The Big Idea: The power of the truth.
- OPENING GAME – You Lie
- SUPPLIES
- Boxes with crazy and creative things to put in boxes for the game (see below)
- Room divider or sheet
- This game originated on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
- Click here to see a very funny example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8vNn0WFUnY
- HOW TO PLAY THE GAME
- Choose 2 contestants, one to be the guesser and the other to either tell them the truth or a lie. Set up a divider between 2 contestants facing one another. You could even have 2 other youth volunteers hold up a sheet leaving the top open for the 2 contestants to be able to see one another’s faces. Try to come up with the most random and strange items to put in shoeboxes. Have the first contestant choose a box. They will explain or lie and give a made up explanation to the other contestant of the contents of their box. Their opponent will guess whether they are telling the truth or lying. This game could go on as long as you wish and you could even show them the clip of Jimmy Fallon and Emma Stone at the end.
- SUPPLIES
- After the game, ask:
- How could you tell when the contestants were lying?
- Who surprised you the most with their ‘performance’ in this game?
- How is this game like real life?
- Why do you think that people lie?
- TEACH – Youth Group Lesson on Honesty
What is one of the best parts about living here in Arizona?
Is it the heat???I don’t think so
Possibly all of the great beaches we have??? Oh wait we don’t have any, so it can’t be that
Anyone?
In 2006 a Risk and Insurance ranking of this country’s 10 safest cities was done. Phoenix came in second.
Anyone want to make a guess as to why this is?
It is due to the fact that we are much less likely to be hit by a natural disaster. One of those natural disasters is called a hurricane.
A hurricane is primarily fueled by wind power. Did you know that there is a scale for measuring how bad a hurricane is.
The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is a 1 to 5 rating based on a hurricane’s sustained wind speed.
Category 1 and 2 storms are dangerous, and require preventative measures. However they are minor.
When the number changes to a three things change significantly.
Hurricanes reaching Category 3 and higher are considered major hurricanes because of their potential for significant loss of life and damage.
This scale estimates potential property damage.
| Category | Sustained Winds | Types of Damage Due to Hurricane Winds |
| 1 | 74-95 mph 64-82 kt 119-153 km/h |
Very dangerous winds will produce some damage: Well-constructed frame homes could have damage to roof, shingles, vinyl siding and gutters. Large branches of trees will snap and shallowly rooted trees may be toppled. Extensive damage to power lines and poles likely will result in power outages that could last a few to several days. |
| 2 | 96-110 mph 83-95 kt 154-177 km/h |
Extremely dangerous winds will cause extensive damage: Well-constructed frame homes could sustain major roof and siding damage. Many shallowly rooted trees will be snapped or uprooted and block numerous roads. Near-total power loss is expected with outages that could last from several days to weeks. |
| 3 (major) |
111-129 mph 96-112 kt 178-208 km/h |
Devastating damage will occur: Well-built framed homes may incur major damage or removal of roof decking and gable ends. Many trees will be snapped or uprooted, blocking numerous roads. Electricity and water will be unavailable for several days to weeks after the storm passes. |
| 4 (major) |
130-156 mph 113-136 kt 209-251 km/h |
Catastrophic damage will occur: Well-built framed homes can sustain severe damage with loss of most of the roof structure and/or some exterior walls. Most trees will be snapped or uprooted and power poles downed. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last weeks to possibly months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months. |
| 5 (major) |
157 mph or higher 137 kt or higher 252 km/h or higher |
Catastrophic damage will occur: A high percentage of framed homes will be destroyed, with total roof failure and wall collapse. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last for weeks to possibly months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months |
Sorce –http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutsshws.php
Who here remembers or has heard about Hurricane Catrina?
Hurricane Katrina made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Maximum sustained winds for Katrina reached 170 mph before making landfall, categorizing Katrina as a Category 5 hurricane. The final death toll was at 1,836.
Lies are a lot like hurricanes. In hurricanes the stronger the wind becomes, the worse things get. I believe the same thing happens with lies.
