For self-improvement!!!

Christian Character Qualities with Scripture References

(compiled by Bill Stevenson)

Note: I developed this list after I indexed a three volume anthology using Accelerated Christian Education Inc.'s 60 character traits and studying Bill Gothard's list of 36 character traits. In 2007, I finally searched for appropriate Scripture for each one. It can be used for self assessment and as a Bible study “springboard”. Married couples can use it to improve or revive their marriage.

Directions: For each character trait, after looking up all of the Scriptures, introspect and use a 1-5 or 1-10 system with the higher number meaning either already done or all of the time.

1. Attentive: desire to listen and to be respectful.

Luke 19:47-48, John 5:23-24, John 8:45-47, John 10:25-30, Revelation 3:19-21 (Matthew 5:6), John 18:37, Matthew 13:8-9, (Matthew 13:1-23 or Mark 4), Luke 11:28, Matthew 7:24-27, Acts 10:21-22 & 33, Romans 15:17, Acts 13:42-46, James 1:19-25, Hebrews 2:1 (1:1-2), Luke 21:34-36 (Philippians 4-8), Revelation 1:3, Revelation 2:7 (also repeated in Revelation 2:11, 17, & 29, 3:6, 13, & 22), Revelation 22:16-19

2. Available: desire to be flexible and generous with time.

Luke 2:41-49, Mark 17-18, Titus 3:1-2, 1 Peter 3:15-16, Acts 19:8-11, Acts 20:31

3. Careful: desire to be accurate and efficient.

Philippians 4:10, Titus 3:7-11

4. Compassionate: desire to be sensitive and loving.

Matthew 10:35-38, 1 John 3:16-21, Romans 12:9-13, Galatians 5:22-23, Galatians 6:1-10, Ephesians 4:1-3, 1 Peter 3:8-9 & 15, Philippians 2:1-5, Proverbs 15:23 & 30, Hebrews 6:9-12, Hebrews 10:23-25, Jude 21-23

5. Consistent: desire to be orderly and to usually remember.

Job 11:14-15, 1 Corinthians 15:58, Hebrews 3:12-15, Hebrews 10:19-25

6. Content: desire to be thankful and peaceful.

Matthew 6:19-34, Philippians 4:11, 1 Timothy 6:6-11, Hebrews 13:4-6

7. Cooperative: desire to work with others.

Psalm 133:1-3, Ephesians 4:1-7, Colossians 3:12-15, 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12

8. Creative: desire to pray for new ideas and to be resourceful.

Genesis 4:20-22, Isaiah 57:19, 1 Corinthians 3:11-15

Also, think about the making of the tabernacle in Exodus and the songs that David created in Psalms, and how creative God has been.

9. Decisive: desire to discern right and wrong according to God's Word.

Psalm 25:10-12, Proverbs 1:29-30, Isaiah 7:14-15, 12:1-3, Romans 13:12-14, 1 Peter 1:13-16, Colossians 3:8-17, Galatians 5:22-23, 1 Peter 3:8-17, Matthew 5:3-12, Jude 1:17-23

10. Dependable: desire to be responsible and punctual.

Matthew 25:21 & 23 ff, 2 Corinthians 8:20-22, Colossians 1:10, Colossians 3:23

11. Enduring: desire to keep healthy and to be persevering.

Psalms 33:20-21, Psalm 43:4-5, Proverbs 3:7-8, Proverbs 4:20-23, Proverbs 12:17-19, 3 John 3, Revelation 14:12, Proverbs 16:24, Romans 5:1-5, Romans 12:9-13, 1 Corinthians 1:5-8, Galatians 5:22-23, Colossians 1:21-23, 1 Timothy 6:12, Hebrews 6:9-12, Ephesians 4:1-3, Hebrews 10:23-25, Hebrews 10:35-39, Philippians 4:13, Hebrews 12:12-13, 1 Peter 5:8-9

12. Faithful: desire to be loyal and responsible.

Deuteronomy 7:8-10, 1 Corinthians 1:9, 1 Corinthians 10:13, 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, 1 John 1:9, Hebrews 3:1-6, Daniel 6:4, Psalm 101:6-7, Galatians 5:22-23, Proverbs 18:24, Proverbs 14:5, Hebrews 4:14-16, Psalm 37:3-6, Revelation 17:12-14

13. Flexible: desire to change without compromising standards.

Read about Saul and Ananias in Acts 9, Cornelius and the Apostle Peter in Acts 10, more about Peter, Barnabas, and Saul in Acts 11, more about the Apostles Paul and Barnabas in Acts13-14, about the Circumcision controversy in Acts 15 & Galatians 2, more about the Apostle Paul in Acts 16-20. This trait is also related to contentment (# 6).

