National Association of Christian Ministers Manual to Ministry: Planning
Psychological research has identified twenty-four character strengths common to all humanity.
This does not mean that every human has them, but that they are found among humanity in general:
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- Creativity [Originality, Ingenuity]
- Curiosity [Interest, Novelty-seeking, Openness to experience]
- Open-Mindedness [Judgment, Critical Thinking]
- Love of Learning
- Perspective [Wisdom]
Courage
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- Bravery [Valor]
- Persistence [Perseverance / Industriousness]
- Integrity [Authenticity, Honesty]
- Vitality [Zest, Enthusiasm, Vigor, Energy]
Humanity
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- Love [Loving and allowing Oneself to Be Loved]
- Kindness [Generosity, Nurturance, Care, Compassion]
- Social Intelligence [Emotional Intelligence, Personal Intelligence]
Justice
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- Citizenship [Social Responsibility, Loyalty, Teamwork]
- Fairness
- Leadership
Temperance
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- Forgiveness and Mercy
- Humility and Modesty
- Prudence
- Self-Regulation [Self-Control]
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- Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence
- Gratitude
- Hope [Optimism / Future-Mindedness / Orientation]
- Humor [Playfulness]
- Spirituality [Religiousness, Faith, Purpose]
Questions for discussion:
- How might this list help us discover our own God given personal strengths?
- How might this list help us connect with others (evangelism, etc.)?
- What does this list tell us about God’s creation of humans?
Sources
“Character Strengths and Virtues,” C. Peterson, M. Seligman, Oxford Press 2004
Critical Thinking
https://community.criticalthinking.org/content/posts/942/UniversalVirtuesandStrengths.pdf
VIA Character Strengths Descriptions
https://www.weber.edu/WSUImages/leadership/docs/sq/azusa/general/via-character-strengths-descriptions.pdf
