Lent Youth Group Lessons, Links, and Videos

Prepping my Youth Group kids and 5th grade students for the coming of Lent involved this little foldable:

We talked about sacrifice and why they Church asks us to pray, fast, and give during the season of Lent.  Discussion led us to remember that it is worthy to make a sacrifice and offer it to Christ in connection with the ultimate Sacrifice He made for us.  It is also good to sacrifice because by removing something from our lives, it creates a hole that Christ can then fill.  Each student was challenged to make a promise to both "Give Up" and "Take Up" something this Lent.

The back of the pocket-sized foldable also has the verse from Scripture as a reminder: "Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.'" ~Matthew 16:24

Click here for the printable: (four foldables per page)

Also in my prep this week, I wrangled together some of my favorite/recommended resources, and wanted to share them with you here.  They would be useful for ages varying from Middle School- Adult.  At the bottom of the page is a downloadable pdf with a collection of all of these links so that they can be easily accessed and shared in one place.

Here are some favorite videos:

Some good studies/emails/etc.

• Best Lent Ever: free videos from Matthew Kelly sent to your inbox
• Word on Fire:Lent CDs, Books, DVDs from Fr. Robert Barron:
• The Way: Video series from Real Life Catholic- Chris Stefanick
• Lentsanity: App, all kinds of Social Media, articles, etc., all from FOCUS
• #ShareJesus: Videos meant to be shared as evangelization tools this Lent
• Blessed is She: Not just a study for Lent, but reflections are based on the daily Mass readings specifically for women

Still stumped about what to do this Lent?

• Outside the Box: 66 ideas to give up or take up this Lent from Catholic All Year
• What to do for Lent: Worksheet and ideas for living Lent out in community from Held By His Pierced Hands
• What Should I Do For Lent? Pope Francis’ 10 Tips from FOCUS
• Pray Fast Give Calendar from Busted Halo

Here is a nothing-special document that can be easily shared for ideas on Lent resources: