This isn’t a free-speech/free-religion case. It is a true child-abuse issue. He was instructing church members to abuse their children, some as young as 2 months. It is not that he merely advocates spanking with a wooden spoon. He directs parents to beat babies. Do we really wish for “freedom of religion” to serve as a cover for true child abuse? I don’t think so.
You call it "instructing," he called it "preaching," but however you characterize it, it is speech.
This IS a free speech case, and this jury verdict is very troublesome.