There’s an ancient parenting paradox: those who love their children care enough to discipline them. Proverbs 13:24

Proverbs 13:24 says “Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children. Those who love their children care enough to discipline them.

• Share about how discipline worked in our homes growing up
• Share how we’ve disciplined our kiddos
• Spanking? “Mommy spank vs. daddy spank” , spank Saturday
• Writing letters explaining where they were wrong (teenagers)

Contrary to popular opinion, there is such a thing as right and wrong. It’s the parent’s job to teach this in the home. Proverbs 22:6, 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Proverbs 22:6 Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

Parents have a responsibility to train and to teach. Contrary to our culture, there is such a thing as right and wrong and parents need to teach their kids what those things are. But the manner in which we teach and train matters.

Parenting Principle

That’s why our second Parenting Principle is: discipline with love. 

• Loving discipline turns your child’s heart toward God. First they learn to honor you; later they’ll learn to honor God. Hebrews 12:11

The 3 C’s of loving discipline:

• Clear: establish clear rules and expectations and the consequences for each.
• Consistent: follow through every time a rule is broken.
• Corrective: consequences should deter them from making the same mistake again.