Sobermindedness
“Sobermindedness”
is to be characterized by reason or self-control; showing mental and emotional
balance.
“nephalios” – sober, vigilant,
watchful, well-balanced, temperate, abstaining from wine.
1 Tim.
If
you are a woman, would you qualify as a deacon’s wife or a deaconess by having
this trait?
Why
do you think so?
If
you are a man, are you encouraging the Christian women you know to strive to
acquire, develop, or utilize this trait, and why?
Titus
2:2 Who else should be
temperate/sober/self-controlled/abstaining from immoderate use of wine;
dignified (Gk. “semnous”
– serious-minded, not clowns)?
Though
you may not be an older man yet, do people view you as serious-minded rather
than as a clown?
If they view you as a
clown, what can you begin doing now so that you’ll be a serious-minded man
worthy of respect as you grow older?
Titus 2:7 What is Titus, a
spiritual leader, told to be besides an example of good deeds, with purity of
doctrine?
If you’re a spiritual leader, are you dignified (serious-minded, not a clown)?
If not, what can you specifically do to change?
“nepho”
– to be free from the influence of intoxicants or mental/spiritual drunkenness;
not distorted in thinking; sober; not controlled by bad or wrong influences.
1 Pet.
Are you sober (not poisoned or stupefied) in your
spirit/thinking, not allowing the influence of worldly/pagan: TV programs, music,
literature, movies, philosophies, and education, or not allowing liquor or the
wrongful use of drugs to poison you?
If you are not able to think
correctly because of any of the above poisons/intoxicants, what do you plan to
do about it, and how soon?
1
Thes. 5:4-8 Instead of sleeping (being indifferent to spiritual realities) as others (non-Christians), these Christians are
told to be alert (spiritually awake for
the assaults of sin and unrighteousness), and what else – vs. 6?
Why
else are we to be sober – vs. 8?
[“children
of the day” – children of God].
Would
you say that you are a sober person (rational,
self-possessed, in control of all your senses; free from the stupefying effects
of sin and self-indulgence), and why?
2 Tim.
4:5 What does Paul tell Timothy to be sober in (calm, steady, and sane; not intoxicated by
sensationalism or sentimentality or fogged in thinking)?
Why
do you think that he tells Timothy to be sober in all matters/things, vss. 3,
4?
Do
you think that God wants you to be sober/free from anything that would dull,
distort, or wrongly control or impair your thinking?
Besides
illicit drugs, alcohol, and hypnosis, what else could dull or wrongly control
or influence your mind – Heb. 3:13; Jer.
17:9?
How
would sin do this?
How
could demons or Satan control or influence your mind (2 Cor. 11:4, 13-15; 1 Ki.
How
would false teaching and/or worldly philosophy do this (2 Tim.
How
can we prevent this (2 Tim.
How
could false prophets and christs
influence people’s minds (Matt. 24:24,
10, 11)?
How
could riches do this (Mk.
1 Pet. 5:8 What are we told to
do, and why?
Are
you of sober spirit (mentally
self-controlled) and on the alert? If
so, how did you gain this state of being?
“sophroneo” – to think soberly; with a view to be
sound minded.
Why
is it important to think with correct/sober/sound judgment (thinking)?
And why is that important (Prov.
How
do you view yourself, and why?
Titus 2:6 What was Titus to
urge the young Christian men to do?
Would others view you
as being sensible (exercising
self-control or discipline in every respect, so that you are not placing your
own feelings, ambitions, passions, or conclusions above the will of God)? How do you know?
When your
emotions/feelings want to do one thing and the Bible tells you to do the
opposite, what do you do, and why?
Give an example of
your answer.
1 Pet. 4:7 Why should we be of
sound judgment (clear-minded; right
thinking) and sober spirit (mentally
self-controlled)?
Do
death, the destruction of this world, and judgment day sober you?
And
for what purpose should we be of sober spirit?
Are
you and have you been of sober spirit for the purpose of praying?
If
so, why would this be important?
“sophronos”
– it suggests the exercise of that self-restraint that governs all passions and
desires, enabling the believer to be conformed to the mind of Christ;
prudently.
Titus 2:11, 12 How
are we to live?
How
does a person live sensibly (with
self-mastery over one’s desires and bodily drives)?
Is
your mind and/or will the master over your desires and drives?
If
not, what should you do so that it is (Eph.
“sophrosune”
– soundness of mind; prudence; moderation; inner self-government, with its constant
rein on all passions and desires; sound judgment.
Acts 26:22-25 What
kind of words did Paul utter as he spoke the gospel?
Do
people view your words as correct/right thinking or sober truth when you share
the gospel with them?
If
not, why (see 1 Cor.
“sophron” – sound minded; moderate; self-controlled.
1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:7, 8 Who
should be temperate/sensible/self-controlled?
Is
this true of the elders/overseers in your church or Bible study group? And is this true of you?
If
so, how does it show itself in the way you act?
“sophronizo” – make prudent; to cause to be of sound
mind; to recall to one’s senses.
Titus 2:3-5 Who
is to teach whom to be sensible?
Do
you observe this going on in your church? If
not, why do you think that is so?
What
do you think it would take for this to start happening, and why that?