Restoration Through Godly Discipline: A Loving Approach
Summary
Godly discipline is a profound expression of love aimed at achieving restoration. Reflecting on 1 Corinthians 5, we see the importance of addressing sin within the church community, not out of judgment, but out of a desire to restore relationships and uphold the integrity of the church's witness to the world. The church at Corinth faced many issues, primarily stemming from arrogance and self-promotion, which led to a misrepresentation of Christ. This misrepresentation is not just a personal failing but affects the entire community, as the world looks at the church and forms opinions about Jesus based on what they see.
The story of my sisters, Kaylee and Lily, illustrates two responses to discipline: defiance and repentance. Kaylee's stubbornness contrasts with Lily's repentant heart, teaching us the importance of humility and the willingness to be corrected. This mirrors the church's need to address sin diligently, as Paul instructs, to prevent it from spreading like leaven through the community. Sin, like cancer, must be removed to preserve the health of the body.
Paul's harsh-sounding directive to deliver a man to Satan is, in fact, an act of love, intended to save his spirit. This underscores the principle that discipline, though difficult, is necessary for spiritual growth and restoration. It is not about punishment but about bringing someone back into a right relationship with God and the community.
In today's divided church landscape, where one can easily move to another congregation, the challenge is to create a community so loving that even those disciplined yearn to return. This requires each of us to deal with our own sin, approach others with humility, and ensure our motivations are rooted in love. Discipline and discipleship are intertwined, both stemming from a desire to see others grow in Christlikeness.
Ultimately, the goal is restoration, reflecting God's heart for His people. As we enact discipline, we must remember that it is always done out of love, aiming to restore individuals to a loving relationship with God and the church community.
Key Takeaways:
1. Godly Discipline as Love: Discipline within the church is not about punishment but about love and restoration. It aims to bring individuals back into a right relationship with God and the community, reflecting God's heart for His people. [39:42]
2. The Impact of Sin: Sin, like leaven, can spread through a community if not addressed. It is crucial to deal with sin diligently to prevent it from corrupting the whole body, much like removing cancer to preserve health. [49:02]
3. Restoration as the Goal: The ultimate aim of discipline is restoration. Even harsh-sounding directives, like delivering someone to Satan, are acts of love intended to save their spirit and restore them to God. [56:52]
4. Creating a Loving Community: In a divided church landscape, the challenge is to create a community so loving that even those disciplined yearn to return. This requires humility, dealing with personal sin, and ensuring motivations are rooted in love. [01:03:22]
5. Discipline and Discipleship: Discipline and discipleship are intertwined, both stemming from a desire to see others grow in Christlikeness. As we discipline, we must remember it is always done out of love, aiming to restore individuals to a loving relationship with God and the church community. [01:05:01]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [33:44] - Opening Prayer
- [34:46] - Family Stories and Lessons
- [36:01] - Kaylee and Lily's Responses
- [37:40] - Context of 1 Corinthians 5
- [38:41] - Misinterpretation and Distraction
- [39:42] - Godly Discipline and Love
- [41:00] - Looks Matter
- [42:45] - Sin and Church Representation
- [45:04] - Misrepresentation of Jesus
- [46:38] - Impact of Church Failures
- [47:43] - Importance of Godly Discipline
- [48:21] - Dealing with Sin Diligently
- [49:02] - Leaven as a Symbol of Sin
- [50:10] - Passover and Sin Removal
- [51:07] - Jesus as the Perfect Sacrifice
- [52:31] - Sin as Cancer
- [53:15] - Paul's Instruction on Discipline
- [55:00] - Jesus' Teachings on Discipline
- [56:12] - Restoration as the Goal
- [56:52] - Paul's Love in Discipline
- [57:45] - God's Heart for Restoration
- [59:00] - Enacting Church Discipline Today
- [01:02:30] - Dealing with Personal Sin
- [01:03:22] - Discipline and Discipleship
- [01:05:01] - Final Encouragement and Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. 1 Corinthians 5
2. Proverbs 3:12
3. Matthew 18:15-17
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Observation Questions:
1. What were the contrasting responses of Kaylee and Lily to discipline, and how do these responses illustrate different attitudes towards correction? [36:01]
2. According to the sermon, what was the primary issue in the Corinthian church that led to various problems, and how did it affect their representation of Christ? [41:00]
3. How does Paul describe the impact of sin within the church community, and what metaphor does he use to illustrate this? [49:02]
