Church Discipline

What?

Why?

Who?

When?

How?

Why Not?

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 that are necessary for entrance into heaven

Christians are to live in the doctrine of Christ

Discipline is required to maintain this proper relationship—instructive and corrective

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;

educationCorrective – chastising or penalizing in

nature

Why Practice It?

Obey God (Mt. 18:15-18; 2 Thess. 3:6-15)

Save the soul of the erring one (1 Cor. 5:4-5)

Protect others in the church (1 Cor. 5:6)

Keep the church pure (1 Cor. 5:7)

Cause all of us to examine our lives (Acts

5:12: 1 Tim. 1:20)

Be an example to the world (Mt. 5:13-16)

No Sin Exempt

Those who sin against a brother (Mt. 18:15-17) Fornicator, covetous, unclean (Eph. 5:3-5) Reviler, idolater, drunkard, extortioner (1 Cor. 5:11) Blasphemers (1 Tim. 1:20) False teachers, divisive men (Rom. 16:17) Heretics (Titus 3:10); Hypocrites (1 Cor. 16:22) Liars, murderers, unbelieving, fearful (Rev. 21:8) Homosexuals, adulterers, thieves (1 Cor. 6:9-10) Disorderly (2 Thess. 3:6) Those who forsake the assembly (Heb. 10:25)

Who Should Be Disciplined?

The brother or sister who refuses to

repent of sin.

Fellowship is not 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 Do We Withdraw?

Establish that sin has been committed Sin must be proved (1 Jn. 3:4; 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 sufficient time to reach the erring (Mt. 18:15-17) Time given for entire church to act Visits, cards, admonishments, & prayers

After all efforts fail—action taken (1 Cor. 5) Withdrawal—last step in long chain of efforts to save

the erring brother or sister

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. Those with little faith (2 Cor. 5:7) Those who put fellowship with men above

fellowship with God (Mt. 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)?

How To Treat Those Who Have Been Disciplined?

Public announcement (1 Cor. 5:3-5) “Mark” (Rom. 16:17) “Withdraw” and “Note” (2 Thess. 3:6, 14) “Admonish” and “Reject” (Titus 3:10)

Individual Practice of Discipline Proper support of whole body (2 Cor. 2:6) 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 10-11) Treat as a heathen and tax collector (Mt. 18:18)

Reasons Given For Nor Practicing Discipline:

We are not to judge. Tear up church and do more harm than good. It will harden them in their sins. No one is perfect, we all sin. Their family will be upset if we discipline. Our other preachers never said much about

this. We didn’t withdraw from some in past years,

its not fair to start now.

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. 32:28-29 Lev. 10:1-7 Deut. 13:6-11; 21:18-21 Josh. 7:15-25; Deut. 24:16 1 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 – Gal. 6:1; 1 Thess. 5:14 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, and Correct – Acts 8:22