The Discipline of Discipleship

INTRODUCTION

Matthew 28:18–20 NLT

18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

A christian shouldn’t have to get up every morning and try to figure out from scratch their purpose for being on the planet.

If Jesus commanded His disciples to go and make other disciples, when are you a disciple?

The root word of disciple is discipline.

Discipline Defined

Concise Oxford English Dictionary Discipline

discipline /ˈdɪsɪplɪn/

■ noun

1 the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behaviour.

▶ controlled behaviour resulting from such training.

▶ an activity providing mental or physical training: kung fu is a discipline open to old and young.

2 a branch of knowledge, especially one studied in higher education.

■ verb

1 train (someone) to obey rules or a code of behaviour by punishment or rebuke.

▶ punish or rebuke formally for an offence.

2 [as adjective disciplined] showing a controlled form of behaviour.

—DERIVATIVES disciplinable adjective disciplinal /ˌdɪsɪˈplʌɪn(ə)l, ˈdɪsɪˌplɪn(ə)l/ adjective disciplinary adjective

—ORIGIN Middle English (in the sense ‘mortification by scourging oneself’): via Old French from Latin disciplina ‘instruction, knowledge’, from discipulus (see DISCIPLE).

I’ve heard it said, that discipline is the root word of Disciple, but actually, that’s backwards, as we see above. Disciple is the root word of discipline.

Someone who is teachable, is someone who has discipline.

Knowledge and Discipline go hand in hand. We will not get knowledge without discipline, and you will not get disciplined without a respect for knowledge.

At the heart of sin and the flesh is a lack of discipline.

A few scriptures regarding child discipline:

Proverbs 13:24 NLT

24 Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children. Those who love their children care enough to discipline them.

Proverbs 22:15 NLT

15 A youngster’s heart is filled with foolishness, but physical discipline will drive it far away.

Proverbs 29:15 NLT

15 To discipline a child produces wisdom, but a mother is disgraced by an undisciplined child.

I’m always amazed at parents that believe they are more compassionate and merciful than God.

Proverbs 3:11 NLT

11 My child, don’t reject the Lord’s discipline, and don’t be upset when he corrects you.

Proverbs 10:17 NLT

17 People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life, but those who ignore correction will go astray.

Proverbs 13:24 NLT

24 Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children. Those who love their children care enough to discipline them.

Proverbs 23:13–14 NLT

13 Don’t fail to discipline your children. The rod of punishment won’t kill them. 14 Physical discipline may well save them from death.

Proverbs 29:17 NLT

17 Discipline your children, and they will give you peace of mind and will make your heart glad.

If you want great kids, don’t give them everything they want; give God everything He wants.

Malachi 2:15 NLT

15 Didn’t the Lord make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are his. And what does he want? Godly children from your union. So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth.

In God’s mind child discipline is not optional.

All these principles apply to all of us, we are all God’s children. We are all spiritual children.

Proverbs 12:1 The Message

1 If you love learning, you love the discipline that goes with it— how shortsighted to refuse correction!

Proverbs 13:1 NLT

1 A wise child accepts a parent’s discipline; a mocker refuses to listen to correction.

Job 5:17 NLT

17 “But consider the joy of those corrected by God! Do not despise the discipline of the Almighty when you sin.

Hebrews 12:6 NLT

6 For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”

C.S. Lewis - The Problem with Pain

“We can ignore even pleasure. But pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” ― C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain

“Love may, indeed, love the beloved when her beauty is lost: but not because it is lost. Love may forgive all infirmities and love still in spite of them: but Love cannot cease to will their removal. Love is more sensitive than hatred itself to every blemish in the beloved… Of all powers he forgives most, but he condones least: he is pleased with little, but demands all.” ― C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain

Psalm 94:12–14 NLT

12 Joyful are those you discipline, Lord, those you teach with your instructions. 13 You give them relief from troubled times until a pit is dug to capture the wicked. 14 The Lord will not reject his people; he will not abandon his special possession.

Ouch

If we don’t require discipline in our family, in our relationships, it is because we lack discipline in our own lives.

Discipline is a prerequisite for leadership.

Titus 1:7–8 NLT

7 A church leader is a manager of God’s household, so he must live a blameless life. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker, violent, or dishonest with money. 8 Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must love what is good. He must live wisely and be just. He must live a devout and disciplined life.

LifeGroups

The Necessity of Discipline

Proverbs 12:1 The Message

1 If you love learning, you love the discipline that goes with it— how shortsighted to refuse correction!

Proverbs 12:1 LEB

1 He who loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates rebuke is stupid.

For the person who lacks discipline there is only external control.

Governed by God or...

The highest form of discipline is self-discipline.

2 Timothy 1:7 NLT

7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

Duty, Discipline, Delight

Revelation 3:19 NLT

19 I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference.