Sojourn Church Discipline Guidelines

• Robert Cheong
• Apr 2, 2010
• Series: Leadership
• Categories: Gospel

Introduction: The Gospel Life

We are created in the image of God and we are created to reflect our God through our lives.
However, because of sin’s entry into God’s created order, all of God’s creation is marred by sin—
“things are not what they are suppose to be.” By nature, we are all sinful, resulting in continual
rebellion against God. But because of God’s rich mercy and great love, God redeems his people
through the finished work of Christ on the cross and brings us, as sinful human beings, back into a
right relationship with God. The sad reality for us as Christians is that (1) we still struggle to believe in who God is, even though he has revealed himself to us in Scripture, (2) we still struggle to believe in what God has done for us in and through the gospel, and (3) we still struggle to believe that God’s promises and power apply to us.

This struggle to live out the gospel takes place on a journey towards home. This journey has a
destination and includes transformation. We are all weary and wayward sojourners who need help
every step of the way to better understand, believe, and walk in a way pleasing to the Lord—a way
that brings glory to him by building up his body in love (Eph. 4:16) and advancing his kingdom in a
dark and dying world (cf. Matt. 28:18-20). Every member of Christ’s body needs one another to
remember that this life is a journey towards home to be with our heavenly Father. Every member of
Christ’s body needs one another to conform more and more to Christ as we all are being prepared for the final and ultimate marriage to Christ, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit.

Such inter-dependent body life is a picture of the gospel in action. We reflect our redeeming God as
we help one another to hold fast to Christ (1) in the midst of our suffering and sin, (2) in our battle to believe, and (3) in our struggles to live as one so that our whole life is worship (cf. Rom. 12:1). Such whole-hearted living declares and demonstrates the gospel to believers and unbelievers and brings glory to God! This is the mission and purpose for our lives in Christ.

Understanding Church Discipline

In a broad sense, church discipline is a term used to describe the means of helping one another to
conform to Christ as described by Paul:
(Col. 1:28-29) 28We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. 29To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.

Two Aspects of Church Discipline

From this passage, we see two necessary components for presenting “everyone perfect in Christ:”
(1) teaching, which is formative in nature—preaching, teaching, prayer, Bible study, community,
etc. and (2) admonishing, which is restorative in nature—rebuke, exhortation, correction, etc.
Both formative and restorative discipline is centered on the word of God for training in
righteousness so that we might be thoroughly equipped to live out and minister the gospel in
everyday life. God saved us by grace so we might engage in his kingdom work by helping others
to believe, understand, and live out the gospel.

(2 Tim. 3:16-17) All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

(Eph. 2:10) For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

The progressive steps of Matthew 18:15-20 are implied whenever the term “church discipline” is
used, since members of the family of God are called to actively journey with one another in
community to grow in grace by faith in Christ as we all struggle in a fallen world.

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