Lesson 6: Character

Review

Dominion: Watch & Protect

Four Domains: Flesh, Church, Home, Work

Gospel: Sin has enslaved you. God is pursuing you. Jesus came to redeem you. Salvation saves and restores you.

Identity: (Who Am I?) Servant, Son, Friend, Lover

Assignment: Identify, Prioritize, Embrace our God-given Assignment

be fully present, do what is in front of us, & embrace inadequacy

Authority: Passivity & It’s Subtle Assault

Kingdom Authority- Walking Under & In

Walking In Authority: Standing, Leading, & Protecting

The Right Weapons & Attutide

Group Discussion

Question: What are some ways men develop godly character?

“A call to outward actions does not cultivate a man. Inward character makes a man.”

Scriptures Calling Men To Manhood

1 Corinthians 16:13 “Be alert, stand firm in the faith, (act like men) be courageous, be strong.”

1 Kings 2:2 ““As for me, I am going the way of all of the earth. Be strong and be a man,”

1 Samuel 16:7 “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his stature because I have rejected him. Humans do not see what the Lord sees, for humans see what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.””

Question: How does our culture tend to define a “manly man”? How does the world’s definition of a “manly man” differ from the biblical definition? Why do we tend to focus on the outward?

Inward Character

Titus 1:5–9 “The reason I left you in Crete was to set right what was left undone and, as I directed you, to appoint elders in every town. An elder must be blameless, the husband of one wife, with faithful children who are not accused of wildness or rebellion. As an overseer of God’s household, he must be blameless, not arrogant, not hot-tempered, not an excessive drinker, not a bully, not greedy for money, but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, righteous, holy, self-controlled, holding to the faithful message as taught, so that he will be able both to encourage with sound teaching and to refute those who contradict it.”

Question: What do you think are the primary character qualities that make a man?

Question: What men in your life embody these characteristics? What masculine characteristics can you identify in the life and ministry of Jesus?

Inward Character Summarized: Blamelessness, Self-Control, Courage

Blamelessness: man of unquestionable integrity. you are the man in private that you appear to be in public. (at home and in the community.)

Home: “Could your family share things about your life that would damage your reputation and disqualify you from leadership?”

being blameless at home is “righting your wrongs.” You will do wrong over and over again. But the question is, do you make it right? Those closest to you need to see you repent, weep over your sin, and say you are sorry.

Activity: Go home and ask your S/O, am I blameless at home?

Community: not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination.

are there people at work, in your neighborhood, on the ball field, or on the golf course who could tell stories that would surprise others? Are there any women who could bring judgment on you by the way you have looked at or talked to her?

Self-Control: You will never be a man of strong character unless you are first a man of strong self-discipline & Discipline. It is a slow and steady cultivation.

Not arrogant, quick-tempered, drunkard, violent, and greedy for gain.

Titus 2:1–10 “But you are to proclaim things consistent with sound teaching. Older men are to be self-controlled, worthy of respect, sensible, and sound in faith, love, and endurance. In the same way, older women are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not slaves to excessive drinking. They are to teach what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands and to love their children, to be self-controlled, pure, workers at home, kind, and in submission to their husbands, so that God’s word will not be slandered. In the same way, encourage the young men to be self-controlled in everything. Make yourself an example of good works with integrity and dignity in your teaching.

Courage: If a man is not willing to do hard things, make hard decisions, and suffer for what is right, everyone around him suffers.

The courage to stand. The courage to speak. The courage to act. True courage is not just the strength to do difficult things; it is the strength to do the right thing.

Joshua 1:6–9 ““Be strong and courageous, for you will distribute the land I swore to their ancestors to give them as an inheritance. Above all, be strong and very courageous to observe carefully the whole instruction my servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or the left, so that you will have success wherever you go. This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to meditate on it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do. Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.””

Character Cultivated

2 Peter 1:3–11 (CSB)

His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. By these he has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. The person who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten the cleansing from his past sins.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election, because if you do these things you will never stumble. For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.

“let go and let God” people tend to view Christian growth unlike any other area of growth. we often think growth in Christlikeness happens passively! We cannot “work in” our salvation; only God can do that. But we must “work out” our salvation by applying great diligence. growth demands effort.