A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z

Sermon Illustrations: Character

With great abilities, there is the need for great character. Music is a perfect example - many of these people have suffered because they were unable to handle the attention that accompanied their talents - Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain, Keith Moon, Michael Hutchence [INXS], Elvis Presley, Liberace, Peter Allen, Tchaikovsky.

Imagine you owned a four-karat diamond worth thousands of dollars. This beautiful diamond is delicately displayed in a setting made up of five or six fingers called prongs. If the prongs are soft and prone to bending, then one sharp bump and the diamond is lost forever. A qualified jeweller would never mount such a stone in a weak setting. The jeweller works diligently on the setting for each stone. When the diamond is polished and set, the fingers of the setting are made to rightly grasp the stone. The setting not only displays the radiant beauty of the diamond but also holds it fast. Then when the ring is bumped, the strong fingers won't let go. Character is like the setting of a ring. If we do not allow God to build in us strong character, then we won't be ready for the success He wants to bring to our lives.⁴

You will teach what you know, but ultimately you will reproduce what you are. Wayne Cordeiro

Somebody once said that in looking for people to hire, you look for three qualities integrity, intelligence and energy. But if they don't have the first, the other two will kill you. Warren Buffett

1 Cordeiro, Wayne Attitudes That Attract Success p70