Big Question: What does the Bible say about disciplining our children?
1. Disciplining our children is a mission component of raising our children.
a. Discipline teaches children the importance of .
Colossians 3:20-21 (ESV) – Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.
b. Children cannot grow into who love and follow Jesus without discipline.
1) Discipline does not equal .
Proverbs 22:15 (ESV) – Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
Proverbs 13:24 (ESV) – Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.
Proverbs 29:15 (ESV) – The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.
The principle of the rod is that a bit of pain in the present, used in love to deter sin, will reap long-term fruit.
2) Discipline must be administered lovingly and .
c. Children won’t realize their need for without discipline and consequences for sin.
Proverbs 23:14 (ESV) – If you strike him with the rod, you will save his soul from Sheol.
2. The of discipline.
a. right relationships.
Hebrews 12:7-11 (ESV) – It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
b. Lead children to .
2 Corinthians 7:10-11a (ESV) – For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you…
c. Train children in the beauty and goodness of the Lord.
Psalms 1:1-3 (ESV) – Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
Joshua 1:7-8 (ESV) – Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses My servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.