Christ-like Traits | Christian Ministry Training Blog

What Type of Heart Do You Have?

Posted on September 18, 2014 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — 14 Comments ↓

Proverbs, a book filled with much wisdom for everyday living, speaks much about the heart, contrasting different kinds of hearts.

How Proverbs Characterizes Different Kinds of Hearts

One type of heart is filled with goodness characterized as:

cheerful heart (Prov. 15:15; 17:22)
discerning heart (Prov. 15:14)
happy heart (Prov. 15:13)
peaceful heart (Prov. 14:30)
pure heart (Prov. 20:9; 22:11)
trusting heart (Prov. 3:5-6)
wise heart (Prov. 10:8; 16:21; 23:15)

The other kind of heart is filled with foolishness characterized as:

corrupt heart (Prov. 17:20)
deceitful heart (Prov. 6:14)
evil heart (Prov. 26:23)
hardened heart (Prov. 28:14)
haughty heart(Prov. 18:12)
lusting heart (Prov. 6:25)
proud heart (Prov. 16:5; 21:4)
heart that devises wicked schemes (Prov. 6:18)
heart that rages against the LORD (Prov. 19:3)

Yet another heart is filled with burdens characterized as:

heavy heart (Prov. 25:20)
sick heart (Prov. 13:12)

The Type of Heart You Have Matters

The book of Proverbs provides a number of verses that let us know why the kind of heart we have matters.

Above All Guard Your Heart — (Click image to enlarge in Pinterest & repin.)

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. (Prov. 4:23)

The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart. (Prov. 17:3)

A person may think their own ways are right, but the LORD weighs the heart. (Prov. 21:2)

As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart. (Prov. 27:19)

For a good study, take some time to look up the verses listed above under each type of heart. You will find consequences that affect and influence not only your own life but sometimes the lives of others. The type of heart you have does matter!

So, how can you have a good heart?

Exhortation Versus Criticism

Posted on March 12, 2014 by Ministry Tools Resource Center

Recently I was looking at the website stats and saw that someone found the site when searching the question, “What is the difference between exhortation and criticism?” I would suppose this site came up in the search results due to the training on the spiritual gift of exhortation. Nonetheless, it got me to thinking about it.

What’s the Difference Between Exhortation and Criticism

Exhortation is a spiritual gift God has given some people to serve. (Rom. 12:8)
Criticism is not a spiritual gift.

Exhortation is a command all believers are to engage in with one another. (1 Thess. 5:11; Heb. 3:13)
Criticism is not commanded.

That pretty well sums it up.

Is Being Critical of Others Ever Right?

Obviously we are not to ignore the wrongdoings or mistakes of others. Sometimes it would help for them to know what they are doing wrong, not just what they are doing right. The Bible does indeed tell us to speak the truth but in that same verse we are instructed to do so “in love” (Eph. 4:15). 2 Timothy 2:24-25a says, “The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition.” We must never lay aside the qualities of love (1 Cor. 13:4-7) when confronting someone about the error of their ways.

We must always consider our motivations as well as the way we approach someone. That is what truly makes the difference between exhortation and criticism.

Exhortation builds up whereas criticism often tears down. (Eph. 4:29)

Exhortation comes from a standpoint of coming alongside of the person (paraklesis) whereas criticism usually comes from an aloof or superior position.

Exhortation tends to bring hope and encouragement whereas criticism tends to lead to despair and discouragement. (1 Thess. 4:18; 2 Pet. 3:3-4)

Exhortation helps people become what God wants them to be whereas criticism tends to emphasize what people should not be. (Heb. 10:24)

Exhortation is built upon caring concern whereas criticism stems from judgmentalism and disapproval. (Matt. 7:1-5; Col. 3:13; Gal. 6:1)

Exhortation should lead to conviction whereas criticism can bring condemnation. (Heb. 3:13)

So, the next question is: Why criticize when exhortation is so much more effective?

Want to Be More Discerning? – Get Into the Word

Posted on September 19, 2012 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — No Comments ↓

God's Word Needed to be Discerning
People who rarely get into the Word tend to be rather shallow in their understanding of God and His ways. Consequently, they are not quick to use Him as the standard in making decisions. Their own experience or feelings often form the basis for interpreting life because that is what they know.

The Need for Getting into God’s Word to be Discerning

Biblically illiterate and anemic Christians have little base for making sound judgments, for being discerning.

In the first post of this series, you were told to look to God if you want to be more discerning.

Where are you going to learn about God? — from His Word

In the second post, you were told to start from the inside out if you want to be more discerning.

