Tag Church Discipline

1 Corinthians 5:9-13 – “Tough Love part 2”

Jon Beck Leave a comment

My sermon notes for Sunday morning, Feb. 20th.  Remember, these are my personal study notes and not a manuscript of the sermon. They are provided as an outline each week for our Tabernacle Church family. The church provides a live stream of the service each Sunday at 10:30 on Facebook. We also provide the services through YouTube by Sunday afternoon.  You can find our Worship Guides, Family Devotional Guides, Prayer List, and other resources at our Church Website.

[9] I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—[10] not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. [11] But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. [12] For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? [13] God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.” (ESV)

INTRO:

  • This week is “Tough Love” part 2.
  • God is concerned about who we are as a church…about our fellowship with Him…about our influence as a church.
  • TWO THINGS
    • We are to be in the world, but not of it.
    • God desires for His Church to strive toward holiness (not perfect, but blameless)
  • GOD IS HOLY AND WE NEED TO REFLECT HIS HOLINESS 1 Peter 1:13-16
  • It does matter HOW we live and WHO we do life with
  • Let us consider these three words as we apply God’s Word to our life this morning.
  • AS WE DO CONSIDER THIS… Our Attitude AS A CHURCH BECOMES THE CULTURE OF OUR CHURCH
  • (PROACTIVE OUR REACTIVE)

ASSOCIATE – vv. 9-11

Mix Up Together. Intimate. Close in relationships

We are not to be isolated

  • They had pulled away from the worldly influence, yet were allowing the world to influence the Church
  • We cannot avoid contact, but we should avoid contamination
  • Phil 2:15
  • Acts 1:8

(This Wednesday night we will consider the balance of living IN but not being OF the world)

But we are to be separated

  • Bears the name of brother
  • Not those outside the faith – But those within the body of Christ
  • Sexual immorality, Greed, Idolater, reviler, drunkard, swindler
  • On-going, openly living contrary to God’s Will.

Eat with

  • Friendships that agree
  • Meals at that time were a sign of acceptance and fellowship

JUDGE – v.12

To discern right or wrong

The measuring rod is the WORD OF GOD

  • Not just my opinion
  • Not having a judgmental spirit
  • STATING A FACT
  • Calling something what God calls it (Sin)

PURGE – v. 13

To take away. Complete removal

The evil from among you

  • the importance of holiness.
  • BECAUSE HE IS HOLY
  • If we tolerate… are we agreeing?

TO ME… it is an ATTITUDE and EXPECTATION on the front end that then becomes the CULTURE of the Church.

Too often we ignore the front end and then we are left with a mess.

  • A perfect example is the raising of children

CONCLUSION

It is clear God wants us to take seriously our relationships within the church.  WHY?

So that we can be a holy church (The Church God is calling us to be)

  • Blessed Church
  • God Honoring Church
  • Loving Church
  • Caring Church
  • A Disciple Making Church
    • Where people are being changed

Tough Love is Tough Love for a Reason.

  • Do we have people within our church that love us enough to care?
    • That love us enough to walk with us. Pray for us.
    • To encourage and admonish.
    • To disciple us as we disciple others
KEY IS BEING PROACTIVE… NOT REACTIVE
  • Instead of dealing with things once they are bad.
  • We have a culture of Biblical love, encouragement, and discipleship
  • (Just like raising our children…SAME CONCEPT!)
ATTITUDE LEADS TO CULTURE

1 Corinthians 5:1-8 – “Tough Love”

Jon Beck Leave a comment 
[1] It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife. [2] And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you.

[3] For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. [4] When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, [5] you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.

[6] Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? [7] Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. [8] Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (ESV)

My sermon notes for Sunday morning, Feb. 13th.  Remember, these are my personal study notes and not a manuscript of the sermon. They are provided as an outline each week for our Tabernacle Church Family. The church provides a live stream of the service each Sunday at 10:30 on Facebook. We also provide the services through YouTube by Sunday afternoon.  You can find our Worship Guides, Family Devotional Guides, Prayer List, and other resources at our Church Website.

