ve felt hurt. Not too long ago, I had a conversation with one such person, and I realize how hurt she felt. I asked for her forgiveness, and instead of leaving the church, she’s now an encouraging part of our PM campus.

I think of our new assistant pastor, Dave Skinner. I’m happy to see how people were able to help him move in, watch their kids, with home projects.

I heard of people collecting money for someone with financial needs, and they gave a truly generous financial gift.

Parents, I think one simply way we preach the Gospel to our children is by showing unconditional love. It’s not that Daddy & Mommy only love you when you’re well behaved, do well in school, keep your room clean, etc. No. We love you even when you’re not well behaved, when you’re not doing well in school/sports, when you room isn’t clean.

Husbands and wives, can we show committed, covenant love that says, I love you, without conditions. When your spouse is cranky or late or forgetful or unappreciative, can we show unconditional love? We want to show grace.