Growing from God's Chastening
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Sermon Outlines for Growing Christians Loved by Perfection (Hebrews 12:4–13)
Loved by Perfection
Hebrews 12:4–13
Introduction
It is hard to be loved by perfection. As a virtuoso pounces upon the keys of a piano determined to summon forth its most resonant sounds; as a sculptor furiously chips away at a large piece of marble intent on releasing the image of beauty that hides within it; so also does the Creator lay His hand upon our lives determined to lift us to our spiritual potential. It is hard to be loved by perfection.
I. The Father’s Affection for His Children
“The Lord disciplines those he loves … God is treating you as sons” (Hebrews 12:6, 7).
A. The Bible paints many portraits of God and how He relates to humankind.
1. He is the Creator, we are the creatures.
2. He is the Sovereign, we are His subjects.
3. He is the Shepherd, we are His sheep.
B. But the greatest biblical model of the divine-human encounter is that of a Father and His children.
1. He is the commanding Father (Deuteronomy 14:1ff).
2. He is the protective Father (Exodus 4:22–23; Deuteronomy 1:31).
3. He is the providing Father (Luke 11:1–13).
4. He is the forgiving Father (Luke 15:11–32).
C. The idea of God’s “Fatherhood” owes its origin to the patriarchal culture of biblical times.
1. The Jews of Jesus’ day lived in a world dominated by the influence of fathers.
2. When the author calls God their father, to his readers this meant that He was a benevolent authority figure who acted toward his children in sovereignty and love. A father disciplines his children because he loves them.
II. The Father’s Correction of His Children
“Endure hardship as discipline … God disciplines us for our good” (Hebrews 12:7, 10).
A. Why do the righteous suffer? The Bible does not ignore this question. In fact it offers a number of possible answers.
1. We live in a fallen world (Genesis 3:14ff; Romans 8:18–25).
2. We are “tested” by suffering (Job 2:8–12; 3:3–10; Zechariah 13:9; 1 Peter 4:12ff).
3. We are “matured” by suffering (James 1:2–4; Romans 5:3–4).
4. God can be glorified in our suffering John 9:1ff).
B. These Hebrew Christians are being persecuted by a world hostile to their faith (v. 4; 10:32–34).
1. The author says that God is using this persecution to chasten his children and to bring them to spiritual maturity.
2. This is suffering as a negative means to a positive end. God is permitting and even employing their suffering to summon forth holiness, righteousness and peace.
Conclusion
Only a fool would pretend to understand suffering fully and only a sadist would claim to enjoy it. But this at least can be said. There is in the struggles of life a catalyst for spiritual development which no other force can supply. Pain has the power to summon forth from us that which we find most difficult to surrender—uncompromising faith in God and unqualified love for God.
Illustrations
C.S. Lewis describes the roll of suffering in the life of the believer as “soul-making.” It is the shaping of the Christian with the hammer and chisel of adversity. Lewis also said “God whispers to us in our pleasures; speaks in our consciences; but shouts in our pains.”
In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 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? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 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. Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.
Introduction
Introduction
It is hard to be loved by perfection. As a virtuoso pounces upon the keys of a piano determined to summon forth its most resonant sounds; as a sculptor furiously chips away at a large piece of marble intent on releasing the image of beauty that hides within it; so also does the Creator lay His hand upon our lives determined to lift us to our spiritual potential. It is hard to be loved by perfection.
How should we understand God’s chastening? How does chastening help our spiritual growth?
The Father’s Affection for His Children
The Father’s Affection for His Children
“The Lord disciplines those he loves … God is treating you as sons” (
6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” 7 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?
A. The Bible paints many portraits of God and how He relates to humankind.
A. The Bible paints many portraits of God and how He relates to humankind.
1. He is the Creator, we are the creatures.
1. He is the Creator, we are the creatures.
2. He is the Sovereign, we are His subjects.
2. He is the Sovereign, we are His subjects.
3. He is the Shepherd, we are His sheep.
3. He is the Shepherd, we are His sheep.
B. The greatest Biblical model of the divine-human encounter is that of a Father and His children.
B. The greatest Biblical model of the divine-human encounter is that of a Father and His children.
1. He is the commanding Father
1. He is the commanding Father
“You are the sons of the Lord your God. You shall not cut yourselves or make any baldness on your foreheads for the dead.
