Sunday Service
Selected Scriptures
There are FIVE ELEMENTS OF CHURCH DISCIPLINE that every Christian must clearly understand and faithfully apply in order to help preserve and protect the orthodoxy, the purity, and the unity of the body of Christ.
1. THE PRINCIPLE (Galatians 6:1; James 5:19-20)
If someone is caught/trapped by sin, those who are spiritual (i.e., believers) are called to restorethem in a spirit of gentleness. It is only by the grace of God that you are not ensnared by that sin yourself.
2. THE PROCESS (Matthew 18:15-17)
STEP 1 - Show someone their sin in private one-on-one; the goal is to win your brother or sister back from their sin. If no response, find one or two others who are familiar with the person or situation to confront. This is to verify the sin or to provide accountability for the others who confront.
STEP 2 - If the one who has been confronted still refuses to respond/repent, then the matter should be brought before the Pastors and Elders, who then make appeals.
STEP 3 - If there is still no response, then the Pastors and Elders tell the entire church body about the situation in order that they may intervene as well. This is done as a last resoret of appeal.
STEP 4 - If the one who is confronted still refuses to repent, then he/she is to be treated as an unbeliever - whether they actually are or not, based on their refusal to repent.
3. THE PICTURE (1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15; 1 Timothy 1:18-20; Titus 3:9-11)
Four cases where church discipline is required:
a) Sexual Immorality
b) Idleness
c) Heresy
d) Divisiveness
a) Sexual Immorality
b) Idleness
c) Heresy
d) Divisiveness
4. THE PURPOSE (Galatians 6:1; Matthew 18:15; 2 Corinthians 2:5-8; 1 Timothy 5:20; Matthew 18:18-20)
Three reasons for church discipline or restoration:
a) Restoration - Re-affirmation of love for a sinner
b) Purification - Renews a holy fear of sin and its consequences within the church body
c) Glorification - It encourages the church body to live up to God's holy standard
a) Restoration - Re-affirmation of love for a sinner
b) Purification - Renews a holy fear of sin and its consequences within the church body
c) Glorification - It encourages the church body to live up to God's holy standard
5. THE PATTERN (Revelation 3:19; Hebrews 12:5-13)
Speak the truth in love. Church discipline is an act of love, so love your brothers and sisters enough to confront each other in love. This is a godly principle, for God disciplines those whom He loves.
Thank God for leading you to a church where you will be lovingly confronted when you sin and even kicked out if you refuse to repent, but graciously restored the moment you do. Ask God to grant you the courage and love it takes to fulfill your responsibility to be involved in dealing with sin in the lives of fellow believers.