Handbook of church discipline: a right and privilege of every church member

Description

This is a handbook for pastors, elders, and all Christians who want to see how Scripture presents the process of discipline that should operate in the Christian community. It was written in response to the various concerns that threaten to tear apart marriages, families, friendships, and congregations-concerns that call for a biblical approach to discipline that can heal fractures, restore right relationship, and ensure the health of the church. Developed around the five corrective steps found especially in Matthew 18:15-17, this book helps church leaders deal with the sorts of problems that require the church's disciplinary response. Charting a course that combines discernment with appropriate action, this simple, readable handbook can have a profound effect on the community of believers.;Cover Page; Title Page; Copyright Page; Contents; Preface; Introduction; 1. What Is Church Discipline?; 2. Preventive Discipline; 3. Corrective Discipline; Four or Five Steps?; Confidentiality; All Steps, Always?; 4. Self-Discipline; The Beginning and the End; 5. One-On-One; Informal Discipline; The Meaning; Going to the Offender; What to Say; Privacy; Reconciliation; Every Little Thing?; 6. One or Two Others; Witnesses Only?; What the Counselor/Witnesses Do; 7. Tell It to the Church; Telling the Church; The Elders' Part; How Does It Work?; 8. Removal from the Midst