Truths about Church Discipline

Discipline in the Church can be such a confusing issue. How are we to go about it? When is it appropriate? Who should start the process? What ultimately is the goal of discipline in the Church? The goal of discipline is restoration of a brother who is caught up in pursuing sin rather than Jesus. Every believer sins, despite the fact that as believers we’ve been set free from sin; however, discipline is necessary when a believer has turned against clear teaching of Scripture, been involved in serious moral failure, or is causing division in the body. When pursing one of these three specific sins becomes more important than the relationship a believer enjoys with God through Christ, discipline is necessary. The goal of discipline is not to punish the sinning brother, but instead to restore them first to a right relationship with Jesus. We always want to restore our fellow believer, that is the ultimate goal of discipline.