Coming out of the exposition of God's Holy Word in congregation, let's take our Bibles out at this time and turn back to Ephesians. Ephesians chapter 6, as we continue in our exposition of this epistle, and we are still dealing with issues of the family, and we are looking here in chapter 6, And we're looking again today at verse four. Here is this word as it relates to the duties of parents. Let's read the text. Ephesians six and verse four, the scripture says, and you fathers do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. Let's now join together before the Lord in prayer. Heavenly Father, we thank you again as we come to your word, because we know that when we come to your word, we find inerrant, infallible, and all-sufficient truth. Lord, we live in a world of confusion, a world of deception, a world with an adversary who is the father of lies, And we, therefore, are grateful that you have saved us out of that world and you have placed us in the kingdom of your dear Son. And you have given to us as your people eyes to see and ears to hear. Father, we seek to know and understand what you would have us to be and do as your people, living by your grace, living in order to bring honor and glory to your name. We desire, O God, that our homes, our families, our parenting approaches and our children would be all for your honor and for your glory. Father, we pray that as we consider again today these practical concerns as it relates to parenting and the raising and rearing and nurturing of our children, that we would have your grace and guidance, that we would be committed to your glory and honor. Lord, that you would draw us closer to your son, that you would draw sinners to him, that you would add to your kingdom and receive all the honor and all the glory. Father, we pray this all in Christ's holy name. Amen. As we come today, of course, last week we looked at verse number four, and we gave an exposition of the text itself, and we said what we have there is a statement of the duties of parents. There is a statement that is negative, and then there is a statement that is positive. We said, first of all, the negative, as it relates to parenting, what parents should not do is that they should not provoke their children to wrath. The idea there, we said, was to rouse them to resentment, bitterness, and anger, to exasperate and embitter them to the point of a deep abiding rebellion and resentment. That should not be the result of our parenting or our approach. Secondly, we said that the positive is what parents ought to be doing instead of provoking them, and it's stated with two statements. Parents are to bring up their children. Now notice there that very idea is that parenting is not a passive activity, is it? It is something that is engaging. It is something that we are to be engaged in directly and conscientiously. We are to be bringing up our children. The idea that, well, children just kind of, they naturally mature and grow and we're just to sit back and watch the process. That kind of passive parenting is not what the scriptures teach. The scriptures teach that we are to, first of all, bring up our children in the training of the Lord. The word there we said is paideia, which speaks of instruction and also chastening and correction. Secondly, we see in verse 4 that we are not only as parents to bring up our children in the paideia of the Lord, but secondly, the neuthacea of the Lord. That word there translated as admonition. It is a word that has the idea of counsel, but also the idea of warning or admonition. We are to be warning our children the consequences of doing that which is wrong and false and contrary to the will of God. positively instructing, and also warning, correcting, and chastening. So these two words, in a very short statement in scripture, we said really are a summary, and all parenting according to God's will is subsumed under these two ideas. We live in a day where there's all kinds of advice and all kinds of teaching and books and seminars and all kinds of approaches. And yet we see here the Holy Spirit was pleased to instruct as it relates to parenting with a very short staccato singular verse as it relates to parenting. Now, again, as we take up this topic of parenting, what I do want to do is follow up on what we said last week, and I want to address specifically the subject of disciplining, the idea of the application of the rod of correction. As our culture increasingly has become less Christian, new approaches to parenting arise. One new approach that I want to highlight by way of example is one that you may or may not have heard of before. It's called gentle parenting. How many of you have heard of gentle parenting? Many of you have heard of this terminology. What exactly is gentle parenting? So let me just give you some definitions of what this approach is, because we would see this as being contrary to biblical parenting. Justin Miller has written a book, and it is a book you can find at Free Grace Press. It was actually, it was released this year, 2025, and the book is entitled, The Not-So-Loving Side of Gentle Parenting, A Biblical Plea to Parents. What is gentle parenting? Well, Miller writes, and he says this, gentle parenting is a form of positive parenting that emphasizes understanding a child's behavior through empathy and respect, giving choices versus commands, and responding in a way that considers a child's intellectual and developmental