The Discipline of a Father

Introduction:

What is the worst trouble you ever got into?

Don’t glorify your sin, but consider the response of your parents (or the lack thereof)

Why did you parents discipline you?

Because they love you

Because they saw the danger your actions could create

You’ve probably heard the phrase: “You are going to ruin that kid!”

Discipline is a key component of growing up. It is a part of life and it is required of everything from living a healthy lifestyle to mastering a skill we want to get better at.

Living a disciplined life is also required if we are going to grow in grace and become more like Christ

Because God is a good father, He disciplines us as an earthly father would his child

As we look at our God’s discipline today, I want to challenge the fathers in the room to mimic our Heavenly Father and seek to be an extension of His love to the children that He has placed under our care as stewards of His grace.

Hebrews 12:3–11 ESV

3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” 7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 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. 11 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.

Pray

1. God’s Discipline Helps Us Fight Sin (vv.3-6)

Context is found in vv.1-3

Hebrews 12:1–3 ESV

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

Lay aside sin

Cheered on by a cloud of witnesses in the Scripture

Jesus as the example of enduring trials and fighting against sin

We are called to fight against sin

Do you put up much of a fight or do you rollover?

What are your methods for fighting sin?

We are to look to the examples of Scripture

We are to look at our personal behaviors (i.e. do we frequent sin’s hangouts, do we flee temptation, do we resist)

We are to look at Christ’s example (our Father has given us the model)

Illustration: American Ninja Warrior - watching other contestants run the course before you - helps you get a strategy

2. God’s Discipline Is a Sign of Love (vv.7-9)

We do not discipline other people’s children

God’s discipline vs. wrath

Psalm 5:4–5 ESV

4 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you. 5 The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers.

Contrast

Proverbs 3:11–12 ESV

11 My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, 12 for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.

Discipline is a a practice of disciple-making

2 Timothy 3:16–17 ESV

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Proverbs 22:6 ESV

6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs begins with the first several chapters containing a father’s instructions his son

Several passages from Proverbs emphasize that discipline is a sign of love

Proverbs 13:24 ESV

24 Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.

Proverbs 23:13 ESV

13 Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die.

Proverbs 19:18 ESV

18 Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death.

Caution: We are to discipline for holiness and not out of anger

Discipline is both positive and corrective

The earlier we discipline the heart of a child the better it will be for the child. To start late in life is going to require repentance on behalf of the father and a major adjustment for the child.

3. God’s Discipline Is For Our Good (vv.10-11)

Father’s discipline as seems best - human father’s are not perfect and can never be

We still must discipline our children for their good if we love them

God’s discipline is perfect

Psalm 94:12–13 ESV

12 Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O Lord, and whom you teach out of your law, 13 to give him rest from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked.

The process is painful in the moment, but the motivation is that at the end of it we will be grateful and blessed for having gone through it

James 1:2–4 ESV

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Illustration: Football camp

Workouts were hard and painful

Workouts were practical to make camp and gameday more endurable

Workouts helped to condition the player

Conclusion

Illegitimate child or illegitimate father

In God’s eyes there are no illegitimate children, but we can be illegitimate fathers

At the same time, we have all been unruly children and disobeyed our Heavenly Father

Jesus endured the wrath of God so that we could be the children of God

We might have to endure His loving correction as a Father, but if you are a believer, you will never have to endure His wrath

God’s wrath is not abuse. It is justified. It is justice poured out and is an outflow of HIs goodness.

Are you His child? You can be adopted into the family today