By Tim LaHaye (summary by Jeffrey Bush)
- Temperaments are the inborn traits that affect all behavior. They are based on
hereditary factors, and six people contribute to these: the two parents and four
grandparents. - Character is the real you. This is the hidden person of the heart – 1 Peter 3:4.
Sometimes referred to as the soul of a person. - Personality is the outward expression of a person, which may or may not be the
expression of a person‘s character. The place to change someone’s behavior is on
the inside, not the outside. - Temperament can be changed through the Holy Spirit – 2 Corinthians 5:17
- You can use your background as an excuse for your behavior only until you accept
Jesus Christ. At the point of salvation, you have the power to change your conduct. - There are four different types of temperaments: sanguine, choleric, melancholic, and
phlegmatic. - Each temperament has its strengths and its weaknesses. Not one is better than the
other. - The sanguine is a people-person, and enjoys talking and being with others. Simon
Peter from the Bible was a sanguine. Most salesman, preachers, and actors are
sanguine. They are never moderate about anything. - The choleric is a hot, quickly-reactive temperament. The apostle Paul was a choleric.
- The melancholic is analytical and perfectionist type. He is a faithful friend, but does
not make friends easily. Most musicians, theologians, scientist, engineers, and artist
are melancholy. Moses was a melancholic. - The phlegmatic has a high boiling point and rarely explodes in laughter or anger.
They can easily make everyone laugh while keeping a straight face. They are masters
of things that take patience and detail. Abraham is a good example of a phlegmatic. - Rarely is someone composed of only one temperament. Usually, they have a
predominant and secondary temperament, and possibly more. - Abraham went from being timid to a man known for his trust in the Lord. In God,
personalities and lives are changed. - Because temperament is based on the natural man, it’s easier to diagnose the
temperament of a lost person or carnal Christian than that of a spiritual person. - The temperament with the greatest strengths and potential also have the greatest
potential of weaknesses. - Faith in Christ lifts a person above their temperament.
- Selfishness is a basic weakness of every one of the temperaments.
- Our strengths and weaknesses prevail by our choice.
- We maximize our strength and minimize our weaknesses through the indwelling of
the Holy Spirit. - Any spirit-filled Cristian will have the strengths of Galatians 5:22–23, without
weaknesses. - The greatest goal of a Christian is to be filled with the Holy Spirit.