Character Journal No.1!	Humility

This is the first of a monthly mailing designed to help parents teach Biblical character qualities to their children. Each month a different character quality will be presented with suggestions for Bible lessons and projects. The length of time you spend teaching these principles to your children each day is not nearly as important as your sincerity and consistency. Begin each time with a relevant hymn or chorus. Then take a verse, theme or story from the suggestions below as the basis for your daily "Bible Time" with your family. Give relevant application of the lesson to your family; and don't forget to ask your children the questions: Who? What? Where? Why? When? and How? Get each member of the family involved by assigning different verses to be read. Finally, conclude your time with family prayer.

Related Hymns and Choruses

• Amazing Grace
• Only a Sinner

Bible Verses Related to Humility

• 2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. {which...: Heb. upon whom my name is called}
• Proverbs 16:19 Better [it is to be] of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
• Proverbs 18:12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour [is] humility.
• Proverbs 22:4 By humility [and] the fear of the LORD [are] riches, and honour, and life. {By...: or, The reward of humility, etc}
• Proverbs 29:23 A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.
• Isaiah 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name [is] Holy; I dwell in the high and holy [place], with him also [that is] of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
• Micah 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what [is] good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? {walk...: Heb. humble thyself to walk}
• Matthew 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
• Matthew 23:12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
• James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
• 1 Peter 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all [of you] be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
• 1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

Bible Verses Related to Pride

• Proverbs 6:16-17 These six things doth the Lord hate...a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, {A proud...: Heb. Haughty eyes}
• Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the LORD [is] to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
• Proverbs 11:2  [When] pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly [is] wisdom.
• Proverbs 13:10  Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised [is] wisdom.
• Proverbs 14:3  In the mouth of the foolish [is] a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
• Proverbs 15:25  The LORD will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow.
• Proverbs 16:5  Every one [that is] proud in heart [is] an abomination to the LORD: [though] hand [join] in hand, he shall not be unpunished. {unpunished: Heb. held innocent}
• Proverbs 16:18  Pride [goeth] before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
• Proverbs 29:23 A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.
• James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
• 1 Peter 5:5  Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all [of you] be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

Bible Stories

• The story of Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel chapter 4
• The parable of the Pharisee and the Publican in Luke 18:9-14
• The story of Naaman in 2 Kings chapter 5
• The story of Satan's fall in Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28

Character Definitions

• Humility is recognising that God and others are actually responsible for the achievements in my life
• Pride is believing that we have achieved what in reality God and others have achieved for us

Projects

Identify the greatest hindrance to humility in your life and share this in a family discussion

The true test of character comes in knowing how to respond properly to praise. Create different circumstances in which your children acknowledge a person's praise with a "thank you" and then deflect the praise back to God and others who are actually responsible for their success. Every person who accepts praise demonstrates pride, but those who sincerely deflect praise demonstrate proper humility and gratefulness. An example of deflecting praise:

Praise: You are a wonderful Christian

Possible responses:

• Anything commendable you see in my life is an evidence of the faithfulness of the Lord Jesus Christ
• I am grateful for some very patient parents and teachers who have invested in my life. They deserve the credit for any good qualities you see in me.

Design right responses to compliments.

Examine your life for demonstrations of humility:

• Do you welcome criticism or secretly resent the one who gives it?
• Are you inwardly grieved or pleased when you learn that another Christian has failed?
• Are you unwilling to have others help you with a project because you do not want to share praise with them?

Choose a major revival in history and study the background and effects of it. What experience brought about the brokenness which God used in each life?

List various achievements in your life; trace them back to whomever the credit actually belongs. Design an expression of gratitude for those people.

Read Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God by Jonathan Edwards. Discuss the reality of hell (If you would like a copy of this sermon, let me know and I'll e-mail it to you)

Bible Verses to Memorise as a Family

• Proverbs 6:16-19
• 1 Peter 5:5
• 2 Chronicles 7:14
• Micah 6:8

Other Helpful Material

• God's Promises To the Humble - Ps 138:6 Isa 66:2 Lu 9:48 14:11 Jas 4:6 1Pe 5:5
• General Examples of Humility - Jacob  Ge 32:10; King Saul 1Sa 9:21; King David 2Sa 7:18; King Solomon 1Ki 3:7 Ps 131:1; John the Baptist Mt 3:14; The Centurion Mt 8:8; The Syrophenician Woman Mt 15:27 Joh 1:27; Paul 1Ti 1:15
• Christ's Humility - Zec 9:9 Mt 11:29 Joh 13:5 2Co 8:9 Php 2:8
  1) Declared by himself  Mt 11:29
  2) EXHIBITED IN HIS
  2a) Taking our nature  Php 2:7 Heb 2:16
  2b) Birth  Lu 2:4-7
  2c) Subjection to his parents  Lu 2:51
  2d) Station in life  Mt 13:55 Joh 9:29
  2e) Poverty  Lu 9:58 2Co 8:9
  2f) Partaking of our infirmities  Heb 4:15 5:7
  2g) Submitting to ordinances  Mt 3:13-15
  2h) Becoming a servant  Mt 20:28 Lu 22:27 Php 2:7
  2i) Associating with the despised  Mt 9:10,11 Lu 15:1,2
  2j) Refusing honours  Joh 5:41 6:15
  2k) Entry into Jerusalem  Zec 9:9 Mt 21:5,7
  2l) Washing his disciples' feet  Joh 13:5
  2m) Obedience  Joh 6:38 Heb 10:9
  2n) Submitting to sufferings  Isa 50:6 53:7 Ac 8:32 Mt 26:37-39
  2o) Exposing himself to reproach and contempt  Ps 22:6 69:9 Ro 15:3 Isa 53:3
  2p) Death  Joh 10:15,17,18 Php 2:8 Heb 12:2
  3) Saints should imitate  Php 2:5-8
  4) On account of, he was despised  Mr 6:3 Joh 9:29
  5) His exaltation, the result of  Php 2:9

Sources used for compiling this mailing:

• Parent Guide Planner 4, Advanced Training Institute, Oak Brook, Illinois
• How to Win the Heart of a Rebel - Sermon by Dr. S.M. Davis
• Reclaiming Surrendered Ground by Jim Logan
• The Online Bible