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The Character Forge

Church is called a refuge for the weary, a hospital for the sick, or even a greenhouse for the growing. In this series, we’ll look at a forgotten purpose of church—a forge where we are shaped into people of character for the good of the world. Join us as we look beyond the birth narrative of Jesus to examine five character traits from his early story that just happen to be the traits our world needs from us most.

Generosity

Feb 2, 2025


According to Marcus Buckingham, love is not a feeling but “the deep and unwavering commitment to the flourishing of another human.” In this way, generosity is the outward sign of inner love. But how do we learn to love in this way while trying to survive in a dog-eat-dog world?

Hope

Jan 26, 2025


Cynicism is rampant today. To not be cynical feels like you must not be paying attention. But hope is described in the Bible as the thing that will not disappoint us. What does it look like to be hopeful but not naïve?

Endurance

Jan 19, 2025


In today’s world, you may be only one viral video away from a life of fame. That’s not, of course, how things worked for most of human history. Heroism and fame were reserved only for great contributions to society (usually) long after the contributors were dead! With technology providing new opportunities for instant gratification and ever-increasing shortcuts to success, what’s the harm in taking the path of least resistance?

Righteousness

Jan 12, 2025


If the point of Christianity is to get into heaven, which only happens by grace through faith, then why does it matter how we live our lives? Should we even try to live ethical lives? What good does it do if all our righteousness is like ‘filthy rags’ before God? Why risk temporal comfort if there’s no promise of eternal gain?

Humility

Jan 5, 2025


Say what you will about them; the proud and the arrogant sure seem to go further and faster in our world. So, in a world where everyone is “loud and proud,” shouting back and forth, armed with their own sets of “alternative facts,” how can Christian humility do anything to help the cause of Christ, let alone a lost world?