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 heart and soul of exhortation and Church discipline is the authentication of the offense, that is, the ability to substantiate (prove) any of the charges against the one so accused. The fact that Jesus gave a procedure where every claim could be established clearly, discretely, and definitely is instructive. For example, when the Apostle Paul wrote the Corinthians, he warned that on his third visit to them they would have to establish any matter against him by the testimony of two or three witnesses (2 Cor. 13.1-10). It appears that they fully intended to hear charges about his authenticity as an apostle, which he was more than willing to demonstrate with power when he arrived. Of course, the demand that Paul gave regarding two or three witnesses is firmly grounded in Scripture, found both in Deuteronomy 19.15 and, more importantly, in our Lord’s instructions to the disciples about exercising discipline in the body (Matt. 18.16; see also John 8.17; 1 Tim. 5.19; Heb. 10.28; 1 John 5.8). This is significant in every regard for your students. Nothing covered in the lesson above can be glossed over or failed to be taken with the utmost seriousness. No one who is unwilling to follow the Lord’s procedure for restoration should superintend any process of restoration for another. Your discussion of the students’ understanding and fitness on these subjects, therefore, is of critical importance, both to their own discipleship and the significant responsibility they will have to oversee such discipline in their own ministries. Enabling the students to experiment with the concepts in these case studies will strength their ability to apply the Word in difficult situations. Any one who has ministered for any length of time in the inner city knows that one may encounter some of the most difficult situations imaginable, that is, from a moral standpoint. What is required of the developing leader is a sure and certain authority (i.e, the Word of God) and a credible strategy (the Lord’s instruction in Matt. 18). Help the students to isolate as best they can the kinds of questions and issues they must in order to discern precisely what is the problem, and how they would best approach to resolve it, consistent with the clear teaching of Scripture.

6 Page 110 Student Questions and Response

7 Page 114 Case Studies