Category Archives: Church Discipline

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.

The Apostle Paul acknowledged this reality when confronting . . . Continue reading Authority & Power Needed in Church Discipline→

We’ve already determined that if church discipline is necessary, it is for believers, not unbelievers. It is for those who have heard the Gospel and put their trust in Jesus to save them because of what He did for them in dying on the cross (Rom. 1:16; 1 Cor. 15:1-8; Eph. 1:13). . . . Salvation in Jesus is about more than eternal life insurance. What He did affects us now not just for eternity. . . . Continue reading The Standard for Conduct→

We might tend to think that grace and discipline don’t go hand in hand. But, in reality, if we fail to exercise grace in the entire process, we lose one of the most powerful tools for disciplining. If we fail to emphasize grace with the errant member, we rob them of one of the most powerful tools for coming to a place of repentance and restoration. . . . Continue reading The Power of Grace in Church Discipline→

If we truly believe the Holy Spirit has been given to those who put their trust in Jesus to enable them to live life in a Christ-like, godly manner, then we know how pivotal of a role He must have in church discipline. For church discipline to have God’s intended effect, the Holy Spirit must be at work in the heart of those on the receiving end as well as in those leading the process. . . . Continue reading Pivotal Role of Holy Spirit in Church Discipline→

You did what you could — encouraged, warned, challenged, prayed, etc. They didn’t change. Church discipline became necessary with restoration being the goal once they came to their senses (2 Tim. 2:25-26) but they still didn’t change. Consider these questions: . . . Continue reading Church Discipline But They Didn’t Change→

As Church leaders we may want to shy away from issues like sin and holiness. Yet, when we grasp the holy and awesome nature of the Name we profess, is that an option? Can we turn a blind eye to sin in our own lives or that of fellow believers and still praise and glorify His name? — Not if we accept the reality that the Most High God, who is exalted above all else, is a Holy God. . . . Continue reading If His Name is Holy Then …→

Do you believe Jesus’ promise, “if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Matt. 18:19-20)? While this truth very possibly has a general application, the specific context in which we find the promise relates to the necessity of dealing with sinful behavior in the life of a fellow believer. We must consequently grasp the critical nature of prayer in church discipline situations. We must view praying as important not only for the process but must also understand that prayer is essential as a preventative for even needing to head in that direction. . . . Continue reading Prayer is Essential as a Preventative and When in Process→

Usually churches only discipline members as a last resort in dealing with sin in their lives. While we should make every effort to disciple people before disciplining them, it’s not about giving up on people. We discipline with the hope of restoration (2 Cor. 2:5-11). . . . Continue reading It’s Not About Giving Up on People→

The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines “correction” as “bringing into conformity with a standard” which leads to the need for identification of the standard to which we’re to conform. As believers, certainly our Holy God would be the standard for when Christians need correction, not ourselves or the way of the world (Rom. 12:1-2). . . . Continue reading When Christians Need Correction→

Nobody is perfect. We all fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). Even as believers we sometimes give in to the old sin nature rather than live from our position in Christ Jesus (Col. 3:1-17). We sometimes conform to the ways of the world rather than yield to His transforming work in our lives (Rom. 12:1-2). As church leaders, shepherds of God’s flock under our care (1 Pet. 5:2), we have the responsibility of guiding erring believers to a place of victory, back into alignment with God. God provides the means to do that . . . Continue reading God’s Word Brings Correction→