CHRISTIAN

CHARACTER WEEKEND
TALK 1: OUR EMOTIONS
AND OUR CHARACTER
HAPPY
SAD
Angry
Surpris
ed
 EMOTION
• “a conscious mental reaction subjectively
experienced as strong feeling usually directed
toward a specific object and typically accompanied
by physiological and behavioral changes in the
body.”
 EMOTION
• arising “spontaneously rather than through
conscious effort”. Thus, it may be a challenge at
times to control them, as they are our natural
reactions to people, situations, or events.
 EMOTION
• Emotions or feelings are important, but we should
not let them be the sole basis of our decisions and
actions. Otherwise they can take charge of our
lives and lead to serious problems.
 EMOTION
• We should never make decisions when we are
highly emotional about something.
TWO WRONG ATTITUDES
HELD ABOUT EMOTIONS
 Emotions, especially
negative ones, are our
ENEMIES
• Because we consider emotions as bad, we ignore or
deny them (repression/suppression). We may even
exercise stern discipline to control an emotion.
 Emotions, especially
negative ones, are our
ENEMIES

• We may engage in behavior that expresses the

exact opposite feeling.
 Emotions, especially
negative ones, are our
ENEMIES
• Denying or avoiding our emotions prevents us
from dealing with them or addressing situations
that led to these emotions.
 Emotions, especially
negative ones, are our
ENEMIES
• None of the above truly work. At best, they can only
bring temporary relief. Eventually, they result in
depression, frustration, etc.
Emotions are our MASTERS

• We must follow emotions wherever they lead. We

allow our emotions to rule over us. We dwell on our
feelings.
Emotions are our MASTERS

• Something is wrong with the notion that emotions

should run our lives. Our emotions do not always
guide us well.
Emotions are our MASTERS

• Allowing our emotions to rule us can lead to

selfishness and wrongdoing.
Emotions are our MASTERS

• Allowing negative feelings to control us may hinder

us from fully experiencing God’s purpose for the
events that happen in our lives
THE RIGHT ATTITUDE
TOWARDS EMOTIONS
 Basic truth: Emotions
are God-given and are
good.

• Emotions work by agitating us. They motivate us to

action.
 Basic truth: Emotions
are God-given and are
good.
• Jesus showed a whole range of emotions.

Jesus said, “I have been very eager to eat this

Passover meal with you before my suffering
begins.
-Luke 22:15
 Basic truth: Emotions
are God-given and are
good.
• Jesus showed a whole range of emotions.
At that same time Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit,
and he said, “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for
hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and
clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it
pleased you to do it this way.
-Luke 22:15
 Basic truth: Emotions
are God-given and are
good.
• Jesus showed a whole range of emotions.

He looked around at them angrily and was deeply saddened by

their hard hearts. Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.”
So the man held out his hand, and it was restored!
-Mark 3:5
 Basic truth: Emotions
are God-given and are
good.
• Jesus showed a whole range of emotions.

He looked around at them angrily and was deeply saddened by

their hard hearts. Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.”
So the man held out his hand, and it was restored!
-Mark 3:5
 Basic truth: Emotions
are God-given and are
good.
• Paul expresses strong emotions.

God knows how much I love you and long for you with the
tender compassion of Christ Jesus.
-Philippians 1:8
 Basic truth: Emotions
are God-given and are
good.

• Emotions, therefore, are basically good. They are

valuable assets for daily life
 Distinguish between a
REACTION to a given
situation and a RESPONSE
to that situation.
• An emotional reaction refers to the inner movements
we experience when a feeling stirs in us. Our
response is what we do or say under the influence
of the reaction.
 Distinguish between a
REACTION to a given
situation and a RESPONSE
to that situation.

• Emotions are primarily reactions. Reactions do not

necessarily have to rule our decisions
 Distinguish between a
REACTION to a given
situation and a RESPONSE
to that situation.
• We can handle the situation according to our
reaction or decide this is not the right response and
handle it in a different way. We have a choice.
 Awareness is key in
knowing how to handle
our emotions.

• Know how we are feeling not only on the surface but

also deeper, beneath the surface.
Emotions should be our
servants
THE FOUR ELEMENTS
IN ESTABLISHING
HEADSHIP OVER OUR
EMOTIONS
Do the RIGHT and LOVING
response in every
situation.
• Pattern our lives on God’s standards.Follow this
objective standard, no matter how we feel. Ask:
How would Christ respond here? WWJD (What
would Jesus do?)?
Do the RIGHT and LOVING
response in every
situation.

• Our emotions will follow and come into line

 Aggressively exercise
authority as a son or
daughter of God to bring
order into our emotional
life
• We do not forget our identity:
that we are sons and
daughters of God and that we have been redeemed.
 Aggressively exercise
authority as a son or
daughter of God to bring
order into our emotional
life
• Put to death within us what works against the Lord.
(Galatians 5:16, 24)
Develop a set of strong,
committed relationships

• This helps keep our attention away from how we

feel to how we will treat others.
Develop a set of strong,
committed relationships

• Surround ourselves with people who will:

a. support us in our struggle to respond
positively to our emotions
b. model good Christian behavior to us
Develop a set of strong,
committed relationships

• This will develop into a structure of positive and

supportive relationships
Yield more fully to the
Holy Spirit and expect
Him to transform us and
our feelings.
• Emotions are gifts from God
Yield more fully to the
Holy Spirit and expect
Him to transform us and
our feelings.
• Changes come relatively unnoticed, more the
consequence of our relationship with Christ than the
result of deliberate steps we take.
EMOTIONS GUIDED BY
THE HOLY SPIRIT
 St. Paul tells us that
God did not give us a
spirit of timidity, but
the Spirit of power and
love and self control
2 Tim 1:7
 Prudence
Justice
Fortitude
Temperance
Grace is needed so that we may persevere as the
Holy Spirit forms us, even when it is the more difficult
thing to do. Ask the Holy Spirit for this grace.
 Conclusion

One thing for certain about our emotions: We all have

them and they are here to stay. We can either lie
about them or ignore them, or we can establish
headship over them through the power of the Holy
Spirit.