“And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord,” Ephesians 6:4.
A reward is promised those who raise their children aright. "A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother," Proverbs 10:1. To accomplish this, parents need help.
II. THE METHOD OF DISCIPLINE
Nurture, admonition.
1. Nurture suggests the negative aspect of discipline.
Nurture is closely allied to chastise - Luke 23:16, Acts 7:22, 22:3, 1 Cor 11:32, Hebs 12:5-8, 11. There is nothing unchristian or unloving about chastisement. It is a token of love. “My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction,” Proverbs 3:11. God’s chastenings are very much physical, 1 Cor 11:29-32.
2. Such measures are necessary or else the Lord would not employ them nor urge us to do so also.
His method, speak first then rod, Zechariah 7:11-14.