Jesus Teaches Us

My Relationship with God

My Relationship with Others

Parables

Trials and Tribulations

Faith

The Paschal Mystery

Discipleship

Good vs Evil

Sacraments

Scripture

Special Days and Seasons

Holy People

Lesson plans are meant to give a framework for introducing information to youth. Most of these also include reflection questions for small group sharing. These help youth think about how to apply what they have learned to their everyday lives.

Many of these lesson plans also include games, an appropriate prayer, and a challenge for the coming week.

Blessings and Woes (Beatitudes in Luke)

Best Ever (The Great Commandment)

This Blessings and Woes lesson plan on the Beatitudes will help youth understand the good and bad things which Jesus warns people about in the Sermon on the Plain from the Gospel of Luke.

This lesson plan encourages youth to consider why Jesus gave us the Great Commandment. What makes it the “best ever” commandment?

A Welcome Sight (Seeing Jesus)

Fishy Business (Holiness)

Knight Me! (Christ the King)

Be Open (Listening to God)

I Am With You (Holy Spirit)

Servant’s Heart (Serving God)

Grateful

Hello. This is Jesus.

The Samaritan Woman at the Well

Who Do You Belong To?

Where Should We Go? (Following Jesus)

Emmaus Walk Activity

Walking with Jesus: The Road to Emmaus

Rooted in the Vine: Finding Support in Jesus

What Moves You?

Slow Down! (Prayer)

This lesson plan on seeing Jesus will help youth think about what it takes to encounter Jesus and also about how really seeing our Lord will change our lives.

This Fishy Business lesson plan on holiness will help youth understand that the path of discipleship can be full of potholes and twists and turns. God is calling to us to give us the grace we need. We just need to listen to his invitation and respond.

This Knight Me lesson plan will help youth understand that Christ must be king of our hearts and lives.

This lesson plan asks us to be open to God. Do we suffer from spiritual deafness? Are we able to hear what God is speaking to us? And are we able to communicate God’s message to others?

This I Am With You lesson plan will help youth understand how the Holy Spirit helps us remember and live the teachings of Jesus.

Help youth realize that serving God should be our priority. Sometimes we forget that and think that God is here to serve us.

Help youth understand that we must remember to thank God every day for the blessings in our lives.

If we had to introduce Jesus to somebody, would we be able to? How would we identify Him? Who do we think Jesus is?

There are several different aspects of the story of the woman at the well which are interesting to reflect upon. Here are some questions for different ways to look at this story. These can be used to help facilitate group discussion or for starters for journaling.

This reflection will help youth consider what it means to “belong” to God. Do our lives reflect this belonging?

This Emmaus Walk activity is a wonderful way for youth ministry groups to come together and grow in their faith, even in a shorter amount of time. In a two-hour setting, participants can engage in a variety of activities designed to facilitate connection with others, as well as deepen their relationship with God.

This Road to Emmaus lesson plan focuses on the Gospel story of the Road to Emmaus, where Jesus revealed Himself to two disciples after His resurrection. The object of this lesson is to help youth understand the importance of recognizing Jesus in their daily lives and walking with Him as their Savior and friend. It is designed to help students relate to the story of the Road to Emmaus and find guidance and comfort in their faith.

In this lesson plan, we explore the question, “Where should we go?” We learn about the challenges we face in following Jesus and walking by faith. Through reflection, we discuss the obstacles we encounter and the voices that influence us. The lesson encourages us to hear Jesus’ voice and make choices aligned with His teachings. We are challenged to trust in Him, seeking His guidance and forgiveness when we stray. Ultimately, we discover that following Jesus leads to a fulfilling and purposeful life.

This lesson plan emphasizes the importance of staying rooted in Jesus as the true vine. Youth are encouraged to deepen their connection to Jesus and rely on Him for support and strength. Themes of Christian community, prayer and spiritual practices, and bearing fruit as disciples of Jesus are explored.

This reflection encourages youth to consider how they see the working of the Holy Spirit in their lives. This is a lesson for Pentecost in particular.

