for reproof, for correction, for training

"Respect Divine Discipline" {Heb12:5-11}
* Intro
- People encounter discipline everywhere -- school, work, home, Olympics
- God disciplines those He loves
* Our great need: confident endurance {Heb10:35-36, 1Cor10:13}
* His strong encouragement (v1-4)
- Remember the witnesses
- Remove the hindrances
- Run w/ perseverance
- Reach for goal: focus on Christ
* Purpose of divine discipline
- Diff twixt discipline & judgment -- believers will never face judgment
- For our correction {1Cor11:20-32} -- consequence of sin
- For our prevention {2Cor12:7-10} -- restrictions for protection
- For our education {Job42:3-6}
* Perils of discipline (v5)
- I could make light of it -- careless attitude; not caring to profit from experience will result in repeated discipline
- I could lose heart from it
* Basic principles that help amidst pain
- Discipline proves God loves me {v6a, Prov3:11-12}
- Discipline proves I'm God's child (v6b-8)
- Discipline deepens & enhances life (v9)
- Discipline produces holiness (v10-11)
* Application
- Don't judge others (don't assume divine discipline) -- be like Job's friends
- Do submit to His discipline
- Don't lose heart