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Drama Queens & Blow Up Kings (A Fastfood Look at Junior High Drama)

Author: Dan Istvanik Project Supervisors Nick Diliberto & Terry Goodwin

Editor: Tom Helm Graphic Designer: Kate Wardwell with Creative Juice Design

www.creativejuicegraphicdesign.com

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LESSON #3: “White Lies” Author: Dan Istvanik

Series Description:

Jr. High/Middle School is a time filled with drama. Girls are “Drama Queens.” Their drama is more verbal, emotional and social. Guys are “Blow Up Kings.”

Their drama comes out in physical and mental ways. Both, however, come from the same issues of sin and from an unhealthy cultural diet of drama that we feed

upon. Series: Drama Queens & Blow Up Kings Lesson: 03: White Lies: Little Half Truths? Key Verse: 2 Tim. 2:22-24 Description: White lies are another piece for JH drama that especially sneaks into the Christian’s life because we like to separate out the “big sins” and the “little sins,” but God says sin is sin. Visuals: 1. A White Castle “Sack” of 5 mini-hamburgers. (Get them at your local White Castle/Krystal’s or in the frozen section at your local grocery store.) WELCOME & PRAYER LARGE GROUP (TEACH) [Slide 1 – Series Title Slide (review)] The last couple weeks we have been in a series called “Drama Queens & Blow Up Kings.” It is what we are calling a “Fast Food Look at Jr. High Drama.” We have been snack-attacking the diet and the idea that we need to feed our minds, hearts and lives on drama. We started off with an acrostic D-R-A-M-A. [Slide 2: D-R-A-M-A] Review each one, making a brief comment if you like, but simply remind everyone of the foundational ideas.

- Division - Resentment - Attitude - Meanness - Attention

[Slide 3– Key Verse: 2 Tim. 2:22-24] Read: 2 Tim. 2:22-24, re-read and review this passage. (* For additional commentary & study help see: www.biblestudytools.com, or www.biblegateway.com )

Let’s go back and review our passage and keep it fresh in our mind. [Slide 4– “In and Out” Logo] Review: The first week we also talked about this idea that what we put IN, will eventually come OUT. If we fill up on drama, eventually drama will come out! [Slide 5–“Hot N Juicy” Logo] Review: Last week we talk about gossip: the “hot n’ juicy” layered high center of all drama. Those rumors that burn and separate friends and family.

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[Slide 6– Lesson Title: “WHITE LIES”] Tonight’s lesson we are calling “WHITE LIES.” White Lies are like those cool little half size hamburgers at White Castle! They are just tasty little morsels. But before we get serious, we are going to play as a quick, fun game to kick things off. [Slide 7–Game: “Sip a Sack”] Supplies: - A Sack of 10, White Castle burgers (or a couple regular fast food burgers from wherever) - A Bottle of water - A Blender - 2 transparent/ glass cups - 2 straws Instructions/Set Up: Ask for 2 volunteers who really love White Castle burgers. Place your hamburgers and the water in the blender. Blend thoroughly, making sure there is enough water to make a sip-able liquid mix. Pour an equal amount of the mixture into your cups. Give each player a straw. Play: On “Go!” each player has 60 seconds to see how much of the liquid they can sip. The person with the least amount left wins. *Give a gift card to someplace nice? [Slide 8– Lesson Title: “White Lies”] Wow, that was really gross, yet oh so tasty! Let’s talk now about the MIX UP that we have about truth, big lies, and little white lies. Do This: Pull out one of your White Castle/Mini Hamburgers, and show it around as you talk. [Slide 9-“White Lies Defined”] Let’s define “white lies” for tonight. (read definition) “Little morsels of ‘half-truth’ we consume and feed to others in an effort to avoid conflict, hurt feelings and DRAMA.” [Optional Movie Clip: Guess Who?] (kitchen scene where Ashton Kutcher’s character lies about being into racing and knowing Jeff Gordon in order avoid drama) See, white lies are an epidemic in schools, families, and especially in churches. Everyone is doing it, but it is not right. It is not helpful. It is not the way we should be living life. Let’s open up our bag and look at “God’s Sack of FIVE truths about White Lies.” [Slide 10- “God’s Sack of 5 truths about White Lies”]

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[Slide 11- John 8:43-44] Say Something Like: “Number One is Found John 8:43-44 and it is an important one to start off with. Do This: Pull out one hamburger and put it out on a plate or napkin Read: John 8:43-44, have someone read it aloud for the group (* For additional commentary & study help see: www.biblestudytools.com, or www.biblegateway.com ) Whoa, that was a doozy, did you catch all of that? It is saying that… [Slide 12- #1-“Satan is the Father of ALL Lies] Here is the thing, Satan is not the just the father of the BIG lies or the hurtful lies. He is the father of ALL Lies. Even the little bitty ones that we think are not bad. In fact, we say they are not a big deal or it’s a “good lie.” If you are lying in any way, shape, or form you are sinning, you are wrong, and you are speaking Satan’s language. That is why this next verse is important. [Slide 13- Prov. 6:16-19] Do This: Pull out second hamburger and put it out on a plate or napkin Read: Prov. 6:16-19, have someone read it aloud for the group (* For additional commentary & study help see: www.biblestudytools.com, or www.biblegateway.com ) Question: (volunteer answer)

