SPECIAL TOPIC: CHURCH DISCIPLINE

1. There are several passages in the NT on church discipline (cf. 1 Cor. 5:2,7,13; 2 Cor. 2:5-7; 2 Thess. 3:14-15; 1 Tim. 1:20; Titus 3:10), all in Pauline letters.
   
   
2. Church discipline has three purposes.
   1. to maintain the reputation and integrity of the local church
   2. to help disciple and restore an erring covenant brother or sister (cf. 2 Cor. 2:5-11; 2 Thess. 3:14-15)
   3. to cause other Christians not to sin (cf. 1 Tim. 5:20)
   
   
3. There is a staged approach.
   1. first, private confrontation and if not successful, personal disfellowship (cf. Matt. 18:15; Gal. 6:1; 2 Thess. 3:14-15; Titus 3:10)
   2. second, small group confrontation (cf. Matt. 18:16)
   3. third, public exclusion from the Christian fellowship (cf. Matt. 18:17; 1 Cor. 5:1; 1 Tim. 1:20)
   4. the goal must always be for repentance and restoration, not just isolation and punishment (cf. 2 Cor. 2:6-8; Gal. 6:1)

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