level. The goals of gentle parenting are to raise children who understand and can regulate their emotions, respect and have empathy for themselves and others, and have healthy and collaborative relationships. Well, some of that sounds pretty good. Some of it, not so much. Miller continues. He says, gentle parenting is a means of parenting without shame, without blame, and without punishment. It is centered on partnership, as both parents and children have a say in this collaborative style. Gentle parenting is as it sounds. It is a softer, gentler approach to parenting, and parents and caregivers that practice gentle parenting do so by guiding their children with consistent, compassionate boundaries, not a firm hand. General parenting, also known as collaborative parenting, is a style of parenting where parents do not compel children to behave by means of punishment or control, but rather use connection. communication, and other democratic methods to make decisions together as a family. So according to general parenting, parents are not so much authorities who give directives that children should submit to, but rather they are partners who give options that children can consider. Parents do not command, they guide via democratic methods. Misbehavior in the child is not owning as much to the child's own wrongdoing as to the parent's lack of clear boundaries and upfront communication with the child. Punishment is not punitive, but aims ultimately to help the child understand his or her emotional response to the external stress of a situation. So that's a rather long quote, but that gives you, in Miller's words, something of what this gentle parenting approach is advocating. General parenting seeks to be very positive in its approach to parenting. It wants to avoid instruction and correction because that can lead to confrontation. It is a matter of discussing and dialoguing rather than giving directions and commanding. It's more of a democracy rather than discipline with your children. The parent provides choices and the child feels in control and the child is the decision maker in the situation. Well, congregation, we would ask the question, what are some of the problems with this approach? Because this is a very popular approach in this day. And while I would say that more than likely most people who have adopted this kind of style probably have the very best of intentions, they're desiring to do what they can with their children the best way they think, and there may be some positive elements in this approach, at least in a secondary way, I would suggest to us that there are several reasons why God's people should avoid this approach to parenting. And again, this is really a summary of what Justin Miller also states in his book. Number one, gentle parenting fails to identify the child's root problem. What is the child's root problem? It is a sin nature issue, isn't it? The issue is that the child is a sinner. The problem with children is not a lack of self-understanding. It isn't a lack of self-confidence or the inability to self-regulate. The problem is sin, amen? And that's how we should approach parenting. It is an issue of total depravity. As the late Bodie Bachman described little babies, they're vipers in diapers. They're not just, you know, just little sweet angels that are kind of tabula rosa, have a clean slate. No, they are depraved and we must approach parenting from that perspective. Secondly, not only does it fail to identify the root issue with children and their problem, it arrogantly assumes greater wisdom than God and His Word. That's a very serious thing. God is very clear on the subject of child rearing. Who are we to say we have a better approach? We have a more wise and developed approach than what God has revealed in his word. What we are saying when we take that approach, whether it is cognizantly or not, is that we have something better than the sufficient word of God. Number three, another criticism and problem with this gentle parenting is that it provides a non-punitive approach to parenting. The whole approach is trying to avoid correction, discipline, and the absolute exclusion of the rod in many instances. And yet the Bible clearly calls for disciplining and correction. Fourthly, it undermines parental authority. This approach is, at its heart, an abdication of the authority that has been invested in parents by Almighty God. The home is not a democracy. You don't get together with your children and come up with a list of options and say, well, whatever you think, child, because after all, you're the decider in the home. No, the parents are the authoritative figures, amen? They're the ones who are to be giving direction and making decisions, not the child. And then number five, a fifth criticism of this approach, is that its goal is behavior modification rather than the gospel transformation of the child's heart. That is a very, very big difference. We're not just trying to psychologize our children to have a little bit of modification of how they behave. We're trying to lead them to Christ and the gospel. And that is not some passive, democratic, open-ended approach to how we raise and rear and, yes, discipline our children. This approach, while there may be things about it that we could say, well, that's not a bad idea in some instances, is in large part, really an alternative to the approach of biblical parenting. In our church constitution, we lay out