How do you offer a correction? A rebuke? First of all, most individuals aren’t thrilled about ever having to do give correction, let alone receive it! And yet there is an expectation in the Bible about giving and receiving correction. To that end. David Mathis in his book Habits of Grace: Enjoying Jesus Through the Spiritual Disciplines gives seven steps we can work towards giving a rebuke that is Jesus-honoring.

1. Check your own heart first.
2. Seek to sympathize.
3. Pray for restoration.
4. Be quick. In my opinion, this step requires just a little explanation. Mathis states, “pray for the other person’s restoration, but don’t wait there too long on your knees. Hebrews encourages us to be quick and regular — ‘every day. Don’t let sinful patterns fester. If possible, don’t even let the sun go down.”
5. Be kind.  “The Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will” 2 Timothy 2:24-26.
6. Be clear and specific.
7. Follow up with the person.