#dicsipline

[princepip]

To Every Believer...

YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

When we say Christ is with US. It means we are all TOGETHER in Christ. Do not shun yourself from godly people, who are willing to correct you and talk to you when you are at fault or you need improvement. Secure yourself with the love of Christ, so that you will learn to stand and put to heart what you learn when God disciplines you. Remember, God disciplines His children, as a father does. Our Father desires for us to live a holy life and to grow in the faith, and the people around us today are one of the many ways He uses to discipline us. 

Ephesians 4:25 (NLT) "So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body."

Colossians 3:16 (NLT) "Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts."

Hebrews 12:6-8 (NLT) " 'For the Lord disciplines those he loves,  and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.' As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father?  If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all."

Proverbs 27:17 (NLT) "As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend."

[deloceeano]

I don't deserve to stuff my face today. I've been bad for a couple of months. So instead I will put in a workout and eat some veggies tonight.

[bestdayoftheweek-blog]

The God Spanking! (Hebrews 12:4-13)

I was so challenged by Bill today. I think this passage can help us as we press through hardships that hit our lives. It also can help our kids better understand why we discipline them. Here are some questions and activities for you to use with your family this week to dig deeper together in Hebrews and the joy of God’s discipline.

Read Hebrews 12:4-13

1) What is hard about when you have to get disciplined? Can you think of anything good about getting a consequence?

Parents try to remember what it was like for you when you were a kid. How did your parents discipline you? Don't get preachy, "When I was a kid I had to walk a mile to get the paddle my parents used on me..." but use your family experience to help fuel this conversation. Look at verse 12 to help your family understand the good that can be found in discipline.

2) Did you know that God disciplines us too? When answering his son’s question about who spanked him, Pastor Bill replied, "God does!" Tell your kids about a time when God "spanked" you.

3) Bill encouraged us to “not take lightly God's discipline”, and “not to lose heart.” Ask your kids where they take your discipline lightly? What are some reasons they ignore your instructions even though they know they will get punished? Do you see your kids lose heart in the middle of your discipline? What do they need to remember about you and about God in the middle of correction? For yourself consider how your disciplining measures up to God's. Do you take such care in the discipline of your kids? If not spend time confessing to God and your family that you've not done a great job at pointing them to God through your discipline. Ask God to show you a better way.

Family Fun:

1) Keep a "feelings" journal with your kids. When they "suffer" a consequence ask them to write or draw in the journal what they are feeling right after their punishment. Allow them to be honest with their feelings. Go back a few days later and either look at the journal together or write them a note about what they were feeling. Be careful to identify with them and share about how you feel when God disciplines you.

2) Memorize the first verses of this chapter (vs. 1-3) this month as a family. Write a song, make a skit, paint a masterpiece-get creative in how you help you kids connect to this passage.

Want to keep the conversation going check out last weeks sermon questions here.

You can listen to Bill's sermon here.