the duties of membership. There are various duties that people have when they join our church, and they are biblical duties derived straight from the scriptures. And in that, we have in Section 4, on the duties of members under family life, let me just read the first of two paragraphs there. It says, under family life, members of this church are to obey the teachings of the scriptures in respect to family life and government. As the God-appointed head of the family, the husband must rule over the household with gentleness and love, but also with wisdom and firmness. And of course, Ephesians 5 is one of the many texts that is given. The husband is the God-appointed head in the home, and it doesn't simply say he is to lead with servant leadership. No, according to our Constitution, he must rule over his household. That's patriarchal in its orientation. Then it says concerning the wife, the wife must be in submission to her husband in all things according to the rule of scripture. And again, Ephesians chapter 5 is the verse that is stated. And notice the language there, the wife, the language is very clear. The wife must be in submission to her husband. And then the second phrase there, in all things according to the rule of Scripture. So again, very comprehensive. And then it gets to the subject of parenting. And let me read to you what it says there. The husband with the wife must nurture their children in the chastening and admonition of the Lord, Ephesians 6.2, by setting a godly example before them and by wise and firm discipline. including the immediate application of corporal punishment as soon as the occasion warrants it. Here again, our church constitution is very clear. It is the husband, just as we see here in verse 4, it says fathers, not parents, but fathers who have this as their responsibility. And it says in our Constitution, the husband with the wife. In other words, the wife comes alongside him. But again, as he's ruling in all areas in the home, this is where he also is ruling. And there is this bringing up of the children, not only in godly example, but the clear statement there is in the wise, firm discipline. And our Constitution doesn't stop there and say, well, what do they mean by discipline? It's very emphatic and in black and white, including The immediate application of corporal punishment as soon as the occasion warrants it. So this is very clearly stated as, this is who we are as a reformed Baptist church. This is not something that, you know, just your pastor is saying this. This is what we have agreed together to walk in as a church who seek to serve the Lord. So let's talk about this issue of discipline or correction. And what I want to do today in the time we have is consider some biblical references to discipline as it relates to children, then some basic guidelines as to how you are to apply the rod of correction, and then finally the biblical response that we desire to see in our children to this approach. So, first of all, I want us to consider some biblical references to this subject of discipline. The Bible is very clear on this subject. Perhaps you've heard parents say things like this. Let me just give you a few of these statements. Well, you just wait till your daddy gets home. How many of you have heard that before? As if daddy's the only one who applies the rod. Or maybe you've heard this question that is given to a child. Do you want a spanking? I always thought that was a strange question. Like, sure, dad, I'll take two if you don't mind. Or the question, don't make me count to three. Don't make me count to three again. You know, it's just kind of delaying the process. All of these things have the same thing in common. They allow the parent to delay or avoid that immediate action required on the part of the parent. It's a kind of stalling technique. Now, yes, in parenting, we should do warnings as well, and that's certainly included, but so often as parents, what we're seeking to do is abdicate the very thing God has called us to do in disciplining our children. So let's look at some scriptures. Turn with me in the Proverbs, and we're gonna be in the Proverbs today quite a bit, and turn with me, first of all, to Proverbs 10. Just look at a list of verses here that talk about disciplining children, and specifically the rod of correction. The rod of correction. Proverbs 10 and verse 13. Proverbs 10 and verse 13. Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding, but a rod is for the back of him who is devoid of understanding. The rod here, of course, is speaking of the rod of correction. In the context of parenting, this would be what we would call spanking, paddling, or whipping. That's what we mean when we speak of the rod of correction. We realize that the World Health Organization opposes spanking. and the American Academy of Pediatrics oppose parenting. in this way, with correction by the rod. And yet, we as Bible believers are not following the American Academy of Pediatrics, amen? We are following the scriptures. And the scriptures say we are to apply the rod of correction. The scriptures are our authority. Look with me over in Proverbs. Turn to chapter 13. Proverbs 13 and verse 24, and here again you have another one of these statements as it relates to the application of the rod. Proverbs 13 and verse 24, he who spares his rod hates his son. But he who loves him disciplines him promptly. There's that idea of the immediate application