Stephen emphasizes the importance of discipline in the Christian life, highlighting three levels: God's discipline, self-discipline, and body discipline. He explains that God's discipline, though often perceived as punishment, is actually motivated by love and aims to help us grow spiritually. He encourages us to humbly accept and learn from God's chastening, recognizing that it yields righteousness in the long run.
Stephen further stresses the need for self-discipline, which involves cooperating with the Holy Spirit's guidance and exercising control over our thoughts, emotions, and actions. This includes denying ourselves, taking up our cross, and following Jesus daily. He highlights the importance of being sensitive to our conscience, listening to the Holy Spirit's voice, and buffeting our bodies to submit to God's will.
Finally, Stephen addresses body discipline, emphasizing that as members of Christ's body, we are called to love and care for one another through discipline. He outlines three levels: brotherly discipline, where we lovingly confront and restore a sinning brother; fatherly discipline, where more mature believers guide and mentor younger ones; and church discipline, a last resort exercised in a spirit of humility and love to address serious sin that affects the whole assembly.
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. 2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.