Week 8 Flashcards
What is church discipline?
Chapter 27
* The exercise of authority given to the church by Christ for:
o Instructing
o Guiding
o Promoting purity and welfare
All baptized persons, being members of the church are subject to its discipline and entitled to the benefits thereof.
- This authority is dispensed in two ways:
o Governance, training, inspecting, and guarding of officers, members, and courts
o Judicial issues (moral)
What is the goal of church discipline?
Chapter 27
* God’s glory
* Church’s purity
* Sinner’s return and reclamation through:
o Rebuking offences
o Removing scandal
o Vindicating Christ
o Purifying and edifying
o Spiritual good
What are its proper steps?
Chapter 27
1. First, instruct in God’s Word
2. If rejected, individuals admonish (Mt. 18; Gal. 6)
3. If rejected, 1 or more witness admonish (Mt. 18)
4. If rejected, Church admonishes, then suspends, then excommunicates and deposes (Mt. 18)
Who is primarily responsible for disciplining non-communing members?
Chapter 28
* Parents (with special oversight from the church esp. as they become adults)
List and define church censures.
Chapter 30
* Admonition: formal reproof from the Church
- Suspension:
o Of Sacraments: Temporary exclusion (if an officer, suspension of office as well)
o Of Office:
Temporary (indefinite) exclusion (possibly a suspension of sacraments as well) until repentance
Definite exclusion - a defined period of time, even if repentance occurs - Excommunication: removal from the Church (so that they may return)
- Deposition: removal from office
Discuss briefly the life and significance of Herod the Great. Reference relevant Scripture passages.
Herod the Great rose to power through military and administrative achievements, gaining Rome’s trust and being named “King of the Jews” around 40 B.C., ruling for about 40 years.
He was a notable builder, constructing fortresses, the city of Caesarea, and most famously, the Jewish Temple’s reconstruction.
Despite his public adherence to Jewish law, Herod was notorious for executing close family members, including his wife, her relatives, and several of his sons.
His most horrific act was the massacre of infants after Christ’s birth (Matthew 2), leading Augustus to quip that it was “safer to be Herod’s swine than Herod’s son.”
Discuss briefly the life and significance of Herod Antipas. Reference relevant Scripture passages.
Herod Antipas was the son of Herod the Great, also known as Herod the Tetrarch. He ruled over Galilee and Perea for about 30 years.
This is the Herod who killed John the Baptist (Matthew 14; Mark 6). He had a curious desire to see Christ (Luke 9), which was met at Christ’s trial (Luke 23) where Herod and his soldiers mocked Christ. Christ at one time referred to him as a fox (Luke 13).
Discuss briefly the Pharisees and their significance. Reference relevant Scripture passages.
The Pharisees were a religious sect/party amongst the Jews. This party was extremely precise in law-keeping (canonical and traditional), and largely made up of the “working class.”
Discuss briefly the Sadducees and their significance. Reference relevant Scripture passages.
The Sadducees were a religious sect/party amongst the Jews. This party did not continue past the destruction of the ancient nation. They were rivals of the Pharisees, primarily drawn from the wealthy and aristocratic classes. They controlled the office of High Priest.
Name the Apostles
The twelve apostles of Jesus are:
Peter (also called Simon or Cephas)
James (son of Zebedee)
John (brother of James, son of Zebedee)
Andrew (brother of Peter)
Philip
Bartholomew (also called Nathanael)
Matthew (also called Levi, the tax collector)
Thomas (also known as Didymus)
James (son of Alphaeus)
Thaddeus (also called Judas, son of James or Lebbaeus)
Simon the Zealot
Judas Iscariot (later replaced by Matthias after his betrayal of Jesus)
Matthias was chosen to replace Judas Iscariot after his betrayal and death, as recorded in Acts 1:26.
Discuss briefly the life and significance of Peter. Reference relevant Scripture passages.
