Thank you, Pastor Armen! I'm so thankful for this series you're diligently doing. Please be encouraged as you continue in this work. Your labor is not in vain! I needed to hear this.
Thank you for this encouraging April word, Armen. I just sent it out to our congregation in Ninilchik. It's an excellent exhortation for both dads and moms... and for empty-nesters like Lisa and I. Moreover, it's an excellent word for pastors to be that kind of nurturing example for their congregations as well. Our prayers continue to be with you, your family, and Christ's flock in your care.
You are such an encouragement, Jon. You have no idea. And yes, I learned early in my ministry to understand and apply 2 Timothy 2:24–26. Keeping it at the forefront of my mind has rescued me from a carnal response to foolishness many times.
Honestly never heard anyone making a distinction between discipline and punishment before. It’s fairly obvious (at least linguistically) now that you mention it, but it would be good to hear that aspect fleshed out a little more. I have probably always taken punishment to be one aspect of disciplining our children - simply as a means to instruct them on the consequences of error.
I might need to give this point a lot more thought! 😳
My reason for the distinction may be semantics, but I think it is helpful. Does God punish me or discipline me? If my sins are imputed to Christ and God's dealing with Christ on my behalf is punitive, then His dealing with me is no longer punitive. It is fatherly discipline. Or to put it another way, does God discipline the reprobate, or punish them?
Knowing God as your Father changes the objective. The reprobate will be punished, the children are disciplined. Even the consequences of my folly, He is disciplining/discipling me, not punishing me.
So what is my objective with my children? Am I an instrument of punishment with no objective but the glory of God through the judgment of sin (as God treats the reprobate), or am I aiming for God-honoring change in their life?
Even if I don’t come to the exact same conclusion, it’s certainly helpful to do something I’ve never done before - think about it!
Viewed from the perspective of God and his people, it makes perfect sense. The meaning of the words as you say may be more of a semantic problem and not worth too much time and thought, but certainly the application and motivation behind our actions as Father’s regarding the sin of our children is.
God’s care for His children and our care for our own involves deterrents as well as discipling. Be it chastisement or punishment, I know I for one have had the unfortunate experience of learning most of my lessons by means of testing the corresponding boundaries and reaping the ‘reward’.
Keep up the good work! I have a very small store of audio files that were created with a similar idea in mind for a podcast - so I can appreciate the effort that goes into such work. Even preparing and recording a few episodes proved too difficult a task for me to see through to completion. Never mind the inclusion of video, notes and a website; it’s a lot of work and the quality of production matches the quality of content which isn’t vital, but it’s always nice to see!
May the Lord help you see it through and reap the reward of making us think...and dialogue about Christ even a little bit more!
Thanks Aaron. I study, write, record, and do the first edit. But there's a man in our church who adds the B-roll footage and imagery, which is a significant help.
Thank you, Pastor Armen! I'm so thankful for this series you're diligently doing. Please be encouraged as you continue in this work. Your labor is not in vain! I needed to hear this.
Thank you, brother.
Thank you for this encouraging April word, Armen. I just sent it out to our congregation in Ninilchik. It's an excellent exhortation for both dads and moms... and for empty-nesters like Lisa and I. Moreover, it's an excellent word for pastors to be that kind of nurturing example for their congregations as well. Our prayers continue to be with you, your family, and Christ's flock in your care.
You are such an encouragement, Jon. You have no idea. And yes, I learned early in my ministry to understand and apply 2 Timothy 2:24–26. Keeping it at the forefront of my mind has rescued me from a carnal response to foolishness many times.
Thank you pastor. This was very helpful to me.
You are welcome, Osinachi. Thank you!
So so encouraging thank you
Thank you for the encouragement Pastor Armen.
You are welcome, Daniel.
Excellent instruction. Thank You!
You are welcome, Simpsons! 😊
Honestly never heard anyone making a distinction between discipline and punishment before. It’s fairly obvious (at least linguistically) now that you mention it, but it would be good to hear that aspect fleshed out a little more. I have probably always taken punishment to be one aspect of disciplining our children - simply as a means to instruct them on the consequences of error.
I might need to give this point a lot more thought! 😳
P.s. enjoying the content! 👌
Hey Aaron! It's great to hear from you, brother.
My reason for the distinction may be semantics, but I think it is helpful. Does God punish me or discipline me? If my sins are imputed to Christ and God's dealing with Christ on my behalf is punitive, then His dealing with me is no longer punitive. It is fatherly discipline. Or to put it another way, does God discipline the reprobate, or punish them?
Knowing God as your Father changes the objective. The reprobate will be punished, the children are disciplined. Even the consequences of my folly, He is disciplining/discipling me, not punishing me.
So what is my objective with my children? Am I an instrument of punishment with no objective but the glory of God through the judgment of sin (as God treats the reprobate), or am I aiming for God-honoring change in their life?
Even if I don’t come to the exact same conclusion, it’s certainly helpful to do something I’ve never done before - think about it!
Viewed from the perspective of God and his people, it makes perfect sense. The meaning of the words as you say may be more of a semantic problem and not worth too much time and thought, but certainly the application and motivation behind our actions as Father’s regarding the sin of our children is.
God’s care for His children and our care for our own involves deterrents as well as discipling. Be it chastisement or punishment, I know I for one have had the unfortunate experience of learning most of my lessons by means of testing the corresponding boundaries and reaping the ‘reward’.
Keep up the good work! I have a very small store of audio files that were created with a similar idea in mind for a podcast - so I can appreciate the effort that goes into such work. Even preparing and recording a few episodes proved too difficult a task for me to see through to completion. Never mind the inclusion of video, notes and a website; it’s a lot of work and the quality of production matches the quality of content which isn’t vital, but it’s always nice to see!
May the Lord help you see it through and reap the reward of making us think...and dialogue about Christ even a little bit more!
God bless
Thanks Aaron. I study, write, record, and do the first edit. But there's a man in our church who adds the B-roll footage and imagery, which is a significant help.
May the Lord yet open a door for you, brother.
Hi Armen. So much food for thought within this. Thanks for sharing.
You are welcome, Jonathan. Glad you found it helpful, brother.