Whenever the topic church discipline is mentioned many want to get on the defensive.  One of the main reasons why is because of the influences of this world.  In our world, many believe discipline to be a harsh and unloving act and believe “forgiving and forgetting” (AKA sweeping sin under the rug) to be what is truly loving. 

Truth is God’s Word tells us the opposite.  God's Word tells us that if done right, church discipline is the most loving thing you can do to an unrepentant sinner.  God’s word says that discipline done right is what leads people to repentance.  Discipline done right is what leads individuals back into a right relationship with the living God. 

Let me also make the point that not disciplining someone and sweeping their sin under the rug, is viewed by God as an act of hatred.  Solomon is clear in Proverbs 13:24,

Whoever spares the rod hates his son.

Why?  Because with discipline comes correction.  It is God’s method for bringing sinners to repentance.

For my first of two sermons on church discipline click HERE.

"Quote" of the Week

"Just as God our Father disciplines those whom he loves (Heb. 12:6; Rev. 3:19), so the church in its discipline is acting in love to bring back a brother or sister who has gone astray, reestablishing that person in right fellowship and rescuing him or her from destructive patterns of life."  -Wayne Grudem

I urge you, then, be imitators of me.  1 Corinthians 4:16

I have heard pastors say before, “Live as I say, not as I do”—they will say, “Don’t follow me, follow Jesus,” but is that the biblical pattern for leadership?  Is that the model Paul left for us?  No; in v. 16 of chapter 4 he calls for the Christians at Corinth to “be imitators of (him).”  He says, “I’ll set the pattern…you follow—follow me as I follow Christ.” 

Those who say “Do as I say and not as I do” are guilty of what Jesus accused the Pharisees of doing.  In Matthew 23:2-4, he says,

“The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat…they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.  

The Scribes and the Pharisees had all of their doctrines in order—they knew the Bible—they could quote God’s law better than anyone.  They, however, had a major problem—they did not have a lifestyle to match. 

Paul doesn’t say here “Follow my teachings.”  He says, “Follow my life.”  Can you say that?  Can you tell people, “If you live the way I live, then you will be living the life Christ has called you to live?”  Can you say that?  If not, what needs to change?  What in your life is out of sync spiritually?

Discipleship is so much more that teaching principles to people.  Discipleship is living principles in front of people.  That’s the way Paul viewed it, and that’s why he called for people to follow him as he followed Christ.

"Quote" of the Week

"Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ."  1 Corinthians 11:1

"WHAT DO YOU HAVE THAT YOU DID NOT RECEIVE?"

Have you ever thought long and hard about the circumstances that surround your life—the circumstances that have brought you to where you are in life?  Many of us take most of the credit for our successes.  We like to think of ourselves as “self-made” men and women.  Paul asks an excellent question in 1 Corinthians 4:7 to those with this mentality. 

He says,

What do you have that you did not receive? 

That’s an excellent question, isn’t it?  Think about it. What do you have that you didn’t get from someone else?  For example, “Did you have a say in when and where you were born?”  Now some will respond by saying, “No, but man once I got here, I had a lot of say about where I am now.  I’m a self-made man or woman—I’ve made my own success.” 

Think about this.  Do you think Mark Zuckerburg, founder of facebook, would have still made billions of dollars if he were born in the 17^th century?  Or do you think Steve Jobs, former CEO of Apple, would have made the money he did in life were he born in the middle of an aboriginal tribe in New Guinea?  

 

Who decided you’d be here?  Who put you here?  Who preserved your life to adulthood and who made sure that your abilities continued till you got to college and became something?  Well, individuals were involved, right—people like your parents, family, friends and teachers? But the Scriptures are also clear that all we are and all we have has been given to us by God. 

 

James says in James 1:17,

⁷ Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.

 

Paul reiterates James’ point here in 1 Corinthians 4 to make the point to the Corinthians that who they are, what they know and what they have accomplished in life has ultimately been brought about by God; therefore, there is no room for pride—no room for boasting.

"Quote" of the Week

John answered, "A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven."  John 3:27

BEING A GOOD STEWARD OF GOD'S WORD

This is how one should regard us, as…stewards of the mysteries of God. 1 Corinthians 4:1

Though there are a lot of pastors doing positive things in our world today, I’m fearful that some are failing to do the most important thing—the one primary thing that God has called them to do in His Word.  In 1 Corinthians 4:1, Paul tells us that Christian leaders are called by God to be faithful stewards of His word. 

The key word in this verse is of course the word  steward.   If you have ever flown on a commercial airplane, you know what a steward does.  He/she is the one who doles out information about the aircraft.  They also inform the passengers about policies and procedures in case of an emergency and hand out food and drinks during the flight. 

But though a flight attendant or steward has access to these things, he/she owns nothing that is dispensed on the airplane.  The company owns it.  All the steward does is take what has been given to them, and pass it on.

Christian leaders have a similar responsibility—they are God’s stewards.  God gifts and entrusts them with what is His and calls for them to pass it out without fail.  So though the job description for a pastor maybe endless and differ depending upon who you talk to, the primary role of the pastor—the primary focus of a Christian  leader is found right here in 4:1.  Their primary role is to study and know and properly and accurately communicate the Word of God. 

Take a moment to evaluate your own life.  If this is God’s primary concern for His leaders, how are you doing in these areas as His children?  Do you study God’s Word?  Do you apply it?  Do you deliver it?  My prayer for you is that you would get serious about His Word and be a faithful steward of it.