Many of the problems that a counselor is called upon to face are the direct result of the failure of churches to exercise church discipline as it is set forth by the Lord in Matthew 18:15ff. When pastors and elder boards think that they know better than Jesus about how to run His church, trouble always ensues.

Then, when other remedies prove unsatisfactory, the counselor who eventually is called upon to solve problems, and wants to do so biblically, finds his task far more difficult and complex than it would have been if Christ had been obeyed in the first place. Everyone would have been spared much agony and the Lord would have been honored.

How about that problem person you’ve been concerned about? Is church discipline called for? If so, don’t fail to exercise it—Jesus promised to be in your midst when you do.