In our culture, it’s probably fair to say that discipline is not a highly valued characteristic.  It seems so modernist, so dull and so cultish.  However, when we read the Bible, self-discipline seems somewhat central to godly living –

• Self-discipline in training oneself to be godly: 1Timothy 4:7; Romans 13:14; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Col 3:12; 2 Timothy 1:7; Heb 5:14; 12:1
• Discipline in speech: Psalms 141:3; James 3:2-12
• Discipline in behaviour: Romans 14:20-21
• Physical discipline 1 Cor 9:27; Ephesians 4:22; Col 3:5; James 3:2

I gather Christian parents ought to be the first people to teach their children self-discipline.  However, I have noticed that outside of families, who has the seemingly monopoly on teaching self-discipline to our kids?  It seems to be our sporting clubs, and in particular, our martial arts clubs.  I wonder why in my life time, churches have never held the mantle of “being the place where our kids learn self-discipline”?

Maybe they ought not be, but I wonder what it would be like if they were?  And what would it look like?

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