Discipline - The mark of a Disciple

DISCIPLINE

INTRODUCTION: Discipline is one of the basic doctrines of the Bible that must be understood and practiced if our lives and Christ’s churches are to represent Him.

I.       The meaning of discipline

A.   By discipline we mean the orderly conduct or pattern of behavior which gives control to

our manner of life.

B.   The words disciple and discipline are derived from the same root meaning.

1.     Jesus reveals that without disciplined lives one cannot be a disciple, John 8:31-32.

2.     Discipline is a subject which deals primarily with the mental faculties of man and

his relationship to God.

3.     You can train the body to respond to almost any activity, but unless the mind is

disciplined, the body will always revert to its original position, II Peter 2:22.

C.   Discipline covers four areas of definition.

1.     Instruction that teaches the rules for governing

2.     Training that deals with the mental faculties or moral character with a view to

“correct,” “mold,” and “perfect”

3.     Punishment that deters disorderly behavior

4.     Control that preserves orderly behavior

D.   In this lesson we will be looking at two areas of discipline.

II.     Cultural discipline

A.   It is the act of developing Christian character by the process of teaching and learning

so that the individual child of God will willingly become a self-disciplined, godly per-

son who is in submission to God, II Peter 3:18.

1.     This is achieved, first, through learning the principles of the Word of God, II Timo-

thy 3:16,17.

2.     It is achieved, secondly, by putting into practice the principles given in James 1:22-

27.

B.   Cultural discipline must be maintained personally and corporately.

1.     Just as it is important to obey the laws of the land, it is important to train the

mind to conform to God’s word and equip us for God’s kingdom, II Timothy
2:15.

2.     The agency for discipling the child of God is the New Testament Church, Matthew

28:18-20.

3.     Every child of God is responsible to submit himself to God’s plan under the author-

ity of the church, I Timothy 3:15.

4.     In submitting himself to the process of cultural discipline, the child of God must

recognize two principles: Self sacrifice and learning to count the cost with a view of paying it, Luke 9:23, 14:28-30.

III.    Corrective discipline

A.   The application of certain measures concerning an individual or a body of individuals

(church), for the purpose of helping them to return to a right relationship with others

and especially with God, Hebrews 12:5-11.

1.     From the beginning of the creation of man, God let it be known that He would use

corrective discipline, Genesis 2:16,17; 6:5-7.

2.     For the benefit of mankind after the flood in Noah’s day, God continued to provide

corrective discipline through human government, Genesis 9:6.

B.    The responsibility of administering discipline

1.     For children, it is the parents’ responsibility, Hebrews 12:9,10.

2.     For the world, it is government, Romans 13:1-4.

3.     For the children of God, it is the church, II Thessalonians 3:6.

C.    Discipline in relationship to the child of God

1.     When a child of God refuses to grow and become submissive to God’s will, God

will resort to harsh means of discipline to correct that rebellious person, Hebrews

12:6.

2.     When a child of God becomes a member of His church (His body), they become

subject to God’s rules and to expulsion if their lives do not conform to the teach-

ings of Christ (the Head).

D.    The church, as administrator of discipline

1.     Offenses for exclusion must be Biblical in nature, I Corinthians 5:9-11.

2.     Facts must be well established by reputable witnesses, Matthew 18:16, I Timothy

5:19.

3.     There must be order in the church when discipline is exercised, I Corinthians 14:40.

4.     Proper motive must be kept in view, I Corinthians 5:4-6; II Thessalonians 3:14,15.

E.    Types of offenses

1.     Private offenses, Matthew 18:15-18.

a.  Three steps must be taken in dealing with a brother in a private offense.

(1) Deal with that brother in private, Matthew 18:15.

(2) Take one or two spiritual church members and confront the offender before
     these witnesses that the facts may be established, Matthew 18:16.

(3) You must bring the charges before the church and let the church deal with
     him, Matthew 18:17.

b.  The whole point of this procedure is not to punish but to restore him to fellow-
      ship with Christ and His church.

c.  Notice: when a church takes action, it is BINDING! (Matthew 18:18)

2.     Public offenses, I Corinthians 5:1

a.  Public offenses are those done openly, known by the church and the commu-
      nity.

b.  Unlike the “private offender,” Paul tells the church at Corinth to “put away from
      among yourselves that wicked person,” Verse 13.

c.  Notice the direct proceedings.

(1) No trial necessary. The guilt is publicly established.

(2) No witnesses are required to testify.

(3) The church is just simply “not to company” with such a fellow, I Corinthians
     5:11.

d.  It is not just the sin of fornication which is to be treated in this way, I Corin-
      thians 5:11.

e.  Remember, that these offenses are not casual in nature but a way of life with
      the offender. They are not to be tolerated within the membership of the Lord’s
      church!

3.     Doctrinal offenses

a.  Schism, I Corinthians 1:10; 11:18; 12:25

b.  Heresy, II Peter 2:1; Titus 3:10,11

c.  Division, Romans 16:17,18

d.  Doctrinal offenses are not to be tolerated in the church.

(1) Two warnings are given; if refused the offender is not to be received, Titus
     3:10.

(2) Mark them, avoid them, decline to receive them, Romans 16:17. 4. Disorderly conduct, II Thessalonians 3:6,11,14.

a.  Disorderly, as applied to the church, means to have irregular conduct in the
      church, not walking according to the established order of the church.

b.  Withdraw yourself from those who conduct themselves disorderly; the way to
      carry this out is quite simple if done according to instructions, II Thessalonians
      3:14.

F.    Purpose for corrective discipline

1.     That he may be ashamed, Luke 15:17,19.

2.     To bring a brother back, Matthew 18:11-15.

3.     To cleanse the church from impurities, I Corinthians 5:4-7.

4.     To get rid of false teaching, Titus 3:10; I John 2:19.

(Remember that the judgment which the church is to pass is not for the purpose to

establish whether one is saved or lost. It is a judgment of a member’s way of life in

relationship to the church, II Thessalonians 3:15.)

G.    Restoration of excluded members

1.     When? They may be restored to fellowship in the church when there is discernible

evidence of genuine repentance.

2.     How? They are restored in the same manner that they were excluded — by the

majority vote of the membership.