Gentleness & Self-Control

by Ps Greg CRAANEN | A Spirit Filled Life

SOAR Discussion Questions | 27 October 2019

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A Spirit-Filled Life

In Galatians 5:16 Paul calls us to walk by the Spirit and not gratify the desires of the flesh. When we walk by the Spirit it will produce the fruit of a Christlike character (Galatians 5:22-23). Life is the main context and means by which the Holy Spirit produces this fruit. It is the everyday moments of life that exposes our shortcomings and makes us self aware of things we need to work on. As we are open and honest with ourselves and allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives we change and become more like Jesus. The result is that we become greater witnesses to Christ’s transforming love to the world.

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Scripture

Read:

1 Corinthians 9:19-27

Observation

What does this passage tell us about God?
What do these passages tell us about you and your life?

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Application

One simple way that we can use to help us work with the Holy Spirit in our everyday moments to produce this fruit in our lives is the Discipleship Tool. The Holy Spirit brings awareness/conviction of our shortcomings through everyday moments. We humbly respond to the Spirit by taking ownership or responsibility for that area of our lives. We recognise that something or someone else other than Jesus is on the throne of our heart. By faith and trust in Jesus we then lay it down and allow Jesus to take his rightful place on the throne.

Discuss one or more of the following questions.

Share a time when someone treated you in a gentle manner when you were expecting otherwise. How did that make you feel? What influence did it have in your life?
Using the Discipleship Tool, describe a time when you lacked gentleness in your speech or actions and/or lack of self-control. How did the Holy Spirit help you see what/who was replacing Jesus on the throne and help you take ownership of your situation? What did you do to help you move forward by faith in your discipleship in this area?
In your own life, what are the indicators that let you know that you are not in step with the Spirit in the areas of gentleness and self-control?
What does Paul mean in 1Corinthians 9:22, ‘I have become all things to all people’? How can we do this without losing our own identity?
In what practical ways in your everyday life can you ‘love your neighbour as yourself’ (Gal 5:13) by ‘becoming all things to all people’ (1Cor 9:22)?