TEMPERANCE

 TEMPERANCE
 

INTRODUCTION:

World Temperance Day is observed annually on October 3rd to raise awareness about the temperance movement and encourage moderation or abstinence from alcohol. It prompts reflection on alcohol's impact and provides an opportunity to learn about the history of temperance movements. The catch however is, it is not for the weak and neither can it be acquired and maintained by mere wishing. Greater power and spiritual discipline are required.

 

Temperance the quality of moderation or self-restraint, moderation in action, thought, or feeling. True temperance is having self-control over our spirit, our life, our appetites, and our tongue, that we might keep in balance all aspects of our daily living.

 

Temperance is the discipline of self-control - the deliberate mastery of our desires, passions, and appetites so that they remain within God-honoring boundaries. Temperance empowers a person to resist destructive impulses, choose what is right over what is easy, and live a life of moral stability and spiritual strength. Without temperance, talents are wasted, purpose is derailed, and sin gains entrance; but with temperance, character is guarded and relationships flourish. Temperance is both a command and a fruit of the Spirit that is essential to victorious Christian living and a life pleasing to God.

 

TEXT: Proverbs 16:32; Luke 21:34-36 (Spirit); Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (Time); 1 Corinthians 9:25-27 (Desires); James 1:26; 3:2 (Tongue)

KEY VERSE: “And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.”

(1 Corinthians 9:25)

 

1. Proverbs 16:32 indicates that one needs to rule his spirit. Explain how you think this verse relates to temperance.

 

RELATED SCRIPTURES:

“He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.” — Proverbs 14:29

 “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” — James 1:19

 “He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.” — Proverbs 25:28 (paraphrase echoing the proverb form; see Proverbs for related imagery).

 

LESSON INSPIRATIONS:

It begins with you – The grace to will and to do is available, but you have to activate it

Conditional – If you do it, you will be exercising the control

Reaction temperance – Spiritual Response to people and circumstances

 

IT HAS BEEN SAID:

“Temperance governs the appetite; it keeps the appetites and passions in conformity with reason.”

 “Temperance is the throne; ruling your spirit is the king who sits on it.”

 “You are either ruled by your desires or you rule them — there is no neutral ground.”

 “Ruling your spirit makes mercy steady and anger swift to leave.”

 “Temperance is the habit; ruling your spirit is the practice.”

 

KEY POINTS:

Temperance begins with you - Rule your spirit

Submit to God’s authority - You can then issue authority

Temperance is Spiritual principle checks and balances applied

 

In practice: “Being Human” “Being spiritual”

Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

When practical time comes, how do we respond?

We need spiritual discipline

Principle & application

“I’m just human”, “God understands” (excuse will exclude you)

Don’t excuse the situation with flesh weakness -“The spirit is willing…flesh is weak”

God provides the spiritual capacity to dominate the flesh

- Willingness & obedience are the keys

How do we maintain the spiritual?

Spiritual maintenance

- Prayer (communication)  – The Word (Manual/reference) – Obedience (action/works) – Consecration – Service

 

SEARCH:

True strength is mastery of oneself, not domination of others:

 Start a daily “self-control practice”: pause before responding in conflict, count to 10, and choose a constructive response.

Keep a 7-day log of times you chose self-control, noting the situation, your choice, and the outcome.

 

Temperance extends to controlling bodily appetites and impulses:

 Self-control over desires protects health, integrity, and spiritual focus; it keeps us from slavery to cravings.

1 Corinthians 9:27  — “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”

Establish a 30-day restraint goal (food, drink, screens, etc.) and use a journal to reflect on temptations, victories, and triggers.

Replace a common indulgence with a healthier or godly alternative, and document the spiritual sense of freedom it brings.

 

Temperance in speech and relationships cultivates healthy interpersonal relationships:

Ephesians 4:29  — “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”

James 1:26  — “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.”

Implement a “24-hour kindness challenge”: speak only words that build up and reflect grace; if you slip, confess and seek restoration.

Before social media or conversations, pause to ask: Is this kind, true, and necessary? If not, refrain and choose a more edifying alternative.

