Five Principles of Discipline

Five Principles of Discipline

1. Be an example of what you intend to teach.  I Tim. 4:12; I Cor. 11:1
2. Demonstrate love before correction.  do not combine praise and blame.  The more you praise your sons and daughters the less you need to discipline them.  Heb. 12:6
3. Train your child to seek your approval and to delight in wisdom.  Prov. 10:1
4. Establish goals and limitations.  Heb. 12:8

• Limitations will be tested for security.
• No limitation implies rejection of child.  Young people want to be conquered.
• Teach obedience by the word "NO!"
• Teach reverence for God, parents, property.
• Set goals:  personal disciplines, finances, friends, music, skills character, ministry.

        5.  Clarify the consequences of disobedience.
Example:  Adam - avoid bitterness.  Satan's major attack on the church comes through deception.

First Offense:

1. Get alone with the child.  I Thess. 2:11
2. Clarify instruction (was it understood?)
3. Convey grief eye-to-eye (for repentance) Ezra 9:3
4. Give only one warning
5. Be prepared to follow through on discipline.
6. Make sure punishment is scriptural

Second Offense:

1. Act "in the day you hear of it." Num. 30:5
2. Bind Satan before confrontation. Mark 3:27
3. Get alone for correction
4. Establish personal responsibility. I John 1:9
5. Appeal to his conscience.  "Could I ask you some very personal questions?  You do not have to answer these questions, but if you do, will you be honest?  Romans 2:15
6. Emphasize your responsibility to God.  Proverbs 13:24
7. Reflect grief --- wait for repentance.
8. Associate correction with love.  Hebrews 12:6
9. Win his will without breaking his spirit.  Hebrews 12:15
10. Know the causes of a broken spirit --- anger, inconsistency, or injustice by parents.  "meekness---my energy under God's control."
11. Purpose of crying --- clear conscience.  Rod is a symbol of authority.
12. Signs of willfulness --- temper tantrums, no crying, threats of retaliation, resentment.
13. In difficult cases --- express more grief, examine your life for similar failures or God's reproof.
14. Give comfort after repentance (word, affection, understanding) same parent.  Hebrews 12:11
15. Encourage restitution.  Ephesians 4:28
16. Evaluate results --- ask forgiveness for anger.

-copied