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Character Building

One of the worst things a preacher can do is moralize from the pulpit. God's Law isn't a list of moral attributes His people ought to display, it's a reflection of His perfection. The way to righteousness isn't a particular moral code, it's surrendered faith in Jesus Christ. If morals were what God expected of us, there really would be many roads to heaven; as it is, Christ is the only way.

That's why we aren't fans of character building programs that emphasize good behavior. Obviously, children should be taught to obey, to do what God commands, and to avoid sin, but more importantly they need to learn to love God. If our hearts belong to God, the rest will follow. Those who claim they can live however they please because they have faith in Jesus don't really know anything about faith or Jesus.

When Jesus indwells us and renews our desires, the more we relinquish to His control, the more we start wanting to do right and the less we want to do wrong. Our kids are no different—if we raise them to think they have to abide by some legalistic standard, they'll likely get frustrated and even fall away from the faith. If we train them to find fulfillment in Christ and to desire Him completely, eventually they'll also learn to follow His example.

Not all character curriculum is created equal. Some are better able to inspire kids to Christlikeness through simply pointing to Him than others, and some do get bogged down in details, but we've managed to select books that get the doctrine of grace right and aren't too focused on outward displays of virtue and obedience.

Again, children should be virtuous, and they should obey. But they never will if they don't first love Christ. Godly character isn't predicated on what others can see, it's predicated on what only God Himself can see: our hearts. In other words, a good character curriculum starts from the inside and works out to the actions and behavior.

Favorites at Exodus Books are the Doorposts materials by Pam Forster, a variety of books and resources designed to steer children on the path of reverence, devotion and faith. Pam's books are both practical and spiritual, and speak as much to parents as to their offspring. Since children learn most about life from their parents, we appreciate this parental emphasis very much.

