Discussion: Punishment vs. Discipline

(5–8 minutes, easy set-up)
Learners will discuss the difference between punishment and discipline.

Divide learners into two groups. Instruct one group to think of a definition for the word punishment. Instruct the other to define the word discipline. After a couple of minutes, call on each group to share their definitions. Lead learners to discuss these questions:

What is the difference between punishment and discipline?
Which does God practice?

As learners discuss these questions, emphasize these differences between punishment and disciple:

Punishment is the act of inflicting a penalty for a wrongdoing or infraction.
Discipline is the practice of training people to do right, and it sometimes uses punishment to correct and reform.

Explain that in today’s lesson, learners will examine the circumstances in which God used both punishment and discipline in His interactions with His people.