Character Connections

God promised a childless man and his 65-year-old wife that they would have more descendants than stars in the sky. 25 years later, their first child was born. God always keeps his promises, even when it seems impossible!

Flood waters covered the earth, but God protected his people. Noah and his family were given a fresh start. God does the same for us. In his grace, God sent Jesus to wash away our sin and give us a new start each day.

In the beginning the world was beautiful! God, Adam, and Eve were a loving family. Selfishness and lies broke it all. In the midst of that death and sadness, God promised to send a savior who would restore it all. That promise was fulfilled in Jesus!  

The very first classroom was the Garden of Eden. God created the universe and showed Adam and Eve their identity; he created them to be his children. As their loving father, he gave them an amazing world to live in and take care of!

Each day Daniel set aside time to pray. He wouldn't change the structures of his daily walk of faith, even if it meant death. Which activities form the structure of your daily walk of faith?

How has God has worked in your life? Sharing true-life stories of God's love is a good way to describe your relationship with the Lord. The love of Jesus changed the apostle Paul's life in a big way. Paul had the opportunity to share that story with a king! What's your story?

Paul knew that following God's call would mean giving up things that were precious to him, even his life. His motivation to share the love of Christ drove him forward. Through the Holy Spirit we are still being blessed by the way that Paul preached and wrote about God's love for us!

When someone you love moves away or leaves after a visit, it's hard to see them go. When Paul said goodbye to his friends, they cried together and prayed together. We can do the same! Through faith in Christ, we know that God's people will be together again when God raises us to new life.

Independence Day, Saint Patrick's Day, Cinco de Mayo…What is your favorite festival? While God's people traveled to Jerusalem for the festival of Pentecost, Jesus' disciples hid in fear. Suddenly the Holy Spirit filled them with courage to boldly share the news of Jesus with all those gathered in the city. They had a reason to celebrate!

Jesus showed his disciples that he is alive and that he will come back again. As we look forward to that day, we have the chance to spread the news. Jesus sent us out to share his love to the ends of the earth. Love, forgiveness, and life is found in Jesus, let's tell everyone!

After Jesus rose from the dead he continued to take care of his disciples. He came to them while they were fishing, made their breakfast, and showed them what forgiveness means. He knows what his people need and he supplies it; he did it then and he still does it today!

It's natural to look for proof before trusting a new idea. When Thomas heard the news that his dead teacher was back from the dead, it seemed impossible. Jesus knew his doubts and reached out in love. He does the same for us!

Our sins are removed because of what Jesus did for us on the cross. His death brought us life. Through faith in him we are forgiven for all time. It's done!

Jesus was put on trial for his life, facing a Gentile governor who could not find the truth. Yet, when we face judgment on the last day, our truth is Jesus Christ, who took our punishment. In Him, we are declared not guilty!

How would you feel if God came to you and started cleaning your messy room? When Jesus knelt on the ground to wash the disciple's feet, they were shocked. His example of selflessness motivates us to show love to those who can't pay us back. That's the kind of love he gives to us!

When Lazarus died, Jesus cried with the dead man's family. Jesus knows the pain of losing a loved one, but he doesn't stop there. He called Lazarus out of the tomb and gave him life! Through faith in Christ, he will call your name and call you out of the grave too. Jesus defeated death!

Jesus taught his followers that he is the bread of the life, sent from heaven. Just as God sent manna to feed his starving people in the wilderness, he sent his son to give us life. His disciples had trouble understanding what he meant. What should we do when we don't get it either?

Did you ever forget your lunch? 5,000 people were so eager to hear Jesus teach that they didn't even go home to eat. Jesus knew they were hungry, so he miraculously fed them all. He knows your needs too; you can trust him to provide for you.

A scared dad came to Jesus for help. The very minute that Jesus spoke, his son was healed! God hears our prayers too, even when his timing isn't ours.

It's easy to lose things when you are in a hurry. After a Samaritan woman talked with Jesus at a well, she raced home to tell her community about him. She was so excited to share the good news that she left her water jar behind!

When Jesus performed his first public miracle, people began to see that he was no ordinary man. Changing water into wine at the wedding at Cana was just a small example of his power! Jesus is true God and true man. Only he can restore our relationship with God…and He did!

God is a mystery beyond our understanding, yet he became tangible in the person of Jesus. God loves the world so much that he sent his son to become one of us. His light breaks the darkness!

Sometimes we turn the car around because we're lost; other times it's because there's a better road. God told both the wisemen and Joseph to change their route to keep safe. God's plans are better than our own!

Surprise! Of all the people that God could have chosen to be the mother of Jeus, he picked a poor peasant woman. Instead of a clean crib, the son of God slept in a food dish for barn animals. God often works through the unpopular and the underdogs. His love is unlimited!

