John Sanders

THE6130 Christian Theology III

Research Paper Proposal
The Uncut Jewel of Church Discipline

Church discipline is a concept found in Scripture that all Southern Baptists know about

but one they apparently wish was not there. The concept and expectation originated from the

teachings of Christ, but if one judged it by the way it is practiced in the churches today, they

would think it was not important or serves no purpose. Church discipline simply is not found

and not practiced in many churches today and the identity of the church is suffering because of it.

Southern Baptists used to be known for their expectations and criteria of their members but now

the church rolls are stacked and the pews are empty. Where has the body of Christ gone? Where

has the priesthood gone? Where has the expectation of church members gone?

Church discipline has become a way of the past, which may explain why the church has

not become the way of the future. This paper through research will show the theological

significance of church discipline and how this directly applies to matters of the church such as

church membership and living in open sin.

Bibliography (Cited Using First Search)

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Cox, Don.. “The Forgotten Side of Church Discipline.” The Southern Baptist Journal of
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Dever, Mark.. “Biblical Church Discipline.” The Southern Baptist Journal of Theology 4, no. 4
(Winter 2000): 29-43.

Dever, Mark. Nine Marks of a Healthy Church. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Books,
2000.
 John Sanders
THE6130 Christian Theology III
Research Paper Proposal
Deweese, Charles W., A Community of Believers: Making Church Membership More
Meaningful, :Judson Press, 1978

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Discipline Adopted in 1773 by the Charleston Association. Nashville: Broadman Press,
1962.

Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2000

House, Wayne H.. “Church Discipline and the Courts.” The Southern Baptist Journal of
Theology 4, no. 4 (Winter 2000): 60-75.

McGrath, Alistar E. Christian Theology. Malden: Blackwell Publishing, 2001

Mohler, Al Jr.. “Church Discipline: the Missing Mark.” The Southern Baptist Journal of
Theology 4, no. 4 (Winter 2000): 17-27.

Ryrie, Charles. Basic Theology. Colorado Springs, Colorado: Chariot Victor Publishing, 1981.

Schreiner, Thomas. “Loving Discipline.” The Southern Baptist Journal of Theology 4, no.
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Warren, Richard. The Purpose Driven Church: Growth Without Compromising Your Message &
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White, Thomas, Jason G. Duesing, and Malcolm B. Yarnell. Restoring Integrity in Baptist
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Wills, Gregory A. Democratic Religion: Freedom, Authority, and Church Discipline in the
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Wills Gregory. “Southern Baptists & Church Discipline.” The Southern Baptist Journal
of Theology 4, no. 4 (Winter 2000): 4-15.

York, Hershael. “The Compassion of Confrontation.” The Southern Baptist Journal of

Theology 4, no. 4 (Winter 2000): 76-83.