During the lesson, the information for you to know is written in regular type, and what we suggest speaking or reading aloud to children is in bold. All resources for this lesson, including the Teacher Guide, Student Page, Family Connection Card, and other resources can be downloaded in a ZIP file by clicking on the following link:
In some lessons you will find "resource articles." These are articles written by experts from around the world to help equip you for your work with children and adolescents. Share them with parents or guardians if you consider it appropriate.
All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.
Psalm 119:160
In John 18:38, Pilate asked Jesus, “What is truth?” The answer to his question is very important. Every religion in the world attempts to answer it. Some people even answer it by saying there is no truth, a statement which is itself a contradiction. How would you answer Pilate’s question?
If you are not sure where to start, read through the Bible verses in this lesson. If possible, write your answer down. Then spend time in prayer. Ask God—the source of all truth—to help you discern what is true and what is not true in your own life. Ask Him to help you hold on to His promises and reject the subtle lies of the enemy. Ask Him to make you a living testimony of His truth so that your words and actions point others to Him.
Let the families know that their children are starting a 4-week unit about telling the truth. Encourage them to talk with their children about truth. They can ask questions such as: What is honesty? Is honesty important? Why or why not?
Teacher Tip: If possible, email or text the Family Connection Card to the families of your students.
Welcome your children warmly to class. Let them know that today’s class will start with a fun game.
Have all the children stand in the middle of your meeting space. Designate one side of your space as “True” and the other as “untrue.” Tell them that when you read a statement, they must decide if it is true or untrue and go to that side of the room. Read each statement and let the children respond to it before you read the next one. After they respond, ask 1–2 children on each side why they responded as they did. The children will then return to the centre of the room.
Ask the children to sit down to talk about the game.
Some of these statements were obviously untrue. But you had different opinions about whether some of them were true or untrue.
Do not correct any wrong ideas yet. This question is intended to help you understand what children think about truth.
Truth is an accurate statement of what is real.
Point out that just because you believe it is true does not makes it true.
Truth is constant. It is something that can be verified. It is not based on opinions.
After the children respond, ask 3–5 children to share why they answered as they did.
Over the next few weeks, we will learn that truth is always important to God. He is the source of truth. We will learn that being truthful is best, even though it is not always easy.
Ask the children to get into 4 groups and sit down in their groups.
Today each group will get a Bible verse. Your group will read the verse and talk about what the verse tells us about God. Then your group will prepare a short presentation to teach the verse and what it teaches about God to the rest of the class.
Give each group one of the verses from the page at the end of this lesson. Tell the groups they will have about 7–10 minutes to read the verses, answer the questions, and prepare their presentations.
When time is up, ask the group with Numbers 23:19 to read it aloud and present it to the class.
Show the Memory Verse poster if you are using it.
God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?
Numbers 23:19
After the group has presented the verse, ask these questions of the whole class:
God does not lie. He always does what He says He will do. He does not change His mind.
God kept His promise to Abraham by giving him and Sarah a son and many descendants.
Ask the group with Psalm 119:160 to read it aloud and do their presentation. The verse is here for your reference.
All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.
Psalm 119:160
Explain that the psalmist wrote these verses as though talking directly to God.
They are all true. They last forever.
Ask the group with John 14:6 to read it aloud to the class and do their presentation. The verse is here for your reference.
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
The way, the truth, and the life. If the group presenting this verse does not point this out, share the idea that Jesus is the way to God and peace, He is truth, and He is the way to have eternal life as part of God’s family.
Ask the group with 1 John 5:20 to read it aloud to the class and do their presentation.
We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
1 John 5:20
God is truth. He is the true God, and Jesus is His Son. God sent His Son Jesus to live with us so that we may know God, who is true.
You all did a great job teaching your verses! Everyone clap for all the groups to thank them for teaching us about their verses.
The Bible includes many verses about God and truth. God is the source of truth! He cannot lie. He does not change. His Word is always true. Jesus came so we can know God who is true.
Gather children together and have them sit down.
God is truth. He always does what He says He will do. Let’s do another activity like the one we did at the beginning of class today. I will read some statements again. If you believe the statement is true, stand up and shout, “Truth!” If you do not think the statement is true, remain seated.
Pause after each statement for children to respond and sit back down.
Remember that we learned that truth is something that cannot change. Truth is constant. It is something that can be verified. It is not based on opinions.
He does not change. He is constant. He is always the same. What He promises comes true.
Because God is the source of truth, He wants us to have truth in our lives too. We will learn more about telling the truth next week.
Allow the children to praise God for a few minutes.
Optional: If you are using the Student Pages, there is space for children to respond in praise by writing a poem or rap.
Close class by with this blessing based on Proverbs 8:6–7:
Blessing: May God, who is the source of truth, help you to speak what is true. May He cause you to hate speaking lies.
Lead the students in singing this quarter’s song, if possible.
Life on Life ©2020 David C Cook. Reproducible for home or classroom use only. All other uses require written permission from David C Cook [email protected]. All rights reserved.