 

2. Looking at Luke 21:34, and using a dictionary, briefly define the following: Overcharged, Surfeiting, Drunkenness.

 

RELATED SCRIPTURES:

Luke 21:34 “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life…”

Pr 23: 29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?

30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.

Romans 13:13-14 “…not in rioting and drunkenness… But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”

 Proverbs 23:31–32 “Look not thou upon the wine when it is red… At the last it biteth like a serpent.”

1 Peter 2:11 “Abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.”

 

LESSON INSPIRATIONS:

Overcharged: -Burden – to load too heavily -Going beyond useful limits

Surfeiting: -Unnecessary excess – overindulgence

Drunkenness -Intoxicated – lost of common sense

 

IT HAS BEEN SAID:

 “What one generation tolerates, the next generation will embrace.”

 “Do not ask how far you can go and still be saved, but how close you can walk with God and be free.”

 “Sin will keep you longer than you want to stay and cost you more than you want to pay.”

 “He that would be safe from acts of evil must wisely avoid occasions of it.”

 “There are no safe sins; small sins grow into great monsters.”

 

“Moderation is wisdom in food—but a lie in sin.”

 “Sin is not tamed by moderation; it is defeated by separation.”

 “You don’t drown by drinking the ocean, just one cup at a time—avoid the first sip.”

 “What you tolerate will eventually dominate.”

 “The only safe distance from sin is running distance.”

 “Avoidance protects when moderation deceives.”

 

KEY POINTS:

"I know my limits" relating to what's wrong (e.g. Alcohol) - Deceit

Overcharged: Excessive beyond the necessary

Surfeiting: Overindulgence in what is lawful and needful

Drunkenness: Beyond reasoning - mentally unhealthy

 

SEARCH:

Guard your heart from being overloaded with worldly cares:

CHALLENGE: Identify the top two or three cares that distract you from spiritual focus; set specific, time-bound boundaries to limit those distractions (e.g., scheduled downtime, reduced screen time, prayerful planning).

End each day with a brief reflection on God’s faithfulness, resetting priorities for the next day.

 

Recognize surfeiting as more than just eating or drinking:

Surfeiting represents an excess that dulls discernment; not just physical excess, but any overindulgence that numbs the conscience.

CHALLENGE: Practice disciplined self-control in at least one area (food, drink, or leisure) for 21 days; note how restraint affects focus and obedience.

Pair with a daily brief prayer asking God to curb indulgence and renew spiritual sensitivity.

 

Cultivate a life of watchful hope through disciplined routines:

CHALLENGE: Develop a simple daily/weekly rhythm that includes Scripture reading, prayer, and worship; set a reminder to pause and re-center on Christ during busy days.

Create a small accountability group to encourage consistency in spiritual disciplines and to remind one another of the return of Christ.

 

3. Read 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. Because of lack of temperance or lack of moderation, there are many things that could be done to defile the temple of God. For example, one may eat too much, or too little. Give other examples showing how the temple of God can be abused by extremes.

 

RELATED SCRIPTURES:

1 Corinthians 3:16–1 “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God… If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy…”

 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 “Ye are not your own… therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

1 Corinthians 9:25–27 “…every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things… I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection…”

Philippians 4:5 “Let your moderation be known unto all men.”

 

LESSON INSPIRATIONS:

Quality/critical analysis of potential outputs/reactions of our inputs/actions

Consequences: -Spiritual -Physical/Body

Areas: recreation, books, exercise to extreme, job involvement, school activities

Overdoing in any of these areas could wear you down physically.

 

IT HAS BEEN SAID:

“Those who indulge their appetites will find their bodies to be as snares to their souls.”

“Anything that takes God’s place in the heart—food, drink, pleasure—destroys the soul by degrees.”

“We sin against God by destroying our bodies through excess or carelessness, for they are His workmanship.”

“You cannot serve God with a sick body if that sickness is the fruit of your own sin or folly.”

 

 “The temple of God is not destroyed in a day—it erodes by indulgence and neglect.”

 “Temperance guards what God owns—your body.”

 “Extremes are enemies of holiness; balance is the pathway of obedience.”

 “Your body is an instrument of worship, not a tool for abuse.”

 “Every lack of self-control invites spiritual defeat.”

