(CM 09) Final Thoughts on Church Discipline
Notes
Transcript
Handout
We talked about a lot of this last week, but I want to bring more clarity to it this week.
1. When is church discipline necessary?
1. When is church discipline necessary?
A disciple is one who follows Jesus.
Disciple-making is done by teaching, training, and correcting a disciple.
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
1. When is church discipline necessary?
1. When is church discipline necessary?
We teach truth and correct sin.
This is why life on life or truthing it is important.
A christian’s need for correction should make sense to us.
We know our lives are a mess when we come to Christ.
We need other believers to help us thrive.
So when is discipline necessary?
A. Discipline is necessary when a disciple strays from following Jesus.
A. Discipline is necessary when a disciple strays from following Jesus.
Most often discipline happens privately and informally.
Occasionally discipline happens formally and publically.
This is what we most often refer to as church discipline.
This is the correction we looked at in (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
The hope is that discipline happens in its early stages.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
A. Discipline is necessary when a disciple strays from following Jesus.
A. Discipline is necessary when a disciple strays from following Jesus.
B. Formal and public church discipline happens when a member’s failure to follow Jesus becomes so characteristic and habitual that the church has reason to think they may not be a Christian.
B. Formal and public church discipline happens when a member’s failure to follow Jesus becomes so characteristic and habitual that the church has reason to think they may not be a Christian.
When all the other interactions don’t work.
When they don’t listen to scripture’s correction.
When they don’t respond to being pushed and prodded.
And this sin becomes regularly and unrepentantly habitual.
A sin or a sinful lifestyle shows it self to be characteristic or the norm rather than the exception.
We could think about it this way…
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins
in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—
among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
B. Formal and public church discipline happens when a member’s failure to follow Jesus becomes so characteristic and habitual that the church has reason to think they may not be a Christian.
B. Formal and public church discipline happens when a member’s failure to follow Jesus becomes so characteristic and habitual that the church has reason to think they may not be a Christian.
2. Sins we expect vs. sins we don’t expect.
2. Sins we expect vs. sins we don’t expect.
Where is the line that is crossed when the whole congregation gets involved?
There are sins we expect as Christians and sins we don’t expect.
Sins that make you question their profession of Jesus.
Private and informal discipline happens on both sides of line
But public formal discipline happens when the line is crossed and there is no repentance.
There is a difference between a one time lie that is repented of and someone who builds their life on a lie or several lies and refuses to let them go.
For instance: one christian claims to have recieved a prestigious job offer that he didn’t really receive.
Later he confesses that sin and moves on.
Another Christian builds an entire career off falsified information. Later he is discovered and confronted but refuses to confess and continues to live the lie.
One lie we expect.
The old man wins for a moment.
The Spirit convicts and sin is confessed.
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
2. Sins we expect vs. sins we don’t expect.
2. Sins we expect vs. sins we don’t expect.
The new man fights back.
The second lie we don’t expect from a life indwelt by the Holy Spirit.
Formal church discipline happens when a Christian comfortably lives in their sinfulness.
All sin is wrong.
All sin misrepresents Jesus.
Some sins, especially sin patterns will cause an entire assembly of believers to lose trust in a person’s profession of Christ.
3. Outward, serious, unrepentant.
3. Outward, serious, unrepentant.
For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?
3. Outward, serious, unrepentant.
3. Outward, serious, unrepentant.
We are to judge those within the church.
Jesus says take 2 or 3 to be witnesses.
The process of judging people in a courtroom involves judging on what people can see with their eyes and hear with their ears.
He didn’t give us the ability to see hearts.
He gave us eyes, ears, and brains to process what we see and hear.
We then consider the fruit we see and hear.
Non Christians are definitely using their eyes and ears to observe and judge Christians. We should be too.
God gives the the church the authority to make a public declaration based on public or outward fruit.
So former church discipline should occur when sins are outward, serious, and unrepentant.
Sin must have manifested itself in a public way.
Churches can’t kick someone out because they suspect a sin.
We don’t call people in front of the church every time with we think pride or greed is in someone’s heart.
Sin must be serious.
We can’t chase every little sin.
Remember we sin every day.
There has to be room for grace in the church.
Sin must be un-repented of.
From all appearances the person values sin more than Jesus.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
3. Outward, serious, unrepentant.
3. Outward, serious, unrepentant.
We are going to sin.
Sin clings close to us.
Paul asked why he did what he didn’t want to and why he didn’t do what he wanted to.
Don’t think we should be running around looking for reasons to throw people out.
This isn’t legalism.
We should think about…
How long have they been a Christian?
What have they been taught?
Have they admitted they are wrong?
4. What is restoration?
4. What is restoration?
It is bring a christian back into fellowship with Jesus and the church.
My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back,
let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
4. What is restoration?
4. What is restoration?
Outwardly it is the church publicly declaring their forgiveness and reaffirming their citizenship in God’s kingdom.
In Paul’s second letter to the Corinthian church he speaks of church discipline again. This time giving a picture of restoration.
For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough,
so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.
So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him.
4. What is restoration?
4. What is restoration?
The majority of the congregation had voted to excommunicate this person.
There seems to be repentance so Paul calls the church to forgive.
Let’s look a little closer at this.
“Punishment” is a legal Greek term.
Speaking of valid legal actions.
Forgive him or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.
“Reaffirm” to officially ratify
Changing a valid, legal stance.
We do this by pouring love on them!
Once the church publicly declares forgiveness and again affirms their profession of Jesus the person is fully restored.
No probationary period.
No holding it over their head in some way.
Rather the church should affirm its love and celebrate this repentance as the father celebrated his prodigal son.
For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
4. What is restoration?
4. What is restoration?
The goal of church discipline is always restoration not punishment.
5. When should restoration occur?
5. When should restoration occur?
When the sinner repents and the church is fully convinced that repentance is real because they see fruit.
Restoration occurs when the church is once again ready to stand up publicly and vouch for their salvation.
Evidence of repentance may differ.
Sometimes it’s black and white.
If a man abandon his wife, and returned to her that is obvious.
Sometimes it’s gray.
Someone caught in a cycle addiction may not be completely victorious over that addiction but there is more victory and there is a sorrow for that sin.
We need to pray for wisdom in assessing the evidence and fruit of repentance.
