<p style="text-align: left;"><b>Summary</b>:<br>Paul addresses a person whose actions caused sorrow, clarifying that the grief affected not only him but the whole church. He says that the punishment imposed by the majority is sufficient and urges the Corinthians to forgive, comfort, and reaffirm their love for the individual, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.<br>Paul emphasizes the importance of obedience in this matter and explains that he forgives the offender for the sake of the church and in Christ’s presence. He warns that failure to forgive could allow Satan to take advantage of them, since they are not ignorant of his schemes.<br> <br><b>Teaching</b>:<br>“Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him.”<br><br>It teaches us to correct wrongdoing while expressing love. When a fault occurs, it should be clearly pointed out, and if discipline leads to reflection and repentance, then forgiveness and encouragement must follow.<br><br>Love is patient and gentle. The essence of the church community is love. The Word itself is a word of love, and what makes the church a true community is love. This love is not only for those with strong faith, but also for those with weak faith or those who have drifted away. Even discipline must be loving discipline. Praise or correction without love destroys the soul.<br>Every action the church takes must flow from love.<br><br><br><i>Excerpt from the sermon by Pastor Lee, Dec 16, 2025</i><i><br></i><i>2 Corinthian 2:5-11</i></p>
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