Procedure of Church Discipline (Part Two) Public Admonishment Church discipline requires that the church listen and speak. Jesus said, “And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church” (Mt. 18:17). The purpose for this command is manifold: frustrations of caring Christian can now be overcome because Read more…
Procedure of Church Discipline Part One An elder once said, “We all know that we ought to improve church discipline, but nobody seems to know where to begin and how to do it”. Through lack of knowledge many souls who might have been restored through church discipline have been lost. Read more…
Definition of Church Discipline Our English word for “discipline” comes from the Latin dicipulus meaning “pupil, disciple.” Thus, “discipline” originally referred to “teaching.” The idea of punishment was only secondary. A disciple is “one who accepts and follows a teacher of a doctrine or learner” (Funk and Wagnall). “Disciple” is methetes in Read more…
The Need For Church Discipline “Why, I never heard of the church withdrawing from anybody.” This statement came be heard across the nation in the New Testament church by those who have been members for forty years or more. Why? Not because such is not taught in the Bible, but Read more…
A Vessel of Honor 20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. 21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and Read more…
Taming the Tongue & the Perfect Man James 3:1-12 Once more James warns the saints of the proper use of the tongue. First, it has the power to direct others through teaching. Not everyone should be a teacher because of their inability to properly communicate (3:1). Teachers of God’s Word Read more…
Great Gain Through Godliness 1 Tim. 6:6-10 6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. Paul is making a direct contrast with the motive of the false teachers in verse five. In fact, he agrees with them in part. Godliness is the means of great gain. However, Paul gives a Read more…
Parable of the Elder Son Luke 15:25-32 The design of the parables in Luke 15 was simply to justify Jesus’ conduct in receiving sinners, and to show to rejoice over their return was proper. The Pharisees did not like the Messiah hanging out with sinners. Although Luke presents this chapter Read more…
Parable of the Lost Son: The Road to Recovery Luke 15:17-24 The Road to Recovery • Realization The very first step down the road to recovery is realization of one’s true condition. “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough Read more…
Parable of the Lost Son: The Road to Ruin 11 Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. 13 And not Read more…