1. Seems Harsh

2. Prayer I believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God. I boldly declare that I have ears to hear and a heart to obey what the Bible says about me. And today I will be forever changed by God’s Word. Lord, give me wisdom and understanding so I can know you better. Amen.

3. Matthew 16:21-23, NIV From that time on Jesus began to explain to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

4. Matthew 16:21-23, NIV Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

5. When God Seems Harsh 1. Legitimate children

6. Hebrews 12:5b-11, NIV “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”

7. Hebrews 12:5b-11, NIV Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined— and everyone undergoes discipline— then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it.

8. Hebrews 12:5b-11, NIV How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.

9. Hebrews 12:5b-11, NIV No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

10. When God Seems Harsh 1. Legitimate children A.He disciplines those He loves

11. When God Seems Harsh 1. Legitimate children A.He disciplines those He loves B.Do not make light of His discipline

12. When God Seems Harsh 1. Legitimate children A.He disciplines those He loves B.Do not make light of His discipline C.Do not lose heart

13. When God Seems Harsh 1. Legitimate children A.He disciplines those He loves B.Do not make light of His discipline C.Do not lose heart D.A harvest of righteousness

14. When God Seems Harsh 1. Legitimate children 2.Layers of discipline

15. 2 Timothy 4:2-4, NIV Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.

16. 2 Timothy 4:2-4, NIV For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

17. Layers of Discipline 1.Encourage 2.Correct 3.Rebuke

18. Encourage Exhort Urge Comfort the vulnerable, the timid, and the tempted Encourage – as with temptation

19. Correct Confront Reprove Convince Challenge Correct – as with false teachers and false doctrine.

20. Rebuke Reproach Warn Solemnly admonish Express a judgment of what is wrong Rebuke – implies a moral authority

21. Isaiah 55:8-9, NIV “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

22. When God Seems Harsh Big Idea: Sometimes God seems harsh in His discipline because we failed to respond to the first several layers of discipline.

23. When God Seems Harsh 1.Legitimate children 2.Layers of discipline 3.Loving Rebuke

24. Matthew 16:21-23, NIV From that time on Jesus began to explain to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

25. Matthew 16:21-23, NIV Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

26. When God Seems Harsh Big Idea: Correction from God comes in the context of relationship.

27. When God Seems Harsh 1.Legitimate children 2.Layers of discipline 3.Loving Rebuke

28. Prayer After Service