1. Pt. 3 “But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.” 2 Thes.3:6

2. God commands it To save souls Unrepentant member In prayer without partiality

3. 1. How we should treat them 2. Excuses for not practicing Pt. 3

4. They still need love John 13:34-35 “love one to another” Withdraw yourselves 2 Thes. 3:6-15 admonish as brother

5. Mark and avoid them Rom. 16:17 “mark them which cause divisions...” Not to eat with them 1 Cor. 5:11 “...not even to eat with such a person.”

6. Put them away 1 Cor. 5:13 “put away the wicked man from among yourselves.” Admonish him 2 Thes 3:15 “...admonish him as a brother.”

8. 1.Wheat & Tares Objection  God will do it at judgmentAnswer  Not about discipline  II Thes. 3:6

9. 2. Judge Not Objection  Should not judge othersAnswer  Warning against hypocritical judging  Righteous judgment

10. 3. Already Withdrawn from Us Objection  Needs no further actionAnswer  Misunderstand discipline  Command to withdraw  Church does the withdrawing

11. 4. Will do more Harm than Good Objection  It will hurt the churchAnswer  Not throwing people out of the church  Acts 5:1-11 – good results  Does not hurt – makes it healthier

12. 5. Lord adds we cannot subtract Objection  God is to do the subtractingAnswer  Born again – become member  Unfaithful – needs to repent  Commanded to discipline

13. 6. None of us are without sin Objection  No one has right to point out flawsAnswer  Clear out any skeletons  Some sin willfully  Must obey command to discipline

14. Various Objections to Discipline (1) It is not pleasant (2) I’m against it (3) We’ve never done it before (4) I don’t want to get involved (5) We can’t know the other person’s heart (6) Done to show authority

15. “...woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” 1 Cor. 9:16 “For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.” Acts 20:26-27

16. We have a responsibility to carry out God’s commands. Let us not make excuses but practice discipline to keep the church pure.

17. Sermon by Arthur Pigman Evans Church of Christ 515 Gibbs Road Evans, Ga. 30809 706-855-1249evanscoc@bellsouth.netwww.evansgachurchofchrist.org Sunday Evening April 20, 2008