In the end, a book can't make your children good. The only thing that can make them good is the transformative power of Christ's blood, freely offered through faith in Him. But neither can children learn the Gospel and its demands through osmosis; they must be told the story of God's redemptive acts over and over, and these books will help you do just that, as well as showing them what the life of a Christian ought to look like.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.
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Character Building
Character Building
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As Unto the Lord
by Pam Forster
from Doorposts
in Biblical Womanhood (Location: XFA-WOM)
$12.00 (1 in stock)
Blessing Chart (small) (old)
by Pam Forster
from Doorposts
for Preschool-6th grade
in Old Edition Bible (Location: ZCLE-BIB)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Blessing Chart Patterns
by Pam Forster
from Doorposts
for Kindergarten-6th grade
in Doorposts Materials (Location: BIBCH-DP)
$2.00 (1 in stock)
Book of Virtues for Young People
by William J. Bennett, ed.
1st edition from Simon and Schuster
for 3rd-8th grade
in Short Story Anthologies for Kids (Location: FIC-ANTH)
$8.50 (1 in stock)
Buster Tries to Bail
Good News for Little Hearts
by Edited by David and Nan Powlison, Illustrated by Joe Hox
from New Growth Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Emotions for Kids (Location: BIBCH-EM)
$14.44 $7.60 (1 in stock)
Buster's Ears Trip Him Up
Good News for Little Hearts
by Edited by Edward T. Welch, Illustrated by Joe Hox
from New Growth Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Emotions for Kids (Location: BIBCH-EM)
$15.29 $7.60 (1 in stock)
But I'm Thankful--I Really Am!
by Jane Belk Moncure, illustrated by Frances Hook
from Child's World
for Nursery-Kindergarten
in Emotions for Kids (Location: BIBCH-EM)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Caspian Crashes the Party
Good News for Little Hearts
by Edited by Edward T. Welch, Illustrated by Joe Hox
from New Growth Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Emotions for Kids (Location: BIBCH-EM)
$15.29 $7.60 (1 in stock)
Character Development Visuals with Lesson Guide
from A Beka Books
for Kindergarten
in Character Building (Location: BIBCH)
$11.00 (1 in stock)
Christian Character - student workbook
from My Father's World
for 9th-12th grade
in My Father's World (Location: CUR-MFW)
$7.50 (1 in stock)
Crossroads of Character
by Marilyn Boyer
from Learning Parent
for Preschool-3rd grade
in Character Building (Location: BIBCH)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Do Nice, Be Kind, Spread Happy
by Bernadette Russell
from Kane Miller
for 2nd-5th grade
in Character Building (Location: BIBCH)
$7.50 (1 in stock)
Emily Post's Etiquette
by Elizabeth L. Post
12th edition from Funk & Wagnalls
for 9th-Adult
in Vintage Nonfiction (Location: VIN-NFIC)
$12.00 (1 in stock)
Emily Post's Gift of Good Manners
by Peggy Post, Cindy Post Senning
from Collins
for Adult
in Manners & Etiquette (Location: BIBCH-MAN)
$12.00 (1 in stock)
Emily's Magic Words
by Cindy Post Senning and Peggy Post, illustrated by Leo Landry
from HarperCollins
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Manners & Etiquette (Location: BIBCH-MAN)
$4.50 (1 in stock)
Everett Anderson's Goodbye
by Lucille Clifton, illustrated by Ann Grifalconi
from Henry Holt and Company
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
1984 Coretta Scott King Award
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Feelings
by Aliki
from HarperCollins
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Emotions for Kids (Location: BIBCH-EM)
$3.20 (2 in stock)
Go-to-the-Ant Chart (small, color, laminated)
by Pam Forster
from Doorposts
for Preschool-6th grade
in Doorposts Materials (Location: BIBCH-DP)
$3.50 (1 in stock)
Gus Loses His Grip
Good News for Little Hearts
by Edited by David Powlison, Illustrated by Joe Hox
from New Growth Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Emotions for Kids (Location: BIBCH-EM)
$15.29 $7.60 (1 in stock)
Halle Takes a Stand
Good News for Little Hearts
by Edited by Paul David Tripp, Illustrated by Joe Hox
from New Growth Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Emotions for Kids (Location: BIBCH-EM)
$15.29 $7.60 (1 in stock)
Health, Safety and Manners 1 - Worktext
3rd edition from A Beka Books
for 1st grade
in A Beka Health (Location: HEAL-ABK)
$15.00 (5 in stock)
Health, Safety and Manners 1 - Worktext (old)
2nd edition from A Beka Books
for 1st grade
in A Beka Health (Old Versions only) (Location: OABK-HEAL)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Health, Safety and Manners 2 - Worktext
4th edition from A Beka Books
for 2nd grade
in A Beka Health (Location: HEAL-ABK)
$13.00 (5 in stock)
Health, Safety and Manners 3 - Worktext
4th edition from A Beka Books
for 3rd grade
in A Beka Health (Location: HEAL-ABK)
$18.00 (2 in stock)
Henry Says Good-bye
Good News for Little Hearts
by Edited by Edward T. Welch, Illustrated by Joe Hox
from New Growth Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Emotions for Kids (Location: BIBCH-EM)
$14.44 $7.60 (1 in stock)
Hidden Treasures
by Pam Forster
from Doorposts
for Nursery-4th grade
in Doorposts Materials (Location: BIBCH-DP)
$22.00 $15.00 (1 in stock)
Honor Your Father and Mother
by Pam Forster
from Doorposts
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Doorposts Materials (Location: BIBCH-DP)
$12.00 $8.00 (1 in stock)
I Have Feelings
by Terry Berger
from Human Sciences Press
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
If-Then Chart (small, color, laminated)
by Pam Forster
from Doorposts
for Preschool-6th grade
in Doorposts Materials (Location: BIBCH-DP)
$6.50 $4.00 (1 in stock)
Jax's Tail Twitches
Good News for Little Hearts
by Edited by David Powlison, Illustrated by Joe Hox
from New Growth Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Emotions for Kids (Location: BIBCH-EM)
$15.29 $7.60 (1 in stock)
Kid's Guide to the Power of Words
by Tony Evans
from Harvest House
for 3rd-6th grade
in Devotions for Kids (Location: BIBR-DEV)
$7.00 (2 in stock)
Lessons in Responsibility for Boys Level 2
The Christian Gentleman's Series
