DisciplineHebrews 12:4-13

 A.   What kind of consequence or punishment should you give a child who lies, steals, is rebellious, is disobedient, is using drugs, or is having sex?

 B.    What is the proper amount of punishment for a particular situation?

 C.    When is a child too old to spank? Should a teenager be spanked?

 D.     Is spanking legal? How do you properly spank?  E.     The Bible makes a parallel between a father punishing his

child and God disciplining us - Hebrews 12:4-13  F.      Parents can learn much in handling difficult situations by

seeing how God dealt with similar situations.

Some questions about Discipline

A.    To bring about a change in behavior   1.    A foolish son is a source of grief -

Proverbs 10:1; 17:21, 25   2.   A child left to himself brings

shame - Proverbs 29:15   3.    He is a destructive force in a

family - Proverbs 19:13   4.    Reproof is a way of life -

Proverbs 6:23   5.    Correct and he will give you rest

- Proverbs 29:17

The Goal of Punishment

 1. Some parents avoid hurting a child’s feelings   a.   Do not withhold correction - Proverbs 23:13-14   b.  Withholding is a sign of hatred, because it

means you don’t care - Proverbs 13:24   c.   Equivalent to an illegitimate child -

Hebrews 12:8   d.   Love for the person is the motivation -

Revelation 3:19    e.   II Corinthians 7:8-11 - Sorrow needed to motivate change

Change is Preceded by Sorrow

  Rebuke Rebukes are scoldings or warnings geared to

improve a person - Colossians 1:28-29 The words can be stinging (i.e. hurt the person’s

feelings) - Titus 1:13 Rebukes not only help the person being scolded,

those who overhear also learn - I Timothy 5:20 It may hurt to hear, but later the one rebuke will

admit that it was what he needed to hear - Proverbs 28:23

It improves the person - Proverbs 25:11-12

.        Types of Punishment

Spanking (Rod) God punishes with rod and stripes (i.e.

painful experience) - Psalm 89:30-34 Chastening can be painful - Hebrews 12:11 To drive out foolishness - Proverbs 22:15 For those who don’t think - Proverbs 10:13 Instills respect - Hebrews 12:7

.        Types of Punishment

Confiscation of goods or removal of privileges In list - Ezra 7:26 Example Cell phone ??? Repayment Used for crimes that cause monetary harm to

others - Exodus 22:4-6 Work A form of repayment is to do work to repay the

debt

.        Types of Punishment

Imprisonment In list - Ezra 7:26 Popular today – usually called “time out,”

sending a child to his room, or grounding a child.

Example: God having Israel wander in the wilderness for 40 years - Numbers 14:33

.        Types of Punishment

Just More pleasant to be punished by the

righteous - Psalm 141:5 Not in anger, but justly - Jeremiah 10:24 Sins not overlooked - Jeremiah 30:11 But probably less than what is deserved -

Ezra 9:13

Applying Punishment

Consistent God punishes all sins - Amos 3:2 It doesn’t matter who sinned - Romans 2:8-9 Promptly Proverbs 13:24 - Love means prompt

punishment Ezra 7:26 - Speedy punishment Discipline while there is hope -

Proverbs 19:18

Applying Punishment

Appropriate Throughout we have been noting how the

punishment is matched to the crime It helps in remembering the misdeed is

wrong

Applying Punishment