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 narratives that focused on Peter, Church, and the disciples naturally flow into the discourse on Church life and order. The discourse has two major parts: (1) the need to care for children (vv 1–5) and for “the little ones,” the lowly church members who are easily neglected (vv 6–14); (2) the need to apply church discipline to the recalcitrant sinful member of the church (vv 15–20) but always with a readiness to forgive (vv 21–35). Jesus tells the would-be leaders in the Church that they must be willing to assume the powerlessness and vulnerability of a little child; indeed, they must give special attention to such unprotected people. This includes not only literal children but all the spiritual little ones who are easily led astray by the bad example of others. All disciples (note the lack of any restriction to Church leaders) must be good shepherds, leading the straying sheep back to the Father. But what of the arrogant sinner who remains in the Church and refuses private correction? Matthew provides a three-step procedure (based on Lev. 19.17–18 and Deut. 19.15 and seen also at Qumran), culminating in excommunication. Once again, we meet the phrases “church” and “bind and loose” (cf. 16.18–19), but here the church is the local community, and its action refers to expelling or admitting members. Such a serious decision is made in the presence and by the authority of Jesus (v 20). But the parable of the unforgiving servant (vv 21–35) reminds us that the final word on Church discipline must be forgiveness within the family of God.

~ D. N. Freedman. The Anchor Bible Dictionary . Vol. 4. New York: Doubleday, 1996. p. 633.

As in all segue questions, the ones below concentrate on helping your students get a grasp on the nature of exhortation and spiritual discipline. The weightiness of this subject will require the best thinking and reflection of your students. This subject seems to suffer from both over-exposure and complete neglect. The questions below will enable your students to concentrate on the basic outline of the New Testament’s focus on exhortation, at least those covered in general form in the first video segment. Seek to ensure that your students grasp both the basic facts as well as the critical principles underlying these themes, and help them to prepare the next segment’s more specific focus on the nature of spiritual discipline in the Church. 5 Page 98 Student Questions and Response