 “God made you His temple—don’t turn it into a prison of appetite.”

 

KEY POINTS:

Moderation in all things - Lack of relative/expected discipline

Negligence is below expectations - Excessive is out of control

Avoid the extremes - Moderation is the key - In control

 

SEARCH:

Balance spiritual disciplines with healthy physical stewardship:

 A godly life honors both soul and body; neglecting physical health can impede spiritual service, while neglecting spiritual life can misdirect our footing.

CHALLENGE: Create a weekly exercise that includes both spiritual practices (prayer, study, worship) and physical care (exercise, sleep, nutrition). Schedule accountable check-ins to review balance and progress.

 

Guard the temple against extremes in purity, purity laws, or self-denial that harm others:

CHALLENGE: Practice humility in personal convictions; seek unity with others who differ on non-essential practices.

 

4. Temperance for Christians involves moderation, not in sinful habits or wrongdoing, but in things that are lawful. Suggest how temperance could be exercised in the following areas:

Use of time, Control of appetites, Use of money.

 

RELATED SCRIPTURES:

“All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.”  1 Corinthians 6:12

 “Let your moderation be known unto all men.” — Philippians 4:5

 “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” — 1 Corinthians 10:31

 

LESSON INSPIRATIONS:

Time: Life’s investment capital – Every second counts – Invest it or loose it

Appetites: Needful but could be impulsive -Feed your soul, not your cravings/addiction

Money: Necessary for basic needs -Abundance of it requires purposeful/reinvestment strategies

 

IT HAS BEEN SAID:

“True temperance is moderation in all things lawful and total abstinence from all things harmful.”

“Do not make your lawful enjoyments your sinful enslavements.”

 

Temperance is the discipline of desire:

It regulates lawful pleasures—food, rest, hobbies—so they do not hinder devotion, duty, or holiness.

 

Temperance produces order in life:

Without self-control, even good things can become destructive when misused or overindulged—time, finances, and appetites must be governed.

 

Temperance protects spiritual freedom:

Anything that begins to control a believer—food, entertainment, spending—becomes a form of bondage. Christian liberty is preserved through temperance.

 

Practical Examples:

✔ Set daily priorities around God first

✔ Limit entertainment and distractions

✔ Use time intentionally for purpose, not just pleasure

✔ Schedule rest to avoid burnout

 

2. Temperance in Control of Appetites

 

“He who would not be mastered by sin must master himself.”

Appetites—whether for food, pleasure, comfort, or physical satisfaction—are natural, but without temperance they grow into bondage. Temperance teaches limits.

 

 3. Temperance in Use of Money

 “The love of money is the root of all evil.” — 1 Timothy 6:10

 “Money is a good servant but a terrible master.”

 

Money is lawful and necessary—but without temperance, it becomes a tool of greed, pride, or waste. Christian stewardship uses money with purpose, simplicity, and contentment.

 

Temperance is the fence that protects spiritual power.

Christians may fail not in usually obviously sinful things—but in unrestrained lawful things that slowly become idols.

 

KEY POINTS:

Temperance is not engaging in sin with caution

Moderation is being in control of what is lawful

Time: Christians prioritize time for God

Appetites: Knowing and applying limits - God's glory in utilities

Money: -Seed blessing -Reinvest for God's glory - Eternal values investment

Make your resources work/reinvest for you - Not hindrances - Wisdom

 

SEARCH:

Use of time — redeem every moment for God-honoring purposes:

Ephesians 5:15-16 — “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

Colossians 4:5 — “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.”

CHALLENGE: Create a weekly schedule with allocated time for prayer, Bible study, work, family, rest, and service. Review at week’s end to assess how well priorities matched time spent.

Identify one “time-waster” (social media, excessive entertainment, unnecessary errands) and set a concrete limit or replacement activity for the next 30 days.

 

Control of appetites — exercise self-control over bodily desires:

CHALLENGE: Choose one appetite (food, drink, sleep schedule, or screen time) to moderate for 21–30 days, keeping a log of triggers and healthier substitutions.

Develop a simple rule: if tempted, pause, pray, and replace the impulse with a constructive habit (walk, water, reading Scripture).

