Matthew 18 
  

Jesus introduced his teaching on church discipline with the Parable of the Lord Sheep.  In that parable Jesus expressed the deep love and concern God and his people have for a believer who wanders from God’s flock and goes astray.  It is a love and concern that moves God’s people to “go to look for the one that wandered off” (v. 12).  In our study, we will listen as Jesus instructs us about the right way to deal with a Christian who has wandered off. 

  

1. Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 
    
2. How do people today (including some who count themselves members of the Christian church) cause Christian children to fall into sin and unbelief? 
   
    
3. Why would the following responses to a fellow Christian who has gone astray and is living in impenitence be considered improper? 
   
   ·         Silence – “I don’t want to get involved or come off like I think I’m better than he is.” 
   
   ·         Sharing the matter with your pastor – “Pastor, you should know what’s happening in Scott’s life.” 
   
    
4. Put in your own words the four steps of church discipline outlined by Jesus that serve as guidelines for us. 
   
    
   1.   
      
      
       
   2.   
      
        
   3.   
      
         
   4.   
      
         
5. What do we hope to achieve in each of the four steps of church discipline (v. 15)? 
   
     
6. What two things may happen that bring the process of church discipline to an end? 
   
      
7. What thoughts do the following passages add to this lesson? 
   
      
   1. Ezekiel 3:18-19 – 
      
      
       
   2. Luke 17:3 – 
      
      
       
   3. Galatians 6:1 – 
      
      
       
   4. James 5:20 – 
      
         
   5. Matthew 7:2 – 
      
        
       
8. What authority and confidence do we receive from verse 18? 
   
      
9. What do you think?  If more people of our congregation followed Jesus’ instruction in Matthew 18, our congregation would be (a) better off; (b) worse off; (c) about the same?