Walking in Integrity

“The Resolution”

Session 4 – Walking In Integrity

We all have that one yearbook photo we wish had never been taken. Most of us are thankful that Facebook wasn’t around when we were growing up!

Q: What is your most embarrassing, humorous, or regrettable fashion phase, hairdo, or hobby?

We can each think back to a moment we wish we had done something differently. We each regret a phase, a date, or an activity that is forever linked to our past. We need to remember that our families are watching us, our children especially and they notice everything we do. We must be people with integrity. Our families do not need us to say one thing and do another. If we expect our children to learn godliness when they see inconsistency in the home, we are kidding ourselves. We cannot drop our kids off at church and bring them home to a pathetic example of Christianity. We must walk with integrity and start that walk in the home.

Jesus taught crowds of people. He knew that some where hearing His words, but not applying it.

Read Luke 6:46-49

⁴⁶ “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? ⁴⁷ I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. ⁴⁸ It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. ⁴⁹ But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.”

Q: What do these two houses have in common? What differs?

Storms raged against both houses. One man dug deep, building his home on a foundation of a rock, and the fierce waters never did shake it.. In contrast, the other house was built on ground, without any foundation at all;when the torrents came, the building collapsed immediately. Not only did it collapse but it’s destruction was great.

Both builders had heard the Word of God, but only the one that obeyed it survived and flourished.

Insert Clip 6 “The Two Tests”

Q: In this clip, who passed the test and who failed? Why?

What surprised you?

Javier and Shane encountered similar tests- of integrity. Knowing what is right and actually doing it is the essence of integrity. We often use the word character to describe a person whose actions are consistent with the attitudes and motives of the heart. What he builds his life on is expressed in how he acts. There is no hypocrisy.

Javier and Shane chose different paths because of the foundation and priorities of their lives, and they ended up in vastly different places.

Integrity is the opposite of hypocrisy. It means being honest all the time and speaking the truth in your heart. It means being the same person in the secret as you are in public. When your life matches your words, and the standards you set for others are those you unashamedly live by as well- that’s integrity. People of integrity treat others with kindness, just as they want to be treated. They cannot be bought or bribed.

Read Matthew 23:1-14, 23-26

23 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, ² “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. ³ So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach. ⁴ They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.

⁵ “Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels. ⁶ And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues. ⁷ They love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi.’

⁸ “Don’t let anyone call you ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters. ⁹ And don’t address anyone here on earth as ‘Father,’ for only God in heaven is your spiritual Father. ¹⁰ And don’t let anyone call you ‘Teacher,’ for you have only one teacher, the Messiah. ¹¹ The greatest among you must be a servant. ¹² But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

¹³ “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces. You won’t go in yourselves, and you don’t let others enter either.

What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things. ²⁴ Blind guides! You strain your water so you won’t accidentally swallow a gnat, but you swallow a camel!

²⁵ “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence! ²⁶ You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean, too

Q: What did Jesus say that hypocrites need to do? (vs. 26)

To be clean both inside and out is the reason we should search our lives and hearts and ask God to cleanse us from any lack of integrity. Then we should begin to take steps to eliminate all hypocrisy from our lives. Hypocritical Christians turn people away from God while Christians of true integrity draw people to Him.

Let’s look at Psalm 15 and see what attitudes and actions represent a life of true integrity.

Psalm 15

¹ Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord?
Who may enter your presence on your holy hill?
² Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right,
speaking the truth from sincere hearts.
³ Those who refuse to gossip
or harm their neighbors
or speak evil of their friends.
⁴ Those who despise flagrant sinners,
and honor the faithful followers of the Lord,
and keep their promises even when it hurts.
⁵ Those who lend money without charging interest,
and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent.
Such people will stand firm forever.

Q: What does “The Two Tests” movie clip show you about being a role model for your children?

We all want the children in our lives to be happy. No one really wants a screaming toddler or a defiant teenager, but do you know what will make your children really happy?

Read Proverbs 20:7-10

“The one who lives with integrity is righteous; His children who come after him will be happy. A king sitting on a throne to judge sifts out all evil with his eyes. Who can say, ‘I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin?’ Differing weights and varying measures- both are detestable to the Lord.”

Q: According to this passage if a person lives with integrity, his children will be blessed or happy. Specifically, why do you think this would cause a child to experience joy?

According to verse 10, God hates “differing weights and varying measures.” In ancient times, merchants priced goods based on the good’s weight. Deceitful merchants would modify the actual weight of judgment so that the buyer would have to pay more than what the product was worth.

Q: How do the varying standards in verse 10 relate to standards parents set for themselves or for their children? Try to be specific.

To live with integrity, we must humble ourselves, admit we don’t have it all together, and ask God to give us wisdom each day to make the best decisions possible. When we do, He promises He will pour it on us “generously” and not make us feel foolish for asking.

James 1:5- (TNIV)

⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

Whether we are fighting off an unhealthy habit or seeking direction concerning finances, we should not be afraid to ask for help from other trusted people. Everyone needs answers and clarity. And victory comes to those with many advisors.

Proverbs 24:3-4

³ By wisdom a house is built,
and through understanding it is established;
⁴ through knowledge its rooms are filled
with rare and beautiful treasures.

Personal Growth

Commit to memory:

Luke 6:46 “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t’ do the things that I say?”

READING:

Men:         “Resolve to Love Your Wife” (pp. 87-99)

                  “Resolve to Fight for Justice” (pp. 131--143) 

Women:    “My Integrity” (pp. 145-162)