The Good Shepherd Still Seeks His Sheep

Forgiven People Forgive

The Good Shepherd Still Seeks His Sheep

15 “If your brother sins [ἁμαρτάνω (ha-mar-tan-ō)] against you, go and show him his sin [ἐλέγχω (e-leg-chō)] just between the two of you. If he listens [ἀκούω (a-koo-ō)] to you, you have regained [κερδαίνω (ker-dī-nō)] your brother.
16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’
17 If he refuses to listen [παρακούω (pa-ra-koo-ō)] to them, tell it to the church. And, if he refuses to listen [παρακούω (pa-ra-koo-ō)] even to the church, then treat him as an unbeliever [ἐθνικός (eth-nē-kos)] or a tax collector.
18 Amen I tell you: Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
19 Amen I tell you again: If two of you on earth agree to ask for anything, it will be done for them by my Father who is in heaven. 20 In fact where two or three have gathered together in my name, there I am among them.” (Mt 18:10–20)  

  1. He ___________ His wandering sheep _______________ His _____________.

The Church becomes involved only after the ___________ have been _______________________, your brother has been ___________ from God's _________ that he has _____________, and he still ________________ to repent.

If you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even the unbelievers [ἐθνικός (eth-nē-kōs)] do that? (Mt 5:47)
And when you pray, do not babble like the heathen [ἐθνικός (eth-nē-kōs)], since they think that they will be heard because of their many words. (Mt 6:7)

The Church can no longer treat the wandering brother as though his persistent _______________ to repent is of _____ spiritual _______________________.

Excommunication is the Church's ______________ exercise of the _________________ _______ toward a _______________ who ________________________ refuses God’s call to repentance.

1 All the tax collectors and sinners were coming to Jesus to hear him. 2 But the Pharisees and the experts in the law were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” (Lk 15:1–2)

  1. He _______________________ His _____________ with His _________________.

Small Catechism: The Office of the Keys is that special authority which Christ has given to his church on earth to forgive the sins of repentant sinners, but to withhold forgiveness from the impenitent as long as they do not repent.

Points to Ponder

  1. What is one thing that stood out for you from this week’s message?
  2. What does Jesus say the Church should do when a brother refuses to listen even to the Church’s call to repentance?
  3. What three promises does Jesus give His Church in verses 18–20?
  4. What does it mean for the Church to “bind” and “loose” sins?
  5. Why are Jesus’ promises in verses 18–20 especially important after the difficult instructions of verses 15–17?
  6. Why can Christians be tempted either to avoid church discipline altogether or to carry it out harshly?
  7. Why is it dangerous for a congregation to think of excommunication primarily as removing a difficult person from the church?
  8. How do Christ’s three promises in verses 18–20 change the way you think about the difficult responsibility of seeking a wandering Christian?
  9. Which of Christ’s promises in this text gives you the greatest comfort when you are concerned about someone who is wandering from the faith, and why?

Homework: Mark 1