You see, if we have some error in our life, it will keep us from seeing clearly in order help to restore our brother. This is yet another example of how sin in our lives can keep us from being useful to God to be able to help to guide others. So we begin church discipline with personal discipline. In fact the reason that church discipline is necessary is because of those who have a lack of personal discipline in some area. Once we have examined ourselves then we can help our brother as outlined in Matt.
Lets turn there together.
But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. In order for church discipline to work both the person being confronted and the person doing the confronting must abide by some important guidelines. This is where the problem usually lies with church discipline or where the correct actions are most often omitted, so lets take a close look at some of the most important guidelines.