The Truth Matters

Say What?

This game is a fun and silly way to break the ice and get everyone laughing. It’s all about miscommunication—perfect for leading into a lesson about honesty and clear communication.

Supplies Needed:

• A few blindfolds
• A bag of random mystery items (rubber duck, banana, sock, plastic spoon, toothbrush, etc.)
• A stopwatch or timer

How to Play:
Choose four volunteers to come up front. Two will be blindfolded. The other two will each pick a mystery item from the bag without showing anyone. Their job is to describe the object to their blindfolded teammate without saying what it is. They can’t use rhyming words, spell it out, or point. The blindfolded players try to guess what the item is based only on the description. Switch teams and play again.

Keep it moving and funny. Choose strange or hard-to-describe items to get people laughing.

Follow-up Questions for the Group:

• What made it hard to describe the object?
• Did you ever want to just say what it was?
• How did it feel when your teammate guessed it right (or wrong)?
• Have you ever felt confused like that in real life—like you weren’t sure what someone really meant?

That game was definitely silly—but it also showed us something important. Sometimes it’s hard to communicate clearly. It’s easy to get confused when people don’t say what they really mean. That can happen in real life, not just with mystery objects.

When we talk to friends or people we care about, things can get mixed up. We might leave things out, say what we think others want to hear, or even hide the truth to avoid a tough conversation. But Jesus calls us to something better. He wants us to be clear and honest in how we talk and how we treat others.

Today we’re going to look at a part of the Gospel where Jesus talks about this. He teaches that our words matter—and so do our hearts. Let’s read from Matthew 5:17-37 and see what Jesus has to say about being truthful in our relationships.

Read all or part of Matthew 5:17-37 (Teach and Obey), the Gospel for the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

Jesus said to his disciples:

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.

Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place.

Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.

But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raqa,’ will be answerable to the Sanhedrin; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna.

Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.

“You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into Gehenna.

“It was also said, Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce. But I say to you, whoever divorces his wife – unless the marriage is unlawful – causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

“Again you have heard that it was said to your ancestors, Do not take a false oath, but make good to the Lord all that you vow. But I say to you, do not swear at all; not by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Do not swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black.

Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the evil one.”

Let’s talk honestly about friendships and dating. These are big parts of your life right now. You spend time with friends every day, and some of you may already be thinking about dating or are in a relationship. These connections can be great. They can help you feel supported, accepted, and loved. But they can also be confusing, frustrating, and sometimes even hurtful. That’s why it’s important to look at what Jesus says about how we treat each other.

In Matthew 5:17-37, Jesus doesn’t just tell us to follow a list of rules. He goes deeper. He wants us to look at what’s going on inside our hearts. He talks about anger, lies, lust, and making promises. But what He’s really showing us is that relationships only work when they’re built on truth and respect. You can’t fake love. You can’t fake loyalty. You can’t fake friendship. And you can’t just say the right words if your heart is not in the right place.

Jesus says, “Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’” That means be real with people. Say what you mean and mean what you say. Don’t lie to get attention. Don’t pretend to care about someone just to look cool. If you’re in a friendship, be a good friend. Stand by them. Tell them the truth. Don’t say one thing to their face and something else behind their back. If you’re dating someone, be honest. Don’t lead them on. Don’t play with their emotions.

In a true friendship, honesty builds trust. That might mean telling a friend something they need to hear, even if it’s not easy. Maybe they’re heading down a bad path, and you care enough to say something. Or maybe it means admitting when you’ve hurt their feelings, even if you didn’t mean to. Being honest doesn’t mean being harsh. It means speaking with love and listening with care. It means giving your friend space to be honest with you too.

In dating, honesty is even more important. Relationships can quickly become unhealthy when there’s pressure, lies, or pretending. Don’t try to be someone you’re not just so the other person will like you. You are already loved by God. You don’t need to earn that love from anyone else by hiding who you are. If you’re not ready to date seriously, say so. If you’re not okay with certain things or are uncomfortable with your date’s behavior, speak up. Real love always respects boundaries.

Jesus teaches us that real love starts with truth. That’s not just a nice idea—it’s something we live out every day. When we’re honest, we protect our hearts and the hearts of others. We show that we care. We build trust. We grow stronger as friends, as couples, and as followers of Jesus. This kind of honesty isn’t always easy. It takes courage. But it also brings peace and joy.

You don’t have to be perfect to have good relationships. But you do need to try to be honest and kind. Ask Jesus to help you speak the truth and act with love. Pray for the strength to be the kind of friend who shows up, who listens, who tells the truth even when it’s hard. That’s how we follow Jesus. That’s how we love like He does. And that’s how we build friendships and dating relationships that really last.

Invite youth to gather in small groups of 4 to 6 people. For this topic, it might be best to have boys and girls in separater groups. Use the questions below to guide the conversation. Let the discussion flow naturally, but try to keep the group on topic.

Remind them that small group time is a safe space. Everyone should be respectful and listen without interrupting. No one has to share if they don’t want to, but everyone should feel welcome to speak. Encourage honest, kind, and thoughtful conversation. Remind the group that what is shared in the small group stays in the group, unless someone is being harmed or needs help.

• When is it hard for you to be honest with a friend? Why?
• Have you ever had someone lie to you or hide the truth? How did that affect your friendship?
• What do you think it means to “let your yes mean yes”?
• Why do people sometimes say things they don’t mean in dating or friendships?
• How can you show respect for someone’s feelings, even if you don’t agree with them?
• What are some ways to set healthy boundaries in a relationship?
• What would it look like to treat someone with Christ-like love in a friendship?
• Have you ever had to make something right after being dishonest? What happened?
• What can help you be more honest and kind in your relationships?
• How can prayer or faith help you handle conflict or tough conversations?