 

Use of money — steward finances wisely and generously:

Temperance in wealth means prudent budgeting, avoiding debt, and giving sacrificially, not being ruled by money.

1 Timothy 6:6-11 — “But godliness with contentment is great gain... But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare...”

Luke 16:11 — “If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?”

CHALLENGE: Create a simple budget linked to biblical priorities (needs, savings, generosity). Set a monthly giving goal

Establish accountability: share progress with a trusted friend or mentor and review financial practices quarterly to ensure alignment with Scripture.

 

Speech and digital communication — temper the tongue and online interactions:

Wise, restrained communication builds up others and honors God; reckless words harm relationships and witness.

Proverbs 21:23 — “Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.”

James 1:19-20 — “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”

CHALLENGE: Implement a 24-hour pause before posting or replying online to consider truth, tone, and potential impact. Practice speaking edifying, truthful words in every conversation.

Start a accountability group or friend system to review communications weekly, aiming to reduce harsh or unproductive speech and increase encouragement.

 

5. Temperance, or self-control, is discipline. Explain what you think Paul meant in 1 Corinthians 9:27.

 

RELATED SCRIPTURES:

“And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things.” — 1 Corinthians 9:25

 “He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.” — Proverbs 25:28

 

LESSON INSPIRATIONS:

It begins with you – Spiritual capacity available and must be used

Five human senses are natural forces – They need spiritual discipline

Imparted self-control – A standard within that is raised as at when needed

Failure to exercise the control – Relative consequences

Greatest consequence – Spiritual loss – the beginning of other consequences

 

IT HAS BEEN SAID:

 “Discipline is choosing what you want most over what you want now.”

 “He who cannot obey himself will be commanded by others.”

 “Rule your passions or they will rule you.”

 “What we do in moderation, our children will do in excess.”

 “The first and best victory is to conquer self.”

 “Self-denial is the essence of temperance.”

 “Christian liberty is not freedom to sin but freedom from sin’s control.”

“Temperance is the muscle of holiness—built by repeating obedience.”

 “Discipline is the price of spiritual power.”

 “Without self-control, talent is wasted and spirituality is shallow.”

 “Self-control doesn’t limit freedom—it protects it.”

 “Weak people follow feelings; strong people follow convictions.”

 “No man can rule others until he rules himself.”

Self-control is spiritual strength under order:

   Rather than suppressing desire, temperance directs desire toward godly purposes. It disciplines time, thoughts, speech, and habits.

 

Temperance grows through training, not wishing:

   Like athletes develop strength, believers develop temperance by daily small disciplines—prayer habits, resisting urges, keeping commitments.

 

Lack of temperance is a doorway to bondage:

   Failure to discipline oneself leads to addictions, wasted time, emotional instability, financial ruin, and moral failure.

 

True biblical temperance is powered by the Holy Spirit:

   It is not just self-effort; it is Spirit-enabled discipline.

 

KEY POINTS:

It begins with you - You are responsible

Keeping the body under - Activities of the body (necessities and frivolities)

Keeping the heart with all diligence - Through 5 senses

Do the dos - You will have less time for the don'ts

Avoid the donts - They are traps

 

MORALS: are principles and beliefs concerning right and wrong behavior

- derived from upbringing, relating to the standards of good or bad behaviour

SPIRITUAL: Imparted divine capacity

DISCIPLINE: Combination of morals and spiritual moderations

Discipline?  Stand up for something, so that you don’t become victim of all circumstances

Discipline is not obedience to someone else's standards to avoid punishment. It is learning and applying intentional standards to achieve meaningful objectives.

How to be disciplined: - Know it – Embrace it – Love it – Practice it – Enforce it

 

SEARCH:

Self-control safeguards shape and integrity of daily life:

CHALLENGE: Choose one recurring temptation this week and implement a concrete boundary (time limit, substitute activity, accountability partner). Track successes and triggers.

 

Temperance protects health, energy, and long-term usefulness:

Paul teaches that disciplined self-control preserves one’s ability to fulfill calling and testimony; neglect leads to spiritual failure or disqualification from service.

CHALLENGE: Create a 4-week personal discipline plan (sleep, nutrition, exercise, media use) aligned with your God-given mission; review weekly and adjust as needed.

