4. Integrity - Study Questions
This Study Guide is for the Integrity article by Ken Boa. Read it first.
Appendix: Study Guide for
MEN7/52 Leadership Series
MEN 7/52 is a men's ministry of bible.org. Our desire is to see all men become true followers of Jesus Christ 7 days a week/52 weeks a year.
The Men’s Bible Study Leadership Series is presented by bible.org to help you build and fortify men in preparation for their roles as leaders in their families, churches, communities, and workplaces.
It is a leadership series because no matter what age or station in life a man finds himself, he is called to lead. Leadership hates a vacuum. If a man of God doesn’t stand up and lead, then someone else will and the consequences can be drastic for generations.
It is also a discipleship series because building men’s leadership requires ongoing personal relationships with someone who will shepherd and mentor them over the long term. Just as Christ lived in a community of relationship with His disciples, preparing them to lead, so too must we if we are to grow and be effective.
There are sixteen lessons that are designed to be conducted over a thirty-two week period. Your group should meet weekly at a specific time and place. First, participants should be expected to read all of the Scripture verses thoroughly, on a daily basis, and be encouraged to meditate on them. Second, they should read the article carefully and look for aspects of it that impact them personally. Third, they should complete the discussion questions thoughtfully, completely, and honestly, and diligently address personal applications. Finally, they should be prepared to share their answers during your group sessions.
The articles used in this series are written by Dr. Kenneth Boa. Dr. Boa is engaged in a ministry of relational evangelism and discipleship, teaching, writing, and speaking. He holds a B.S. from Case Institute of Technology, a Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary, a Ph.D. from New York University, and a D.Phil. from the University of Oxford in England.
By the time your group has finished this series, relationships and spiritual bonds should have formed. Authentic spiritual interdependence will be experienced, and men will know they are not alone in being who and what God wants them to be. It will be critical for the group to either stay together for the next series, or to stay in close touch weekly to continue the shepherding experience and forming true Christian brotherhood.
Lesson 5
Leadership Qualities: Integrity (Part 1)
Before God uses a man, He first breaks him.
Read “Leadership Qualities: Integrity” by Ken Boa and listen to his audio message online.
1.After reading Dr. Boa’s description of integrity, please define it in your own words.
2.What does it mean to be “consumed” by God’s holiness and “disintegrated” in His presence?
3.In Matthew 23, Jesus calls the religious leaders “hypocrites” in His most condemning language. Why was this sin so despicable in His eyes?
Read Genesis 28:10-17, Exodus 3:1-6, Joshua 5:13-15, Isaiah 6:6-8
God’s holy presence strikes fear, confession, repentance, and humility in the hearts of Jacob, Moses, Joshua, and Isaiah, who are then called to be His leaders. If we are fearful and repentant before a holy God, then we can have true integrity and be useful as His leaders.
4.When do you really feel that you are in the presence of God?
5.Describe your feelings and attitude when you are in the presence of God.
- Toward God?
- Toward yourself?
6.How does it impact your fear of Him?
7.What specifically do you do when you are in His presence?
8.In what circumstances do you feel that you are not in God’s presence?
9.What is it about these circumstances that make you believe that He is not present?
10. What is it about you that causes you to believe that He is not present?
11. Moses hid his face in the presence of God. Describe a time when you hid your face in His presence.
12. Have there been times when God has seared you in order to make you clean, just as he burned Isaiah’s unclean lips?
13. Are you ready to say to God, “send me”? If yes, what makes you prepared? If no, what part of your integrity needs to be transformed?
Read Luke 5:1-11, Mark 9:2-6
Christ, in revealing His deity and glory, strikes fear, confession, and an understanding of his unworthiness in Peter, who he calls to lead His church. He first requires Peter to be obedient in something small before He trusts Him with something big. Christ only wants teachable men of true integrity and humility to lead His church.
14. What are the big tasks that you want God to entrust you with as a follower of Christ?
15. What are the small tasks in which He is calling you to be obedient on a daily basis?
16. Do you believe that these small tasks are critical to your integrity? Why?
17. Are there some areas of your life that are inconsistent with God’s requirement for integrity? What are they?
18. Do you regard these areas as unimportant or inconsequential in your qualification as a man of integrity?
19. Are you ready to be a man who fishes for men for Christ? How do you know?
20. Is there something in your life that keeps you from being His messenger? If yes, what is it? Who will you allow to help you?
