1 Corinthians 5:4-5

“‘Hand this man over to Satan’ referred to excommunication, not eternal destruction. Paul recommended excommunication with the aim that the man, desperate not to be shut out of the vital church community, would be shocked back to his senses.”

• What does the course of action Apostle Paul instructs the Corinthians to take reveal about what is ultimately most important?  What is the extent of the measures necessary to attain this end?
• What can we learn about what it takes to bring ourselves to repentance and what it takes to bring someone else to repentance?
• Notice that the church had the authority, and the responsibility to excommunicate this man who was unrepentant in this sin.  How does this square with people’s view of the proper extent of spiritual authority in the church today?