August 23 - Rejoicing Amidst Suffering
August 30 - What Suffering Leads To
September 6 - What Endurance Produces
September 13 - What Character Produces
September 20 - What Hope Does

1. Character is desired.

“Character is much better kept than recovered.” Thomas Paine. https://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/c/character.htm

1. Watch him drive in heavy traffic.

2. Play tennis with him.

3. Listen to him talk to his mother when he doesn’t know you are listening.

4. See how he treats those who serve him (waiters, maids).

5. Notice what he’s willing to spend his money on.

6. Look at his friends.

Lois Wyse-Good Housekeeping, April 1985 https://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/c/character.htm

2. Character can be obtained.

3. Character is not the end goal.

Sermon Questions

1. Describe a person of character. Describe a person of Godly character. Where do they interlock and share the same qualities?

2. What are the reasons that we should be people of high character?

3. Do we have to go through suffering and perseverance to obtain character? Are there other ways to obtain character?

4. How does character match up with verse 1, where Paul shares that we are justified by faith and have peace with God?

5. Describe a person of low character. Was this list easier or harder than question #1?

6. What is an area of character God is trying to bring out of you/bring you into currently?