Free Sunday School lesson for teens to Have Integrity and Stand Strong in the Faith as they return to school.
As a high school teacher, I hear it all the time: “When am I ever going to use this?” or “Why do I have to learn this?”
Begin your lesson by asking students if they have ever had these questions regarding certain classes.
While it’s true that most teens will never grow up to need trigonometry or calculus, school is still important because it teaches us to do things we don’t want to do. It prepares young men and women for life.
However, school does more than prepare us to do things we don’t want to do. It challenges young adults in regards to their morals, testimony, and faith. It is important that they be prepared.
The Mindset of Modern-Day Teens
Something I’ve observed in high school is how teens want to fit in. Many would rather be bystanders than stand up for what they know is right.
People will say things in front of others and expect them not to take a stand. In most cases, this is exactly what happens.
It is important that young Christians know that they don’t necessarily have to openly discuss their faith in order to be a witness. They can have the testimony of being different.
Ask the following questions (however, don’t have students respond):
- Do you laugh at dirty jokes?
- Do you say bad words when upset?
- Including teachers and parents, do you talk bad about others?
People will take note of your different behavior. While this may lead to criticism, remember what Jesus said in John 15:18-20 KJV: If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
Social Media
While social media has a lot of shortcomings, most young adults will have it anyway, and it’s true that there is also an opportunity to be a witness with an online presence. Something that teens need to keep in mind is how they present themselves online.
- People can see who and what they are following. Does who they follow reflect a Christ-centered life?
- People pay attention to what they post and what they don’t post. Are they exposing themselves in foolish or indecent ways? What do they glorify with their posts (greed, pride, etc.)? Do they ever publicly thank God or give him glory?
- People will pay attention to the music found in the background of videos and posts. Again, does this music reflect a Christ-centered life?
While parents should be conscious of what can be exposed to their teens with an online presence, and teens should also be careful, the purpose of this lesson is to teach teens to have integrity and stand strong in the faith.
Hypocrisy
Something teens should be aware of is not being hypocritical. Individuals who do not know the Lord will use hypocrisy as an excuse to never even consider salvation because “they’re just as good as Christians.” While this may be true, salvation isn’t determined by works. However, this does not excuse bad behavior from saved people.
Remember the story of David, Bathsheba, and Uriah – David was a man after God’s own heart, but his ungodly actions gave “great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme,” (2 Samuel 12:14 KJV).
Something I’ve noticed in my time as a high school teacher is that teens will go along with whatever is popular at the moment so as to fit in. One minute they are laughing at a dirty joke, the next they are talking about what they are studying at church. They may be posting ungodly or revealing pictures while putting a Bible verse in their social media profiles.
Integrity
It is important for Christian young adults to have integrity – when their circumstances change, but their commitments do not.
I had a fantastic Wednesday night teacher as a teen who really harped on this to us. He wanted us to understand that how we behave in private is just as important as how we behave in public. His lessons on integrity and discernment really impacted me.
For example, there are influencers who ask young men and women if they would be willing to cheat on their spouse or significant other for a certain amount of money. In most cases, the answer is no. However, as the influencer continues upping the cash “prize” to kiss or be willing to sleep with someone else, more eventually give in to accepting the money because, after all, this is a hypothetical situation. It isn’t actually “cheating” if there is money involved. Right?
This is the opposite of integrity. The circumstance of “money” has changed, but the outcome should not because our morals should be strong.
It is important that parents and Sunday school teachers not only instill this in our young people, but that we model it ourselves.
I will share a couple of personal testimonies from when I was a teenager and one from the teacher I had at the time. Please incorporate your own story because that will leave an impact on your students.
Testimony of my Teacher
My Wednesday night teacher told a story of when he began working as a teacher at a high school, and some of the other male teachers would make secret comments to him and other male teachers about the way some of their female teen students would dress.
This disgusted my teacher, as it would many Christian men, but he did not say anything as to keep the peace and because he knew those teachers would never act on their words. He eventually confronted those other teachers about their disgusting comments but told us that he regretted not taking a stand sooner.
It also surprised him when other Christian men teachers thanked him for being the one to finally take a stand regarding those gross comments. These other teachers had been enduring that behavior for years because they wanted to fit in.
My Testimony
Growing up, people knew I was a Christian because I would ask them not to say curse words around me. When asked why, I would say that God doesn’t want us to talk like that. Moreover, I would bring God into conversations. For example, if asked what I intended to do when I grew up, I would respond with, “I’m praying about God’s plan for my life.”
