Celebration of Discipline

1. Celebration of Discipline The Path to Spiritual Growth

2. The Outward Discipline Submission

3. Submission • Every Discipline has its corresponding freedom. • Submission gives us the freedom to lay down the terrible burden of always needing to get our own way. • People will spend weeks, months, even years in a perpetual stew because some little thing did not go as they wished.

4. Submission • Submission frees us to distinguish between genuine issues and stubborn self-will. • “Usually the best way to handle most matters of submission is to say nothing.” • In the matter of submission; the real issue is the spirit of consideration and respect we have for each other.

5. Submission • How do you feel when someone doesn’t act toward you the way you think they should? • “You scratch my back, I’ll scratch your back.” • Matthew 5:44 – obeying Jesus’ command • Matthew 5:39 – surrendering the right to retaliate

6. Biblical Submission(Self-denial) • Mark 8:34-35 • Self-denial is a way to understand that we do not have to have our own way. • Self-denial does not mean losing our identity but rather finding it. • Matthew 22:39, prerequisite for loving others • Self-denial means the freedom to give way to others.

7. Subordination as Taught by Jesus • Phil.2:7-8 • Leadership is found in servanthood • Jesus not only died a “cross-death,” He lived a “cross-life” (suffering servant). • Matthew 23:8-11, rejects the cultural givens of position and power • John13:3-17, Jesus modeled the cross-life • Matthew 26:52-53, Jesus chose the cross-death.

8. Subordination as Taught by the Epistles • Phil.2:3-7, the example of Jesus as the reason for submission • I Peter 2:21-23; Ephesians 5:21 • The call for Christians to live the cross-life is rooted in the cross-life of Jesus. • Submission is a posture obligatory upon all Christians. • The only compelling reason for submission is the example of Jesus.

9. Submission as Taught by the Epistles • Colossians 3:18-4:1 • He addressed those who had no legal or moral status in their cultural (wives, children and slaves) • He addressed the culturally dominant partner in the relationship (husbands, fathers, and masters) • The sting of this teaching falls upon the dominant partner. Why?

10. The Limits of Submission • The limits of submission are at the points at which it becomes destructive. • I Peter 2:13,14, submission to government • Acts 4:19,20; 5:29, refusal to submit • Romans 13:1, subject to governing authorities • Acts 16:37, governing accountability

11. Seven Acts of Submission • 1. To the Triune God, “Yielded and still” Yielding our mind, body, and spirit for His purposes. • 2. To the Scriptures, we yield ourselves first to hear the Word, second to receive, and third to obey. • 3. To our Family, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interest of others” (Phil. 2:4). A willingness to listen and share.

12. Seven Acts of Submission • 4. To our neighbors and those we meet, living a life of simple goodness and helping those in need. Performing small acts of kindness such as… • 5. To the believing community, the Body of Christ, spontaneous opportunities for little tasks of service (Ministry). • 6. To the broken and despised; that is the helpless, the undefended, widows and orphans (James 1:27).

13. Seven Acts of Submission • 7. To the world, that is living as a responsible member of an increasingly irresponsible world (starvation, environment).