A Character Sketch of Christ

Colossians 2:2–4 NKJV

2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words.

What was the reason he said all that? He said it to prevent people from deceiving them with persuasive words.

Colossians 2:5–7 NKJV

5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. 6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

After establishing his aim is for people to not deceive them, he praises the steadfastness of their faith.

it’s not enough to receive Christ. We have to walk in Him! We have to be rooted. We have to be built up in Him. We have to be ESTABLISHED in the faith. Not just in the faith, ESTABLISHED in the faith!

Colossians 2:8–10 NKJV

8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

Philosophy and empty deceit has these traits:

they’re according to the tradition of men,

they’re according to the basic principles of the world

they’re NOT according to Christ.

Paul is telling us, Christ is the measuring rod, against which we test everything we hear. If it’s not according to Christ, it’s empty deceit! We’re under attack! Someone’s trying to cheat us!

He starts the whole thing by praying their hearts would be “encouraged... attaining to all riches... of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

The way we stay encouraged AND combat deception, is KNOWING CHRIST!!!

We have to SEEK and ATTAIN knowledge of Him!

new authors just start writing dialogue. normally, all the characters end up sounding like sarcastic versions of the author.

The new author thinks, “what would be funny to say,” not “what would this character say in this situation.” The new author doesn’t ask, “what is this character feeling?”

Lots of people who start writing struggle with making their characters sound different from each other. It’s because they DON’T KNOW THEIR CHARACTERS!

the way authors get to know their characters is a thing called a Character Sketch.

You ask tons and tons of questions about your character. you interview them. you put them in different situations and write out how they’d respond.

you need to know how old they are, what they look like, where they grew up, what their relationship with their mother is like, with their father. are the popular, are they a loner? What is the relationship with God like? What do they like to eat? Where do they buy their clothes? What are their inner values? Do they value money? Looks? Skill? Integrity?

Here’s some facts about my main character:

Age: 18

Height: 5’ 11”

Flaws: Self-Doubt

Relationship with mom: His mom’s an alcoholic. She’s had a string of boyfriends and several have been abusive. Trent has developed and insecurity complex. He doubts himself and lacks confidence.

Here’s an example scene from my book:

Trent put his hands on the counter. “Listen here, lady. I knew he wouldn’t do anything so stop questioning me.”

Jessica froze and took a deep breath. “You can’t know that.”

Yeah right, like you could know something I don’t. “What do you know? Are you a genius? No. Am I a genius? yes. never question me again.”

Trent put his hands on the counter. “Look, I’m sorry okay. I knew he wouldn’t do anything.”

Jessica froze and took a deep breath. “You can’t know that.”

Well, technically that’s true. “I knew the guy had kids. I knew this was his first time robbing anybody.”

Without lifting her head, she looked at him. “How’d you know that?”

“I don’t know…” Trent said. “It was just obvious.”

I can’t just think, “what would be funny to say?” or “What would be interesting to say?” I have to think, “What would Trent say?”

I have to put myself in his shoes, and look at what I know about him, then show the reader how he would respond in a situation.

When we pray to Christ, we have to think, “How would Jesus respond?” “What is Jesus thinking when I say this to Him?”

How can we know any of that? BY KNOWING HIM!

What is JESUS’S personality?! What are JESUS’S values?!