I have felt led strongly to study about church discipline so I continue with scripture helps on how a church needs to apply discipline for the sake of God’s people. I have lived seeing a church being spoiled by the sins of men. I have witnessed great disruption in the household of faith. I believe with all my heart the church may be growing cold as they do not apply the whole Word of God about discipline. God disciplines us everyday. If we continue to sin and not repent his wonderful blessings don’t rain down on our lives. We feel separation and anxious. I sometimes can see people beating at the wind as if God did not exist. Discipline is not fun for a parent or the church but for the church to be free, it’s a must. Below are more scripture and thoughts on how our church’s can be free and pure to spread the gospel. We must approach God with great fear and trembling. Thank you Lord for your Word of peace.

God: “Harsh discipline is for him who forsakes the way, and he who hates correction will die.” Proverbs 15:10

Correction verses punishment:

Correction puts person on right tract and they have learned from their ways. They stop and think before they repeat the matter that lead to their correction.
Punishment: a person who stubbornly refuses to listen time and time again…This is a person who hates correction.

Self:
I Corinthians 9:27
“But I discipline my body and bring it back into subjection, lest, when I preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”
We as God’s people are to live a life of discipline. We are accountable to submit our lives under the authority of God.

I Corinthians 5:11-13; 2 Thessalonians 3:6; 14, 15
In discipline we cut off a person from fellowship. This helps the Holy Spirit to convict and bring this offender to repentance.
“But now I have written to you, not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.
I Corinthians 5:5
“Deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Church: This is not outside community of faith. It’s the church and within itself we must judge sin within our camps. Do not fear rejection from man, fear rejection from God when you disobey his Word. God has given us the authority to purge the church from offenses. Be strong and brave and do the work of a good soldier.

v.13 “Those outside God judges; therefore put away from yourselves the evil person.”

***Just because a church has disciplined a person in sin does not mean it’s to stop witnessing to outside community. Do not let this rob you of sharing your faith.

I Corinthians 5:6-8
V7. “Purge the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened.”
Leaven: is the influence of sin
V8. “Let us keep the feast, not with old leaven nor the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”
**V6. “Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?

God is telling us the whole church is guilty of ignoring the man’s sin and in this other believers may be lead to sin. Impurity is reigning in the church so it allows Satan to build a stronghold on the church from being blessed by God.

Are you willing to practice God’s Word on discipline?
Do you desire to glorify God by your obedience?
Are you making excuses to keep from purging the church from sin?
Are you using God’s Word to guide you so your church can be purified?

What is keeping you from truth?

Lord God we ask you to help our church’s be pure in these last days. We know there is a working within many churches that are severing the lovely blessed union of believers. Father, give us help through your Word to do the work you would have us to do even when it’s unpleasant. Guide us your church to be spotless before you.