Intro:
- Our neighborhoods are full of kids that get into trouble now days
- Eph 6:1-4
- Discipline & Instruction has gotten a bad rap
- Parents indoctrinating is seen as immoral, spanking seen as abuse
- People are saying spanking is bad (most are editorials not studies)
- "Effective Discipline should not be harsh or abusive, but it can't be weak or ineffective either"
- Will learn a lesson in Discipline from Samson
- Samson characterized as big strong and stupid
- What about his parents (Samson learned stupidity)
- What we'll learn from looking at Samson is that: Freedom leads to Slavery (what kind?, 3 types:)
I. Slavery to your own desires (Jud. 14:1-9)
- Permissive, faint-hearted parents will produce children enslaved to every whim
- Samson seemed to be a demanding child
- Samson wanted permission for a forbidden marriage
- Father did not insist on what is right (v.3)
- This evidently was a life long pattern:
- (v.8) he broke his vow (Disregarded God's law)
- It was always about Samson, and what Samson wanted, even in his death.
- Prov. 22:15 "Foolishness is bound up in the heart of child, but the rod of discipline will remove it far from him."
- If only they had enough faith to believe that
- We knew a couple with an only child, Jacob
- He was uncontrollable, screams, kicks and yells, runs, bites
- Parents, "now Jacob, don't let's not do that okay?"
- We wanted to turn him over our knee
- If this continues, this child will be a slave to his own desires
- Freedom leads to Slavery
- You have to insist on what's right and best
- I have to wonder now days (Parents insist on going to school, but not church)
- Insist on school homework, but not Bible Study
- What message are you sending?
II. Slavery to the wrong spouse
- Lack of discipline and instruction can likely result in a bad marriage
- Notice 14:3; 15:1-2; 16:1; 16:4
- None of his relationships were good ones
- He became a slave to the wrong women
- They were foreigners
- They brought him only trouble
- They were not interested in him doing God's will
- He was betrayed by his wife, and later by Delilah.
- Notice what part his parents had in 15:1-2, His own Father suggested a foreigner
- The message Samson got - It's not that important who I marry
- I remember as a teen those I dated
- There is a problem with the whole concept of dating
- A one year relationship is viewed as long term (relationship, no commitment)
- Idea, try them on, bond, then break up (same rationale used for living together)
- Has tendency to be self centered
- Teaches that you marry the one you love -Bible says to love the one you marry
- Courtship is making a come back now days
- Becomes a Family Affair (Dating says bye at the door, courting finds you playing ball with Dad or helping in the kitchen)
- The okay comes from both sets of parents
- Only court if child is ready to be married
- Must be spiritually and financially prepared to marry
- Interview with Parents before begin courtship
- I am doing study on betrothal
- "Dating" is not in the Bible
- Boyfriend, Girlfriend concept isn't either
- There are married, single and the betrothed. That's all
- "Dating" is a very new concept.
- As parents, you need to wrestle with these things
- You need to discuss marriage with your kids
- You need to be involved in the courtship process
- Begin talking about it early in life, that way they are used to your involvement
- Be involved in friendship decisions early in life as well
- If not, remember, Freedom leads to Slavery (to the wrong spouse)
III. Slavery to the Enemy
- Wishy washy parenting could lead children into slavery to God's enemies
- Samson was "Dating" or flirting with Delilah (16:4)
- Delilah betrays him just like his wife did
- It says that the Lord left him (16:20-21) It was the last straw
- Samson became a slave to the Philistines
- Prov. 13:24 - "He who spares the rod hates his son"
- Prov. 19:18 - "Discipline your son while there is hope, and do not desire his death."
- Almost everyone I know who had permissive parents had a rough time
- Many could not ever hold a job (no one tell them what to do)
- Many live off of others and wont support self
- Scary thing is some of these guys are married with kids
- Now they are slave to poverty
- Freedom leads to slavery
Concl:
- Are you teaching wisdom or stupidity? (Prov. 12:1 - He who hates reproof is stupid)
- Heb 12 - Discipline yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness
- You must insist on what is right, you have the responsibility to train your children
- Freedom leads to slavery
- However, Discipline leads to Freedom