HOPE - CHARACTER QUALITY # 7

This week’s character trait to make a part of your Christian DNA is HOPE.  Advent, which moves us toward Christmas, is a message of hope.  It begins in the temple with a priest named Zechariah.

John’s father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: "Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David  (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),  salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us—to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; f or you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace."          Luke 1:67-79

Once Zechariah’s wife Elizabeth gave birth to John the Baptist, Zechariah prophesies with great hope who this child will be and what it means in light of eternity as he will be the forerunner of the messiah, proclaiming his advent.

Answer the following three questions:

What is hope?

What do you hope for?

Is hope a uniquely Christian character trait?  Why or why not?

(See also 1 Timothy 1:1 and Romans 5:1-5)

GRATITUDE - CHARACTER QUALITY # 6

Luke 17:11-19  says, Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!"  When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed.  One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him — and he was a Samaritan.  Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?"  Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well."

God has healed you leper.  What is your response?  Have you given Him thanks for the things he has done for you?  Here is a great opportunity.  Post your "thanks-givings" here for all the world to see.  Begin, I thank God for...then fill in the rest to the glory of God.

GIVING – CHARACTER QUALITY # 5

   Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.  Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.          --- 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

If I give so that I will be rewarded . . . God is Santa Claus.

If I give so that I claim an exemption on my tax form . . . God is a CPA.

If I give so I can impress my friends . . . God is my PR agent.

If I give to avoid punishment . . . God is a thief.

If I give so that I can express my love and so that others may hear the gospel . . . God is God.

-First Baptist Church

Seattle, WA

Why do you give your hard earned money to the work of the church?

How do you give?  Like any of the ways described above?

What do you think is the most important thing Christians should know about giving?

Share your answers, a scripture, make a comment or ask a question.

MERCY - CHARACTER QUALITY # 4

From the bible who comes to mind as a good illustration of mercy?  I hope you do not have trouble thinking of one.  If you remove stories of mercy form the bible, you will have very little left.  When I preach a theme like our current one, I find it best to preach about one character and not several. With mercy I find this hard to do for several reasons.  First of all, I have preached about most of them one time or another.  Like the woman caught in adultery (John 8).  You know, “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.”  Second, they are such familiar stories, like the man who owed the king a great debt and was shown mercy but turned around and did not show mercy to a fellow servant who only owed him a few dollars (Mathew 18).  Third, there are characters I want to use later in the year, like Joseph (Genesis 37-50), who was sold into slavery by his brothers, yet later saved those same brothers from a famine.

These are three of many great stories of mercy from the bible.  Can you think of any others?  Please share them through this blog.  How has mercy worked in your life, either as a recipient or an extender of mercy?  Was God evident in that situation?  How so?

CHARACTER QUALITY # 3 - COMMITMENT

Scripture:  1 Peter 4:12-19

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"  So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

On Sunday Oct. 31, I will portray Martin Luther on the 493^rd anniversary of his nailing the 95 Theses to the church door in Wittenberg, Germany which ultimately resulted in the Protestant reformation.  “Martin” will share a brief synopsis of his life and speak about the five fundamental principles of the reformation: Sola scriptura, Sola fide, Sola gracia, Solus Christus and Soli Deo Gloria and his commitment to follow Jesus no matter what the cost.

(Side Note:  Those who read this, would you wear your Sunday best this Sunday – whatever that is for you; a suit and tie or your clean jeans. It will help create the atmosphere of 16^th century worship.)

Who is an example to you (living or dead) who shows what it means to live a life committed to Christ and his church?

ENCOURAGEMENT - CHARACTER QUALITY # 2

Scripture text:  Hebrews 10:19-25

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.  And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

There are many in the scripture who show the quality of encouragement, but no one more so than Barnabas.  Below is a scripture related to Barnabas as an encourager:

Acts 4:32-37

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.  With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.  There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.  Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet.

Besides your spouse, who has been an encouragement in your life and how so?  (Maybe someone who is an encouragement today or someone from your distant past.)  How did they encourage you?  Why would encouragement be seen as an authentic Christian character trait?  What is encouragement?

EXTRA:  Is there any one you would like to say an encouragimng word to through this blog?

From Pastor to Church: I want to encourage you all as the church with heart - your caring through in house ministries and out of house mission work around the community and throughout the world is praise worthy.  Thank you for being the awesome church you are.

WISDOM - CHARACTER QUALITY # 1

I have had a few moments of quiet in the midst of all that is going on with Gretchen's illness and her and Gary's move happening in the next few days.  The result is what you see below.  The scripture text out of Job has amazing things to say about wisdom, as does the entire book of Job.

What strikes you most as you read this text?  Does it answer any questions for you or make you ask any?  Following the text are four questions about wisdom - how would you answer any, or all of them?

CHARACTER QUALITY # 1 WISDOM

Job 28:12-28

But where can wisdom be found?  Where does understanding dwell? 13 Man does not comprehend its worth; it cannot be found in the land of the living. 14 The deep says, 'It is not in me'; the sea says, 'It is not with me.' 15 It cannot be bought with the finest gold, nor can its price be weighed in silver. 16 It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir, with precious onyx or sapphires. 17 Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it, nor can it be had for jewels of gold. 18 Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies. 19 The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it; it cannot be bought with pure gold.

20 "Where then does wisdom come from?  Where does understanding dwell? 21 It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing, concealed even from the birds of the air. 22 Destruction and Death say, 'Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.' 23 God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells, 24 for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.  25 When he established the force of the wind and measured out the waters, 26 when he made a decree for the rain and a path for the thunderstorm, 27 then he looked at wisdom and appraised it; he confirmed it and tested it. 28 And he said to man, 'The fear of the Lord — that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.'"

WISDOM: What is it?

WISDOM: Where can I find it?

WISDOM: How do I get it?

WISDOM: What do I do with it?

From the Heart, Pastor Jeff