This prayer lesson plan will help youth understand the importance of taking time from our busy schedules to spend time with God. Prayer brings us closer to God and refreshes us

Give It Your All (Generosity)

I Can’t See! (Fault Finding)

Love Your Enemies (Conversion of Heart)

What Should We Do? (Advice)

King of the Hill (Servant Leadership)

First or Last?(Humility)

Inconsistent Imposter (Hypocrisy and the Church)

Invisible – Seeing Others

Love One Another (Love)

Judgement of the Nations (Corporal Works of Mercy)

Us vs Them

What Is Love?

Together We’re Better

Who’s Your Buddy? (Friendship)

Fake You Out (Popularity and Authenticity)

This Give It Your All lesson plan encourages youth to consider how we use what we have. Do we use it to make ourselves good or are we generous in giving back?

This I Can’t See lesson plan on fault finding will help youth understand that they must look closely at themselves and their own weaknesses before criticizing others. It also reminds them that the words they use show what is really in their hearts.

This Love Your Enemies lesson plan will help youth understand why God asks us to love our enemies. This is very difficult to do, but by changing hearts we can change the world

This What Should We Do lesson plan on advice will help youth understand that we must go to a trustworthy source when we are seeking answers to our questions.

This King of the Hill lesson plan on getting ahead will help youth understand that we are not on top in the Kingdom of God. Jesus is the ultimate example of servant leadership.

This First or Last? lesson on humility will encourage youth to consider what it means to be humble. Why is humility crucial to discipleship?

This lesson plan will help youth understand that followers of Jesus must live their faith with their actions. Yes, there are hypocrites in the Church. It is made of people! But the Church can still lead us to holiness

This reflection will help youth understand the importance of really seeing others and noticing what is going on in their lives. Sometimes we are so wrapped up in what is important to us that we don’t see the needs of those around us.

This will help youth consider what it means to love. Love is not a feeling. It is something we must decide to do.

Youth consider how they are taking care of those in need and learn about the corporal works of mercy.

We often tend to associate with people who share similar traits and common interests: people on our sports team, friends who like the same video games, the theater troupe, our fellow choir members, chess enthusiasts, etc. There is nothing wrong with this unless it leads to an “Us vs Them” mentality. We have to remember not to exclude people outside of our usual circle or even worse, treat them unfairly.

Teens consider how they define love. They also discuss what the is different between liking someone and loving someone.

In Matthew 18:15-20, Jesus tells us to point out our friends’ faults. Is that really a good idea? Are we really supposed to point out each other’s sins?

This plan is for a youth ministry meeting focused on the problem of hiding yourself to seek popularity. Letting our true selves shine will allow us to be the people God created us to be and will lead us to true joy in Christ.

This plan on friendship helps teens understand that they shouldn’t try to go it alone on their faith journeys. Good friends who support us in faith are a blessing.

A Tale of Two Sons (The Prodigal Son)

All In! A Lesson Plan on Risking It All

The Savvy Steward – A Lesson Plan on Wealth

Parable of the Talents

Actions Speak Louder than Words

Modern Day Version of The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

Party Planning in Paradise

This Tale of Two Sons lesson plan on the parable of the prodigal son will help youth understand that followers of Jesus cannot just view freedom and duty from the world’s point of view. The generous father shows us how to live these in the context of love.

The parables of the Pearl of Great Price and the Treasure teach us important lessons about what is truly valuable. Jesus challenges us to think about what matters to us and our Heavenly Father. In our faith, we explore the idea of risking it all to receive something truly valuable from God. This means being willing to let go of worldly desires and trust in God’s plan for us.

This lesson plan on the parable of the dishonest steward will help youth understand that we must have a healthy relationship with wealth and materials goods. They cannot become more important than the Lord.

How do we use our gifts and talents to grow the Kingdom of God?

The Parable of the Two Sons tells us that we cannot just say we are Christians. We must also act. And we must sometimes have the humility to admit we were wrong and then do the right thing.

