Mathew 18:15-20

Preached Sunday Morning February 22, 2009

 

Introduction:

 

          This morning we are going to talk about a wonderful privilege that you have as a member of a local church.  As a member of Christ’s local body, you are loved so much that you are subject to church discipline.  You may think that this is a contradictory statement, but Jesus tells us that the ones that He loves, He chastens.  When a believer falls into a pattern of unrepentant sin, God has a specific path to restoration.  This morning we are going to study the very important subject of how to turn the trespasser through the loving process of Church discipline.

 

 

I.                   The Candidates for Church Discipline

 

Matthew 18:15

15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

 

1 Corinthians 5:11

11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

 

A.     A Brother in Christ – born again believer

B.     One who calls himself a brother in Christ

C.     A trespasser – one who has crossed a clear Biblical line.

D.    One who is unrepentant

E.     The Public offender

 

 

1 Corinthians 5:9-11

9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: 10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

 

 

F.      The Sower of Discord

 

Romans 16:17

17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

 

G.    Teacher of false doctrine.

 

2 Timothy 3:4-5

4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

 

II.                The Purpose of Church Discipline.

 

A.     Restoration of a brother in Christ

 

1.     To fellowship with God.

 

James 5:19-20

19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

 

2.     To fellowship within the church.

 

“…thou hast gained thy brother.”

 

3.     To credibility in the community.

 

B.     Rebuke of the unrepentant brother.

 

 

1 Corinthians 5:1-5

It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. 2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,  4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

 

C.     Purity of the Church

 

Jude 3-4

3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

1 Corinthians 5:6-7

6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 

 

1 Corinthians 5:12-13

12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?  13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

 

III.             The Process of Church Discipline

 

Matthew 18:15-17

15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

 

A.     One on one confrontation

 

1.     Private sin = private rebuke – anything different is gossip

 

Proverbs 25:9

9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another: 

 

2.     Public sin = public rebuke

 

1 Corinthians 5:1-2

It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. 2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.

 

B.      Two or three to establish a record of the confrontation

C.     Tell it to the church – put them on discipline, removing the privilege of fellowship for a time

 

1 Corinthians 5:11-13

11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?  13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

 

1.     The church is to back the confrontation that has gone on already.

2.     The church is not primarily to determine if the team is correct.

3.     The church is to act in one voice, giving authority to the discipline in action.

4.     The church must not flinch from her duty to the offender, the offended, and the Name of Christ.

 

D.     Remove from church membership

 

 

IV.              The Authority of Church Discipline

 

A.     Given by Christ to the Local Church

 

Matthew 18:17

17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

 

1 Corinthians 5:4-5

4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

 

B.     Church discipline that is enacted by a local church is universally binding.

 

Matthew 18:18-19

18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

 

C.     Church discipline removes the offender from the privilege of meeting where the special presence of Christ is revealed, in the assembly of the local Church.

 

Matthew 18:20

20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.