Too much can go wrong when exercising church discipline that it doesn’t even make sense to do it without the authority and power of our Lord behind, in, and through it. Further, God specializes in changing hearts. We don’t have power to affect that kind of transformation. We can only warn, exhort, and reprove people, not change hearts.
Biblical Example Of the Power & Authority Needed in Church Discipline
The Apostle Paul acknowledged this reality when confronting the immorality of some in the Corinthian church. Right in the midst of his instructions to this church, in what has become a classic passage on church discipline, he said, “I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus on the one who has been doing this. So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.” (1 Cor. 5:3-5)
You’ll find some additional thoughts about this example in the Steering the Church Toward God’s Power Leadership Guide with implications of our need to exercise the same power and authority in any church discipline efforts. This resource also looks at 24 other leadership tasks and responsibilities in light of God’s power.
All Posts about Church Discipline:
- Church Discipline Because of Church Purpose
- Lack of Church Discipline Against God’s Purposes
- Church Discipline Must Exemplify God’s Purposes
- Involvement of Body in Church Discipline
- Body Life Can Prevent Need for Church Discipline
- Discipleship and Church Discipline
- Discipleship Not Church Discipline
- Holiness the Objective for Church Discipline
- Lack of Holiness Affects the Whole Body
- Holiness Dictates HOW We Exercise Church Discipline
- Authority & Power Needed in Church Discipline
- Pivotal Role of Holy Spirit in Church Discipline
- Church Discipline But They Didn’t Change
- The Standard for Conduct
- The Power of Grace in Church Discipline
- If His Name is Holy Then …
- Prayer is Essential as a Preventative and When in Process
- When Christians Need Correction
- God’s Word Brings Correction
- It’s Not About Giving Up on People
- Church Discipline is a Matter of Stewardship
- Leader Qualities in Church Discipline
god bless you. In the name of jesus. i am a minister of the gospel.