of the rod. Those who spare the rod, they may think that they are doing so because they love their child. And they may think that sparing the rod is somehow an evidence of their true affection for their child. That's how the world would think. Oh, you don't want to abuse your child. That wouldn't be very loving. And yet, what does the scripture say? The scripture says those who spare the rod, they hate. their son, their children. The contrast could not be greater in the scriptures. Look with me over in Proverbs to chapter 19, Proverbs 19. And we look in this, just another verse that speaks on this. Proverbs 19 and verse 18, and these are very familiar verses. Hopefully, if you're a parent, these verses, these are like embedded in your memory banks as you seek to parent your children. Proverbs 19 and verse 18, chasten your son while there is hope, and do not set your heart on his destruction. Promptly, faithfully, before sin has set in, before they become incorrigible and hard-hearted, you are to give yourself to this duty of chastening your son while there is still hope. You are to give this your priority. Notice again in the Proverbs, turn over to chapter 22. Proverbs 22, and look at verse 15. Proverbs 22 and verse 15, foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child. This is why you can't have a democracy in the home, amen? This is why you can't say, well, let's just have a vote and see what direction, child, would you like to go? No, because foolishness, this is the idea of their sin nature. Foolishness is indeed bound up in the heart of a child. And then notice the second line of verse 15. The rod of correction will drive it far from him. The application of the rod. You're in chapter 22, just look over in chapter 23 and look at verses 13 and 14. Proverbs 23, 13, do not withhold correction from a child. For if you beat him with a rod, he will not die. You shall beat him with a rod and deliver his soul from hell. Well, that sounds like gentle parenting, doesn't it? No, it doesn't. It sounds like the faithful application of the rod. You will beat him, he will not die. Now he may throw a big fit, he may act like he's about to die, but he will not die. What you're doing is for their good. And it may not appear to be gentle, but it is biblical. Notice, if you will, in Proverbs, turn over to chapter 29. Proverbs 29, look at verse 15. Proverbs 29 in verse 15, the rod and rebuke give instruction, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother. The rod, rather than being some archaic, abusive approach, according to God in his word, this gives wisdom. Those who do not apply that rod, what they are doing is bringing shame upon themselves. Look at verse 17. Verse 17 of this same chapter, correct your son and he will give you rest. Yes, he will give delight. to your soul, this idea of correcting, this idea of the rod and rebuke, it's the idea of paideia and neuthacea, it's really what Paul is talking about here, the application of discipline. The rod does great spiritual good. It is of great spiritual benefit. It is the very instrument God has placed in the hands of the parent in order to lead and guide, instruct, and correct in the ways of the Lord. So let me share with you just a few guidelines for the use of the rod of correction. And again, this list here, I have six things that I want to share. And this really is a collation of ideas that I have found from people like Wayne Mack, Bruce Ray, and Pastor Albert N. Martin. So those are some of the sources where these things come from, if you're wondering. And there are six things, there are many other things that we could perhaps add, but six practical things. As it comes to applying the rod of correction, we need some direction. We need some help in this process. This is an awesome thing, that we have this duty and responsibility, this authority as parents. How are we going to apply the rod of correction? Number one, it should be administered lovingly. Now that's first on the list here. The rod of correction is to be administered lovingly. It is never to be done in anger. It is never that we as a parent are reacting to a child. We are acting as the adults in the situation. The motive is not that we spank our children because their behavior angers us or embarrasses us in front of other people. No, we have as our motive lovingly in this application of the rod is that we are seeking to lead them in the paths of righteousness. And that must be our goal. And that is a loving goal. And so it is a Godward focus as we lovingly apply the rod. Secondly, not only is it to be administered lovingly, it should be administered harmoniously. Harmoniously. Parents must be in agreement. They must be on the same page as it relates to the application of the rod. Parenting is teamwork. But when we use the phrase teamwork, we're not saying that there are two equal heads in the process, are we? The father is leading and setting the tone. And as a team member, the wife comes alongside in instituting and applying that which he has set as it relates to this approach. There should not be in a mother and a father any daylight or any differences in how you approach the issue of the rod. One cannot be an easy touch while the other parent is the hard ladder that results in disaster. Children can sense any daylight between a parent. Believe me, they can. Their radar is up and they can sense. Well, I can get away with this with mommy, but now I better