The Four Cardinal Virtues

Brief Description

In present-day America, Christians are relearning how to distinguish between members of a church and disciples of Christ. If we want to judge our ability to increase members of congregations, we need only look at the churches in our communities on Sunday morning. Though some congregations are larger or smaller than they used to be, we don’t seem to have much of a problem drawing members to church.

But what about making disciples? Discipleship involves developing virtues in those who come to our churches seeking life, salvation, grace, mercy. If we want to have something to offer a world in desperate need, then we must return to virtues like discernment, justice, courage, and moderation. We must return to the hard and glorious work of making disciples. If we do so, we will have taken up Jesus’ great commission (Mt 28:19-20) as our own calling.

We don’t develop any of the virtues by accident, either in ourselves or in others. We develop them by careful practice and intentional investment in spiritual growth. There is no greater cause for the church than making disciples, and there is no more essential task for a church that hopes to grow and give life to its people. We must seek these virtues if we are to be the church our world so desperately needs.

NextSunday Resources provides adult Bible studies on a wide range of topics, all of which are useful for individual or group study. A printed Study Guide offers four, five or six lessons with in-depth commentary and Bible background material. A free, downloadable Teaching Guide features a wealth of options, questions and ideas for teaching each lesson.