Christian Life Table Discussions
Honesty

Select today’s Leader who will decide when to move from section to section. Select the person whose birthday is closest to the fourth of July (before or after).

Introduce one another and then talk about one of your experiences of July fourth as a small child. (up to five minutes)

Bible Basis. What do the following two verses show about the nature of Satan and of God, and how then does our behavior show whom we are following?

1. John 8:44 (New International Version). Jesus said:

⁴⁴You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

2. Titus 1:2 (New International Version). Paul writes here that godliness consists of:

²a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time,

Personalize. To help one another see the relevance of the topic for life today, please read over the following questions, and then talk about any of them (it is not necessary to take them in order or to talk about all of them).

The Questions: How do you feel about “white lies?” Do you feel differently when you are the one telling them compared to when you are the being misled by them? What’s the difference between “not telling everything” and lying? What’s the difference between “exaggerating” and lying? What seemingly good motivations might prompt you to be less than honest in certain situations?

God’s Word. Discuss how the teaching that comes after the comma in the verses below can help you to obey the command that comes before the comma.(over):

1. Colossians 3:9-10 (New International Version)

⁹Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices ¹⁰and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

2. Ephesians 4:25 (New International Version)

 ²⁵Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.

Application. Based on the verses above, I think God today is telling me … (this may be different for each person)

Insight. What is there about me that keeps me from doing God’s will in this matter? (This will provide insight into your sin nature, whether areas of deliberate disobedience or weakness. Seeing our sin afresh leads to seeing our savior afresh).

Christ. How is he the answer to the particular areas surfaced above (these will always include forgiveness for what is past, and strengthening your new life for the next time to temptation comes up).

Future. A verse to rely on next time the temptation to lie arises:

Ephesians 4:14-15 (New International Version)

 ¹⁴Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. ¹⁵Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.