Date: 31 October / 1 November 2015 Self-Discipline Small Group Leader s Guide Self-Discipline: Lesson 2 of 4 I will concentrate on my work and will not be lazy Series Overview We are starting on our new series on the character value of Self-Discipline. Selfdiscipline is defined as investing all my energy to complete the tasks assigned to me. Another word for self-discipline is diligence. It involves motivating ourselves to do something when we do not feel like it or want to give up, and controlling ourselves not to do something even when you really want to (like watching TV when there is homework due tomorrow). When we master this character value of self-discipline, we will be able to accomplish much, and be a winner! The children will learn to demonstrate self-discipline through the 5 I will s namely:- 1. I will follow instructions 2. I will concentrate on my work 3. I will not be lazy 4. I will do a job right 5. I will finish my projects Leaders to note Self-discipline and self-control are similar but slightly different. Selfdiscipline focuses on the children gaining personal mastery over themselves and doing what they are supposed to, while self-control focuses on managing their emotions and reacting appropriately, when they face difficult situations or people. Series Memory Verse: Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 (NIV) Bible Passage: 2 Timothy 2:4, Proverbs 6:6-11 (NIRV) LEADERS BRIEFING AND PREPARATION Today s application will follow up on whether the children have been continuing to pray and read their Bibles daily, or have they been distracted by other things. How about you? Share in groups of 2 or 3 about your quiet time health have other distractions got in the way of time with God? Pray for each other and pray for the children in your groups. Copyright 2015 by GKidz, FCBC Page 1
PLATFORM TEACHING (15 mins) [Platform teacher is to act like a TV show host in bright colours] Platform teacher to say: Welcome to this week s episode of Self-Discipline is Super We have an exciting programme lined up for you today, but first a recap of last week s episode. Does any member of the audience know what self-discipline means? What is its definition? [give children a chance to respond] Self-discipline is investing all my energy to complete the tasks assigned to me. [slide] Studio audience, please repeat after me Selfdiscipline / is investing / ALL my energy / to COMPLETE / the tasks assigned to me. [pause where you see the slash sign] Every week on Self-Discipline is Super we look to the ultimate Super Book, the Bible to learn more about the self-discipline, and boy have we found a good passage to learn more about this value. In 2 Timothy 2:4-6, it talks about three types of people who live out this character value of self-discipline the soldier, the athlete and the farmer. [slide] And for each week that you are here, you will get a sticker for each of these people, and be able to complete your collection! In today s episode, we are going to focus on the SOLDIER who lives out two I wills of self-discipline. A self-disciplined person is like a soldier because they concentrate on their work, and they are not lazy. [slide] Studio audience, please take out your own copy of your Bible, and follow along with the verses you ll see on the screen in front of you. Please turn your Bibles to 2 Timothy 2:4 and let s read along together. 2 Timothy 2:4 (NIRV) says, A soldier does not take part in things that don t have anything to do with the army. Instead, he tries to please his commanding officer. [slide] A soldier only focuses on things that are related to his mission. A soldier doesn t get distracted by things that are not part of his mission. Soldiers are people who have a duty, and they follow the orders that their commanding officer give to them. We are going live now to our correspondent at WMUR9 news network to see what happened at the deployment ceremony of these US soldiers going to the Middle East. See if you can identify the feelings of the soldiers interviewed, and what they are focused on. [show video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htzry-wdkta (2.5 mins)] The soldiers were feeling a lot of different emotions sad to leave their families, anxious because they didn t know what to expect, but they were also determined and focused on their mission and the role that they were given to play. We need to be like a soldier and Copyright 2015 by GKidz, FCBC Page 2
focused on what we are supposed to do, not distracted but doing all we can to please God, our Commander. That s all the time that we have for this episode, join us next week on Self-Discipline is Super! [Release the children for small group time] CONNECT / ICEBREAKER CHAMPION DISTRACTOR (10 mins) Pair the children up and ask them to choose who will be A and who will be B A will be given a task to do for example, spell out a sentence like I will be selfdisciplined or say the alphabet from back to front, while B will be playing the role of Distractor to do everything they can possibly think of to distract A and disrupt the task. To win, a player must be a good Distractor and also work hard at not being distracted by the other Distractors! After a minute or two, switch roles between A and B. Ask the children o What were some of the things that your partner did to distract you? o Was it difficult to pay attention and complete the task? TRANSITION Leader says: Good job! I could see that many of you were trying your best to be focused on the task that you were given, even while your friend was trying their best to distract you. You have the makings of a good soldier and are starting to develop the character of self-discipline! CHARACTER REVIEW (10 mins) Leader says: For these 4 weeks, we will be learning how to have Self-Discipline. What is Self-Discipline? It is investing all my energy to complete the tasks assigned to me. There are 5 ways to practice Self-Discipline:- 1. I will follow instructions 2. I will concentrate on my work 3. I will not be lazy 4. I will do a job right 5. I will finish my projects Today we will focus on the second and third I will I will concentrate on my work and I will not be lazy. Copyright 2015 by GKidz, FCBC Page 3
