Galatians 6:1 CSB – if someone is overtaken in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual, restore such a person with a gentle spirit
The Church in Corinth’s Humpty Dumpty Moment
2 Corinthians 2:5-6 CSB – If anyone has caused pain, he has caused pain not so much to me but to some degree—not to exaggerate—to all of you. 6 This punishment by the majority is sufficient for that person.
Flashback: 1 Corinthians 5:1-2 CSB – It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and the kind of sexual immorality that is not even tolerated among the Gentiles—a man is sleeping with his father’s wife.
v.2, And you are arrogant! Shouldn’t you be filled with grief and remove from your congregation the one who did this?
1 John 5:17 CSB – All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.
2 Corinthians 5:2b CSB – Shouldn’t you be filled with grief and remove from your congregation the one who did this?
1 Peter 1:16 CSB – for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.
What Does Church Discipline Look Like?
Proverbs 19:11 CSB – A person’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.
James 2:13 CSB – For judgment is without mercy to the one who has not shown mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
Jude 1:22-23 CSB – Have mercy on those who waver; 23 save others by snatching them from the fire….
2 Corinthians 2:6-7 CSB – This punishment by the majority is sufficient for that person. 7 As a result, you should instead forgive and comfort him. Otherwise, he may be overwhelmed by excessive grief.
1 Corinthians 5:6-7 CSB – Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little leaven leavens the whole batch of dough?7 Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new unleavened batch, as indeed you are.
“Vice is a monster of so frightful mien
As to be hated needs but to be seen;
Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face,
We first endure, then pity, then embrace.”
– Alexander Pope
1 Corinthians 5:9-11 CSB – I wrote to you in a letter not to associate with sexually immoral people. 10 I did not mean the immoral people of this world or the greedy and swindlers or idolaters; otherwise you would have to leave the world.
But actually, I wrote you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister and is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or verbally abusive, a drunkard or a swindler. Do not even eat with such a person.
5 Practical Steps for Disciplining the Fallen
- Self-Discipline (Self-Examination)
Matthew 7:1-5 CSB – “Do not judge, so that you won’t be judged.2 For you will be judged by the same standard with which you judge others, and you will be measured by the same measure you use.
v3 Why do you look at the splinter in your brother’s eye but don’t notice the beam of wood in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the splinter out of your eye,’ and look, there’s a beam of wood in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First take the beam of wood out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take the splinter out of your brother’s eye.
- Loving Confrontation
Galatians 6:1-2 CSB – Brothers and sisters, if someone is overtaken in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual, restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourselves so that you also won’t be tempted. 2 Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Proverbs 27:17 CSB – As iron sharpens iron so one person sharpens another.
Psalm 19:7a CSB – The Law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul…
Proverbs 15:1 CSB – reminds us A gentle answer turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath.
- Group Intervention
Matthew 18:15 CSB – “If your brother sins against you, go tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won your brother.
Matthew 18:16-17 CSB – But if he won’t listen, take one or two others with you, so that by the testimony of two or three witnesses every fact may be established. 17 If he doesn’t pay attention to them, tell the church.
- Intentional Isolation
Matthew 18:17b CSB – If he doesn’t pay attention even to the church, let him be like a Gentile and a tax collector to you.
- Complete Restoration
2 Corinthians 2:6-7 CSB – …his punishment by the majority is sufficient for that person. 7 As a result, you should instead forgive and comfort him. Otherwise, he may be overwhelmed by excessive grief.
Luke 3:8 CSB – Jesus said, produce fruit consistent with repentance.
Acts 26:20b CSB – …they should repent and turn to God, and do works worthy of repentance.
Genuine repentance
- Conviction
- Contrition
Psalm 51:3&17 CSB –
For I am conscious of my rebellion,
and my sin is always before me.
The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit.
You will not despise a broken and humbled heart, God.
- Change
2 Corinthians 2:6 CSB – …forgive and comfort him. Otherwise, he may be overwhelmed by excessive grief.
We are Restored by God God’s Grace
1 John 1:9 CSB – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Psalm 103:3-4 CSB – He forgives all your iniquity;
He redeems your life from the Pit;
Psalm 103:8-12 CSB – The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in faithful love.
9 He will not always accuse us
or be angry forever.
10 He has not dealt with us as our sins deserve
or repaid us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his faithful love
toward those who fear him.
12 As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed
our transgressions from us.
Ephesians 2:5-6 CSB – But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, 5 made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!
Titus 2:11-12 CSB – For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age,
2 Corinthians 2:6 CSB – …forgive and comfort him. Otherwise, he may be overwhelmed by excessive grief.
Ephesians 4:32 CSB – be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.
2 Corinthians 3:7-11 CSB – …you should instead forgive and comfort him. Otherwise, he may be overwhelmed by excessive grief.
8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him.
10 Anyone you forgive, I do too. For what I have forgiven…it is for your benefit in the presence of Christ, 11 so that we may not be taken advantage of by Satan. For we are not ignorant of his schemes.
