Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Christian Crier

Home
About

Home
Evangelical
A Sunday School Lesson On Honesty

A Sunday School Lesson On Honesty

Last updated on: January 23, 2016 at 2:30 pm by Jack Wellman

A Sunday School Lesson On Honesty 2016-01-23T14:30:30-06:00 Jack Wellman

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Here is a Sunday school lesson or Bible study on the subject of honesty.

An Honest Day’s Work

Ephesians 4:28 “Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.”

Paul always taught that “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ” (Col 3:23-24). There is wisdom in that mindset for Solomon also wrote, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going” (Eccl 9:10). One reason to work honestly is because it will go better for someone in the long run and if they have enough, they can “share with anyone in need.”

Do you know of someone who shares their money with others?

Is it difficult to work hard when you know the boss is gone?

Have you shared with others?

Honesty Pays Off

Proverbs 12:17 “Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness utters deceit.”

It’s better to be honest because we’re commanded to obey God and it’s the right thing to do but also there is the thought of the day when God “will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life” (Rom 2:6-7) however, “for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil” (Rom 2:8-9).

What does it mean by a “false witness?”

Is a so-called “white lie” okay?

Are there times that God will allow us to lie?

Honesty and Trust

First Samuel 29:6 “Then Achish called David and said to him, “As the Lord lives, you have been honest, and to me it seems right that you should march out and in with me in the campaign. For I have found nothing wrong in you from the day of your coming to me to this day. Nevertheless, the lords do not approve of you.”

Achish had learned that he could trust King David and Achish was a Philistine! He trusted him enough that he wanted to make an alliance with him but the Philistine commanders said no and sent David away because “the lords do not approve of” David. David was angry and left but the point is Achish, a natural enemy of David as a Philistine, still trusted David enough to go down with him into battle. That says a lot about David’s integrity.

Why did Achish trust David so much?

Why didn’t the Philistine commanders want David to go into battle with them?

Is it surprising that a Philistine (Achish) would trust a natural enemy (an Israelite) with his life?

The Fate of all Liars

Proverbs 12:22 “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.”

That’s why it is really better to be “a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool” (Prov 19:1) because what a person with integrity tells you, you can believe which is why “a false witness who breathes out lies” (Prov 6:19a) and is one of the seven things God hates. All unrepentant liars will face the lake of fire after death or at Christ’s appearance (Rev 21:8) but that doesn’t mean it’s your fate because if you’ve been saved and you tell a lie, you’re not doomed but the Spirit will convict you and make you repent of it and confess it to God. The fact is, Christians still sin, even after conversion (Rom 7; 1st John 1:8, 10), but we should be sinning less over time.

Do you get blind-sided by sin?

Have you ever told a lie?

Did you confess it right away to God and to the other person (if necessary)?

Conclusion

I urge you in your study to look at all of the Bible verses and read them aloud in the class so that you can get the most out of these lessons because honesty it seems is in great demand but short supply today. Do we ever hear in the news about someone with a lot of responsibility who did an honest thing? No, all you hear from the media is the ugliest, most horrific news stories they can find because it sells and that’s all they care about. Honesty is more than the best policy, it is a way of life and for God “it is impossible for God to lie” (Heb 6:18a) and “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind” (Num 23:19).

Why can’t God lie?

Has anyone ever lied to you?

What have you learned about honesty in the Bible?

Article by Jack Wellman

Jack Wellman is Pastor of the Mulvane Brethren Church in Mulvane Kansas. Jack is also the Senior Writer at What Christians Want To Know whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer’s daily walk with God and the Bible. You can follow Jack on Google Plus or check out his book Teaching Children the Gospel available on Amazon.

Previous Post

January 20, 2016

A Sunday School Lesson On God’s Love

Next Post

January 21, 2016 A Sunday School Lesson On Heaven

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Bible Answers Bible Definitions Bible Story Bible Study Bible Verses Christian Books Christian Entertainment Christian Fathers Christian Mothers Christian Quotes Devotional Famous Christians Music News Parables Prayers Quotes Sunday School Lesson Uncategorized Youth Sermons

Select a Month October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who was the Roman governor who sentenced Jesus to be crucified?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Agrippa Herod Felix Pontius Pilate