Our Core Values Part 4: Our Value of Discipline

"Our Core Values"

Part 4: Our Value of Discipline
1 Corinthians 5
Pastor Ray-ann Dela Fuente
October 4, 2026

Theme Verse:
“To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction.”
Proverbs 12:1 NLT

Introduction:
Welcome to another exciting Sunday here at the River of Faith! Today we are in week four of our series I entitled "Our Core Values."

In this series we are going to re-discuss the values that made us who we are as a church! As we have just finished our 21st year anniversary we will continue to revisit these principles that guided us and teach the importance of embodying them in our fellowship and our meetings.

Vision Statement:
A Spirit-empowered church committed to give the people of San Diego the best opportunity to come to Christ and be transformed by His amazing Love.

Mission Statement:
We are committed to invite people to COME to Christ.
We are committed to LIVE according to the Word of God.
We are committed to SHARE the Gospel to the whole world.

Purpose:
Worship, Fellowship, Discipleship, Evangelism, Ministry

Core Values:
Acceptance, Devotion, Accountability, Discipline, and Speaking the truth in Love.

Dealing with discipline might not be a popular topic in the church but it is one that is of much importance and Biblically foundational. For anything to be great and successful it must  first have discipline. The Bible teaches this and it emphasizes that we do not neglect our responsibility of preserving the unity in the church and embodying the teachings of
the Lord.

“I can hardly believe the report about the sexual immorality going on among you—something that even pagans don’t do. I am told that a man in your church is living in sin with his stepmother. You are so proud of  yourselves, but you should be mourning in sorrow and shame. And you should remove this man from your fellowship. Even though I am not with you in person, I am with you in the Spirit. And as though I were there, I have already passed judgment on this man in the name of the Lord Jesus. You must call a meeting of the church. I will be present with you in spirit, and so will the power of our Lord Jesus. Then you must throw this man out and hand him over to Satan so that his sinful nature will be destroyed and he himself will be saved on the day the Lord returns.”
1 Corinthians 5:1-5 NLT

Main Pointers:

1. Discipline is important so we can call out the sin in our lives.

A. The main concern of the apostle Paul in this situation was the lack of accountability from the church itself. It was an obvious moral failure that was happening and the church was choosing to be passive and silent about it.
B. “My child, don’t reject the  LORD’s discipline, and don’t be upset when he corrects you. For the LORD corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom  he delights.”
Proverbs 3:11-12 NLT

2. Discipline is every believer's responsibility.

“Your boasting about this is terrible. Don’t you realize that this sin is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old “yeast” by removing this wicked person from among you. Then you will be like a fresh batch of dough made without yeast, which is what you really are. Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us. So let us celebrate the festival, not with the old bread of wickedness and evil, but with the new bread of sincerity and truth. When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. But I wasn’t talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that. I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people. It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the  church who are sinning. God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, “You must remove the evil person from among you.”
1 Corinthians 5:6-13 NLT

A. The apostle Paul was directing his concern to the church. He understood the  seriousness of sin and the urgency to deal with it before it affects the whole congregation. 
B. “For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News? And also, “If the righteous are barely saved, what will happen to godless sinners?”
1 Peter 4:17-18 NLT

3. Discipline helps us not to be outsmarted by Satan.

“I am not overstating it when I say that the man who caused all the  trouble hurt all of you more than he hurt me. Most of you opposed him, and that was punishment enough. Now, however, it is time to forgive and comfort him. Otherwise he may be overcome by discouragement. So I urge you now to reaffirm your love for him. I wrote to you as I did to test you and see if you would fully comply with my instructions. When you forgive this man, I forgive him, too. And when I forgive whatever needs to be forgiven, I do so with Christ’s authority for your benefit, so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes.”
2 Corinthians 2:5-11 NLT

A. In the end discipline without love is just punishment. The Bible teaches us that discipline has a goal in mind and that goal is to restore and forgive. If the person repents and the sin is called out there no more need to put salt on the  wound. It's time to restore. 
B. “I appeal to you to show kindness to my child, Onesimus. I became his father in the faith while here in prison. Onesimus hasn’t been of much use to you in the past, but now he is very useful to both of us. I am sending him back to you, and with  him comes my own heart. I wanted to keep him here with me while I am in these chains for preaching the Good News, and he would have helped me on your behalf. But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent. I wanted you to help because you were willing, not because you were forced. It seems you lost  Onesimus for a little while so that you could have him back forever. He is no longer like a slave to you. He is more than a slave, for he is a beloved brother, especially to me. Now he will mean much more to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord. So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you  would welcome me. If he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to me. I, PAUL, WRITE THIS WITH MY OWN HAND: I WILL REPAY IT. AND I WON’T MENTION THAT YOU OWE ME YOUR VERY SOUL!”
Philemon i:10-19 NLT

Conclusion: 
No one likes discipline as the Bible says but once it is done it produces righteousness in our lives that we cannot get anywhere else. It creates maturity in our walk and accountability among the body of Christ. Don't despise it but embrace it. We all need discipline to be great!