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