T HE N EW T ESTAMENT C HURCH T HE D ISCIPLINE OF THE C HURCH

I NTRODUCTION One of the duties of the church is to administer “ discipline.” The meaning, “ treatment suited to a disciple, training, subjection to rule, the habit of obedience.” It’s two-fold : – I NSTRUCTIVE – C ORRECTIVE

I NSTRUCTIVE D ISCIPLINE P REVENTIVE IN N ATURE : The work of the Bishops (elders): – FEED the flock “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” {Acts 20:28}

I NSTRUCTIVE D ISCIPLINE P REVENTIVE IN N ATURE : The work of the Bishops (elders): – TEND the flock “ Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly.” {1 Peter 5:2}

I NSTRUCTIVE D ISCIPLINE P REVENTIVE IN N ATURE : The work of the Bishops (elders): – Take the oversight “Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly.” {1 Peter 5:2}

I NSTRUCTIVE D ISCIPLINE P REVENTIVE IN N ATURE : The work of the Bishops (elders): – Rule by example “Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.” {1 Timothy 5:17}

I NSTRUCTIVE D ISCIPLINE P REVENTIVE IN N ATURE : The work of the Bishops (elders): – Watch for their souls “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.” {Hebrews 13:17}

I NSTRUCTIVE D ISCIPLINE P REVENTIVE IN N ATURE : The work of the Bishops (elders): – Must give an account “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.” {Hebrews 13:17}

I NSTRUCTIVE D ISCIPLINE P REVENTIVE IN N ATURE : The attitude of the church : – Esteem them highly in love “And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves.” {1 Thessalonians 5:12,13}

I NSTRUCTIVE D ISCIPLINE P REVENTIVE IN N ATURE : The attitude of the church : – Submit to them “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.” {Hebrews 13:17}

I NSTRUCTIVE D ISCIPLINE P REVENTIVE IN N ATURE : The attitude of the church : – Submit to them “ Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.” {Hebrews 13:17}

I NSTRUCTIVE D ISCIPLINE P REVENTIVE IN N ATURE : The attitude of the church : – Count them worthy of honor “Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.” {1 Timothy 5:17}

I NSTRUCTIVE D ISCIPLINE P REVENTIVE IN N ATURE : The attitude of the church : – Imitate their faith – Recognition of these duties will maintain God’s order “Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.” {Hebrews 13:7}

C ORRECTIVE D ISCIPLINE C HASTISING OR P ENALIZING IN ITS N ATURE : Its importance. – The Lord desires a pure church “That He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.” {Ephesians 5:26,27}

C ORRECTIVE D ISCIPLINE C HASTISING OR P ENALIZING IN ITS N ATURE : Its importance. – The Lord desires a pure church “For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” {2 Corinthians 11:2,3}

C ORRECTIVE D ISCIPLINE C HASTISING OR P ENALIZING IN ITS N ATURE : Its importance. – To harbor sin, disorder, rebellion, wickedness in the church brings the displeasure of the Lord on the guilty. “Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump ?” {1 Corinthians 5:6}

C ORRECTIVE D ISCIPLINE C HASTISING OR P ENALIZING IN ITS N ATURE : Corrective discipline therefore has two-fold purpose: – To save the church – To save the guilty party. “In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus?” {1 Corinthians 5:4,5}

C ORRECTIVE D ISCIPLINE C HASTISING OR P ENALIZING IN ITS N ATURE : Upon whom to be exercised: – Those who walk disorderly “But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.” {2 Thessalonians 3:6}

C ORRECTIVE D ISCIPLINE C HASTISING OR P ENALIZING IN ITS N ATURE : Upon whom to be exercised: – One who persists in sin, rebels against the teaching. “But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner- -not even to eat with such a person. For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore put away from yourselves the evil person.” {1 Corinthians 5:11-13}

C ORRECTIVE D ISCIPLINE C HASTISING OR P ENALIZING IN ITS N ATURE : Upon whom to be exercised: – A busybody, troublemaker, one who will not tend to his own business. “For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.” {2 Thessalonians 3:11-13}

C ORRECTIVE D ISCIPLINE C HASTISING OR P ENALIZING IN ITS N ATURE : Upon whom to be exercised: – Those who cause division. “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.” {Romans 16:17}

C ORRECTIVE D ISCIPLINE C HASTISING OR P ENALIZING IN ITS N ATURE : Upon whom to be exercised: – Those who cause division. “I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.” {3 John 9,10}

C ORRECTIVE D ISCIPLINE C HASTISING OR P ENALIZING IN ITS N ATURE : Upon whom to be exercised: – Those who cause division. “Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self- condemned.” {Titus 3:10,11}

C ORRECTIVE D ISCIPLINE C HASTISING OR P ENALIZING IN ITS N ATURE : Upon whom to be exercised: – Scriptural course to pursue. “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.‘ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.” {Matthew 18:15-17}

C ORRECTIVE D ISCIPLINE C HASTISING OR P ENALIZING IN ITS N ATURE : Upon whom to be exercised: – Scriptural course to pursue. – Pray for them “If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that.” {1 John 5:16}

C ORRECTIVE D ISCIPLINE C HASTISING OR P ENALIZING IN ITS N ATURE : Upon whom to be exercised: – Scriptural course to pursue. – Try to convert them. “Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.” {James 5:19,20}

C ORRECTIVE D ISCIPLINE C HASTISING OR P ENALIZING IN ITS N ATURE : Upon whom to be exercised: – Scriptural course to pursue. – Restore them if possible. “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.” {Galatians 6:1}

C ORRECTIVE D ISCIPLINE C HASTISING OR P ENALIZING IN ITS N ATURE : Upon whom to be exercised: – Scriptural course to pursue. – Admonish them. “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.” {1 Thessalonians 5:14,15}

C ORRECTIVE D ISCIPLINE C HASTISING OR P ENALIZING IN ITS N ATURE : Upon whom to be exercised: – Scriptural course to pursue. – Last resort, if they won’t repent-- withdraw. “But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.” {2 Thessalonians 3:6}

C ORRECTIVE D ISCIPLINE C HASTISING OR P ENALIZING IN ITS N ATURE : Upon whom to be exercised: – Scriptural course to pursue. – Last resort, if they won’t repent-- withdraw. “But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner--not even to eat with such a person.” {1 Corinthians 5:11}

C ORRECTIVE D ISCIPLINE C HASTISING OR P ENALIZING IN ITS N ATURE : Upon whom to be exercised: – Scriptural course to pursue. – In this case the WHOLE church should support the action. “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.” {2 John 10,11}