14. Forgiving: desire to feel sorry and to be considerate.

Matthew 6:14-15, Genesis 37 & 45, Matthew 18:15-16, 2 Corinthians 2:4-11

(An example of forgiveness is of Joseph for his brothers in Genesis 37 & 45.)

15. Generous: desire to pray and give anything.

Deuteronomy 15:7-8, Deuteronomy 16:17, 2 Corinthians 8:1-5, 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

16. Gentle: desire to be considerate and patient.

Galatians 5:22-23, Ephesians 4:1-3, 1 Thessalonians 2:7-12, 2 Timothy 2:24-26, Titus 3:1-2, James 3:17

17. Hopeful: desire to be thankful for God's control and promises.

Psalm 33:18-21, Psalm 43:5, Psalms 71:14-15, Psalm 119:81-82, 114, 116-117, 147-148, & 166, Psalm 130:5, Psalm 147:11, Proverbs 10:27-28, Proverbs 23:17-18, Jeremiah 17:7-8, Lamentations 3:21-24, Romans 8:23-25, Romans 5:1-5, Galatians 5:5, Romans 15:4 & 13, Romans 12:10-13, 1 Thessalonians 5:8-10, 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17, Titus 1:1-2, Colossians 1:21-23, Hebrews 3:6, Hebrews 10:23, 1 Peter 1:13-16, 1 John 3:1-3, 1 Peter 3:15-17

18. Joyful: desire to be happy and enthusiastic.

1 Corinthians 13:6, Psalm 28:7, Psalm 43:4-5, Psalm 71:23, Psalm 94:19, Psalms 126:3 & 5, Hebrews 12:2, 1 Peter 1:8, Psalm 149:4-5, Romans 15:13-14, Psalm 28:7, Psalm 19:8, Psalm 119:111, Jeremiah 15:16, Psalms 68:3, Psalms 97:11, Proverbs 10:28, John 15:10-11, Romans 14:16-19, Hebrews 1:9, Proverbs 12:20, Proverbs 21:15, Proverbs 15:30, Isaiah 29:18-20, Luke 10:17, John 16:20, Romans 12:12, Romans 15:13, Galatians 5:22-23, Ephesians 5:18-21, 1 Thessalonians 1:6-8, 1 James 1:2-4, 3 John 3

19. Kind: desire to be friendly and considerate.

Luke 6:35-36, Romans 12:10-13, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, Ephesians 4:31-32

20. Meek: desire to be humble and patient.

Numbers 12:3, Psalm 22:26, Psalm 25:9-10, Psalm 147:5-6, Psalm 149:4-5, Deuteronomy 8:2-3, Zephaniah 2:1-3, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Isaiah 29:18-20, Isaiah 61:1-3, Matthew 11:28-30, Matthew 21:4-5, Proverbs 16:18-19, Proverbs 29:23, Matthew 18:1-4, Matthew 23:10-13, Matthew 5:3-12, Galatians 5:22-23, James 4:6 (Proverbs 3:34)-10, 1 Peter 5:5-7

21. Obedient: desire to be submissive and to learn from doing.

Deuteronomy 13:4, Hebrews 5:8-9, Matthew 11:29-30, James 4:7, Romans 6:14-18, 2 Corinthians 10:3-6, Hebrews 13:17, Philippians 2:1-5, Philippians 3:15-16, Hebrews 13:17, Colossians 3:18-24, 1 Peter 5:5-7

22. Patient: desire to wait on God for changes.

Ecclesiastes 7:8-9, Luke 8:15, Romans 15:1-6, Colossians 1:9-11, James 1:2-4, 2 Peter 1:2-8, Romans 2:5-11, Romans 8:23-25, Hebrews 6:11-12, James 5:10-11, Revelation 1:8-9, Hebrews 12:1-4, 2 Timothy 3:10-12, Luke 21:16 & 19, Romans 12:10-15, 2 Thessalonians 3:5, James 5:7-8, Hebrews 10:35-36, 1 Timothy 6:10-12, 1 Thessalonians 5:14-15, 2 Timothy 2:24-25a, Titus 2:2, 1 Timothy 3:2-3.

