The Body of Christ Fellowship Church
Date: April 20, 2010
Speaker:
Pastor Willie J. Henderson, Jr.
Church Discipline: The Missing Mark in the Local Church
Focus:
Scriptures:
|
Matthew 18:15-20 2 Corinthians 7:11 |
1 Corinthians 5:1-13 2 Samuel 12:14 |
Ephesians 5:25-27 Hebrews 12:5 |
Points:
Discipline is missing in a lot of churches.
Church discipline is for restoration and protection.
Be consistent in giving correction.
Part of receiving Jesus is receiving discipline.
When we endure correction from God, He is dealing with us as sons and daughters.
Summary:
Discipline was historically a part of the early church. God gave leaders of the church the authority to correct the church. Over the years, church discipline has become a missing mark in a lot of local churches. Psychology, philosophy, and politics have taken its place, along with the spirit of humanity. This is not the way God designed the church. God sees the church, a collection of believers, as His children. He chastens those whom He loves. From the world's point of view, discipline is not love. We want to accept God, but not the discipline and corrections that comes along with the package. The scriptures tell us how to carry out discipline on an individual level as well as on a corporate level as a church. The scriptures even tell us that there are times when a brother or sister must be excommunicated from the church (removed from fellowship). To many this is unthinkable, but to God, it is a means of protection for the body of Christ and restoration of a fallen brother. Discipline is to always be carried out in the spirit of love and not wrath or revenge and as laid out in God's instruction manual, the Word.