Let’s Talk About Discipline!

Discipleship and discipline come from the same root word. The significance of discipline in discipleship is heard in the words of a seasoned ministry founder: “If you have to choose between instruction and discipline in your ministry, choose discipline, because without it, your instruction is nothing.” We know the importance of discipline in our ministries and in our homes, but it seems that we move too quickly to discipline after we have moved too slowly! Let me explain! There are three aspects of discipline which seem to be outlined in Scripture:

Instruction. This is the educative aspect of discipline. It answers the question of the child, “Do you know what I want?” True in home or in class, a child must grasp what is being expected. Ephesians 6:4: “And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger; but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” (NASB)

Training. This is the exercising or building up aspect of discipline. During this part of discipline we ask, “Are you able and willing to do what I expect?” The child is allowed and shaped to master the skill or understanding. I Timothy 4:7: “Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.” (NIV)

Correction. This part of discipline is what we normally think of when we think of discipline. Correcting wrong behavior with a good attitude. However, I have found that if we move to correct before instruction and training, we are diminishing our grasp on sound teaching both in home and church. Hebrews 12:9: “Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?” (KJV)

We move too quickly to the correction within discipline. And it follows that we move too slowly toward the instruction and training parts of discipline. So whether we are parent or pastor, teacher or mentor, let’s not neglect any of the aspects of discipline in our children’s discipleship.

Dr. Gregory C. Carlson
Chair and Professor of Christian Ministries
Trinity International University
Deerfield, IL