What Every Teacher Needs: Personal Character

There are at least four areas in which every teacher needs to keep growing. We need to grow in the Word, in our people skills and in our communication skills. Today, we focus on the fourth area—the need to keep growing in personal character.

In spite of what politicians and media types might say, we all know that character really does matter, especially as it relates to church leaders. As Sunday School teachers, we know that what we teach is critically important. We also know that we teach with more than our words alone. The character of our lives teaches so much and goes beyond an hour on Sunday morning. So how do we make sure we keep growing in the area of our character? Here are some thoughts.

First, character is developed as we spend consistent, personal time alone with God. In Mark 1:35 we see the example of Jesus spending His “quiet time” with God. Following that time alone with the Father, Jesus made critical decisions, faced major spiritual battles and ministered to people in need. As a Sunday School Teacher, you are also making decisions on the direction you will take with your lesson, you are fighting spiritual battles, and you are ministering to people. If Jesus needed time alone with the Father as He started His day, it is quite apparent that we do as well. In the process of spending this time with God, we grow in our spiritual character.

Second, spiritual character is developed through personal surrender to the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Those nine qualities look a lot like the qualities we identify with Christian character. It is clear that the Spirit of God indwelling each believer produces this kind of fruit; so, in order for us to bear this kind of fruit, we must live in surrender to His control, enablement and influence.

Third, spiritual character is developed as we grow through the trials of life. We all know that “God uses all things together” for the good of those who love Him. At least part of that “good” is that we are “conformed to the image of His Son.” (See Romans 8:28-29) God uses even the sorrowful and difficult experiences of life to grow us and shape our character as He chips away those things that are unlike His Son. Our response to Him in those situations is to cooperate with His process of molding us into the image of Christ in our character. God is much more interested in our personal character than He is our personal comfort. At times He will sacrifice our comfort to strengthen our faith and our character.

Forth, Spiritual Character is developed as we deliberately study and seek to apply character qualities to our lives. One thing we can do is study the lives of those in the Bible who displayed the character traits we desire in our lives. For example, if I need to grow in the area of encouragement, I can study the life of Barnabas in the Bible. If I need to grow in the area of forgiveness, I can study the life of Joseph in the Old Testament. If I need to grow in boldness, I can study the life of Peter after the Holy Spirit comes in power in Acts 2. I can also read the biographies of great Christians to help me learn certain character traits. For example, Billy Graham’s life teaches volumes about integrity and humility and there are several biographies I can read. As I read about the life of Lottie Moon, I learn about conviction and loving, personal sacrifice for the gospel. This kind of deliberate study can help us on our way to character development and allows us to be proactive in our pursuit of holiness and godliness.