2003 Shepherd's Conference, A Ministry of Grace Community Church 818.909.5530.  © 2003 All Rights Reserved. Grace Community Church. A CD, MP3, or tape cassette copy of this session can be obtained by going to www.shepherdsconference.org

How to Practice Church Discipline
(Handout and Study Notes)

Bill Zimmer

Lay Elder,  Grace Community Church

I. Purpose

A. The Church's Purity

1. Purity marks God's Word

2. Purity is demanded of God's people

3. Purity qualifies God's shepherds

4. Purity distinguishes God's church

B. The Whole Message

C. Love and Truth

1.         Chronological sequence

a. Revelation of His commandments (truth)

b. Response to His commandments (obedience)

c. Result of acting upon His commandments (love)

2. Practical outworking of love in Scripture illustrate the point

a. Christian brother

b. Father-Son

c. Heavenly Father-Child of God

d.         Shepherds-Flock

D. Love and Discipleship

                        1.         The church is to be pure

                        2.         The church's purity is determined from the whole of God's Word

                        3.         Love and truth are inseparable

4. Authentic Christian discipleship results from truth acted out in love

E. The Purposes of Church Discipline/Restoration

1. To glorify God

2. To maintain the purity of the church

3. To vindicate the integrity and honor of Christ

4. To reclaim offenders

5. To deter others from sin

6. To prevent giving cause for God to set Himself against a local church

II. Precepts

A. Believers are to separate themselves from other believers who knowingly and rebelliously continue in doctrinal error

B. Believers are to separate themselves from other believers whose behavior is knowingly and rebelliously wrong

C. Believers are to separate themselves from unbelievers as far as joining in common enterprises

D. Biblical Practices

1. Proper discipline by a believer toward a professed believer in doctrinal error

2. Improper relationships by a believer toward a professed believer in doctrinal error

3. Proper discipline by a believer toward a professed believer in behavioral error

4. Improper relationships by a believer toward a professed believer in behavioral

error

5. Proper separation by a believer from an unbeliever

6. Improper separation by a believer from an unbeliever

II.         Procedures

            A.        What it is not

                        1.         A witch hunt

                        2.         A way to get even

                        3.         An investigation of rumor

B.         What it is

                        1.         Sin against you personally

                        2.         Sin that is known

            C.         Purpose

                        1.         Win your brother

                        2.         Restore the sinner

                        3.         Lead to repentance

                        4.         Avoid God's interaction

            D.        Practice

                        1.         With gentleness

                        2.         With love

                                    a.         God to you

                                    b.         Father to son

                        3.         Without hypocrisy

                        4.         With patience

                        5.         With fairness

            E.         Unnecessary elements

                        1.         Public confession

2. Details made public

3. Corporal punishment

F.         Steps - Matthew 18:15-20

1. Private confrontation v.15

2. Witnesses v.16

3. Tell the church v.17

4. Remove from church v.17

IV.       A Final Note

Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "Shepherd's Conference Collection" by:

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
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