Transformative Journey: Growing in Character Through Faith

Apr 05, 2023

Devotional

Day 1: Love Keeps No Record of Wrongs

Resentment is overcome by choosing love that refuses to tally up the wrongs others have done to us, letting go of the mental scorecard and embracing forgiveness. When we hold onto resentment, we are constantly keeping a record, replaying hurts and offenses in our minds, which only deepens our pain and distances us from the freedom Christ offers. Instead, God calls us to a higher way: to love with agape love, which is patient, kind, and does not insist on its own way. This love is not irritable or resentful, but seeks the good of others, even those who have hurt us. As we meditate on this, we are invited to ask the Holy Spirit to help us erase the tally and bless those who have wronged us, experiencing the transformation that comes from living out true love. [07:17]

1 Corinthians 13:5 (ESV)
"[Love] does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs."

Reflection: Who is one person you find yourself keeping a mental tally against, and what would it look like to deliberately erase that record and pray blessing over them today?

Day 2: The Dark Consequences of Resentment

Living in resentment leads to a life marked by darkness, sorrow, and affliction, as we continually meditate on past hurts and offenses. The more we focus on what others have done to us, the more we find ourselves trapped in a cycle of anger and depression, unable to move forward or experience the joy God intends for us. This is not just an emotional reality but a spiritual one, as resentment can open the door to further spiritual struggles and broken relationships. God warns us of these consequences so that we might choose the path of forgiveness and freedom, rather than the bondage of bitterness. [11:03]

Ecclesiastes 5:17 (ESV)
"Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness in much vexation and sickness and anger."

Reflection: In what area of your life do you notice resentment leading to darkness or discouragement, and how can you invite God’s light into that place today?

Day 3: The Power of Character Studies

True spiritual growth is not just about gaining Bible knowledge, but about being transformed in character to become more like Jesus. Focusing on character studies—identifying areas where we need to grow, studying what Scripture says about those traits, and learning from biblical examples—helps us move beyond information to real-life transformation. This process is not about overwhelming ourselves with too many goals at once, but about patiently and intentionally allowing the Holy Spirit to shape us, one trait at a time, over the course of our lives. [02:17]

2 Peter 1:5-7 (ESV)
"For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love."

Reflection: What is one character trait you sense God inviting you to focus on this week, and what is a first step you can take to grow in that area?

Day 4: The Importance of Application, Not Just Information

Transformation happens when we move from simply knowing biblical truths to intentionally applying them in real-life situations and relationships. It is not enough to fill our minds with facts; we must imagine specific scenarios where we can practice the character trait we are studying, make a plan for how to respond differently, and measure our progress by real change in our actions and attitudes. This practical approach ensures that our faith is lived out, not just learned, and that we become doers of the Word, not hearers only. [06:10]

James 1:22 (ESV)
"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."

Reflection: Think of a current relationship or situation where you can intentionally apply a biblical character trait—what will you do differently this week to put God’s Word into practice?

Day 5: Humility: A Lifelong Journey

Humility is a foundational character trait that God commands and exalts, and it is developed over a lifetime as we continually steep ourselves in Scripture and allow God to reveal new areas for growth. Rather than a one-time achievement, humility is cultivated by repeatedly returning to God’s Word, meditating on what it means to be humble, and adding to our understanding as the Holy Spirit teaches us. This ongoing process makes us more potent and effective in God’s kingdom, as we become vessels shaped by His truth and grace. [13:39]

Philippians 2:3-4 (ESV)
"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."

Reflection: Where in your daily life can you intentionally choose humility, putting someone else’s needs or perspective ahead of your own today?

Sermon Summary

The journey of spiritual growth is not just about accumulating knowledge, but about deep, personal transformation. The vision is for everyone—not just a select few—to immerse themselves in God’s Word in a way that shapes their character, not just their intellect. This is why it’s so important to share our experiences and encourage others to join in, especially those who are newer or younger in the faith. When we talk about what God is doing in us, we help create a culture where everyone is invited to go deeper.

One of the most powerful tools for this kind of growth is the character study. While it’s valuable to study biblical topics, it’s even more crucial to focus on the kind of person we are becoming. The process begins by identifying a character trait—something we struggle with or want to grow in. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the areas we could improve, but the key is to take it one step at a time, trusting that the Holy Spirit will highlight what needs attention.

A character study involves several steps: naming the quality, identifying its opposite, and then doing a simple word study—looking up relevant scriptures and asking probing questions about the benefits, warnings, and promises associated with that trait. It’s also helpful to look at biblical characters who either exemplified or failed in this area, drawing lessons from their lives. For example, studying resentment led to insights from 1 Corinthians 13:5, where love is described as keeping no record of wrongs. The original Greek word for “resentful” means to tally or keep score, which paints a vivid picture of what it means to hold onto past hurts.

