Receiving Correction
From Leaderpedia
by Robert Walter
Purpose
To learn the value of loving correction
To experience correction and see what you feel about it
To address personal character issues
Wounds from a friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.—Proverbs 27:6
Exercise
1. (Solo) Think of a time you received correction and benefited from it.
How did it feel initially?
How did you respond?
How did it change you ultimately?
2. (Solo) Look in the Bible to compare how kings Saul and David took correction from the prophets Samuel and Nathan. Make notes in your journal.
What are the pertinent passages?
What happened?
What was their response? How did it compare/contrast?
What was the outcome of their lives in listening or not listening?
3. (Pairs) Chose a person who both knows you well and loves you unconditionally. Ask them to point out to you any character flaws, irritating habits or weakness that they see in you. If you are daring you can ask your spouse or your boss or your co-workers.
4. (Solo) Reflect on your experience of inviting correction (#3)
How did it feel to have your character frankly addressed/exposed?
Is there anything you need to address with God? How?
What character virtue is the antidote to this vice?
Make a plan to work on the issue exposed.
Share that plan with your mentor or prayer partner.
4. (Triad) Share what you learned in #2 and what you experienced in #3 with your triad. (Optional—share it with the group)
Will you tell me my fault, frankly as to yourself, for I had rather wince, than die...Men do not call the surgeon to commend the bone, but to set it, Sir, and fracture within is more critical.—Emily Dickinson to the writer Thomas Wentworth Higgins, asking for his frank critique of her poetry
