Issachar Coaching Cluster Developing Christ-like Character Year 2 Session 7

What is your fondest childhood memory? As we pray, let us remember those on our Evangelism Prayer List.

A primary objective of the WPA District is to develop Growing Spirit-filled Christ-like Servant Leaders at every level throughout the Bride of Jesus Christ!

Growing Spirit-filled Christ-like Servant Leader(ship) Core Competencies Model

Abiding In Jesus Christ Competencies: 1-Growing in Intimacy with Christ 2-Crucifying Self 3-Claiming God’s Armor 4-Exercising Spiritual Disciplines 5-Practicing Sacred Pathways

Growing Spirit-filled Christ-like Servant Leader(ship) Core Competencies Model Empowering by Holy Spirit Competencies: 1-Claiming the Promise, Presence & Power of the Holy Spirit 2-Obeying the Holy Spirit -Quench Not -Grieve Not -Resist Not

Growing Spirit-filled Christ-like Servant Leader(ship) Core Competencies Model Empowering by Holy Spirit Competencies: 3-Being filled with the Holy Spirit 4-Manifesting the Fruit of the Holy Spirit 5-Exercising the Spiritual Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Growing Spirit-filled Christ-like Servant Leader(ship) Core Competencies Model Thinking Strategically Competencies: 1-Defining Realities 2-Providing Direction 3-Facilitating Action 4-Thinking Divergently 5-Thinking Convergently

Growing Spirit-filled Christ-like Servant Leader(ship) Core Competencies Model Leading Self Competencies: 1-Developing Christ- like Character 2-Establishing Christ- like Priorities 3-Maximizing God- given Abilities 4- Establishing Healthy Relationships 5-Sharpening the Saw/Learning for Life

Growing Spirit-filled Christ-like Servant Leader(ship) Core Competencies Model Leading a Team Competencies: 1-Building Trust- filled Relationships 2-Communicating Effectively 3-Unleashing People to Act 4-Cultivating Effective Teams 5-Developing Leaders

Growing Spirit-filled Christ-like Servant Leader(ship) Core Competencies Model Leading the Ministry Competencies: 1-Cultivating God’s Preferred Future 2-Managing Change 3-Executing Strategy 4-Adapting Organizational Structures 5-Administrating the Ministry

Developing Christ-like Character

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Rom 5:3-5

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4

Greek NT: dokime -“Proof that we have stood the test, approved, tried & true, tested, genuine.” Connotes successful endurance of testing. Tested in battle, reliable, trustworthy.” “A man who is tested, significant, recognized, esteemed, worthy”

When thinking about people of character, who comes to mind? What words or phrases would you use to describe them?

Character- “engraved, deeply etched, graven, changeable rarely and least of all in extreme situations” Soren Kierkegaard The Death of Character… by J.D. Hunter, 2000

“The Most Basic Element of Character is Moral Discipline” Montesquieu The Spirit of the Laws

"Character is what you are in the dark." — Unknown

“The measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he never would be found out.” — Baron Thomas Babington Macauley, English historian and statesman ( )

You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.” — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, German poet, novelist, playwright, scientist and philosopher ( )

“The commitment to live by what is true in all aspects of one’s being. In its purist form, this is stated as a resolve to live by truth (Matt 22:37- 40) no matter what pressures, stresses,or temptations may come. Terms such as integrity, honesty, virtue and authenticity are a part of the defination.”

“Character is not a one-time check, but an on-going behavioral pattern of perserverence for one’s beliefs while under pressure Biblical character traits are listed in 1 Tim 3:1-7”

The opposite quality is a person who changes their position or beliefs depending on each situation (i.e. situational ethics).” John Bradley

Character is like tooth paste, no matter where it is squeezed, it always comes out the same!

What Are Characteristics of Christ-like Character?

How does an individual grow more Christ-like with reference to Character?

What Are Some Personal Implications of Growing More Christ-like with Reference to Character?

Expressions of Christ-like Character Consistent moral/righteous behavior Transparency Authenticity Congruent walk & talk Acknowledging wrongs, repentance, extending & receiving forgiveness

Expressions of Christ-like Character Humility

Resources for Christ-like Character Scripture & Scripture Memory Death of Character- Hunter Mere Morality- Smedes Jesus Manifesto- Sweet & Viola The Calvary Road- Hession

Key Principle Some people are quick to judge peoples’ poor behavior and automatically attribute it to a lack of character. Yet when they miss-the- mark, they attribute it to difficult circumstances. This is know as the Fundamental Attribution Error.

A way to counteract the Fundamental Attribution Error is to practice meta- cognition, thinking about one’s thinking. An excellent tool for practicing meta-cognition is the Path to Action.

Path to Action Most people believe there nothing between stimulus and response (I See/Hear and automatically I Act) I See I Hear I Act I Respond

Path to Action Actually, stimulus leads to Telling a Story, leading to Emotions leading to Actions I See I Hear I Act I Respond I Tell a Story I Feel Emotions

Path to Action If we always Tell a negative Story (Fundamental Attribution Error) is there any wonder why we Act/Respond negatively. I See I Hear I Act I Respond I Tell a Story I Feel Emotions Negative Stories Negative Feelings Negative Actions

A key to altering the Path to Action cycle and avoid falling into the Fundamental Attribution Error is to ask “Why would a sane, normal person do such a thing?”

Fable: Once I was driving in bad winter conditions. A car came up on me, began tale gating and almost ran me off the road passing me. In anger I tale gated him several miles. Then he pulled off into the hospital’s ER entrance and pulled a child out of the back seat. Ouch! A new story made all the difference!!!

Next time we feel our emotions rising, can we practice a little meta- cognition, listen to the story we’re telling and imagine any possible positive story to tell? Or ask, why would a sane normal person be doing this? Just imagining a positive story can make all the difference!!!

Expressions of Applying the Path to Action - Practicing meta-cognition - Listening to our stories - Daily journal our difficult situations - - -

- Crucial Conversations- Patterson, Grenny, McMillan, Switzler - Crucial Confrontations- Patterson, Grenny, McMillan, Switzler - Learned Optimism- Seligman - Difficult Conversations- Stone, Patton, Heen, Fisher Resources for Applying the Path to Action

As We Enter Our Triads First let’s review last month’s Smart Goals Second, What is the Holy Spirit bringing to your attention? Did we Go Deep, Clarify, Determine Next Steps? Pray for one another

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