CONFRONTING FOOLISHNESS WITH
CORRECTIVE DISCIPLINE
Proverbs 22:6, *15
I. INTRODUCTION:
A. The impossible yet rewarding benefits, that begin with
prayer: “Do you believe this?” Acknowledge + Act = Believe
“Prayer forces me to address my self-centeredness on a systematic basis, that
manifests itself in my desire to live the Christian life, my way. Prayer becomes a
daily reality in my life only when I truly BELIEVE that God can do things faster,
bigger, better, and lasting longer, than anything I can do.”
B. My two cultivating tools as a farmer: (Pro. 22:6)
1. Cultivating a taste:
2. Shaping the will:
C. Cultivating an age-graded taste for the Scriptures:
(II Tim. 1:5) (1.8% of year if attending all four services each week)
1. Toddlers: (Bible stores every night – family devotions,
Christian music, all church services)
2. Adolescence: (Bible stories emphasizing Christ’s character
– family devotions, Scripture memory, Quiet Time, Christian
music, all church services)
3. Teens: (Proverbs, O.T. examples of N.T. truths – family
devotions, Scripture memory, Quiet Time/prayer journal,
Christian music, all church services)
D. Authority, the most important battle to wage, that
begins at birth: (shaping the will)
“There is a natural resistance to the heart issue of authority in every child since
the fall of Adam and Eve in the garden. Children come into the world as self-
appointed little self-sovereigns. Your children must learn early that they have
been born into a world of authority, and they are not it. Self-rule is an addiction
that separates our children and us as parents. To reject authority is to reject
Christ who is the authority over all authority, and the rejection of Christ never has
a happy ending. The Biblical record is complete with the precept that God loves
the protective beauty of authority as His ambassador, and hates rebellion.”
(See I Sam. 15:22-23)
Authority – what may be accomplished with your child because you are stronger,
faster, larger, etc. A child’s issue with authority is always an issue with Christ,
not you as a parent. (Infant through adolescence)
Influence – the willingness of your child to place himself under your authority
because he trusts you as an extension of Christ. (teens through young adults)
II. CORRECTIVE DISCIPLINE TO BIBLICALLY CONFRONT
FOOLISHNESS:
A. Foolishness, bound up in the heart of every child:
(*Pro. 22:15)
1. What foolishness is: Foolishness is selfishly taking sinful
distractions and detours, for the sake of short-term pleasure, at the expense of
long-term consequences. Foolishness disobeys God with one’s life, lips, and
motives. Foolishness always incurs God’s wrath.
“The foolishness inside your children is more dangerous to them than the
temptation outside of them. Only the fear of God (not necessarily the fear of you
as a parent) has the power to rescue fools.” (Pro. 1:7)
- The time sensitivity in driving out foolishness:
(*Pro. 22:15)
B. Biblical correction vs. child abuse, either side:(See back)
1. The Biblical absolute for spanking: (Pro. 13:1, 24;
17:25; 19:18; 22:15; 23:13-14; 29:15, 17)
2. Age-graded spanking (lying, rebellion, willful
disobedience): (Jn. 8:44; I Sam. 15:22b-23)
a. Infants (0-2)
b. Preschoolers (4-5)
c. School-age (6-12)
d. Teens (13-18) (transitioning from authority to
influence)
- The difference between loving discipline and either
side of child abuse: (See chart on back)
a. Permissive abuse: (Jacob, Eli, David – example)
b. Physical abuse (fewer Biblical examples): (Gilead)
c. Loving correction: (See back)
C. Moving from behavior to the heart (instruction, God’s
window to the heart): (Pro. 4:11; 7:24; 13:1; 24:3-4)
1. The “why” question that takes behavior to a heart
issue: (Pro. 4:23)
- The loving embrace and prayer for forgiveness:
(I Jn. 1:9)
III. PRINCIPLES TO PERSONALLY APPLY:
(Together becoming “people of the Word” in principle AND in practice)
A. Nothing will grieve you more as a parent, than to be
divided, and raise a fool. (Pro. 17:25) (See also Pro.
19:13; II Cor. 6:14-17) (family bents)
If you say, “my children turned out fine”, remember that you’re the
wrong person doing the evaluation. What will Christ say, regarding
His hard-wired “heavenly calling” for them, since they were always
His children and never yours? (Heb. 3:1: Jer. 1:5; 29:11)
B. Your study and implementation of Proverbs as a couple
and collectively as a family, will wisely temper both your
“life, lips, and motives”. (Review defn. of foolishness)
C. Corrective discipline that includes “chastening” and
“scourging” is the most vivid proof of Christ’s love and
ownership. (Heb. 12:5-11; I Cor. 6:20)
Sinners Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, I was made by you and I was made for you, but
I have been living for myself. I am sorry for that self-rule you call sin.
I believe that Jesus Christ being my creator God, died, was buried,
and rose again to pay the insurmountable debt that my sin has
created since birth. So right now, I am turning from a life of going my
own way, to by faith, place my trust in Jesus Christ, to pay the debt of
all my sin, and to get me to heaven, when I breath my last breath.
Lord Jesus, from today on, I am yours. Thanks for saving me, this
very moment, in Jesus name, Amen.
If you just made this life changing decision, we would love to draw
along side and help you grow now in Christ. Call Grace Bible Church
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