I Corinthians 4:14-15 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. 15For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

Popular Christianity as espoused on television mass media often employs a type of preaching that is only “positive”. We hear things such as there is no need to preach about sin because people already know their sin. Often in the pulpits of the most popular mass media preachers, we often do not hear about judgment, hell, repentance and sin. Surely, Biblical preaching will include the message of grace and hope. But, grace is cheapened when people fail to recognize their own wrongs. In realizing our sins and their consequences, we have a greater appreciation for favor and empowerment we receive by grace.

Surely, Biblical preaching will include the message of grace and hope. But, grace is cheapened when people fail to recognize their own wrongs.

In the book of Second Corinthians, the second epistle of Paul to the Corinthian church in the New Testament, Paul defended a previous letter to them where he had corrected them. And overall, Paul defends his ministry. In this, we find a great defense of corrective preaching. We will go through Second Corinthians and see how Paul defends his manner of preaching and teaching.

The Heart of Corrective Preaching

In the Spirit of Love

2 Corinthians 2:4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.

Corrective preaching, when done in the Spirit, comes from out of a heart of love. The Apostle Paul corrected out of pain and in tears.

The true servant of God will correct in pain and anguish out of a heart in love. The preacher does not take pleasure in correcting sharply but it is done with a fatherly heart out of care and love for the people of God. Often the Spirit of God has placed a burden on the heart of the minister to address sins and wrong in the body of Christ.

Corrective preaching, when done in the Spirit, comes from out of a heart of love... The true servant of God will correct in pain and anguish out of a heart in love.

With the Goal of Bringing Repentance and Restoration

2 Corinthians 7:8-11 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. 9Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. 10For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 11For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things, ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

Paul rejoiced over his letter of correction because it made the Corinthian church sorry unto repentance. At first, he regretted sending the letter because it may have been hurtful to the Corinthians, but then he saw that their hurt was short-lived because it produced godly repentance among them.

The minister’s goal in correcting sin and wrongdoing in the pulpit is to produce repentance and restoration. While members of the audience may at first have sorrow over a correction, their repentance brings mutual joy - within themselves and the minister.

The minister’s goal in correcting sin and wrongdoing in the pulpit is to produce repentance and restoration. While members of the audience may at first have sorrow over a correction, their repentance brings mutual joy - within themselves and the minister.

With Concern for the Health of the Church

2 Corinthians 7:12 Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you.

I will note here that most other translations state something similar to the NIV in the second part of the verse: “but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are” (2 Corinthians 7:12b NIV).

However, no matter which way you read it, the point Paul is making is that his letter was not because he was caught up in the personal matters of the wrongdoer and the wronged, but for the benefit of the entire church. When a preacher under the unction of the Spirit corrects sin in the congregation, it is not done to get into the personal business of the members, but for the building up of the church. Preachers do not correct sins for the purpose of getting into the business of those who sin for then we would be nothing more than a gossiper. But the purpose is to bring out the devotedness of the church body. In other words, the preacher can correct with confidence knowing that the people of God will repent as they are led by the Spirit. The obedience of God’s people to the corrective preaching provides evidence of their salvation and faithfulness.

The preacher can correct with confidence knowing that the people of God will repent as they are led by the Spirit. The obedience of God’s people to the corrective preaching provides evidence of their salvation and faithfulness.