Hebrews 12:4-13 is one of those passages we must read over and over. The more we do so, the more profound and life-altering it becomes. Initially, I intended to preach through the entire section in one sermon, but I just can’t. There is so much here that we must allow to saturate our souls. This Sunday, we will read the whole text but only examine v. 4-8 in depth. Technically, the whole text will be a single sermon, but we will look at two points this Sunday and two next Sunday. Having just exhorted us to run the race set before us with endurance, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author shows us that our perspective about trials and suffering in this life needs to change. The author tells his readers they have forgotten what God said about those whom He calls His children. Quoting Proverbs 3:11-12, he shows that all the believer’s sufferings in this life are the discipline of God. Even the persecutions the Hebrew Christians were enduring are to be seen as God’s discipline. When we think of discipline, our minds often jump to "punishment" or "justice." But discipline in this context is not punitive. God’s discipline of His children is redemptive and corrective for our good, to conform us to the image of Jesus and grow us into maturity. Discipline (which is used repeatedly in this section) is what we would call training. It includes instruction and correction as God forces His children to use the muscles of faith in order to grow them. His discipline of His children is never done in wrath, but a loving care for His children’s growth in holiness and faith. Of course, discipline is often painful and difficult, but this kind of discipline doesn’t show God’s abandonment, but rather His love for us. Although every phrase in this text is earth-shakingly profound, verse 7 is the thematic point being driven home. "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?" The NIV actually captures the first sentence more accurately. It is a command. The NIV says, "Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children." Last week (as we examined v. 1-3), we talked about "training, not trying." But I purposefully didn’t go into any depth about what this training entails, because the author highlights this training in v. 4-13 and it isn’t the training that we do (there is a place for that), but here, it is how God trains (disciplines) us through the trials of this life. The overall exhortation in this section is not for us to do better or train harder - it is for us to change our perspective about the hardships and sufferings of this life. For the Christian, all of them - ALL OF THEM - should be seen as God growing us, conforming us to the image of His Son. "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 12:11.

I. Remember God’s Promise of Discipline (v. 4-6)

II. Recognize The Necessity of God’s Discipline (v. 7-8)

(Points 3 & 4 - will be Sunday Aug. 11)

III. Respond Rightly To God’s Discipline (v. 9-10)

IV. Remember The Benefit of God’s Discipline (v. 11-13)