Corrective Church Discipline Unknown Ignored Unseen Rejected Misunderstood

Discipline: OT Topic Uncircumcised male child – Gen. 17:14 Those who eat blood – Lev. 7:26-27 Offer of unauthorized sacrifice – Lev. 17:8-9 Idol worshippers – Deut. 13:6-18 Rebellious son – Deut. 21:18-21 Adam & Eve – Gen. 3 – Administered by God! Korah’s rebellion – Num. 16 - Administered by God! Nadab & Abihu – Lev. 10:1-2 - Administered by God! Sabbath violator – Num. 15:32 - Administered by man! Achan – Josh. 7 - Administered by God’s people!

Discipline: NT Topic Sin against a brother – Matt. 18:15-18 Liars – Acts 5:1-14 - Administered by God! False Teacher – Rom. 16:17; 1 Tim. 6:3-5 Arrogant – 1 Cor. 4:19-21 Immoral – 1 Cor. 5:1-13 Action toward penitent – 2 Cor. 2:6-11 Sinned & not repented – 2 Cor. 13:1-2 Unruly to be warned – 1 Thess. 5:14 Disorderly – 2 Thess. 3:6-15 Those who reject the faith – 1 Tim. 1:19-20 Elders who sin – 1 Tim. 5:19-20 Insubordinate – Titus 1:10-13 Heretics – Titus 3:10-11

Remember Motive: Love for the Lord and the erring Christian – Heb. 12:5-6 Does not condemn one to hell – Jn. 5:27 GOD SIN JOHN 5:27 Christian Christian Withdraw

Remember Motive: Love for the Lord and the erring Christian – Heb. 12:5-6 Does not condemn one to hell – Jn. 5:27 More involved than making a public announcement – 1 Cor. 5:4-5, 11 Disciplined Christian is not an enemy – 2 Thess. 3:15

Lesson on Discipline What is discipline? Why discipline? Who is a subject of corrective church discipline? When do we administer discipline? How are we to treat the disciplined?

Means Appointed by God to Save His Erring Children What Is Discipline? Training or experience that corrects, molds, strengthens; Esp. mental faculties or moral character. Primarily, an admonishing or calling to soundness of mind or self-control. Instructive: preventive in nature; education. Corrective: chastising or penalizing in nature. Means Appointed by God to Save His Erring Children

What Is Discipline? Training: broad idea of education Principles of discipline basic to all relationships Self-discipline Parent/Child Government/Citizen Church/Christian Corrective church discipline – emphasis of lesson Cultivation of a disciplined mind, body, & life involves: teaching, correction, reproof, admonition, punishment, & chastisement.

Church of Christ Identifiable body of baptized believers working and worshipping together. Voluntary relationship for the good of all. Honor and praise God. Salvation of lost souls. Cultivate qualities in the individual Christian that are necessary for entrance into heaven. Christians are to live in the doctrine of Christ. Discipline is required to maintain this proper relationship—both instructive and corrective.

Not Everyone True To Their Commitments Ananias & Sapphira – Acts 5:1-11 John Mark for a while – Acts 13:13 Immoral brother in Corinth – 1 Cor. 5 Others in Corinth – 1 Cor. 1-4 Hymenaeus & Alexander – 1 Tim. 1:19-20 Hymenaeus & Philetus – 2 Tim. 2:16-19 Demas – 2 Tim. 4:10 Diotrephes – 3 Jn. 9-10

Why Administer Discipline? Save Soul of the Erring – 1 Cor. 5:4-5 Protect Others in the Church – 1 Cor. 5:6 Be Example to World – Matt. 5:13-16 Keep the Church Pure – 1 Cor. 5:7 Cause All Christians to Examine Their Lives – Acts 5:12; 1 Tim. 1:20 Obey God – Mt. 18:15-18; 2 Thess. 3:6-15; 2:15; 1 Cor. 5:1-13

Subjects of Church Discipline Remember: It’s a sin if we fail to discipline those we know should be disciplined – Heb. 10:26-27 Remember purpose – Save soul lost in sin! Therefore, when brother sins and all other means of restoring him fail, then this brother becomes a subject of church discipline. ANY SIN—a brother knowingly, willfully, and impenitently continues in—unless, there are some sins that will not damn a soul to hell.

