Parenting
Our 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 in relation to child discipline. I have a 13-year-old son and an 8-year-old son. My wife and I realized of late 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…
Read More