INTRO

  • It can seem hard at times to do what is right.
  • Yet, not doing what is right…  when it is right to do it… can have devastating results.
  • The Church of Corinth was allowing sin within the camp.
  • Paul knew the consequences. LOSS OF GOD’S PRESENCE AND BLESSING.
  • Here is a great picture of TOUGH LOVE within the church.

The Problem – Ungodly behavior – vv.1-2

Sin by the person

  • REMEMBER…this person is part of the body of Christ.  They claim to be a Christian.
  • The issue is not just the act… the issue is the heart of the person committing the act.
  • The issue is not a matter of opinion… it is not judging someone.  This person is living contrary to the precepts set forth by God Himself.  Their sin is against God.

Sin tolerated within the Church

  • Instead of grieving they are proud
  • James 4:1-10 – Sin should always grieve us!

Among you – Are you arrogant

  • By not saying anything…they are saying everything.  THEY ARE ALLOWING IT.

We allow it by

  • Not loving enough to care
  • Not loving enough to teach & instruct
  • Not loving enough to discipline (just like within a family)

The Solution – Address it Biblically- vv. 3-5

Create a culture

  • IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO BE PROACTIVE.
  • Have a life personally and corporately that is MOVING TOWARD MATURITY
    • Start with the End in Mind. Our attitude becomes our culture.
  • It becomes the culture of your family and church
  • Biblical Communication – Matthew 18:15-20

When issues arise… then act accordingly

  • Remove – Deliverer over to Satan
  • Repent – If He is God’s…He will repent
  • Restore – So that he can have “the joy of His salvation returned.” Ps. 51:12

Be Consistent. Be Patient. Be Loving

The Goal – God’s Blessing- vv. 6-8

God blesses a holy life.  God blesses a holy church

Sin spreads

  • A little leaven
  • silently, gradually, completely
  • the man AND THE TOLERANCE WITHIN THE PEOPLE OF GOD

For Christ our sacrifice

  • Christ has paid the price
  • We are holy, Set apart
    • So that we CAN LIVE HOLY

Put away the old… Malice and Evil

Put on the New… Sincerity and Truth

1 Peter 1:15-16 – But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

1 Peter 2:9 – But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Romans 6:22 – But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.

Scripture

James 4:1–10 – [1] What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? [2] You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. [3] You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. [4] You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. [5] Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? [6] But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” [7] Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. [8] Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. [9] Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. [10] Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. (ESV)

Matthew 18:15–20 – [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. [18] Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. [19] Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. [20] For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” (ESV)

Psalm 51:8–12

[8] Let me hear joy and gladness;

                             let the bones that you have broken rejoice.

              [9] Hide your face from my sins,

                             and blot out all my iniquities.

              [10] Create in me a clean heart, O God,

                             and renew a right spirit within me.

              [11] Cast me not away from your presence,

                             and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

              [12] Restore to me the joy of your salvation,

                             and uphold me with a willing spirit. (ESV)

1 Corinthians 4:14-21

Jon Beck Leave a comment

My sermon notes for Sunday morning, Feb. 6th.  Remember, these are my personal study notes and not a manuscript of the sermon. They are provided as an outline each week for our Tabernacle Church Family. The church provides a live stream of the service each Sunday at 10:30 on Facebook. We also provide the services through YouTube by Sunday afternoon.  You can find our Worship Guides, Family Devotional Guides, Prayer List, and other resources at our Church Website.

1 Corinthians 4:14–21 - [14] I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. [15] For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. [16] I urge you, then, be imitators of me. [17] That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church. [18] Some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. [19] But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power. [20] For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. [21] What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness? (ESV)

Intro

  • A true servant of Christ follows spiritual leaders that follow Christ
  • A true servant of Christ is leading others to follow Christ
  • A great dynamic of the Christian life is the idea of “leading and following”
  • The Barnabas – Paul – Timothy model
  • I am allowing someone to invest in my life as I invest in others.
  • This is a great picture of the CHURCH
  • 4 Generations…2 Timothy 2:1–2 – You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. (ESV)
  • Let us learn this morning the dynamics of this Leading and Following Life

CONSIDER OTHERS – vv. 14-15

It is an attitude and a mindset

  • LOVE AND CONCERN
  • WE MUST CARE ABOUT THE SPIRITUAL WELL BEING OF OTHERS

A love for the church

  • Beloved – agapao – the strongest form of love
  • A genuine love & care for another within the body of Christ

As Paul truly loved the church at Corinth. We too should have the same love for the meaning, purpose and gathering of the Lord’s Church.

