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

3. If the offender will not listen to two or three witnesses, they are to be brought to the church, and if they refuse to listen to the church, they are to be treated as an outsider (as a Gentile and a tax collector).

a. The entire process is based on the ability or inability of the offender to respond to the truth , Matt. 18.17.

b. The decision of the church is a final decision in this regard until it is formally rescinded by the church’s determination, Matt. 18.18.

4. Leaders ought to establish and superintend this process on behalf of the church.

a. Biblical support for leadership involvement in discipline

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(1) Heb. 13.17

(2) Matt. 16.19

(3) 1 Tim. 5.19

b. Leaders should strive to resolve and address all issues pertinent to the situation which made the discipline necessary.

c. Leaders must represent God’s scriptural standards by reaffirming the biblical truth regarding the offense.

d. Leaders must guide the process to restore the offender publicly and formally back into the family of God.