I wonder if you saw the article last week about the woman that had her child taken from her while on board a Southwestern flight.  A flight attendant stepped in and defused a situation where a mother slapped her 13 month old child.  Some have called the flight attendant a hero, others have said she should have minded her own business.

I’m not asking you to share your opinion regarding this situation, as I’m sure we all would have some pretty definite feelings and suggestions as to how we would have handled this incident.

One of the things this story points out is how times have changed.  Years ago, this story wouldn’t have made the news… it wasn’t a major issue for a parent to slap a child.  Today, watch out.

Please don’t jump to conclusions with anything I’m saying… I’m not condemning or condoning what this woman did… I’m simply sharing what happened as a discussion point surrounding discipline.

That’s right, the dreaded “D” word.  If it weren’t that discipline was 10 letters long, we would classify it as a four-letter word!

One of the hallmarks of successful coaches is the strict discipline they employ to shape and train their athletes.  But it’s not just athletics where you need discipline.  You need it in the performing arts, in our military, and even in our families.

And yet, when we talk of discipline in the church, we get mixed reviews, with most leaning to the “not necessary” or “judgmental” side.

You’ve guessed it… this coming Sunday, as part of our series on Peacemaking, we’ll be looking at church discipline.  We’ll be using Matthew 18:12-22 as our basis for the discussion, and I would encourage you to read it before Sunday.

Personally, I believe church discipline is a misunderstood function in the church and because it has been poorly administered, it has left negative tastes in the mouths of many congregants.  I would ask you, that as you read through Matthew 18 to examine the steps associated with discipline and to look at the purpose of discipline.  Why would Jesus lay these principles out for us?  Is it something that is important for the 21st Century church to ascribe to?

As you’re doing that, think through how the world at large would view each of the steps Jesus lays out, and see whether they are in harmony or in discord with what He says.  I think, if you do that, you’ll be surprised with your outcomes.

I don’t want you to think that because we’re looking at church discipline this coming Sunday that all of a sudden we’re going to start having many situations where discipline will be taking place… that’s not my goal.  My desire is for us to understand that as a body of believers we have a mutual accountability to one another, and sometimes discipline has to happen so that people can be rescued from sin and be then able to experience the freedom and joy of godly living.

Are you ready?

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Russ