To Cheat or Not to Cheat

Main Point: Remaining “academically pure” is a great way to show that we are true disciples of Jesus Christ.

Discussion Starter: Pop Quiz: Cheating or Not Cheating?

While students are still in a large group (before they break into smaller “discussion groups”), announce that there will be a pop quiz, and hand each of them a note card and a pen/pencil. Tell them you are going to describe four situations to them that might take place in a typical school setting, and you want them to write down “cheating” or “not cheating” for each one of them.

Situation 1. A student is in the middle of a history test and doesn’t know the answer to a question, so he pulls out his web-enabled cell phone to search the internet for the answer. Cheating or not cheating?

Situation 2. Rick knew the paper on “The Mating Rituals of the Australian Wallaroo” (yes, that’s a real animal!) was due in science class today, but he never got around to writing the paper. Instead, he spent his lunch break in the school library downloading a report on the subject which he handed in to his science teacher later that day. Cheating or not cheating?

Situation 3. A girl in Algebra class can’t remember the formula for calculating the volume of a cube so she silently texts her friend across the room asking for the correct formula. Cheating or not cheating?

Situation 4. Carrie has biology during first period, and the midterm is slated for today. Her friends have asked her to take a picture of the test using her cell phone and show it to them during second period before they have to take the test in fifth period later that day. Cheating or not cheating?

Divide into Small Groups:
Let’s go ahead and split up into our discussion groups, and then afterward we’ll come back together for a final word.

CLICK HERE for a quick training article on how to maximize your small groups using our small group format—a great resource to equip your small group leaders.

Discussion Questions:

1. AROUND THE CIRCLE: As we begin, let’s all take a second to share our names and our favorite subject at school.


2. AROUND THE CIRCLE: Without naming names – and I mean it… no names – do any of you know someone who was busted for cheating?


3. ASK A FEW: What is the most “creative” form of cheating you’ve ever heard of?


4. ASK A FEW: Let’s take a moment to go over our answers to those four questions we just answered on the “pop quiz.” (Leaders – ask one or two students for their answers to each question. Hopefully, most of the students will have listed all four of the actions as “cheating.” If not, graciously allow the students to defend why they chose a different answer. Make sure that respect is given to every student, regardless of his or her position.)


5. ASK A FEW: What are the motivations to cheat?


6. ASK A FEW: Do you think most students cheat, or do you think most students do not cheat? Why?

Say, “Let me read something to you before we open our Bibles to discuss this further. In a recent poll by Common Sense Media, teenagers were asked about cheating in school, and in particular, cheating in school using their cell phones.” (The entire report can be accessed by clicking here.)

“Here’s what they found.”




• 35% of teens who own a cell phone admitted to cheating at least once with them. Of this group, some of them (26%) store information on the cell phone to look at during a test, some of them (25%) text friends during the test asking for answers, some (17%) take pictures of the test to send to friends, and some (20%) search the internet for answers to test questions during the test on their web-enabled phones.


• 65% of teens say they know other students who have used their cell phones to cheat.


• 48% of teens with cell phones call or text their friends to warn them about pop quizzes.

Finally, Dr. Donald McCabe from Rutgers University, who has dedicated his career to studying academic cheating, believes 95% of all high school students have cheated.
7. AROUND THE CIRCLE: OK, you knew it was coming. Have you ever cheated?

Read the following passage:

Psalm 15:1-5 (NLT)
1 Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord?
Who may enter your presence on your holy hill?
2 Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right,
speaking the truth from sincere hearts.
3 Those who refuse to gossip
or harm their neighbors
or speak evil of their friends.
4 Those who despise flagrant sinners,
and honor the faithful followers of the Lord,
and keep their promises even when it hurts.
5 Those who lend money without charging interest,
and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent.
Such people will stand firm forever.


8. ASK SOMEONE: According to this passage, what are the characteristics or traits of the people who may enter God’s presence?


9. ASK A FEW: How could these characteristics/traits apply to our school lives?


10. ASK A FEW: When we say someone is a “cheater,” what kind of reputation does he or she have? In other words, if someone is labeled a “cheater,” what do others think of him or her?


11. ASK A FEW: We have all heard the expression “Cheaters only cheat themselves.” Do you believe this or not? Why?


12. ASK A FEW: It’s pretty much guaranteed that if we get busted for cheating, we’re gonna suffer a lot of guilt and shame from the rest of our class and people probably won’t trust us. But what kind of damage do we do to the name of Christ if we as believers are caught for cheating?


13. ASK A FEW: What if a person who is a follower of Christ cheats but DOES NOT get caught. Does he or she still do damage to the name of Jesus? Why or why not?


14. ASK A FEW: What are some very specific ways we as Christ’s followers can guarantee that we won’t cheat in school in any way?

That’s the kind of prayer God loves to answer! Speaking of prayer, we’re gonna close in prayer in just a second. But if you want to talk more about what it means to stay academically pure, just come grab me or another one of our terrific adult leaders, and we’ll be happy to chat with you a little longer.

Close in Prayer