If we would apply the words of Jesus in Mt 18:15, a multitude of tragic issues in churches could be avoided and relationships healed.

Jesus said:  “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.”

If we’d just do what Jesus said here, so many negative issues could be avoided.  If your brother sins against you – GO TO THEM IN PRIVATE and deal with the issue/the sin.   In other words – apply the medicine directly to the wound.  

A simple illustration.  Let’s say I have a gash in my arm and go to the emergency room for stitches and help.  The doctor gives me a shot in my leg and begins to suture my leg.  What happened?  My arm that was hurting got no help and now my leg (that was fine before) is hurting.  Instead of applying the medicine directly to the wound, now another “member” of my “body” is hurting and I’m worse off than I was before.  

Get the picture?  If members of any  church “body” would simply go to each other in private and work out their issues without taking them to another part of that church “body” it would make a world of difference and the church would be free to function in a more healthy way!   Think about it.

What if you attempt to do this and the other person doesn’t respond.  Jesus deals with that in vv. 16-17.