What does God use to test our hearts and minds? — His Word “for the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Heb. 4:12).

In the third post, you were told to learn to love more.

If you want to learn to love, you have to get to know the God of the Bible. The Word is God’s love story.

Discernment and Training Through God’s Word Go Hand in Hand

Perhaps you want to get into God’s Word but find it too hard. I’m not going to try to convince you that it is easy. But, if you want to be more discerning, which is essential to living wisely in today’s world, you must get into God’s Word. If this process was going to be easy, Hebrews 5:14 wouldn’t refer to it as training. — But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. (Heb. 5:14)

1) Training takes hard work, often sacrifice.

2) Training requires devotion, a commitment.

3) Training demands consistency (“constant use”).

Think about people who follow a training regime. In the beginning it is very hard. In time, if they persevere, though it is still work, it seems easier and often more enjoyable. In the end it is worth it.

If you are not feeding on the Word, you are feeding on the world. That will only lead to poor, unhealthy, and harmful choices. What in reality is evil will look good because you will not have by constant feeding on the meat of God’s Word trained yourself to distinguish good from evil.

Here’s a Helpful Resource: New to Bible Reading Discipleship Tool

Want to be More Discerning? – Learn to Love More

Posted on September 17, 2012 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — 3 Comments ↓

What does love have to do with discernment?

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ — to the glory and praise of God. (Phil. 1:9-11)

According to Jesus, love for God and love for people are the greatest commandments (Matt. 22:37-40). Doesn’t it then make sense that we look at life through the lens of love, first for God and then people? Shouldn’t we examine what we say and do in light of this higher principle of love? Doesn’t it make sense that making choices based on and out of love will help us have have the right and eternal perspective? Surely we should pursue love as our primary purpose.

How We Will Be More Discerning When We Learn to Love More

Governed by love, we will stop and ask questions like the following to help discern what to do.

Is this activity something a person who loves God would do?
Do those words build up people rather than destroy them?
Will this choice lead to an expression of love for God and/or people?

The love we speak of is “agape” – God’s love, not our finite rendition of love. God is love and so in reality, we are using God as the standard when distinguishing the best course of action. This is why we must be “filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ.”

What does discernment born out of love lead to?

When God loves, He gives. His is a sacrificial love. And so, when we discern based on and because of agape love, we will set aside our feelings of entitlement and get beyond having to do that which is most convenient or comfortable to us.

When God loves, He gives His very best. And so, when we discern based on and because of agape love, we will make choices that lead “to the glory and praise of God.”

Want to Be More Discerning? – Start from the Inside Out

Posted on September 12, 2012 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — No Comments ↓

Discernment from the Inside Out
God is concerned not merely with us making the right choices in what we do but also for the driving forces within us … our motivations, our thoughts. That will drive our discernment.

I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve. (Jer. 17:10)

God examines us from the inside out — our heart and mind, — and holds us accountable for what He sees.

His examination of our innermost being need not scare us if we remember that He loves us. Perfect love casts out fear because we know a loving God can only have our best in mind. In reality, the more we understand “how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,” we will actually invite Him to scrutinize us.

Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth. (Ps. 26:2-3)

God’s examination is key to us being discerning as we don’t see the full picture as He does.

We’re often blinded to our own biases and inappropriate motivations that skew our perception of life. We can let emotions govern our choices. Just because something feels right, however, doesn’t mean it is right. We can let negative thoughts cloud our judgment. Fear and doubts could hold us back from doing what is best. Worry, anxiety, and impatience could lead to compromise. For this reason, we begin with God. Pray similar to Psalm 139:23-24.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

If you want to be discerning, you need to be transformed from the inside out “by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Rom. 12:2)

What Does it Mean for a Christ-follower to be an Example?

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Ministry Tools Resource Center — 7 Comments ↓

Though Scripture exhorts leaders to be examples (1 Pet. 5:2-3), we should all be examples as Christ-followers regardless of how we serve because we all represent Him (2 Cor. 5:20). Age does not exclude one from being an example (1 Tim. 4:12) so this applies to every person who trusts in Jesus.

Acrostic of What It Means to be an Example of Christ

Being an example means reflecting Jesus to those around you in a way that causes them to take notice, not of you, but of Christ in you. As an example you will:

Exemplify Christ in all you say and do

X-out sin and impurities from your life so people see Christ

Affect others with the love of Christ

Model Christ-like character & conduct

Position yourself under Christ so He is the Head

Line up with Christ in not only what you do but how you do it

Enhance people’s lives because of Christ in you