Biblical Church Discipline – Charles Leiter

This is by far the best and most helpful sermon on church discipline I have heard, and every believer would do well to listen to (audio below):


Some points from the teaching:

-Church discipline is more than excommunication.
-It is more than removing someone’s name from a membership roll (membership is not in Scripture).
-When a local church exercises discipline it is putting someone out of their fellowship and making a statement to the world that there is no evidence that this person is converted.
-One of the first signs of apostasy is when a church will no longer put out people who are unrepentant in sin.
-A sign of a faithful Pastor is he will face up to these uncomfortable and uneasy situations.
-If your brother sins reprove him. Not go and talk to others about him (Although someone may want to ask a Pastor for advice).
-Sometimes you are exposing the heart of a Pharisee and they will hate you for it, because they have this outward show which you have exposed.
-It is very dangerous for others who don’t know the full story to spend time with the person put out. As they will get them to sympathize with them, tell lies about people etc.
-Sin ought to be confessed to the degree that it is known. But sometimes things can’t be made right without coming out with everything publicly.
-People still under church discipline should only be allowed to attend church meetings when they admit they are not a Christian, and so also do not take communion. When they are still professing Christianity it is very dangerous as they will be spreading all sorts of lies about others.
-The aim is restoration, to save the persons soul. It is a means of grace, and should be done with much prayer and tears.

Audio: