Pastoral Studies
Lesson Eleven:  Church Discipline

The Need of Discipline
•	Reference:  Hebrews 13:17

Why Discipline?
•	public testimony of the church
•	dealing with sin

Pastor must remember…
•	welfare and health of entire flock comes first
•	consideration for individuals must come last 
•	to be faithful no matter what

Administering with Love
•	Discipline must be administered with love

Pastor must remember…
•	he is a spiritual father
•	to have a spirit of meekness
•	to keep discipline above any carnal level

What Jesus Said
•	Jesus gave us the steps for church discipline (Matthew 18:15-17)
o	dealt with privately
o	dealt with before the church board of elders or deacons
o	dealt with publicly

New Testament Approach
•	New Testament gives certain forms of church discipline
o	admonition (I Thess 5:14)
o	removal from fellowship (I Corinthians 5:13)
o	delivering over to Satan (I Corinthians 5:5)

Remembering Principles
•	Disciplines to remember:
o	pray
o	love, patience, firmness, discernment, wisdom
o	get all the facts
o	hear both sides of the story
o	slow in forming decisions
o	make sure accusation in proven
o	only Jesus knows their hearts
o	innocent until proven guilty
o	try less severe forms of discipline first
o	never impose unless prepared to carry out

LESSON ELEVEN
SELF HELP TEST
SELF HELP TEST 
A.	Give the THREE steps given in the Bible for enforcing discipline in the church:
1. ___________________________
2. ___________________________
3. ___________________________

B.	Give the THREE forms of Church Discipline given in the Bible:
1. ___________________________
2. ___________________________
3. ___________________________

C.	Give FIVE principles to be remembered by the pastor in administering discipline:
1. _____________________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________________
 3. _____________________________________________________________
4. _____________________________________________________________
5. _____________________________________________________________