His Discipline is Grace
Eucharistic Meditation | Lord's Day—May 11, AD 2025
Several weeks ago, the elders announced that [names] had been suspended from the Lord’s Supper for [various sins]. We are pleased to announce that they have been walking in repentance and restoring broken relationships since then, particularly with their families. Therefore, the elders have lifted that suspension and gladly welcome them back to full fellowship in the church at the Lord’s Supper today. Having announced their suspension publicly, it is important that we announce their restoration publicly as well.
While difficult and unpleasant, church discipline is a reminder to us all of our sonship in Christ. As Hebrews 12 reads, “If you endure discipline, God deals with you as sons; for what son is there whom a father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons… Now no discipline seems joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterwards it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (vv. 7–8, 11).
Our Lord disciplines those He loves, which means His discipline is grace (Heb. 12:6). He loves each of us so much that He will not allow us to remain in our soul-destroying sin. And He has appointed elders as shepherds to administer this grace through various forms of discipline.
Likewise, each of us are called to first discipline ourselves in godliness before the Lord (1 Tim. 4:7b). We do so by making use of God’s grace—the attending to His Word, the receiving of His sacraments, and offering holy prayer (WCF 14.1). This is why we call them “means of grace” — they help us fight sin, the flesh, and the devil.
This is all a great comfort to our wandering hearts, assuring us that we belong to Christ, by His grace. We may wander, but He will never let us go. So as children of our most gracious God… Come, and welcome, to Jesus Christ.