Church Discipline

Biblical church discipline is a three-step process designed to restore a believer who has fallen into sin or error. The goal is not punishment, but restoration. Those who will not heed the Word of God are to be warned, then isolated from fellowship, and finally expelled if they refuse to repent. But discipline is always temporary — when they repent, they are to be received back with love.

Step 1 — Warn and Rebuke

Those who will not heed the Word of God within the church are to be first warned and then rebuked — privately if the error is private, or publicly if their error is public.

2 Thessalonians 3:14 — "And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed."

Titus 1:13-14 — "This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth."

The first step is to confront the person — to warn them, to show them from Scripture where they are wrong, and to call them to repentance. If the sin is private, the confrontation should be private. If the sin is public (false teaching, open immorality), the rebuke should be public.

Step 2 — Isolate from Fellowship

If they still will not listen to the truth, then the individuals are to be isolated from the fellowship and others are to separate themselves from them.

1 Timothy 6:3-5 — "If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself."

If warning does not bring repentance, the church is to withdraw — to stop associating with the person, to remove them from positions of leadership or teaching, and to separate from them socially within the church. The goal is that they will see the seriousness of their sin and repent.

Step 3 — Expel from the Fellowship

If they still refuse to change, they are to be expelled from the fellowship.

Titus 3:10 — "A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject."

Galatians 1:6-10 — "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ."

After repeated warnings, if there is no repentance, the person is to be removed from the church. They are no longer recognized as part of the fellowship. This is the final step — and it applies especially to those who teach false doctrine or who persist in open, unrepentant sin.

Paul's Example — Hymenaeus and Alexander

1 Timothy 1:18-20 — "This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme."

Paul warned about false doctrine, and when Hymenaeus and Alexander refused to repent, he expelled them — he "delivered them unto Satan" (removed them from the protection and fellowship of the church) so that they might learn not to blaspheme. The goal was not permanent rejection, but correction and restoration.

1 Timothy 1:4, 11 — "Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do... According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust."

Discipline is Temporary — Restoration After Repentance

Any expulsion is only temporary — it applies only so long as the person is unrepentant. When they repent, they are to be received back again.

The Prodigal Son

Luke 15:20-24 — "And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry."

When the prodigal returned, the father ran to meet him, embraced him, and restored him fully. This is the picture of how the church should receive a repentant brother.

The Man in Corinth

1 Corinthians 5:1-5 — "It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you... In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus."

Paul commanded the Corinthians to expel the man living in open immorality. But later, after the man repented, Paul commanded them to restore him.

2 Corinthians 2:5-11 — "But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all. Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him... To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices."

The discipline worked — the man repented. Paul then commanded the church to forgive him, comfort him, and confirm their love toward him. The goal of discipline is always restoration.

Conclusion

Church discipline is not optional — it is commanded by Scripture. It is a loving process designed to restore a wayward brother and to protect the purity of the church. The steps are clear:

  1. Warn and rebuke — privately or publicly, depending on the nature of the sin
  2. Isolate from fellowship — if they will not listen
  3. Expel from the church — if they refuse to repent

But discipline is never final. When the person repents, they are to be received back with love, forgiveness, and full restoration. The goal is not punishment — it is the spiritual health and restoration of the fallen believer.

Galatians 6:1 — "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted."