Lesson 1 - The Church: Its Significance Lesson 2 - The Church: Its Usage Lesson 3 - The Church: Its Sound Speech Lesson 4 - The Church: Its Establishment, Lesson 5 - The Church: Is It To Be Joined Lesson 6 - The Church: Is the Church Denominational? Lesson 7 - The Church: it’s identification Lesson 8 - The Church: Its Elders, why do we need Elders? Lesson 9 - The Church: The Elders, their Qualifications Lesson 10 -The Church: Its Deacons and work Lesson 11 -The Church: The Preacher, His Life and Duties Lesson 11 -The Church: The Preacher, His Life and Duties Lesson 12 - The Church: Its Discipline 1 Lesson 13 - The Church: Its Discipline 2 Lesson 14 - The Church: Its Discipline 3 Lesson 13 - The Church: Its Finances Lesson 14 - The Church: Its Supper Lesson 15 - The Church: Its Music, Lesson 16 - The Church: Its Mission Lesson 17 - The Church: The Model Church

Discipline is not a very pleasant word, right? Discipline is not a very pleasant word, right? Hebrews 12:11 says: Hebrews 12:11 says: Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

An intensive study of corrective church discipline The Bible Command it!

sin willfully rejecteddies how much worse punishment has trampled the Son of God underfoot Hebrews 10: For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?

A couple of Sundays ago we were talking about church discipline. And in the previous 2 lessons we mentioned that discipline is a very biblical topic that all churches of Christ must teach and apply whenever it is necessary. Not doing so, will be contradictory to New Testament teachings. I am not going to quote again all the Bible passages that I presented to you, in order to prove that this topic is supported by God, by Jesus, by the HS, by the Apostles and the church at the beginning in the first century!

 But like some people say:  Thep topic is clear and very fair… as long as it is not one of our family members being disciplined. “dis-fellowshipped”  What would your attitude be, if the one receiving Bible discipline and also being “dis-fellowshipped” is: * Your Husband! * Your Wife! * Your Daughter! * Your Son! * Your Mother! * Your Father! Romans 16:17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. Does Romans 16 applied to family (flesh) members? If it does, how does this apply to them then?

“dis- fellowshipped”  if the one receiving Bible discipline and also being “dis- fellowshipped” is: * Your Husband! * Your Wife! * Your Daughter! * Your Son! * Your Mother! * Your Father! What your attitude toward your Husband or Wife or Child should be?  a) Same as before b) avoid the person c) doesn't apply. Romans 16:17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.

Church Discipline “Church” is a collective word involving every member * “shepherd the church ” includes “ all the flock ” (Ac.20:28) * All included unless specifically excluded (Co.3:20) (Ep.6:1-2) Are evangelists or deacons excluded?…Then they are included! This is exactly what church members do not understand, when the person being disciplined is “my relative! I do understand that it is “hard”, but we have to discipline! ARE FAMILY MEMBERS REQUIRED TO WITHDRAW FROM ONE ANOTHER?

Church Discipline The church is commanded to withdraw  “ …the church ” (Mt.18:17)  “ gathered together…put away from yourselves ” (1Co.5:4,13)  Are evangelists, elders, deacons or family members excluded? NO!  They are all included, why some exclude some family members then, when the Bible says “PUT AWAY!? ARE FAMILY MEMBERS REQUIRED TO WITHDRAW FROM ONE ANOTHER?

Church Discipline Husband/Wife Relationship Specifically excluded by Necessary Inference? (Mt.5:32 ;19:3,9) (1Co.7:1-5) Does the Bible apply here? (Rom 16:17) Can we pick and choose? (Matt 10:37-39) Can the wife ‘divorce” (Matt 19:9) Can the wife eat with him? (1 Cor 5:11) Can the wife have sexual relations with him? (1 Cor 7:3-5) ARE FAMILY MEMBERS REQUIRED TO WITHDRAW FROM ONE ANOTHER?

