Our Struggle Against Sin (Hebrews 12:1-17)

Because God loves us, he disciplines us.

  1. Why Discipline? (vv. 1-4)

    1. The Danger of an Undisciplined Life

    2. The Many Forms of Discipline (vv. 1-4)

  2. The Heart (vv. 5-17)

    1. The Motive of Discipline (vv. 5-11)

    2. Responding to Discipline (vv. 12-17; 1 Timothy 5:20; 1 Corinthians 11:31)

    3. Look to Jesus (v. 2)

Discussion Starters

Monday—Have you ever prayed for patience? What happened? What should you expect if you pray for righteousness?

Tuesday—What is the danger of raising a child without discipline? Where does a lack of discipline lead? Are you grateful or resentful for your parents’ discipline?

Wednesday—What are some different forms that discipline takes? How do you tend to respond to adversity? To a friend’s correction? What do you think when you see the church exercising discipline?

Thursday—Why does God discipline his children? What would it mean for us if God stopped disciplining us? Would that be an act of love?

Friday—How do you respond to correction? Does your response encourage or discourage others from speaking into your life? Where is the Lord calling you to grow in this regard?

Brett McNeill

Brett McNeill has been our pastor since we began in 2004. He and Jen have been married since 1998 and have four wonderful daughters. Brett is a graduate of Westminster Seminary in California (Masters in Divinity, 2003). His desire is to clearly proclaim Jesus Christ from all of Scripture in a way that is clear, convicting and encouraging.

A Humble Heart (Joel 2:12-17)

True repentance admits guilt and responsibility, yielding all rights, hoping only for grace which is not deserved.

  1. Our Struggle with Repentance

    1. Humbling

    2. Incriminating

    3. Yields all Rights

  2. A Call to the Church (vv. 12-13, 15-16)

    1. For Whom the Horn Blows? (vv. 12-13, 15-16)

    2. Judgment Begins in the House of God (1 Peter 4:17; Revelation 2-3)

    3. Defender of the Defenseless (vv. 13-14, 17)

  3. What Repentance Looks Like

    1. Sincere Sorrow (vv. 12-13)

    2. Turning from the World (v. 16)

    3. A Contrite Heart He Will Not Despise (v. 14; Psalm 51:15-17)


Discussion Starters

  1. Monday—Why do we like it when others repent, but hate to repent ourselves?

  2. Tuesday—Why is it important to remember that the call to repentance in the book of Joel is addressed at the church? What is the danger of the church forgetting that it needs to repent regularly?

  3. Wednesday—Why do you think we struggle with the idea of corporate repentance? Is the Bible opposed to the idea of corporate repentance?

  4. Thursday—What does it mean to rend your hearts and not your garments? What does true repentance look like?

  5. Friday—What does it mean that our worthiness is found in admitting our unworthiness? Why is that which scares us the most, the only way to find comfort?

Brett McNeill

Brett McNeill has been our pastor since we began in 2004. He and Jen have been married since 1998 and have four wonderful daughters. Brett is a graduate of Westminster Seminary in California (Masters in Divinity, 2003). His desire is to clearly proclaim Jesus Christ from all of Scripture in a way that is clear, convicting and encouraging.