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| Character
Journal No. 13
Virtue |
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The Character Journal is a
monthly e-zine 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
- A Charge to Keep I Have (Charles Wesley, 1762)
- Am I a Soldier of the Cross? (Isaac Watts, 1724)
- Cleanse Me (J. Edwin Orr - 1928-199?)
- Whiter Than Snow (James Nicholson, 1828-1876)
- Stepping in The Light (Eliza E. Hewitt, 1851-1920)
- I Would Be True (Howard A. Walter, 1883-1918)
- Footsteps of Jesus (Mary B.C. Slade, 1871)
- I Have Decided to Follow Jesus (Source Unknown)
Bible Verses Related to Virtue
Spend an evening (or several) looking at just one of these verses at a time. Don't forget to ask your children the questions: Who? What?
Where? Why? When? and How? Discuss with your family what each verse or story
teaches about the character quality; and give vital application of how this quality can be
applied to your family. Choose several verses to memorise together as a family
during the month.
For a more complete study, we suggest you use the Online
Bible which you can download free of charge from www.onlinebible.org.
Click the "Library" option from where you can freely download Bibles, lexicons,
commentaries, dictionaries and more.
1411 dunamiv dunamis
doo'-nam-is
from 1410; TDNT-2:284 , 186; n f
AV-power 77, mighty work 11, strength 7, miracle 7, might 4, virtue 3, mighty 2, misc 9;
120
1) strength power, ability
1a) inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person
or thing exerts and puts forth
1b) power for performing miracles
1c) moral power and excellence of soul
1d) the power and influence which belong to riches and wealth
1e) power and resources arising from numbers
1f) power consisting in or resting upon armies, forces, hosts
Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from
evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power <1411>, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Matthew 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy
name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works
<1411>?
Matthew 14:2 And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the
dead; and therefore mighty works <1411> do shew forth themselves in him. {do...: or,
are wrought by him}
Matthew 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not
knowing the scriptures, nor the power <1411> of God.
Matthew 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in
heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of
man coming in the clouds of heaven with power <1411> and great glory.
Matthew 25:15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two,
and to another one; to every man according to his several ability<1411> ; and
straightway took his journey. {talents: a talent is one hundred and eighty seven pounds
ten shillings}
Mark 5:30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue
<1411> had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my
clothes?
Luke 1:17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power
<1411> of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the
disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. {to
the wisdom: or, by the wisdom}
Luke 4:14 And Jesus returned in the power <1411> of
the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round
about.
Luke 6:19 And the whole multitude sought to touch him:
for there went virtue <1411> out of him, and healed [them] all.
Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father
upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power
<1411> from on high.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, <1411> after
that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem,
and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. {power...:
or, the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon you}
Acts 6:8 And Stephen, full of faith and power,
<1411> did great wonders and miracles among the people.
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:
for it is the power <1411> of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the
Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the
creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made,
[even] his eternal power <1411> and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
{so...: or, that they may be}
Romans 9:17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even
for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power <1411> in
thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.1 Corinthians 4:20 For
the kingdom of God [is] not in word, but in power.
2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is
sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore
will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power <1411> of Christ may rest upon
me.
Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding
abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power <1411> that
worketh in us,
Philippians 3:10 That I may know him, and the power
<1411> of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made
conformable unto his death;
1 Thessalonians 1:5 For our gospel came not unto you in
word only, but also in power, <1411> and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance;
as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of
fear; but of power, <1411> and of love, and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the
power <1411> thereof: from such turn away.
Revelation 3:8 I know thy works: behold, I have set
before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength,
<1411> and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
47 agneia hagneia hag-ni' -ah
from 53; TDNT-1:123 , 19; n f
AV-purity 2; 2
1) purity, sinlessness of life
- 1 Timothy 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an
example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in
purity <47>.
- 1 Timothy 5:2 The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters,
with all purity <47>.
