Church Discipline and Restoration

This course offers a biblical and theological exploration of Church Discipline and Restoration, essential practices for the health, holiness, and unity of the Church. Grounded in a Reformed ecclesiology, the course affirms that church discipline is not punitive but pastoral—an expression of Christ's love, authority, and concern for both individual believers and the covenant community.

Beginning with a survey of biblical texts (e.g., Matthew 18, 1 Corinthians 5, Galatians 6), the course defines the nature, purposes, and types of church discipline. These include formative discipline and corrective discipline. The course examines the historical and confessional foundations of church discipline in Reformed theology.

Students will be trained to identify the appropriate use of discipline within different contexts—private correction, pastoral confrontation, and public censure—while also learning the process of spiritual restoration.