4. What is the ultimate goal of godly discipline according to the sermon, and how does Paul’s directive to deliver a man to Satan fit into this goal? [56:52]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the sermon suggest that the church's internal issues, like arrogance, can affect its external witness to the world? [42:45]
2. In what ways does the sermon explain the necessity of dealing with sin diligently within the church community? How does this relate to the metaphor of leaven? [49:02]
3. How does the sermon interpret Paul's harsh-sounding directive to deliver a man to Satan as an act of love? What does this reveal about the nature of godly discipline? [56:52]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between discipline and discipleship, and how are they intertwined in the context of spiritual growth? [01:05:01]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you were disciplined, either in a church setting or elsewhere. How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience? How can this inform your approach to discipline in the future? [36:01]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of humility when addressing sin. How can you cultivate a humble heart when confronted with your own shortcomings or when addressing others' sins? [01:03:22]
3. Consider the metaphor of leaven as sin. Are there areas in your life where a small sin might be growing unchecked? What steps can you take to address it before it spreads further? [49:02]
4. How can you contribute to creating a loving church community where even those who are disciplined feel a desire to return? What practical actions can you take to foster such an environment? [01:03:22]
5. The sermon discusses the importance of dealing with personal sin. What specific sin in your life do you need to address, and what steps will you take this week to confront it? [01:02:30]
6. How can you ensure that your motivations for disciplining others are rooted in love? What practices can help you check your heart before addressing someone else's sin? [01:04:08]
7. Reflect on the relationship between discipline and discipleship in your own life. How can you integrate these concepts to help others grow in Christlikeness? [01:05:01]
Devotional
Day 1: Godly Discipline as a Path to Restoration
Godly discipline is a profound expression of love, not a means of punishment. It seeks to restore individuals to a right relationship with God and the community. In 1 Corinthians 5, Paul emphasizes the importance of addressing sin within the church, not to judge, but to restore and uphold the integrity of the church's witness to the world. The church at Corinth struggled with arrogance and self-promotion, leading to a misrepresentation of Christ. This misrepresentation affects the entire community, as the world forms opinions about Jesus based on what they see in the church. Discipline, though difficult, is necessary for spiritual growth and restoration, aiming to bring someone back into a loving relationship with God and the community. [39:42]
Hebrews 12:10-11 (ESV): "For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."
Reflection: Think of a time when you experienced discipline in your life. How did it lead to growth or restoration, and how can you apply that lesson to your spiritual journey today?
Day 2: The Impact of Sin on Community
Sin, like leaven, can spread through a community if not addressed. It is crucial to deal with sin diligently to prevent it from corrupting the whole body, much like removing cancer to preserve health. In the church at Corinth, unchecked sin led to a misrepresentation of Christ, affecting the entire community's witness to the world. Paul instructs the church to address sin diligently, as it can spread and corrupt the entire body. This requires humility and a willingness to be corrected, as seen in the contrasting responses of Kaylee and Lily to discipline. [49:02]
Galatians 5:9 (ESV): "A little leaven leavens the whole lump."
Reflection: Identify an area in your life where sin might be affecting your relationships or community. What steps can you take today to address it and prevent it from spreading further?
Day 3: Restoration as the Ultimate Goal
The ultimate aim of discipline is restoration. Even harsh-sounding directives, like delivering someone to Satan, are acts of love intended to save their spirit and restore them to God. Paul's instruction in 1 Corinthians 5 is not about punishment but about bringing someone back into a right relationship with God and the community. This reflects God's heart for His people, as He desires restoration and reconciliation. Discipline is a means to achieve this, ensuring that individuals are brought back into a loving relationship with God and the church community. [56:52]
2 Corinthians 2:6-8 (ESV): "For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him."
Reflection: Consider someone in your life who may need restoration. How can you extend love and forgiveness to them today, reflecting God's heart for reconciliation?
