Week of May 4th - How to Discipline

Key Thought:
Discipline means correction. Self-discipline means correcting our own behavior. We have all learned this is better than having to be corrected by criminal justice system or by our boss or our spouse. Yet, by whatever means we all from time to time need to correct the course of our life or repent of a poor decision we’ve made. This is the process toward perfection otherwise known in the Bible as maturity.

Because children (and immature people) aren’t self-disciplined God has ordained that parents are to provide the discipline and correction for their kids. Sometimes we feel awkward in this role because we know that we’re not perfect people and sometimes we see our kids making mistakes that we made as children and we think, “I’m a hypocrite if I correct them.” That thinking is wrong – God has given you a job to be a disciplinarian precisely because as an adult and as a parent you are able to more clearly see the right and wrong paths that your kids can choose.

If we do not fulfill our duty to parent as God’s representatives to our children not only do we cause them to grow into adulthood with significant disabilities, but we also communicate a lack of love to our kids. Although they do everything they can to convince us otherwise, rules and boundaries and enforcement of such, create feelings of security and love for our kids. So, love them, expect obedience and respect, don’t discipline in anger, and always create reconciliation after the pain has been administered.

Bible Reading:
Monday – Proverbs 3:11
Tuesday – Proverbs 12:1
Wednesday – Proverbs 13:1
Thursday – Proverbs 13:18
Friday – Proverbs 19:18, 20

Questions to Ponder During the Week:
People without children at home should identify an area of life where they are striving to be an influence for Christ and answer the parenting questions from that point of view.

1. In the sermon, Steve talked about some mistakes parents make: 1) Rescuer parents who enable and intervene so that their kids never experience failure or pain 2) Inconsistent discipline that is more about the parent’s needs to control the kids on one extreme or to neglect discipline during times its inconvenient. 3) Divided parents who can’t agree on the rules and the enforcement. Which of these is your weakness?
2. Why are we so bad at getting our kids to obey the first time? Why do you think this is important to God that our kids are obedient and respectful?
3. Steve talked about the problem of going back and forth between activators and bad behaviors by the child and never getting around to the consequences. How have you been guilty of doing this? Can you see how this principle would be helpful for bosses and teachers as well?
4. When is spanking OK? When is it inappropriate? What is the potential harm of a parent who disciplines in anger?
5. How good are you at bringing discipline to a point of instruction and reconciliation?