1. Journey Into Holiness – p.2 “The Process of Restoration” Matthew 18:15-20

3. Jesus Christ gave us some very specific instructions for how to deal with failure. His instructions are “not optional. These are commands. We confuse “tolerance” with love.

4. Matthew 18:15-20 (NIV) "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.

5. Matthew 18:15-20 (NIV) But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church;

6. Matthew 18:15-20 (NIV) and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector. "I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

7. Matthew 18:15-20 (NIV) "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."

8. Our ultimate goal must be restoration whenever possible.

9. Myth #1: I am supposed to confront people in the church when they do something that offends me. "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.

10. Myth #1: Personal preferences –desires that appeal to me but are not mandated by the Holy Spirit or Biblical commands. “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love” - Ephesians 4:2

11. Myth #1: Personal convictions – something the Holy Spirit impresses you to do or quit doing in order to live a Jesus-centered life.

12. Myth #1: Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are." - Acts 1:10-11

13. Myth #1: Principles Local - standards or ideals that govern the generally accepted behavior of a local community of believers.

14. Myth #1: Universal - standards or ideals that apply universally to the body of Christ.

15. Myth #1: The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.

16. Myth #1: I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. - Galatians 5:19-21

17. Myth #1: Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. - Galatians 6:1

18. Myth #1: Truth: Jesus commanded us to confront someone if their action presents a spiritual danger through sin.

19. Myth #2: If the person sinning does not quit sinning after they are confronted we should practice shunning. (vv.16-17) But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.'

20. Myth #2: If the person sinning does not quit sinning after they are confronted we should practice shunning. (vv.16-17) If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

21. Myth #2: Jesus instructed us that the next step is to take two or three witnesses along with us. And Jesus saw we must do this so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.'

22. Myth #2: “a matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses” (Lev. 19:15)

23. Myth #2: Jesus said the third step is to tell it to the church. The church “is clearly more local, the gathering of the brothers and sisters who are accustomed to meet in that place”.

24. Myth #2: Jesus said the next step if the wandering person does not listen is to treat them as a “pagan or tax collector”.

25. Myth #2: Truth: If all attempts at restoring a “sinning” brother fail, no one “should continue under the delusion that this person is truly saved” (Keener, 289).

26. Myth #3: The church can bind evil spirits and loose great things into the lives of people and if we agree in prayer about it God is obligated to answer. "I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

27. Myth #3: The church can bind evil spirits and loose great things into the lives of people and if we agree in prayer about it God is obligated to answer. "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.

28. Myth #3: Repentance and forgiveness will be required in restoring those in the church who sin. Truth: The church received authority from Jesus Christ to grant or withhold forgiveness based on their assessment of true repentance.

29. Myth #4: It really doesn’t matter if only a few people show up for a prayer meeting, God is still there. (v.20) For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."

30. Myth #4 Truth: Jesus is always present in matters of judgment in the church and when two or three people, under Jesus authority seek to restore a sinner.

31. Bottom Line: Holy people are committed to preserving the church as a community of holy people!

32. Application for anyone just starting the journey… If you have not declared yourself a believer in Jesus Christ you are living as a pagan - far below your potential. If you sin we will confront!

33. Application for anyone following hard after Christ… Let go…of fighting for your preferences. Lighten up…in regard to personal convictions. Take seriously the matter of spiritual restoration through the local church!