not let daddy find out. They not only sense any kind of distance or difference there, they will exploit those kind of differences and daylight. So the wife must be on the page that the husband, the father, in his authoritative place has set as it relates to discipline. Number three, in the application of the rod, not only must it be administered lovingly and harmoniously, it is to be administered consistently. Parenting is a disaster if you're not consistent in what you're doing. If you're on again, off again in your approach, this creates all kinds of confusion for your child. They never know whether something is wrong today and right tomorrow, and it really provokes your child to anger, which is the very thing Paul says that fathers and parents are not to do. Number four, the rod is to be administered prayerfully. Parents, you are to realize what an awesome responsibility this is. This responsibility of parenting your children, and you must approach it with humility and with a sense of real dependency before God. Amen? You're dependent on God to give you wisdom and guidance and direction. James says in James 1 and verse 5, if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God who gives all liberally without reproach, and it will be given to him. Pray as you seek to be faithful in the application of the rod. All children are different. The task is very difficult. It calls for divine wisdom, not to discern what God's will is, but to discern in any particular situation how you are to meet out what God has called you to do. Number five, as it relates to the application of the rod, it should be administered effectively or sufficiently. It is not to be applied abusively. Now that obviously is wrong. But on the other hand, it ought to have an effect. It ought to have the desired effect that God calls the rod to be. Pastor Albert N. Martin says three things about how you gauge the effectiveness or sufficiency of the rod. You say, is the rod doing what it ought to be doing? As I'm applying it. Number one, it is effective in its application when it is bringing forth a sweet compliance to the parental will. Whenever it is bringing a sweet compliance to the parental will. That is, when you apply the rod, it ought to have the effect that the child is now going to comply and obey what is said. And the word that Pastor Martin used in that exposition is sweet compliance, because it has to do not only with the actions, but with the attitudes as well. How often have we seen children, they say, well, you know, I'll obey on the outside, but on the inside, I am really just filled with fury and rage and rebellion. Child, you need to sit down. Well, I'll sit down, but, you know, on the inside, I'm standing up and jumping up and down. No, there is to be this sweet compliance that is effected in the application of the rod. Secondly, the rod is to bring forth an aversion to a repeat performance of that thing that they did. In other words, it is an effective application of the rod whenever the child says, I don't want to do that anymore because I don't want to get what's coming if I do that. That's effective in its orientation. And then number three, Pastor Martin says that it is effective when it brings forth true repentance in the child's heart. If the child's reaction, by way of the opposite, if the child's reaction to our discipline is that they're basically laughing or giggling, and I've actually seen parents try to discipline their children and the children are just kind of laughing at them because it doesn't really have any effect whatsoever. They think it's a joke. And what you have done is your approach is making a mockery of what God has said you are to be doing. The rod of correction is not something that should elicit a joke or a giggle out of your child. Amen? It is to evidence that work of correcting whereby they have a compliance and they do not want to have a repeat performance of what they did before. And then number six, and this is laid out in Bruce Ray's book, and it's in other places as well. Number six is the rod of correction should be administered instructively. Instructively. Remember, we are bringing up our children in the paideia and neuthacea of the Lord. And that is instructing as we're correcting. The way to put this is before you apply the rod, you're to do something, then you're to apply the rod to their backside, and then after the rod has been applied, you're to do something else. I call this the prefix, and then you have the application, and then the suffix to what you're doing. Whenever a child disobeys and it calls for the rod of correction, You're to have, first of all, this prefix. What you do before the rod is applied. You are to seek to instruct your child. You ask your child, what did you do? Well, mommy, I didn't pick up my toys and you told me to pick up my toys. I disobeyed you. I didn't tell the truth. I lied. I became angry and threw a fit. I disobeyed. So they are to acknowledge what is it that they did. Secondly, you ask, what does God say about this? You're pointing them to God in this and to his word. And they are to acknowledge, I sinned, I disobeyed mommy, I disobeyed daddy, I didn't do what the scripture says. What does the Bible say about this form of disobedience? And if you're a parent that seeks to lead your child, you need to have a topical reference that you're aware of. Maybe it's in your Bible, where you have all the various sins that children commit