Care Conversations 2 | Discovering the Discipline of Grace

As I mentioned last week, my first couple of years in a school almost led me to quit teaching mainly from a despairing inability to understand the need for classroom discipline and to have any effective practices.

Where did I go wrong?

I had absolutely no concept of what discipline was, or what its purpose was. I had no understanding of the nature of God and His relationship with us, that His discipline was a positive thing – that it arises from love and provides security and the correct and safe environment for growth.

I had no idea about the nature of humanity – my own and everyone else’s sinful nature yet image-bearing goodness.

That is not much of a foundation – all I had to work with was techniques with no undergirding of thinking or meaning.

It may sound trite, but I could not begin the journey of understanding discipline until God redeemed me and began to teach me. (Don’t misunderstand me – it is possible for unredeemed people to institute good discipline practices because of God’s common grace in the world.)

Just as my redemption was an act of God’s grace; God’s teaching and disciplining us are also an outcome of His grace.

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession who are zealous for good works. (Titus 2:11-14)

This passage is very clear:

  1. Grace brings salvation (v11)
  2. Grace trains us to say “no” to wrong things (12a)
  3. Grace moves us to live Godly lives (12b)
  4. Grace redeems us from lawlessness (v14)
  5. Grace purifies us (v14)
  6. Grace makes us zealous to do good things. (v14)

Grace is no passive thing – it disciplines us.

This is our starting point. Discipline is an act of grace born of the love and goodness of God.

Blessings,
Brian