Here’s your challenge for the week: be real. Look for chances to be honest and kind in your friendships and relationships. That means saying what you really mean without trying to impress or hide the truth. It also means listening when someone else is trying to be honest with you. You don’t have to be perfect, but try to make choices that match the love and truth Jesus talks about.

Here are a few ways to try it out. If you’ve been holding back the truth from someone—like avoiding a hard conversation—take time to talk it out in a kind and respectful way. If you catch yourself stretching the truth or saying something just to fit in, stop and try again with honesty. And if someone opens up to you this week, really listen and thank them for being real. These are small things, but they help build stronger, better friendships and relationships.

Let’s take a moment to quiet our hearts and talk to God. You can close your eyes if that helps you focus. You don’t need fancy words. Just be honest with God, like we’ve talked about being honest with each other.

God,
Thank you for being a God of truth and love.
Thank you for the people in our lives who care about us.
Help us to be honest in our words and actions.
Teach us to speak with kindness and listen with care.
When we’re afraid to tell the truth, give us courage.
When we mess up, help us make things right.
Remind us that your love is always with us, even when it’s hard.

Help us grow in friendship, in love, and in faith.
Help us follow Jesus with honest hearts.

Amen.

Themes for the Lesson Plan on Honesty in Relationships

• Honesty in Relationships: Jesus teaches us to be honest in how we treat others. This includes friendships and dating. Telling the truth builds trust and shows love.
• Respect for Others: Every person is made in God’s image. We are called to treat others with kindness and care. Respect means not using people or hurting them with our words.
• Speaking with Truth: Jesus tells us to let our yes mean yes. We don’t need to swear or lie to sound more believable. God wants us to be people who speak the truth.
• Avoiding Harmful Anger: Jesus warns about anger that leads to hurt. We must learn to control our reactions. Calm and honest talk brings peace.
• Pure Intentions Matter: It’s not just about what we do but why we do it. God sees our hearts and wants us to act with love. Being real and respectful starts inside.
• Faith in Action: Following Jesus means living what we believe. Our faith should shape how we talk and how we treat others. Real love is shown by our choices.
• Forgiveness Before Worship: Jesus says we should make peace before coming to God. We cannot praise God with hate in our hearts. Making things right is part of our faith.
• Integrity in Daily Life: What we say and do should match. That is what integrity means. God wants us to be the same person in public and in private.
• Loving Like Jesus: Jesus loves with truth and mercy. He wants us to love others the same way. Love is honest, kind, and faithful.
• Choices Have Meaning: Jesus calls us to think before we act. The little choices we make shape who we become. God gives us freedom, and we should use it with care.
• Building God’s Kingdom: When we treat others with truth and respect, we help build a better world. This is part of our mission as Catholics. God’s kingdom grows through love.

Background Material for the Lesson Plan on Honesty in Relationships

This lesson plan is based on Matthew 5:17-37. In this part of the Gospel, Jesus teaches about the deeper meaning of the commandments. He is not giving new rules. He is showing how God wants us to live from the heart. Jesus says it is not enough to just follow the law on the outside. We must also be truthful, respectful, and loving in the way we treat others. This lesson focuses on how that message connects to friendships and dating, especially for youth.

Jesus says, “Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’” (Matthew 5:37) This is a call to be honest. When we are honest, we build trust. This applies to everything—how we talk, how we act, and how we treat others. Jesus also talks about anger and lust. These are signs that we are not treating others with the respect they deserve. We must not use people or hurt them just to get our way. Jesus is teaching that our thoughts and words matter just as much as our actions.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us that truthfulness is part of being a good person. It says, “Men could not live with one another if there were not mutual confidence that they were being truthful to one another.” (CCC 2469) This is especially true in relationships. Friendships and dating can only grow when both people are honest and kind. When we lie or hide the truth, it hurts others and separates us from God.

Respect for others is also a key part of Catholic teaching. Every person is created in the image of God. This means each person has dignity and worth. Using someone, lying to them, or treating them as less than human goes against what we believe. The Church teaches that love is not selfish. It is patient, kind, and truthful. These values apply to middle school and high school youth just as much as adults.

Forgiveness is another important part of this passage. Jesus says to make peace with others before going to worship. This shows how much God values relationships. We cannot praise God while holding hate or anger in our hearts. Being honest includes being willing to say, “I’m sorry” and trying to make things right. Youth should know that mistakes will happen, but healing is possible with God’s help.

This lesson fits into the Church’s call to live as disciples of Jesus. It helps young people understand that their daily choices matter. Telling the truth, showing respect, and caring for others are ways to live the Gospel. These are small but real steps toward holiness. The lesson gives youth a space to think, pray, and grow in their understanding of how to love like Christ. When they learn to be honest in friendships and dating, they learn how to live as children of God.

Music Suggestions for the Lesson Plan on Honesty in Relationships

• My Heart Belongs to You by Tom Booth, Jodi Light Mendivil, Matt Maher & Rich Bock
• Hold Us Together by Matt Maher
• Mighty to Save by Laura Story

More Youth Ministry Lesson Plans and Reflections

Looking for more lesson ideas? We have many free resources to help you lead meaningful discussions with your youth group or class. Each lesson is based on Scripture or Church teaching and connects to real-life situations young people face.

Visit our Youth Ministry Lesson Plans and Reflections page to find lessons on faith, prayer, service, friendship, and more. These are great for middle school and high school youth. Everything is easy to use and made to help young people grow in their relationship with Christ.