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| Character Journal No.24 | Sensitivity |
May 2001 |
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 is presented with suggestions for Bible lessons and projects.
Bible Verses Related to Sensitivity
Spend an evening (or several) looking at just one of these verses at a time. 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. Since the English word "sensitivity" does not appear in the Authorised Version, we have included a list of verses which relate to this important character quality. For a more complete study, we suggest you use the Online Bible which you can download free of charge from our web site at http://www.hlm.org/html/files.htm.
NOTE: The black coloured text indicates the number attributed to the Greek or Hebrew word in Strong's Concordance as well as a transliteration of the word and its pronunciation. The blue text shows all of the ways that the original word is translated in the Authorised Version. The number beside each of the various words indicates the number of times it is translated in that way; and the number at the end indicates the total number of times the original word appears in the Bible. The red text gives a more technical definition of the original word. In each case, the first time the original word is used is listed first. For the sake of space, not all occurrences of the original word is given but enough to show the various ways in which the word is used.
1252 diakrinw diakrino dee-ak-ree’-no
from 1223 and 2919; TDNT-3:946,469; v
AV-doubt 5, judge 3, discern 2, contend 2, waver 2, misc 5; 19
1) to separate, make a distinction, discriminate, to prefer
2) to learn by discrimination, to try, decide
2a) to determine, give judgement, decide a dispute
3) to withdraw from one, desert
4) to separate one’s self in a hostile spirit, to oppose, strive with dispute, contend
5) to be at variance with one’s self, hesitate, doubt
Matthew 16:3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather
to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern <1252> the
face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?
Matthew 21:21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith,
and doubt <1252> not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but
also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea;
it shall be done.
Mark 11:23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou
removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall <1252> not doubt <1252> in
his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall
have whatsoever he saith.
Acts 10:20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting <1252>
nothing: for I have sent them.
Acts 11:2 And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision
contended <1252> with him,
Acts 11:12 And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting <1252>. Moreover
these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man’s house:
Acts 15:9 And put <1252> no difference <1252> between us and them, purifying
their hearts by faith.
Romans 4:20 He staggered <1252> not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was
strong in faith, giving glory to God;
Romans 14:23 And he that doubteth <1252> is damned if he eat, because he eateth not
of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. {doubteth: or, discerneth and putteth a
difference between meats} {damned: or, condemned, or liable to punishment}
1 Corinthians 4:7 For who maketh <1252> thee to differ <1252> from another?
and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost
thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? {maketh…: Gr. distinguisheth thee}
1 Corinthians 6:5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you?
no, not one that shall be able to judge <1252> between his brethren?
1 Corinthians 11:29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh
damnation to himself, not discerning <1252> the Lord’s body. {damnation: or,
judgement}
1 Corinthians 11:31 For if we would judge <1252> ourselves, we should not be judged.
1 Corinthians 14:29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let <1252> the other
judge <1252>.
James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering <1252>. For he that wavereth
<1252> is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
James 2:4 Are ye <1252> not then partial <1252> in yourselves, and are become
judges of evil thoughts?
Jude 1:9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending <1252> with the devil he
disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but
said, The Lord rebuke thee.
Jude 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference <1252>:
from 1252; TDNT-3:949,469; n f
AV-discerning 1, discern 1, disputation 1; 3
1) a distinguishing, discerning, judging
Romans 14:1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but
not to doubtful disputations <1253>. {not…: or, not to judge his doubtful
thoughts}
1 Corinthians 12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another
discerning <1253> of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the
interpretation of tongues:
Hebrews 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by
reason of use have their senses exercised to discern <1253> both good and evil. {of
full age: or, perfect} {use: or, an habit, or, perfection}
1) to test, examine, prove, scrutinise (to see whether a thing is genuine or not), as metals 2) to recognise as genuine after examination, to approve, deem worthy
Luke 12:56 Ye hypocrites, ye can discern <1381> the
face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern <1381> this
time?
Luke 14:19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove
<1381> them: I pray thee have me excused.
Romans 1:28 And even as they did <1381> not like <1381> to retain God in their
knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not
convenient; {to retain: or, to acknowledge} {a reprobate…: or, a mind void of
judgement or, an unapproving mind}
Romans 2:18 And knowest his will, and approvest <1381> the things that are more
excellent, being instructed out of the law; {approvest…: or, triest the things that
differ}
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of
your mind, that ye may prove <1381> what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect,
will of God.
Romans 14:22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth
not himself in that thing which he alloweth <1381>.
1 Corinthians 3:13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare
it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try <1381> every
man’s work of what sort it is. {it shall be: Gr. it is}
1 Corinthians 11:28 But let <1381> a man examine <1381> himself, and so let
him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
1 Corinthians 16:3 And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve <1381> by your
letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem. {liberality: Gr. gift}
2 Corinthians 8:8 I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of
others, and to prove <1381> the sincerity of your love.
2 Corinthians 8:22 And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have <1381>
oftentimes proved <1381> diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon
the great confidence which I have in you. {I have: or, he hath}
2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove <1381> your
own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be
reprobates?