Church Discipline Parent to child Are they members of the church? Then included Are they Specifically excluded? By Command? No. By Example? No. By Necessary Inference? No. Some say yes?? - By special relationship ARE FAMILY MEMBERS REQUIRED TO WITHDRAW FROM ONE ANOTHER?

Church Discipline Parent to child Parents relationship to children:  Mothers - Love children & manage the home (Titus 2:4-5)  Fathers - Love and discipline (Ep.6:4) Provide for (1Ti.5:8)  Same relationship from the beginning - no change  This relationship didn't prevent discipline under Old Law (De.21:18-21) ARE FAMILY MEMBERS REQUIRED TO WITHDRAW FROM ONE ANOTHER?

Church Discipline Parent to child Child not living at home (Independent) What relationship would prohibit withdrawal of social interaction? Child living at home (dependent) If too young to live alone then young enough to correct by force (Pr.22:15) (Pr.23:13-14) (Pr.20:30) If you won't restrain the child then you are guilty (Pr.13:24) If too old to correct then old enough to be independent ARE FAMILY MEMBERS REQUIRED TO WITHDRAW FROM ONE ANOTHER?

Church Discipline Child to Parent Obey (Co.3:20) This wouldn't prohibit withdrawal - “ …in the Lord ” (Ep.6:1) ARE FAMILY MEMBERS REQUIRED TO WITHDRAW FROM ONE ANOTHER?

Church Discipline Child to Parent Honor (Ep.6:2) (Mt.15:4)  W.E. Vine: honor (5091) “ Primarily a valuing ” Strong: “ To prize, i.e. fix a valuation upon; by impl. to revere  Can you “ value ” or “ esteem ” and still withdraw? Yes! (1Ti.5:1,17,19-20)  The motive of discipline is the “ value ” of the soul!  Would “ honor ” prohibit a child from arresting a parent for a crime?  “ Honor ” does not prohibit a child from withdrawing fellowship ARE FAMILY MEMBERS REQUIRED TO WITHDRAW FROM ONE ANOTHER?

Church Discipline Child to Parent Principal concerning parents and children  (Mt.10:34-37) (Lk.12:51-53) (Mk.3:31-35) Special Relationships carry special obligations  These obligations are not a matter of choice  If there is a special relationship that prohibits withdrawal then it is a sin to do it!  If there is not a special relationship then it is required! ARE FAMILY MEMBERS REQUIRED TO WITHDRAW FROM ONE ANOTHER?

Church Discipline “ …let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. ” (Mt.18:17) Jesus knew their culture, tradition and law. (Jo.18:28) (Ac.10:28;11:3) HOW ARE WE TO TREAT THE DISORDERLY?

Church Discipline The pattern explains the action: (Ro.16:17-18) “ …note those…and avoid them. ” (1Co.5:1-13) “ …not to keep company with…not even to eat with such a person ” (Ep.5:11) “ And have no fellowship with… ” (2Th.3:6,14-15) “ …withdraw…do not keep company with him… ” (2Ti.3:1-5) “ And from such people turn away! ” (Ti.3:10-11) “ Reject… ” (2Jo.1:9-11) “ …do not receive him into your house nor greet him ” HOW ARE WE TO TREAT THE DISORDERLY?

Church Discipline “ …Admonish Him As A Brother. ” (2Th.3:15) Loophole for social interaction? All other passages exclude social interaction. This passage doesn ’ t bring in anything but admonition. Must we have social interaction to admonish??? A Divine explanation of the action (1Co.5:9-13) HOW ARE WE TO TREAT THE DISORDERLY?

Church Discipline Are You… Punishing him as a brother? (2Co.2:6) (2Th.3:15) Avoiding them? (Ro.16:17) Not keeping company with them, not even eating with them? (1Co.5:11) Having no joint participation with them? (Ep.5:11) A GOOD TEST FOR EVERY SITUATION

Church Discipline Are You… Withdrawing from them? (2Th.3:6) Turning away from them? (2Ti.3:5) Rejecting them? (Ti.3:10) Treating them like the Jew treated a heathen and tax collector? (Mt.18:17) A GOOD TEST FOR EVERY SITUATION