- What is the #2 in God’s sack of truth? (answer: God hates lying.) [Slide 14: #2-God HATES lying (*drama)] Look at the rest of the verses around this passage. They contain a list of other things that God hates. Questions: (multiple volunteers response)

- What are the things in the list that God “detests” and hates? Reflective Question:

- Do you normally think about God and HATE together? - When you think about what God hates, were any of these the things that sprang to your mind?

See, we like to picket and boycott certain things that we as Christians label the “BIG” sins that we hate and think God hates, too. When was the last time you saw a group of Christian in front of a church, school, or someone’s house holding up signs because of too much gossip, drama, or lying? We categorize sins, so we can make a nice tidy graph of “us and them.” We as Christians should look at all sin as equal. Sin is Sin! What happens when we don’t live out truth and allow the little white lies to sneak in? [Optional Movie Clip: Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen] (classroom scene, after the big party the night before. Lola (Lindsay Lohan) tries to tell the truth, but is caught in the fact that she is not normally honest, and no one will believe her including the mean girls (Megan Fox). [Slide 15-Luke 16:10] Do This: Pull out third hamburger and put it out on a plate or napkin We lose our integrity, trust and the responsibility we have to tell the TRUTH! Read: Luke 16:10, have someone read it aloud for the group (* For additional commentary & study help see: www.biblestudytools.com, or www.biblegateway.com )

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See, we need to be trusted, trustworthy and defenders of truth. We are given a huge responsibility to uphold truth. [Slide 16: #3 - Complete Honesty is Our Responsibility in ALL Areas of Our Lives] It is not just the big things, but also the little things that will make us or break us in our lives. If we are responsible and truthful in the small things then we will be able to do the big things for God. That includes being honest in our love for others. [Slide 17- Eph. 4:15, Prov. 24:6] Do This: Pull out fourth hamburger and put it out on a plate or napkin Read:Eph. 4:15, have someone read it aloud for the group (* For additional commentary & study help see: www.biblestudytools.com, or www.biblegateway.com ) Question (Volunteer Answer)

- “Speak the Truth” in what? - In order to have what happen?

If we love someone—truly love someone the way we are suppose to, the way God loves us—we will be honest with them in LOVE. You don’t have to be mean or intentionally hurtful. Example: Your friend walks out of the dressing room and asks you, “Does my butt look big in these jeans?” I know this happens to you guys all the time, but ladies listen in, too. You need to be lovingly honest and say OH YEAH!! HUGE!! Just kidding, find a way that is kind and encouraging, but be honest. Check this verse out, but don’t get too freaked out until we explain it. Read: Prov. 24:6, have someone read it aloud for the group (* For additional commentary & study help see: www.biblestudytools.com, or www.biblegateway.com Pucker up! It is kissing time. Turn to the person next to you and…wait…hold up. Let me check my notes! Oh, here it is. The verse means that if you give an honest answer to someone it is like showing them love. [Slide 18- #4 - If We Love Someone We Will Be Honest With Them] [Optional Movie Clip: Liar, Liar] (scene elevator doors open and the dad (Jim Carrey) proceeds to tell little white lies to everyone he meets and ends up even lying to the person he truly loves, his son, about missing his birthday.) [Slide 19- Prov. 17:5-6, Prov. 28:23] Do This: Pull out the final hamburger and put it out on a plate or napkin Read: Prov. 17:5-6 and Prov. 28:23 have two volunteers read it aloud for the group (* For additional commentary & study help see: www.biblestudytools.com, or www.biblegateway.com You see, in the end… [Slide 20- #5 - The Truth may Hurt, But It Is Always Better Than a Lie] We sometimes think that telling a white lie will helps us avoid drama or risk hurting someone’s feelings. In the end it just causes more problems, more drama, and will end up ruining friendships, family relationships,

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and trust. Even more serious, it may end up ruining your opportunity to share the truth of Christ with others. That is why, once again, we need to… [Slide 21– Choose Not To Be Involved in JH Drama! - 2 Tim. 2:22-24]

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SMALL GROUP/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS Group Discussion: Fun/Bonding:

- How may White Castle (Mini-hamburgers) do you think you could eat in one sitting? Serious:

- Have you ever told a white lie? What was it? To whom? - Do you think anyone has ever told you a white lie? (no names) - When was a time you tried to tell a little white lie and got caught? - Do you think it is ever okay to lie? Why or why not? (*this one might take a while)

ADDITIONAL RESOURCE/IDEAS: - Series Bumper: This is a quick video bumper that you can feel free to use as-is or as an inspiration to create your own: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTOZhXfT744