SPECIAL TOPIC: CHURCH DISCIPLINE

This is one of several passages in the NT on church discipline (cf. 1 Cor. 5:2,7,13; 2 Cor. 2:5-7; 2 Thess. 3:14-15; 1 Tim. 1:20; Titus 3:10).
Church discipline has three purposes.
1. to maintain the reputation and integrity of the local church
2. to help disciple and restore an erring covenant brother or sister (cf. 2 Cor. 2:5-11; 2 Thess. 3:14-15)
3. to cause other Christians not to sin (cf. 1 Tim. 5:20)
There is a staged approach.
1. first, private confrontation and if not successful, personal disfellowship (cf. Matt. 18:15; Gal. 6:1; 2 Thess. 3:14-15; Titus 3:10)
2. second, small group confrontation (cf. Matt. 18:16)
3. third, public exclusion from the Christian fellowship (cf. Matt. 18:17; 1 Cor. 5:1; 1 Tim. 1:20)
4. the goal must always be for repentance and restoration, not just isolation and punishment (cf. 2 Cor. 2:6-8; Gal. 6:1)