1. 1 Corinthians 5

2.  Isaiah 55:9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.”

3. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 1 Jn.4:16

4. HUMAN WISDOMGOD’S WISDOM  Self-Centered:  You make ME feel good.  Conditional:  As long as you make ME feel good, I’ll stay with you...  Others-Centered  Unconditional God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 1 Jn.4:16

5. HUMAN WISDOMGOD’S WISDOM  Self-Centered:  You make ME feel good.  Conditional:  As long as you make ME feel good, I’ll stay with you...  Others-Centered  A commitment to give.  Unconditional  A commitment to give. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 1 Jn.4:16 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 1 John 3:16 But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? 1 John 3:17

6.  Inward-Focused, Self-Centered  Fighting, Immature…  Self-Indulgent  Lost Direction and Purpose…  Stimulation: Sex, Drugs and Rock ‘n Roll 1Cor.3:3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men? 1Cor.1:12 each one of you is saying, "I am of Paul," and "I of Apollos," and "I of Cephas," and "I of Christ" 1 Cor. 4:7,8 What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? You are already filled, you have already become rich, you have become kings!

7. v1 I can hardly believe the report about the sexual immorality going on among you, something so evil that even the pagans don't do it... …I am told that you have a man in your church who is living in sin with his father's wife v2 And you are so proud of yourselves! Why aren't you mourning in sorrow and shame?  And why haven't you removed this man from your fellowship?

8. Love and Discipline  Discipline is a Vital Part of Love  Human Wisdom: love is a feeling.  God’s Wisdom: love is a commitment to your needs.  Not sappy “feel-good”, gooey gunk…!  Rather: strong, firm, life-changing… Also known as Discipleship

9. Love and Discipline  Discipline is a Vital Part of Love  People Are Messed Up!  God’s Word provides direction… Even though I am not there with you in person, I am with you in the Spirit. Concerning the one who has done this, I have already passed judgment. Even though I am not there with you in person, I am with you in the Spirit. Concerning the one who has done this, I have already passed judgment. - 1 Cor.5:3

10. Love and Discipline  Discipline is a Vital Part of Love  People Are Messed Up!  God’s Word provides direction…  Modern view: “everyone is right…”

11. Love and Discipline  Discipline is a Vital Part of Love  People Are Messed Up!  Tools of Discipleship And we urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all men… - 1Th 5:14

12. Love and Discipline  Discipline is a Vital Part of Love  People Are Messed Up!  Tools of Discipleship And why haven't you removed this man from your fellowship? - 1Cor.5:2

13. Love and Discipline  Discipline is a Vital Part of Love  People Are Messed Up!  Tools of Discipleship  Restoring through Excommunication in the name of the Lord Jesus. You are to call a meeting of the church, and I will be there in spirit, and the power of the Lord Jesus will be with you as you meet. Then you must cast this man out of the church and into Satan's hands, so that his sinful nature will be destroyed and he himself will be saved when the Lord returns. 1 Cor.5:4

14. Love and Discipline  Discipline is a Vital Part of Love  People Are Messed Up!  Tools of Discipleship  Restoring through Excommunication  Necessary to Build a Community of Love Not a Country Club! Not “Entertainment Tonight” Rather: Discipleship through Love Sincerity and Truth Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? 1 Cor.5:6 Let us therefore celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth 1Cor.5:8

15. Love and Discipline  Discipline is a Vital Part of Love  People Are Messed Up!  Tools of Discipleship  Restoring through Excommunication  Necessary to Build a Community of Love  But NOT an ISOLATED Community! I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters; for then you would have to go out of the world. 1 Cor.5:9-10

16. Love and Discipline  Discipline is a Vital Part of Love  People Are Messed Up!  Tools of Discipleship  Restoring through Excommunication  Necessary to Build a Community of Love  But NOT an ISOLATED Community!  Love Hurts! Comfort can prolong suffering! So hard to do this! But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so- called brother if he should be 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. 1 Cor.5:9-10 Matt.18:15-17 "If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the fault. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. If that person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. If the church decides you are right, but the other person won't accept it, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector Matt.18:15-17 "If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the fault. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. If that person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. If the church decides you are right, but the other person won't accept it, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector

17. Love and Discipline  Discipline is a Vital Part of Love  People Are Messed Up!  Tools of Discipleship  Restoring through Excommunication  Necessary to Build a Community of Love  But NOT an ISOLATED Community!  Love Hurts!  It Means Changed Lives! (See 2 Cor. 2:5-8) The World System: “I don’t wanna deal with you!”

18. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 1 Jn.4:16