Our Struggle Against Sin (Hebrews 12:1-17)

Because God loves us, he disciplines us.

1. Why Discipline? (vv. 1-4)

   1. The Danger of an Undisciplined Life

   2. The Many Forms of Discipline (vv. 1-4)

2. The Heart (vv. 5-17)

   1. The Motive of Discipline (vv. 5-11)

   2. Responding to Discipline (vv. 12-17; 1 Timothy 5:20; 1 Corinthians 11:31)

   3. Look to Jesus (v. 2)

Discussion Starters

Monday—Have you ever prayed for patience? What happened? What should you expect if you pray for righteousness?

Tuesday—What is the danger of raising a child without discipline? Where does a lack of discipline lead? Are you grateful or resentful for your parents’ discipline?

Wednesday—What are some different forms that discipline takes? How do you tend to respond to adversity? To a friend’s correction? What do you think when you see the church exercising discipline?

Thursday—Why does God discipline his children? What would it mean for us if God stopped disciplining us? Would that be an act of love?

Friday—How do you respond to correction? Does your response encourage or discourage others from speaking into your life? Where is the Lord calling you to grow in this regard?

A Humble Heart (Joel 2:12-17)

True repentance admits guilt and responsibility, yielding all rights, hoping only for grace which is not deserved.

1. Our Struggle with Repentance

   1. Humbling

   2. Incriminating

   3. Yields all Rights

2. A Call to the Church (vv. 12-13, 15-16)

   1. For Whom the Horn Blows? (vv. 12-13, 15-16)

   2. Judgment Begins in the House of God (1 Peter 4:17; Revelation 2-3)

   3. Defender of the Defenseless (vv. 13-14, 17)

3. What Repentance Looks Like

   1. Sincere Sorrow (vv. 12-13)

   2. Turning from the World (v. 16)

   3. A Contrite Heart He Will Not Despise (v. 14; Psalm 51:15-17)

Discussion Starters

1. Monday—Why do we like it when others repent, but hate to repent ourselves?

2. Tuesday—Why is it important to remember that the call to repentance in the book of Joel is addressed at the church? What is the danger of the church forgetting that it needs to repent regularly?

3. Wednesday—Why do you think we struggle with the idea of corporate repentance? Is the Bible opposed to the idea of corporate repentance?

4. Thursday—What does it mean to rend your hearts and not your garments? What does true repentance look like?

5. Friday—What does it mean that our worthiness is found in admitting our unworthiness? Why is that which scares us the most, the only way to find comfort?

The ordination of Mr. Brian Guinto

Gospel-Giving (2 Corinthians 8:1-15; 9:6-15; Galatians 3:23 - 4:5)

Giving is an issue of freedom which is to be done with joy and a heart transformed by the gospel.

Two Mites None the Richer (Psalm 50:1-15)

Giving is an act of worship—done as a result of and in response to the gospel.

The Ministry of Discipleship (Mark 12:28-34; TItus 1:5-9)

Officers in the church are given as servants of Christ for the purpose of discipleship and ought, therefore, to reflect Christ as appropriate to their particular callings.

The Gift of Unity (Ephesians 4:1-6; Genesis 2:8-15)

Unity is a gift that God has given the church and therefore requires that we give ourselves to guarding and protecting it.

The Ruling Elder (1 Peter 5:1-4; Deuteronomy 17:10-14)

The Ruling Elder, serves the church in a kingly office, under the authority of Christ the Great King.

Increase Our Faith (Luke 17:11-19; 2 Kings 5:1-14)

The leper discovers that healing comes through faith and faith is increased as the Lord allows us to see how needy we really are and how great he really is.

Christ Our Peace (Ephesians 2:14-16; Deuteronomy 27:26; Leviticus 18:5)

Christ has come and set the Law aside by fulfilling it, bearing, in his flesh, the curse of the Law and thus establishing peace between God and man (and within the church).

You Have Been Brought Near (Ephesians 2:11-13; Deuteronomy 24:17-22)

Paul makes it clear that the Gentiles were not formerly a part of the people of God and with that came five disadvantages, but now they are included and that is to drive them to praise God.

God's Portion (Deuteronomy 26:1-15; Acts 6:1-7)

We will see that the Deacons have the unique role guarding the holiness of God’s name by caring for the hurting in the flock.

The Deacon (Acts 6:1-7; Numbers 1:47-54)

The office of the deacon is established as a part of the church (which is the New Israel) and, in so doing, it displaces the older priestly order.

The Royal Priest (Zechariah 3:6-10; Exodus 28:36-38)

Joshua, the high priest, serves as a sign that God will come and suffer in order to establish his kingdom and bless his people.

Renewed in the Image of Christ (Zechariah 3:1-5; Revelation 7:9-17)

Christ redeems a people to himself by taking their iniquity upon himself and by renewing them in his own image.

Grace in the Place of Grace (John 1:14-18; Exodus 33:17-23; 34:6-7)

Christ came as the final revelation of the Father to do that which the Law could not do – show God’s heavenly kindness in fullness and bring salvation.

The Watchmen of the Lord (Hebrews 13:17-19)

Officers are given to the church by God and must therefore serve him in their oversight and the congregation must render submission unto their officers as unto the Lord.