 

Temperance in priorities keeps you focused on God’s call:

Luke 9:23 — "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me."

Self-control helps align time, resources, and energy with God’s mission rather than with every appetite or distraction.

CHALLENGE: Do a weekly "priority audit": list top three commitments, evaluate their alignment with God’s purposes, and prune or re-prioritize as needed. Set a tangible next step to deepen discipleship.

 

6. How do you “bridle” your tongue (James 3:2)? Controlling the tongue is more than eliminating the obvious sins of the tongue, such as lying or swearing. In what ways should a Christian be watchful or exercise control over his tongue? See Proverbs 10:19.

 

RELATED SCRIPTURES:

James 1:26 – “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.”

 James 3:2 – “If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.”

 Proverbs 21:23 – “Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.”

 Proverbs 13:3 – “He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.”

 Ephesians 4:29 – “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good…”

 Colossians 4:6 – “Let your speech be always with grace…”

 Proverbs 15:1 – “A soft answer turneth away wrath…”

 Matthew 12:36 – “Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.”

Proverbs 25:11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

 

LESSON INSPIRATIONS:

Talking – Natural/impulsive instinct – Potential tool for the devil – watch your words

Wrong use: Talebearing – Gossiping – Foolish jesting

Your speech is a reflection of your inward man

 

IT HAS BEEN SAID:

“Speak not harshly; a hasty word can never be recalled.”

“The government of the tongue is one of the greatest signs of true religion.”

“If I take care of my words, God will take care of my reputation.”

“A sanctified heart will show itself in a sanctified tongue.”

“The man who would please God must begin by mastering his speech.”

“A bridled tongue is a guarded heart speaking.”

 “Wise believers measure words before speaking them.”

 “The tongue is a tool—use it to heal, not to harm.”

 “If you don’t rule your tongue, it will ruin your testimony.”

 “Control your words or they will control your destiny.”

 

Speech discipline flows from heart discipline:

   Controlling the tongue is impossible without controlling thoughts and motives. Speech is the overflow of the heart (Luke 6:45).

 

Bridling the tongue preserves peace and testimony:

   Most conflicts—family, church, workplace—begin not with violence but with careless words.

 

Speech must be intentional, not impulsive:

   A wise believer thinks before speaking, filters words through truth, love, grace, purity, and purpose.

 

Action:

Pause before speaking – “Be slow to speak” (James 1:19).

Pray before words – “Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth” (Psalm 141:3).

Filter speech – Ask: Is it true? Kind? Necessary? Edifying?

Feed your heart with Scripture – Pure speech flows from a pure heart.

Avoid talkative sins – gossip, slander, complaining, profanity.

Practice silence – sometimes silent prayer beats spoken reaction.

Confess speech sins quickly – keep the tongue accountable.

 

KEY POINTS:

The tongue does not operate independently - Brain and heart are needed

Controlling of the tongue comes from the heart

Deal with the Source, not the outcome - Lying, backbiting etc not the real problem

Watch your inputs - thoughts - materials - peer pressures - media etc

 

THE TONGUE & THE HEART

The tongue is a transformer of what is in the heart

A slip of tongue is a slip of heart/mind

Mind your mind/heart

The heart controls the tongue

The tongue receives from the heart

Matthew 12:35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

 

Words reveal the state of the heart (Matthew 12:34).

 Words can build or destroy (Proverbs 18:21).

 Words can honor or dishonor God (Psalm 19:14).

 Words can heal or wound relationships (Proverbs 12:18).

 Words can glorify Christ or damage our witness (Titus 2:8).

 

SEARCH:

Self-control in speech guards relationships and witness:

Temperance includes controlling the tongue; words can heal, build up, or wound and derail ministry.

CHALLENGE: Implement a 24-hour pause before speaking in heated moments or posting online; commit to edifying, truthful, and compassionate communication. Maintain a small log of confrontations and postures of restraint vs. rash speech.

 

Speak with restraint and purpose; words should build up

Ephesians 4:29 — “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”

Bridle means more than avoiding swearing; it means choosing language that honors God and blesses others.

