Urge the Younger Men to be Self-Controlled

Guest: Dr. Steven Smith

 

Dr. Steven Smith is the senior pastor at Immanuel Baptist Church in Little Rock, AR. Here is his bio from their website:

• Steven W. Smith is a fourth-generation pastor and has served at Immanuel since 2017. After being a pastor for many years, Dr. Smith most recently served as Vice President for Student Services and Professor of Preaching at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. Smith enjoys writing and is the author of several books on preaching. He is honored to be a Senior Fellow for the Spurgeon Library of Midwestern Seminary.

 

For his advice to our T4M audience, Steven turned to the Book of Titus - the Apostle Paul’s letter about leadership with some sage wisdom for young and older men. Here’s what Paul wrote in Titus chapter 2:

 

But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self–controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.

 

Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.

Interesting note - for Paul’s wisdom to the young men, he gives only one thing - to be “self-controlled” or “self-disciplined.”

 

Discipline levels the playing field in life - get discipline and you’ll be successful regardless of what gifts and abilities you have or where you started!

 

“The resentment of discipline of any kind will warp the whole life away from God's purpose. We can all see God in exceptional things, but it requires the culture of spiritual discipline to see God in every detail.” Oswald Chambers

 

How can you learn the character quality of self-discipline? There are many ways to develop this characteristic in life - take up a musical instrument, play a sport, start a hobby and stick with it…learn to do hard things and develop this important attribute for success in life.

 

Other things that are helpful in developing self-control:

• Community - get some other guys on board with you to help encourage and challenge you toward your goals
• Accountability - set goals, communicate those with others who can hold you accountable

 

Proverbs 1:23 “If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.”

• A great life lesson is learning to TURN INTO the discipline, the hard things - don’t turn away, lean in and trust the process of growth and maturity, true growth takes effort and work - the only thing that grows without work is weeds!

 

Hebrews 12:9-11 “Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.”

• Learning these life disciplines are for a “short” time - then they can become habits and patterns for life!

 

Two types of discipline:

1. Corrective - you’ve done something wrong, this discipline moves you away from what is harmful toward what is helpful
2. Instructive - even if you haven’t done anything wrong, you can listen and learn and move toward things that are helpful in life

 

Steven Smith’s recommendation:

• Spurgeon by Arnold A. Dallimore
• The Titus Ten: Foundations for Godly Manhood by J. Josh Smith

 

Goal Setting - consider using Luke 2:52 as a framework - Jesus grew in wisdom, statute, and in favor with God and with man - how can you grow and mature in those four characteristics?

 

Final Thought - so much of the Bible IS WRITTEN TO YOUNG MEN!

• How awesome is that reality - God’s Word is intended to be a helpful tool and resource for young men who want to develop self-discipline in life so that they can be successful and lead their families, businesses, and communities!