The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant might be difficult for youth to understand. While slavery and servitude was common in the time of Jesus, the imagery will be unfamiliar to the youth of today. This retelling prepares youth to understand the message of this gospel. Reflection questions are also provided.

In this parable, Jesus asks us to be prepared and ready.

The Parable of the Wedding Feast makes us think about how God desires us to be with him. It is up to us to accept or reject His invitation and to prepare ourselves for the event.

Scary Stuff (The Second Coming)

Unwelcome (Rejection)

Superpowers (Courage)

Have No Anxiety (Trusting God)

Trust in Jesus: The Way, The Truth, The Life

What Are You Afraid Of? (The Storms of Life)

What Is Joy? (Joy vs Happiness)

Overcoming Fears: Finding Strength in Jesus’ Resurrection

Do Not Be Afraid

Rescue Me! (Hardship)

This lesson plan on the second coming of Christ will help youth understand that we don’t need to be scared of the time when Christ comes in glory at the end of time. But we do need to be prepared.

This reflection helps teens understand that even Jesus was rejected. And it was by those who were close to him. What does Jesus teach us about rejection?

This Superpowers lesson plan will help youth understand what it means to be clothed in power. Like the first disciples, we need the superpower of courage.

This reflection on Philippians 4:6-9 encourages youth to consider how trusting in God can alleviate fear and help us to live in freedom.

As followers of Jesus, we are not alone in navigating the challenges and distractions of modern life. By trusting in Jesus’ guidance and teachings, we can find direction, purpose, and hope for the future. With the promise of eternal life as a reward for our faith and trust, we can draw inspiration from Jesus’ words to live fulfilling and abundant lives, guided by his constant presence in our lives.

This reflection encourages youth to consider how faith in Jesus brings peace during the storms of life.

This reflection will help youth think about the difference between joy and happiness. Even when life is difficult, we can still find joy through our faith in Jesus Christ.

This lesson plan will inspire youth to live fearlessly with faith in Jesus’ resurrection power. The lesson begins with an flashlight ghost story to grab attention, followed by a scripture reading from the Gospel of Matthew that assures us of Jesus’ triumph over fear. Engage in small group discussions to reflect on the disciples’ experiences. Explore how Jesus’ presence strengthens and comforts us, and discover the role of prayer and the sacraments in overcoming fears.

This is a guided meditation on fear and trust in God. Its scripture focus is Matthew 14:22-33, when Jesus walks on water during the storm. This activity focuses on how we can be driven by fear, but with trust in God we can walk in faith. Some reflection questions are included for after the meditation.

This reflection encourages youth to consider that Jesus never promised us a life free from hardship. But he doesn’t expect us to try to survive on our own. He wants to help us.

Little Children (Childlike Faith)

All Things Visible and Invisible

Are There Pets In Heaven?

Planting Seeds of Faith

Seeing Salvation

Where Is God?

This lesson plan on childlike faith will help youth think about why Jesus tells us to be like little children.

Consider what it means to believe in something which can’t be seen. How do we know it is real?

Think about what heaven will be like and who and what might be there. Do I need my dog or cat in heaven in order to be happy?

This reflection encourages youth to think about how they need to pay attention to their faith to help it grow.

Recognizing God is important. Youth will consider what signs indicate that God is near.

This reflection encourages youth to consider how they experience God’s presence in their lives.

What Is My Cross?

Dying to Live

The Empty Tomb

Illuminate My World Jesus

Where Have You Been? (The Passion of Jesus Christ)

In Matthew 16:21-27 Jesus tells us to “take up your cross”. This gives them some concrete ideas of how we can do this. This reflection would work well in conjunction with Stations of the Cross if time allows.

Jesus tells us that unless a grain of wheat dies and falls to the ground, it will remain just a grain. Help youth consider the question of how death can lead to new life.

Imagine yourself at the discovery of the empty tomb. How will you respond? Based on the resurrection account from the gospel of Mark, which is read at the Easter Vigil Mass.

