Discipline Hebrews 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 12:4-13Hebrews 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 Proverbs 10:117:2125  2. A child left to himself brings shame - Proverbs 29:15 Proverbs 29:15  3. He is a destructive force in a family - Proverbs 19:13 Proverbs 19:13  4. Reproof is a way of life - Proverbs 6:23Proverbs 6:23  5. Correct and he will give you rest - Proverbs 29:17 Proverbs 29:17 The Goal of Punishment

1. Some parents avoid hurting a child’s feelings a. Do not withhold correction - Proverbs 23:13-14Proverbs 23:13-14  b. Withholding is a sign of hatred, because it means you don’t care - Proverbs 13:24Proverbs 13:24  c. Equivalent to an illegitimate child - Hebrews 12:8Hebrews 12:8  d. Love for the person is the motivation - Revelation 3:19 Revelation 3:19 e. II Corinthians 7: Sorrow needed to motivate changeII Corinthians 7:8-11 Change is Preceded by Sorrow

Rebuke  Rebukes are scoldings or warnings geared to improve a person - Colossians 1:28-29Colossians 1:28-29  The words can be stinging (i.e. hurt the person’s feelings) - Titus 1:13Titus 1:13  Rebukes not only help the person being scolded, those who overhear also learn - I Timothy 5:20I Timothy 5:20  It may hurt to hear, but later the one rebuke will admit that it was what he needed to hear - Proverbs 28:23Proverbs 28:23  It improves the person - Proverbs 25:11-12Proverbs 25: Types of Punishment

Spanking (Rod)  God punishes with rod and stripes (i.e. painful experience) - Psalm 89:30-34Psalm 89:30-34  Chastening can be painful - Hebrews 12:11Hebrews 12:11  To drive out foolishness - Proverbs 22:15Proverbs 22:15  For those who don’t think - Proverbs 10:13Proverbs 10:13  Instills respect - Hebrews 12:7Hebrews 12:7. Types of Punishment

 Confiscation of goods or removal of privileges  In list - Ezra 7:26Ezra 7:26  Example Cell phone ???  Repayment  Used for crimes that cause monetary harm to others - Exodus 22:4-6 Exodus 22:4-6  Work  A form of repayment is to do work to repay the debt. Types of Punishment

 Imprisonment  In list - Ezra 7:26Ezra 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 14:33Numbers 14:33. Types of Punishment

 Just  More pleasant to be punished by the righteous - Psalm 141:5 Psalm 141:5  Not in anger, but justly - Jeremiah 10:24Jeremiah 10:24  Sins not overlooked - Jeremiah 30:11Jeremiah 30:11  But probably less than what is deserved - Ezra 9:13Ezra 9:13 Applying Punishment

 Consistent  God punishes all sins - Amos 3:2Amos 3:2  It doesn’t matter who sinned - Romans 2:8-9Romans 2:8-9  Promptly  Proverbs 13:24 - Love means prompt punishment Proverbs 13:24  Ezra 7:26 - Speedy punishment Ezra 7:26  Discipline while there is hope - Proverbs 19:18Proverbs 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