A love for the people within the Church

  • Beloved Children – A fatherly love for the people of Corinth
  • We are part of a family. ONCE WE ARE BORN AGAIN. WE ARE BORN INTO A FAMILY/COMMUNITY OF FAITH
  • Countless Guides – a leader, teacher. Someone responsible for watching over a young child.
  • Paul understood the nurturing role of people within the church

A love for maturing in the faith

Maturing in the faith = Growing and changing into the likeness of Christ.

  • Admonish – to instruct, teach, and warn.
  • To see that which is wrong become right
    • To realize the wrong/sin
    • Turn from it
    • Move in a different direction
    • GROWING AND CHANGING
    • PUT OFF AND PUT ON – Colossians 3:1–17
  • Motivated by love and concern (AN IMPORTANT KEY TO REMEMBER)

CONSIDER OURSELVES – vv. 16-17

Our character

  • Imitators of me.  My ways in Christ
  • Our actions
  • 1 Timothy 4:12 – Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. (ESV)

Our doctrine

  • Teach them in every church
  • Good sound teaching. Biblical truth
  • Transforming the mind. Rom. 12:1-2

CONSIDER GOD’S DESIRE FOR HIS PEOPLE – vv. 18-21

Following the theme of spiritual father. Paul is reminding them of their current state (divided, factions in the church)

I AM COMING TO YOU SOON! (a stern warning)

Just like earthly parents. Our spiritual relationships have similarities.

  • Hard work
  • Can be messy
  • Commitment and determination are key

YET… He loved them, Lived as an example before them. SO THAT they could grow and mature as spiritual children.

  • Grow up/Transformed…Holy and pleasing to the Lord (Rom. 12:1-2)

Paul took this commitment very seriously…WHY?

Because it is God’s Kingdom Plan

  • v. 20 – For the Kingdom does not consist of words but power.
  • There words will mean nothing apart from the power of the Holy Spirit.
  • The power of God is that which works to bring about NEW LIFE
  • WE CAN TRUST GOD TO DO WHAT HE SAYS ONLY HE CAN DO

It is what we are called to do

  • We are a spiritual family.
    • Takes Discipline… the rod – Matthew 18:15-18
    • Spirit of gentleness

Proverbs 3:11-12 – [11] My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, [12] for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights. (ESV)

1 Thessalonians 5:14 – And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.

Scripture

Col. 3:1-17 – [1] If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. [2] Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. [3] For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. [4] When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

[5] Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. [6] On account of these the wrath of God is coming. [7] In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. [8] But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. [9] Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices [10] and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. [11] Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

[12] Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, [13] bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. [14] And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. [15] And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. [16] Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. [17] And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (ESV)

Romans 12:1–2 – [1] I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. [2] Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (ESV)

Matthew 18:15–18 – [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. [18] Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven

What is Church Discipline?

Jon Beck Leave a comment

Our Wednesday night discussion from Chapter 5 of Deliberate Church, by Mark Dever

I think of Church (our church) like a family.  That should explain much about why I value ministry and church membership the way I do.

  • We are not individuals
  • We are not special groups or sub-groups within a church.
  • We are a family.  Different roles, ministries, and functions… but still a family.  When someone joins the church, they are joining OUR family.

So, when we begin the discussion of church discipline let’s consider family discipline.

  • What is it for? What is the purpose?  Why is it important?
    • To raise children to be adults.  To have a process in place that will mold them into the people we would desire them to be.  (To teach, to correct, to model.)

How is it done well?

  • Lovingly and consistently, with the end in mind

How is it not done well?

  • To lax – To strict
  • Both can produce disobedient/rebellious children

Therefore, should church discipline be viewed in the same manner.

