Day 172 - Providing Discipline

Carley Sheppard

“I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” – 2 Timothy 4:1-2 ESV

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” – Ephesians 6:1-4 ESV

In week one, we briefly discussed Matthew 18:15-17 and the process of dealing with sin. To refresh your memory, that’s talking to the person one-on-one first, then including 1-2 people if the problem persists, then bringing it to the church if it continues from there.

When you become a leader, you will need to correct someone at some point. Maybe it’s a child, a family member, a team member, etc. It is important to note that the Bible says to give your rebuke (correction) with complete patience and teaching (2 Timothy 4:2). At Discover Life Church, we often talk about how important it is to love God and love people. If you find yourself in a position where you may need to provide uncomfortable feedback, do it out of love. Do it out of a place of wisdom. Spend time in the Word, ask God to give you the right words, and do it with patience and teaching.

Remember that your leadership position can also occur in the home. Parents are instructed to provide discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord. Ephesians 6:4 says that instruction should be “of the Lord.” Parents must remember it is their role to discipline their children, but they should also seek guidance from their Heavenly Father.

As a parent, you may have to provide discipline to your child. As a leader, you may have to provide discipline to your mentees, friends, and colleagues. Pray about it! Spend time in the Word. The more time you spend with God, the better equipped you will be to handle those difficult conversations. They will come out of a place of love, and you will have the wisdom to deliver correction well.

Next Steps

  • Think about it: Who are you repsonsible for disciplining?

  • Think about it: How can you improve the way that you’re delivering it?

  • Action Step: Look up Bible verses that instruct us how to discipline others.