Admittedly, I grew up in the Bible belt where being a Christian was not only accepted, it was the norm. Even individuals who had no idea what salvation by grace through faith meant were “Christians.”
Due to my outspokenness, I was protected from a lot that went on – which is another reason to really instill strong morals and integrity in young adults. I had no idea that there were parties at my high school where drinking was going on – I was never invited. Moreover, people kept their scandalous lifestyle secret because they knew I would reprove them. If peers brought up drinking or sleeping around before marriage to me, I wasn’t afraid to tell them this was wrong.
I wasn’t the only one to have a reputation like this. There were several teen girls from my church growing up who had this mindset and take on life. I believe that making an effort to do right while young prepared me for trials I would face in later years.
Do what’s right even when you don’t have all the answers.
My senior year, I was fortunate enough to go on a trip to Louisiana and Texas through a program for students with good grades at poor, rural schools to see universities and college campuses they might never otherwise encounter. There was an outspoken boy on this trip who was handsome and knew it. He was in our group at a baseball game, and when he said some curse words, I asked him not to. This young man demanded to know where in the Bible it said that curse words were wrong. I had never been confronted or challenged this way before (and I’m thankful for it now), but in the moment, I was panicking. Though I didn’t have an answer then, I do now: Ephesians 4:29 KJV, James 3:10 KJV, Luke 6:45 KJV, etc.)
Although I quoted some verses, he demanded to know why certain words should be forbidden or were considered “bad.”
It is all based on society, and a Christian should do his or her best to maintain a good testimony in the society they are living in for the sake of lost people and “weaker brethren.” Paul gives an example regarding eating food sacrificed to idols, but it could be applied to a variety of social practices (1 Corinthians 8:9-13 KJV).
Back at my hotel room, I was messaging my Wednesday church teacher as well as older girls who were in that class for answers. I got my answer, but it was too late. Looking back, I am thankful for the experience and what it taught me about not having an answer in that moment. Moreover, it was a learning point for me as to why I took the stand that I did. My morals should be grounded in Biblical truth and not in what I have simply been taught for years and years.
Do right even in the face of authority.
My freshman year of college, I worked as a secretary in the front office to pay for my books. I would answer phones and make copies for the professors. One professor would jokingly challenge my faith by asking silly questions like where Cain’s wife came from, why do good people suffer, etc. He was shocked that I had answers to these questions and
However, there was another professor who was an adamant atheist who had taken a liking to me then seemed to take it personally when he found out I was a Christian.
It should be noted that I was not a student of this professor because I had been warned that he routinely attacked Christians in his classes. However, I had often made copies for him in the office. We made small talk, and he would sometimes bring me books to read. However, on this day, he caused a scene. This man was practically yelling when he told me how “disappointed” he was that someone as smart as me would believe in the fairytale of God. Students and professors alike had stopped and were staring as I was understandably mortified and tried to deescalate the situation.
Thankfully, I had been studying in our church’s Bible institute and had some answers when he began attacking the validity of the Bible, and my calm responses managed to calm him. He did eventually apologize – after being confronted by other professors – but I believe being taught as a young person to have integrity and stand strong in the faith prepared me for that moment.
The Conclusion of the Matter
Teens need to make the decision now to do right and have a Christian testimony (James 4:17 KJV). They do not need to wait until they are grown or older. The Bible tells us at the conclusion of one of its most depressing books Ecclesiastes that we should remember our creator in the days of our youth (Ecclesiastes 12 KJV), and that is wisdom.
Make up your mind now to do right, no matter the circumstance. That is the definition of integrity.
It is important that they know that they will not be able to do right unless growing their relationship with God (reading the Bible, praying, learning at church) because when faced with temptation, the New Man (Holy Spirit) will only beat the Old Man (flesh and sin nature) if it is stronger. Your actions and habits feed one to win. Unfortunately, many Christians fail when put to the test due to their lack of relationship with God. (For more information on growing your relationship with God, check out this free Sunday School lesson.)
For this reason, encourage your teen students to read the Bible and pray daily while making the decision to not only refuse temptation, but also to take a stand for what’s right, whether they do so alone or not.
If you enjoyed this free Sunday School lesson for teens to Have Integrity and Stand Strong in the Faith as they return to school, then check out other free Sunday School lessons here.
Leave a Reply