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| Screenshot from The Village (2004), directed by M. Night Shyamalan. © Touchstone Pictures / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. Used under fair use. |
Teaching children God’s Word will sometimes require us to address behavior that distracts from learning. This is not simply a matter of keeping order; it is part of guiding them toward hearing and obeying the truth. How we correct matters as much as what we correct.
Correction in the classroom should reflect the heart of a shepherd, not a taskmaster. Paul reminded the Thessalonians that he was “gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children” (1 Thess. 2:7, NKJV). But this kind of gentleness does not ignore what is wrong; it handles it in a way that aims to build up rather than humiliate.
As for us, we often correct gently and directly, sometimes by speaking to a child privately, sometimes by moving closer to them, or quietly reminding them of the lesson’s focus. There are also times when the situation affects more than one child and begins to distract others. When that happens, we address the whole class. This ensures that everyone hears the reminder and understands the expectation.
Most of the time, we correct gently. Yet there are moments when we must speak more firmly, especially if the children seem to be taking advantage of the patience we have shown them. We believe it is biblically acceptable to be firm when needed. Ecclesiastes 3:7–8 reminds us that there is “a time to keep silence, and a time to speak,” and Proverbs 29:15 says, “The rod and rebuke give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.” Our goal is never to humiliate, but to help them see the seriousness of respecting God’s Word and one another.
There are occasions when small punishments may be fitting, such as removing a privilege or having a child sit apart for a short time. Even these should be done with the intention of restoring the child, not simply restraining them. Hebrews 12:11 tells us, “Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” Discipline, when given with love and purpose, can train children to see the value of obedience.
Gentle correction also provides opportunities to connect the moment to the gospel. When we speak about listening, we can remind them that hearing God’s Word is a way to honor Him. When we speak about kindness or honesty, we can point back to the One who calls us to love others as He has loved us. In this way, correction becomes part of discipleship.
When we balance patience with firmness, we reflect something of God’s own dealings with us. He is merciful, yet He disciplines His children for their good (Heb. 12:6). If our students can see even a glimpse of that in how we lead them, they may understand His character better than any single lesson could explain.
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