July 14, 2024
Discipline That Actually Works
- Matt Nickoson
Sermon Notes
God is a Father, and we can become His children by faith.
John 1:12 NIV
Yet to all who did receive him (Jesus), to those who believed in his (Jesus) name, he gave the right to become children of God.
What kind of parent is God?
Hebrews 12:5-6 NIV
And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”
God is a Father who loves you too much not to discipline you.
Hebrews 12:7 NIV
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?
God expects you to discipline your children.
Hebrews 12:8 NIV
If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all.
Hebrews 12:9 NIV
Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live?
Appropriate discipline brings respect.
Hebrews 12:10 NIV
They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.
It’s not important that you’re perfect, it’s important that you are prepared.
Prepared emotionally: “Have I regulated myself?”
Proverbs 17:27 NIV
The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint,
and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.
Prepared to act: “Do I know what I want to happen, and have I considered the best way to get there?”
The root of discipline is disciple; which implies a student in training.
Proverbs 22:6 NASB1995
Train up a child in the way he should go,
Even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Discipline escalates with the severity of the situation.
Step 1. Give a shot across the bow.
Step 2. Act immediately upon your warning.
“Parents who give a lot of warnings raise kids who don’t behave until they’ve had a lot of warnings.” - Foster W. Cline, Parenting with Love and Logic: Teaching Children Responsibility
Step 3. Remove the object or the person from the situation until they are regulated.
“Effective parenting centers around love: love that is not permissive, love that doesn’t tolerate disrespect, but also love that is powerful enough to allow kids to make mistakes and permit them to live with the consequences of those mistakes.” - Foster W. Cline, Parenting with Love and Logic: Teaching Children Responsibility
Step 4. Continue to act in the direction of your expectations.
Job5:17-18 NIV
Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal.
Hebrews 12:11 NIV
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.