The Household of Faith

Galatians 6:1-10

Seek Restoration

• Sin is a reality in any church
  • On this side of heaven
• Church Authority is assumed 
  • Leaders have the ability to include and exclude.  The congregation is under some form of authority who are to work to guard the church and keep it healthy.
• Church Discipline is practiced
  • Matthew 18 deals with how we should confront one another when there is sin and disunity in the church. 
• How do you respond to sin?  
  • • 1. Unforgiveness, anger, bitterness, resentment
      • If your brother offends you, get rid of your brother… Drop him right away… 
    • 2. Forgiveness, reconciliation, restoration
      • We don’t sweep sin under the rug.  We deal with it.  We call out sin, and we call for repentance.   
• 5 thoughts on Church discipline
• • • • • It should be handled carefully
          • Not every sin within the church is a matter of church discipline. 
            • 1st Peter 4:8 – Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
            • We are not supposed to be engaged in court battles in the church over every slight or offense or annoyance that we might experience.  Church discipline is reserved for serious matters, and should be dealt with soberly and carefully.
        • It should be handled lovingly
          • We build people up instead of beat people up.  Instead of condemning, we restore.  
            • This is the heart of God.  He always forgives, He always reconciles, He always restores.  

• This is the core of the Gospel.  He was so desiring to forgive, reconcile, and restore, that He died for His enemies.  

• • • • • • The goal is restoration ALWAYS!
  • It should be handled Prayerfully
    • Recognizing that we, in our limited strength, and our frail bodies, and our feeble words, have no power to bring someone back to Christ.  It requires a conviction, a heart change, that can only come from the Lord.  
      • Every step of church discipline must be bathed in prayer.  
  • It should be handled humbly
    • We are not better than others (vs 3)
      • Scott Hubbard – We are, every one of us, creatures of the dust. Yet we somehow find a way to strut through the streets of the earth as if our strength were not fragile, our knowledge not narrow, our lungs not rising only because God gives us breath.  Pride reigns only where the cross has been forgotten or distorted. Pride cannot breathe Golgotha’s air.
        • When pride makes us believe that we are the author of some good thing we have, we must ask ourselves the question, “What do you have that you did not receive?”
          • Every good gift comes down from the father.  Others problems could be your problems if not for Jesus; others struggles, your struggles, others sin, your sin, If not for Jesus Christ.
  • It should be handled directly
    • The danger of Gossip – Explain the multiplying facets of gossip. “Let’s say I offend pastor Rick…”

1st Peter 4:8

• We build people up instead of beat people up
• Bear one another’s burdens
• Bear your own load

Investment Comes Before Reward

Hosea 10:13

Do Good to All, Especially the Church

John 13:34-35