Lord willing this month we will wrap up these lessons on Discipline in the Local Church With the final two major divisions.  If you have not yet read the previous three installments please take a moment and read the previous sections before you delve into this.

 

IV. The Practice of Church Discipline

 

A) The Manner-

    1) Discipline must be done by those who are spiritual-walking in the Holy Spirit and growing in the Lord.  

    “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of   

      meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” Galatians 6:1

2) Discipline must be done in a spirit of humility, gentleness and patience lest we too be tempted

     a) Galatians 6:1,2 (Verse 1 above) “Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ”

     b) II Timothy 2:24-26 “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to

         teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give

         them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the

         snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”

3) Discipline must be done without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality I Timothy 5:21 “I charge thee

    before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without

    preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.”

4) The erring member should be admonished, warned and appealed to privately in Love.

    a) I Thessalonians 5:14,15 “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the

            feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any

            man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.”

         b) Matthew 18:15 “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between

             thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.”

      5) If the first meeting does not bring about a resolution, the erring brother is to then be approached by the

          same person, this time with one or two witnesses.  Again the attitude must be that of restoration of the

         erring brother, not punishment.  Matthew 18:16 “But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or

         two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established”

     6) If there is still no progress and the erring member has no desire or intent to repent.  The final action is to

         bring the batter before the congregation, where fellowship is to be withdrawn, both public and private.   

         a)   Matthew 18:17 “And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear

The church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.”

         b) II Thessalonians 3:6,14-15 “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

             that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition

             which he received of us… And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have

             no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a

            brother”

        c) Titus 3:10 “A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;”

        d) I Timothy 5:20 “Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.” 

        e) Romans 16:17,18 “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences

            contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our

            Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the  

            simple.”

 

B) The Objective-

    1) To indicate to the offender that her/her actions have dishonored the Lord and caused a rupture in the

         harmony of the body.  The Goal is always restoration and the person is still counted as a brother or sister

         until the removal from the Body. (II Thessalonians 3:14,15)

     2) It is to create fear in the body as a warning against sin (I Timothy 5:20)

 

C) The Conclusion-

     If a person does not repent he or she is to then be counted as a heathen and a sinner

     1) Matthew 18:17

     2) Romans 16:17

 

D) The Biblical Examples of Church Discipline

     1) The Corinthian church (for unrepented  immorality) I Corinthians 5

      2) The church at Rome (for troublemakers in the church) Romans 16:17,18

      3) The church at Thessalonica (unholy lifestyle and disruptive behavior) I Thessalonians 3:6-15

      4) The church at Philippi (Members who were damaging the testimony of the church) 3:17,19

 

V. Reasons for Church Discipline

 In exercising church discipline we must exercise extreme care.  Scripture does not warrant the exercise of  discipline for an individual’s or a church’s pet peeves.  Scripture, not our opinions, likes and dislikes must be the guide for what is sin.  We must not become hypercritical or “speck inspectors”

A) Unrepented Immorality (I Corinthians 5)

B) Persistent doctrinal Heresy (I Timothy 1:19,20 Titus 3:10)

C) Refusing to reconcile with a brother or sister (Matthew 18:17)

D) Maintaining a divisive spirit which results in rebellion against God’s word and/or God-ordained authority or participating in trouble making in within the church (I Corinthians 1:10 Romans 16:17,18 I Thessalonians 5:12-14  II Thessalonians 3:6,7,11 Titus 3:9-11)

 

Remember the key concerns that guide us are:

A) The Holy Character of God

B) The Testimony of the Flock

C) The Effect Upon the Unity and Purity of the Flock

D) The Edification and Restoration of the Individual