This reflection will help youth understand why Jesus is the “Light of the World”. Jesus Christ is the ultimate revelation of the heart of God.

Reflect on the sentencing of Jesus. It is written to go with the Passion from the Gospel of Mark, which is used in Year B. It works well if one person reads the scripture and another reads the meditation.

Lip Service (The Spirit of the Law)

For Love or Money (Wealth)

Better Together (Working Together)

Feed My Sheep (Service)

Who Are You? (Identity)

Abandon Your Nets

Caesar Vs. God (Citizenship)

Laborers in the Field (Evangelization)

What Are You Looking For?

I’m Healed. What’s Next? (Our Response to Grace)

Spreading the Gospel to the Whole World (Evangelization)

Who Has Authority? (Magisterium)

Do we really follow Jesus or do we just pay Him lip service? This lesson plan will help youth understand the importance of seeing the heart of God in the spirit of the law.

This For Love or Money lesson plan on wealth will help youth consider how material possessions and wealth can be an obstacle to discipleship.

This Better Together lesson plan on working together will encourage youth to consider their motives. Are we trying to exalt ourselves or Jesus?

We are all called to care for each other. Christian service involves sacrifice, but Jesus is there to strengthen us.

The question which was asked of John the Baptist: “Who are you?” There are many ways we can identify ourselves. How does our faith impact our identity?

Help youth understand what they need to leave behind in order to have the freedom to follow Jesus.

How do our duties as citizens and our call to discipleship overlap with each other?

Inspire and equip Catholic youth to be effective witnesses to the love of God and to share the message of the Gospel with others. Through a combination of scripture, reflection, discussion, and practical tools and strategies, this lesson plan seeks to provide youth with a strong foundation for evangelization and the confidence and skills to be effective laborers in the field.

Youth reflect upon what they really desire in life and if their desires are aligned with the path of discipleship.

What is our response to the graces we receive from our Lord? What do we do when we are healed?

The Gospel reading from Mark 16:15-20 emphasizes the importance of spreading the message of salvation to everyone, as Jesus commands his disciples to go out and proclaim the good news to every creature. It challenges Catholics to reflect on their responsibility to share their faith with others, and to consider the best way to communicate the message of salvation with those around them.

Help youth think about who they give authority to in their lives. Who do teenagers listen to?

All Together Now (Racism)

Armor of God (Spiritual Warfare)

Get Behind Me Satan (Avoiding Pain)

Racism can be a difficult topic to discuss with teens. It is popular to think that we are “color blind”. But the fact is that the playing field is not level and that minorities do not have the same advantages as the majority. This lesson plan on racism introduces the topic of institutional racism.

This Armor of God lesson plan will help youth understand that God gives us everything we need to enter into spiritual warfare and fight in the battle of good vs. evil.

This lesson plan asks us to think about the difficult decisions we have to make. Why does Jesus say “Get behind me Satan”? Avoiding pain can be a temptation when it stands in the way of discipleship

Beloved (Baptism)

Taught By God (The Authority of Jesus and the Eucharist)

Does It Last? (The Eucharist)

Loaves and Fishes (The Eucharist)

What Does Amen Mean? (The Eucharist)

Baptized as Beloved Children (Baptism)

What Is in Your Church? (Distractions at Mass)

How Can I Get Clean? (Reconciliation)

This Beloved lesson plan will help youth understand that baptism brings us into life as members of our Heavenly Father’s family.

This lesson plan on the authority of Jesus will help youth consider what it means to be taught by God. And how does that impact our view of the Eucharist?

This lesson plan on the Eucharist will help youth understand that the material goods of this world will pass away. In the end, our union with Jesus Christ in the Eucharist will last. Scripture reference: John 6:24-35

This Eucharist lesson plan will help youth understand that God provides for all of our needs. He especially cares for our spiritual needs through the gift of Himself in the Eucharist.

