Lying brings consequences
key words
biblical reference
Exodus 20:16; Proverbs 12:22; Acts 5:1-10; Ephesians 4:25
lesson objective
To help students understand that lying has many consequences.
memory verse
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’” (Mark 12:30-31a, NIV*).
prepare yourself to teach
Have you noticed that some people put a huge emphasis on honesty and the truth, but it only applies to others and not themselves? This attitude is also common among young people. Even though they affirm that lying is wrong, they do not have a problem exaggerating a story or lying to please their friends. The hope of being accepted makes them distort the truth in order to fit in.
Our students need to learn to live a life of integrity because if they do not, they will grow up without portraying honesty. In a declining society, our churches should enforce the teaching of biblical principles that help us become honest and holy.
biblical commentary
Read Exodus 20:16. When God gave this commandment to the Israelites, he knew the impact that it would have on the people. In a society that lived wandering through the desert, many of the crimes were punishable by death. Lying could bring someone to this end as well. The Hebrew justice was very strict when it came to moral issues and things relating to the integrity of a person.
Read Acts 5:1-10. The story about Ananias and Sapphira teaches us two very important things. When a person lies, it affects the relationship between the victim and the liar; it also affects one’s relationship with God.
Ananias and Sapphira tried to lie to the apostles, saying they received less money than they had received for the land they had just sold. They were not just lying to God’s servants, but also to the Holy Spirit. Their lie brought them the consequence of death, but above all, eternal separation from God.
introduce the lesson
Unbelievable but real
We suggest that you tell the students about this activity as soon as they get to class so they have some time to think about it. Pass out note cards or small pieces of paper to all your students and have them write down two acts that seem unbelievable but are real (they can be their own or someone in their family’s). For example, “my uncle Frank has a collection of 150 mechanical pencils” or “my little brother can move his eyes and his ears at the same time,” etc.
Pick up the cards and read the contents aloud so they can try to figure out who wrote which one.
Ask them, “Why is it so hard to discern truth from lie?”
After listening to some answers, tell them that today they will be studying what the Bible says about lying.
teach the lesson
Before the session read Exodus 20:16; Proverbs 12:22, Acts 5:1-10 and Ephesians 4:25. Be prepared to discuss today’s story.
Have your students sit in a circle. Tell them “Today’s Bible story shows us how lying enters the heart of a person and hurts their relationship with God.”
Read Acts 5:1-10. If possible assign verses for different students to read. If you have a small group, one person can read a complete paragraph or the entire passage.
It is important that you clearly explain how Ananias and Sapphira’s sin condemned them to death. Make a list of questions to start a conversation about the theme of lying and its consequences in the lives of preadolescents.
connect the lesson
Would you believe these lies?
Divide the class into small groups and have them use Student Activity Sheet #321-A.
The first thing that they should do is write some situations that are examples of each kind of lie. Then have them use Student Activity Sheet #321-B and write one or two consequences of what can happen in each scenario.
When all the groups are finished, have them talk about what they wrote. Then explain to them that lying always brings negative consequences that affect our relationship with people, and above all, our relationship with God.
Remember that it is always important to verify information that your students have written on their worksheets and spend more time on the concepts that they have doubts on.
The test of truth
Look at next Student Activity Sheet #321-C. Tell the students, “Read each of the sentences and decide if they are true or false. Write the number 1 by the sentence if it is true and a number 2 if it is false.”
Then, have them read the sentences again, but this time replace “many teens” with “me/I”. Remind them that they should be honest in answering the questions. If they realize that they are more inclined to lie, tell them that God wants to help them be honest and always tell the truth.
practice the memory verse
Remind the children to memorize the Bible verse. If they can say it during the next session, plan to give them a prize. (Prepare a small gift for the children who know the memory verse.)
wrap-up
Pray
Take some time to listen to all of the prayer requests, and do not forget to pray for all the students who missed class or are sick. Also, ask that the Lord help them (and yourself) to always speak the truth and avoid lying and deceit.
Encourage
Encourage your group to always speak the truth in order to keep God’s commands. Remind them again that lying has consequences; and worse than everything, it deteriorates our relationship with God.
Invite
Invite the students to the next session to study the last lesson of the unit. Remind them that visitors are welcome.
* Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™