In Week 1 of "Fake," speaker Brian Smith addresses middle schoolers about the dangers of living inauthentically, particularly concerning their faith. He begins by distinguishing between genuine struggles—like having doubts or facing temptations—and being "fake." He emphasizes that having doubts about God or struggling with sin, as even the Apostle Paul and Jesus's own disciples did, does not mean a person is a fake Christian. Real faith, he says, acknowledges these struggles openly.

In contrast, Brian defines "fake faith" as being "double-minded" or "two-faced." He uses an example from the Bible of Jewish exorcists who tried to use Jesus's name to cast out demons without having a genuine relationship with Him. The sermon explains that the demons recognized Jesus and Paul, but not them, leading to their defeat. This story, according to Smith, illustrates the central message: fake faith has no real power or hope. He encourages his listeners to be honest about their doubts and struggles rather than putting on a "church mask," urging them to seek a sincere, personal relationship with Jesus Christ, which he says is the only source of true hope and power.