Matthew_15_18-20_Part_2_Manuscript.docx

Devotional

Day 1: Membership Is a Call to Deep Connection

True church membership is not about having your name on a list or attending services when convenient. It is a living, breathing commitment to the spiritual well-being of others in the body of Christ. When you join a local church, you are not just signing up for programs or events—you are inviting others into your life and accepting the call to be involved in theirs. This means that your joys and struggles, your victories and failures, are not just your own; they are shared with your brothers and sisters.
In this kind of community, what you do matters to others, and what others do matters to you. The health of the church depends on each member being connected, caring, and accountable. True membership is impossible without this genuine connection. It is a beautiful, sometimes challenging, invitation to belong, to be known, and to know others in Christ.

“So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” (Romans 12:5, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your church family do you need to invite into your life more intentionally this week, and what is one step you can take to deepen that connection?

Day 2: Loving Confrontation Restores, Not Condemns

Addressing sin in the life of a fellow believer is never about accusation or shaming. Instead, it is an act of love—a willingness to step into discomfort for the sake of someone’s spiritual health. Jesus calls His followers to begin this process privately, with humility and gentleness, always seeking restoration rather than victory. Even if your perception is mistaken, the act of listening and working through concerns together strengthens the bonds of fellowship and shows the value you place on one another.
Confrontation, when done biblically, is not about proving someone wrong but about helping them return to Christ. It is a way of saying, “I care too much to let you wander away.” This kind of love is costly, but it is the love Christ has shown to us.

“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1, ESV)

Reflection: Is there someone you need to lovingly approach about a concern, and how can you prepare your heart to do so with humility and gentleness?

Day 3: Listening Is Essential to Spiritual Health

The process Jesus outlines for addressing sin recognizes that things are not always clear-cut. Sometimes, the real issue is not the original offense, but a refusal to listen and consider the concerns of others. A hardened heart that despises the input of fellow believers is a serious threat to the unity and health of the church.
Being willing to listen—even when it is uncomfortable—shows humility and a desire to grow. It honors the courage of those who reach out in love and protects the church from division. The church is called to value not just the straying member, but also those who take the risk to speak up for the good of the body.

“But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” (Hebrews 3:13, ESV)

Reflection: When was the last time you truly listened to a concern from a fellow believer, and how can you cultivate a more teachable spirit today?

Day 4: Discipline Is a Family Affair, Not a Public Display

When private and small group efforts to restore a wandering member fail, Jesus instructs the church to get involved—not to shame, but to invite the whole body into the work of restoration. This is not a public spectacle, but a family matter handled with care, order, and under the guidance of church leadership. Only what can be confirmed is shared, and the goal is always repentance and restoration, never humiliation.
The process is kept within the family of faith, protecting the dignity of all involved. It is a powerful reminder that the church is not a place for hiding or pretending, but a community where grace and truth meet for the good of every member.

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.” (Matthew 18:15-16, ESV)

Reflection: How can you help foster a church culture where difficult conversations are handled with grace, privacy, and a focus on restoration?

Day 5: Walking in the Light Means Bringing Sin Into the Open

Christians are called to walk in the light, not hiding sin but bringing it into the open where it can be dealt with under the grace of Christ. The process of church discipline is not about condemnation, but about helping one another endure to the end. When sin is exposed and addressed in love, it becomes a testimony to the world of the value Christ places on His people and a safeguard to ensure that no one is lost or left behind.
Living in the light is not easy, but it is the only way to experience true freedom and fellowship. It means trusting that God’s grace is big enough to cover our failures and that His people are committed to walking with us, no matter what.

“For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:8-10, ESV)

Reflection: Is there an area of your life you have kept hidden from others? What would it look like to bring it into the light with a trusted believer this week?

Sermon Summary

of the Sermon**

This sermon explores the true nature and purpose of the local church, emphasizing that we are not just individuals who gather together, but members of one another—deeply connected and responsible for each other’s spiritual well-being. Drawing from Romans 12:5 and Ephesians 4:25, the message highlights the biblical call to mutual care, love, and accountability within the church body. The heart of the sermon is a careful walk through the first three steps of church discipline as outlined in Matthew 18:15-17, reframing this often-misunderstood process as an expression of genuine love and value for every child of God. Rather than being punitive, these steps are designed to restore, protect, and strengthen the bonds within the church, ensuring that no one is left to wander away from Christ and His people. The sermon challenges the congregation to embrace the discomfort of biblical accountability, seeing it as a vital part of belonging to the family of God and a testimony to the world of Christ’s love for His church.

