Raising Children to be Faithful to God #3 By Robert C. Archer

Both teaching and example are important We know what bad fathers are! They are like: Eli who did not restrain his sons 1 Samuel 3:13 13 For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows, because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them. Or King David who set a poor example (2 Sam )

Both teaching and example are important We know what good mothers are like! They are like: Hannah who gave her son to the Lord 1 Samuel 1:11 11 Then she made a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life…

Both teaching and example are important We know what good mothers are like! They are like: Eunice who taught Timothy the word 2 Timothy 1:5 5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. 2 Timothy 3:15 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Our goal is what Moses told the Israelites Deuteronomy 6:10-12 (NKJV) 10 "So it shall be, when the LORD your God brings you into the land of which He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give you large and beautiful cities which you did not build, 11 houses full of all good things, which you did not fill, hewn-out wells which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant--when you have eaten and are full-- 12 then beware, lest you forget the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.

Protect them from the dangers of Using the internet Hurtful and loose speech (Col. 4:6) Porn (Matt. 5:27-28) Predators (Prov. 2:10-22) Pride – King Saul (1 Sam. 13:9) Drug and alcohol use (Prov. 23:29-35)

Protect them from the dangers Marrying the wrong person – King Ahab 1 Kings 21:25 25 But there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do wickedness in the sight of the LORD, because Jezebel his wife stirred him up. Immorality – King David (Psa. 32:1-4) Materialism (Matt. 6:19-24)

We must discipline them Purpose: To teach them that disobedience produces pain in life Includes Teaching Training Punishment

Discipline includes Teaching (Deut. 6:7) Instruction Encouragement Counseling Warning

Discipline includes Training (Prov. 22:6) The original root word is the term for “the palate, the roof of the mouth, the gums.” In verb form, it is the term used for breaking and bringing into submission a wild horse by rope in the mouth. The term was also used in the days of Solomon to describe the action of a midwife who, soon after helping deliver a child, would dip her finger into the juice of chewed or crushed dates, reach into the mouth of the infant, and massage the gums and the palate within the mouth so as to create a sensation of sucking, a sense of taste... Then she would place the child in its mother’s arms to begin feeding from the mother’s breast. So it is the word used to describe “developing a thirst.” So in training we are trying to develop a thirst for the things that are right. BRETHREN WE ARE IN A BATTLE!

How can we train? Example (Gal. 6:10; Jas. 1:27; Matt. 25:31-46) Involvement (Heb. 10:24)

Discipline includes Punishment Must be meaningful “He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly” (Proverbs 13:24, NKJV). “Chasten your son while there is hope, And do not set your heart on his destruction” (Proverbs 19:18, NKJV)

Discipline includes Punishment Must be meaningful “Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of correction will drive it far from him” (Proverbs 22:15, NKJV). “Foolishness” that tendency toward rebellion and disobedience and mockery. Note the rod of correction Must be consistent

Punishment must be fair Children are different Two things that make a child: inheritance and environment Don’t compare

Punishment must be fair If not it can destroy (Eph. 6:1-4; Col. 3:21) Don’t stay on a child Don’t make a big deal out of mistakes Punishment is not to relieve our frustrations Don’t make unreasonable demands

Punishment must be fair Can be different When a child gets older, they don’t respond well to spankings, but other things will get their attention! Grounding, loss of privileges, CAR, etc.

Love – Tell Them that God Has Provided the WAY Jno. 3:16; Rom. 5:8