Theme: Enacting Church Discipline

Passage: 1 Corinthians 5:1–13

Enacting Church Discipline:

1. Problems Abound (1–2):

a. Blatant sexual sin (1)

b. Church pride (2a)

c. Failure to address sin (2b)

2. Necessary Action (3–5):

a. The gathered church has Jesus’ authority to address sin (3–4).

b. The gathered church is to remove the blatant sinner from the church (5).

i. Placing the sinner again in Satan’s realm

ii. Anticipating the sinner’s repentance and final salvation

**Restorative Purpose**

3. Biblical Reasons (6-8):

a. Even a little affects the whole (6).

b. Identity should determine behavior (7).

c. Actions should be consistent with profession (8).

**Holiness of God’s People**

4. Final Clarification (9–13):

a. We cannot completely separate from the sinners of this world (9–10).

i. We are left in this world.

ii. We are to bear witness of our faith to them.

b. We must strive to keep the sin of this world out of the church (11).

c. Leave judgment of worldly people to God (12–13a).

d. Remove evil persons from church fellowship (13b).

Main Idea: We are to take necessary disciplinary action to restore one another by maintaining a people that strive to reflect God’s holiness in us as Christ’s church.

Application Questions:

· What is the Biblical theology that stands behind the commands and prohibitions concerning human sexuality (see Genesis 1:28; 2:24; Ephesians 5:21–33)? Why is it so important to understand God’s reasons for sexuality within marriage?

· Why do you suppose Paul spent so much time addressing and correcting the church as the problem in this situation rather than the man’s sin itself? What might this indicate for us today?

· From the evidence of this passage, how does the church’s failure to properly address and confront sin negatively affect the individual sinner and the church as a whole?

· What dangers are inherent when enacting church discipline? How can these be avoided?

· What are key takeaways from this passage and rather stern rebuke that you can apply to your own life this week?