How many names do you have? The Bible uses different names to describe the Son of God; each has significance. Through faith, we are safe in the powerful name of Jesus!

Esther could have kept her identity as a child of God a secret from the king. God gave her the courage to stand up for what was right and stop injustice. When the Lord calls us to action, we don't stand alone!

When you feel alone in the fire, remember there's someone standing next to you – and He won't burn.

God promised his prophet Jeremiah that he would bring life out of death. He kept his promise and sent his son to make all things new. In Jesus we are a new creation!

The Throne Room - God Calls Isaiah Can you imagine standing in the throne room of a king? It would be terrifying unless you knew he was a good king. Isaiah's vision of God on a throne convicted Isaiah of his sin. Despite Isaiah's sin, his good king offered forgiveness and a call to share his love. Through Christ we are given the same!

God uses his people to share and show his love with the world. Jonah didn't want the job, but God's love doesn't stop!

Sometimes it's hard to know what God wants us to do; but often the choice between right and wrong is clear as day. Jonah knew what he should do, but he ran away from it. God didn't leave him alone. He followed Jonah and put him back on the right path.  

God made all things; visible and invisible. There is a spiritual world around us that is just as real as the one we see. We can't see God with our eyes, but we can see the ways in which he provides for us!

Some children dread baths like Naaman did. Sometimes God works in ways that don't make sense, but he can make us clean!

In the Old Testament, God's voice could be loud like thunder or heard through a burning bush. When he spoke to Elijah, his voice wasn't what Elijah expected. Sometimes God whispers.

Elijah faced incredible odds to turn the people's hearts to the Lord instead of a counterfeit god. It appeared impossible, but the Lord worked a miracle. Nothing is impossible for God!

God provided for a widow and her son, even though they were outcasts. Sin has made us outcasts as well, but Jesus has given us life!

Moses saw fire in a bush and a voice told him to take off his shoes. God called Moses to be a servant-leader in order to save the Israelites from slavery. God has given our lives purpose as well. We are called to point to Jesus, the ultimate servant-leader!

Our identity is found in our relationship with God. He is the great creator and we are his creation! His identity as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is a divine mystery, but he has shown us his character in Jesus!

Paul and Silas were arrested and put in jail for sharing God's love in Jesus. While they sat in a dark prison, their feet chained in shackles, they sang songs to the Lord. Their witness changed the lives of those around them. The Lord used them, even in the face of hardship, to help others. God can use you too, no matter the situation in which you find yourself.

The Holy Spirit led Paul to answer the call and share the gospel in a new city. We are often put in situations that we didn't expect. We can trust that God will use us to share his love no matter where we are.

Disagreements are inevitable, but fights aren't. The way we handle conflict shows our character and steers our relationships. When the early church disagreed, the Holy Spirit guided them to act in love. God's love surpasses disagreements.

The crowd in the city of Lystra thought Paul and Barnabas were Greek gods. Paul and Barnabas made sure they knew the truth, even though it put their lives at risk. It is tempting to selfishly put ourselves first. Our Lord Jesus is the servant-king whose self-sacrifice made a way for our forgiveness. 

When Jesus ascended into heaven, he didn't say goodbye. He told his friends that he would always be with them. That promise is true for us as well. Jesus is always with you. Take courage, you don't have to face life alone!

When the dead body of Jesus was put into a grave his disciples hid with fear and despair. God's power doesn't depend on the faithfulness of his followers, even death couldn't hold Jesus!

Jesus spent his life teaching and healing. He noticed the forgotten and showed love to the shunned. He died in the same way in which he had lived; reaching out to those who didn't deserve it. His death was painful and public...but that's not the end of the story!

Out of fear, Peter lied about being Jesus' friend. After Jesus forgave him, Peter went on to be a courageous leader in the early church. God's power can enable us to be too brave to lie, and his forgiveness can empower us to serve without fear.

The disciples stopped parents who were bringing their kids to Jesus. It made sense, Jesus was busy teaching and healing. He surprised his followers by stopping to take time and hug the children and bless them. He showed that God is never too busy to see and hear us!

Jesus allowed some of his disciples to see a brief glimpse of his power and glory. They were amazed and didn't want to leave. When Jesus comes back, he will restore all creation. We will see his power and live with him in glory forever!

A Gentile woman who asked Jesus for a miracle knew she didn't deserve it, yet Jesus healed her daughter. None of us are entitled to God's forgiveness, but God has given it freely through Jesus!

Being a follower of Jesus doesn't mean an easy life. John the Baptist faithfully spoke God's words and he was killed for it. We don't know why things happen the way they do, but we know for certain that Jesus will come back and make things right. We will be raised from the grave and live forever with our Lord!