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3. Character - Study Questions

This Study Guide is for the Character article by Ken Boa. Read it first.

Appendix: Study Guide for MEN7/52 Leadership Series

MEN 7/52 is a men's ministry of bible.org. Our desire is to see all men become true followers of Jesus Christ 7 days a week/52 weeks a year.

The Men’s Bible Study Leadership Series is presented by bible.org to help you build and fortify men in preparation for their roles as leaders in their families, churches, communities, and workplaces.

It is a leadership series because no matter what age or station in life a man finds himself, he is called to lead. Leadership hates a vacuum. If a man of God doesn’t stand up and lead, then someone else will and the consequences can be drastic for generations.

It is also a discipleship series because building men’s leadership requires ongoing personal relationships with someone who will shepherd and mentor them over the long term. Just as Christ lived in a community of relationship with His disciples, preparing them to lead, so too must we if we are to grow and be effective.

There are sixteen lessons that are designed to be conducted over a thirty-two week period. Your group should meet weekly at a specific time and place. First, participants should be expected to read all of the Scripture verses thoroughly, on a daily basis, and be encouraged to meditate on them. Second, they should read the article carefully and look for aspects of it that impact them personally. Third, they should complete the discussion questions thoughtfully, completely, and honestly, and diligently address personal applications. Finally, they should be prepared to share their answers during your group sessions.

The articles used in this series are written by Dr. Kenneth Boa. Dr. Boa is engaged in a ministry of relational evangelism and discipleship, teaching, writing, and speaking. He holds a B.S. from Case Institute of Technology, a Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary, a Ph.D. from New York University, and a D.Phil. from the University of Oxford in England.

By the time your group has finished this series, relationships and spiritual bonds should have formed. Authentic spiritual interdependence will be experienced, and men will know they are not alone in being who and what God wants them to be. It will be critical for the group to either stay together for the next series, or to stay in close touch weekly to continue the shepherding experience and forming true Christian brotherhood.

Lesson 3

 

Leadership Qualities: Character
God equips men and commands men to imitate His holy character.

Read “Leadership Qualities: Character” by Dr. Ken Boa and listen to his audio messages online.

 

1. In what way did this message impact your understanding of your character?

2. How do leaders cultivate character?

3. In his section “Character from the inside out”, where does he say that character exists, and how?

Read Proverbs 1:1-7

Solomon teaches us that to have character, we must fully understand that knowledge begins with fear of the LORD, and that we are to learn wisdom, discipline, prudence, rightness, justice, fairness, discretion, guidance, and understanding of the wise. Those who have authentic fear of the LORD will possess and reflect His true character.

4.Solomon teaches that true wisdom and knowledge begins with fear of the LORD. What does “fear of the LORD” mean to you?

5.How are wisdom and the attributes of character different for men who truly fear the LORD? Please be specific.

6.Proverbs 1:4 says that having wisdom through fear of the LORD allows a man to give prudence to the simple and discretion to the young. What would that look like in your family and in your church?

7.In what way can having the character of God through His wisdom cause a man to understand the parables, sayings, and riddles of the wise?

8.The wisdom of the LORD calls us to be disciplined, and always do what is right, just, and fair. In what areas of your life do you lack discipline or fail to do what is right, just, and fair?

Read Proverbs 1:8 – 2:5

Solomon makes the point that when we treasure wisdom, understanding, and insight, we will understand the fear of the LORD and we will know God. Those who do not, who rush into sin and mock His wisdom, will be doomed. Those who do not fear the LORD will mock His character and will reflect their own character of sin.

9.Examine the different areas of your life (family, church, community, workplace, etc.). Make a list of the people in those areas whom you fear or cause you anxiety.

10. Next to those names, describe what it is about each one that causes you anxiety.

11. How does your anxiety over them affect the way in which you behave around them or toward them?

12. Describe the ways in which your behavior toward them does, or does not, reflect the character of God.

13. When your character does not reflect the character of God, who suffers and how do they suffer?

14. When your character reflects the character of God, who is blessed and how are they blessed?

15. What parts of your character are not a reflection of the character of God?

16. What will you do today to obtain God’s wisdom and understanding in these areas?

Read Exodus 34:5-7a

The character of God is compassion, grace, slowness to anger, love, faithfulness, and forgiveness.

