Restoring A Sinner (Church Discipline)

Restoring a Sinner

October 8, 2017 Morning Service

Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK

Rick Boyne

Message Point: The Bible gives us clear direction on how to restore a sinner to fellowship.

Focus Passage: Matthew 18:15-17

Supplemental Passage: "MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM; FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES." 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? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed. Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:5b-14 NASB)

Introduction: The goal of church discipline is to restore a sinner to righteousness and fellowship. The world’s prescription, perhaps, is to “out” someone or to punish them for their downfalls. Over the last ten years, various levels of biblical church discipline have been used with our members. When it has been used, and when it happens again, the person, or persons, will be dealt with love and grace with the goal of restoration. There may be consequences, such as the loss of a leadership position or other such thing, but the goal is complete restoration. If we do not address sin, especially among the family of God,

I. Private confrontation

a. If you see someone in sin, go to them in love and say something about it

b. You are not their judge, so don’t act like it.

c. The goal is restoration

II. Intermediate confrontation

a. If the person who is sinning doesn’t listen, take a friend or two

b. Don’t gossip about it and sin yourself

III. Public confrontation

a. If the person who is sinning still doesn’t listen, bring them before the church

b. Practically speaking, if it goes this far, you probably won’t get them up in front of the church

c. At this point, the church should be informed and all should agree to the consequences

IV. Consequences

a. Steps of restoration,

i. e.g. come before the church, confession your wrongdoing, repent, and publicly ask for forgiveness of those whom were hurt

b. or Disfellowship – the total shunning of an unrepentant believer

Application/Invitation: Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you. (Hebrews 13:17 NASB)

Be responsive to your pastoral leaders. Listen to their counsel. They are alert to the condition of your lives and work under the strict supervision of God. Contribute to the joy of their leadership, not its drudgery. Why would you want to make things harder for them? (Hebrews 13:17 MSG)