Read Acts 9:1-9
Saul is thrown to the ground and blinded in the presence of a glorified, risen Christ. The power of Christ’s holiness can transform a man into a leader with true integrity.
21. Do you have any unworthy thoughts or behavior that you believe are so ingrained that they cannot be changed? If so, what are they?
22. Saul was a vicious hater of Christ who became one of His greatest champions and leaders.
- What changed in him?
- Who change Him?
- How did the change take place?
23. Paul became a man of enormous integrity at a great price. What price must you pay?
24. What must you surrender?
25. What must be seared from your heart?
26. How will you do this?
27. Who will help you?
Memory verse: Isaiah 6:8
I heard the voice of the sovereign master say, “Whom will I send? Who will go on our behalf?”
I answered, “Here I am, send me!”
Lesson 6
Leadership Qualities: Integrity (Part 2)
God transforms broken men into leaders who reflect His integrity.
Read “Leadership Qualities: Integrity” by Ken Boa and listen to his audio message online.
1. How does a leader have his greatest impact on those he wishes to lead?
2. What kind of leader does the New Testament call for?
3. Where does God’s grace change and shape us into the image of His Son?
Read Ephesians 4:1-8, 2 Corinthians 12:9.
Paul teaches us that to be worthy of our calling, we must practice the attributes of integrity through the grace given to us by Christ, glorifying Him as we serve in our weakness. God grants everything we need to be men of integrity.
4. Describe in detail what God’s calling is for you? Please be specific.
5. How are you putting His calling into practice?
6. In Ephesians 4:1-5, to what standard does Paul calls us if we are to live a life worthy of our calling?
7. How would you evaluate your worthiness to obey your calling?
8. What are your areas of weakness?
Galatians 2:20-21, 2 Corinthians 5:20-21, Ephesians 1:22-23, Colossians 1:24-29.
Paul reminds the church that we are to be mature (made perfect) in Christ, who rules His church, through our crucifixion with Him, if we are to be reconciled to God and be His ambassadors.
9. In Galatians 2:20-21, Paul says he has been crucified with Christ and now Christ lives in him. What does it mean to be crucified with Christ?
10. If you are to be crucified with Christ, what in you would die? Please be specific.
11. If we are to be authentic and effective as Christ’s ambassadors, what does Paul instruct us to do in 2 Corinthians 5:20-21?
12. What do you personally need to do to be reconciled to God?
13. Through whom must you do this?
14. What will you become?
15. In Colossians 1:24-29, Paul asserts that we are to become mature (some texts say “made perfect”) in Christ. How do we become mature in Christ?
16. In what specific areas in your life do you need to become mature so that you can be a man of Christlike integrity?
Hebrews 13:5-6, 1 Timothy 4:15-16, Matthew 6:1-4.
As men of integrity, we are to be content, diligent, seek only to please God, and be holy in our secret places.
17. The writer of Hebrews calls us to be content and not worldly. Why?
18. Are there areas of your life in which you are not content? What are they?
19. What worldly solutions do you seek?
20. What Godly solutions do you seek?
21. Does your concern for adequate financial resources cause you worry or discontent?
22. If yes, what steps are you taking to enjoy Godly contentment?
23. In 1 Timothy 4:15-16, Paul instructs Timothy to be diligent and to persevere. To what matters is Paul referring? Why?
24. What areas of your integrity require diligence and perseverance? Why?
25. Jesus tells us not to do our acts of righteousness before men. Of what danger does He warns us if we show our righteousness to others?
26. Why does Jesus command us to be charitable in secret?
27. Does your secret behavior reflect Godly integrity? If not, what will you do to become a true ambassador of Jesus Christ? Who will you ask to help you?
Read Psalm 15: 1-5
28. Please share your personal understanding of this Psalm with someone in your group.
Memory Verse: 2 Corinthians 12:9
But he said to me, “My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me.