Truth or Dare (Part 2)
Lesson 4: The Truth About Self-Control
Lesson Workbook - Click Here for NIV Click Here for KJV
Dizzy Bat Race (Game) Click Here
LESSON OBJECTIVES
Goals
1) To help students realize that they sometimes live out of control
2) To emphasize the importance of self-control from Scripture
3) To give students practical help in living in control
Topics
Accountability, Behavior, Choices, Contentment, Discernment, Self Control
OPENING PRAYER (5 to 10 minutes)
GROUP BUILDING (15 minutes)
Dizzy Bat Race (Game) Click Here
GETTING STARTED (10 minutes)
Some things are fun when they’re out of control. Other things are no good out of balance. It is simply wrong to let yourself get spiritually out of control.
• What’s the craziest time you’ve ever had?
• What made it fun?
DIGGING IN (25 minutes)
The Bible is clear that we need to exercise self-control. Check out the memory verse for the week, Proverbs 25:28.
It says, “Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self control.”
Discussion Questions:
1. What do you think that verse means?
2. Why do you think it’s so important that we have self-control?
There are numerous Scriptures that talk about self-control. Let's cover a few of them.
Read Galatians 5:22-23.
Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit. If you are living a life in the Spirit, you will exercise self-control.
Discussion Questions:
1. Does this mean, then, that someone living without self-control is not living in the Spirit?
2. As you look around our world, what are some ways you see people living out of control? (drug abuse, alcoholism, promiscuity, overeating, gambling, etc.)
Our society is filled with indulgent people. It is very difficult, especially in America, to find someone who keeps themselves in check. Moderation is not a value. Instead we live in excess.
For example:
• We don’t think having a home is enough, we want a big house
• We don’t think an iPod shuffle is sufficient, we want a high-gig video iPod
• We aren’t content with a car, we want a fast car or a good looking car
• We don’t settle for our old game system, we want the newest game system
Get the idea? We live in excess. We don’t exercise self-control. Instead, we indulge in whatever we want whenever we want it. In our habits, in our lusts, in our entertainment, and in our relationships. We want the most friends on MySpace, the fastest internet connection, the quickest fix. We don’t e-mail much anymore, we prefer instant messaging. We don’t cook in an oven, we cook in a microwave. We find shortcuts, we look for the easiest way.
The weird thing is, the Bible said this would happen. It predicted that in our times, we would not be able to control ourselves.
Read 2 Timothy 3:1-5
Discussion Questions:
1. Do you think this sounds a lot like these days?
2. Why do you think living like this can be so dangerous?
3. What is it inside us that you think makes us not want to wait?
4. Why can’t we trust God to provide what we need? Why is our want list so large?
To sum up, let’s read 2 Peter 1:5-6.
MAKING IT REAL (15 minutes)
We want to be sure that you know you can live in control. There are some practical ways to be sure you’re not living out of balance.
Workbook ActivityContentment is a Blessing 1. Learn to be content. Settle for simple things. Don’t be obsessed with more. Settle for less on purpose. Whatever you do, don’t believe the lie of our culture that tells us that bigger, faster, fancier, and more expensive is better. Contentment is the right thing to do. |
SCRIPTURE MEMORIZATION (5 to 10 minutes)
"Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control." Proverbs 25:28 (NIV)
CLOSING PRAYER (2 minutes)
Pray that you can be content. Think of all the people who have less than you. Pray that you would never believe that to have more means to be more. Pray that you can trust God and be thankful for what you have.