For the Love of Discipline: When the Gospel Meets Tantrums and Time-Outs

by Sara Wallace

Overview

Is discipline something you do to your kids—or something you do for them? Biblical discipline is holistic; its ultimate goal is a child’s growth in the Lord. That means that the gospel does much more than plug nicely into a discipline program. The gospel is true discipline’s driving force, turning parental instruction and training into a rich, transformative part of daily life. And that doesn’t happen just by accident. Written by a mom on the front lines, For the Love of Discipline takes short chapters to work through typical discipline issues from a gospel perspective. Along the way, Sara offers personal examples, teaches practical strategies, and shows how to pursue “discipline skills” every day. Moms will stop spinning their wheels in quick fixes and behavior management and find renewed strength in God’s own gracious shepherding and love.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781629953571
Publisher:	Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing
Publication date:	04/30/2018
Pages:	160
Sales rank:	803,409
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

Sara Wallace is author of For the Love of Discipline and the Bible study The Gospel-Centered Mom and has written articles for The Gospel Coalition and RELEVANT magazine. She and her husband have five sons.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments 9

From One Mom to Another: As You Get Started 11

Part 1 Lasting Motivation: Discovering the Gospel in Discipline

1 The Game Plan: Let's Get Ready 17

2 Why We Don't "Punish" Our Kids 27

3 Rewards and the Gospel 33

4 The Right Kind of Fear 41

5 Too Much or Too Little? 51

6 From Emotion-Led to Spirit-Led Discipline 61

7 Setting Our Expectations 71

Part 2 Practical Tools: How Does It Really Look?

8 Daily Structure: Why Routine Is Essential 83

9 Words That Hurt, Words That Heal 93

10 Sibling Fights: Can My Kids Really Be Best Friends? 103

11 What to Do When Your Child Tells You No 111

12 Tiny Ones and Tantrums 121

13 Big Kids and Rebellion 131

14 Three Ways to Practice Follow-Through 139

From One Mom to Another: As You Keep Going 149

Appendix: How to Pray for Your Children 153

Notes 157

Editorial Reviews

"As a mom and pastor's wife with three kids aged four and under, I once ordered five parenting books in one day. I was looking for gospel-centered guidance for thinking through our philosophy of discipline for our family—I was looking for For the Love of Discipline! Sara's concepts combine personal experience with wonderfully practical tips, helping to guide parents in the godly task of loving our children in the way we discipline them. I've already begun implementing many of her ideas in our home."

Kristi James

"I don't know the last time I read such a refreshing, biblically balanced parenting book. As she comes alongside moms to speak grace and truth into their hearts, Sara Wallace navigates through both plain and tricky areas of child discipline. And she does it with grace and the gentleness of wisdom! All the while she maintains the centrality of the gospel, dependence upon the Holy Spirit, and an eye intentionally fixed upon eternity. I highly recommend this little treasure."

Paul Tautges

"As a mom to three boys, you can imagine the kind of mad respect I have for a mother to five boys. Sara Wallace shoots straight about the importance of discipline in raising our children. If you want your discipline to point your kids to the gospel but don't know where to start, this is your go-to manual."

Summer Lacy

"What should my discipline look like, sound like, and seek to do? How is it possible to do everything my family demands and also take time to discipline my children? Does discipline really help anyway?” If you are a mom or have hopes of becoming a mom and have questions similar to these, this book is for you. Sara Wallace shares her journey as she seeks to faithfully parent her five children in light of the gospel. She writes honestly from a sense of process, not destination. She comes alongside you as a friend and fellow struggler, striving to honor God with gospel-saturated discipline.

Kevin Carson