REAL LIFE EXAMPLE - SOLDIER Logistics: Army troop cards (GKidz to provide see Appendix A) A soldier lives out these two I wills. The bible verse that we read just now in 2 Timothy 2:4 tells us that a soldier is not distracted by other things but is focused on the commands that his officer has given to him. The soldier concentrates on his work. [Refer to Picture A & B] These are two pictures of American army troops, who are prepared to go into battle. They have their orders from their officer, and they all gather outside in formation. They bring their equipment and weapons with them. But wait! It seems like one soldier is missing! [Refer to Picture C] Oh no, one of the soldiers is busy playing computer games in his room and didn t hear the orders to gather outside and prepare to go into battle! Can you imagine if the commander told the army Charge!!! and then half of them were in their rooms playing Minecraft? That would be crazy! Soldiers need to be focused on their mission and on their commands, not distracted by other things going on around them. Even if they really feel like playing one more round of Plants vs. Zombie, when they are given a command and have to obey it right away. So we must be like a soldier and concentrate on our work. BIBLE STORY (20 mins) We are going to read another passage of the bible to learn about the third I will I will not be lazy. Proverbs 6:6-11 [use A3 print out, GKidz to provide] You people who don t want to work, think about the ant! Consider its ways and be wise! 7 It has no commander. It has no leader or ruler. 8 But it stores up its food in summer. It gathers its food at harvest time. 9 You lazy people, how long will you lie there? When will you get up from your sleep? 10 You might sleep a little or take a little nap. You might even fold your hands and rest. Copyright 2015 by GKidz, FCBC Page 4
11 Then you would be poor, as if someone had robbed you. You would have little, as if someone had stolen from you. Depending on your group size, let 1-3 children take one verse each and read it aloud. Engage the kinesthetic learners in your group by telling them that you will ask the group questions, and the first to raise their hands will be called and come to the A3 print out and point out where the answer is found. What did the ant do? [Ans: Store up food in summer (v8), gather its food at harvest time (v8)] What did the lazy people do? [Ans: Didn t want to work (v6), lie there (v9), sleep (v9), take a nap (v10), fold their hands and rest (v10)] When it is winter time and there is no more food around on the ground, who would have food to eat? [Ans: the ant because it has a store of food saved up (v8)] What would happen to the lazy people? [Ans: they would be poor (v11), and would have little (v11)] What words would you use to describe the ant? [Ans: Hardworking, smart, diligent, self-disciplined, persevering] MINISTRY RESPONSE (10 mins) Leader to say: We ve seen the example of the distracted soldier, and we ve just read the Bible example of the lazy sluggard. There are consequences when a soldier is distracted. Would you trust a distracted soldier with an important role? No. You d be afraid that he would miss the target or not notice when the enemy was closing in on your territory! There are also consequences when we are lazy and do not fulfill all we are supposed to. We would end up with very little, instead of the hardworking ant who has gathered much food. Jesus is our Commander, and He is looking for soldiers in His army who would be able to fulfill the important roles that He gives to them. We show God our readiness for big roles when we are show that we are faithful in small things, like homework, practising our piano, or praying regularly for our friends and spending time with God daily. Some of us here may struggle with not being distracted and not being lazy. It may feel like you are in an endless cycle, where you try to change but fail each time. Some of you may even have given up on trying to change. The good news is that God is our help and our deliverer. If you need God s help to help you focus and to not be lazy, I want you to indicate to God that you want His help. I want everyone to bow their heads and close their eyes, and if that s you, you need help, then I Copyright 2015 by GKidz, FCBC Page 5
want you to open your hands to receive God s help. Pray for the children: Dear Lord, You are our commanding officer, and we want to please You. I pray that the children will be like a soldier focused on You, focused on their mission. I pray that these distractions will not keep them from their mission! Help them in their weakness. I declare that they will not be lazy but will discipline themselves to seek You everyday. In Jesus name I pray, amen! APPLICATION ACTIVITY (5 mins) Leader to say: Everyone has done a great job being self-disciplined today. I m going to give you each this Soldier sticker to remind us that we need to be like a soldier and concentrate on our work and not be lazy. [Give the children one self-discipline collection card, and one Soldier sticker each. Ask them to write their names behind the card. Tell the children to bring back the collection card each week to collect the other two stickers Athlete and Farmer] FAMILY DEVOTION FOCUS After the service, remind the parents of the Family Altar Time conversation starter guide via whatsapp. This week, families are to discuss what are some distractions that each of them face that keep them from focusing on each other during family meal times. References 1. Character Development Toolkit, by Touch Character Development 2. Character First Education Series 3, Booklet 1 3. Perseverance, by Kids of Integrity Copyright 2015 by GKidz, FCBC Page 6
Appendix A Picture A Picture B Copyright 2015 by GKidz, FCBC Page 7
Picture C Copyright 2015 by GKidz, FCBC Page 8