After Words January 19
Talk about the things or places that give you comfort or bring happiness and security – a room, a stuffed animal, certain foods, and so on.
If you are willing, share about a time when you were very afraid.
How did that frightening situation turn out?
When you are afraid or sick do you turn to God? In what ways does God help you?
If we as individuals should trust God, in what ways can the church trust God? Is there something daring or new the church should try?
Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” How can you live that out?
In the story of Paul’s shipwreck in Acts 27:43-44 some people swam to shore and some floated on planks. When do we need to take care of our own problems and when do we need to just “hang on”?
After Words January 12
Guess what the person sitting next to you considers to be their favorite food. Were you right?
What do you think is the best way to get to know someone else?
What does the other person have to do for you to get to know them? What do you have to do?
What makes you think God is real? Are there times when you have questions or doubts about God?
1 John 1:3 says, “We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us.” Have you ever felt certain God did something good for you or was with you? Did you tell anyone about it?
If our faith is based on a relationship with God, what can you do to get to know God better?
2 Corinthians 5:18 says, “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.” Can you think of some way you can be part of helping out in God’s kingdom?
After Words January 5
Talk about the newest thing in your life – maybe clothes or a person or a situation.
Do you see the newest thing as good or bad? Why?
Talk about one thing in your life you never want to see change. Why do you want it to stay the same?
Talk about something in your life you would like to change – a habit, a behavior, an attitude, the way your house is decorated, or whatever.
What in your life can you change so that it becomes good or holy or beneficial? Will the change benefit other people too?
In Revelation 21:5 God says, “I am making everything new!” How can you be part of the new things God is making?
Romans 14:19 says, “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” What can you do in your life to live that out?
A Deeper Understanding
The last aspect of the fruit of the Spirit is egkrateia – self-control, perhaps one of the hardest aspects of the fruit of the Spirit, and yet necessary to exhibit all the fruit of the Spirit. It is through self-control – being able to be the master of your own actions, your own thoughts, your own desires – that allows you to display agape – love, chara – joy, eirene – peace, makrothumia – patient persistence, chrestotes – kindness, agathosune – goodness, pistis – faithfulness, and praotes – gentleness.
Egkrateia is exactly what you may think it is when you think of self-control. It is the ability to be your own master. Self-control is the ability to rise above your humanity, to rise above your sinful desires and animal instincts and do what is right and holy and good.
A Deeper Understanding
Praotes is the Greek word for “gentleness.” Scholar William Barclay says, “praotes is the most untranslatable of words” but then defines it as being “submissive to the will of God.” It also means “being teachable,” and “considerate.” Aristotle describes praotes as that middle point between excessive anger and excessive angerless-ness.
We have to find that middle point between anger and angerless-ness. Gentleness – praotes – is not being a doormat or being weak. Praotes is being strong. It is being considerate to others and sometimes that takes effort and strength; it takes sacrifice and strong will. And sometimes we need to be as harsh as the conditions are so that we can overcome that harshness with gentleness.
