Self-Control
Motivated – Part 9
July 23-24, 2022
Steve Tanner
Memory Verse: “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” Galatians 5:22–23 (p.893)
1 Samuel 24:1–22
David Spares Saul’s Life
- I’m Motivated To Live In Self-Control.
1. Get direction from God’s Word. (Don’t just take someone’s word for it.)
“‘Now’s your opportunity!’ David’s men whispered to him. ‘Today the Lord is telling you, “I will certainly put your enemy into your power, to do with as you wish.’” So David crept forward and cut off a piece of the hem of Saul’s robe.” 1 Samuel 24:4 (p.229)
“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” Psalm 119:105 (p.471)
“But Jesus told him, ‘No! The Scriptures say, “People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4 (p.735)
2. Prayerfully respond. (Don’t react emotionally.)
“But then David’s conscience began bothering him because he had cut Saul’s robe. He said to his men, ‘The Lord forbid that I should do this to my lord the king. I shouldn’t attack the Lord’s anointed one, for the Lord himself has chosen him.’” 1 Samuel 24:5-6 (p.229)
“Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.” Ephesians 4:29 (p.897)
3. Imitate Jesus’ humility. (Don’t brag about how humble you are.)
(David shouting to Saul) “For the Lord placed you at my mercy back there in the cave. Some of my men told me to kill you, but I spared you…Look, my father, at what I have in my hand. It is a piece of the hem of your robe! I cut it off, but I didn’t kill you.”
1 Samuel 24:10-11 (p.230)
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28 (p.751)
“Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Luke 22:42 (p.805)
My Next Step This Week: Choose one or two things that you will do this week to help you live with more self-control.
_______ Pray daily for God to help you control your thoughts and emotions.
_______ Read Scripture that focuses on self-control.
_______ Find a description of Jesus that inspires humility and place it where you will see it every day. (Some possibilities include Philippians 2:5-11; 2 Corinthians 8:9; Matthew 20:28; Luke 22:42)
Discussion/Groups Guide: Motivated – Part 9 “Self-Control”
Life Groups use this guide in their discussion and study of the Weekend Talk. Use this also as a discussion guide with your family and friends.
Conversation Starters
- In The Avengers movies, when Dr. Bruce Banner gets angry, he loses self-control and becomes the Incredible Hulk. The only way to calm him down is by gently touching his hand and saying, “The sun’s getting real low.” Have you ever been in a situation where someone lost complete control, if so, how did it make you feel? What did you do?
- We see examples of people having no self-control every day. Some are silly and inconsequential, while some are devastatingly dangerous and even deadly. What do YOU do when you feel like you might “lose it”?
- Are you any better at keeping your self-control than you used to be? If so, to what do you attribute the improvement?
Quick Review
Looking back at your Weekend Talk Notes, was there anything you heard in the service that stood out to you, challenged you, or maybe even confused you?
Discussion Starters from the Weekend Talk
Refer to the Talk Notes and Bible verses from the Talk Notes.
Our One Thing: I Am Motivated To Live In Self-Control.
- Remember that this series has been focusing our attention on the Fruit of the Spirit, which is really a picture of the character of Jesus. And we only can do this—be motivated by this—if the Holy Spirit of God is living us.
Series Memory Verse: Galatians 5:22–23 (p.893)
Bible Story Background: David spares Saul’s life. 1 Samuel 24:1-22 (p.229)
- When have you exercised restraint or self-control?
- Who have you known who was very much self-controlled?
There is much more to self-control than just not doing something. There are a few changes that I need to ask God to help me make in my everyday life:
- Get direction from God’s Word. (Don’t just take others’ word for it.) 1 Samuel 24:4 (p.229); Psalm 119:105 (p.471)
- Can you think of a time when the advice of others was in opposition to what you believed?
Was there a Bible verse you recalled that helped you? - The “lamp” of Psalm 119:105 serves what purpose?
- Have you seen a pattern in this series of being self-reliant or self-willed? Be specific and ask God to show you how you can surrender to His Spirit instead.
- Can you think of a time when the advice of others was in opposition to what you believed?
- Prayerfully respond. (Don’t react emotionally.) 1 Samuel 24:5-6 (p.229); Ephesians 4:29 (p.897)
- What is the difference between reacting and responding?
- How would your life be different if you prayed before responding to any challenge or test you face?
- How can you keep your emotions in control?
- Imitate Jesus’ humility. (Don’t brag about how humble you are.) 1 Samuel 24:10-11(p.230); 1 Peter 5:5b (p.937)
- Was David practicing humility in this passage?
- Have you known people who seem to boast about how humble they are?
- How can we dress ourselves in humility?
- What can we learn about humility from Jesus? (See Philippians 2:5-8 (p.900)
Digging Deeper
Read, again, 1 Peter 5:5 (p.937)
- Consider it in relation to Paul advising the Ephesians to put on the whole armor of God in
Ephesians 6:10-18 (p.898). - Peter and Paul are both advising how we dress. Is there any conflict here or are both instructions complementary?
- Having gone through each part of the Fruit of the Spirit, are there any of them that you particularly struggle with, and are you willing to share it with your Group so they can pray for you? Or have you seen growth in your life in relation to a particular fruit? Share that experience with the group to encourage them, especially if you had asked the group to pray that you may grow in it.
The Holy Spirit empowers each follower for ministry. And the evidence of the Holy Spirit is as we exhibit the fruit in our lives. Go back and revisit any of the talks about specific fruit and maybe even look at the youth or kids’ content to get a slightly different teaching approach on it. You can download them and watch them on demand.
My Next Step This Week:
Choose one or two things that you will do this week to help you live with more self-control.
_______ Pray daily for God to help you control your thoughts and emotions.
_______ Read Scripture that focuses on self-control.
_______ Find a description of Jesus that inspires humility and place it where you will see it every day. (Some possibilities include Philippians 2:5-11; 2 Corinthians 8:9; Matthew 20:28; Luke 22:42)