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Key Takeaways

1. Membership Means Mutual Responsibility Being a member of the local church is not a passive status but an active commitment to the spiritual welfare of others. When we join a church, we invite others into our lives and accept the call to be involved in theirs. This mutual responsibility means that what we do affects others, and what others do affects us. True membership is impossible without genuine connection and accountability.
2. Confrontation is an Act of Love, Not Judgment Addressing a brother or sister’s sin is not about accusation or shaming, but about loving them enough to help them return to Christ. The process begins privately, with humility and care, seeking restoration rather than victory. Even if our perception is mistaken, the willingness to listen and work through concerns strengthens the bonds of fellowship and demonstrates the value we place on each other.
3. Refusal to Listen is Itself a Serious Offense The process Jesus outlines recognizes that sin is not always clear-cut, but a refusal to even hear a concern is a grave matter. Whether or not the original sin is confirmed, a hardened heart that despises the input of fellow believers undermines the unity and health of the church. The church is called to value not just the straying member, but also those who courageously reach out in love.
4. Church Discipline is a Family Matter, Not Public Spectacle When private and small group efforts fail, the matter is brought to the church—not to shame, but to invite the whole body into the work of restoration. This is done decently and in order, under the guidance of church leadership, and only the facts that can be confirmed are shared. The goal is always repentance and restoration, never humiliation, and the process is kept within the family of faith.
5. Exposing Sin is Part of Living in the Light Christians are called to walk in the light, not hiding sin but bringing it into the open where it can be dealt with under the grace of Christ. The process of church discipline is not about condemnation, but about helping one another endure to the end. It is a testimony to the world of the value Christ places on His people, and a safeguard to ensure that no one is lost or left behind in their walk with God.

Bible Study Guide

**Bible Study Discussion Guide: The True Nature and Purpose of the Local Church**

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### Bible Reading

- **Romans 12:5** – “So we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.”
- **Ephesians 4:25** – “For we are members of one another.”
- **Matthew 18:15-17** – “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault, between you and him alone; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church…”

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### Observation Questions

According to Romans 12:5 and Ephesians 4:25, how does the Bible describe the relationship between believers in the local church?
In Matthew 18:15-17, what are the first three steps Jesus gives for addressing sin within the church?
What is the goal of going to a brother or sister privately when they sin, according to Jesus’ teaching?
In the sermon, what reasons were given for why church discipline should be kept within the church family and not made a public spectacle?

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### Interpretation Questions

Why does the Bible emphasize that we are “members of one another” rather than just individuals who happen to gather together?
How does the process of church discipline in Matthew 18:15-17 show love and value for the person who is straying, rather than being about punishment?
What does it reveal about someone’s heart if they refuse to even listen to a concern brought by another believer? Why is this considered a serious issue in the church?
Why is it important that only confirmed facts are shared with the church, and how does this protect both the person being confronted and the church body as a whole?

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### Application Questions

The sermon said that true church membership means inviting others into your life and being involved in theirs. Are there ways you have kept other church members at a distance? What would it look like to open up more to others in the church?
Think about a time when you saw a fellow believer struggling or straying. Did you feel responsible to reach out, or did you hold back? What kept you from getting involved, and what might you do differently next time?
The first step of church discipline is a private conversation, done with humility and love. Is there someone you need to talk to privately about a concern? What would it look like to approach them in a way that seeks restoration, not victory?
The sermon challenged us to see confrontation as an act of love, not judgment. How do you usually feel when someone points out a fault in your life? How can you grow in receiving correction with humility?
Refusing to listen to a concern is itself a serious matter. Are there areas in your life where you tend to shut people out or refuse to hear feedback? What would it look like to be more open to the input of others?
When church discipline moves beyond private conversations, it is meant to be done decently, in order, and with the goal of restoration. How can you support church leaders and others in the church when these difficult situations arise?
The sermon said that exposing sin is part of living in the light and helps us endure to the end. Is there a sin or struggle in your life that you have been hiding? What would it look like to bring it into the light with a trusted brother or sister this week?

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**Closing Thought:**
How does seeing church discipline as an act of love and family care change your view of the church? What is one step you can take this week to strengthen your connection and responsibility to others in our church family?

Sermon Quotes

When you become a member of a church, you invite all the other members to be involved in your life. You’re saying, “You are my brothers, you are my sisters.” We are members of one another—what you do impacts us, and what I do impacts you.

God desires for His children to live like brothers and sisters, genuinely concerned for one another. We are our brother’s keeper, our sister’s keeper. What we do impacts others here, whether we realize it or not.

For a child of God to say they don’t want the involvement of other believers is to say, “I want to be in the family, but I want nothing to do with the family.” That’s impossible. We are members of one another.

The process of church discipline isn’t about punishment or shame—it’s about valuing every child of God so much that we refuse to let anyone wander away without loving pursuit.

Christians don’t fear exposure, because our shame and guilt are covered under the blood of Christ. We strive to live lives consistent with being in the light, letting sin be brought into the open so it can be dealt with.

When we confront a brother or sister, we go with love, humility, and genuine concern—desiring that they not stray from the family or from God. The goal is always restoration, not embarrassment.

If you don’t like the idea of others being involved in your spiritual life, then you shouldn’t sign up to be a church member. God’s will is that we value each other so much that we want this kind of involvement.

Telling the church about unrepentant sin isn’t about slander or gossip—it’s about giving the whole family a chance to call a wandering member back, to restore them, and to warn ourselves to keep our hearts tender.

One reason people don’t love church is that it isn’t real—we say we care, but don’t practice it. True church means loving each other enough to hold each other accountable, to help one another endure to the end.

To those being saved, a church that truly values each member is a sweet aroma—because you care so much about me that you won’t let me just go off and be lost.

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