Peter is recognized as the de facto leader of the Apostles. A fisherman by trade, Peter was noted for his bold temperament, as illustrated by his desire to walk on water (Matthew 14:28), his confession and then rebuke of Christ (Matthew 16), his declaration of loyalty (Matthew 26) and denial (Luke 22), and his cutting off of a servants’ ear (John 18). He led the Apostles in the first years after Christ’s ascension (Act. 1-12), though Paul becomes more prominent later. He authored two epistles bearing his name, and is thought to have been martyred in Rome.
Discuss briefly the life and significance of Cornelius. Reference relevant Scripture passages.
Cornelius was a godly Roman centurion who is mentioned in Acts 10. He was a god-fearing Gentile who while praying was instructed to send for Peter. Peter reluctantly heeded the summonses and thus brought the gospel to the Gentiles which was accompanied by the Holy Spirit. This is the outworking of the falling of the dividing wall between the two groups (Jews and Gentiles).
Discuss briefly the life and significance of Barnabas. Reference relevant Scripture passages.
Barnabas was a missionary and associate of the Apostle Paul (Acts 11-15). He was a Cyprian Levite in origin. He is noted for selling property for the good of the church (Acts 4), introducing Paul to the church after he was converted (Acts 9), undertaking a missionary journey with Paul to Cyprus, Pisidian Antioch (Acts 13) Lystra, Derbe, and Antioch (Acts 14), and delivering (with Paul) the letter of the Jerusalem council (Acts 15). Eventually Paul and Barnabas parted after disagreeing over whether to take Barnabas’ nephew Mark with them on their next journey (Acts 15).
Discuss briefly the life and significance of Stephen. Reference relevant Scripture passages.
Stephen was the first recorded martyr of the Christian church. He was chosen as part of the seven ‘deacons’ to serve the widows of the church (Acts 6). He was a man full of the Spirit, and he contended for the faith against the Jews who seized him (Acts 6). He delivered a powerful sermon (Acts 7) that drove them to such a rage that they stoned him. As he was dying, he saw a vision of Christ and prayed for forgiveness for his murderers (which included Saul of Tarsus).
Discuss briefly the life and significance of Paul. Reference relevant Scripture passages.
Paul was the great Apostle to the Gentiles. He was born at Tarsus and trained under Gamaliel (Acts 22). He was a tent maker by trade (Acts 18) and a Pharisee by training (Acts 23; Philippians 3). He was a persecutor of the church before his conversion (Acts 9, 22, 26), and held the cloaks of Stephen’s murderers (Acts 7). He was converted by the direct intervention of Christ on the road to Damascus (Acts 9, 22).
Three extensive missionary journeys of his are described in the New Testament: the first (Acts 13-14), the second (Acts 15-18), and the the third (Acts 18-21).
He authored 13 New Testament books (and many believe Hebrews as well). At the end of Acts he is in prison, but there is much evidence that he was released and took another journey (that included Crete and Ephesus), authored the last three books (the pastorals) at this time, and was then imprisoned again and executed around AD 67.
Discuss briefly the life and significance of Timothy. Reference relevant Scripture passages.
Timothy was a “young” associate of the Apostle Paul. He was a believer from Lystra (Acts 16). He accompanied Paul on his second missionary journey (Acts 16-20). He was sent to Corinth to help settle problems there (1 Corinthians 4; 16). He was also sent to lead the church of Ephesus, and it is there that the two Epistles bearing his name are sent.
Discuss briefly the life and significance of James, son of Zebedee. Reference relevant Scripture passages.
James was an Apostle, son of Zebedee, and brother of John. With his brother John and Peter, James formed the closest circle of disciples. They were at the Transfiguration (Mark 9) and in Gethsemane (Mark 14). James and John were called the “sons of thunder” (Mark 3) and suggested calling fire down on unbelievers (Luke 9). James was martyred by Herod Agrippa (Acts 12).
