Practicing Christian Leadership, Mentor's Guide, MG11

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P R A C T I C I N G C H R I S T I A N L E A D E R S H I P

The question of forgiveness and

2. For the purpose of restoring them to full membership: all exercise of authority for discipline is done only for the purpose of edifying and restoring (no authority exists to tear down another member of God’s family) .

discipline is squarely within the domain of the Church: “But as it is now our purpose to discourse of the visible Church, let us learn, from her single title of Mother, how useful, nay, how necessary the knowledge of her is, since there is no other means of entering into life unless she conceive us in the womb and give us birth, unless she nourish us at her breasts, and, in short, keep us under her charge and government, until, divested of mortal flesh, we become like the angels (Matt. 22.30). For our weakness does not permit us to leave the school until we have spent our whole lives as scholars. Moreover, beyond the pale of the Church no forgiveness of sins, no salvation, can be hoped for, as Isaiah ~ John Calvin. Institutes of the Christian Religion . Translation of Institutio Christianae Religionis . Originally published: Edinburgh: Calvin Translation Society, 1845-1846. (IV, I, 4). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997. and Joel testify (Isa. 37.32; Joel 2.32).”

a. 2 Cor. 13.8-10

b. 2 Cor. 10.8

B. Implications for the Christian Leader

1. God is holy and demands a lifestyle of holiness from those who dwell among his people, 1 Pet. 1.14-17.

2. Discipline is God’s way to protect the people of God as well as restore those who desire to return to obedience to Christ’s lordship after backsliding from him, Heb. 12.6.

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3. Leaders should oversee the process of biblical discipline as a part of their responsibility to shepherd the flock.

II. The Nature of Biblical Discipline in the Church

A. Discipline is a Family Affair

1. Definition of discipline: ( paideuo ) = Greek, “to instruct, train, or correct”