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The Purpose of Discipline The earliest Christians knew the pain of persecution, and those who ultimately died for their faith were deemed martyrs. The author of Hebrews encouraged his congregation by reminding them: “You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood” (v. 4). Still, the experience of hardship and suffering was...

Living under the Shepherd Scotland has a population of some 5.3 million people—and 6.5 to 7 million sheep! Sheep farmers understand the importance of caring for their flock in all sorts of terrain and weather conditions. That image of a watchful shepherd runs throughout our passage. The leaders of the church are called to “keep watch over...

God’s vision of community looks like a family. The first step in finding your place in God’s plan for the church is to enter into a relationship with Him by faith. If you are already a believer, think about your own church. What would a family portrait look like? If you are not yet part of a church, ask God to help you find one.

Perhaps you need to humbly repent of allowing a stubborn insistence on your personal preferences to determine whether you will join with others in worship.

The work of administrating the church might feel dull or difficult. Can business meetings or human resources issues be spiritual work? Peter’s words remind us of the spiritual importance of such decisions. God cares about the life of the church, and we must seek God’s guidance no matter how mundane the decision may seem to be.

Socializing is an aspect of Christian fellowship, but there is so much more to biblical fellowship. What can you share with others? Perhaps it is a prayer or a word of encouragement, or perhaps you can help meet a material need. Ask the Lord to show you ways that you can fellowship with your community of believers.

Baptism is believers’ act of obedience to the command of Jesus and a public testimony of our commitment to follow Him. If you have trusted in Jesus Christ as your Savior but have never been baptized, discuss the possibility with your pastor. It is a wonderful way to show others that you now belong to Jesus.

The third aspect Paul emphasizes in these verses is the importance of self-examination (v. 28). It is not necessary to be sinless to have the Lord’s Supper—for then no one could participate. But we are called to have hearts focused on Jesus and remove barriers to fellowship with each other as part of the observance of this sacred meal.

Today’s church is being tested in this area when it comes to marriage. It should make little difference to the church whether same sex marriage is acceptable to the culture at large or legally recognized by the state. God is the one who sets the standard (Rom. 1:24–27). What is legal may not necessarily be right in God’s eyes.

Church discipline begins with individuals who hold one another accountable and seek reconciliation (Matt. 18:15). If you need to talk to someone, first ask the Spirit to examine your heart and confess any sin. Then seek out the other person in a spirit of humility and reconciliation, praying that God will work to bring about repentance and...