A young lady came to visit our services in Lancaster, NH. She was living with a young man. When we studied with her, she saw that she was living in a sinful relationship. She was resistant, but she continued to visit our services. Then one day she came and said she was ready to be baptized into Christ. Her boyfriend had left her and she said she was ready to repent and confess Jesus Christ as Lord. The whole church rejoiced. She was baptized and for several weeks seemed to be growing. Then her boyfriend returned and moved back in with her. She didn’t tell anyone, but there was a change in her attitude. We were a small church of only 15 adults and about 18 small children. Everyone knew everyone else. It wasn’t long till we discovered the situation and I met with her. She defended her actions and the old resistance to God’s will came back in full force. After our meeting she made several calls to members to solicit their support. She also called some people who were regular visitors in our services. It was as if everything hit the fan. My phone started ringing too. Some were saying that we had no business getting into her private life. Some members were saying that we could not be judgmental as a church. Some were ready to cut off all ties with her. And I was ready to pull out my hair. We called a meeting of all baptized members of the congregation. No visitors allowed. We prayed together and then discussed the central purpose of our meeting. Were we going to do what the Bible said, or make up our own rules? Were we going to follow God’s directions in this case or decide for ourselves what is best?
It was a painful trying time. Lots of tears and lots of emotional turmoil. But the end result may have saved us as a church. We were learning the art of church discipline in its severe form.
It appears that in some homes and some churches, discipline is a dying art. Churches are called by God to make disciples. Do you know what a disciple is? A disciple is someone who is being disciplined. They are being trained.
I used to coach basketball. When we practiced, everyone was expected to be there and to work hard to improve their own game as well as improve their function as a team. If we had a slacker, it was my responsibility to deal with it. I learned soon that if you let one team member talk back or lay out or have a bad attitude, you could expect that to spread to the other team members. But if you dealt firmly and fairly with every player, and didn’t put up with bad actions or attitudes or laziness, it was better for everyone. The ultimate discipline for a team member was to be put off the team. The Bible shows us in 1 Cor. 5-6, that the same is true for the church.
God’s people are not perfect. In fact, Christians can and do sin. But not every sin has the same impact on the body of Christ. Notice the sins listed in 1 Cor. 5: 11 But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he should be an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler-- not even to eat with such a one.
12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church?
13 But those who are outside, God judges. REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES.
There are sins that God’s Word says are serious enough that if a member of the church practices them and does not repent, they must be put out of the church. They are off the team, out of the fellowship. You say, so what’s so bad about that? Well, if you are not in fellowship with Christ, you are in the clutches of Satan.
Look at these verses: 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus,
5 I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Do you remember the names Ananias and Saphira? Luke records an event in Acts 5:1-11 that may be part of what Paul is thinking about here. Also, in 1 Cor. 11: 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
29 For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself, if he does not judge the body rightly.
30 For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep.
31 But if we judged ourselves rightly, we should not be judged.
32 But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord in order that we may not be condemned along with the world.
Is that in your Bible? Look at verse 30 again. Does your Bible say that many among you are weak and sick and a number of you sleep? (By sleep, he means have died). What on earth is this talking about? Does the Bible say that God actually punishes those who are Christians who go on willfully sinning?
Look at Hebrews 12: 3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart.
4 You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin;
5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, "MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM;
6 FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES."
7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
My Bible says that if God is not disciplining me, then I’m not one of his children. Does your Bible say that?
Those of us who have been studying Revelation have studied the trumpets and the bowls of wrath and we have discovered that God pours out punishments on the people of the world and he allows his children to suffer persecution. But he also greatly rewards faithfulness and blesses those that seek him in glorious ways.
Do you know what happens to a church that doesn’t discipline its members? The whole church ends up suffering for it.
A church without discipline is like a city without law enforcement. Have you seen what happens when a neighborhood goes unpoliced for a long time? Do you know what thrives and grows there? It becomes a jungle!
Churches without discipline turn into religious playhouses without God’s presence. It changes from the territory of the saints to the territory of Satan. Holiness and Christian character ceases to be attractive. The light of truth and love fail to shine. The kingdom influence of salt, loses its savor. God’s word is replaced by man’s wisdom. God’s ways are replaced by human desires. Worship becomes vain. Fellowship is merely social, not spiritual. Pulpits ring with popular platitudes and pretty poetry instead of God’s holy call to grace and godliness. Compromise replaces commitment. Vanity and pride replaces victory over sin.
In a church without discipline the members are not dedicated to prayer and the Word of God, but to pleasure and to worldly gain. A church without discipline will encounter the judgment of God in severity.
I close this lesson with two readings from the word of God and a prayer:
1 Peter 4:1 Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
2 so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
3 For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousals, drinking parties and abominable idolatries.
4 And in all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excess of dissipation, and they malign you;
5 but they shall give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
6 For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.
7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.
8 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.
9 Be hospitable to one another without complaint.
10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
11 Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterances of God; whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;
13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation.
14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
15 By no means let any of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler;
16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not feel ashamed, but in that name let him glorify God.
17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
18 AND IF IT IS WITH DIFFICULTY THAT THE RIGHTEOUS IS SAVED, WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE GODLESS MAN AND THE SINNER?
19 Therefore, let those also who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.
1 Tim. 3:1 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God;
5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; and avoid such men as these.
6 For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses,
7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8 And just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected as regards the faith.
9 But they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all, as also that of those two came to be.
10 But you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance,
11 persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord delivered me!
12 And indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
13 But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
14 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them;
15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
17 that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
4:1 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:
2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires;
4 and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths.
5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;
8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.
Heavenly Father, you are holy, righteous, pure and perfect, and we worship you through Jesus Christ your Son, our Savior, Lord and King.
May your kingdom rule be here in this church, and may your will be done here as it is in heaven! For this we pray.
Feed us today, O Lord, as you have done every day of our lives. We thank-you for our daily food. We have so much and we enjoy it and praise you for it, knowing that it comes from you.
Forgive us, O Lord, as we forgive those who sin against us. Help us to walk in your forgiveness and grace.
Please do not lead us into temptation, Father, for we are weak. But deliver us from the evil one.
Grant wisdom, courage, and strength to our elders who shepherd this flock that you have put under their care. Thank-you for each one of them. May they lead us, discipline us, and encourage us and be an example for us in your ways and will according to your holy Word. Please help me to preach and teach and practice your holy word as the minister of the gospel in this congregation, O Lord, and that I may call every member here into the glorious goodness of your will, and proclaim the whole counsel of your Word.
Bless our deacons who serve this church with faithful service. And we thank-you for them and the good works that they do in service to this congregation. Bless the wives and families of all the leaders of this congregation. We thank-you so much for faithful Christian wives who serve with their husbands in this church.
Bless the teachers who serve this church by preparing and presenting your word and will in our Bible classes and bless those that work to organize this work of ministry.
Bless our elderly members on whose shoulders we stand who have labored and sacrificed and given their time and energy to planting and building this church. We pray for them that your presence and strength will overshadow them and that we will honor them as we should.
Bless all our faithful husbands and wives with homes that are filled with love and truth according to your will. Bless our children with faith and strength. May they grow to be fruitful servants in your kingdom and enjoy the blessings of your nearness and love all the days of their lives.
Oh, holy Father, let us be a disciplined church. Let us walk in the way of your will according to your word. Let us receive your discipline with open hearts and minds. Let us be transformed into your likeness. Let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer.
In Jesus Name. Amen.
