Messy Church - Guardrails - 2/23/25

Hebrews 12:5-7, And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by Him. For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

Big Idea: A hand of discipline must always be controlled by a loving heart.

1. Loving Correction

1st Corinthians 4:14-15, I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers.  For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the Gospel.

Proverbs 25:12, Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear.

2. Loving Example

1st Corinthians 4:16-17, I urge you, then, be imitators of me. That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.

Titus 2:7-8, Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.

3. Loving Warning

1st Corinthians 4:18-21, Some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power. For the Kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. What do you wish? Shall I come to you with

a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?

Matthew 7:13-14, Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

Next Step: Identify the guardrails in your life…

And ask yourself if you are ready to submit to them.