The Disciplined Church

Are we our Brother's Keeper?

[Announce Text] 1

[Scriptural Introduction] [Contextualization] [Creation of longing]

[Renounce text and Read]

[Pray]

[Introduction] Hardest sections in the Bible. [FCF]

[Proposition]

[Main point #1] Because the Church is a disciplined church, we must be supportive.

[Sub point 1] Supportive is not causing others to stumble.

[Sub point 2] Rom 14:13-15 Supportive is giving up liberty to serve

[Sub point 3]

[Illustration]

[Application] Is something you are doing nonsupporting? Think of a way to support your brother or sister.

Now Jesus gets more specific

[Main point #2] Because the Church is a disciplined church, we must be stringent.

[Sub point 1] Being stringent requires us to be stringent on our own bodies.

Stringent comes from the Latin verb “stringo” - to draw tightly

Dalane Doles: amputation is because that limp is dead and it can infect the rest of the body. It is for a healthier church. It is painful.

[Sub point 2] Being stringent requires us to be stringent on Christ’s body.

Stringent on the flesh so the spirit may live.

[Sub point 3]

[Illustration] It was not until I left Rockford. Starting anew. No longer did I feel pulled to keep up my old reputation.

[Application] What is causing you to stumble? “If you do what is easy now, tomorrow will be hard. If you do what is hard now, tomorrow will be easy.”

[Main point #3] 12-14 Because Church is about fellowship, we must be seeking.

[Sub point 1] Seeking is for the salvation of others

[Sub point 2] Seeking is time consuming.

[Sub point 3] Seeking is not allow ANYONE to fall through the cracks. “The faithfulness of the majority may never excuse us for ignoring anyone who still remains distant from God.”

[Illustration] Close friend who was never sough out after.

[Application] Are we seeking the ones who have strayed?

[Main point #4] Because the Church is a disciplined church, we must be shunning.

[Sub point 1] Step one: go and tell him his fault.

[Illustration] Julie and I reading marriage book “reproving each other.”

“Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.”

But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.”

C. S. Lewis “Personally, I do not think that I should value much the “love” of a friend who cared only for comfort and happiness and did not object to my becoming dishonest… love is something more stern and splendid than mere kindness.”

”

[Sub point 2] Step two: take one or two more.

“A single witness shall not rise up against a man on account of any iniquity or any sin which he has committed; on the evidence of two or three witnesses a matter shall be confirmed.”

Do not go and tell many others. Resolve the issue and do it by involving as few people possible.

[Sub point 3] Step three: “tell it to the church.”

The individual must be known by everyone, not allowing him to hide

[Sub point 4] Step four: “Let him be to you as a gentile and tax collectors.”

Tax collectors were “traitors” gentiles were “unclean.”

Other places in scripture:

, “If anyone does not obey our instruction ain this letter, take special note of that person band do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame. 15 Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”

15 Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but badmonish him as a brother.

“But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one.”

: “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; 11 for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.”

”

11 for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.

[Sub point 5] Our shunning is actually God’s shunning. “Then the church’s loosing and binding—forgiving or refusing to forgive—carries the very authority of God.”

The New American Commentary: Matthew 2. Implications for the Church: Humility and Forgiveness (18:1–35)

The word for any “thing” (pragma) is a term frequently limited to judicial matters.

The New American Commentary: Matthew 2. Implications for the Church: Humility and Forgiveness (18:1–35)

The word for any “thing” (pragma) is a term frequently limited to judicial matters.

The word “πράγματος” can and probably does refer to judicial matters.

In this context, God is saying his judicial presence is with those who pass judgement. This is no light gathering.

[Illustration] Given a credit card at work. “I trust you to make purchases and I agree with your purchases.”

[Application] Are we shouldering our God given responsibility to shun the disobedient?

Because Church is about fellowship, we must be seeking.

[Main point #5] Because the Church is a disciplined church, we must be softhearted.

[Sub point 1] Softhearted to forgive

[Sub point 2] Joyous celebration of the lost sheep.

[Sub point 3] , “and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, “MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM; 6 FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES.” It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.”

“MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD,

NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM;

6 FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES,

AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES.”

7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

“But if any has caused sorrow, he has caused sorrow not to me, but in some degree—in order not to say too much—to all of you. Sufficient for such a one is this punishment which was inflicted by the majority, so that on the contrary you should rather forgive and comfort him, otherwise such a one might be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. Wherefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him. For to this end also I wrote, so that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things.

8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

6 Sufficient for such a one is this punishment which was inflicted by the majority,

9 Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live?

7 so that on the contrary you should rather forgive and comfort him, otherwise such a one might be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.

10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.

8 Wherefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him.

11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

9 For to this end also I wrote, so that I might bput you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things.

”

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[Illustration]

[Application]

Because the Church is a disciplined church, we must be seeking.

Conclusion

Supportive

Stringent

Seeking

Shunning

Softhearted.

“Only as we re-create intimate community within the local church and networks of accountability among different churches can we hope to apply these verses effectively. But without this application, sin in the church will continue to compromise the unity and testimony of God’s people.”

, “A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing”

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 3

A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.