703 areth arete ar-et' -ay
from the same as 730; TDNT-1:457 , 77; n f
AV-virtue 4, praise 1; 5
1) a virtuous course of thought, feeling and action
1a) virtue, moral goodness
2) any particular moral excellence, as modesty, purity
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true,
whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure,
whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue
<703>, and if there be any praise, think on these things. {honest: or, venerable}
1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar
people; that ye should shew forth the praises <703> of him who hath called you out
of darkness into his marvellous light: {peculiar: or, purchased} {praises: or, virtues}
2 Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto
life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue
<703>: {to: or, by}
2 Peter 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue <703>;
and to virtue <703> knowledge;
Other Verses
Daniel 1:8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not
defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank:
therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
1 Peter 1:15-16 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye
holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Bible
Stories
- Daniel (Daniel 1:3-21; 6:1-28)
- Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 3:1-30)
- Joseph in Egypt (Genesis 39: 4-10)
(Key Verse: 8-9)
- Stephen (Acts 6: 8-15; 7) (Key Verse: 6:8 and his speech to
the Sanhedrin)
- Mary and Joseph (Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38) (Key Verse:
Matt.1:24-25 and Luke 1:38)
- John the Baptist (Matthew 3:1-12; Mark 1:4-8; Luke 3:1-18;
John 1:19-34) (Key Verse: John 1:19-20)
- The virtuous woman of Proverbs 31:10-31
Character
Definitions
- The moral excellence and purity of spirit that radiate
from my life as I obey God's Word (IBLP - Character Clues Game)
- Learning to build personal moral standards which will
cause others to desire a more Godly life (IBLP - Character Clues Game)
- The moral excellence evident in my life as I consistently
do what is right (International Association of Character Cities)
- Demonstrating honesty and integrity in my life by doing
what is right (Character First!)
- noun excellence; worth; moral excellence; inherent power;
efficacy; the practice of duty; a good quality, especially moral; sexual purity;
one of the orders of the medieval celestial hierarchy; an accomplishment (rare);
valour (now rare). »Old French vertu and Latin virtus bravery, moral
excellence, from vir a man; cf Greek heros, Sanskrit vira a hero, Old
English wer man (The CHAMBERS DICTIONARY on CD-ROM)
How to Demonstrate Virtue
at Home
- Choose to pray with your younger brothers and sisters and
challenge them to do what is right.
- Dress modestly at all times.
- Guard against destructive television programmes, videos
and music.
- Take the initiative to be kind and sensitive to other members of
the family.
at Work/School
- Purpose ahead of time that you will stand alone for what
is right and refuse to compromise.
- Modesty and neatness are always in fashion - refuse to
wear clothes that defraud.
- Commit yourself to the principles of courtship verses dating.
- If an activity is doubtful - don't do it!
at Church
- Refuse to listen to and participate in gossip about other church
members.
- Be prepared to stand alone even among other Christians
who might mock your standards.
- Peer pressure can be positive - be a leader among your
peers and encourage them to do what is right.
Potpourri
The "I Wills" of Virtue
Demonstrating virtue centers around the choices we
make and the actions that follow. Virtue is the culmination of many different character
qualities. The five "I Wills" are vital to the success and well-being of every
individual. Because doing what is right may not be the popular thing to do and often
attracts criticism, being virtuous can involve tough decisions. Praise is one way to
encourage and strengthen those who receive criticism. To demonstrate virtue, children need
the assurance and confidence that they are truly doing what is right.
- I will do what is right and encourage others to do the same
- I will guard my eyes, ears, words, and thoughts
- I will learn to stand alone
- I will abstain from anything which might damage or pollute my mind
or body
- I will treat others as I would want them to treat me
-Character First! Education Series 1
- Purity Is Dearer than Life
- In the forests of Northern Europe lives the ermine, a
small animal best known for his snow-white fur. Instinctively, he protects his glossy coat
with great care lest it become soiled. Hunters often capitalise on this trait. Instead of
setting a mechanical trap to catch the ermine, they find his home in a cleft of a rock or
a hollow tree and daub the entrance and the interior with tar. Then their dogs start the
chase, and the frightened ermine flees toward his home. But finding it covered with dirt,
he spurns the place of safety. Rather than soil his white fur, he courageously faces the
yelping dogs, who hold him at bay until the hunters capture him. To the ermine, purity is
dearer than life!
