Righteous Church Discipline

Matthew 18:15-20 Manifesto of Trinity Baptist Church

Pastor Martin preaches on the seventh distinctive of Trinity Baptist Church: a commitment to righteous church discipline. He expounds five key texts—Matthew 18:15-20, Romans 16:17-18, 1 Corinthians 5, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15, and Titus 3:10-11—to define righteous discipline as that which is occasioned, enacted, and purposed according to Scripture. Martin argues that such discipline is essential for maintaining a regenerate church membership, preserving the church's testimony, and fostering a holy fear among both members and those contemplating joining, ultimately pointing unbelievers to Christ.

2 illustrations in this sermon

The Importance of Preserving Foundational Distinctives

compare analogy

Soviet Union Upheaval Analogy

Driving home: If the time ever comes when there is an overthrow of the confessional position of this church. When there is an overthrow of the moral and ethical standards of the church. It will not be the work of a moment.

The sudden overthrow of Gorbachev and subsequent events in the Soviet Union are used to illustrate how deep, long-standing pressures can lead to sudden, dramatic upheavals, paralleling how churches can experience rapid decline after decades of subtle erosion.

Now, unless some of us have been in the posture that Rip Van Winkle was in for a number of years,

0:14 - 0:22 Read in full sermon

Exposition of 1 Corinthians 5: Removing the Leaven

auto_stories story

Mother Making Bread Analogy

The point: Get rid of the leaven; put this man away from among yourselves.

Martin recounts his mother making bread and his task of punching and kneading it, using the 'little leaven leavens the whole lump' principle to explain how one unrepentant sinner can corrupt an entire congregation.

Found as a saved man, possible that he will be found a saved man in the last. Then he deals again with the fact and he gives, the second cannot to the little leaven, leavens, a lump of the counter. I can remember my mother making bread. One of my tasks used to be to punch it and then knead it.

40:32 - 41:05 Read in full sermon

headphones Listen to full sermon