Have you sat at the feet of a sincere teacher who rightfully divided the word of truth? How did you feel after listening or leaving the gathering? Anyone in such meetings will either walk away exhorted or rebuked; there is no middle ground. The state of your heart and lifestyle will determine this. Often, some hearers allege that a particular preacher or teacher has spoken the word of God against them. This allegation is worrisome and a challenge almost all preachers face because their priestly assignment involves correcting and instructing their hearers.

‍
There are two keywords from two different passages I would like to highlight, both from Paul.
The first is “rebuke,” and the other is "exhortation.”

‍
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim 3:16-17 NIV)

‍
“Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;  Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness” (Rom 12:6-8 KJV)

‍
To rebuke is to highlight what is hidden, discipline, reproof, test, or refute an opposing idea. To rebuke in a prophetic sense in scripture was to declare God's judgment upon his people (Ezek 3:26, Jer 2:19, Hos 5:9). Rebuke could also refer to corrections people received from their conscience. In John, those who perform evil deeds hate coming to light because their deeds will be reproved, exposed, or rebuked (Jn 3:20). Such is the assignment given to the clergy by their master; it is not for the fearful. People sometimes resist correction or are rebellious. Some also have a wrong conception of the church and the clergy's role in forming congregants for their eternal home.

‍
To exhort, on the other hand, is to encourage, appeal to someone, invite, implore, entreat, urge, or comfort. This sounds positive compared to rebuking. To encourage or comfort is to instill another with the courage and boldness to do something. In most cases, exhortation occurs in a friendly and motivational manner. This is a challenge for most ministers even when presenting the truth in love, especially when their listeners live in darkness, unwilling or struggling to repent.

‍
Regardless of your rank, office or religious affiliation, when you hear a sincere presentation of biblical sermon, you will either feel exhorted or rebuked. You will feel exhorted if the message addresses issues or challenges you have mastered or overcome, or areas of your faith journey you have concluded needs work and you have personally initiated a corrective process.

‍
On the other hand, you will feel rebuked if the message comes to expose the darkness or sin you are in. You will even feel rebuked or exposed if your sinful deeds, weaknesses, or shortfall were unmasked by the preacher to yourself, without anyone knowing your condition. This is the case because truth can unmask the lie we live or tell ourselves. Two people can listen to the same sermon; one may conclude, "I feel exhorted," and the other, "I feel criticized or rebuked." For example, if the preacher talks about drunkenness, adultery, fornication, and gossip, none of which are found in your life, you will feel exhorted. However, if you find yourself in any of these vices, you will likely feel rebuked and potentially offended, regardless of who you are. At this point, some will begin to weigh the speaker and reject the message if they feel they have a certain degree, belong to a certain rank, or are older than the preacher.

‍
Speaking the truth in love does not mean smiling or being funny in your delivery; it simply means believers who have come to Christ must tell each the truth based on their love for God. Irrespective of how truth is delivered, whether aggressively, softly, or even in love (depending on your understanding of what it means to speak the truth in love), you will either feel exhorted or rebuked. It takes great humility to receive the truth. Exhortations and rebukes can be done privately and publicly, depending on what is at stake. However, the pulpit must not be for exhortations only. Otherwise, the child of God will not be thoroughly equipped for every good work.