TEXT:  2 Tim. 2:19-21

INTRODUCTION:

A.      CHARACTER IS IMPORTANT.

          1.       "The pattern of behavior or personality found in an individual or group; 

                   moral constitution;  moral strength, self-discipline, fortitude, etc." (Webster).

          2.       Text notes the demand for good character.

B.      THERE IS A NEED TO CONSIDER SOME FACTS.

I.      WHAT DETERMINES CHARACTER?

A.      WHAT WE HOLD TO BE TRUE - BELIEFS.

B.      WHAT WE HOLD TO BE IMPORTANT - VALUES.

C.      WHAT WE HOLD TO BE RIGHT - ETHICS.

D.      ONE FOLLOWS THE OTHER.  HOW WELL THESE INTERACT DETERMINES CHARACTER.

II.     OUR BELIEFS.

A.      GOD CREATED US.

          1.       There is a God ( Rom. 1:20 ).

          2.       God is responsible ( Gen. 1:1, 26;  Acts 17:24-25, 28 ).

          3.       God has a plan ( purpose ) for us ( Ecc. 12:13 ).

B.      GOD HAS EXPECTATIONS FOR US.

          1.       Regarding our lives ( Titus 2:11-12 ).

          2.       Our disposition toward him ( Heb. 11:5;  12:28;  Matt. 22: 37 ).

          3.       And his Son ( John 3:16;  Heb. 5:8-9 ).

C.      GOD WILL CALL US INTO ACCOUNT ( Rom. 14:10-12;  3:23 ).

D.      GOD'S DESIRE TO BLESS US IS EVIDENT.

          1.       In creation ( James 1:17 ).

          2.       In the Plan ( Eph. 2:4-5 ).

III.    OUR VALUES.

A.      PRIORITIES ( Matt. 6:33 ).

          1.       Levi ( Luke 5:27 ).

          2.       The great pearl ( Matt. 13:44-46 ).

B.      SIGNIFICANCE ( Matt. 16:24-26 ).

C.      TIME ( James 4:13-17 ).

D.      OUR AFFECTIONS AND THOUGHTS ( 1 John 2:15;  Matt. 6:19-21 ).

V.    OUR ETHICS.

A.      THE NEED FOR A STANDARD.  A CODE OF CONDUCT.

          1.       Illustrate with a ruler or tape measure.

          2.       Chaos of no standard( Judges 21:25;  Rom. 1:21-23... 28 ).

B.      WE MAY ACCEPT ANY STANDARD.

          1.       Depends on what we hold to be true and/or important.

          2.       Man is a free moral agent.

          3.       Man today has opted for no standard - situation ethics, humanism( Col. 2:8 ).

          4.       John 18:38.  What is truth? 

          5.       Matt. 16:26.  What is important?

          6.       Our view will determine our choice of standards.

C.      GOD HAS GIVEN US A STANDARD.

          1.       The teaching of Jesus ( John 12:48-49;  1:18 ).

          2.       He holds us to it ( Acts 17:30-31 ).  No excuses.

D.      MY LIFE AND DECISIONS, NOT INFLUENCED, BUT DETERMINED BY         THE STANDARD( Col. 3:17 ).

E.      I CAN KNOW RIGHT AND WRONG( Psa. 119:11 ).

CONCLUSION:  THE NEED FOR A CHARACTER CHECK.

A.      WHERE ARE YOUR PRIORITIES?

B.      DO WE ALLOW OUR BELIEFS TO EFFECT OUR VALUES?

C.      WHAT IS YOUR RELATION TO THE STANDARD?