Leader Guide

Theme
Deceit

Objective
Students will discuss the cliché-type struggle of wealth vs. happiness and the lies that people spread in order to appear more desirable in society.

Warm Up
Agent 007 – Explain to students that there is a secret agent among them who will receive their orders from you through a secret handshake. Have students spread out across the room and let them know that in order for the game to work, they have to be honest about their role as either a civilian or an agent. Let them know that when the music starts, everyone will find someone to shake hands with and introduce themselves as a fake spy/secret-agent character (not 007). If someone winks while shaking hands, that is the signal that 007 (the one who winked) just used a sleep serum on the person winked at. Therefore, once 007 walks away, the student who was winked at will shake someone else’s hand (to give some time after they were put to sleep so it is not so obvious who they just shook hands with), and then the student who was winked at will calmly lie down on the ground, as the agent (007) has had time to move on to his next “victim.” Continue until someone identifies the agent.

Note: As the game begins, you will choose who will be Agent 007 through the same winking process. Just make sure that the students know not to sleep when you wink.

Transition
Was identifying Agent 007 hard? Was it easier to recognize Agent 007 as the number of people awake decreased? How did you try to figure out who was Agent 007? Tell the students that there is a lot of deception in our world, and we often don’t recognize the lies until it’s too late. Say something like, “Lecrae uses his song ‘Nuthin’ to point out the lies that people spread in order to appear more desirable, successful, and put-together than they really are.

The Song
Hand out the Student Guides. Play the song and have students fill out the Lingering Lyrics section on their handouts as they listen.

Transition
Discuss some of the lyrics that stood out to the students. Discuss some of the things that students have seen elsewhere, such as in the media, movies, and music, where people don’t really paint the full picture of their lives.

Bible Study
Let students know that deceiving people by painting a pretty picture, then allowing the lie to destroy the person, is nothing new.

Genesis 3:1-13 – Discuss the importance of this passage. Say something like, “The serpent deceived Eve by implying that God was lying to her. It was at the moment that she ate from the fruit that truth, as known to man, was shattered. If you’ve grown up in church, you know the story—but take a look at these questions and think deeper about it.” Go over their answers to the questions under the Lies section of their Student Guide. Possible responses are in parenthesis.
• Why do you think the serpent didn’t try to deceive both Adam and Eve at the same time?
• What do you think was the deciding factor in Eve eating the fruit?
• Why do you think Eve was seemingly easily swayed into eating the fruit? Or was she?
• Lecrae’s song talks about the things certain rappers DON’T mention. What are some similarities between what he was saying and how the serpent acted?

Jude 1:16 – Part of Lecrae’s song describes the cliché of writing about things like wealth, brands, and success, but ultimately not being happy; that it’s the same old thing, “goin’ round in circles.” He clearly shows that such thinking is more of a façade than reality.
• What does being a “faultfinder” mean to you?
• What are some professions where people are likely to deceive others for their own advantage?
• Can you think of an example of someone in the public eye who really didn’t have it all as together as they portrayed?
• Where does true happiness come from?

Ephesians 4:25 – The Bible tells us to “put off falsehoods.” This means that we must speak in truth just as Christ speaks in truth. WHO we represent is more important than trying to impress others through deceit.
• What does this verse mean to you?
• List some ways to help people and yourself to stay honest.

Wrap Up
Remind students that there are many people like the ones described in Jude 1:16. Deception has become part of our culture and society. We tend to feed off lies rather than truth. Have students fill out the Honest Request part of their handout. Conclude with prayer that asks God to strengthen each heart in truth and to help them discern what is deception and what is truth.