Windows on the Word - Radio Bible Class
Spider in Air Bubble
In South America is a curious little spider which has its home
under the water. It forms a bubble about itself in which, like a diving bell, it sinks to
the bottom of a pond or river. It will remain there for hours, living below, and yet
breathing the air from above. When it returns to the surface it is found to be perfectly
dry. Not the slightest moisture will have penetrated its capsule. It is in the water and
yet separate from it, maintained by contact with the beyond.
Encyclopaedia of 7,700 Illustrations
- Virtue in the home includes:
A parent establishing a standard of moral
conduct in the family and upholding it by example
A parent teaching children to make wise
choices about friends, music, and clothing
Family members dressing modestly, inside and
outside the home
Family members filling their minds with
God-honouring music and good influences
Achieving True Success by Building a Character Family,
IACC, Oklahoma City
Epigrams
Someone has said, "It is not enough for
a gardener to love flowers; he must also hate weeds."
You can find the world's shortest sermon on a thousand traffic
signs: "Keep Right."
There was a Scotchman who had a dress shirt which he wore on
special occasions. After he had used it several times, he would question its cleanness and
take it to the window for better light. His wife's words were very wise: "If it's
doubtful, it's dirty!" - V. Raymond Edman
The greatest security against sin is to be
shocked at its presence - Carlyle
"Right" is always right even if no
one else is doing it; "wrong" is always wrong even if everyone else is doing it.
The Stranger
A few months before I was born, my dad met a stranger who was new
to our small, Tennessee town. From the beginning, Dad was fascinated with this enchanting
newcomer and soon invited him to live with our family The stranger was quickly accepted
and was around to welcome me into the world a few months later. As I grew up, I never
questioned his place in our family
In my young mind, each member had a special niche. My brother,
Bill, five years my senior, was my example. Fran, my younger sister, gave me an
opportunity to play "big brother" and develop the art of teasing. My parents
were complementary instructors—Mom taught me to love the Word of God, and Dad taught
me to obey it.
But the stranger was our storyteller. He could weave the most
fascinating tales. Adventures, mysteries, and comedies were daily conversations. He could
hold our whole family spellbound for hours each evening. If I wanted to know about
politics, history, or science, he knew it all. He knew about the past, understood the
present, and seemingly could predict the future. The pictures he could draw were so
lifelike that often I would laugh or cry
He was like a friend to the whole family. He took Dad, Bill, and
me to our first major league baseball game. He was always encouraging us to see the
movies, and he even made arrangements to introduce us to several movie stars. My brother
and I were deeply impressed by John Wayne in particular.
The stranger was an incessant talker. Dad did not seem to mind.
But sometimes Mom would quietly get up while the rest of us were enthralled with one of
his stories of faraway places, go to her room, read her Bible, and pray. I now wonder if
she ever prayed that the stranger would leave.
You see, my dad ruled our household with certain moral
convictions. But this stranger never felt obligated to honour them. Profanity, for
example, was not allowed in our house—not from friends, adults, or us. Our long-time
visitor, however, used occasional four-letter words that burned my ears and made Dad
squirm. To my knowledge, the stranger was never confronted.
My dad was a teetotaller who did not permit alcohol in his
home-not even for cooking. But the stranger felt that we needed exposure, and he
enlightened us in other ways of life. He often offered us beer and other alcoholic
beverages. He made cigarettes look tasty, cigars manly, and pipes distinguished.
He talked freely (probably much too freely) about sex. His
comments were sometimes blatant, sometimes suggestive, and generally embarrassing. I now
know that my early concepts of the man-woman relationships were influenced by the
stranger.
As I look back, I believe it was only because of the grace of God
that the stranger did not influence us more. Time after time he opposed the values of my
parents. Yet he was seldom rebuked and never asked to leave. More than thirty years have
passed since the stranger moved in with our young family on Morningside Drive. He is not
nearly so intriguing to my dad as he was in those early years. But if you were to walk
into my parents’ home today, you would still see him sitting over in a corner,
waiting for someone to listen to him talk and look at his pictures. His name? We always
just called him T.V.