The more lies we tell The easier it becomes to lie.
The easier it becomes to lie, The more frequently we lie.
the more frequently we lie, The more it becomes normal,
The more normal it becomes, The harder it gets to stop
The harder it gets to stop The more people we hurt in the process
Do you see how this spirals us out of control.
What if lying was had a scale like hurricanes do? What level would you be on the scale?
A simple category 1, or are you a dangerous category 5, reeking havoc to all of those you surround yourself with.
Hpw about the lies you tell. Are they category 1 or 5. I know for me its both. Just depends on the time
1)-Call in the morning and I say “I’m awake” when I definitely wasn’t
5) Lie to my parents about where I am going and instead go out and make bad decisions
Think about a time recently that you have lied. That or a specific lie that you remember.
Don’t worry you won’t have to share it out loud.
Do you remember why you told that lie?
Was it out of fear?
Were you afraid something would happen if you didn’t lie?
Was it in order to protect someone else?
Let’s say that you got away with your lie.
Regardless of whether or not you got caught—you knew that you were lying right?
What do you think is the largest most damaging lie? The category 5 lie if you will?
It’s the lie that you tell yourself about lying:
Things like:
No one will ever know.
It’s not going to hurt anyone
But, that’s not true is it?
Because you know.
And it does hurt people
Lying is hurtful.
Let me ask you this, Is it ever ok to lie?
If the answer is yes, how do you know when it is ok and when it is not ok?
So why am I telling you this? I hope you understand it is not to make you feel bad for any lie you have told in the past, or guilt trip you in any way.
It is to hopefully prevent you from lying and going down a dangerous path.
The path that the world takes. The path of darkness and lies.
You see, honesty doesn’t make sense to the world.
The world deals in money and profit, getting ahead and protecting yourself. Covering your own back before anyone else’s.
And when we desire those things more than we desire for God to be first, we let those things master us.
We become a slave to the lies and the sin.
John 8:34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.
We begin to say, do, and think things are ok that we never would have before, and sometimes we even come up with rationalizations that sound good to us.
They probably sound good to the world and others might even tell you that what you are doing is just fine. As a matter of fact that is the most likely scenario.
Here is the problem. By the world’s standards it might be fine, but those aren’t the standards that matter to God.
Can you think of an example in our culture in which lying is actually ‘ok’?
Can you think of another example of how our culture seems to make it easy to tell lies?
Give the groups a few minutes to think of examples to share.
Luke 22:31-34 English Standard Version (ESV)
31“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
33But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”
34Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”
Luke 22:54-62English Standard Version (ESV)
Peter Denies Jesus
54 Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house, and Peter was following at a distance. 55 And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56 Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58 And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” 59 And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly.
And here is a really important question: if nobody knows, is it really lying?
Is it still ok if no one knows or no one else is hurt?
Because Jesus says that even the small things matter.
If you are not honest with a small thing like an answer on a test, can you be trusted to be honest when the stakes are much higher?
“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” (Luke 16:10)
Jesus says that as his children, we are to live differently. Separate from the world.
He even pointed to the Pharisees, the leaders, and basically told them that they are fooling everyone but not God…because God knows the heart.
Today, I hope that you take some time to look into your own heart. Don’t worry about the person who you know has lied to you in the past. Worry about yourself.
The point is to be honest with yourself about how you have been dishonest. Not to beat yourself up, but to make a change. To start today being honest.
God knows the truth and he is actually looking for people He can trust to be honest with themselves.
The more we lie, the more we dull the ability to hear His voice and be led by His example.
Take some time tonight to be quiet and honest with God and then, this week, when you are tempted to lie, remember that when you are honest in small things….God can trust you with big ones.
It says more about you and your character than you can ever know.
Close in prayer.
Closing Announcements –
- Teen Guys/Girls Small Group Bible Study – Wednesday 4:30-5:30PM
- Call 602-677-6200 for more information
- Next week – Baptismshttp://scottsdalebible.com/baptism
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