What is it? A definition. (Pastor Jon’s short answer)

A biblical culture/mindset in place that allows us to honor the Word of God as we encourage each church member to faithfully walk with Christ (live as a disciple) and therefore allowing our church the greatest opportunity for unity, holiness, and Gospel centered ministry within our community.

  • Which is all motivated by love:
  • Love for the Lord
  • Love for the Word
  • Love for one another
  • Love for the purity of Lord’s Church

It Is Formative and Corrective (Dever points out)

Formative – giving form or shape; forming; shaping; fashioning; molding. (dictionary.com)

In our physical life – Eating right, exercise.

In our spiritual life – How the church gets into shape, stays in shape, and grows into better shape.

  • Preaching, Teaching, Sharing, Serving, Discipling, Gathering for corporate Worship,
    • THEY ENABLE GROWTH AND STRENGTH

Corrective – tending to correct or rectify. (Dictionary.com)

In our physical – Surgery.

In our spiritual – To admonish, rebuke, and exhort. When we deviate from the Word/Truth.

  • In doctrine and lifestyle
    • What we believe/teach
    • How we live
  • Speaking the truth in love to one another and pointing each other to the grace of the gospel

OBVIOUSLY, some aspects of spiritual discipline are not fun, nor SHOULD WE WANT to go through it, but at times it is necessary.  THERE IS A PURPOSE.

What is the purpose?

The Purposes of Church Discipline – J. Hampton Keathley, III

  1. To bring glory to God and enhance the testimony of the flock.
  • To restore, heal, and build up sinning believers (Matt. 18:15; 2 Thess. 3:14-15; Heb. 12:10-13; Gal. 6:1-2; Jam. 5:20).
  • To produce a healthy faith, one sound in doctrine (Tit. 1:13; 1 Tim. 1:19-20).
  • To win a soul to Christ, if the sinning person is only a professing Christian (2 Tim. 2:24-26).
  • To silence false teachers and their influence in the church (Tit. 1:10-11).
  • To set an example for the rest of the body and promote godly fear (1 Tim. 5:20).
  • To protect the church against the destructive consequences that occur when churches fail to carry out church discipline.

The Biblical Process of Church Discipline

Matthew 18:15-17

  1. A private conversation
    1. BY FAR the most common.  Most conversations do not go beyond here.  BECAUSE OF OUR MINDSET.
  • Take one or two others with you.
  • Involve leaders or pastors
  • Tell it to the church
  • Remove the unrepentant from the church (I have never gotten to this point personally)
  • 1 Cor. 5:9-13
  • It seems so harsh, yet… what is the purpose of this (think like a family…tough love)
  • To bring about Repentance – Turning from that which is sinful and will cause God’s discipline.
  • To bring about Restoration – A faithful and obedient life growing and changing into the likeness of Christ

BECAUSE WE LOVE THEM

4 Ways Church Discipline Demonstrates Love

Jonathan Leeman. Church Discipline: How the Church Protects the Name of Jesus (Wheaton: Crossway, 2012).

  1. Church discipline shows love for the individual, that he or she might be warned and brought to repentance.
  • Church discipline shows love for the church, that weaker sheep might be protected.
  • Church discipline shows love for the watching world, that it might see Christ’s transforming power.
  • Church discipline shows love for Christ, that churches might uphold his holy name and obey him.


CREATING THE PROPER CULTURE/MINDSET

Dever points out two aspects that must be established before a church can even begin to live these principles out.

  1. A CHURCH UNDERSTANDING OF PROPER RELATIONSHIPS – Ephesians 4:16
  2. We have to be a church of healthy (family type) relationships.  Look beyond our own interests to the interests of others. Phil 2:4– Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (ESV)
    1. We love one another (the entire family)
    2. We have concern for one another
    3. We care for one another
  • A CHURCH UNDERSTANDING OF PROPER LEADERSHIP – No one leader (the pastor) should be walking through this process alone.  It takes not only the called/vocational staff but also lay people.  That have the same desire for their church.  FAITHFUL, COMMITTED people that has a desire to see their church Reach the World as it GLORIFIES THE LORD.

