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The Character Of A Disciple
Contributed by Gordon Pike on May 12, 2018 (message contributor)
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1. The Character Of A Disciple: Humility
Contributed on May 12, 2018
Humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking rightly about yourself. It's getting and keeping a "right-sized" image of yourself by having a "right-sized" image of God.
How may of you dream or have ever dreamed of becoming famous? I mean REALLY famous? Can't go anywhere without being recognized famous? Remembered and adored long after you're dead famous? Ah ... glad to see that I'm not the only one. When I was in my twenties and thirties, I considered ...read more
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2. The Character Of A Disciple: Integrity
Contributed on May 18, 2018
When a person has "integrity," our words, actions, values, beliefs, principles, character, our hearts are one. As disciples of Jesus, who was the embodiment of integrity, our words and actions, our values are integral, are one, with our Lord.
“Caveat emptor” … “Buyer beware” … because what you see, well … it’s not what you always get … and that’s been the case, it seems, ever since we’ve been banned from the Garden of Eden. We get our word “integrity” from a very ancient practice that was done to scam the consumers of pottery jugs ...read more
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3. The Character Of A Disciple: Compassion
Contributed on Jun 13, 2018
I love Jesus’ parables. Sometimes they’re like exploding birthday cakes. Sometimes they’re like a mirror. Sometimes they’re like an onion. And sometimes, like Jesus’ parable of “The Good Samaritan,” they can be all three.
I love Jesus’ parables. Sometimes they’re like exploding birthday cakes. Sometimes they’re like a mirror. Sometimes they’re like an onion. And sometimes, like Jesus’ parable of “The Good Samaritan,” they can be all three. [Read Luke 10:25-37] Let’s begin to examine the different layers ...read more
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4. The Character Of A Disciple: Endurance
Contributed on Jun 19, 2018
Endurance. Strength and inner-lasting ... Digging deep down into your guts, your heart, your soul to find that reservoir of strength that keeps us going when we want to lay down and quit. God is that reservoir and Paul is a great example of enduranc
August, 1974, Fort Dix, New Jersey … That’s where I did my basic training for the U.S. Army. The Vietnam was almost over … but not quite. It would end six months after I joined. So, the Army was still training us as if we were going to the jungles of ‘Nam. All of my drill sergeants were ...read more
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5. The Character Of A Disciple: Joy
Contributed on Jul 16, 2018
There is something about doing the right thing that brings a “joy” … a sense of peace, assurance, righteousness … that comes from doing the right thing for the right reason … whatever may befall us as we do the right thing for right reason.
THE CHARACTER OF A DISCIPLE: JOY Scripture: 1st Peter 1:3-9 We are all familiar with the horrors that Jesus went through during His arrest and crucifixion: The betrayal. Being abandoned by His Disciples and followers. Dragged before angry and determined religious authorities. The ...read more
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6. The Character Of A Disciple: Love
Contributed on Jul 26, 2018
Agape is the highest form of love … the love that everyone wants to receive but few are ready to give because of the sacrifice involved. How can anyone receive agape if no one is willing to live and to share and to give agape?
Eleven adults and 26 high school students loaded into three vans in the parking lot of the First United Methodist Church in Hartselle, Alabama, said good-by to family and friends and home and drove over 700 miles to a little town on the shores of Lake Okeechobee. Two of the adult leaders had been ...read more
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7. The Character Of A Disciple: A God Inspired Life
Contributed on Aug 6, 2018
God wants us to be people of love and joy and peace. He wants to breathe into us the qualities of generosity, integrity, humility, and self-discipline. The disciples of Christ are “inspired” people ... Inspired by God's Holy Spirit.
Let’s go back to the beginning of this chapter … back to verse 1 (Philippians 2:1-5): “If then there is any encouragement in Christ … any consolation from love … any sharing in the Spirit … any compassion and sympathy … make my joy complete … be of the same mind … having the same love … being in ...read more