The well known secret DISCIPLINE Caribou & Christ November 1, 2009 Sam Guirguis

Origins of Discipline Genesis 2:8-9 The LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. And out of the ground the LORD God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Origins of Discipline cont. Genesis 2:15-17 Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Principles for the beginning God gives abundantly – “God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden” God sets reasonable boundaries for us – “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat” Allows us to set additional boundaries above His God sets consequences for our lack of discipline – “for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die”

Levels of Discipline 1.Those who must be disciplined 2.Those who have the discipline to stay within the boundaries established for them 3.Those who have the discipline to establish further boundaries beyond those established for them

Definition of Discipline 1.Training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character 2.Orderly or prescribed conduct or pattern of behavior 3.A rule or system of rules governing conduct or activity 4.Control gained by enforcing obedience or order 5.Self-control

Training 1) Training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character Let’s run a marathon tomorrow Discipline requires training Proverbs 12:1 – “He who hates correction is stupid” Matthew 5:48 – “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

Rules God and the church’s rules for us – Those we understand – Those we don’t understand Leviticus 10:1 “Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. So fire went out from the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.” We need to set our own rules, above and beyond God’s basic boundaries for us Eliminate the grey area

Control 2) Control gained by enforcing obedience or order Have Discipline or Be Disciplined Requires enforcement – God set’s consequences for our lack of discipline – We need to set additional consequences – 1 Corinthians 9:27 “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection”

Implementing Discipline Understand God’s boundaries for us Set additional boundaries and rules with the guidance of our spiritual father Training Eliminate the grey Establish consequences for lack of discipline Honest enforcement

“WE MAY KNOW THE RIGHT PRIORITIES AND HAVE ALL THE RIGHT INTENTIONS TO PURSUE THEM, BUT WITH NO DISCIPLINE IT FEELS LIKE RUNNING ON A TREADMILL, CONSTANT EFFORT, BUT NO PROGRESS.”