Sharpened By Discipline

Church Discipline  Taught by Jesus: Matt 18:15-17  Taught by the Apostles: Rom 16:17-18 Why?  Hebrews 10:26-31  Prevent the spreading of disease. 1 Cor. 5:6-8  To keep the church clean from sin- Acts 5

The Need To Discipline Each Other  Would you want to see a brother/sister in Christ reach this point?  Then what are you willing to do about it?  Jude 1:17-23

Now The How  The heart set on the right thing: Jude 23 Matt. 18:10-14

Now The How  The tongue set on saying the right thing.  Prov. 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.  Matt 12:36-37 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Now The How  Control your impulses and speak wisely  Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 12:18  Healing words come from a healthy heart.  Hurtful words come out of a hurting heart.

Now The How  So what can we do to learn to speak kindly?  Filter out all toxic-waste in your life. “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice…” Ephesians 4:31  Think of your inner-self as being either toxic or non-toxic.

Now The How  Walking through the fire.  “Walk thru the fire with them, don’t stand off to the side with a bucket of water ready to cool them off.”  Gal. 6:1-2 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Now The How  Practicing the “walk away.” Matthew 18:15  The matter is ended. Walk away from it.  Let repentance have its perfect work. Walk away from it.  The sin continues. Walk away from it.

Now The How 10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. 12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety- nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 13 And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. 14 So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. Matt 18:10-14