- Temperance. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
- Silence. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
- Order. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.
- Resolution. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
- Frugality. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.
- Industry. Lose no time; be always employ'd in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
- Sincerity. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
- Justice. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
- Moderation. Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
- Cleanliness. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation.
- Tranquillity. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
- Chastity. Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation.
- Humility. Imitate Jesus and Socrates.
Last week our pastor preached on the 13 virtues that shaped Benjamin Franklin's life. Benjamin Franklin came up with these 13 virtues at the age of 20 and practised them in one way or another for the rest of his life. Each week he would focus on one virtue. Our pastor encouraged us to do the same. After church I came home and and did a little research on Benjamin Franklin, his life, and his 13 virtues. A couple of things I learned really impressed me. One was that he contributed much of the success and happiness he experienced in his life to these 13 virtues. Second was that he wrote more about these 13 virtues than any other subject in his autobiography.
Each morning the kids and I start our day by going over Our Joshua 24 Contract, memorizing a Bible verse and praying. We began doing this in April, and we learned a lot of good verses. We focused on ones about, obedience, kindness, living peacefully, and honesty. Over the past couple of weeks I have been praying about a Bible study I can start with the kids. I think a Bible study on theses 13 virtues will be perfect! So this week we worked on Temperance. This is the Bible study I came up with.
Temperance:
Day 1-Look the word temperance up in the dictionary and write definition. Discuss meaning of temperance (self control).
Begin memorizing Proverbs 25:28
Give up 1 thing that we like to practise self-control. Make sure the kids understand that this is completely voluntary and that if they decide to give something up and then change their minds it is OK. The idea is that we are learning self-control, not that we are always perfect at it.
Pray
Day 2-
Recite verse
Discuss ways we can be more temperate in our daily lives.
Read about Joseph and how he practiced self-control by not yielding to Potifer's wife.
Pray for God to help us have self-control
Day 3-
Recite verse.
Read about the temptation of Jesus. Discuss how he practised self-control.
Pray
Day 4-
Recite verse.
Discuss a time we were tempted to do something we knew we weren't supposed to do, how hard was it to use self-control. How did we feel if we didn't use self-control. Discuss repentance/forgiveness.
Pray
Day 5-
Recite verse.
Talk about what we fasted from. Was it easy/hard?
Pray
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