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There have always been many voices saying “This is the way to know God.” Today’s media explosion has created more voices and more confusion. Why then another? Our purpose is to share truth to help strengthen your relationship with God and with other believers in your locality.

Personal connection with other believers cannot be replaced by the mass media. It is much more satisfying to have a deep spiritual relationship with ten believers than to be in a crowd of ten thousand. Every individual is important to God, and His plan involves each one in a very real way. There are things that are important to God that can only take place in close personal relationships.

The goal of God is to build a family of His children together in love, walking in truth. Personal submission and obedience to Christ will bring conformity of each member to Christ, and a growing expression of the nature of God in a local gathering. The testimony going out to the world around will be as a “light set on a hill that cannot be hidden” and “the pillar and ground of the truth.”

Use the search box (upper right) to find topics of interest. View a full list of titles at http://www.ntchurchsource.com/podcast/.

Dec 22, 2016

Episode 57 Discipline in the Church of God


The subject of discipline in the Household of God is a very touchy subject. To avoid the problems, some have concluded that we should never be involved in such things (“Judge not”). Others have done this in a very harsh way that has left severe damage in lives. Is there a right way? Should the church ever discipline members? If so, how? As we look briefly at this subject today, I would encourage us to come carefully to the scriptures and ask God to reveal His mind. I think we all want to do the will of God, and we know that we are our brother’s keeper. Love cares for each member, and the scriptures give some clear direction. Even though discipline is challenging to say the least, love must be a love of action.


• Discipline is in the context of the Family of God
o The church is universal in scope but local in expression
o Members are part by their own choice in faith
• Love is expressed in Godly care
o Discipline is love in action
o Speaking the truth in love is done in relationship (Eph. 4:15-16)
• Addressing a need is always progressive (Matt. 18:15-20)
o Making a distinction (Jude 22, I Thes. 5:14)
o Consistency is critical
• A care for the person and the testimony
o The expression of every member is important to the local testimony (2 Thes. 3:6-15)
o No member is except from accountability (I Cor. 12:20-26)
o Teachers are held to a higher standard (James 3:1)
• The grace of God and spiritual direction is critical
o We should never move beyond the grace of God
o We should never stand between another member and Christ
• The end goal of any correction or discipline is the restoration of fellowship (Heb. 12:3-12)
o God knows the heart, but man judges the outward actions
o Fellowship with God is revealed in fellowship with one another (I John)
• The church properly expressed is the Temple of God in reality

http://www.ntchurchsource.com/literature/read/discipline-in-the-body-of-christ/


• Additional resources at  http://www.ntchurchsource.com/
• Theme song “Will Your Anchor Hold” sung by J. Ashley Milne
• Comments and questions welcome. Email David@AnchorOfTruth.com