23. Purposeful: desire to do what God wants.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 & 13-17, Ecclesiastes 8:6a, 1 Corinthians 3:6-15, 2 Timothy 1:7-14, 1 John 3:7-8, Acts 11:19-24, Hebrews 10:23-25, Romans 8:28-30, Ephesians 1:8-12, Proverbs 15:20-24, 1 Peter 4:17-19, Psalm 119:9-12

24. Respectful: desire to be reverent to God, and proper authorities, and other people.

Matthew 22:37-40, Psalm 145:3-5, Psalm 119:6-8 & 13-16, 1 Corinthians 12:20-27, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13, Ephesians 6:2-3, 1 Peter 3:1 & 7-8, 1 Peter 2:17, 1 Timothy 2:1-2, Romans 13:7, James 2:1-9, Philippians 2

25. Righteous: desire to be like Jesus Christ was when He was on Earth in human form.

1 Peter 1:13-15, Zephaniah 2:3, Proverbs 2:20-22, Proverbs 4:14-19, Matthew 5:6 & 16-20, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Ephesians 2:8-10, Luke17:20-21, Romans 14:16-19, Galatians 5:19-26, 2 Timothy 2:22-26, Ephesians 5:1-17, 1 Thessalonians 5:14-15, Ephesians 6:12-14, Romans 1-6, Philippians 2, and Ephesians 4-5.

26. Spirit-submissive: desire to obey the Holy Spirit's guidance.

Proverbs 3:5-6, Ephesians 5:18-21, John 14:26, 15:26, & 16:7-14, Romans 5:1-5, Romans 15:13-14, Philippians 2:1-5, Titus 3:3-7, 1 Corinthians 2:9-16, Romans 8:1-15, Ephesians 2:4-10, Galatians 5:16-25, 1 Corinthians 12:3-13, 2 Corinthians 13:14

27. Thankful: desire to be observant and appreciative.

1 Chronicles 16:34, Psalm 105:1-5, Philippians 4:4-7, Colossians 2:6-8, Colossians 3:15-17, Colossians 4:2, 1 Timothy 2:1-2, 1 Thessalonians 5:15b-18, Psalm 79:9 & 13, Hebrews 13:15-16, Psalm 97:10-12, Ephesians 5:3-4

28. Thorough: desire to do everything necessary for success.

Ecclesiastes 9:10, Colossians 4:12-13, Colossians 2:6-10, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Ephesians 2:10

29. Thrifty: desire to use and purchase things properly.

2 Samuel 24:15-25, Matthew 6:24-34, Acts 2:44-47, Acts 4:32-37, Luke 16:10, Luke 14:28-30, 2 Corinthians 3:4, 2 Corinthians 8:20-22, Philippians 4:15-19, Revelation 3:14-22

30. Tolerant: desire to understand others' viewpoints, not putting up with others' sins.

1 Thessalonians 5:14-15, Acts 9-10, Matthew 11:23, Romans 1:17-32, Matthew 5:17-30, Galatians 5:15-21, 2 Timothy 3:1-5

Why was Jesus Christ ridiculed for the men He chose to be as His close disciples? Why was He criticized and scorned for ministering to the woman at the well, the lepers, Zacchaeus, Mary (sister of Lazarus), and others?

Why should a Christian be against having prejudice or any forcing others to have the same preferences? When does God become tolerant of a sinner?

31. Truthfulness: desire to be honest and sincere.

Proverbs 8:6-9, Proverbs 12:17-20, Psalm 15:2, Psalm 25:10, Psalm 45:4a, Ephesians 4:20-25, Luke 8:15, Philippians 4:8, 1 Corinthians 5:8, 1 John 3:18-19, 3 John 3-4, Ephesians 4:14-16, Ephesians 5:6-10 & 14, 2 Corinthians 4:1-6, Romans 12:17, 2 Corinthians 8:20-22, 2 Corinthians 13:7-8, 1 Peter 2:12, Philippians 1:9-11

32. Wise: desire to understand and apply God's truth.

Psalm 19:7-8, Psalm 107:43, Proverbs 1:1-7, Proverbs 3:5, Proverbs 8:33, Proverbs 10:14, Proverbs 15:7, Proverbs 16:21-24, Proverbs 14:16, Proverbs 14:1, Proverbs 9:8-12, Proverbs 29:11, Proverbs 10:19, Proverbs 17:27-28, Proverbs 15:1, Proverbs 11:30, Proverbs 24:5, Proverbs 3:35, Ephesians 1:8-12