Grace Bible Church

4000 E. Collins Rd. P.O. Box #3762 Gillette, WY 82717 (307) 686-1516

“Preaching the Living Word through the Written Word (2Tim 4:2)”

THE DOCTRINE OF CHURCH DISCIPLINE

(8/3/11)

Grace Bible Church, Gillette, Wyoming

Pastor Daryl Hilbert

INTRODUCTION BY WARREN WIERSBE

A. In my own pastoral ministry, I never enjoyed having to initiate church discipline; but since it is commanded in the Scriptures, we must obey God and set personal feelings aside. (Warren Wiersbe)

PURPOSES IN CHURCH DISCIPLINE

A. Restoration in Fellowship (Gal 6:1)

1. Meaning of “restore”

a) The word “restore” (katartizō) in Gal. 6:1 means to mend a net or something broken, to repair, to fit out, equip, put in order, arrange, or adjust. It does not carry the idea of legalistic or vindictive punishment.

(1) Restoration means to “mend, fix, or restore” the sinning believer’s fellowship with God and believers (Mat 4:21; Mar 1:9).

(2) Restoration means to “fully train” the sinning believer to be Christ-like (Luk 6:40).

(3) Restoration means to “equip” the sinning believer with the spiritual means to have victory over temptation and live for Christ (Eph 4:12; Heb 13:21).

(4) Restoration means to “complete or perfect” the sinning believer to maturity (1Co 1:10; 1Th 3:10; 1Pe 5:10).

b) Meaning of “caught” in a trespass

(1) “Caught” is the Greek word prolambánō which literally means to take beforehand. This word, which is in a passive voice, suggests to be overtaken, be caught (unawares) (Friberg).

(2) The man does not commit the sin with premeditation but rather fails to be on his guard or perhaps flirts with a temptation he thinks he can withstand. Or he simply tries to live his life in his own power and fails, producing a deed of the flesh instead of the fruit of the Spirit. (MacArthur Commentary in loc.).

(3) Jesus was not interested in destroying the woman [caught in adultery (Joh 8:3:11)] but in helping her, and that should be the attitude of His followers toward other people, especially toward fellow believers. (ibid.)

2. Fellowship with God (1Jo 1:3,6,7)

3. Fellowship with believers (Mat 5:23-24 )

B. Removal of Defilement (1Co 5:6-8)

C. Warn Believers (1Ti 5:20)

D. Sound Faith (Tit 1:13)

PERSPECTIVES IN CHURCH DISCIPLINE

A. Mourning for the brother (1Co 5:2; 2Th 3:15)

B. Spiritual decorum (Gal 6:1b,c,d)

C. Humility in temptation (Gal 6:1e,f)

D. Uncompromising to sin (1Co 5:2, 6-8, 13)

E. Forgiveness at repentance (2Co 2:5-9)

PROCEDURES IN CHURCH DISCIPLINE (Mat 18:15-18)

A. Goal: Restoration and to cease sinning (emphasis on habitual sin) (15b cp. 16a)

B. Deliberate Steps (15-17)

1. Privately (15)

2. Another witness(es) (16)

3. Church (17a)

4. Excommunication by Church (17b)

a) Silence and rebuke sharply (Tit 1:11,13)

b) Reject after warning twice (Tit 3:10)

c) Public rebuke (1Ti 5:20)

d) Expel them (1Co 5:13; De 17:7)

e) Do not associate with (1Co 5:11; 2Th 3:14)

f) Treat him as a pagan or tax collector (Mt. 18:17)

g) Handed over to Satan (1Co 5:5)

C. Authority of Church (Mat 18:18; 1Co 6:1-4)

PERSONS OF CHURCH DISCIPLINE

A. Sinning Brother (Mat 18:15-18)

1. A believer who commits a grave offense towards another believer.

2. There must be recognition and repentance of the sin.

B. Overtaken Brother (Gal 6:1)

1. This is a believer who was not looking to sin, but was not watching out for a sin either, and the sin eventually overtook them.

2. Notice, it is assumed that the attitude was one of willingness to be restored and also that sin needed to be dealt with by the church.

C. Immoral Brother (1Co 5:1-2)

1. This would apply to any immoral sin, though this particular sin was rare even among the pagans (vs.1).

2. Paul was just as grieved with the church allowing this sin to go on (2).

D. Unruly Brother (2Th 3:6, 10-14)

1. The context speaks of one who was not only idle because of the imminent return of Christ, but “undisciplined” (ataktōs - strictly, of soldiers who will not obey orders disorderly; hence unruly, undisciplined, Fri).

2. Verse 14 states that it would refer to any believer who is disorderly and rejects the instruction of God’s Word (cp. 1Th 5:14). However, he is to be treated as a brother and not an enemy (2Th 3:15).

E. Sinning Elder (1Ti 5:19-20)

1. Those in church leadership do not have the license to sin, and are to be rebuked publicly. (20)

2. However, to avoid self-serving attacks, there must be two or three witness (19).

F. False Teachers (Tit 1:10-16)

1. False teachers who make inroads in the church are to be dealt with severely (1Ti 1:20; 2Ti 2:17-18).

2. Nevertheless, Paul showed considerable patience for believers (Gal 3:1 cp. Gal 5:12) who were misled doctrinally. He patiently taught the Corinthians about resurrection. However, had they rejected his teaching and promoted heresy, discipline would have been sure to follow.

G. Divisive People (Tit 3:10-11)

1. This would be someone who plays the devil’s advocate to stir up trouble or causes needless divisions among the brethren (Rom 16:17) rather than to learn and grow in Christ.

2. The harmful effects of divisions were dealt with severely in 1Co 1-4 (Pro 6:16-19).

CONCLUDING THOUGHT BY WARREN WIERSBE

A. No Church is perfect, but human imperfection must never be excuse for sin. Just as parents must discipline their children in love, so local churches must exercise discipline over the members of the assembly. Church discipline is not a group of "pious policemen" out to catch a criminal. Rather, it is a group of brokenhearted brothers and sisters seeking to restore an erring member of the family. (Warren Wiersbe)