and Bible verses attached to every one of them. This is how we raised our children. And you have verses that have to do with general disobedience, something they disobeyed. But then you have references to anger, or their attitude, or laziness, or lying, or listening, or pride, or obedience in general, or tail bearing, or talking back. And you've got verses for all of those things. So that during the prefects, you're not just having them say, I disobeyed. You're taking out your Bible and you're showing them with the scriptures that what they have done is they have violated God's word. They have sinned against God. You're seeking to point them to the fact that they're accountable to God. Then you ask them the question, what does the Bible say that Mommy and Daddy must do because I've disobeyed? And they say, and after a process, you do this long enough, they can quote the verses to you, withhold not correction. And you bring them again to the scriptures where it says, this is what Mommy and Daddy is to do. The scriptures say in Proverbs, like we just read, that it is because we love you that we do this. And they, after the process of years, they know the verses as well as the parents do. They can quote them back. And then you say, what does the rod say about mommy and daddy? Well, the rod says that mommy and daddy love me. That mommy and daddy care about my soul. You see, this is all to be done before you ever pick up the paddle and apply the rod. You are leading them. You are instructing them in the ways of the Lord. And then after that, you apply the rod of correction. And then you have the suffix. It's not over there. When the rod is applied, you have the suffix. And that is, what do you do after the rod is applied? Well, again, several things. Number one, you ask the question, why did you receive the rod? Well, because I sin, like we already said. Here are the verses. What do you need to do now? Well, I need to ask for forgiveness to mommy and daddy. And I need to pray for forgiveness before the Lord because I have violated God's word. And I need to thank mommy and daddy for loving me enough to apply the rod of a correction because I have been blessed with a mommy or daddy who loves me so much that they're willing to do what scripture says. Then you ask the question, what are you going to do in the future? Well, I'm going to obey and do what mommy and daddy have said, because that pleases God. What does, another question in the suffix, what does your sinning say about your heart? Well, it says that you're a sinner. It shows that you have sinned against God. And you see how the process of discipline can lead them to a place of evangelism? Because you've shown them that they're a sinner, and you say, who can deliver you from your sin? Who can save you from this sin that condemns us all? There's only one Savior, and that is Jesus Christ. Congregation, this process of parenting is a serious, involved process, amen? And if we're going to be raising children to the glory of God, it's not just having kind of a little democratic session where we say, well, let's discuss what you did and let's come up with some alternatives. No, we're to be parenting and applying the rod of correction. The fact that we see so much wickedness and sinfulness and so much waywardness in our world and even among those who profess Christ is because there's not this diligence to parenting. Fathers, this is on you. This is on you. And you're responsible. And you're responsible to make sure that your wife is doing this as well. It all falls on you. Well, as we move concluding today, we're still in the book of Proverbs. Turn with me to Proverbs chapter 1, and we think about not only these references, to biblical discipline. And then we talked about some of the guidelines in the application of the rod. Let's finally consider the biblical response that we want and desire as it relates to discipline. Proverbs chapter 1, verses 8 and 9. And we actually read these verses a few weeks ago, some of these, but they're good to hear again in this regard. The response that we want to see from our children is found here in this word. Proverbs 1 in verse 8, my son, hear the instruction of your father and do not forsake the law of your mother, for they will be a graceful ornament on your head and chains about your neck. So what do we want to see from our children? We want them to hear that instruction. We want them to receive, internalize, and follow, and obey what they have been instructed in. Look with me, please, over in Proverbs 2, chapter 3. Proverbs 3, verses 11 and 12. Again, this response to discipline. Here we read verse 11, my son do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor detest his correction. Verse 12, for whom the Lord loves, he corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights. What is to be the biblical response? Children don't despise that chastening. Don't detest that correction. The Lord corrects and the fathers have that same functioning in the home. A father, the son in whom he delights. Look with me please in Proverbs 2 chapter 6. Proverbs 6 verses 20 through 23. What should the response be? Verse 20, My son, keep your father's command and do not forsake the law of your mother. Bind them continually upon your heart. Tie them around your neck. When you roam, they will lead you. When you sleep, they will keep you. And when you awake, they will speak with you. For the commandment is a