17. Moses lists six distinct character traits of God. Next to each one, rate yourself from 1 to 10 (with 10 being perfect).

Compassion: _______________

Grace: ____________________

Slowness to Anger: __________

Love: _____________________

Faithfulness: _______________

Forgiveness: _______________

18. In the areas where you struggle most to reflect the character of God, describe what it is about His wisdom that you need to know better.

Read Proverbs 2:6-11, Exodus 34:7b

Those who imitate the character of the LORD, accepting His wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, have His character written into their hearts and souls and receive His victory and protection. Those who do not are punished to the fourth generation.

19. In what areas of your life have you not accepted the wisdom of the LORD, but are relying either on your own wisdom or the wisdom of someone else?

20. Are there areas of your life where you have not surrendered to the wisdom of the LORD, but find yourself struggling with fear, temptation, sin, or shame? Please describe them.

21. God promises victory and protection to those who have His character written on their hearts and souls. In what areas of your life do you need victory?

22. Where do you need protection?

23. In Proverbs 2:1-5, how do we understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God?

24. What will you do today to seek God’s wisdom, knowledge, and understanding – His character?

25. How will you help each other in your group to imitate the character of God?

Memory verse: Proverbs 1:7

Fearing the Lord is the beginning of moral knowledge,

but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

 


 

Lesson 4

 

Leadership Qualities: Character
God dramatically transforms character in men who seek His truth.

Read again “Leadership Qualities: Character” by Dr. Ken Boa and listen to his audio messages online.

1.What is the incredible call of the Gospel?

2.How does God make this both a possibility and a requirement?

3.In what way are you encouraged?

Read Matthew 26:31-35, 69-75, John 21:15-18

Through his relationship with Christ who restores him, and the power of the Holy Spirit who fills him, Peter’s failed character is transformed and made into the character of God. Those who have a relationship with Christ can have the character of God.

4.Have you ever made a significant promise to God and failed to come through? If yes, what was that promise?

5.What is it about your character that makes it difficult, if not impossible, to keep your promises to God?

6.Peter denied Christ out of fear and weakness in his faith. Are there times when you are afraid or too anxious to show someone your faith in Christ? How does that make you feel?

7.Have you ever made compromises at work, with your friends, in the community, or with the culture so that your faith in Christ won’t be costly to your career, reputation, social status, or family relationships? What were they? Are you still in those compromises?

8.As a follower of Christ, are you the same person in private as you are in public? If not, why?

9.Are there thoughts in your heart or behavior patterns in your life that are a denial of Christ? Would you please share them with someone who will help you repent, just like Peter did before Christ?

10. Do you believe that God will transform your character into one that reflects His? How?

11. Do you believe that God will strengthen you and restore you to reflect His character in your heart and in your life? How?

Read 2 Peter 1:3-9, Romans 6:6-13

God thus commands and equips us to have characters of faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, kindness, and love, making us effective and productive, free from our past sins, and Christlike in our lives. Having the character of God is not an option.

12. In 2 Peter 1:3-4, what incredible blessing has God given to us through the divine power of Christ?

13. How will these blessings impact your character beginning now?

14. Because of these blessings, what do we escape?

15. Write down specific situations from which you will escape?

16. Name at least seven virtues that Peter teaches us to add to our faith.

17. What impact does the possession of these virtues have on our character?

18. If we do not have these virtues, what is the consequence to our character?

19. Which of these virtues are alive in you now and encourage you in your character development?

20. Which of these virtues do you struggle with and need the transforming power of Christ?

21. Who will you ask to help you through your transformation? Who will you help?

22. According to Romans 6:6-7, what does Paul teach us that gives us the hope for achieving and maintaining the character of God?

23. How does the life of Peter encourage you in becoming transformed into the character of God and making you effective and productive as the man He created you to be?

Memory verse: 2 Peter 1:3

I can pray this because his divine power has bestowed on us everything necessary for life and godliness through the rich knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and excellence.

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