If a Brother Sins: The Loving Response to a Difficult Situation
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
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Emotion
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Language
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Social
Scripture Reading
Prayer
Introduction
Intervention
Enabling
All addicts
Addicted to sin
Review
Matthew 16:19
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Discourse (On the church)
In 16 he empowered the church with the “Keys to the Kingdom” we are the gatekeepers or gospel keepers.
We are to proclaim the gospel but we also “bind and loose”
In other words, we approve or disapprove of professions of faith
As a church we practice this though the covenants and through membership
This practice is invalid without discipline
doctor - eat right, no treatment
Sports coach - Instructs but never drills (practices)
Exposition 1
“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.
Situation
Brother or sister (Fellow kingdom citizen, believer, disciple)
Sins [against you]
Action to take
Step 1 - Confront him/her personally
Step 1 - Confront him/her personally
Notice the goal is repentance
I. The Goal of Discipline is Repentance
I. The Goal of Discipline is Repentance
What kind of sin requires this kind of action?
Obviously, if we accept the idea that as Christians, most of us sin everyday, multiple times per day, and this kind of confrontation isn’t happening daily/regularly, we, by practice, have affirmed that we believe not all sins require this kind of confrontation
1 peter 4:8
Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
Outward, Serious, and Unrepantant
Exposition 2
Matthew 18:16
But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
Situation
He doesn’t repent
Action to Take
Step 2 - Confront with other believers
Step 2 - Confront with other believers
This establishes the truth, both for the one in sin and, if needed for the next step
Deuteronomy 19:15
“A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.
Matthew 18:17
If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
Situation
He doesn’t repent
Action to Take
Step 3 - Tell it to the church
Step 3 - Tell it to the church
Situation
He doesn’t repent
Action to Take
Step 4 - Treat him/her as an unbeliever
Step 4 - Treat him/her as an unbeliever
The goal has not changed through it has been expanded at this point
The goal is still restoration/unrepentance
It is expanded to include protecting the flock
Exposition 3
Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
This verse is basically a repeat of 16:19
recalls the “keys to the kingdom”
Church discipline is part of the duties of a church, guarding the purity of the church
One of the distinctives of Baptist churches is known as “regenerate church membership”
Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.
This is not really a verse about prayer but rather that God affirms the church or works through the Church and thus those confronted by the church must heed the warning.
For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
The Church is given the task of spreading and guarding the Gospel
The Church is given the task of spreading and guarding the Gospel