Church Discipline

Mailbag #22: Thinking Through Pastoral Transitions; Loving Those Who Repeatedly Commit Sexual Sin; Declaring Membership Bankruptcy

By Jonathan Leeman | 11.30.2015

— What are some best practices for thinking through pastoral searches? — If someone is repeatedly falling into sexual sin, yet repeatedly professes repentance and sorrow, is there ever an occasion to disbelieve them? — I’ve heard of churches deleting their membership rolls so that they can start over and have a membership that better reflects attendance. What do you think of this practice?

Mailbag #20: Preaching Suspect Texts; Preaching to Non-Believers; Difficulties with Staff & Lay Elders; Anonymous or Public Voting

By Jonathan Leeman | 11.16.2015

— In the course of preaching through a book, what should I do when I come across a suspect text like John 8? — Should we preach repentance and faith differently to non-Christians than we do to Christians? — How can I tell the difference between what belongs in an elders meeting and what belongs in a staff meeting? — Should votes for church discipline be cast publicly or privately?

22 Mistakes Pastors Make in Practicing Church Discipline

By Jonathan Leeman | 09.18.2015

Church discipline should be practiced, but with care and a biblical focus.

Mailbag #15: Officiating Non-Christian Weddings; Meaningful Membership before Establishing Elders; Excommunicate for Not Giving Money; Transfer Membership

By Jonathan Leeman | 09.09.2015

—Are pastors free to officiate a non-Christian wedding? —What should come first: meaningful membership or a plurality of elders? —Shouldn’t a refusal to give to your church result in excommunication? —Should a church accept transfer memberships from other churches at face value?

Mailbag #13: Baptism before Communion; Moderating Members’ Meetings; Cooperating with Other Churches in Church Discipline; How to Transition to Elders and Deacons

By Jonathan Leeman | 08.24.2015

—Is the Lord’s Supper only for those who have been baptized? —Who should moderate members’ meetings? —What do you do when someone wants to join your church, but they’ve been disciplined by another church? —How does a church transition to elders and deacons?

Mailbag #11—Why “Disowning” Family Members Isn’t an Option; Term Limits for Elders; Expedited Church Discipline; Can I Leave My Family’s Church?

By Jonathan Leeman | 08.07.2015

—How should I treat my unrepentant father-in-law? —Should elders have term limits? —Is there ever a case where church discipline should be done immediately? —Can I leave the church I grew up in?

Book Review: The Prodigal Church, by Jared C. Wilson

Review by Alex Duke | 07.29.2015

The Prodigal Church is more than just a demolition project. Atop the wreckage left by pragmatism and consumerism, Wilson attempts to rebuild scaffolding with different, yet more durable materials. In this, the book succeeds, though not perfectly.

Mailbag #7—Cake-baking Principles; Two Services or One; Youth Pastors; & A Discipline Issue

By Jonathan Leeman | 04.24.2015

Mailbag #7—Cake-baking Principles; Two Services or One; Youth Pastors; & A Discipline Issue

Mailbag #1—Lent, Mid-life Pastor, Elder Agenda

By Jonathan Leeman | 03.06.2015

Do you practice Lent? How should I behave toward my nominal Christian brother? How should understand my “calling” to vocational ministry?

Church Membership in Theory and Practice with Ligon Duncan

By L. Duncan, M. Dever | 01.09.2015

Should the everyday Christian care about something as old-fashioned and outmoded as church membership? Does its practice make sense in contexts without church discipline? Isn’t it just a “Baptist thing”? Mark Dever interviews Ligon Duncan about all this and more in the latest 9Marks Leadership interview: “Church Membership in Theory and Practice.”

They Excommunicated My Dad!

By Isaac Adams | 08.26.2014

God used my dad’s excommunication for good. I hope this testimony shows that.

Violence Against Women and Church Discipline

By Jonathan Leeman | 08.22.2014

How should a church respond to the case of a husband abusing his wife, or man his daughter? Decisively and quickly.

Discipline and Caring for the Sinned-Against

By Jonathan Leeman | 08.22.2014

Really? You experienced God’s grace as your wife was disciplined?

Pastors, Don’t Let Your People Resign into Thin Air

By Bobby Jamieson | 08.22.2014

So pastors, just as you pay careful attention to the front door of your church, keep a close eye on the back door, too.

Pastors, Don’t Let Your People Resign Into Thin Air, Part 2

By Jonathan Leeman | 08.22.2014

The main bone of contention around this is around the idea of authority, and whether or not churches have the authority to say “no” to anyone who says, “I want to resign now.”