The typical response from most Christians - who are addicted to the OT - is that they stumble over grace and Paul's manner of living.

It simply means that the rod and staff is not the manner of comfort during your guidance of the family - be it the home family or church family.

We still should learn Paul's walk!
We are still suppose to learn how to walk a Christian walk - a walk that pleases God and that even though it is different from the world, the world should want to have it, too.
Titus 2:11,12 - For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Romans 11:14: If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.
Philippians 4:9; I Timothy 1:16; I Corinthians 4:17; II Thessalonians 2:15

The rod could have been their comfort had they accepted Christ as their Messiah during the time of the 4 Gospels - or if they would have accepted him on their second chance in Acts 1-8.  And the rod and staff will once again be the comfort in the Tribulation - and it will be our guide to others during the Millennium.

But not today!
(see OT Addiction sermon for details of Psalm 23 being FOR us but not TO us today!)

By wrongly dividing the word of truth and claiming all the OT / Gospels for our comfort and manner of life and preaching, etc. we see how America and the local churches are on a constant path to an increase of ungodliness!  II Timothy 2:15,16 -  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.  But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

This verse seems to be so VOID in the homes of so many Christians!
II Corinthians 13:11 -  Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

We may think we are showing the life of Jesus in our mortal flesh, but we must remember that the life of Jesus we are to live is the RISEN Christ!
II Corinthians 4:10,11 - Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.  For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
Doing the Gospels and Jesus does not glorify God anymore than us trying to build a boat or making an issue out of the TEN Commandments.

What do you think Christ told Paul all those times he met with Paul?
Acts 9:1-22; 20:24; 26:15-28; Galatians 1:11,12; I Corinthians 15:8; II Corinthians 12:1-6; Ephesians 3:1-7

He told Paul to tell the Gentiles how to live unto God by the RISEN Saviour, not the earthly Messiah design!  That came and will come again, but not now!
Galatians 2:19 - For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
II Corinthians 5:15 - And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
Galatians 3:11-14 - But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.  And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.  Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:  That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
I Thessalonians 3:8 - Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:  Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.
I Thessalonians 5:10 - Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
II Timothy 2:11 -  It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:

We will suffer persecution living Paul's ways, but we sure shouldn't suffer that persecution from within our own family!

Remember last weeks sermon on What Men SHOULD be speaking today - and it isn't angry contention!
From last weeks sermon:
If contention arises, let it not be you that brought it forth - and use a soft answer to respond to others!
Proverbs 15:1,2 - A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.  The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
Proverbs 15:17-19 - Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.
Proverbs 15:18 - A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
Proverbs 15:19 - The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.
And if the dad stirs up the child to despise his mother, he is creating a fool!
Proverbs 15:20 - A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.
Proverbs 16:32 - He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
Proverbs 19:11 - The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
Change your voice if you need to - Galatians 4:20 - I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.
...but don't let anger take over! ... Ephesians 4:26,27 - Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:  Neither give place to the devil.

The Gospel of Christ
I Thessalonians 3:2 - And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:  That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.

Good works
II Thessalonians 2:16,17 - Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
Philippians 4:9 - Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Scripture
Romans 15:4 - For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
I Thessalonians 4:18 - Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Paul's ways
Philippians 4:9 - Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

The Brethren
I Thessalonians 5:11 - Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
II Corinthians 1:4-6 - Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
Colossians 4:11 - And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.

A pastor
Ephesians 6:21,22 - But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things: Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.
I Thessalonians 3:2 - And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:  That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.
I Thessalonians 5:12,13 - And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

ONE Bible!
Philippians 2:2 - Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
 

Paul's preaching!
I Corinthians 14:3 -  But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

Paul - as our example!
As a parent, not with a rod!  I Corinthians 4:21 - What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?
As a parent, a pattern for children to follow!  I Timothy 1:16 - Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
As a parent, give your own soul!  I Thessalonians 2:8 - So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.
As a parent, you tend to want to be somewhere else instead of with your kids... but they NEED YOU!  Philippians 1:23 - For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:  Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.  And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;  That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.  Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
We care - we try to warn our children, etc. Acts -20:31: Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
His prayers for us should be our prayers for our children - Ephesians 1:16-20; 3:14-19; Philippians 1:9-11; Colossians 1:9-11

If you are saying what you ought to be saying, dad - husband, than you won't have to resort to the OT ways of the rod and staff!
Ephesians 4:31 - Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
Ephesians 6:4 - And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
Colossians 3:8 - But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

We are to live IN the RISEN Christ through Paul's ways as taught by Christ to Paul and then to us - and that would prevent rebellion!
Romans 6:8 - Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
Romans 8:12,13 - Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
Romans 14:8 - For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.