Rediscover Church, Chapter 6 - Pt 2 (3/9/22)

What goes through your mind when you think of discipline? (Love? Abuse? Training? Necessary? Makes productive? )

"Is Church Discipline Really Loving?"

Review

What is discipline? (You can be really selfish, excommunication)

Why is discipline necessary?

Why is discipline loving? (It teaches us things we may not know, it reminds of things we have forgotten or choose not to consider)

Why do people refer to church discipline as the last step in the discipline process or when they think about discipline Automatically go to that thought? (Can't make any more progress on their own, need others to help, forgot that they have to take steps too!)

What does removal of a member not communicate? (Lack of love, lack of desire, lack/ judgement of persons salvation, discipline is not about punishment or retribution any more than a deserved f on a homework assignment)

Summary - discipline is loving God and other people so much that we cannot do anything but follow through appropriately. The big question we asked last week is “On a day-to-day basis, how do we help those around us to understand that discipline is loving?

We model what loving discipline looks like

We teach and affirm the discipline process, even we ourselves are being disciplined.

We leave the rest to the Holy Spirit to prick their hearts.

WEEK 2 Discussion

7. Fill in the blank... If Membership affirms believers, what does removal from membership do? (it removes that affirmation. It doesn’t necessarily say “you are not saved” but it is saying to the person “your life doesn’t look like Christ right now.”).

8. What occasions warrant removal of affirmation?

a. Unrepentant

b. Verifiable (what does this mean? )

c. Significant. (What is not significant? What is significant? ) This is an earthly, with backup in Scripture. All sin in God's eyes is significant.

What is “significant” sin?

...public

...the first two criteria make a sin significant.

…there is a time to immediately remove a member and wait for repentance to come at a later time.

8. Church Discipline is a push toward Christ likeness and repentance.

1 cor 5:5

Heb 12:6,10,11.

9. We can't (or at least shouldn’t) talk about discipline without talking about love.

One of my brothers is currently living in sin. When he was disciplined out of the church, he considered suing that church because he thought they were unloving. The church and specifically the Deacons were actually very loving but he was blinded by his desires. They stood between him and the sin he so desperately wanted them to ignore or decree acceptable.

Love isn't how we feel, love is how we think and act toward others. Love is obedience. To obey is better than ____." "If you love me ......." Here are a few other verses...

Jn 14:31,21; 15:10; 1 jn 2:5

Church Discipline is loving because our vulnerable members feel safe. Sin shouldn't hide and a culture of confessing and making observation about others sin should create a culture of safety and drive us toward each other.

10. Read Mt 18:10-17

“10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. 12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 13 And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. 14 So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. 15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector”

how does this apply to church discipline?

What are the important principles here? (Keep the matter as small as possible, everyone has a responsibility to talk about sin.)

Discipline is loving to the community and other members. It keeps us salty!

11. For discipline to be effective love needs to be constantly, clearly, and consistently taught and demonstrated. Read pp 95-96 or ignore for times sake.

12. How should church members interact with a person who has been removed from church membership (or who has chosen to leave fellowship)?

Galatians 6:1 ESV

1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

a. Interact if you can do so without being drawn into temptation. If a person was disciplined for something you have a tendency to be weak for, stay away!

b. Remember that the disciplined and removed person is not currently taking God’s words seriously. Take every that disciplined persons says very cautiously! (prone to lying, selfishness, greed, covetousness, doesn’t take the church body seriously, is prone to tearing the body apart instead of building it up).

13. When does restoration occur?

A look at OUR attitude...

Look at Christ’s attitude toward discipline in Heb 12:5-8

Hebrews 12:5–8 ESV

5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” 7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

What should our attitude be?

Galatians 6:1 (ESV)

1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

philemon.... Paul advocated very strongly for Onesimus to be forgiven and restored to Philemon. Paul vouched for and encouraged Philemon to act w forgiveness. What might have happened had Philemon NOT forgiven and been reconciled to Onesimus? (He would have been disciplined!)

Win them by our love.

Philippians 2:2 ESV

2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

Christ won us by His great love, so we should win those who hate us by our love. (why did I use hate here? Because if the disciplined person does not love us by being restored, they actually “hate” us!) Why is understanding “hatred” during a discipline situation important? (it reveals their heart, reveals our heart, reveals intensity of a person’s struggles)

When should a person be added back into membership?

Leviticus 6:4 (ESV)

4 if he has sinned and has realized his guilt and will restore what he took by robbery or what he got by oppression or the deposit that was committed to him or the lost thing that he found

(zaccheus!)

when guilty has been admitted and the person has taken every reasonable step to “repay” the person harmed. (“repay” doesn’t mean money will cover the harm. It is a practical step for the offender to put his money where his mouth is!)

Consider these next two verses:

Psalm 51:12 (ESV) 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Psalm 80:3 (ESV) 3 Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved!

Restoration is possible when the disciplined person longs to be acceptable by God and longs to have His joy!

14. Close w highlight on p 99.

PRAYER:

Einfeldt’s txt.