Christ Integration Camp

Read: Who needs to be self-controlled

Read Titus 2:1-12. As you read this passage, ask the kids to listen for the word “self-control.” Ask them to raise their hands when they hear it.

• You must tell everyone what they must do to follow the true teaching. 2 Teach older men to have self-control, to be serious, and to be wise. They should be strong in faith, strong in love, and strong in patience. Also, teach older women to be holy in the way they live. Teach them not to speak against others or have the habit of drinking too much wine. They should teach what is good. 4 In that way they can teach younger women to love their husbands and children. 5 They can teach younger women to be wise and pure, to take care of their homes, to be kind, and to obey their husbands. Then no one will be able to criticize the teaching God gave us. In the same way, tell young men to be wise. 7 You should do good deeds to be an example in every way for young men. When you teach, be honest and serious. 8 And when you speak, speak the truth so that you cannot be criticized. Then anyone who is against you will be ashamed because there is nothing bad that he can say against us. And tell slaves to obey their masters at all times. They should try to please them and not argue with them. 10 They should not steal from them. And they should show their masters that they can be trusted. Slaves should do these things so that in everything they do, they will show that the teaching of God our Savior is good. That is the way we should live, because God’s grace has come. That grace can save every person. It teaches us not to live against God and not to do the evil things the world wants to do. That grace teaches us to live in the present age in a wise and right way—a way that shows that we serve God.

Say:

• Self-control is saying “no” to ungodliness (behavior that does not please God) and worldly passions (allowing things to be so important to you that they contribute to sinful behavior). The Bible indicates that everyone is to be self-controlled. When we choose to have the Holy Spirit live inside of us, God helps us to maintain self-control. Self-control is one of the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Ask God to help you remember to ask for help when you  are tempted to lose self-control.

Ask:

1. Can you think of something you do that does not please God?
2. Have you ever wanted something so much that you had a outburst/fit when you were told you couldn’t have it?
3. What is self-control?
4. Who needs to be self-controlled?
5. Why do we need to be self-controlled?
6. When are you most tempted to lose self-control?

Activity:

• Take turns giving examples of when self-control is needed. After each example, ask the questions for discussion.
• Someone has just taken your favorite toy from you.
• You have had one piece of cake, and your stomach feels full. Someone offers you another piece.
• You are alone in the kitchen and see an open bag of chocolate chips on the counter where you can reach it. No one will notice if you take a few.
• Someone has just called you a mean name that hurts your feelings – now they are laughing at you.
• You just received some discipline from one of your parents, now your brother or sister is smiling.
• Questions for discussion
• Would you need to use self-control in this situation?
• Would it be easy or hard to be self-controlled in this situation?
• If you had a hard time using self-control, how could you make it easier?

I want you to understand that when we are full of the Holy Spirit, it is easier to use self-control. It is one of the fruits of the Spirit. Also remind your children that they will never be tempted beyond what God will help them handle (1 Corinthians 10:13). 

Close by praying and thanking God that He understands what it is like to be tempted and that He will never let us be tempted beyond that which we can handle.