Jesus tells us how to deal with a brother in Christ who offends in Matt. 18:15-17. Briefly, there are a few things to take away from here, in applying it to any dealings with others; a good segue way to a further note on Bible study.
First, He wants us to do it privately. It’s best to handle any discipline quietly, if you can’t do it in private; even if it’s just a promise to discuss it when you get home. God doesn’t want us to totally embarrass others. He does, of course, want others to understand the message; however, the results will take care of themselves. Yes, this verse is more about dealing with equals, but most adults you turn to for wisdom will agree that dealing with matters in private generally works best.
Second, there is one big difference in what He says regarding the church. While a person may be put out of a church if they continue to try to sabotage things with their sin – just as the man in 1 Corinthians 5 – that should never happen with a physical family.