1 “You are the sons of the Lord your God. You shall not cut yourselves or make any baldness on your foreheads for the dead. 2 For you are a people holy to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.
2. He is the protective Father
2. He is the protective Father
Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son, and I say to you, “Let my son go that he may serve me.” If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.’ ”
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and in the wilderness, where you have seen how the Lord your God carried you, as a man carries his son, all the way that you went until you came to this place.’
3. He is the providing Father
3. He is the providing Father
1 Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” 2 And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread, 4 and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.” 5 And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. 9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
4. He is the forgiving Father
4. He is the forgiving Father
11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. 17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” ’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. 25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’ ”
C. The idea of“Fatherhood” owes its origin to the patriarchal culture of Biblical times.
C. The idea of“Fatherhood” owes its origin to the patriarchal culture of Biblical times.
1. The Jews of Jesus’ day lived in a world dominated by the influence of fathers.
1. The Jews of Jesus’ day lived in a world dominated by the influence of fathers.
2. When the author calls God their father, to his readers this meant that He was a benevolent authority figure who acted toward his children in sovereignty and love. A father disciplines his children because he loves them.
2. When the author calls God their father, to his readers this meant that He was a benevolent authority figure who acted toward his children in sovereignty and love. A father disciplines his children because he loves them.
The Father’s Correction of His Children
The Father’s Correction of His Children
“Endure hardship as discipline … God disciplines us for our good” (, ).
A. Scripture offers a number of reasons why the righteous suffer:
A. Scripture offers a number of reasons why the righteous suffer:
1. We live in a fallen world
1. We live in a fallen world
14 The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. 15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
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18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
2. We are “tested” by suffering
2. We are “tested” by suffering
8 And he took a piece of broken pottery with which to scrape himself while he sat in the ashes. 9 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.” 10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips. 11 Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They made an appointment together to come to show him sympathy and comfort him. 12 And when they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him. And they raised their voices and wept, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads toward heaven.
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3 “Let the day perish on which I was born, and the night that said, ‘A man is conceived.’ 4 Let that day be darkness! May God above not seek it, nor light shine upon it. 5 Let gloom and deep darkness claim it. Let clouds dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it. 6 That night—let thick darkness seize it! Let it not rejoice among the days of the year; let it not come into the number of the months. 7 Behold, let that night be barren; let no joyful cry enter it. 8 Let those curse it who curse the day, who are ready to rouse up Leviathan. 9 Let the stars of its dawn be dark; let it hope for light, but have none, nor see the eyelids of the morning, 10 because it did not shut the doors of my mother’s womb, nor hide trouble from my eyes.
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12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
3. We are “matured” by suffering
3. We are “matured” by suffering
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
4. God can be glorified in our suffering
4. God can be glorified in our suffering
1 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.
1 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth.
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B. These Hebrew Christians are being persecuted by a world hostile to their faith
B. These Hebrew Christians are being persecuted by a world hostile to their faith
4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
32 But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, 33 sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. 34 For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.
1. The author says that God is using this persecution to chasten his children and to bring them to spiritual maturity.
1. The author says that God is using this persecution to chasten his children and to bring them to spiritual maturity.
2. God is permitting and even employing their suffering to summon forth holiness, righteousness, and peace.
2. God is permitting and even employing their suffering to summon forth holiness, righteousness, and peace.
Conclusion
Conclusion
C.S. Lewis describes the roll of suffering in the life of the believer as “soul-making.” It is the shaping of the Christian with the hammer and chisel of adversity. Lewis also said “God whispers to us in our pleasures; speaks in our consciences; but shouts in our pains.”
Only a fool would pretend to understand suffering fully and only a sadist would claim to enjoy it. But this at least can be said. There is in the struggles of life a catalyst for spiritual development which no other force can supply. Pain has the power to summon forth from us that which we find most difficult to surrender—uncompromising faith in God and unqualified love for God.
C.S. Lewis describes the roll of suffering in the life of the believer as “soul-making.” It is the shaping of the Christian with the hammer and chisel of adversity. Lewis also said “God whispers to us in our pleasures; speaks in our consciences; but shouts in our pains.”
Stephen M. Hooks, Sermon Outlines for Growing Christians, ed. Sam E. Stone, Standard Sermon Starters (Cincinnati, OH: Standard, 1996), 9–10.