DEFINTION: choosing to tell the truth in words & actions
MEMORY VERSE: "The Lord detests (hates) lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful." Proverbs 12:22 (NIV)
CONNECTION: wear a belt (regular belt buckle or seat belt) to remind us to "put on" & use God's truth
(a connection is a visual reminder of the virtue)
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SYNONYMS: sincere, truthful, open, direct, straightforward, genuine
God will judge according to His Truth: “they will sing before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his truth.” Psalms 96:13 (NIV)
“But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.” Romans 2:2 (KJV)
God’s Word is Truth:
“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” John 17:17 (NIV)
God wants us to speak truth:
“These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts” Zechariah 8:16 (NIV)
“Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.” Ephesians 4:15 (NLT)
“Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.” Ephesians 4:25 (ESV)
“He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart” Psalms 15:2 (NIV)
“But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment.” James 5:12 (NKJV)
God wants us to think truthful thoughts:
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” Philippians 4:8 (NKJV)
Telling the truth shows love:
“Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” I John 3:18 (NIV)
The Holy Spirit is Truth:
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” John 16:13 (ESV)
“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.” John 14:16, 17 (NASB)
Jesus is truth:
“Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 (NIV)
Jesus came to speak truth:
“Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." John 18:37b (NIV)
The Church is the guardian of truth:
“so that if I am delayed, you will know how people must conduct themselves in the household of God. This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth.” I Timothy 3:15 (NLT)
God expects us to be rooted in truth:
“Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.” Psalms 51:6 (NIV)
Leaders should be honest:
“For kings, and all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” I Timothy 2:2 (KJV)
ANTONYMS: untruthful, dishonest, lies, fabrication, deception
Changing the story of how something happened is a lie:
“A truthful witness gives honest testimony, but a false witness tells lies.” Proverbs 12:17 (NIV)
“A truthful witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies.” Proverbs 14:5 (NIV)
God hates Lying:
“The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful.” Proverbs 12:22 (NIV)
“Do not steal. Do not lie. Do not deceive one another. Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.” Leviticus 19:11-12 (NIV)
God can not lie:
“in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago,” Titus 1:2 (NASB)
Lying makes company with other sins:
“Friend deceives friend, and no one speaks the truth. They have taught their tongues to lie; they weary themselves with sinning.” Jeremiah 9:5 (NIV)
"They make ready their tongue like a bow, to shoot lies; it is not by truth that they triumph in the land. They go from one sin to another; they do not acknowledge me," declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 9:3 (NIV)
“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8 (NKJV)
The Devil is a liar:
“You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44 (NASB)
BIBLE STORIES/LESSONS
+ Adam & Eve (Genesis 3:1-19)—the serpent lied to Eve & led her to sin; this caused the fall of all mankind; this necessitated redemption by Christ; honesty is the only policy
+ Abram lies about Sarai (Genesis 12:11-19; 20:2-18)—lying diminishes the character of a great man
+ Joseph’s brother’s lie to Jacob (Genesis 37; 45)—When you’re not truthful, you hurt the people you should care about the most
+ Haman’s plot (Esther 3; 4:8; 5:6-10; 7:1-6,9-10)—Lying to hurt someone else really hurts YOU
+ David lies about Bathsheba (II Samuel 11-12)—lying led to murder; he was punished with the death of his son
+ Judas’ dishonesty (Matthew 26; 27:1-5 & John 12:3-6)—You can lie so much you forget what really matters
+ Jesus & Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10)—truthfulness builds friendships; dishonesty tears them down
+ The Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18)—belt of truth
Optional definitions for Honesty
-telling the WHOLE truth
-being straightforward with your words
-telling the truth in LOVE
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