Integrity
Matthew 22:16
"Teacher," they said, "we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in
accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are.
Lesson Focus:
● Integrity is key to being an effective leader.
● Learn the ingredients needed to be a person of integrity
● People will never follow someone they cannot trust or depend on
● Integrity requires devotion to a task and dealing with difficulties (fear, frustration, anger) and honesty
What is it?
● Integrity in all areas is the key to God’s blessing
 Integrity is when your beliefs, words and actions are complete and whole, when they match up
 Absence of falsehood
 It allows us to predetermine what we will be regardless of circumstances, persons involved, or the
places of our testing
- Integrity build trust
- Integrity has high influence value
- Integrity facilitates high standards
- Integrity results in a solid reputation, not just image
- Integrity means living it myself before leading others
- Integrity helps a leader be credible, not just clever
- Integrity is a hard-won achievement
 How a person deals with the circumstances of life tells you many things about their character
 Crisis doesn’t make character, but it always reveals it
 Your character shows your personal integrity
 The measure is of your real character is what would you do if you were never found out doing it
1. Character is more than talk
 Anyone can say he has integrity, but action is the real indicator of character
2. Talent is a gift, but character is a choice
 We have no control over many things in life: Parents, homeland, upbringing, talents, IQ
 We do have control over our character
 We create it every time we make a choice
3. Character brings lasting success with people
 People will respect and follow a person with character
4. People cannot rise above the limitations of their character
 People who succeed without character are brought down by problems and stresses of life
 Arrogance, aloneness, adventure-seeking, adultery
Reflect on it
 People with integrity don’t have divided loyalties, they don’t pretend
 They have single-mindedness, not to fear nothing to hide
 Unaddressed cracks in character only get deeper and more destructive with time
 If there is a weakness of character in your life you need to work on it
Q: Does your words and actions match – all the time?
Matthew 22:16
They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. "Teacher," they said, "we know you are a man
of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by men,
because you pay no attention to who they are.
 A person of integrity has words and deeds that match all the time
Q: Do you always follow thru on what you say you will do?
Q: Can people trust you on your word alone?
Q: What area do you need the most help to grow in?
Integrity in the Ministry
1) Be honest when reporting about your ministry
Proverbs 11:1 The LORD abhors dishonest scales, but accurate weights are his delight.
 We need to be honest in measuring our ministries performance (Strengths & weaknesses)
Romans 15:1 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
1 Thess 5:14 And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak,
be patient with everyone.
 We who are strong must bear with the weak. This may be the reason why we are strong
● Be patient as you deal specifically with each individual
2) Baptize true disciples only
Matthew 3:5-8
People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing
their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and
Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to
flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.
 John the Baptist had no problem delaying people who had not yet fully repented
3) Remove the Uncommitted
1 Corinthians 5:11-13
But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is
sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not
even eat. What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those
inside? God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you."
 Never feel guilty about removing the uncommitted from God’s family tree
 It is important to do this to protect the integrity of the ministry
 You must do this even if this brings negative growth
Discussion Questions:
What has made you quit a task in the past?
When have you been most tempted to be dishonest?
HW: Write out how these areas have been strengths or weaknesses of your is the past. Talk to someone
who knows you well and ask them how you have done with areas of integrity in the past. How might you
improve in the future.