Note to parent or teacher: This 20- to 30-minute lesson plan highlights the following lesson objective: “Study the fruit of the Spirit: Temperance / Self-Discipline.” (Christian Life and Faith: Biblical and Christian Foundation: The Fruits of the Spirit-2i)

Read “Power-Up Devotional #12: Spirit Fruit: Self-Control.” Do the action point on page 5.

Talk about what self-control looks like and different situations where it might be needed.

Tell the children of a time in your life where exercising self-control helped you achieve a worthy goal. Discuss what things you did or didn’t do that helped you reach your goal.

Ask the children if they can think of a Bible story where a character lacked self-control (e.g., Saul in his anger toward David, see 1 Samuel 18; Ananias and Sapphira, see Acts 5; etc.).

Next ask the children if they can think of a Bible character who displayed self-control (e. g., Jesus confronting Satan in the desert, see Matthew 4:1–11.).

Ask the children if they can think of a time where self-control helped them achieve a desired end result. Next, ask the children if they can think of a time where a lack of self-control caused a less than desirable result.

Ask the children if there’s any area in their life that they would like to exercise control over. Brainstorm ideas that will help in exercising self-control in that area.

Discuss how exercising self-control can also be applied to exercising control over one’s emotions. For example, when someone is bothering you, it’s natural to feel bugged and get upset. Discuss how there are many different areas in our lives where it is important that we learn how to exercise self-control. Reread page 4 of the above article.

Memorize Psalm 119:11 from page 5. Ask them for examples of things they’ve learned recently from their Word studies that help them in controlling their emotions, words, actions, etc.

Additional material:

• Level 2 Lesson Plan: When Enough Is Enough
• Crazily Cool Card Set: Training for Excellence