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Search and Rescue

May 4, 2014 Speaker: Ken Ramey Series: Stand Alone Sermons

Passage: Galatians 6:1, James 5:19–20, Matthew 18:12–17

Sunday Service

Selected Scriptures

There are FIVE ESSENTIALS to biblical search and rescue training that every Christian must clearly understand and regularly practice in order to be used by God to lovingly go after fellow Christians who stray into sin and away from the rest of the flock.

1. THE PRINCIPLE (Galatians 6:1; James 5:19-20)
If a believer sees another believer straying from the truth, he is called to confront the one in sin with love so that he will not be given over to that sin.

2. THE PROCESS (Matthew 18:12-17)
God prescribed a four step process to minister to a professing Christian who is living in sin:
a) Show that person their sin privately, seeking to win him or her over in love.
b) Confront that person in the presence of two or three other believers in love if the person remains unrepentant;
c) If he or she continues to be unrepentant, tell it to the church (i.e., Elders or church body depending on discretion)
d) If they remain unrepentant after telling the matter to the church, the church is to treat that person as an unbeliever.

3. THE PICTURE (1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15; 1 Timothy 1:18-20; Titus 3:9-11)
Paul did not call us to become totally uninvolved with unbelievers, but meant that we are to cease associating with someone who professes to be a believer, but demonstrates an immoral pattern of living or demonstrates the fruits of unbelief.

4. THE PURPOSE (Galatians 6:1; Matthew 18:15; 2 Corinthians 2:5-8; 1 Timothy 5:20; Matthew 18:18-20)
Restoration, Purification (i.e., It makes us fearful of the consequences of sin and helps to maintain God’s holy church); Glorification (caring about God’s glory rather than ourselves)

5. THE PATTERN (Revelation 3:19; Hebrews 12:5-13)
Jesus set the pattern for church discipline (Revelation 3:19).

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.

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