Application is where transformation happens. It’s not enough to understand a trait intellectually; we must imagine real-life situations where we can practice it, make a plan, and set a tangible goal for progress. For instance, when struggling with resentment, the project might be to deliberately reject negative thoughts and pray blessing over those who have hurt us. Over time, these studies can be built upon, creating a lifelong journey of becoming more like Jesus. The more we steep ourselves in God’s Word, the more potent and Christlike our character becomes.

Key Takeaways

1. True spiritual maturity is measured not by how much we know, but by how much we are transformed. Focusing on character development, rather than just accumulating biblical facts, leads to genuine Christlikeness and humility, as knowledge alone can easily lead to pride. [01:32]
2. Every negative trait often has a sanctifiable counterpart; for example, legalism can be transformed into disciplined grace, and pride into holy confidence. Recognizing the redemptive potential within our struggles allows us to cooperate with the Holy Spirit’s work of transformation, rather than simply trying to suppress or ignore our weaknesses. [02:17]
3. The process of character study is both practical and spiritual: it involves honest self-examination, scriptural investigation, and intentional application. By naming a trait, exploring its opposite, and meditating on relevant scriptures, we invite the Holy Spirit to reveal deeper truths and personal areas for growth. [03:45]
4. Application is the bridge between knowledge and transformation. It’s essential to envision specific situations where we can practice the trait, make a concrete plan, and define what progress looks like. This intentionality moves us from theory to real-life change, as seen in the example of overcoming resentment by actively blessing those who have hurt us. [09:44]
5. Character growth is a lifelong journey, not a one-time project. Continually adding to our studies and steeping ourselves in scripture over the years deepens our understanding and strengthens our spiritual “flavor,” much like a teabag in hot water. This ongoing process ensures that we are always moving forward in Christlikeness, no matter how long we’ve been walking with Jesus. [13:39]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:20] - Sharing the Vision: Spreading the Word
[01:10] - The Importance of Character over Knowledge
[02:17] - Redeeming Negative Traits
[03:45] - Steps to a Character Study
[05:19] - Learning from Biblical Characters
[06:30] - Example: Studying Resentment
[07:17] - Identifying Opposites: Forgiveness and Love
[08:04] - Word Study: The Tally of Resentment
[09:44] - Agape Love and Affection for Others
[11:03] - Cross-References and Practical Insights
[12:10] - Character Example: King Saul’s Resentment
[13:39] - Lifelong Character Growth
[14:30] - Q&A and Group Application Instructions

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Character Transformation and Spiritual Growth

Bible Reading

1 Corinthians 13:5 (ESV)

> "[Love] does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth."

Ephesians 6:4 (ESV)

> "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."

Ecclesiastes 5:17 (ESV)

> "Moreover, all his days he eats in darkness in much vexation and sickness and anger."

Observation Questions

According to 1 Corinthians 13:5, what are some specific qualities that love does not have? How does the passage describe the opposite of resentment?
In Ephesians 6:4, what warning is given to parents, and what is the intended outcome for their children?
The sermon describes resentment as “keeping a tally” of wrongs. How does this word picture help us understand the meaning of resentment? [[08:04]]
What example from the Bible did the sermon give of someone who struggled with resentment, and what were the consequences in their life? [[12:10]]

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says that true spiritual maturity is measured by transformation, not just knowledge. Why might focusing only on knowledge lead to pride, while focusing on character leads to humility? [[01:10]]
The process of a character study involves naming a trait, finding its opposite, and looking up related scriptures. Why is it important to identify both the negative trait and its positive counterpart? [[02:17]]
The speaker mentions that some negative traits can be “sanctified” into something good (e.g., legalism into disciplined grace). How does this perspective change the way we view our weaknesses? [[02:17]]
In the example of King Saul, how did resentment affect his relationships and spiritual life? What lessons can be drawn from his story? [[12:10]]

Application Questions

The sermon encourages us to pick one character trait to focus on, rather than getting overwhelmed by trying to fix everything at once. What is one area of your character you sense God wants to work on right now? How did you come to that conclusion? [[03:45]]
When you think about the “tally” of wrongs you might keep against others, is there someone in your life you need to forgive or release from resentment? What would it look like to erase that tally this week? [[08:04]]
The speaker’s personal project was to reject negative thoughts and pray blessing over those who hurt him. What is a specific, practical step you could take to apply this in your own relationships? [[09:44]]
The sermon suggests imagining real-life situations where you can practice the trait you want to grow in. Can you think of a situation coming up where you could intentionally practice this trait? What would your plan be? [[09:44]]
The process of character growth is described as a lifelong journey, like a teabag steeping in hot water. What are some ways you can keep adding to your character studies and stay engaged in this process over time? [[13:39]]
The speaker encouraged sharing your journey and encouraging others, especially those newer in the faith. Who is one person you could invite into this process or share your experience with this week? [[00:20]]
The sermon mentions that knowledge alone can puff us up, but character growth humbles us. How can you guard against pride as you learn more about the Bible and focus on transformation instead? [[01:10]]

Leader’s Note:
Encourage everyone to pick one character trait to focus on, look up a few related scriptures, and make a simple plan for application. Invite group members to share their plans and pray for one another as you pursue transformation together.

