Parenting
Eli and Being Soft on Sin
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. There are many things to admire about the man Eli A. He judged Israel for 40 years; during which time he was God’s spokesman. B. We find no record of any outward evil or sin in his life. C. When Eli learns that Samuel will take his place, Eli does not rebel, grow bitter,…
Read MoreNotes on Parenting
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 Psalm 37:25-26 Psalm 103:13 Psalm 112:1-2 Psalm 127:1 Proverbs 1:8 Proverbs 6:20 Proverbs 10:1 Proverbs 11:16 Proverbs 11:29 Proverbs 12:1 Proverbs 13:1 Proverbs 17:1 Proverbs 17:21 Proverbs 17:25 Proverbs 19:20 Proverbs 20:11 Proverbs 22:6 Proverbs 23:24-25 Proverbs 24:3-4 Proverbs 25:28 Proverbs 29:15 Isaiah 28:9-10 Isaiah 54:13 Mark 3:25 Ephesians 6:1 Ephesians 6:4 Colossians…
Read MoreNotes on Disciplining Children
Purpose Change in behavior Proverbs 6:23 “For the commandment is a lamp, and the law a light; reproofs of instruction are the way of life” Proverbs 10:1 “A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is the grief of his mother.” Proverbs 17:21 “He who begets a scoffer does so to his…
Read MoreNotes on Discipline of Children, Spanking
Deuteronomy 8:5 “You should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the LORD your God chastens you.” [Note: “chastens” means to chastise literally with blows or figuratively with words] Deuteronomy 21:18 “If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or…
Read MoreNotes on Adolescence and Teenagers
Genesis 37:2-4 “This is the history of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brothers. And the lad was with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives; and Joseph brought a bad report of them to his father. Now Israel loved Joseph more than all…
Read MoreHow can I make my daughter interested in studying?
Question: My daughter is 12 years old and in the seventh standard at an Indian convent. She does not have any interest in studying. Please let me know what I can do to make her study. Answer: In order for education to take place, there needs to be a teacher willing to teach, a student…
Read MoreIs it right for my dad to still spank me at nineteen?
Question: I’ve read your ‘Answers’ section and have a question of my own regarding spanking. My father is a devout Christian and shares your views on not sparing the rod. I am nineteen now and am still given very sound spankings by my father. He uses a leather strap or small switch and often lays…
Read MoreCan spanking hurt a child’s feelings?
Question: My son was very rude and would not explain his behavior. I must mention that it has been over a month since the last time that I spanked him. At that time I gave him a spanking in front of everyone. It was very effective, so I used the same method this time. I…
Read MoreWelcome to Church … Kids Not Invited
by Mike Thomas I was so distracted once at a church service (away from here), by an overwhelming amount of noise from the audience, that I had a hard time concentrating on the lesson. I tried focusing my attention on the speaker, but the person behind me and a few others across the aisle were…
Read MoreI Saw a Child
by Leo Rogol (1969) What I saw was not what one reads about children in storybooks and poems: It was not the beauty of childish innocence; the simple trusting faith in something big, wide, and wonderful; a child roaming the fields with his beloved dog, searching out the marvelous mysteries and wonders of nature. Though…
Read MoreHow do I chasten my teenager for using drugs?
Question: How do I chasten my teenager for using drugs? Question: What do I do if I find my teenager is using drugs? Answer: The use of drugs causes numerous problems for the parent as well as the child. Some of what I’m about to write will need to be modified for your particular situation…
Read MoreHow can I get my 8-year-old son to stop wetting his pants?
Question: We have a strong-willed eight-year-old son that occasionally wets his pants (once every two to three months when he’s too busy playing and the like). Recently, after a wetting episode, I decided to discipline him by diapering him. My wife felt it was not appropriate, and that I should just increase the severity of…
Read MoreShould a child’s pants be taken down for a spanking?
Question: I want to ask, please, if it’s good to take down the pants of a seven-year-old child for a spanking. Answer: When disciplining a child, spanking is not the only option available to a parent. Often, when parenting is done well, spankings will only be needed infrequently. Raising a child well also involves teaching…
Read MoreHow do you prevent teenagers from having pre-marital sex?
Question: How do you prevent teenagers from having pre-marital sex? Answer: “We have a little sister, and she has no breasts; what shall we do for our sister on the day when she is spoken for? If she is a wall, we will build on her a battlement of silver; but if she is a…
Read MoreOur Father in Heaven
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Luke 11:1-13 I. God calls us to be His special people – II Corinthians 6:16-18 A. If we will separate ourselves from the world, God will be our Father and we will be His sons and daughters B. Why did God pick the role of a father to describe His relationship with…
Read MoreFaithful Fathers
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Deuteronomy 8:1-10 I. It is not arbitrarily that God is referred to as our Father and we His children A. After the wandering in the wilderness, God told them they endured hardship because He was treating as a father would treat his children. B. We can learn from God what is expected…
Read MoreDisciplining Children
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. The world in its wisdom comes up with many theories about how children ought to be raised. A. In the 1960s a psychologist named Benjamin Spock became famous with a book proposing that children should not be spanked 1. He argued that other, non-physical methods were just as effective 2. Spanking would damage a…
Read MoreHow do you handle a teenage liar?
Question: Our 13-year-old lies about everything to get what he wants. He lies about not having homework when he does. He hides bad homework from us. We talk to the teachers every day now. He continues to lie even though he knows he is going to get caught. We must search his backpack every night.…
Read MoreHow will male virtues be passed on without spanking?
Question: I am a Swedish man living in Denmark, not a Christian or religious at all, but I am brought up in a tradition where spanking and what my father called “male virtues” was normal. This was in the ’60s and beginning of the ’70s. I do agree that for boys it is a necessary…
Read MoreWhat to do when parents disagree about spanking?
Question: Whenever I switch one of the kids my wife has a fit. She begs me to use a different punishment. Her crying and shouting make it very difficult to administer a proper whipping to the youngster. Afterward, she is furious with me and may even give me the silent treatment for a few days.…
Read MoreThat Piece of Clay
by Forrest D. Moyer A little child has often been likened to a piece of clay that can be molded into whatever type of pottery that the potter (parent) has in mind. A little child is so pliable, so willing to be molded and so trusting. This can either be a fantastic opportunity or a…
Read MoreShould I Beat My Child?
Donald P. Ames Guardian of Truth XXXI: 3, pp. 75, 87 February 5, 1987 Before you answer the above question, may I, first of all, ask if you really understood it? Webster defines “beat” all the way from “spank” to “flogging.” The Bible also uses it in a similar fashion. And, unfortunately, many people apply it…
Read MoreRaising Children
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. This generation is full of unusual ideas about how to raise children A. Many are leftovers of failed experiments that continue to hang around. 1. Don’t spank children a. It is a form of child abuse or could lead to it. b. It is unnatural to restrict children 2. Ignore children – you have your own…
Read MoreHow do we start biblical discipline when our children are already older?
Question: I have a question related to child discipline. I have a 13-year-old son and an 8-year-old son. My wife and I have recently realized the problems we caused by following non-biblical consequences with our boys. My oldest son has been lying, and my youngest has problems with obedience. I read your parenting articles and was…
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