Big Picture: there are 3 levels of discipline in the book of Proverbs for parents:

1. Teach
2. Warn
3. Enforce

As parents, we should spend most of our time in level 1 (teach), less time in level 2 (warn), and as little as possible in level 3 (enforce). But the early years sometimes require a shorter distance from levels 1 to 3 (i.e., from teaching to enforcing), often getting to level 3 regularly.

• “The rod” passages in the book of Proverbs: 13:24; 22:15; 23:13–14; 29:15.
• “The rod” includes physical discipline.

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Seven propositions about discipline from Hebrews 12:4-11

1. God disciplines his children (5-7,10)
2. God disciplines all his children (6,8)
3. God disciplines only his children (6-8)
4. Discipline is training: God disciplines his children for their good (10-11)
5. Discipline seems unpleasant and painful (11)
6. God’s children should endure God’s discipline (5,7,9)
7. God’s disciplining his children compares to human parents’ disciplining their children (5,7-10)

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Application 1: Pray for your children.
Application 2: Evangelize your children.
Application 3: Use multiple levels of discipline.
Application 4: Love your children and tell them and show them that you love them.
Application 5: Beware of two extremes: (a) not disciplining and (b) over-disciplining.
Application 6: Fathers, take the lead in discipline.
Application 7: Learn how to discipline each of your children most effectively.
Application 8: Distinguish between family rules and the Bible.
Application 9: Be humble about parental discipline; don’t be proud and judgmental.
Application 10: Persevere with a long-term view that trusts God’s word.

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Four Bad Substitutes for Discipline that Fail to Address your Child’s Heart

1. Excuse them
2. Organize them
3. Consult them
4. Bribe them

* This sermon owes a debt to “Training Children for their Good,” by Andrew David Naselli; “Discipline in the Book of Proverbs: To Spank or Not to Spank?” by Paul D. Wegner; Anne Benton’s, “Parenting Against the Tide”; and a talk by Ed Moore at the “Parenting and Marriage Conference” held at West Toronto Baptist, in 2018.