(2) Read 1 Thess 5:1-11…vs 6 says “so then let us not sleep as others do, but be alert and sober”
Ask about sleep: What could ‘sleep’ mean?…being spiritually lazy
Ask about spiritual laziness: What could ‘spiritually lazy’ mean?
Ask about the scripture: In vs 6, what could ‘be alert and sober’ mean?…be watchful and soberly waiting for the Lord’s return and maintain self-discipline in the view of the great events to come.
Re-read 1 Thess 5:7-11…Those who are unsaved are like those who are drunk, neither awake nor alert, unable to respond as they should.
Ask about being drunk: What happens to your senses when you are drunk? Your senses are inhibited and you seem to be controlled by forces outside of yourself. Symbolically, those who are unbelievers (drunk) are being controlled by the expectations of society (forces outside of yourself). These forces include peer pressure, Satan, addiction, sin.
Read Gal 5:19-21
Ask about society’s controlling ways: Are the ways of the world controlling you?
Define Self-Control: “control of one’s feelings, desires or actions by one’s own will”. Synonyms: restraint, self-discipline, will-power.
Ask about self-control: Do you have this?
Talk about the society’s view of teens: This is our society’s view of young adults and teenagers: “Teens do not and connot have mastery over their own desires. Basically, they cannot control themselves.” Richard Keeling M.D. said, “Teenagers are going to drink no matter what the legal age is”.
Read 1 Tim 4:12…Even though you may be young, it doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to have self control. In my opinion, young people have greater potential to positively influence others if they express their maturity and self-control to others. Individuals expect teens to be careless and they expect older individuals to be wise. If you do the unexpected, you can influence the lives of so many.