WHO? Those who sin against a brother – Mt. 18:15-17 Fornicator, covetous, unclean, idolater – Eph. 3:5 Immoral, covetous, extortioner, drunkard – 1 Cor. 5:11 Blasphemers – 1 Timothy 1:20 False teachers & those causing division – Rom. 16:17 Heretics – Titus 3:10 Hypocrites – 1 Cor. 16:22 Liars, murderers, unbelieving, sorcerers – Rev. 21:8 Homosexuals, immoral, thieves, revilers – 1 Cor. 6:9-11 Elders who continue in sin – 1 Tim. 5:19-20 Those who forsake the assembly – Heb. 10:25 Those who walk disorderly – 2 Thess. 3:6

WHO? THE IMPENITENT Fellowship is never severed because of a particular sin being committed, but rather, because of an unrepentant attitude or disposition of heart toward the sin or sins committed!

WHEN? Establish that sin has been committed: Sin to be proved – Mt. 18:15-17 Proof of Achan’s sin shown to all – Josh. 7:22-23 Cannot act on hearsay – 1 Tim. 5:19 Give time to reach erring – Matt. 18:15-17 Time for individuals & church to act – Gal. 6:1; Jas. 5:19 Combine cards, visits, admonishments, & prayers After all other efforts fail – Final step – 1 Cor. 5 Withdrawal – Last Step In Long Chain of Efforts to Save the Erring Child of God!

HOW? Public Announcement – 1 Cor. 5:3-5 “Mark” – Rom. 16:17 “Withdraw” and “Note” – 2 Thess. 3:6-14 “Reject” – Titus 3:10 Individual Action of Each Member – Rom. 16:17 Do not keep company with him – 2 Thess. 3:14 Do not associate with him – 1 Cor. 5:11 Do not eat with him – 1 Cor. 5:11 Do not receive him 2 John 9-11 Treat as heathen & tax collector – Matt. 18:18 Proper Support of Whole Body – 2 Cor. 2:6

Who Would NOT Support Church Discipline? Other Sinners – 2 Cor. 12:21-13:2 Ignorant and Untaught – Lev. 5:17 Grumblers looking for a complaint Those who think they know better than God how to save the erring – Rom. 10:2 Those with “little faith” – 2 Cor. 5:7 Those who put fellowship with men above fellowship with God – Matt. 10:37; Jn. 12:42-43 Power-Seekers – 2 Sam. 15:4

Corrective Church Discipline Appointed by God to save His erring children! Who are we to fight against God? – Acts 5:39 Who are we to question God? – Rom. 9:20-21 Can we withstand God? – Acts 11:17

Questions Could I work on the same job? Could I eat in the same café? Could I accept invitations from other Christians if they also invited those who were disciplined? What if my spouse is disciplined? What about the parent/child relationship?

Are Family Members Exempt? Cut off from his people: Gen. 17:14 Exod. 30:33, 38 Lev. 7:20-21, 25, 27 Lev. 19:8; 23:29 Num. 9:13 Exod. 32:27-29 Lev. 10:1-7 Deut. 13:6-11; 21:18-21 Josh. 7:15-25; Deut. 24:16 I Sam. 3:13 1 Kgs. 15:11-13 Ezra 10:3, 4, 11 Matt. 10:34-36 Matt. 12:46-50 Luke 9:62 1 Cor. 5:11 2 Thess. 3:6, 14-15 Matt. 18:15-17

Working With God To Save Souls God Has Done His Part: Sacrificed His Son For Us Revealed Plan For Saving Souls We Must Do Our Part: Warn the Unruly – 1 Thess. 5:14; Gal. 6:1 Withdraw from Disorderly – 2 Thess. 3:6 Public Announcement – 1 Cor. 5:4-5 Private Application – 1 Cor. 5:11 Sinner Must Do His Part Repent, Confess, Correct – Acts 8:22