lamp, and the law a light. Reproofs of instruction are The way of life. Receive that instruction. Keep those commands. Don't forsake the law of your mother. These reproofs of instruction, they are the very way of life. And then, if you will, turn with me over in Proverbs to chapter 15. Again, just a few pages over. Proverbs 15 and verse 5. Proverbs 15 and verse 5 says, a fool despises his father's instruction, but he who receives correction is prudent. Here you have this parallelism. You have the fool and those who are prudent contrasted. The fool is those who despise the Father's instruction. The Father seeks to do what God has called Him to do. The Father implements these teachings and follows in the rod of correction. It is the fool that despises what the Father is doing. On the other hand, those who receive correction That is, they embrace it, they submit to it, they seek to follow it. That person is called prudent. Congregation, as we think about this, let me just give you a recommendation, an excellent book on the subject of the rod of correction. It is a book by Bruce Ray entitled Withhold Not Correction. How many of you are familiar with that book? Okay, three or four of you are. It's an excellent classic book. It's a book entitled, and as you can imagine, Withhold Not Correction, comes right out of the verses that we read in Proverbs. So we think about this very vital, serious duty. We realize that this is a duty that parents are called to fulfill. Fathers, especially as the ruler in your home, you are to be leading, guiding, setting the tone, enforcing this reality. And the wife is to gladly, submissively join alongside you so that you work together as one with no daylight between you in the rearing and upbringing of your children. The scripture says that this is our duty as parents Mothers and fathers, how are you doing in this regard? Are you united in your approach to child rearing and the application of your rod? Does one have the soft touch and the other the hard liner? Is that what's going on in your home? Do you both agree that this is the biblical approach that God has ordained in His Word? You see, all of these kinds of subjects, whether it is the subject of patriarchy or submission, these all have a very revealing effect about our hearts, don't they? These expose us for what we actually are, not just what we may pretend to be. And this, again, is another one of those realities. The rod is biblical. The rod is necessary. The rod is urgent. The rod is useful. And yes, the rod is loving. Amen? It's a loving thing. This is a sign of love, not hate. We are to apply the rod lovingly, harmoniously, consistently, prayerfully, sufficiently, and instructively. The prefix and the suffix of instruction must go alongside that rod. Children, let me address you this morning. Children, are you obeying your parents? How are you receiving the correction that your parents are applying? Children, you need to thank God that your parents love you enough to give themselves to this very vital and time-consuming activity. of disciplining you correctly. You see, it is far easier for parents just to say, well, you know what? All of that stuff, prefix, that would take forever. I would be doing that all day long if that's what it takes. Well, guess what? That's what it takes. And you need to be giving yourselves to it. Yes, it is involved. And children, you need to say, thank God. I have a mommy and a daddy that is so loving and caring and concerned for my soul that they're doing this for me. This is a sign of their love for me and is a sign of their love for God. God is a loving, heavenly Father. And as a loving, heavenly Father, what does He do? He chastens those whom he loves. It is a very sign of sonship. It is the sign of being one of his children, Hebrews chapter 12. And so we as fathers are to emulate our heavenly father. And we are to be applying the rod of correction. with our children, with a view that they, by God's grace, will become a child, not just our biological child, but a child of our Heavenly Father. Let me encourage, let me admonish, let me urge our parents, take this seriously, apply it faithfully. and dependent upon God always in your parenting. Let's bow together in prayer. Our gracious Heavenly Father, we thank you again for your word today. As we think about the duty of parenting, the seriousness of this, We recognize that we live in a world filled with lies. We recognize that we live in a world filled with all kinds of ignorant opinions on this subject. Lord, but we know, when we come to your word, we have clear direction that is infallible, inerrant, authoritative, and all-sufficient. Help us that we would follow in your way in every aspect of our homes, our families, and our lives. Help us that we would follow faithfully in your word as it relates to parenting and raising our children for your glory. May you be honored. May we be found faithful in this most diligent, serious, and yes, demanding task. May it all be for your honor and for your glory. And may we see many in the rising generation, in accordance with your sovereign grace, come to embrace Jesus as their Savior and as their Lord. Father, we pray all of this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Amen. Let's all stand together now as we prepare to be dismissed. Again, with the words of Holy Scripture, the Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. And all of God's people said, amen, amen.