Youth Group Lesson from May 24th

Study Notes

Date May 24, 2004

Passage 1 Corinthians 5

Introductory Questions

What are some things you don’t like about church or the Church?

What are some sins you think the church doesn’t deal with well?

Should sinners be allowed to come to church?

Reading the Passage

1 Corinthians 5

Verses 1-6 – Immorality Among You

Immorality – the word is porneia, recognize that word?

“The word came to mean, by consistent New Testament usage, any sexual behaviour which transgresses the Christian norm, i.e. all premarital, extramarital and unnatural sexual intercourse.” –Prior

So there was immorality going on in the church. Who was the culprit? What in the world is going on this church and who was to blame? Who gets the greatest judgment?

a. man having immoral relations with his step mom

b. the Corinthian church not just not doing anything about it, but bragging about it

What should the Corinthian church do? Church discipline: Excommunicate.

Excommunicate from Dictionary.com

1. To deprive of the right of church membership by ecclesiastical authority.

2. To exclude by or as if by decree from membership or participation in a group.

Ex – meaning out

Communicate – meaning to commune, fellowship,

What does it mean to excommunicate? Should you talk with them, hang out with them, eat dinner with them?

What sins are worthy of excommunication?

How ought it to be done? Matthew 18:15-20

How long do you excommunicate a person?

What does repentance mean?

Repent from Dictionary.com:

1. To feel pain, sorrow, or regret, for what one has done or omitted to do.

First she relents With pity; of that pity then repents. --Dryden.

2. To change the mind, or the course of conduct, on account of regret or dissatisfaction.

Lest, peradventure, the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt. --Ex. xiii. 17.

3. (Theol.) To be sorry for sin as morally evil, and to seek forgiveness; to cease to love and practice sin.

Except ye repent, ye shall likewise perish. --Luke xii. 3.

Read Exodus 13:17 on repentance.

How many of you have seen church discipline and/or excommunication take place?

What do you think keeps churches from practicing church discipline?

a. pride

b. lack of fellowship

c. minimizing sin

If the church does not practice church discipline what does that do to the testimony of the local church? The universal church? of Jesus?

Whose job is it to execute church discipline?

Is church discipline necessary?

Application

Support the church and its work. Submit to the discipline of the church if you find yourself walking down that path.

Repent daily.

Stay in close fellowship with other believers. Be active in engaging your brothers and sisters in Christ so that the fellowship is genuine, and also that you have a relationship strong enough that you can confront them.