Earning future trust,
by accurately reporting past facts.
Vs. Deception
I WILL:
· Tell the truth,
· Encourage others to be truthful,
· Not cheat or steal,
· Admit when I am wrong,
· Not exaggerate to make things seem different from what they are.
Used with permission of Character Training Institute
Many helpful resources are available at www.members.characterfirst.com.
BECOMING CHRISTLIKE IN TRUTHFULNESS: Truth is a very important issue to God as indicated by how many times it is referred to in the Bible; look up in a good concordance such as Strong’s or a computer program to see how many times the word is used (NIV: truth is 222 times, truthful 11 times, honesty 19 times, etc.) Additional scriptures refer to the opposite: lies and deception. Why would it be especially important that we know that all that God does and says is truthful? In the four gospels, Jesus begins with, “I tell you the truth” NIV (“Verily, verily” in KJV) 76 times. Through this character trait, the one true God has earned your future trust by accurately reporting past facts. Study a few of these scriptures and increase your confidence that God (including Jesus and the Holy Spirit) only speak and act in truth, not deception:
Numbers 23:19: Even Balaam, who was hired to curse Israel, attested to God’s truthfulness.
II Samuel 7:28: Why was it important to David that God’s words be true?,
Psalm 33:1-5: Can you sing praise to the Lord because of His truthfulness?
Psalm 119:160: Why is it important that God’s Words be both true and eternal? How has God’s word been relegated to cultural obsolescence?
Psalm 31:5 and Isaiah 65:16: What title is given to God? What significance is found in taking an oath on the Bible?
Isaiah 45:19: What are characteristics of God’s speaking to His people?
Matthew 22:16; Mark 12:13-15: Even Jesus’ enemies saw His integrity and the truthfulness of His teaching, but misused the truth.
John 1:14: What two characteristics did Jesus exemplify when he became man? Why would each be important to fulfilling His purpose?
John 14:6: Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. How does this compare with modern teachings that there are many ways to God?
John 16:13: How important is a Spirit-led life in becoming truthful?
Romans 3:3-4: Is truth judged by majority rule? Is it hard to depend on the truth of God and His Word when all the media and the majority say otherwise?
Ephesians 4:20-24: Can we believe and follow Jesus and not totally believe that everything He taught is true?
Titus 1:1-3: Why is it important that our preaching and teaching be based on God’s truth? How does knowledge of the truth lead to godliness?
Hebrews 6:16-18: How does assurance of God’s truthfulness give us hope and encouragement?
I John 5:6-12: Why must we accept God’s testimony rather than man’s? If the Spirit’s testimony is true, how can we be sure we are listening to the Spirit?
I John 5:20: How many times is “truth” mentioned in this verse? What assurance does it give you in your walk with Him?
Revelation 16:7: How do we argue or reject the truth of God’s judgments?
(Consider choosing a limited number of Scriptures, so you can have time to really discuss them.)
HOW IMPORTANT IS TRUTH? Modern philosophy says that there is no absolute truth – since there is no definite standard for truth, it is relative and depends on the person, the culture, and the situation. This is not really a new idea since Pilate responded to Jesus’ comments about truth saying, “What is truth?” as though it were a mystery that cannot be known with certainty. We treat many untruths as acceptable or expected, such as in politics, business, advertising, or even in our own personal relationships. Why is truthfulness so vital to a successful family, cell, nation, business, etc?
Look up these scriptures to see what God says are other benefits of truthfulness and discuss how that is true:
Psalm 15:2: Why is truth so important to a man of God? See the promise at the end of
the chapter.
Psalm 40:11: How does truth preserve or protect?
Proverbs 12:19: Why does truthfulness allow us to endure?
John 8:32: How can truth set you free?
Ephesians 6:14: How is truth part of our armor? Why do you think it is depicted as a belt?
II Peter 1:12: How does truth establish us?
There are many reasons not to lie but what is the ultimate reason for Christians in Colossians 3:9? (it is one of the practices of the old self that we have put off.) When we are consistent in truthfulness, we strengthen relationships and earn future trust, but when we lie, we destroy trust. Each one of us can rationalize telling a lie, but are always hurt or angry when others lie to us. It takes much longer to rebuild trust after deception is discovered. Discuss how and reasons why spouses deceive each other. What are the consequences? How can trust be rebuilt?
In what ways do we lie to our children? Although lying is a part of the sinful nature of children that must be handled, in what ways do we also “teach” them to lie? How can we wisely train our children in truthfulness? How can we “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15)?
This month, read through Proverbs, a chapter a day, looking for insights into truthfulness and lying or deception. Or write out each of these references on a small piece of paper and have each member draw one to read and tell what it teaches us about this character quality. A family could do this one a day.
