By Brent Lacy

Church Discipline: What It Is, What It Is Not, and How to Do It

Church discipline is one of the most neglected practices in the modern church. It has a bad reputation, conjuring images of public shaming and authoritarian control. But biblical church discipline, done rightly, is one of the most loving things a church can do. It is the process by which a congregation calls a straying member back to faithfulness.

Jesus himself outlined the process in Matthew 18:15-17. Paul instructed the Corinthian church to remove an unrepentant member from their fellowship. The goal is never punishment. The goal is always restoration.

What Church Discipline Is

A process, not an event. Church discipline is not a single confrontation. It is a series of increasingly serious steps designed to call a person to repentance. It begins privately and only becomes public if the person refuses to listen.

An act of love. Allowing a brother or sister to continue in unrepentant sin without confrontation is not kindness. It is neglect. True love cares enough to have the hard conversation.

A protection for the church. Unaddressed sin does not stay contained. It spreads. A church that refuses to deal with unrepentant sin in its membership is choosing to let the infection grow.

What Church Discipline Is Not

It is not punishment for disagreement. Church discipline addresses unrepentant sin, not differences of opinion, worship style preferences, or political views.

It is not a tool for control. Leaders who use church discipline to silence critics or enforce conformity are abusing the process.

It is not only about sexual sin. While sexual immorality is one of the most common issues, church discipline also addresses persistent gossip, financial dishonesty, divisiveness, and other patterns of behavior that damage the body.

The Process

Step 1: Private conversation (Matthew 18:15). One person goes to the offending member privately. The goal is to understand what happened and to call the person to repentance. Most issues are resolved at this stage.

Step 2: Bring one or two others (Matthew 18:16). If the person does not listen, bring one or two witnesses. This is not about ganging up. It is about providing accountability and confirming the facts.

Step 3: Tell the church (Matthew 18:17a). If the person still refuses to repent, bring the matter to the congregation. This is the point where the process becomes public.

Step 4: Remove from fellowship (Matthew 18:17b). If the person refuses to listen even to the church, they are to be treated as an outsider. This is the most severe step and should be taken with great sorrow, not satisfaction.

Practical Considerations for Small Churches

In a small church, church discipline is complicated by proximity. Everyone knows everyone. The person being disciplined may be your neighbor, your child’s friend’s parent, or the person who fixes your car. This makes the process harder, but it does not make it less necessary.

Document everything. Keep records of conversations, dates, and outcomes. This protects both the church and the individual if the process escalates.

Follow your bylaws. If your church has a process for church discipline in its governing documents, follow it. Do not improvise.

Frequently Asked Questions

What sins warrant church discipline?

Persistent, unrepentant sin that damages the individual or the church. Not a single failure, but a pattern of behavior that the person refuses to address.

Can a pastor be disciplined?

Yes. Pastors are members of the church and are subject to the same standards. The process may involve denominational leadership, but the principle is the same.

What about the person who leaves before the process is complete?

If a person leaves the church to avoid discipline, the church should still address the situation. At minimum, other churches should be informed if the person seeks membership elsewhere.

The Goal Is Always Restoration

Church discipline is not about kicking people out. It is about calling people back. Even at the most severe step, the door to repentance and restoration remains open. The church that practices discipline well is a church that takes both sin and grace seriously.