What Jesus said about Community, Church & Accountability

Jesus on the church and accountability: correcting a brother privately first, binding and loosing, His promise to build His church, and being one.

Unity among Jesus' followers is meant to reflect the unity of Father and Son.

Read the Scripture John 17:20–23

King James Version

John 17:20–23

²⁰Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
²¹That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
²²And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
²³I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
Reconciliation with an offended brother should be pursued urgently.

Read the Scripture Matthew 5:23–24

King James Version

Matthew 5:23–24

²³Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
²⁴Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
If a brother sins, go privately first and seek restoration.

Read the Scripture Matthew 18:15

King James Version

Matthew 18:15

¹⁵Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
If private correction fails, bring one or two others.

Read the Scripture Matthew 18:16

King James Version

Matthew 18:16

¹⁶But 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.
If the brother still will not listen, tell it to the church.

Read the Scripture Matthew 18:17

King James Version

Matthew 18:17

¹⁷And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
If someone refuses to hear even the church, he is to be treated as an outsider.

Read the Scripture Matthew 18:17

King James Version

Matthew 18:17

¹⁷And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
Feed and tend Jesus' sheep.

Read the Scripture John 21:15–17

King James Version

John 21:15–17

¹⁵So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
¹⁶He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
¹⁷He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
Jesus promises to build his church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.

Read the Scripture Matthew 16:18

King James Version

Matthew 16:18

¹⁸And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Peter is given the keys of the kingdom.

Read the Scripture Matthew 16:19

King James Version

Matthew 16:19

¹⁹And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Binding and loosing authority is entrusted in kingdom and community responsibility.

Read the Scripture Matthew 16:19; 18:18

King James Version

Matthew 16:19

¹⁹And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Matthew 18:18

¹⁸Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
What disciples bind or loose on earth has corresponding heavenly significance.

Read the Scripture Matthew 18:18

King James Version

Matthew 18:18

¹⁸Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Agreement in prayer within Jesus' gathered community receives special assurance.

Read the Scripture Matthew 18:19

King James Version

Matthew 18:19

¹⁹Again 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.
Jesus is present where two or three gather in his name.

Read the Scripture Matthew 18:20

King James Version

Matthew 18:20

²⁰For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Church discipline must be surrounded by extravagant willingness to forgive.

Read the Scripture Matthew 18:21–35

King James Version

Matthew 18:21–35

²¹Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
²²Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
²³Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
²⁴And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
²⁵But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
²⁶The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
²⁷Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
²⁸But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
²⁹And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
³⁰And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
³¹So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
³²Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
³³Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
³⁴And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
³⁵So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
Leaders are brothers under one Teacher and one Father rather than a status caste.

Read the Scripture Matthew 23:8–10

King James Version

Matthew 23:8–10

⁸But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
⁹And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
¹⁰Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
Receive the Holy Spirit.

Read the Scripture John 20:22

King James Version

John 20:22

²²And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
The risen Jesus gives disciples an authority related to forgiving or retaining sins.

Read the Scripture John 20:23

King James Version

John 20:23

²³Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
The mission includes making disciples, baptizing, and teaching obedience to all Jesus commanded.

Read the Scripture Matthew 28:19–20

King James Version

Matthew 28:19–20

¹⁹Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
²⁰Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Do not hinder someone casting out demons in Jesus' name merely because he is outside the immediate group.

Read the Scripture Mark 9:39; Luke 9:50

King James Version

Mark 9:39

³⁹But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.

Luke 9:50

⁵⁰And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.
Jesus desires unity among his followers rooted in truth and divine love.

Read the Scripture John 17:11, 17, 20–23

King James Version

John 17:11, 17, 20–23

¹¹And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
¹⁷Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
²⁰Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
²¹That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
²²And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
²³I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

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What Jesus said about Community, Church & Accountability

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How can Jesus help?

What Jesus said about Community, Church & Accountability

A Guide for Real Life