6:16-19 14:5
20:10 24:28
8:7-9 15:4
20:17 25:14
10:18 16:11 20:23
26:24-26
11:1 16:13
21:6 26:28
12:17 17:4 21:28 28:13
12:19 19:5 23:23 29:12
12:22 19:9 24:26
Do you remember Burma Shave signs? “The familiar white on red signs, grouped by four, fives and sixes, were as much a part of a family trip as irritating your kid brother in the back seat of the car. You'd read first one, then another, anticpating the punch line on number five and the familiar Burma-Shave on the sixth.” For example:
Altho insured
He tried
Remember, kiddo To cross
They don't pay you As fast train neared
They pay Death didn't draft
him
Your widow He volunteered
Burma-Shave
Burma-Shave
If you have a creative group that likes something new: How about having some fun with these proverbs by making a series of consecutive signs that give the meaning of the verse, then the last one, “Be Truthful.” Perhaps you can choose just three or four and give one to a small group of people to work out the signs. For example:
1. Food from fraud 1. A twisted mind--
2. First tastes yummy 2. Trouble’s a-brewin’.
3. Then the rocky road 3. Deceitful words--
4.
Sure gets
crummy 4. The path to ruin.
BE TRUTHFUL. (20:17) BE TRUTHFUL (
1. “Yakkity-yak”
2. Looks bad on a fool;
3. But worse still
4. Leaders using
5. Lies as a tool.
BE TRUTHFUL ( 17:7)
Write them out on rectangular pieces of poster board and we can put them up around the church building or in a skit, or families can use them in their homes or yards. You are children of the Creator, so be creative!
DON’T BE DECEIVED
Read John 8:43-47 How is Satan the deceiver? When we lie or deceive in any way, whose disciples are we? Study Genesis 3 to see how he deceived Eve in the Garden of Eden. Deception is at the root of all temptations; if we knew the hook behind Satan’s lure or see its consequences, we would never take the bait. What 3 lures did Eve “bite on” in verse 6? How do these correspond to the 3 areas in I John 2:16? The problem with deception is that we do not know we are being deceived! So, how can we arm ourselves to avoid being deceived by the devil? People are trained to recognize counterfeit money by handling and knowing the real thing so completely that they can note anything that doesn’t fit; how does this principle help us to recognize Satan’s lies? Use the illustration of a plumb line; just as it shows a builder what is straight, the Word of God shows us what is true!
Discuss each of these insights into deception in order to avoid their traps: (again, choose a few scriptures that you feel especially will help your group; don’t try to cover too much material)
II Thessalonians 2:3,8-12; what is the result of not loving the truth?
Mark 13:22: how can we be deceived by riches?
Hebrews 3:13: what is the antidote for being hardened in sin’s deceitfulness?
II Corinthians 4:1-2: How can deception come even in ministering the word of God? How can we detect this in others (such as authors or TV ministries)? How can we prevent it in ourselves? See II Timothy 2:15.
Jeremiah 17:9-10: What are the implications of my unredeemed heart being deceitful and beyond cure? How can a realization of this truth keep me from deception?
Matthew 24:4-5, 24: How do we judge those who come with power for miracles and prophecies?
Romans 16:17-19: What are clues to people who want to deceive others in the church? How can we prevent it?
I Corinthians 3:18: How can a “good education” deceive us?
I Corinthians 15:33: How can bad company deceive us?
Galatians 6:7-8: How does Satan deceive us into thinking there will be no harvest for what we sow?
Ephesians 4:14: How does being a member united with a church body help us prevent being deceived?
Colossians 2:8: What are the marks of “hollow and deceptive philosophy”? How do they take us captive?
I John 1:8-10: How can we deceive ourselves? What is the result if we say we have no sin?
Use yarn to represent a lie that begins a web that entangles us and others; form a circle and one person will “tell a lie” and wrap the yarn around him/her, then pass to another who retells and embellishes, wrapping it around himself, then on and on. Show how the lie entangles and grows. (Truthfulness bulletin, Series 3) However, also show that even when you untangle the web by telling the truth, consequences remain (such as broken trust, hurt feelings, etc.). ”Telling a lie is like pounding a nail in the wall of one’s character. Telling the truth removes the nail, but leaves the mark.” The Power for True Success. “The liar’s punishment is not in the least that he is not believed, but that he cannot believe anyone else.” - - George Bernard Shaw (from Richmond Daily News)
Consider these Biblical people and see the consequences of their telling a lie:
Abraham: Genesis 12:10-20
Isaac: Genesis 26:6-11
Jacob: Genesis 27
Jacob’s sons: Genesis 37:29-35
(Note the generational sin from father to son for four generations!)
Ananias and Sapphira: Acts 5:1-10
Cain: Genesis 4:8-16
Gibeonites: Joshua 9
Gehazi: II Kings 5:16-27
Soldiers: Matthew 28:11-15
Also consider these scriptures to learn consequences of lies and deception:
Psalm 5:6
Psalm 31:18
Psalm 63:4
Psalm 101:7
Isaiah 59:14-15
Jeremiah 9:3-9
Hosea 4:1-3
II Thessalonians 2:9-12
II Timothy 2:25-26
II Timothy 3:6-9
Revelation 21:8
Helps developed by Deanna Guy