February 7, 2025

Character is Cultivated

Here’s the main point I believe God wants us to drive home on Sunday: Character is cultivated.

Character is the strength of moral fiber – what defines a person’s honesty, integrity, and generosity. A lack of character, on the other hand, leads to dishonesty, selfishness, and unethical behavior. And since character is a big deal to God, He continually works to develop it in our lives. Proverbs 17:3 says, “Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the Lord tests the heart.” Like a tree growing strong through deep roots or metal refined by fire, a person’s character is shaped and strengthened over time through life’s challenges.

Our text for Sunday comes from Titus 1:5-9. I hope you’ll reflect on that passage before we gather for worship on Sunday.

I left you on the island of Crete so you could complete our work there and appoint elders in each town as I instructed you. ⁶ An elder must live a blameless life. He must be faithful to his wife, and his children must be believers who don’t have a reputation for being wild or rebellious. ⁷ A church leader is a manager of God’s household, so he must live a blameless life. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker, violent, or dishonest with money. ⁸ Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must love what is good. He must live wisely and be just. He must live a devout and disciplined life. ⁹ He must have a strong belief in the trustworthy message he was taught; then he will be able to encourage others with wholesome teaching and show those who oppose it where they are wrong.

I hope to see you on Sunday!

pastor jamie