Parenting by Paul David Tripp
Week 12: Principle 11 — You Will Deal with Foolishness
Read Chapter 11 of Parenting by Paul David Tripp.
Previewing Week 12 of Parenting
Read 3 of 7 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 17-week guide when you’re ready.
Tripp draws deeply on the book of Proverbs in this chapter, introducing a word that is more diagnostic than simply "bad behavior": foolishness. Understanding what the Bible means by foolishness will reframe much of what you see in your children — and in yourself.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Tripp uses the biblical concept of foolishness from Proverbs. What does "foolishness" mean in the biblical sense, and how is it different from mere childishness, immaturity, or ignorance?
2.He argues that the fool in Proverbs is not primarily someone who makes bad decisions — it is someone who has a disordered relationship with authority, wisdom, and God. How does understanding your child's defiance or stubbornness through this lens change how you respond to it?
3.Proverbs says that "foolishness is bound in the heart of a child" (Prov. 22:15). What comfort or sobriety does that verse offer? Does it let you off the hook, or does it raise the stakes?
a.How does this verse speak to parents who feel personally responsible every time their child acts foolishly?