Health Watch #7 Desiring Discipline 7th Sign of Healthy Church Members February 21, 2016 AM Thanks to IX Marks Ministries

Are You a Healthy Church Member? That means you are… #1 A “Ready Listener!” An EXPOSitional Listener – Exposing the main thought. #2 A “Doctrine Digger!” Looking for major themes and developments as you read and study. #3 A “Gospel Gobbler.” Gripping, grasping, overwhelmed by God’s good news #4 “Completely (genuinely) Converted.” #5 “Eager to Evangelize.” willing to share the Good News #6 A “Motivated Church Member”

Flashback on #6 - Membership The local church IS exactly where God intends His people to live out their faith and experience Christian love, growth, and service. If God had not intended this – then church leadership, church discipline, lists, and voting would be meaningless. Examine a list of opportunities for committed members including: attendance, reconciliation, serving, giving, and prayer…and get busy. Study the “let us,” “together,” and “one another” passages of the New Testament.

#7 A Healthy Church Memmber Is Desiring Discipline Is all discipline negative? No, much discipline is positive or “formative.” Positive discipline is the basic shaping of lives and minds in families and in churches through teaching and mentoring. God’s Word is taught by sermons, lessons, music, etc. We learn to serve through the mentoring of others. A disciple is a learner – one being molded or disciplined Matthew 5:1,2 Colossians 2:6,7 Ephesians 4:11-24 Ephesians 6:4

What is Church discipline? Drawing a clear picture of Christ… What does the Bible say about Church discipline? Hebrews 12:1-14; Matthew 18:15-17; I Cor. 5:1-11; II Cor. 2:5-11; Gal. 6:1; II Thess. 3:6-15; I Tim. 1:20; 5:19,20; Titus 3:9-11 What does the Church need in order to practice this? Love, Knowledge (truth), Courage, Wisdom, Forgiveness, Patience Why practice Church discipline? For the good of the person(s) For the good of others to be aware of sin’s dangers For the health of the Church For the witness of the Church For the glory of God and reflecting His holiness

God’s Word supernaturally guides us along this path of discipline God’s Word supernaturally guides us along this path of discipline. Desire it! 2 Timothy 3:16-17 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Romans 12:1-2 (Appeal) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you (Act) present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, (Argument) which is your reasonable service. 2 (Alterations) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, (Achievement) that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.