The main purpose of this message is to remove negativity surrounding church discipline, which is often misunderstood or approached unbiblically. Church discipline is not an apostolic invention or a human idea; it originated from Jesus Christ Himself and is established in heaven. It is not a process of punishment, but one of accountability, love, and hope. Even excommunication, when truly understood, is not meant to hurt or condemn, but is full of hope, entrusting the situation to God. For example, Paul disciplined John Mark, who later wrote the Gospel of Mark. The foundation of church discipline is love – not hatred, rejection, or resentment. It is the church’s obedience in love and truth, as Jesus commands, and is both important and necessary for the life of the church. Yes, it might end in excommunication, but even that is for the purpose of hope and restoration.
Christians are redeemed but not perfect
First, we must know who we are. Without the Gospel, we cannot be who we are in the Lord. The Gospel is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, bringing us from eternal death and condemnation to eternal blessing. As Spurgeon said, “The heart of the gospel is the redemption. The essence of redemption is the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ”. Through the Gospel, people are redeemed and freed from the power of sin. As Christians, we have a new status, new nature, new family, and a new job description, representing Jesus. We are in the world but not of the world, having nothing to do with sin. Our love for Jesus Christ is first and uppermost.
This doesn’t mean Christians are perfect. In fact, we sin every day. Which is why we continue repenting daily. We must not get away from a heart of repentance. It is also true that Christians are holy; they are separated and sanctified. Holiness means being set apart for a sacred purpose. The believer’s holiness is expressed by loving God and neighbor. As God is holy, so we must be holy. It is for the purpose of holiness, the church must practice self-discipline. When a brother sins, as Matthew 18:15 states, we must not be quiet or silent because the church is a gathering of sanctified, holy people. The church is not perfect and we sin but we hold each other accountable through discipline and repentance.
Church Membership and Authority
Christians are members of the body of Christ, and members of the local church. (1 Corinthians 12:27) We are members of each other and accountable to each other. Unlike a Costco membership with no accountability, church membership is the church’s official public acknowledgment of a Christian who possesses saving faith in Christ and commits to the responsibilities of the church. Local churches are responsible for the teaching, guiding and care of its members. Members of a local church are accountable to each other. Being a church member is committing to the visible body of Christ. “You have been joined together with Christ… You bear His name. Are you ashamed to belong? Are you ashamed to bear that identification with other believers of like precious faith?… Shouldn’t you be willing outwardly to identify with the visible, gathered members of that group to which you eternally belong?” – John Macarthur
As members of the church when someone sins we forgive. Jesus said 70 times 7 we forgive which means continually. However we don’t only forgive but we also discipline. The local church has the authority of discipline. Matthew 18:17 shows the duty of telling it “to the church,” to the members, when someone refuses to listen. The local church, gathered with its members, has authority. Matthew 18:18 states, “Whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven”. This means the church has authority to legislate according to God’s Word, declaring what is right and defining proper conduct.
Discipleship and Accountability
Every church member is a disciple. No disciples without discipline. Discipleship and discipline are inseparable. A good disciple becomes well-disciplined through correction and instruction. Matthew 19:14 is an example of Jesus correcting the disciples about children and the kingdom of heaven. This disciplining was Jesus practicing discipleship. We also practice discipleship through correction and teaching because we are mutually accountable. When a brother sins, we must not be silent. It is the church’s collective work to deal with it in truth and love, seeking restoration.
Discipleship and discipline is a practice of the whole church. Not just church leaders but all the members are accountable to each other. We need to watch each other’s backs. Church discipline is not solely about excommunication but its correcting and teaching.
Accountability is essential because no disciple is perfect, and every Christian tends to be deceived by themselves. We must not be deceived. 1 Corinthians 3:18 warns us that we cannot know everything, and we all have our weaknesses, which is why we need accountability. Self-deception leads to continued sin. We have personally seen the result of those who have deceived and refused correction. Apostle Paul urged, “Brothers, even if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, each of you looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted” (Galatians 6:1). Restoration comes from discipline.
The result of discipline is amazing for a true Christian. 2 Timothy 4:11 shows that Mark was disciplined by Paul in Acts, but now he is helpful in his ministry. In contrast, 2 Timothy 4:10 shows that Demas had abandoned Paul and became an apostate.
Purpose of Church Discipline: Love, Restoration, Protection
Every Christian must know what church discipline is. Church discipline is not to win the argument, or to destroy the other or to abandon the other. It is not putting someone else to shame. It is not a scarlet letter or stoning. Church discipline is being the Lord’s messenger to deliver the truth of Jesus Christ. Church discipline is not the final verdict. It’s not a power play. It’s also not a small thing, though. It is serious. Church discipline is the process of correcting sinful behavior among members for the purpose of protecting the church, restoring the sinner to a right walk with God, and renewing fellowship among church members.
Church discipline has gotten a bad reputation for being harsh and judgmental. The process starts with a private conversation with the sinning brother, which should be approached with love and humility. The next step involves one or two witnesses. Eventually, it is brought before the whole church and could result in the removal from membership (excommunication). Even excommunication is with love and the purpose of restoration. 1 Corinthians 5:2 instructs, “And you have become puffed up and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst”. Discipline is necessary to guide them back to a right relationship with God. It may lead to excommunication, but it is still pursued in love for restoration. Excommunication is a formal action by the local church as a whole, instructing members to limit contact with the unrepentant. Treat them as tax collectors, but not out of arrogance or anger.
The main purposes of discipline are:
- Restoration of the individual: It aims to guide someone back to a right relationship with God and the church through repentance, not punishment. “You are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 5:5)
- Protection of the church: Sin is cancerous and goes viral, so discipline protects the community. We don’t want people in our church to marry non-Christians, no matter how famous or wealthy or nice they are. Sin, ike complaints, can spread through the whole community. “Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough?” (1 Corinthians 5:6).
- Upholding biblical standards: Church discipline upholds the standard of Scripture. It reinforces the church’s commitment to holiness and obedience to scripture.
- Promoting accountability: Church discipline promotes accountability. We are to be taught and corrected by each other. It fosters a culture of mutual accountability, encouraging members to honor Christ. As Proverbs says, “Iron sharpens iron”.
- Maintaining a good reputation for Jesus Christ: Right now church is a laughing stock. They don’t take church or the gospel seriously. This is because many churches lack discipline, leading to a diminished reputation. If we practice church discipline faithfully, then we might lose many numbers, but the remaining would be strong and attractive in the right way. The Lord said, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again?” (Matthew 5:13).
Love Rules
In church discipline, love rules. Church discipline is all about love. “The Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” (Hebrews 12:6). Many misunderstand biblical love, thinking it means everything is always gentle and kind, without boundaries. 1 Corinthians 13:6 states that love does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth. Modern love is not true love. Love is not tolerance or accepting of everything. It’s not only supportive, especially of sinful behavior. Love is righteousness and truth. True love is holy, truthful, and authoritative; it makes demands and produces obedience.
An example of unbiblical love is permissive or gentle parenting, which only gives and supports. No setting boundaries, no imperatives, no discipline. In the end, it ruins their kids. Society is collapsing because of permissive parenting. Similarly, in the church, if we continually forgive without guidance or accountability when sin persists, it is not true love. A church that understands biblical love will better understand church discipline.
We continue to pray for those who refuse to repent. We approach them with truth and love. We must continually improve our accountability amongst ourselves. Accountability does not stop on Sunday. We are interconnected as one body in Christ, so we need accountability continually. We need to pray for each other. When we think no one is watching, we get tempted to sin. Accountability is the best treatment as we pray for and love one another.
BIBLE COMMUNITY CHURCH 
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