Church Discipline: The Process to Apply it and Restore the Repentant - N...

Matt 18:15-17 15 “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. 16 “But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. 17 “If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector." 

The Process of applying discipline

1. Talk one-on-one.  (gently, humbly, Scripturally)

2. Involve one or two others.

3. Tell the church.

4. Remove from fellowship. 

Frequently Asked Questions about the process:

1. Must the process always include these four steps?

2. How quickly should we move to the next step?

3. How do we discern true repentance?

4. How should repentant individuals be restored after discipline?

Freely You Received, Freely Give! - Nathan Rages

Matthew 10:8b "Freely you received, freely give."  In these few special words the Lord Jesus joins two concepts: (1) Gratitude for all that we've received and (2) Motivation for generosity in ministry to others.

Church Discipline: Who Applies it and Receives it?

Question 1: Who administers church discipline?

Answer: All church members are involved, though elders have a major role in some cases.  

Scriptures cited: Matthew 18:15, Luke 17:3, Matthew 5:23-24, Romans 15:14, Colossians 3:16, Matthew 7:55, 3John v9-10

Question 2: Who receives church discipline?

Answer: Fellow church members who display (1) heresy, (2) schism, or (3) misconduct.  This includes church elders.

Scriptures cited: Romans 16:17, 2John v9-11, Titus 3:10-11, 1Corinthians 5:11, 2Thessalonians 3:6, Proverbs 10:12, Proverbs 19:11, 1Thessalonians 5:14, 1Timothy 5:19-20

Church Discipline: Why do it? - Nathan Rages

Key Scriptures about church discipline: 

Matthew 18:15-20, 1Corinthians 5:1-13, 2Corinthians 2:3-11, Psalms 141:5, 

Proverbs 27:5-6, Matthew 3:8, Matthew 5:23-24, Matthew 28:20, Romans 2:23-24, Romans 16:17, Galatians 6:1-2, 1Thessalonians 5:14, 2Thessalonians 3:6,14-15, 1Timothy 1:19-20, 1Timothy 5:19-20, 2Timothy 2:16-18, Titus 1:12-13, Titus 3:9-11, Hebrews 12:11 and 2John v10-11

Reasons WHY we do it:

1. Because Christ commands it. 

2. Because His church must be holy.

3. Because sin is infectious.

4. Because discipline deters future sin.

5. Because it benefits the wayward.

6. Because it yields peaceful, loving relationships.

Jesus' Fearful Warnings - Nathan Rages

In this concluding sermon to our series on Jesus' Greatest Sayings, we survey our Lord's strongest *warnings* in six areas:

1. JUDGEMENT: He will judge everyone when He returns. Matt. 25:31-46 plus Matt. 11:23-24,12:36; Luke 12:2.  

2. HELL: He will send every non-Christian to Hell. Matt. 13:40-42 plus Matt. 25:30,41,46; Mark 9:47-48; Luke 12:4-5,16:23-24. 

3. CONVERSION: All without repentance and faith will perish. Luke 13:1-5 plus John 8:24.

4. DECEPTION: Many people are deceived about their salvation. Matt. 7:21-23 plus Matt. 22:11-14. 

5. UNFORGIVENESS: Unforgiving people won’t be forgiven by God. Matt. 6:12-15 plus Matt 5:7,18:21-35; Mark 11:25; Luke 6:36-37.

6. PHARISAISM: Hypocritical religionists are cursed. Matt. 23.

Personal applications:

1. Examine yourself first.

2. Let the warnings send you to Christ.

3. View others with compassion.

The Rewards of Walking by Faith - Nathan Rages

Last week's sermon was about the "riskiness" of living by faith in God; this week's is about the flip side, the great REWARDS of such a life:

1. Keeps us humble. Prov. 3:5

2. Prompts constant prayer. Psalm 55:16-18

3. Prioritizes Bible promises. Heb. 6:12

4. Builds endurance. James 1:2-4

5. Overcomes the world. 1John 5:4-5

6. Encourages fellowship with believers. Rom. 1:11-12

7. Produces inner peace. Isaiah 26:3-4

8. Fills us with joy. Psalm 5:11

9. Brings glory to God. Rom. 4:20-21

10. Draws us nearer to God Himself. Heb. 11:6

The Riskiness of Walking by Faith - Nathan Rages

A survey of thirteen Bible characters whose faith in God resulted in actions that appeared "risky": 

1. Noah - Genesis 6. 

2. Abraham - Genesis 12 and 22; Hebrews 11:8,19.

3. Moses - Exodus 2; Hebrews 11:24-27. 

4. Rahab - Joshua 2,6; Hebrews 11:31.

5. Ruth - Ruth 1.

6. Gideon - Judges 7.

7. Jonathan - 1Samuel 14.

8. David - 1Samuel 17.

9. Daniel - Daniel 6.

10. Daniel’s Friends - Daniel 3, Hebrews 11:35-38.

11. Esther - Esther 4.

12. Peter - Matthew 14.

13. Jesus - Luke 21:2-4; Matthew 13:44-46, 25:14-30; 1Peter 2:23; Hebrews 12:2.

Observations from this study:

1. These are not examples of “blind" faith.  

2. These are not examples of reckless presumption.

3. These believers were actually safest when their actions appeared most risky.

4. We'll have similarly challenging tests ourselves.