Dever’s Church – A plurality of elders.  Staff Elders and appointed Lay Elders as spiritual leaders.  This way more than just the “paid staff” are considered to be leading the church.  They have elders that lead, but still are a Congregational church.

Baptist Churches –Typically have 1 Elder (the senior pastor.  Some churches would consider certain staff members as Elders).  They will also have deacons, committees, and teams. Each church is unique in how and who makes these types of decisions.  (KEY IS EVERYONE IS HEADING IN THE SAME DIRECTION)

CONCLUSION FROM CHAPTER 5 (pg. 72 “Deliberate Church)

Gathering a church is hard work. It takes diligence, watchfulness, wisdom, and patience. Some in the congregation may not understand why you are doing things the way you are. Some might become impatient when immediate results are difficult to see or numerical growth takes longer than they expected. Some may be offended that you seem to be questioning people’s salvation by clarifying the Gospel so often. Others might actually leave the church because the inherent offensiveness of the Gospel begins to make them uncomfortable or even angry. All of this is okay. These are often the signs of pastoral faithfulness in the early years of a work.

Keep preaching. Keep praying. Keep building personal relationships. Keep being patient when people forget, misunderstand, or wrong you (2 Tim. 2:24). Keep cultivating trust among them. Keep trusting that Jesus will build His church by the power of His Word. Lay the foundation with patient, biblical wisdom. It’s worth it. Doing this work now will ensure the structural integrity of the house decades later—and it will save you a bundle in repairs.

But gathering a church is also eminently worthy and exciting work! Don’t give up! Don’t give in to doubt or disillusionment or fear of man! Take a longer view. God’s purposes for all of human history revolve around the local church as the visible, corporate manifestation of His Son, Jesus Christ! He has ordained that His most important objectives both here and in heaven be accomplished through the agency of the local church (Eph. 3:10-11)! He has promised that His church will not fail (Matt. 16:18)! His love for the church is so great that Paul has to pray for capacity just to comprehend its dimensions (Eph. 3:17-19)! The church is of cosmic importance to God—literally. And as pastors and church leaders, we are privileged to build up this church that God loves so much, as we ourselves obey the Gospel and follow Christ (Eph. 4:11-16). Model godliness (1 Tim. 4:12-16). Be strong and courageous— God’s presence, power, and promises are all with you (Josh. 1:1-8). “Be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Tim. 4:5)

Purposes of Church Discipline from 1 Corinthians 5

Jonathan Leeman. Church Discipline: How the Church Protects the Name of Jesus (Wheaton: Crossway, 2012).

1. Discipline aims to expose.

Sin, like cancer, loves to hide. Discipline exposes the cancer so that it might be cut out quickly (see 1 Cor. 5:2)

2. Discipline aims to warn.

A church does not enact God’s retribution through discipline. Rather, it stages a small play that pictures the great judgment to come (v. 5). Discipline is a compassionate warning.

3. Discipline aims to save.

Churches pursue discipline when they see a member taking the path toward death, and none of their pleading and arm-waving causes the person to turn around. It’s the device of last resort for bringing an individual to repentance (v. 5).

4. Discipline aims to protect.

Just as cancer spreads from one cell to another, so sin quickly spreads from one person to another (v. 6).

5. Discipline aims to present a good witness for Jesus.

Church discipline, strange to say, is actually good for non-Christians, because it helps to preserve the attractive distinctiveness of God’s people (see v. 1). Churches, remember, should be salt and light. “But if the salt loses its saltiness . . . ,” Jesus said, “It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled by men” (Matt. 5:13).

Other Resources:

Bible.org – J. Hampton Keathley, III

https://bible.org/article/church-discipline

The Gospel Coalition – Jonathan Leeman

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justin-taylor/church-discipline-principles-and-reasons/

Grace Community Church

https://www.gracechurch.org/about/distinctives/church-discipline

Scripture References

1 Corinthians 5:9–13 – [9] I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—[10] not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. [11] But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. [12] For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? [13] God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.” (ESV)

Matthew 18:15–20 – [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. [18] Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. [19] Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. [20] For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” (ESV)

Ephesians 4:15–16 – [15] Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, [16] from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (ESV)