About Today 1. Game 2. Fun Facts, Reasons & My Stories 3. JC’s Fun Facts & Reasons 4. A Story of (possible) Correction 5. God’s Correction Module towards US 6. Practical Application : Correction In Community

Question 1 - Music  Who has written our National Anthem? A: Rabindranath Tagore B: Sarojini Naidu C: Raja Ram Mohan Roy D: Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay

Question 2 - Movies  Which was the latest space movie released? A : Gravity B : Interstellar C : Martian D : Messenger 2

Question 3 - Cricket WWhich league is currently underway in India? A : Indian Super League B : English Premier League C : La Liga D : Bundes Liga

Question 4 - Football  Who won FIFA 2014? A : France B: Brazil C : Portugal D : Germany

Question 5 - Grammar  Which of these are right? A : You’re welcome B : Your welcome

Fun Facts & Reasons  We all like to correct others  It’s out of love for ‘them’  No one can do it better than me  It romances our ego – we feel good about knowing more & knowing better

My Story  When I tried correcting someone:

Fun Facts & Reasons  We hate being corrected by others  We all hate know-it-alls  We hate being told we are wrong…it dulls our perfection!

My Story  When someone tried correcting me:  Mumbai – Egypt – Israel – Jordan – Mumbai  I felt I had a sense of entitlement because I had traveled more than that friend of mine had  I felt I was allowed to make mistakes because it was my profile and if no one likes what I say, they should turn a blind eye to it or delete me from their list  I was not even remotely close to seeing the ‘love’ behind this correction

Fun Facts & Reasons  At best, we like being corrected by certain people/person  Typically, these are people who soften their blows  These are ultra sweet and rare people  These are people, we say, we trust and have given the right to correct us  Still, when the correction does knock, we don’t exactly receive it with as much ‘trust’ or ‘love’

My Story  Selective Acceptance of Correction:  Asher & I disagreed on something and he said, “maybe you should speak with Anand & Aji”  That’s when it hit me, I am a little receptive to correction from them but not the guy I claim to love  I realized I get defensive, worked up and flustered the moment anyone tries to correct me…acceptance of that correction is a far cry  This defensiveness stems from the realization that, “how could I be wrong”…basically showcasing my heart idol – ME  Sense of perfection – I cannot be wrong  The frustration stems from the realization that, “even if I am wrong, how can she/he see it but not me”…basically showcasing my heart idol – ME  Sense of pride – I’m better than everyone else and so, even my mistakes, I’m supposed to see and not anyone else

Fundamentally, we’re extra ordinarily generous with correction but incredibly averse to accepting it!

Let’s read Matthew 7:1-5 “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. 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.

JC’s Fun Facts & Reasons  Verse 1 : Fact : this is an absolute statement/command  Reason : because He has every authority to command  Verse 2 : Fact : Establishing a relationship between us and the command  Reason : because He knows we’ll care only if it has an impact on us  Verse 3 : Fact : Self introspection  Reason : turning us from being selfish to self-aware…me centered to me

JC’s Fun Facts & Reasons  Verse 4 : Fact : Questioning our action  Reason : questioning our heart that led to the action  Verse 5 : Fact : Unrealistic Recommendation  Reason : ‘cos only then would we depend on Him

A story of (possible) correction  Cain & Abel  Cain : Elder brother & Abel : younger brother  Cain : Farmer & Abel : Shepherd  God did not accept Cain’s offering but accepted Abel’s offering  Alternate conclusion?

Let’s read Matthew 7:1-3 “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. 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?

Let’s read Matthew 7:4-6 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. 6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

From God to us  Verse 1 - He had every right to judge us ‘cos we were, we are and we will remain sinful….until the day we see Christ. No one could’ve stopped Him from judging us. No one still can stop Him from anything!  Verse 2 - He could’ve used His measure, His yardstick, the perfect, wholesome, holy and ultimately tall one to pronounce judgment on us. He could’ve, once and for all, dealt with us and punished us.

From God to us  Verse 3 – He could’ve ripped us apart because of the plank and speck in us and none in Him! He held the strength to rip us apart. He had the unquestionable authority to rip us apart. He could’ve done it and still looked like the hero. He could’ve said, “This would serve them right”.  Verse 4 – He could’ve turned His face away from us because our sin – speck or plank – mars His holiness, His purity, His perfection. He could’ve washed His hands off of us simply because we are too small and heart-achingly sinful for Him to care about.

From God to us  Verse 5 – He could’ve called us names, poured out His holy and righteous wrath on us and yanked the plank from out of us. And if He would’ve done that, it would’ve still been perfect. ‘Cos He is all-powerful, fully holy, the author of justice and the creator of perfection! He is who He is and His reaction would’ve been totally justified.  And react He did, to our sin, to our mistakes, to our errors, to our blind spots, to our denial and ignorance…but His reaction was baffling and filled with love begging our trust.

Let’s read Matthew 7:6 6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. God’s correction module towards us – CHRIST!

Practical Application : Correction In Community REPENTANCE

Our awareness of our sin and repentance of our sin will lead others to awareness and repentance of their sins. There cannot be any more pointing fingers. There must only be repentance that leads to repentance. And in all this, Jesus be glorified, the cross be celebrated and God be worshipped.