Disciplining Children and the Gospel

The good news teaches us that the record of the Wise Son (Jesus) has been given to believing children--and that doesn't change during times of discipline. Although some children compound their sin during discipline by being stubbornly angry or sullen, they can be reassured that Jesus suffered through his time of punishment perfectly, without sinning and that is their record if they truly believe. Times of correction are to be times of gospel witness, reminding children that Jesus knows what it is to be punished and that he submitted to it even though he didn't deserve it (Fitzpatrick and Thompson, Give Them Grace, 102).