Wk 6 // September 3 & 4
Wk 6 // Top Ten
September 3 & 4, 2022
Small Group Study
SERMON RECAP
Spend a few minutes recapping this week's sermon together.
Tap here to view the sermon notes.
INTRODUCTION
Our society is built on deceit and manipulation. If you don’t believe me, try say the phrase “truth in advertising” with a straight face. From a young age, we gravitate toward saying what we need to say in order to get what we want to get… regardless of truth. God has better plans for each of us. Plans for healthy relationships and a strong future built on trust and integrity.
STUDY [tap on scripture to read]
HAVE A VOLUNTEER READ EXODUS 20:16 & PROVERBS 12:22
There is no way around it. We hurt people and people hurt us. God knows this and His father’s heart breaks with us and for us. This is why He is so blunt when it comes to the importance of honesty and integrity. There are few ways that we can more quickly and thoroughly damage others and be damaged by others.
HAVE A VOLUNTEER READ 1 PETER 3:8-16
The simplest definition of the word integrity that I have ever heard is when a person’s thoughts, words and actions are in harmony with one another. If you have put your faith and trust in Jesus, you are called a Christian. Saying “I am a Christian” makes integrity an incredibly lofty goal. God establishes this goal for us because He loves us more than we will ever grasp and He hates to see us hurt and hurting others. Deception will always result in damage when carried to its ultimate conclusion. God loves you enough to demand that you are honest with Him, with yourself, and with those around you.
APPLICATION
PRAYER
Pray that God would give you the strength and love to forgive those who have and who seek to deceive you. Pray that He would reveal any deceitful and dishonest thoughts and practices you have.
September 3 & 4, 2022
Small Group Study
SERMON RECAP
Spend a few minutes recapping this week's sermon together.
Tap here to view the sermon notes.
- What was one takeaway from this week's sermon for you?
- Were there any stories, ideas, or points that stuck out?
- Was there anything that challenged you?
INTRODUCTION
- OPENING ACTIVITY: In light of this week’s topic/commandment (don’t lie), let’s play a round of “two truths and a lie”. Each person in the group is to tell the whole group two things about them that are true and one thing that is a lie (not necessarily in that order). The group will try to guess which is the lie. Spouses are not allowed to give it away.
Our society is built on deceit and manipulation. If you don’t believe me, try say the phrase “truth in advertising” with a straight face. From a young age, we gravitate toward saying what we need to say in order to get what we want to get… regardless of truth. God has better plans for each of us. Plans for healthy relationships and a strong future built on trust and integrity.
STUDY [tap on scripture to read]
HAVE A VOLUNTEER READ EXODUS 20:16 & PROVERBS 12:22
- What is the something you lied to your parents about growing up and got away with? Did you ever tell them?
- As a child or adult, what is a time that you got caught either straight up lying or trying to conceal the truth in deception?
- DO NOT USE SPECIFIC NAMES AND DO NOT DISCUSS ANOTHER PERSON IN THE ROOM… What is a time that someone’s dishonesty or lack of integrity hurt or impacted you significantly?
There is no way around it. We hurt people and people hurt us. God knows this and His father’s heart breaks with us and for us. This is why He is so blunt when it comes to the importance of honesty and integrity. There are few ways that we can more quickly and thoroughly damage others and be damaged by others.
HAVE A VOLUNTEER READ 1 PETER 3:8-16
- Why is peace contrasted with deception? In other words, why are we warned away from lying as a way of creating peace?
- What is the most well-intentioned lie you’ve ever told?
- What does it take for someone to have the kind of integrity that would make another person ashamed to slander them?
The simplest definition of the word integrity that I have ever heard is when a person’s thoughts, words and actions are in harmony with one another. If you have put your faith and trust in Jesus, you are called a Christian. Saying “I am a Christian” makes integrity an incredibly lofty goal. God establishes this goal for us because He loves us more than we will ever grasp and He hates to see us hurt and hurting others. Deception will always result in damage when carried to its ultimate conclusion. God loves you enough to demand that you are honest with Him, with yourself, and with those around you.
APPLICATION
- Where can you increase your own personal integrity?
- Where has someone harmed you with their lack of integrity that you can begin working with God to forgive them?
PRAYER
Pray that God would give you the strength and love to forgive those who have and who seek to deceive you. Pray that He would reveal any deceitful and dishonest thoughts and practices you have.
