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» Ideal Love
1
What Is Integrity?
Note to parents: The word integrity stems from the Latin adjective integer (whole, complete). Integrity is a concept of consistency of actions and values. A good working definition is "doing the right thing when nobody's looking" (J.C. Watts).
Write each of the following situations on a slip of paper and put them in a bag or hat.
- You break a lamp throwing a football in the house while your mom is at the store
- Others are cheating on a test
- You sneak a cookie before dinner and your mom asks, "Did you eat those cookies?"
- Your friend steals a candy bar at the store when no one is looking
- You forgot to do your homework and your teacher asks, "Where is it?"
- Your friend loans you his new crayons and you accidentally break two of them
- Your dad asks if you cleaned your room and you really just shoved it under the bed
Take turns choosing a slip of paper and saying what would be the right thing to do in each situation. Having integrity means that you do right whether it is easy or hard.
Read Proverbs 10:9: “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,
but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.”
but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.”
When we do the right thing, we can live in confidence and peace because we do not fear anyone finding out what we did.
2
Honest Abe
Tell the story of Abe Lincoln (Honest Abe).
Abraham Lincoln was one of America's most beloved presidents. Before he became president, he worked as a store clerk. One day, a woman came into the store and purchased several items, which added up to two dollars and six and a quarter cents, or so the clerk thought they did. (We don't hear nowadays about six and a quarter cents, but this was a coin borrowed from the Spanish currency and was well known earlier in our history.)
The woman paid her bill and left satisfied, but the young storekeeper was not completely sure about the accuracy of the bill, and added up the items once more. To his dismay, he found that the sum total should have been only two dollars.
"I've made her pay six and a quarter cents too much," said Abe disturbed.
It was only a small amount and many clerks would have dismissed it as such, but not Abe Lincoln. "The money must be paid back," he decided.
This would have been easy enough if the woman had lived just around the corner, but she lived between two and three miles from the store. This, however, did not change anything. That night, Abe closed the store and walked to the home of the customer. When he arrived there, he explained the matter and gave the six and a quarter cents to the woman. He felt satisfied as he left.
Abe Lincoln said, I have tried to do my best each and every single day" (The Book of Virtues, edited by William J. Bennett; page 620).
Ask:
How did Mr. Lincoln show integrity? (He returned the money)
Why do you think Mr. Lincoln wanted to return the money? (Because it was the right thing to do)
What are some excuses he could have made? (It’s just a small amount of money; no one will ever know; it's too much trouble, etc.)
Why is it important for us to have integrity? (We will please God; we will be happy with ourselves, and others will trust us.)
3
God's Truth Destroys Satan's Lie
Items needed: scrap paper (to make into paper wads)
Choose one kid to be the target. Set the timer and bombard him with paper wads (he must stay in the outlined area) for one minute.
Ask:
How did it feel getting bombarded with the paper wads?
How did it feel getting bombarded with the paper wads?
How do you think Job felt when lots of bad things happened to him, one right after the other? (Attacked, not good, weak, angry)
Students using the D6 curriculum began the study of Job. The Bible says that Job was a man who was blameless, upright, feared God and turned away from evil (Job 1:1). Even when trouble came, he didn't sin or turn away from God or stop doing right.
It almost seemed as if Job had a target pinned to his back and Satan was shooting arrows at him. Satan wants us to doubt God's love and turn away from following God. We are the devil’s targets and he tempts us to do wrong. For the next twelve weeks, students will discuss the arrows (ways) that Satan uses to hurt us. The first arrow is "trouble." Satan attacked Job with all kinds of trouble, just as he attacks us with trouble.
How are we tempted to do wrong when trouble comes? (We will do whatever feels best, not caring if it is right or wrong; we will doubt that God loves us; we will feel like quitting.)
What is the best way to fight against Satan? (We must know the truth. We must learn the truth from the Bible and say it when we feel sad or doubtful or angry.)
We will learn five truths that destroy Satan's lies.
God can be trusted
God is powerful
God will always love me
God is all I need
God has a plan for me
After saying all five truths, make a fist, pound the palm and say, “These truths destroy Satan’s lies.”
