COOL OFF

Theme: Self-control

Through clenched teeth King Saul angrily shouted to his soldiers: “I want you to find David and kill him!”

David, who killed the Philistine Goliath, was now an awesome soldier in Saul’s army and popular with the people. Everyone loved David which made King Saul jealous — VERY, VERY jealous!

Jonathan, David’s best friend and also Saul’s son, helped David run away from the dangerous situation. In the wilderness where David and his men decided to hide, there were caves. He and his men stayed in the back of the cave, so as not to be seen.

One day, without realizing anyone was in the cave, Saul went in. David’s men thought this would be the perfect opportunity to kill King Saul. But David told his men to cool off.  He used self-control and did not harm the king.

At another time, David saw Saul when he was sleeping but he chose obedience to God and self-control rather than revenge.

Discussion Questions:

1.  What is self-control?  (Making choices which please God; saying “Your way, God, not mine!)

2.  What are examples of positive self-control choices? (Not letting hurtful words pop out when angry; thinking before hitting someone.)

3.  What is something you can do every time you need to make an important self-control choice?  (Pause and pray.)

Action Step:  Every time this week when you need to cool off and use self-control, how about saying: 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 — Dear God, help me think about this again!

Bible Verse:  “Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city” (Proverbs 16:32, NIV).

Suggested Song:  “Gimme Self-Control” (In My Garden album)