The purpose of this lesson is to help young people understand the importance of their response, “Amen,” when they receive the Body and Blood of Christ. It aims to deepen their appreciation and understanding of the Eucharist, with a special focus on the significance of the Great Amen.

The material covers various themes, including truth, scripture, reverence, care, and reflection. It encourages participants to reflect on their own understanding of the meaning of amen.

This teaching plan is designed for use in youth ministry to assist adolescents in strengthening their faith and understanding of the Eucharist.

This lesson plan has the goal of helping young people understand and reflect on God’s love for them through the sacrament of baptism. It includes several activities, such as an opening activity centered around non-verbal love gestures, a scripture reading from Mark 1:7-11, small group reflection questions, a personal letter writing challenge, and a closing prayer.

The lesson plan aims to help youth view themselves as beloved children of God and encourages them to respond to His love in their everyday lives. Additionally, the lesson plan draws on the teachings of the Catechism of the Catholic Church to provide a deeper understanding of the sacrament of baptism and its importance.

Help youth consider why they are at mass. Is their church a place where they meet God? Or is it something else? Do we bring the things and cares of the world into church and let them distract us from God?

This reflection will help youth understand that only Jesus can make us clean. And he wants to do it. All we need to do is ask.

Mountain Time (Mountains in the Bible)

Divine Reading (Lectio Divina)

God Feeds His People (Bread and Manna)

This Mountain Time lesson plan on mountains in the Bible will help youth understand the significance of the many references to mountains in scripture. We will discuss why mountains are seen as a place to encounter God and think about how we can go to the mountaintop.

This Divine Reading lesson plan on Lectio Divina will help youth understand the importance of prayerfully reading the Bible to understand how God is speaking to each of us personally through His word.

Through the ages, God has desired to feed us. There are several prominent examples in the Old and New Testament, before the institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper, of God physically feeding us.

In the Desert (Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving)

Blessed Bearer (Visitation)

Follow That Star (Epiphany)

What Are You Waiting For? (Advent)

Be Watchful! Be Alert! (Advent)

Ups and Downs (Transfiguration)

What Is Love? (Good Shepherd Sunday)

Have a Birthday Party for the Church (Pentecost)

Repent and Believe! (Lent)

This In the Desert lesson plan on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving will help youth understand the connection between the temptation of Jesus in the desert and Lenten focus on spirituality, sacrifice, and service. Youth will come to understand why we give things up for Lent.

This Blessed Bearer lesson plan on evangelization will help youth understand that Our Blessed Mother is an example of how to evangelize in the visitation to her cousin Elizabeth.

Following Jesus means giving our whole selves over to him and leaving behind anything which is hindering us.

John the Baptist’s message was that “One mightier than I is coming after me.” Some things are worth waiting for.

What does it mean to be ready for Jesus? How are we preparing?

The Transfiguration will help youth think about the ups and downs of life. Sometimes we are in a really great place, but eventually we have to come down the mountain.

Jesus the Good Shepherd shows us the nature of sacrificial love. Love is more than just a warm fuzzy feeling. It is an intense desire for the well being of another.

Pentecost is, of course, the birthday of the Church. Introduce this idea at your youth ministry meeting by having a birthday party for the church. Then use the reflection questions to help your teens go deeper into the idea of how they are sent to share the good news, just like the disciples.

Discuss what it means to repent. “What do I need to change to become closer to Jesus?”

This our Lady of Lourdes lesson plan focuses on the messages of Our Lady. At the end, you will find some reflection questions

This Mother Mary lesson plan on the Wedding at Cana will help youth understand the role of Mary as our mother and an intercessor for us. We will also discuss the importance of the phrase “Do whatever he tells you”.

This Cry Out lesson plan on St. John the Baptist will help youth understand who this prophet was and the role he played in making the way for Jesus.

What did Mary’s fiat (“let it be done”) mean and to how can we say yes in today’s world?

Why do Catholics pray to Mary and the saints? This lesson plan will help youth understand that it is like asking a friend to pray for you. And it points out that prayer is not the same as worship.