Saturday, April 1, 2023

What Does God Say About That? Using God's Word in Child Discipline

 I just spoke at the 2023 CHEW conference. It was great for everyone, with Dr. Ben Carson and Justice Dan Kelly speaking. 

I had a conversation with someone about memorizing scripture with their children and specifically about memorizing scriptures that are purposeful and helpful to children in developing self-discipline--meaning, Mom and Dad can use them to discipline their children and know they are giving them the truth. One day, "because I said so" will not be enough. Our Bible Lessons Guide in its original had several scriptures for just that purpose and I promised that mom to share them here. Just so you know, these were intended for pre-schoolers, so they will memorizable for any of your children. I recommend finding one that you think will be particularly effective for a particular issue your child may be having and use that one a lot to help him memorize it and apply it.

"Christ-Centered Curriculum for Early Childhood's" Appropriate Verses for Classroom Discipline

Anger

"Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry; for anger resteth in the bosom of fools." Ecclesiastes 7:9

"He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city." Proverbs 16:32

"A soft answer turns away wrath; but grevious words stir up anger." Proverbs 15:1

"But now ye also put off these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds." Colossians 3:8-9

"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: for the wrath of worketh not the righteousness of God." James 1:19-20

Bitterness

"Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled . . ." Hebrew 12:15

Deceitfulness

 "The wicked worketh a deceitful work; but to him that soweth righteousness shall have a sure reward." Proverbs 11:18

Disobedient

"Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves . . ." Hebrews 13:17

"Do all things without murmurings and disputings." Philippians 2:14

"Children, obey your parents in the Lord; for this is right." Ehpesians 6:1

Disorderliness

"Let all things be done decently and in order." I Corinthians 14:40

Filthy Talk

"Put off . . .filthy communication out of your mouth." Colossians 3:8

"Lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls." James 1:21

"Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient [appropriate]; but rather giving of thanks." Ephesians 5:4

Foolishness

"The thought of foolishness is sin. . ." Proverbs 24:9 

"Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him." Proverbs 22:15

"But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient [appropriate]: but rather giving of thanks." Ephesians 5:3-4

Forgetfulness

"But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." James 1:25

"I will delight myself in thy statutes; I will not forget thy word." Psalm 119:16

Gossip

"He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool." Proverbs 10:18

"A talebearer revealeth secrets; but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth a matter." Proverbs 11:13

"The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly," Proverbs 18:8

"Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out; so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindle strife." Proverbs 26: 20-21

Lack of Confession

"Acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou has transgressed against the Lord thy God . . . and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the Lord." Jeremiah 3:13

"He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." Proverbs 28:13

"Confess your faults one to another, and pray for one another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." James 5:16

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." I John 1:9

Lying

"These . . . things doth the Lord hate:. . . a proud look, a lying tongue,  . . . an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations [plans], feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among the brethren." Proverbs 6:16-19

"He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth slander, is a fool." Proverbs 10:18

"The lip of truth shall be established forever; but a lying tongue is but for a moment." Proverbs 12:19

"Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor; for we are members one of another." Ephesians 4:25

"Lie not one to another, seeing that we have put off the old man with his deeds." Colossians 3:9

"Speaking the truth in love, . . . grow up in him in all things. . ." Ephesians 4:15

Noisiness

"Study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with you own hands . . ." I Thessalonians 4:11

Pride

"He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife . . . " Proverbs 28:25

"Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." Proverbs 16:18

"Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves." Philippians 2:3

"Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels [a heart] of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering . . ." Colossians 3:12-13

"Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up." James 4:10

Quarreling

"It is an honor for a man to cease from strife; but every fool will be meddling." Proverbs 20:3

"If any man have a quarrel against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye." Colossians 3:12-13

Slothfulness

"The hand of the diligent shall bear rule; but the slothful shall be under tribute. The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting; but the substance of a diligent man is precious." Proverbs 12:24, 27

"The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat." Proverbs 13:4

"The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord; but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness." Proverbs 15:9

"He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster." Proverbs 18:9

"The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing." Proverbs 20:4

"I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; and lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. Then I saw, and considered it well; I looked upon it, and received instruction. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep; so shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man." Proverbs 24:30-34

"The slothful man saith, there is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets. As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed. The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth. The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit [mind] that seven men that can render a reason." Proverbs 26:13-16

"His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed [tended]." Matthew 25:26

Stealing

"Thou shalt not steal." Exodus 20:15

"Let him that stole steal no more; but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give him who needeth." Ephesians 4:28

"If the thief be found, let him pay double." Exodus 22:7

Unforgiving Heart

"And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." Matthew 6:12

"Be ye kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Ephesians 4:32

"Even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye." Colossians 3:13

Unkindness

"And be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Ephesians 4:32