Lying 25 Feb 18

(Message 3) Ouch! Sometimes the truth hurts. So what’s wrong with softening it up every now and then? “Fibs” or “white lies” are still lies, and they can spiral out of control and become serious—this week we’re getting serious about truth in our series, My Big Fat Mouth. #mybigfatmouth

Opening Video: “Dad, but Barbie told me to do it” (0:00 – 0:56)

The Devil’s 3 Point Plan:

He gets us to lie
He gets us to lie to ourselves
He gets us to live a lie

There Are 2 Layers of Confession:

To God for forgiveness
To Brothers/Sisters for healing

Scripture used: Proverbs 12:22; Luke 6:45; Ephesians 4:17-25; John 8:44; Acts 4:32-5:8; 1 John 2:4; John 8:32

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Who in this room has told a lie today and why was it OK?
Read Proverbs 12:22. Talk about a time when you were caught in a lie. What happened? How did you feel?
Read Ephesians 4:17-25
- Discuss the definition of deceit (the action or practice of deceiving someone by concealing or misrepresenting the truth) and whether or not it is lying.
- No matter what we consider deceit to be, what does the Bible say? Read and discuss 1 Peter 2:1.
- Re-read Ephesians 4:25. What are your initial thoughts when reading or hearing this verse?
- According to these verses in Ephesians, if we are struggling with lying or misrepresenting the facts or stating a falsehood, what have we not completely done with the “old self”?
The devil’s 3-part plan for us: get us to lie to others, get us to lie to ourselves, and get us to live a lie.
- What are some of the most typical reasons we are tempted to lie?
- Are you a manipulator . . . is that lying?
- Have you ever lived a lie? Have you moved on from it or is it still a struggle?
- Do the people closest to you know the ‘real’ you or do they know a fraction or exaggeration of who you truly are?
Read 1 John 2:3-6 NLT “And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.”

1. Re-read 1 John 2:4. How does this verse make you feel knowing that disobedience to God’s commands equates with being a liar?
2. If you have begun your relationship with God, discuss how you are doing living your life as Jesus did and showing others that you know God.
There are 2 layers of confession: To God and to brothers/sisters in Christ.

- Read 1 John 1:8-10. What is gained when we confess to God?
- Psalm 32:3 NLT “When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long.” What is gained when we confess to brothers/sisters?
What do you need to get honest about? Share what you can with your small group or with a few people you’re closest to. If lying and deceit are habits you are trying to remove from your life, what are some resources you can tap into to help you accomplish that?

Daily Scripture Reading:

Day 1: Romans 5:8; Proverbs 12:22

Day 2: Psalm 32:1-4

Day 3: Psalm 32:5-7

Day 4: Psalm 32:8-11

Day 5: Psalm 51:1-6

Day 6: Psalm 51:7-11

Day 7: John 8:31-32; John 8:42-45

DIGGING DEEPER

John 8:42-45

v. 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me.

v. 43 Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word.

v. 44 You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

v. 45 But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me.

ABC’s

Author: John, the son of Zebedee and one of the Twelve. Describes himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” Written A.D. 85-90.

Background: The gospel of John is different from the other 3 gospels as it starts before creation. Jesus Christ is introduced not from His birth but from “the beginning” the Creator. It begins with this “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.”

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Context: A verse that summaries the purpose of the Book of John is John 20:31 “but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.”

The verses we will deeper digger into this week are spoken by Jesus to those that think they are children of God, but actually are children of the devil. Harsh words, but the truth. Until we put our faith in Jesus the truth is not in us. Let’s Dig Deeper!

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1, 2, 3’s

Step 1 – Observation: What does the passage say?

v.42 ___________________________________________________________

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v.43___________________________________________________________

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v.44___________________________________________________________

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v.45___________________________________________________________

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Step Two – Interpretation: What does it mean?