Received via e-mail - Author Unknown
- Consequences in Sons and Daughters when Parents Allow Unrestricted
Television
| Consequences |
Related Scripture |
| 1. It establishes
the practice of tolerating evil to enjoy some good. |
"The fear
of the Lord is to hate evil...." (Prv. 8:13). "...A little leaven
leaveneth the whole lump" (1 Cor. 5:6). |
| 2. Its
amusement format lowers their resistance to evil. |
"Keep
thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issue of life" (Prv. 4:23) |
| 3. It
provides constant access to the world's system and its false concepts. |
"Beware
lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men,
after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ" (Col. 2:8). |
| 4. It
deadens their conscience by providing comparison with new lows of immorality |
"And
because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold" (Mat. 24:12). |
| 5. It
allows them to relate to evil individuals whom you would otherwise never allow into your
home. |
"...A
companion of fools shall be destroyed" (Prv. 13:20). |
| 6. It
devours one of their most precious resources - time. |
So teach us to
number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom" (Psl. 90:12). |
| 7. It
stifles creativity by deadening their responses to conscience and Scripture. |
"Quench
not the Spirit" (1 Thes. 5:19). |
| 8. It
ultimately makes them an enemy of God. |
"...Know
ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore
will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God" (Jam. 4:4). |
-IBLP, Oak Brook IL
Three Probing Questions
- Do people swear or tell dirty jokes in your presence?
- Have you inspired those under your spiritual care to
moral purity by personal example?
- How many people would sense personal loss in their
spiritual life if you were to leave?
-Character Clues Game, IBLP
- Courtship Covenant
- A Covenant
- Between a father and a daughter
- as witnessed by the Lord Jesus Christ
We agree together to
seek God's best concerning
A Future Life Partner
| Father I will protect you from unqualified men.
I will teach you God's principles of life.
I will pray for you and for God's choice of your life
partner.
- __________________
- Father's signature
|
Daughter I will keep myself pure for my husband.
I will obtain your blessing on my courtship.
I will wait for your full release before entering into
marriage.
- __________________
- Daughter's signature
|
- __________________
- Pastor's signature
-
- __________________
- Date
- Establishing Biblical Standards of Courtship, IBLP
CROWNING QUALITIES OF WOMANHOOD
(1) A Devotional Spirit
# 1Sa 1:15 2Ki 22:14 Es 4:16 Lu 1:25 , 38 , 46
2:36 10:42
# Ac 16:14 Ro 16:1 , 12
(2) Modesty
# Ge 24:65 Es 1:11 , 12 1Ti 2:9 , 10 1Pe 3:1 ,
2
(3) Liberality
# Ex 35:25 Pr 31:20 Lu 8:2 , 3 21:2 -4 Joh 12:3
Ac 9:39
(4) Wisdom and Virtue
# Pr 11:16 12:4 14:1 31:10 , 30
Examples from History
- In the year of Christ 286, a most remarkable affair occurred; a
legion of
- soldiers, consisting of six thousand six hundred and sixty-six
men,
- contained none but Christians. This legion was called the Theban
Legion,
- because the men had been raised in Thebias: they were quartered in
the
- east until the emperor Maximian ordered them to march to Gaul, to
assist
- him against the rebels of Burgundy. They passed the Alps into
Gaul,
- under the command of Mauritius, Candidus, and Exupernis, their
worthy
- commanders, and at length joined the emperor. Maximian, about this
time,
- ordered a general sacrifice, at which the whole army was to
assist; and
- like-wise he commanded that they should take the oath of
allegiance and
- swear, at the same time, to assist in the extirpation of
Christianity in Gaul.