from Pearables
for 2nd-6th grade
in Pearables Character Curriculum (Location: BIBCH-PCC)
$13.00 (1 in stock)
Lighthouse: A Story of Remembrance
by Robert Munsch, illustrated by Janet Wilson
from Scholastic Inc.
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$4.00 (3 in stock)
Little Brown Mouse and How I Learned to Share
from Brown Mouse Publications
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Character Building (Location: BIBCH)
$3.20 (1 in stock)
Manner of the Week - Flashcards
from Memoria Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Manners & Etiquette (Location: BIBCH-MAN)
$7.50 (1 in stock)
Manners Made Easy
by June Hines Moore
from Broadman & Holman
for 1st-6th grade
in Manners & Etiquette (Location: BIBCH-MAN)
$7.00 (1 in stock)
Manners Matter for Students
by Hermine Hartley
from Barbour Publishing
for 9th-12th grade
in Manners & Etiquette (Location: BIBCH-MAN)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
My Turtle Died Today
by Edith G. Stull, illustrated by Mamoru Funai
from Holt, Rinehart and Winston
for Preschool-1st grade
in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Narrow Way Character Curriculum
from Pearables
for 1st-6th grade
in Pearables Character Curriculum (Location: BIBCH-PCC)
$32.95 $21.00 (1 in stock)
Oh, No! Miss Dent is Coming to Dinner
by Raymond & Dorothy Moore, illustrated by Julie Downing
from Thomas Nelson Publishers
for Nursery-2nd grade
in Manners & Etiquette (Location: BIBCH-MAN)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
One Blood for Kids
by Ken Ham
1st edition from Master Books
in Character Building (Location: BIBCH)
$13.59 $10.00 (1 in stock)
Pearables Character Building Kingdom Stories - Volume 3
from Pearables
for Kindergarten-6th grade
in Pearables Character Curriculum (Location: BIBCH-PCC)
$12.00 (1 in stock)
Plants Grown Up
by Pam Forster
2nd edition from Doorposts
for 1st-12th grade
in Doorposts Materials (Location: BIBCH-DP)
$34.00 (1 in stock)
Please: What Does it Mean?
by Jane Belk Moncure, illustrated by Nancy Inderieden
from Child's World
for Preschool-2nd grade
in Manners & Etiquette (Location: BIBCH-MAN)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Protocol Matters
by Sandra Boswell
from Canon Press
for 7th-12th grade
in Manners & Etiquette (Location: BIBCH-MAN)
$18.00 $12.00 (1 in stock)
Put On Chart (large)
by Pam Forster
from Doorposts
for Preschool-6th grade
in Doorposts Materials (Location: BIBCH-DP)
$14.00 $7.50 (1 in stock)
Put On Chart (small)
by Pam Forster
from Doorposts
for Preschool-6th grade
in Doorposts Materials (Location: BIBCH-DP)
$14.00 $9.00 (2 in stock)
Quit? Not Me!
by Raymond & Dorothy Moore, illustrated by Julie Downing
from Thomas Nelson Publishers
for Kindergarten-2nd grade
in Character Building (Location: BIBCH)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Richard Scarry's Please & Thank You Book
by Richard Scarry
from Random House
Word Books for Preschool-2nd grade
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$5.09 $2.00 (1 in stock)
Rules for a Knight
by Ethan Hawke, illustrated by Ryan Hawke
from Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.
for 4th-12th grade
in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05)
$7.20 (1 in stock)
Social Skills Picture Book
by Jed Baker
1st edition from Future Horizons
for Adult
in Special Needs / Learning Disabilities (Location: HSR-SPEC)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Sword Fighting
by Karyn Henley
4th edition from Child Sensitive Communication
for 3rd-6th grade
in Devotions for Kids (Location: BIBR-DEV)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
Talk to the Hand
by Lynne Truss
1st edition from Gotham Books
for 10th-Adult
in Clearance: English & Language Arts (Location: ZCLE-LAN)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Tori Comes Out of Her Shell
Good News for Little Hearts
by Edited by Jayne V. Clark, Illustrated by Joe Hox
from New Growth Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Emotions for Kids (Location: BIBCH-EM)
$15.29 $7.60 (1 in stock)
Value of Adventure
by Ann Donegan Johnson
from Value Communications Inc.
for 1st-3rd grade
in Character Building (Location: BIBCH)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Value of Believing in Yourself
by Spencer Johnson, M. D.
from Value Communications Inc.
for 1st-3rd grade
in Character Building (Location: BIBCH)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Value of Creativity
by Ann Donegan Johnson
from Value Communications Inc.
for 1st-3rd grade
in Character Building (Location: BIBCH)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Value of Curiosity
by Spencer Johnson, M. D.
from Value Communications Inc.
for 1st-3rd grade
in Character Building (Location: BIBCH)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Value of Dedication
by Spencer Johnson, M. D.
from Value Communications Inc.
for 1st-3rd grade
in Character Building (Location: BIBCH)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Value of Fantasy
by Spencer Johnson, M. D.
from Value Communications Inc.
for 1st-3rd grade
in Character Building (Location: BIBCH)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Value of Honesty
by Spencer Johnson
from Value Communications Inc.
for 1st-3rd grade
in Character Building (Location: BIBCH)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
Value of Understanding
by Spencer Johnson
from Value Communications Inc.
for 1st-3rd grade
in Character Building (Location: BIBCH)
$4.00 (1 in stock)
When I'm Afraid
by Jane Belk Moncure, illustrated by Frances Hook
from Child's World
for Nursery-Kindergarten
in Emotions for Kids (Location: BIBCH-EM)
$8.00 (1 in stock)
You Can Raise a Well-Mannered Child
by June Hines Moore
from Broadman & Holman
in Manners & Etiquette (Location: BIBCH-MAN)
$6.00 (1 in stock)
Young Lady of Valor
by Pam Forster
from Doorposts
for Nursery-4th grade
in Doorposts Materials (Location: BIBCH-DP)
$4.00 $2.00 (1 in stock)
Zoe's Hiding Place
Good News for Little Hearts
by Edited by David Powlison, Illustrated by Joe Hox
from New Growth Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Emotions for Kids (Location: BIBCH-EM)
$14.44 $7.60 (1 in stock)
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