Day 4: Creating a Loving Community
In today's divided church landscape, the challenge is to create a community so loving that even those disciplined yearn to return. This requires each of us to deal with our own sin, approach others with humility, and ensure our motivations are rooted in love. Discipline and discipleship are intertwined, both stemming from a desire to see others grow in Christlikeness. As we discipline, we must remember it is always done out of love, aiming to restore individuals to a loving relationship with God and the church community. [01:03:22]
Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV): "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."
Reflection: Reflect on your role in your church community. How can you contribute to creating a loving environment that encourages growth and restoration for all members?
Day 5: Discipline and Discipleship
Discipline and discipleship are intertwined, both stemming from a desire to see others grow in Christlikeness. As we discipline, we must remember it is always done out of love, aiming to restore individuals to a loving relationship with God and the church community. This requires humility, dealing with personal sin, and ensuring motivations are rooted in love. In a divided church landscape, the challenge is to create a community so loving that even those disciplined yearn to return. This reflects God's heart for His people, as He desires restoration and reconciliation. [01:05:01]
Proverbs 3:11-12 (ESV): "My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights."
Reflection: How can you embrace discipline as a form of discipleship in your life? What steps can you take to grow in Christlikeness through the loving correction of God and your community?
Quotes
Godly discipleship is always done out of love to achieve restoration. Godly discipline is always done out of love to achieve restoration. Today I'm going to explore this principle through three main points. First, looks matter. Second, sin must therefore be dealt with diligently. And three, the goal is restoration. [00:40:38] (31 seconds)
Church life matters because to those outside the church looking in, whether negative or positive, the way we treat each other delivers a message about our lives. The world needs to look at the church and see unity, goodness, and love. By enacting discipline in the church, we can confront arrogance in one another's sin and help restore the message of unity, goodness, and love that is supposed to come from the church. [00:42:42] (35 seconds)
The influence of one person's sin on the rest of the body should not and cannot be underestimated. We need to address sin before it corrupts the whole community. I'll say it again, sin must be dealt with diligently. To demonstrate this point, Paul uses an illustration that's used throughout scripture. In the middle of his rebuke, he starts talking about leaven. [00:48:41] (27 seconds)
Cleanse out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. This picture shows us that just as a little leaven leavens a lump of dough, the whole batch is affected. [00:50:01] (32 seconds)
The church cannot ignore sin because sin is just like cancer. If cancer isn't dealt with and removed from the body, it can spread to the rest of the body, causing even greater damage than it did before. When cancer spreads, the hope of flourishing, life decreases. Sin must be dealt with diligently to ensure restoration of the whole body. [00:52:52] (29 seconds)
Jesus himself taught the same points. First, in Matthew 18, 15 to 17, Jesus, when speaking about discipline, says, if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you've gained your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two others along with you. [00:53:48] (26 seconds)
We can never lose sight of the fact that the goal of discipline is always restoration. That's my third point. Near the end of this letter, Paul affirms this principle by saying, let all that you do be done in love. Does Paul actually live out this command? Let's circle back to the verse where it says, I deliver you from sin, restore you from sin. [00:56:12] (23 seconds)
It's clearly stated in the second half of verse five. So that, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. Godly discipline is always done out of love to achieve restoration. As a loving Father, Paul sees the long-lasting, potentially eternal damage this man is causing to others and himself. He takes the steps needed to try and save this man, to protect him from himself. [00:56:52] (38 seconds)
God hands us over to our own decisions to stray from him into the arms of Satan, so that we might turn, repent, and be restored. When we call upon him, he's right there. I hope you're also encouraged by 2 Corinthians 2 verses 4 to 8. in this passage Paul implores the church to restore a man that he had once disciplined you could argue that it's written about this man in chapter 5. [00:58:42] (33 seconds)
We see this in 2 Corinthians as it's written, as it is I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief leads to death. [01:02:10] (21 seconds)
Discipline and disciple actually come from the same root word. This could be a friendship, a mentor relationship, or parenthood, which is a great one. Parents, you are leaders in your homes. Remember, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves. As a father, you are a father. You are a father. You are a father. You are a father. You are a father. You are a father. You are a father. You are the son in whom he delights. [01:05:10] (20 seconds)
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