Before speaking, ask: Is this true, kind, and necessary? If not, hold your tongue or rephrase.

Start a weekly habit: write one edifying sentence or verse to share with someone each day.

 

Practice listening before speaking; quick to hear, slow to speak:

James 1:19 — “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”

Listening well slows the impulse to respond harshly and helps ensure your words are thoughtful and helpful.

CHALLENGE: During conversations, count to three mentally before answering; summarize the other person’s point to confirm understanding.

Create a small accountability partner group to provide gentle feedback on speaking habits.

 

Guard against gossip, flattery, and tearing others down:

Proverbs 20:19 — “He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets; therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.”

The tongue can spread harm through gossip or flattery; watch for patterns that injure trust or misrepresent others.

If others speak ill of someone, steer the talk to constructive insights or offer to speak directly to the person.

 

Use speech to reflect grace in all contexts, including online:

Colossians 4:6 — “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”

Language matters in person and online; digital words can harm or heal. Choose grace, truth, and timeliness.

CHALLENGE: Implement an online response rule: pause before posting, delete if it’s unkind or untrue, and replace with a helpful alternative.

Practice daily grace-filled responses: reply with encouragement, correction wrapped in love, or silence when appropriate.

 

7. Moderation in all aspects of our daily living will be possible if we can answer these questions in the affirmative. Pose a hypothetical question or situation that might confront one in your peer group, and make an application using the following questions.

 

Will it glorify God? 1 Corinthians 10:31-32

Can it be done for the Lord? Colossians 3:23-24

Can it be done in Jesus’ name? Colossians 3:17

How will it appear to others? 1 Thessalonians 5:22

Would it hinder another Christian? Romans 14:21

Does it involve the wrong company? 2 Corinthians 6:14-15

Does it compromise my testimony? 1 Corinthians 6:12

Is this God’s will for me? James 4:15,17

Am I willing to face it in the Judgment? 2 Corinthians 5:10

 

RELATED SCRIPTURES:

1 Corinthians 10:31 — “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

 1 Corinthians 10:23–24 — “All things are lawful for me, but all things edify not… Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.”

1 Thessalonians 5:22 — “Abstain from all appearance of evil.”

 Philippians 4:5 — “Let your moderation be known unto all men.”

 

LESSON INSPIRATIONS:

When in doubts, use the checklist

The why: -Effective testimony -Rapture ready

Implication: Lack of self-control in any area leads to lack of spiritual growth or death

Luke 21:34 34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

 

IT HAS BEEN SAID:

“Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong. It is knowing the difference between right and almost right.”

“Do nothing that may offend God. Avoid not only sin, but the very beginnings of it.”

“A good man will ask counsel of God at every step, and act in everything with an eye to His glory.”

“Character is what you are in the dark—what you do when no one but God sees.”

“The essence of righteous living is to choose God’s way above our own, especially when our way seems harmless.”

“Moderation begins with meditation—think before you act.”

“Ask first, act later—that is Christian self-control.”

“Christians don’t just do what is allowed; they do what is right.”

“Just because it is lawful does not make it spiritual.”

“If you must hide it, God is not in it.”

 

KEY POINTS:

Moderation in all aspects - The five human senses

Motto: What would Jesus do?

 

Reality check:

 Before buying – Do I really need this or is this pride and waste?

 Before speaking – Will my words help or hurt?

 Before acting – Is this holy? Would I do this if Jesus was here in person?

 Before reacting – Will this honor God or damage my witness?

 Before posting online – Will this bless or offend? Does it glorify God?

 
CONCLUSION: PLEASING TO THEE
1. May my walk and my talk be pleasing to Thee
Pleasing to Thee, pleasing to Thee
May my walk and my talk be pleasing to Thee
Help me Lord, to be pleasing to Thee
 
Chorus:
While I’m walking in Thy way
Be with me, Lord I pray
Ever keep me to Thy will
And help me to obey
May my walk and my talk be pleasing to Thee
Help me Lord, to be pleasing to Thee
 
2. May the things that I do be pleasing to Thee
Pleasing to Thee, pleasing to Thee
May the things that I do be pleasing to Thee
Help me Lord, to be pleasing to Thee