Cameos of Character, Session 2
Daniel 1
Organizational Focus
- The danger of organizations forgetting their primary mission
- The seminary's goal to equip laymen for the marketplace
- Critique on current performance and reference to a historical challenge at the Lausanne Conference
Biblical Insights
- Importance of character before conduct and attitudes before action
- Metaphors in Matthew 5:13-16
- Separation from sin, not from sinners (1 Corinthians 5)
Jesus' Example
- Story of Jesus dining with sinners (Mark 2)
- Jesus as a physician for the sick
- Parallel to laymen in the marketplace
Profile of Daniel
- Daniel as a biblical role model
- Daniel's life under three administrations
- Daniel's commitment to maintaining his faith and integrity
- Acceptance of education, position, and name change, but rejection of eating at the king's table
Modern Application
- A flight attendant who embodies Christian values in her work
- The importance of laymen understanding their role in ministry
- A neurosurgeon realizing his ministry potential
Practical Principles of Character
- Character's Dual Nature
- Outer and inner components of character
- Importance of congruency between actions and beliefs
- Influence of Prayer
- Significance of private prayer life on public ministry
- Cause and Effect Relationship
- Character determines behavior and vice versa
- Christian Living
- Balancing companionship with sinners and maintaining personal integrity
- Priority and Conscience
- Keeping priorities aligned with Christian values
- Importance of a clear and pure conscience
Final Reflections
- Need for solitude and time with God
- Maintaining a well-balanced sailboat
- Producing strong Christian characters in a declining society
Prayer and Commitment
- Prayer for strength and commitment to produce godly character
- Acknowledgment of God's role in shaping character
*The above summary is AI-generated, so discrepancies may exist. Please refer to the audio or video file to verify accuracy.
About the Contributors
Howard G. Hendricks
Dr. Howard G. Hendricks, known simply as “Prof,” directly or indirectly touched millions of lives in the evangelical community and beyond. For more than sixty years Prof served on the faculty of Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS), where he taught more than ten thousand students. He served as the chairman of the Center for Christian Leadership for over twenty years. He also ministered in person in more than eighty countries. Through speaking engagements, radio, tapes, films, the sixteen books he authored and coauthored, countless journal and popular-market articles, his service on numerous boards, and his work as a chaplain to the Dallas Cowboys (1976–1984), his reach was and is worldwide.
His legacy, in partnership with Jeanne, his wife of more than sixty-five years, includes four children and six grandchildren. Holding large audiences enthralled at venues such as Billy Graham’s conference center or Promise Keepers’ stadium rallies, Prof would confide, “It’s wonderful to be here with you, but I have a group of delicious students waiting for me back at the seminary.”
Contributors
