Pursuing a Sinning Brother

Sermon preached by Matthew DelValle on June 21, 2026 at First Baptist Church in Delphi, Indiana. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠First Baptist Church⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ is an evangelical church in Delphi, Indiana helping people find and follow Jesus. Our mission is to declare God's truth, disciple God's people, delight in God's Son, and display God's glory. Join us for Sunday Worship at 10:30am. Sunday School begins at 9:30am. We gather at 103 S. Indiana Street, Delphi, Indiana 46923.

Learn more about First Baptist Church.

Read our Statement of Faith.

Introduction

Big Idea: Because the Father cares for wandering sheep, the church must lovingly pursue sinning believers toward repentance and restoration.

1. The Process of Church Discipline

A. Private [Mt. 18:15]

B. Partner [Mt. 18:16]

C. Public [Mt. 18:17a]

D. Purge [Mt. 18:17b; 1 Cor. 5:9–13]

2. The Practice of Church Discipline

A. What is church discipline? [1 Thess. 5:14]

B. Who is church discipline for? [1 Thess. 5:14]

C. Who is responsible to practice church discipline? [Heb. 3:12–14]

D. Where should church discipline take place? [Mt. 18:17; 19–20]

E. When should a church practice discipline?

1) Is the sin outward?

2) Is the sin serious?

3) Is the sinner unrepentant?

F. How should church discipline be practiced? [Gal. 6:1; Eph. 4:15] 

G. What happens after church discipline? [2 Thess. 3:14; 2 Cor. 2:6–8]

3. The Purposes of Church Discipline

A. The Glory of God [Rom. 2:24]

B. The Good of the Sinner [1 Cor. 5:3–5]

C. The Guarding of the Church [1 Cor. 5:6–8]

D. The Gospel Witness to the World [1 Cor. 5:1–2]

Conclusion