S2E2 What’s the deal with self-discipline?

Melissa and Rachel know better than anyone the pros and cons of living a disciplined life. They've been on both sides of the fence, and for different reasons! They discuss what the Bible says regarding the subject and talk about why it's such an important and impactful matter for us to consider. Tune in to see where you might have some growth to do. This was a convicting topic for them, even while recording!

Show Notes:

Does it really matter?
1. Proverbs 25:28 A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.
2. 2 Timothy 1:7 For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
3. Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Being out of control in an area of our life usually results in sin
1. Love of money, body, self, food, alcohol, lust, gossip, etc
2. 1 Corinthians 9:27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
3. 2 Peter 1:5-7 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,
4. The opposite of self-discipline is a self-indulgent lifestyle that produces “the works of the flesh”. Any lack of self-control will inevitably result in sinful deeds.
  1. Gal 5:19-21 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
5. 1 Corinthians 10:23 Amplified Bible All things are lawful [that is, morally legitimate, permissible], but not all things are beneficial or advantageous. All things are lawful, but not all things are constructive [to character] and edifying [to spiritual life].
Ignorance or self-justification isn’t an excuse
1. Examples: Adam and Eve in the Garden, Speeding ticket when you don’t know the limit, Eating a gallon of ice cream because someone said it was “fat free”
2. Hebrews 12:11 ESV For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Challenge: Identify an area in your life that makes the biggest impact and needs to be addressed (don’t start everywhere!) Ask God what you can implement to help there be success in this area.