Galatians 6:4 But let <1381> every man prove <1381> his own work, and then
shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
Ephesians 5:10 Proving <1381> what is acceptable unto the Lord.
Philippians 1:10 That ye may approve <1381> things that are excellent; that ye may
be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; {approve: or, try} {are…: or,
differ}
1 Thessalonians 2:4 But as we were allowed <1381> of God to be put in trust with the
gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth <1381> our
hearts.
1 Thessalonians 5:21 Prove <1381> all things; hold fast that which is good.
1 Timothy 3:10 And let <1381> these also first be proved <1381>; then let them
use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
Hebrews 3:9 When your fathers tempted me, proved <1381> me, and saw my works forty
years.
1 Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that
perisheth, though it be tried <1381> with fire, might be found unto praise and
honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try <1381> the spirits whether
they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Other Verses...
How to Demonstrate Sensitivity
at Home
at Work/School
at Church
The "I Wills" of Sensitivity
-Character First! Education Series 3
Four Probing Questions
-Character Clues Game, IBLP
Being Sensitive to God's Will - Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is (Ephesians 5:17)
Just about every Christian has asked the question, "What is the will of God for my life?" Whenever a Christian says that, he implies two things:
1. He doesn't know what God's will is but he would like to.
2. He would like to know God's will, but because he doesn't know it's God's fault.
I'd like to suggest on the basis of Ephesians 5:17 that if anyone doesn't know God's will, it's not God's fault, it's ours! God's will is not some nebulas, indiscernible information stored away in some filing cabinet locked up in heaven. God has clearly revealed His will to us in the Word of God and it's the same for every Christian. 1 Thessalonians 4:3 says, "For this is the will of God, even your sanctification..." Now that's not something we have to pray about. God's will is our sanctification! Simply put, sanctification is the process by which we become more and more like the Lord Jesus Christ and less and less like ourselves.
Many Christians who struggle with finding God's will for their lives are usually concerned about one of two things - where God wants them to go or what He wants them to do. But God's will is not primarily a matter of location or vocation. It is primarily a matter of the condition of our hearts. God is not so much concerned about where we go or what we do as He is about what we are.
Now If God's will is our sanctification and if we want to live in the will of God then, first of all, we will reject all those things which do not contribute to our sanctification. Are there things in your life that are hindering your sanctification? God has clearly told us that His will for each one of us is to become more like Christ in His character. Every day we have choices which will determine whether we are that way or not. And one of the choices we have is to consciously reject all those things which do not contribute to our sanctification.
But there's a positive aspect as well. It's not only rejecting those things which hinder our sanctification; but it's embracing those things which contribute to our sanctification. Jesus prayed for His disciples in John 17:17, "Sanctify them with Thy truth; Thy Word is truth." God's will is that we be sanctified, and Jesus is telling us how that happens - by a constant exposure to the Word of God. A Christian that is in the will of God is a Christian that is in the Word of God. God has given us His Word as His means of making us more like His Son.
Are you in God's will? Are you sensitive to those things in your life which hinder your sanctification and need to go? Are you spending time each day in the Word of God? Because a Christian that is in the will of God is a Christian that is in the Word of God.
If you express love in a way another family member doesn't understand, he or she won't realize you've expressed your love at all. The problem is that you're speaking two different languages.
Perhaps your husband needs to hear encouraging words, but you feel cooking a nice dinner will cheer him up. When he still feels down, you're puzzled. Or, maybe your wife craves time with you; and the flowers you gave her just don't communicate that you care.
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| Group 2 | A___ | B___ | C___ | D___ | E___ |
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| Group 4 | A___ | B___ | C___ | D___ | E___ |
| Group 5 | A___ | B___ | C___ | D___ | E___ |
| Totals | A___ | B___ | C___ | D___ | E___ |
Designed by Gary and Joy Hanson - Copyright
© 1999 by Growing Families International. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.Spiritual Warfare and How to Pray for Your Husband
The following list is designed to pray one request per day, thus enabling you to pray through it each month. Pray…
1. That he would totally submit himself to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
2. That he would love the Lord with all of his heart, soul, and strength.
3. That he would be a man of wisdom, viewing himself, me as his wife, our children, others, and circumstances the way God does.
4. That he would grow in brokenness of spirit and humility, longing for God to reveal areas of needed growth.
5. That his heart would hunger and thirst for a closer, intimate relationship with God.
6. That he would understand that though he is a husband and father, he is a man under authority, respecting his authorities, as he desires his family to honour him.
7. That he would give first priority to spending time with the Lord every day in Bible reading, mediation, and prayer, and that it would be a source of encouragement and strength to him.
8. That he would realise his position of victory and power in Jesus Christ, casting down imaginations, and bringing every thought into captivity.
9. That he would experience God's perfect sacrificial love for him and because of that knowledge, love and cherish me, his wife, so that our marriage would clearly typify Christ’s love for the Church.
