Acts 24:25

It’s the core quality of successful living.

• Titus 2:11-14. See also Luke 9:23. Jesus taught the same thing, and He lived it!

• I Corinthians 9:23-27 – Self-control is for people at all stages of life. Even Paul needed to practice self-control. Self-control freed him up to practice better things.

• Self-control isn’t about just not doing bad things. It’s about putting yourself on the path to serve God.

• II Peter 2:1, 14, 18-19 – Self-control destroys Satan’s seductions.

• This is true in both spiritual and secular realms. Self-control is a better indicator of success than talent, intelligence, and other factors.

You can grow it like a muscle.

• Galatians 5:19-24

• II Peter 1:5-8 – These qualities should be increasing! We must continue working on these things.

• Self-control continues to increase if you work on it!

• Studies show that improving self-control in one area helps in all other areas.

Be thinking of some ways to exercise more self-control starting today!

• Finances – Ecclesiastes 5:10

• Emotions – Proverbs 16:32

• Speech – Proverbs 21:23

• Lust of the flesh – I Thessalonians 4:7

• Lust of the eyes – Job 31:1

• Pride – I Peter 5:5

Acts 17:10-19:7

Acts 17:11 – This is especially impressive considering the fact that they did not have modern Bibles and would have been consulting expensive scrolls.

Acts 17:16 – An ancient writer (Petronius) wrote that in Athens it was easier to find a god than a man!

Acts 17:22 – Mars Hill is just across from the Acropolis and was in the heart of the idolatrous practices of the Athenians. Paul had incredible courage to speak here!

Acts 17:23-28 – Things to learn:

• How a woman and her husband can teach someone spiritual things.

• Such teaching can be done discreetly, with a pure motive and with the goal of helping the cause of Christ, as opposed to a battle of egos and who knows more.

• How one can grow if he is willing to listen and be taught.

Acts 19:1-7 – These disciples had great attitudes. When they found something they needed to do to serve God, they were eager to learn and do it!