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A Healthy Church Member seeks Discipline
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A Healthy Church Member seeks Discipline
We must face the fact that many today are notoriously careless in their living. This attitude finds its way into the church. We have liberty, we have money, we live in comparative luxury. As a result, discipline practically has disappeared. What would a violin solo sound like if the strings on the musician's instrument were all hanging loose, not stretched tight, not
"disciplined"? -- A.W. Tozer

A Healthy Church Member seeks Discipline
1 Thess 4: 1-3: Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the
Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more. For you know what commandments we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification; ….that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you.
For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification. So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.

A Healthy Church Member seeks Discipline
2 Thess 3: 6-13: (6 and 11): Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads and unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you; not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would [m]follow our example. For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread. But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good.

A Healthy Church Member seeks Discipline
2 Tim 3: 16-17: All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
 We see two purposes here for the Scripture
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Formative discipline (positive form: teaching and training in righteousness)
Corrective discipline (negative form; reproof or correction)
Spiritual disciplines are provided for our good, not for our bondage. They are privileges to be used, not duties to be performed. To take off on a familiar quotation from Jesus, "Spiritual disciplines were made for man, not man for spiritual disciplines" (see Mark 2:27). -- Jerry Bridges

A Healthy Church Member seeks Discipline
Matt 18: 15-17: “If your brother sins go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
PBC Process of Discipline (Article VII; Section D)
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Individual reconciliation: Individual lovingly approaches another and resolves the issue
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Small Group correction: If step 1 does not resolve the issue, bring along one or two spiritually mature members to discuss the issue.
Board of Elder intervention: If step 2 fails to resolve the issue the matter should be brought to the Elders

How do we joyfully seek Discipline?
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First: We should receive the Word of God with meekness, humility, gentleness.
James 1: 19-21: This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
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Are we reading the Bible for information or with faith that God actually speaks through His word?
While listening to preaching, are we looking for a need to be met or are we trying to understand the original meaning of the text and apply it to our lives?
Is our first reaction: How does this make me feel? or Do I accept this as true?
Is our listening posture defensive or combative as though we demand someone to prove it to us?
Do we tend to judge other philosophies and viewpoints by the Scriptures or do we try to reconcile or judge the Scripture by other philosophies and views?

How do we joyfully seek Discipline?
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Secondly, Learn to recognize chastisement as evidence of God’s love.
Hebrews 12: 6: “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, Nor faint when you are reproved by Him; For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, And He scourges every son whom He receives.” (Proverbs 3: 11-12)
Hebrews 12: 9-11: Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but
He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

How do we joyfully seek Discipline?
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Thirdly, Humbly accept correction from others.
Proverbs 27: 5-6: Better is open rebuke, Than love that is concealed. Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.
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I desire to be in a relationship of mutual accountability with my brothers and sisters in Christ. I understand that if I persist in a pattern of unrepentant sin, this church may exercise church discipline for the purpose of restoring me to full fellowship with the body of Christ.

How do we joyfully seek Discipline?
 Fourthly; Take seriously the responsibility to discipline others.
It is a basic responsibility and privilege for every Church member to help sustain the discipline of the local church.
5 Purposes for Discipline
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Discipline aims to expose
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Discipline aims to warn.
Discipline aims to save
Discipline aims to protect.
Discipline aims to present a good witness for Jesus.
Correct him, but not as a foe, nor as an adversary exacting a penalty, but as a physician providing medicines. -John Chrysostom

How do we joyfully seek Discipline?
 Fifthly and lastly…. Rejoice!!!
James 5: 19-20: My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

What is a Healthy Church
Week 1: The Church (What is a Healthy Church Chap. 1&2)
Week 2: What is the Church’s Purpose and Function
 What is a Healthy Church Chap. 3&4 and Article II from PBC
Constitution
What are the “Essential” marks of a Healthy Church
Week 3: Essentials of a Healthy Church
 What is a Healthy Church Chap 5, 6 & 7
Week 4: What the Church Believes
 Article III PBC Statement of Faith
What are the “Important” marks of a Healthy Church
Week 5: A Biblical Understanding of Conversion
What is a Healthy Church Chap. 8,
Week 6: A Biblical Understanding of Evangelism and
Church Membership Part 1.
 What is a Healthy Church Chap. 9 and 10 and 9Marks Church
Membership book
Week 7: Church Membership Part 2 and Discipline.
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What is a Healthy Church Chap. 10, 11 and 9Marks Church
Membership book
Week 8: Biblical Discipleship.
 What is a Healthy Church Chap. 12
Week 9: Biblical Church Leadership.
 What is a Healthy Church Chap. 13
What is a Healthy Church Member
Week 10: A Healthy Church Member is an Expositional Listener and Biblical Theologian.
 What is a Healthy Church Member Chap. 1 & 2 and Listen Up booklet
Week 11: A Healthy Church Member is Gospel Saturated and
Genuinely Converted.
 What is a Healthy Church Member Chap. 3 & 4
Week 12: A Healthy Church Member is Genuinely Converted and a
Biblical Evangelist.
 What is a Healthy Church Member Chap. 4 & 5
Week 13: A Healthy Church Member is a Committed Member.
 What is a Healthy Church Member Chap. 6
Week 14: A Healthy Church Member Seeks Discipline.
 What is a Healthy Church Member Chap. 7
Week 15: A Healthy Church Member is a Growing Disciple and a Humble Follower.
 What is a Healthy Church Member Chap. 8 & 9
Week 16: : A Healthy Church Member is a Prayer Warrior and
Wrapping it all up?
 What is a Healthy Church Member Chap. 10