10. That he would be committed to and experience moral freedom, making a covenant to not look upon strange women to lust after them, and setting nothing immoral before his eyes.
11. That he would fully accept the way God has made him and me, understanding our differences as male and female, and enabling us to reach out to each other unselfishly.
12. That he would continue to grow in the skill of intimate, honest communication, reaching out to me in sensitive understanding, allowing a greater oneness of spirit between us.
13. That he would be committed to making his marriage a priority, delighting in me as a woman, spiritually, emotionally, and physically.
14. That he would be filled with wisdom to be the loving, wise, sensitive spiritual leader of our home.
15. That he would (continue to) make it a priority to lead our family in a regular devotional time.
16. That he would be a wise protector, shielding his family from the onslaughts of Satan and the world.
17. That he would value and understand each of our children's needs and strengths, being and doing all he can for their spiritual and emotional growth.
18. That he would know how to express his love and acceptance to each of our children, alert for opportunities to praise and affirm them, and be enabled to meaningfully communicate with them.
19. That he would make it a priority to spend quantity and quality time with our children.
20. That he would be a loving, consistent disciplinarian of our children, not provoking them to anger.
21. That he would grow in meekness, not given to anger, but when failing be given the grace to humbly ask to be forgiven.
22. That he would trust the Lord for the spacing and number of children in our family.
23. That he would make wise financial decisions, being committed to tithing our income, and remembering that God is the ultimate Provider for our family.
24. That God would protect and guard him from spiritual, emotional, and physical danger.
25. That he would be blessed with good health and strength.
26. That he would have a life purpose bigger than his occupation, keeping the vision of service and missions before his eyes.
27. That he would use his job to encourage and share his faith in a dynamic way with others.
28. That he would not compare himself with others, being concerned of God's evaluation of him.
29. That he would view the irritations of family life, occupation, and all of life's trials as God's best tools to build and refine his character, and be given the grace to delight in the Lord when the stresses of life increases.
30. That he would experience purpose in life and enjoy God's smile of approval as he lays down his life for his family and others.
Return to top of page...Quotations
"I expect to pass through the world but once. Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness I can show to any creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer it, for I shall not pass this way again." — Stephen Grellet
"The best portions of a good man's life are his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love" — Unknown
Taken from the Advanced Seminar Textbook of the Institute in Basic Life Principles
The Five
Love Languages by Gary Chapman.
People express and receive love in different ways. Dr. Gary Chapman identifies these as the five languages of love: Quality Time, Words of Affirmation, Gifts, Acts of Service, and Physical Touch. If you express love in a way another family member doesn't understand, he or she won't realize you've expressed your love at all. The problem is that you're speaking two different languages. Perhaps your husband needs to hear encouraging words, but you feel cooking a nice dinner will cheer him up. When he still feels down, you're puzzled. Or, maybe your wife craves time with you; and the flowers you gave her just don't communicate that you care. In this book you will find a couple's guide to help you work as a team. Before you know it, you'll learn to speak and understand the unique languages of love and effectively express your love as well as feel truly loved in return. Order this book directly from our web site at http://www.hlm.org/onlinestore . You will find it listed under Books/Marriage & Family.
Character First!® Education Booklets contain sixteen full colour pages with stories,
crafts, songs, games, and teaching techniques for parents or teachers to use with their
children. There are nine booklets per set complete with an attractive binder. Each booklet
contains approximately three hours of instructional material on a specific character
quality. 
Character First!® Education materials can be used effectively in either a home,
school, or church environment. We have been certified by Character First!® Education and
can provide on-site teacher training in the UK for schools and churches wishing to use the
Character First!® Education materials. E-mail us for more information on training classes
at info@hlm.org.
Series One Character Qualities: Attentiveness, Orderliness,
Obedience, Forgiveness, Truthfulness, Sincerity, Gratefulness, Virtue, Generosity.
Series Two Character Qualities: Responsibility, Resourcefulness,
Patience, Discretion, Initiative, Creativity, Self-Control, Tolerance, Punctuality.
Series Three Character Qualities: Diligence, Loyalty, Flexibility,
Hospitality, Discernment, Enthusiasm, Boldness, Cautiousness, Sensitivity.
Order this series directly from our web site at http://www.hlm.org/onlinestore . You will find
it listed under Character Building Resources.
IBLP Resources
We are also privileged to be able to distribute a range of character building materials produced by the Institute in Basic Life Principles including Character Sketches Volumes 1-3, Character First! Education Curriculum and more. E-mail us to request a list of resources available. If you live in the USA, you may request a catalogue and order directly from IBLP by calling 630-323-9800, or writing IBLP, Box One, Oak Brook, IL 60522-3001.
Video & Audio Tape Messages by Dr. S.M. Davis on Courtship, Marriage and Parenting
Dr. S.M. Davis is a much sought after conference speaker addressing issues on the Christian home. He is particularly well known for his presentations on alternatives to Christian dating. For a list of audio and video tapes available visit our web site at http://www.hlm.org. NOTE: If you live in the USA, you may order Dr. Davis' video and audio tapes by calling 800-500-8853.