SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN

1. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,

O how I love Thee well,

I am happy, it makes me glad

To rejoice at Thy birth.

2. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,

Thy friendship suits me well,

Both young and old will sing Thy song,

We long for Sunday School.

3. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,

Christ was Thy first teacher,

The Holy Spirit, great teacher,

Does manifest in thee.

4. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,

This testimony is sure,

That God, the Father Almighty,

Poured His blessing on Thee

5. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,

Though the sun be so bright,

Or if the clouds be black with rain,

I’ll be in Sunday School.

6. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day

I rejoice to see Thee,

Will thou pass over me today?

Without my being blest?

BIBLE PASSAGE: Proverbs 6:16-19.

[16]These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

[17]A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

[18]An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

[19]A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

MEMORY VERSE: “For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.” Proverbs 8:7.

INTRODUCTION: A lie is a false statement made with deliberate intent to deceive or convey a false impression. It is an intentional act of deviating from the truth. Lies have some terrible offshoots which when put on a scale are all sinful. We however need to look at these horrific subdivisions and do away with them if we want to live a good life, see good days, have a godly home and society, and enjoy God’s presence always (1 Peter 3:10).

OUTLINES:

1. THE SUBDIVISIONS

2. CONSEQUENCES AND REMEDIES

1. THE SUBDIVISIONS

Some of the offshoots of lies include:

Falsehood: This is a false statement, a misrepresentation of the fact, the act of rendering something false by fraudulent changes such as documents or measures, (Proverbs 11:1; 20:10; Job 21:34) or simply not telling the truth (Psalm 144:8).

Exaggeration: This is a blood relation to falsehood. It is the act of giving to overstatement and needless embellishment of the truth or a bloated statement that does not exist (Matthew 5:37).

Deceit: This is the act or practice of deceiving; concealment or distortion of the truth for the purpose of misleading, fraud, cheating, etc. Just like a liar, a deceitful person practices mischief and falsehood without any form of restraint. (Psalms 10:7; 50:19). An individual who is untrustworthy, two-faced, or fraudulent is deceitful.

Hypocrisy: An outright display of insincerity by pretending to have qualities or beliefs that one does not have. (Matthew 23:28; 1Timothy 4:2).

Half-Truth: A statement that is only partly true, especially one intended to deceive (Acts 5:1-3,  It is always the ally of some vice and another way of being economical with the truth.

Guile: It is the quality of being crafty or the use of tricks to deceive someone; usually to extract money from them (1 Peter 2:1; 2 Corinthians 12:16-17).

Flattering: To praise dishonestly because of ulterior motives (Psalms 78:36; 5:9). Praise singers who wish to curry favour flatter and end the relationship afterward.

CLASS ACTIVITY 1: Students should mention other subdivisions they know.

2. CONSEQUENCES AND REMEDIES

The penalties of these branches of lies include; getting cut off from God (Job 13:16; Psalm 12:3), being detestable (Proverbs 6:16), being susceptible to punishment (Proverbs 19:5), being accustomed to hypocrisy and iniquity (Matthew 23:28-29), momentary joy (Job 20:5), living unrealistic life (Proverbs 12:17), not seeing good days (1 Peter 3:10; Job 32:22). No liar will make Heaven (Revelation 21:27).

There are several things a believer can do to avoid telling lies. These include: Being precise in communications (Matthew 5:37); Telling the whole truth-this is a virtue that brings honour (Exodus 18:21); Not playing smart (Proverbs 3:7); Avoiding hasty responses (James 1:19). Employing God’s wisdom when speaking (James 3:17). Putting checks on utterances (Job 27:4; 1 Thessalonians 2:5).

CLASS ACTIVITY 2: Give additional ways that can be helpful to someone who helplessly tells lies

CONCLUSION: Be truthful.

QUESTIONS

* Explain four subdivisions of lies.

* What can you do to avoid telling a lie? Mention three.

ASSIGNMENT: Mention five things that happened to you when you lied. (2×5=10 Marks).