Subject: Character Development / Life Skills
Topic: Honesty and Integrity
Grade : All levels
Duration: 15 minutes
Objectives:
By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:
1. Define honesty and integrity based on biblical principles.
2. Identify examples of honest and dishonest behaviors.
3. Understand why honesty and integrity are important in building trust,
relationships, and living according to God’s will.
Content:
Definition of Honesty:
● Honesty means telling the truth and being straightforward in what you say and do. This
includes not lying, cheating, or deceiving others.
Biblical Reference:
Proverbs 12:22: “The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.”
Definition of Integrity:
•Integrity means doing the right thing, even when no one is watching. It involves being
consistent in your moral and ethical behavior, making sure that your actions match your words.
Biblical Reference:
• Proverbs 10:9: “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes
crooked paths will be found out.”
• Psalm 25:21: “May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, Lord,
is in you.”
Importance of Honesty and Integrity:
• Builds trust: When people are honest, others trust them more.
Biblical Reference: Proverbs 11:3: “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful
are destroyed by their duplicity.”
• Strengthens relationships: Friends, family, and classmates feel comfortable when
they know you are truthful.
Biblical Reference: Colossians 3:9: “Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old
self with its practices.”
• Helps you feel good about yourself: Living with integrity means being true to your
values, which helps you maintain self-respect.
Biblical Reference: 2 Corinthians 8:21: “For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in
the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man.”
Examples:
• Honesty:
• Admitting when you made a mistake, even if it means facing consequences.
• Returning something that doesn’t belong to you, such as a lost item you found.
Biblical Reference: Exodus 20:16: “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.”
• Dishonesty:
• Lying to a teacher about finishing your homework when you didn’t.
• Copying someone else’s answers during a test.
Biblical Reference: Leviticus 19:11: “Do not steal. Do not lie. Do not deceive one another.”
• Integrity:
• Telling the truth even if no one will find out if you lie.
• Adhering to rules, even when no one is around to enforce them.
Biblical Reference: Job 27:5: “I will maintain my innocence and never let go of it; my conscience
will not reproach me as long as I live.”
Teaching and Learning Activities:
Introduction (5 minutes):
1. Begin with a brief question: “What does it mean to be honest?”
2. Explain that honesty and integrity are about telling the truth and doing the right
thing even when no one is watching. Relate this to Proverbs 12:22 and explain that God delights
in truthfulness.
1. Discussion ):
• Talk about why it’s important to be honest and have integrity, referencing
scriptures such as Proverbs 10:9 and Proverbs 11:3.
• Discuss real-life situations where honesty and integrity are important, and
connect them to biblical principles.
• Ask students how they feel when someone lies to them versus when someone
tells the truth, referring to the command in Exodus 20:16 to avoid false testimony.
2. Interactive Activity):
• Present simple scenarios (either verbally or with flashcards) and ask students
whether the person in the scenario is being honest or dishonest, and why.
• Example: “Tom broke a vase but told his mother that his little sister did it. Is this
an example of honesty? What would God want Tom to do according to Colossians 3:9?”
3. Role-Play
• Allow students to role-play situations that require honesty and integrity, such as:
• A friend asking to copy homework.
• Finding a lost wallet.
• After each role-play, ask the class to reflect on how they felt about their
decisions, referencing how integrity is rewarded as stated in Psalm 25:21.
Conclusion (5 minutes):
• Summarize the importance of telling the truth and doing the right thing according
to God’s Word.
• Encourage students to practice honesty and integrity at home and school as a
way of living out their faith.
• End with a question: “What will you do the next time you have to choose between
being honest or dishonest, knowing God delights in truth?”
Assessment:
• Observation during the role-play and interactive activity to see how students
respond to scenarios involving honesty and integrity.
• Short reflective activity: Students write about a time they were honest or showed
integrity in their daily lives and how it aligns with biblical teachings.
