1. Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

2. A reminder to consider others Please:
Turn off your cell phone or set to vibrate only
Turn off sound to all electronic devices
Use the nursery or cry room if your child is fussy
Get up during the preaching only if absolutely necessary (please sit in back if you must leave early)

3. God’s Correction of His Children Matthew 18:15-20
This passage began as a correction to the disciples pride - they needed to humble and trusting like a child
God identifies with His children and is protective of them - Matthew 18:5-6

4. God’s Correction of His Children Matthew 18:15-20
You need to take radical action to get rid of stumbling blocks in your life - Matthew 18:8-9
God has assigned angels to watch over His children / believers - Matthew 18:10 4

5. God’s Correction of His Children Matthew 18:15-20
God is a shepherd who watches over His sheep and goes after those that stray - Matthew 18:12-14
Not every sheep mingling with God’s flock belongs to Him - Matthew 13:24-30, John 10:27, 1 John 2:19 5

6. God Corrects His Children Matthew 18:15-17; Hebrews 11:4-13
A passage is distorted by interpreting it out of its context or according to human philosophies
Rejection of Jesus’ instructions is a demonstration of pride and arrogance - the opposite of being child-like
Hebrews 12:4-11

7. God Corrects His Children Matthew 18:15-17; Hebrews 11:4-13
Matthew 18: Jesus’ instructions on how to be involved in the Father’s correction of His children
The purpose of church discipline is to restore a sinning brother, and it only escalates due to stubbornness 7

8. First Step of Church Discipline Matthew 18:15
Go and reprove privately.
Galatians 6:1-4 expands on the proper manner and attitude of admonishment
The church is a community of believers that love each other enough to correct & bear one another’s burdens

9. First Step of Church Discipline Matthew 18:15
This can be any sin that requires reproof - minor irritations may be overlooked - Prov. 10:12; 1 Peter 4:8
Sin that causes conflict must be confronted - but beware it could just be a misunderstanding 9

10. First Step of Church Discipline Matthew 18:15
Matthew 5: Matthew 18:15 = both parties to a conflict are to seek reconciliation
Genuine love gives a lot of room for tolerance, but obvious sin must be confronted 10

11. Second Step of Church Discipline Matthew 18:16
Go with two or three others to try and establish the truth
This is not a court of inquiry before a judge as in Deuteronomy 17:6; 19:15-21

12. Second Step of Church Discipline Matthew 18:16
This is a warning to a stumbling brother and help to get him up and assist him with his burden
There should be at least one wise, impartial and spiritually mature person to mediate 12

13. Third Step of Church Discipline Matthew 18:17a
The church is told so that they can get involved or at least pray
Adequate time is given for the church to act, but the situation is not allowed to drag on

14. Fourth Step of Church Discipline Matthew 18:17b
The church recognizes the person is no longer walking with Christ properly and refuses to repent
This is not ostracizing or shunning - Matthew 5:44
To treat as a Gentile is to treat as a non- Christian - continually give them the gospel

15. Fourth Step of Church Discipline Matthew 18:17b
To great as a tax-gatherer is to refuse fellowship with them - there is no longer a basis for it
The exception to going through each step is that public sins must be dealt with publically 15

16. Fourth Step of Church Discipline Matthew 18:17b
Other scriptures: 1 Cor. 5:9-13, Gal. 1:9, Eph. 5:11-12, Titus 3:10–11, 2 John 9-11, 2 Thess. 3:6,14-15
Continuing to fellowship with an unrepentant sinner will eventually prove to be harmful to you 16

17. The Authority for Church Discipline Matthew 18:18-20
Jesus commands church discipline to be carried out - Matthew 18:15-17
Matthew 18:18 –
The church has the authority to forbid or permit

18. The Authority for Church Discipline Matthew 18:18-20
The church has authority because God answers its prayers to forgive or retain - John 20:23
Matthew 18:20 –
The church has authority because Jesus is present in the judgment 18

19. Other Causes for Church Discipline
Public rebuke is due to unrepentance or public sin - 1 Corinthians 5; 1 Timothy 5:19-20; 1 John 2:18-19
Common serious sins resulting in church discipline:
Doctrinal deviation (Titus 3:9; Romans 16:17-18; 2 Thess 3:14-15; John 1:10; 2 Peter 2:1-2; 1 Tim 6:3-5)

20. Other Causes for Church Discipline
Immoral conduct (Romans 1: 24-32, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, all sexual perversions
Sowing discord or causing division (Proverbs 6:19; Romans 16:17; Titus 3:10-11)
Living in a disorderly manner (2 Thessalonians 3:6-15; Jude). 20

21. Other Reasons for Church Discipline beyond restoration through repentance
Teach about God & His commands: (Hebrews 12:5-13; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 4:2; 1 Thess. 5:14; Titus 1:13)
To keep the church from sin (1 Corinthians 5:2,6-7; Galatians 5:7-10; 2 Timothy 2:14-18)

22. To promote the proper fear of God (Acts 5:13-14)
Other Reasons for Church Discipline beyond restoration through repentance
To identify those who are disobedient (Romans 16:17; 2 Thessalonians 3:14)
To remove the unrepentant from fellowship (Matt. 18:17; 1 Cor. 5:13; Thess. 3:6,14; Titus 3:10-11)
To promote the proper fear of God (Acts 5:13-14) 22

23. Conclusions
Embrace God’s discipline for He chastens those He loves
Like king David, God’s children may be resistant (Psalm 32), but eventually are submissive & grateful for it (Psalm 51)

24. Conclusions
Illegitimate children will be proud, resist and reject leaving a trail of broken relationships and ungodliness 24

25. Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