As difficult and painful as it can be, church discipline is a crucial obligation that Jesus has given to us as his people. But how do you do it? As a pastor, how do you both care for those who are in sin and at the same time lead the church as a whole to exercise its duty to exercise discipline? And why is church discipline necessary in the first place? These are some of the questions that Robert Cheong addresses in his book God Redeeming His Bride. Setting the concept of church discipline in the context of the Gospel and God's work of redemption, Cheong gives highly practical advice about every step in the process - encouraging and teaching along the way.
Greg Gilbert
Senior Pastor, Third Avenue Baptist Church, Louisville, Kentucky, Author of What is the Gospel?
God Redeeming His Bride is one of the best tools available to the church today that can help us recover the critical and pastoral practice of church discipline. Robert Cheong proves himself to be a modern day Richard Baxter as he has given us a thoroughly biblical, deeply theological, eminently practical, and easily accessible book I believe God will use to bring greater health to our local churches.
Joe Thorn
Author, Note to Self: The Discipline of Preaching to Yourself; Lead Pastor, Redeemer Fellowship, St. Charles, Illinois.
I appreciate this book for three reasons. First, it's theologically rich, anchoring church discipline in the glorious drama of God's redeeming work. Second, it's pastorally wise, written by a seasoned shepherd who knows the joy and pain of leading and protecting the flock. And third, it's practically helpful - the appendices alone are worth the price of the book. Robert's work on this important subject is a gift to every gospel-loving church leader and church member.
Bob Thune
Co-author of The Gospel-Centered Life, Lead Pastor, Coram Deo Church Community, Omaha, Nebraska
It is one thing to believe, in theory, in what God says in the Bible about the necessity of church discipline. It is another thing altogether to know how to navigate the process in the case of an unrepentant, falling church member. In this book, Robert Cheong, with biblical brilliance and pastoral compassion, provides a model for churches and leaders.
Russell D. Moore
President, The Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
The subject of church discipline is no walk in the park. People's lives hang in the balance. My friend Robert clearly shows that church discipline is an integral part of gospel centered ministry both theologically and practically. He provides a step by step guide so that the reader understands not only what discipline is but how to go about it. In the process, he gives us a model for the body of Christ ministering to one another in the grace, compassion, and humility characteristic of the gospel. This is a must read for every pastor.
Rob Green
Pastor of Counseling and Seminary Ministries, Faith Church, Lafayette, Indiana
Robert Cheong's contribution is unique, then, for its breadth: it is scripturally rich, theologically robust, narratively engaging, practically saturated, and ecclesially helpful. It is also unique because its author, a scholar pastor, has been engaged in hundreds of church discipline cases either personally or by means of counseling and training others, so his book reflects a wisdom forged through experience.
Gregg R. Allison
Professor of Christian Theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky
...a treasure-trove of grace, wisdom, and gospel truths regarding the difficult topic of church discipline, drawn from a pastor's hard-earned experience with the reality of sin and the power of the gospel.
Justin S. Holcomb
Adjunct Professor of Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando, Florida
...a timely addition to any pastor's - or church member for that matter-field manual for real-life ministry.
Ed Stetzer
Dean, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, La Mirada, California
It has taken courage for Robert Cheong to write this book. He is knowingly wading into an area of much confusion and regret in churches. Church discipline is a ministry which, even if it is done well, it can be a painful experience for all involved. So it also takes the heart of a shepherd to speak to those leading through church discipline or living somewhere in it. Robert has the courage and shepherd's heart - and the Gospel clarity - to help us all in difficult times where church discipline is the redemptive way ahead.
Andy Farmer
Pastor of Community and Care, Covenant Fellowship Church, Glen Mills, PA
It was impossible for me to read this book without being personally convicted by my lack of faithfulness to live out the radical love of Jesus in the context of a community on mission. My failure to pursue people who have sinned and hurt the church was shown to be significant. Additionally, the book is full of sage advice on exactly HOW to walk through the rigors of church discipline. The day after I read it, I found myself quoting it several times. It's hard for me to imagine someone writing a more helpful, practical, gospel-centered book on church discipline.
Abe Meysenburg
Pastor and Elder, Soma Communities, Tacoma, Washington
Robert Cheong's book has become my new favorite on the painfully glorious topic of church discipline. Our brother has given us biblical moorings, gospel implications and practical wisdom for doing the hard and heart work of discipline in the life of the local church. This book will help many Christians understand why John Calvin insisted that church discipline is one of the three essential marks of the church. But it will also make the gospel, itself, more beautiful to many, as Jesus' passionate love for his bride is explained and applied in such a profound and practical way.
Scotty Ward Smith
Founding Pastor, Christ Community Church, Franklin, Tennessee
I followed a pastor and mentor who faithfully led our church to practice biblical church discipline. Of all the comments and expressions of appreciation I could make about my predecessor Bill Goode, that is by far one of the most important. His courage to be a biblical pastor made my job much easier and I am forever indebted to him. The church of Jesus Christ needs to carefully heed what my friend Robert Cheong has written. This book is wise, winsome, gospel-centered and full of grace. Some of what it teaches will require taking hard and sometimes unpopular steps. Do it for many reasons, including the respect and appreciation you will receive from the pastor who follows you.
Stephen Viars
Senior Pastor, Faith Church, Lafayette, Indiana
Eminently practical while deeply theological, this gospel-centered approach to church discipline is a ground-breaking book that every pastor and every church leadership team should read and apply.
Robert W. Kellemen
Executive Director, Biblical Counseling Coalition, Lafayette, Indiana
Robert Cheong is committed to fostering gospel-centered communities that express the full range of God's love toward one another, even when it comes to correction and discipline. He expands our view of church discipline considerably by mining the riches of God's Word and grand redemptive story-beyond the handful of classic "church discipline" passages-and casting a vision for the whole church living as a patient, loving, wise, intentional, and personally engaged community. He's packed the appendices with invaluable practical guidelines to help us diligently work out the details.
Mike Wilkerson
Director of Training and Developlment, Live at Peace Ministries, St Louis, Missouri
...a wonderfully practical and refreshingly gracious treatment of the topic. Even those who don't subscribe to everything Cheong says will find this book to be a significant help.
Thomas R. Schreiner
James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New Testament Interpretation and Associate Dean, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky
I really appreciate Robert's clear and accurate description of God's heart in the discipline of his children. There is a deep love and compassion in how God pursues the hearts of men and women he has redeemed. I really appreciate how Robert speaks to the role of biblical community in God's redeeming of His bride through loving and redemptive discipline. It would be incredibly unloving for God to not correct His children and this work highlights the deep love of God through church discipline.
Lee Lewis
The Village Church, Fort Worth, Texas