- Alarmed at these orders, each individual of the Theban Legion
absolutely
- refused either to sacrifice or take the oaths prescribed. This so
greatly
- enraged Maximian, that he ordered the legion to be decimated, that
is,
- every tenth man to be selected from the rest, and put to the
sword. This
- bloody order having been put in execution, those who remained
alive were
- still inflexible, when a second decimation took place, and every
tenth man
- of those living was put to death. This second severity made no
more
- impression than the first had done; the soldiers preserved their
fortitude
- and their principles, but by the advice of their officers they
drew up a
- loyal remonstrance to the emperor. This, it might have been
presumed,
- would have softened the emperor, but it had a contrary effect:
for, enraged
- at their perseverance and unanimity, he commanded that the whole
legion
- should he put to death, which was accordingly executed by the
other
- troops, who cut them to pieces with their swords, September 22,
286.
-
- Quirinus, bishop of Siscia, being carried before Matenius, the
governor,
- was ordered to sacrifice to the pagan deities, agreeably to the
edicts of
- various Roman emperors. The governor, perceiving his constancy,
sent
- him to jail, and ordered him to be heavily ironed; flattering
himself, that the
- hardships of a jail, some occasional tortures and the weight of
chains,
- might overcome his resolution. Being decided in his principles, he
was sent
- to Amantius, the principal governor of Pannonia, now Hungary, who
- loaded him with chains, and carried him through the principal
towns of the
- Danube, exposing him to ridicule wherever he went. Arriving at
length at
- Sabaria and finding that Quirinus would not renounce his faith, he
ordered
- him to be cast into a river, with a stone fastened about his neck.
This
- sentence being put into execution, Quirinus floated about for some
time,
- and, exhorting the people in the most pious terms, concluded his
- admonitions with this prayer: "It is no new thing, O
all-powerful Jesus,
- for Thee to stop the course of rivers, or to cause a man to walk
upon the
- water, as Thou didst Thy servant Peter; the people have already
seen the
- proof of Thy power in me; grant me now to lay down my life for Thy
- sake, O my God." On pronouncing the last words he immediately
sank,
- and died, June 4, AD 308. His body was afterwards taken up, and
buried
- by some pious Christians.
-Fox's Book of Martyrs
Family Iniquities and Curses
Parents who keep their eyes from evil and
their minds from impure thoughts will not only receive blessing in their own lives but
also in the lives of their children. Their own past failures are less likely to be
repeated in their children's lives.
Family iniquities, or self-will in a particular area of life, can
be passed from generation to generation. How do we stop the cycle and find freedom in
Christ? Here are four basic action steps...
1. Acknowledge the specific iniquity. For help in how to pray,
read Daniel's prayer in Daniel 9:3-19.
2. Ask God to cleanse the iniquity in the blood of the Lord Jesus
Christ.
3. Ask God to reclaim any ground given to Satan and tear down
every stronghold.
4. Claim Psalm 103:17 that from now on, the righteousness of your
family will be your heritage for your children and for future generations. Also, commit
this great verse to memory. For the breaking of a curse, here is a suggested prayer you
may find helpful:
Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, I come to you desiring to be
free from all curses and their results. I thank you for saving me and cleansing me of my
sin. I confess that I belong to you. I now confess and repent of all my sins, known and
unknown. I now confess the sins of my forefathers. In the name and through the blood of
the Lord Jesus Christ I break and renounce the power of every demonic curse that was
passed down to me by the sins and actions of others. I now renounce, break, and loose
myself and my family from all demonic subjection to any human being who has in the past or
is now controlling me or my family in any way contrary to the Word and the will of God. In
the name of Jesus Christ, I break the power and hold of every curse that has come to me
through disobedience-mine or my forefathers. I claim release and freedom through the blood
of Christ. Amen.
-from Reclaiming Surrendered Ground by Jim Logan -
Moody Press
Sources used for compiling this mailing:
- The Online Bible (http://www.onlinebible.org)
- Character First! Education Series 1 - The Character
First! Education curriculum is developed by the Character Training Institute, a non-profit
organization based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. If you live in the USA, you may request
information directly by calling 405-815-0001, writing 520 W. Main St., Oklahoma City, OK
73102, or visiting www.characterfirst.com.
- Establishing Biblical Standards of Courtship,
IBLP, Oak Brook, IL
- Master
Christian Library CD ROM
- Character Clues Game (IBLP)
- Reclaiming Surrendered Ground by Jim Logan,
Moody Press
