BCA-Online Homepage | Back to BCA page for AvantGo 

"CHRISTMAS CHARACTER
What Joseph Teaches Us About Being Godly"
Pastor Rob Carlson • Sunday, December 5, 2004
Matthew 1:18-25 [page 955-956 in Pew Bible]

CHARACTER vs. NO CHARACTER
Character=Intimacy
No Character=Separation
 
Character=Wholeness    
No Character=Fragmented

Character=Centered 
No Character=Adrift

Character=Open 
No Character=Secrets

Character=Straight forward 
No Character=Shifty

Character=Confidence 
No Character=Doubt

Character=Trust 
No Character=Not believable

Character=Respect 
No Character=Disqualified

Character=Honor 
No Character= Disgrace

Joseph's 5 Godly Character Traits

1. RIGHTEOUSNESS: Joseph displayed a right relationship with God.

Matthew 1:19--Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.


2. RESPECTFUL & KIND: Joseph displayed a healthy attitude toward women.

v. 19 - Joseph did not want to disgrace Mary
v. 20 - But after he had considered this...


3. SENSITIVITY: Joseph displayed a responsiveness to God and His ways.

Matthew 1:20,21--But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”


4. OBEDIENCE: Joseph displayed an obedient heart.

Matthew 1:22-24--All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” - which means, “God with us.” When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.


5. WORSHIP: Joseph’s desire was to glorify God.

Matthew 1:25--But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Small Group Discussion Questions

1. How do you define Godly character?

2. Review the points and Bible verses from this lesson. 
What personal application can you make from this week's teaching? 

3. How is character built in our lives?

4. Take some time right now to pray for the needs of those in your small group.

*Scripture is quoted from the New International Version unless otherwise noted.
www.bca-online.com