StoneBridge Community Church
Interim Pastor Neal Nybo
Galatians 5:22-23 NIV
Jack Parr, a talk show host from the early days of television once said,
"Looking back, my life seems to be one long obstacle course ... with me as the chief obstacle.
Joyce Meyer, a popular Bible teacher, said,
“I have learned that I really do have discipline, self-control, and patience. But they were given to me as a seed, and it's up to me to choose to develop them.”
Personal Reflection / Growth Groups Questions
1. Per the Jack Parr quote, do you relate to being chief obstacle? How so?
2. Per the Joyce Meyer quote, can you recognize seeds of self-control in you?
Matthew 4:1-4 NIV
Personal Reflection / Growth Groups Questions
1. Do you agree or disagree with the statement, "Self-indulgence asks, 'can I do it?'” Why or why not?
2. Do you agree or disagree with the statement, "Self-control asks 'should I do it?'” Why or why not?
Personal Reflection / Growth Group Question
Some of those marshmallow kids were able to wait and think about their situation. Others, like that one little girl, began eating immediately, even before the lady could finish explaining the instructions. She was an eater.
Are you a wait-er or an eater?
Step 1. Start with ourselves.
Galatians 5:9 NIV
Personal Reflection / Growth Group Questions
1. Can you think of a situation in your life that is similar to the one Pastor Neal told about the Hollywood movie premier and having too much to eat?
2. What area in your life could use more self-control? (You don't have to say what that area is).
Step 2. Start now.
Colossians 3:5 NIV
Personal Reflection / Growth Group Questions
1. Talk about the progression described in Col 3:5. Can you see that each of these issues is a step towards the next, ending with the worst?
2. How would self-control help in this case?
3. What do you think of the statement, "It always gets worse?"
4. Do you think it is accurate when applied to areas of self-control?
Step 3. Start small.
Three rules Neal and Carolyn follow when making major decisions.
1. If we have to make a major decision immediately, the answer is no.
2. We must talk to the other and be in agreement before we can make a major decision.
3. Remember, this is not the last time an opportunity will come along.
Think of a time when these would have been helpful for you.
Personal Reflection / Growth Group Questions
1. What are ways people can start small in developing self-control?
2. Can you think of an example of someone you know working on some area of personal growth or learning where they started small but eventually became proficient?
3. What is the one thing you want to work on?
4. What is one thing you can do to start small? (If you need ideas, look at the article in the link above).
Next steps
1. Start with ourselves and make an honest assessment of an area of our life where more self-control would be helpful.
2. Start now, praying about your situation, looking for scriptures and lessons that address it, and inviting someone else into your process.
3. Start small, find one way each day to move in the direction of self-control in your area of concern. Using the accountability questions below, consider having a regular accountability conversation.
