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Sep 23, 2026
Church discipline may be one of the least discussed and most misunderstood practices in the life of the church. For many, the phrase itself sounds harsh or unloving, but what if it's actually one of the clearest expressions of Christian love?
In this episode, Sam is joined by Matt, Matthew, and Jake to continue the conversation begun in our episode on church membership. If membership answers the question "Who is the church?", church discipline answers "How do we lovingly care for those who wander from Christ?" Together they define what church discipline is (and isn't), walk through the process Jesus lays out in Matthew 18, and address common objections and misuses.
Along the way, they discuss the twin goals of restoration and protecting the flock, the difference between struggling with sin and refusing to repent of it, why the order of the process matters, and how a healthy culture of loving accountability is a gift for the whole congregation—one that puts the gospel on beautiful display.