Tough Topics - Going Through the Emotions

 

Objective - Students will learn that emotions display what they value and will discipline themselves to choose godly responses rather than fleshly reactions.

Key Scripture - Proverbs 25:28 - "Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls."

Key Thought -  Make your goal self-control.

Lesson Summary -

Today’s lesson is one of a four-part series called Tough Topics. In this lesson, students were taught a biblical approach to emotions.

 First of all, we saw that emotions were God’s idea and that God Himself expresses emotions, though always in a righteous way. Emotions themselves are connected to what we value and being able to express emotions is a gift from God. However, while being able to express emotions is a gift from God, not all expressions of emotion are godly. Emotions can potentially lead us astray if they consume us and we fail to demonstrate godly self-control.

Students were encouraged to “make your goal self-control.” Since self-control is a fruit of the Spirit, they learned that self-control is possible as they yield to the Holy Spirit. 

As a way to help them strive for self-control, they were also encouraged to do one of three things.

1. Keep a journal of God’s blessings in their lives each day this week. 

2. As a way to take a bigger step, students were also encouraged to record their emotional responses each day and evaluate if those responses honored God or not.

3. If journaling was not possible, students were encouraged to memorize Proverbs 25:28.

As a way to understand the lesson that your students heard, read and memorize Proverbs 25:28 yourself and then have a heart-to-heart conversation with your student about emotions.