Sermon Clips

60s

#CharacterOverKnowledge

“Let's talk about the final one that I think might be the most important, okay? This is the character study. So it's really cool to study topics in the Bible. But at the end of the day, character is a more important thing than Bible factoids. So it's cool to do a study on whatever topic, but it's even cooler if I'm personally being transformed. And sometimes as Christians, we don't think enough about like, how should I be progressing? in my character in the bible not just my bible knowledge but like i'm actually becoming more like jesus and and to a certain degree we can't we don't we don't we don't see everything the holy ghost sees and what he wants to form in us but we see a few things places that he wants us to like get better and that comes by dunking us in topics that are about character not just to fill our brains with stuff because that puffs up and makes us arrogant this other stuff humbles us so let's talk about this character study”

44s

#SanctifiedStrength

“As you've seen now, you can get overwhelmed quickly, so you've got probably many years left, so take your time and, you know, day by day, month by month, week by week, just pick a different one and make your own little list of these character traits. As we're going to see, some negative qualities are actually misused positive qualities, so example, legalism can turn into someday, yeah, you're legalistic, but that can be sanctified into discipline but gracious and flexible. So there's part of that that's really good. There's also part of, okay, yeah, you've got a spirit of pride, but that can become a sanctified version of confidence. It's not all bad, and so God wants us to see that there's even some good amidst our sins sometimes.”

31s

#HolySpiritGuidance

“And then we want to trust that the Holy Spirit himself is...is really leading us because he wants to build this stuff into our lives. So first we're going to do this, we're going to name the quality. So as you're just thinking about yourself, you're going to do a character trait for yourself tonight. You're going to talk about it at your table, but you're going to pick one for you and you're just going to pick one. Hey, what is a thing that I have struggled with or I want to get better at? If you need to text your spouse and ask, where do I suck? You know, that might help and then they can, they can help you out.”

27s

#SelfReflectionChallenge

“You look them up and then you start to ask questions about it. So you list them all out and I'm going to ask questions about these different traits, such as what's the benefit this trait can bring me? If I were to do this, what does God's word say would go well in my life? What does God's word say would go bad if I don't do this thing? These are trigger questions. the text might not answer that particular question but you're just asking these trigger questions because at some point the spirit of god is going to use that question to he's going to answer it through through the scripture”

30s

#LoveNotTallying

“So my character quality is resentment. The scripture I'm taking that from is 1 Corinthians 13, 5. This was the first, when I looked up resentment, this is the first scripture that came up. And it doesn't even, now notice, it doesn't say resentment, but resentment is in the scripture. Okay, love does not dishonor others. It is not self -seeking. It is not easily angered and it keeps no record of wrongs. That's the opposite of resentment. Resentment keeps a record. Resentment is, you know, adding it all up.”

43s

#VictoryInLove

“As I try to define this, this is love, affectionate regard, goodwill, benevolence. With reference to God's love, it is God's willful direction toward man. It involves God doing what he knows is best for men and not necessarily what man desires. I get stuck on here, affectionate regard. Okay, these people that I'm tallying things up on, they've hurt me. It's hard to forgive them. Can I, by the power of the Holy Ghost, demonstrate agape love to them and cause myself to...I'm going to feel affection for them. I'm just going to try it. I'm going to try to do it. I'm going to feel affection. It's hard, but if I know that's what it means to not walk in resentment, now I have greater revelation on this whole resentment problem of mine.”

17s

#LifelongHumilityJourney

“I just wrote down, man, your kids may resent you if you're overbearing with them. This will definitely reduce your influence in their lives. If I want the best for my kid, probably that means I want the most influence I can possibly have. I don't want to do anything to reduce that influence. So I definitely want to watch out for creating resentment in them.”

21s

“Furthermore, all his days, so this is the man who's resentful. All his days he lives in darkness with great sorrow, anger, and affliction. I just wrote down a life of tallying hurts. is very dark and depressing life and i've definitely found that to be true the more i meditate on offenses the darker and more depressed i get instead of deciding to think affectionately about somebody”

55s

“So what are you going to do again you're just going to think of it you can think of two or three and pick your favorite one And you can do this, guys, you can do this your whole doggone life. Let me show you one more thing. So over the years, you can keep adding to this. All right, so here's a humility study that I've been putting together for years. And I just go through these different scriptures I found on humility. Okay, God commands humility. God exalts the humble. And I can, dude, I can do an hour just meditating on these verses. God has already shown me stuff, but then as time goes by, I add to the list. And this is helping me progress through this idea of humility. My point is, you can do this one night tonight, but you can do this the rest of your life. You can keep adding character traits. And the more, it's just like a teabag, man. The more you steep that thing in the hot water, the more you steep your soul in those scriptures. the more potent you're going to become in God's Word.”

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