I was thinking about how the idea of “discipline” seems like such a negative thing and how it really shouldn’t be. Probably just another indicator of a permissive society influencing how we think and act. Whenever we look at a topic like this as the followers of Christ, we want to hear from God through his Word to know what he says about it and then to challenge any presuppositions we might have. Let’s just assume that we don’t have it quite right and listen up to his instruction about discipline.
Because discipline is not at all a negative. Not as God practices it. And as we jump into Hebrews 12:4-11 this Sunday we will see that the discipline of the Lord is “for our good.” It is a clear demonstration of the Father’s deep love for us, identifying us as part of his family. Understanding what biblical discipline is, what it produces in us, and how we ought to respond to it are the goals for this Sunday as we gather.
I don’t want to make light of this at all. I’m challenged by Hebrews 12:9 in the passage because it sets up parental discipline as a positive example of how we ought to respect God for his discipline as we respected our parents for their discipline. The problem I have with that idea is that so many do not have a great memory of being disciplined by their parents. Too many find that they were on one extreme or the other. Either their home was too permissive or it was too strict. Both extremes produce adults with baggage. And when they try to compare what they have known experientially with what they’re hearing from the Bible, they chafe at the thought. They don’t want God’s discipline.
But they should want it. We should all want it.
Take some time to prepare for Sunday by reading and meditating on the passage, listen to the worship songs that Jordan and Joel have lined up us to sing, and pray for your own response to the Word of God.
A few others things…
The next week is a big one for us. Tuesday we will be gathering as the church to pray. Join us at 7 p.m. at Timothy for worship and prayer as we focus on praying Hebrews 12:1-3 and lifting up our intercession for the upcoming celebration weekend with Pastor James MacDonald and Meredith Andrews.
And it is a bit hard to believe for the staff especially, but that celebration weekend is only days away now. We have worship services as usual on Sunday, May 27 at 9 and 11:15 a.m., but we’ve added a third identical service on Saturday, the 26 at 4 p.m. And don’t forget about the worship concert with Meredith Andrews and Joshua Seller on Saturday evening at 8 p.m. Tickets are still available at the office and bookstore.
If you have been waiting to get your hands on the DVDs of the main sessions from Harvest University, the time is now! We have two sets of the DVDs available for loan from the church office.
to arrange to borrow them.
See you Sunday,
Todd