The Art and Care of Correction - Application Questions

1. This is a fun one: According to most translations of the Bible, Christ told Peter to forgive someone, not seven times, but seventy times seven—or 490 times (Mt 18:22). However, no one has ever found the verse indicating the specific vengeance you can take on those who commit their 491st offense against you. What would the ideal vengeance be? Here are a few ideas to get things rolling:

• Wire their home, car, and workplace for sound and require that they listen to the 24-hour polka station non-stop for six months.
  
• Make them listen repeatedly to every Academy Awards acceptance speech given since the inception of the ceremony in 1928.
  
• Make them speak politely and at length with every telephone salesman who calls their home during the next year. In each of these conversations, they must say at least once: “I’m so glad you called,” “Why, of course!”, and “Oh, absolutely.” 
  

2. Do we benefit more from giving care or receiving care in the church?
3. Can you describe an experience in which you had a disagreement that did not grow into a conflict—or one that did when it should not have?
4. What’s the difference between saying “I’m sorry” and “Please forgive me”?
5. In what ways have you personally benefited from giving or receiving biblical correction?
6. Try role-playing two types of confrontation: one which starts with an accusation and another which starts with an inquiry. Why does tone make such a difference?
7. The author says “open conflicts” must be addressed (see page 68). How do you know when one has taken place?

8. Can you think of five unbiblical phrases people might use to shift attention away from their sin? (Example: “Yeah, I know I should have called you sooner, but I was really bummed out.”)