!!!!! Icebreaker (5 mins.) To start off your small group, briefly share your response to the following question:!!

Transcription

1 Session Three

2 SESSION 3: GOD S PERFECT DISCIPLINE Icebreaker (5 mins.) To start off your small group, briefly share your response to the following question: Share a memorable time when you were put in timeout or disciplined as a child. What To Expect (2 mins.) Let s get a big picture of what we ll be learning today. Have someone in your group READ this section: At first glance, words like love and discipline don t really sound like they go together. Love brings up feelings of kindness, softness, and gentleness, while discipline brings up feelings of sternness, restriction, and punishment. As we begin to understand God s love for us, we start to see that He disciplines because He loves. Session Three of this series talks about how God will discipline us to correct certain areas in our lives. During times of discipline, it may seem like God is taking away all of our fun, but God s intention is to reshape our character so that we can experience things that we would not otherwise be able to experience. 26

3 Video Notes (12 mins.) Remember God s Perfect As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by his father? If God doesn t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. Hebrews 12:7-8 (NLT) Then I said to her, You must live in my house for many days and stop your prostitution. During this time, you will not have sexual relations with anyone, not even me. Notes: Hosea 3:3 (NLT) Answer: Discipline 27

4 Discussion Questions (20 mins.) At this time, if your group desires, please break into smaller groups of 2-4 for the discussion question section. Have a great discussion Sometimes God does things in a way that s different than what we are hoping for. We wish that God would shower us with blessings all the time, but like Pastor Jud tells us, God knows that it would bury us. What do you think the world would look like if God gave us everything we wanted? So, what does it mean when God disciplines us? He might hold back things in our lives until we work out other areas of our lives. He might take away areas of comfort and things of this world that we are too reliant on. Remember, God disciplines because He wants us to realize that we re trying to live our lives without Him. According to Pastor Jud, God won t quit on you. He may discipline you, but He doesn t walk away. The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV) Do you believe this? How have you personally experienced God not quitting on you? Share your experience. Read the scripture below: 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. Hebrews 12:11 (NIV) The benefits of cooperating with God s discipline are: 1) becoming more righteous 2) having more peace. How does this make you feel? Are you cooperating with areas God may be disciplining you in? 28

5 What Will You Do? (5 mins.) Turn to the What Will You Do? section on page 19. Share and evaluate your action step from Session 2 (Optional). It s not always easy to hear that God s discipline is motivated by love, especially if we are going through a season of discipline. Remember, God loves you more than your comfort. He s going to shape and develop your character in a significant way. Below are three ways you can learn more about God s discipline. Choose at least one action step you will complete this week. Share with your group what step you ve chosen. 1. Memorize this scripture of discipline: My child, don t reject the LORD s discipline, and don t be upset when he corrects you. For the LORD corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights. Proverbs 3:11-12 (NLT) 2. Read through Hebrews 12:11 (on page 28) and memorize it this week. 3. Read through and journal on the four devotions for this session (starting on the next page). Going Deeper (If your group chooses to go deeper) Self-Feeding or Devotions are an excellent way to both record and process what God has spoken to us. It re-patterns the way we think and transforms the spirit of the mind. It s also a useful tool to use at a later time to reflect on what you have learned. Take a few minutes to share ONE thing you learned this past week while reading your daily devotions. Pray (2 mins.) Take a few minutes to close your time together with prayer and to pray for each other s prayer requests. Below is a sample prayer to read if you choose to. Sample Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for loving us so much that you are willing to discipline us in order to shape our character. Life may not always be fun through seasons of discipline, but when we go through those seasons, remind us and encourage us to see what you are trying to do. We love you and praise you. In Jesus Name. Amen. 29

6 WEEK #3 - DAILY DEVOTIONS: DAY 1 S (Scripture) My child, don t reject the LORD s discipline, and don t be upset when He corrects you. For the LORD corrects those He loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights. Proverbs 3:11-12 (NLT) O (Observation) A (Application) P (Prayer) 30

7 WEEK #3 - DAILY DEVOTIONS: DAY 2 S (Scripture) 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. Hebrews 12:7-8 (NIV) O (Observation) A (Application) P (Prayer) 31

8 WEEK #3 - DAILY DEVOTIONS: DAY 3 S (Scripture) Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. 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. Hebrews 12:9-10 (NIV) O (Observation) A (Application) P (Prayer) 32

9 WEEK #3 - DAILY DEVOTIONS: DAY 4 S (Scripture) For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:12 (ESV) O (Observation) A (Application) P (Prayer) 33

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