All In!

As you begin the lesson, start with the game “Show Me the Money.” Give each participant some play money and explain that they will have opportunities to place bets on different challenges. Some will be easy, others more difficult, and the amount they win depends on how much they wager. The goal is to create excitement, get them thinking about risks, and prepare them for the deeper message of the lesson. The complete instructions can be found here.

Now, let’s talk about what just happened. Who liked making large wagers? Who wanted to bet smaller amounts? Some of you probably felt the thrill of risking it all, while others felt safer holding back. That’s natural. We all approach risk differently.

Think for a moment about your own spending style. Are you the type of person who saves up for one big thing, like a phone or new shoes, or do you like to buy smaller things more often? Both ways can be fun, but they show us how people value things differently. In the game, you got to see what happens when you take chances. Sometimes you win big. Sometimes you lose.

It is fun when it’s just play money, but in real life, risking everything feels a lot scarier. In poker, when someone pushes all their chips in, they call it being “all in.” That means they’re putting everything on the line because they believe it’s worth it. In today’s gospel, Jesus tells us that following Him is like that. Building the Kingdom of God is worth more than anything else. It’s not about play money, and it’s not about gambling. It’s about giving your whole heart to God and trusting that His treasure is worth the risk.

Consider the message in Matthew 13:44-52:

Jesus said to his disciples: “The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it”.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind. When it is full they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good into buckets. What is bad they throw away.

Thus it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.

Do you understand all these things? They answered, “Yes.”

And he replied, “Then every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old.”

Matthew 13:44-52

Let’s be honest. Most of us like to play it safe. We don’t want to risk too much because it feels scary to lose. But when Jesus tells these parables, He is showing us something different. He’s saying that when it comes to God, it’s not about holding back. It’s about going all in. It is like when a poker player goes “all in”. They risk everything because they believe they have the best hand. Jesus is asking us to do something like that with our lives. He wants us to give our whole hearts, not just a little part.

Think about the man who finds a treasure in a field. He is so excited that he sells everything he owns just to buy that field. To other people, that probably looked crazy. Who sells their whole life for a piece of land? But this man knew what was hidden in it. He knew there was something worth giving up everything for. That’s how Jesus wants us to see the Kingdom of God. It might look strange to others, but it’s worth everything we have.

Now look at the pearl of great price. Pearls were already valuable in Jesus’ time, but no pearl was worth selling your entire life for. Everyone listening to Jesus would have thought this man was out of his mind. He would never make his money back. But that’s the point. The man wasn’t buying the pearl for its market value. He was buying it because it meant everything to him. That’s what Jesus is saying about following Him. It may not make sense in the world’s eyes, but it makes sense if we see the Kingdom for what it really is.

So what does this mean for us today? Jesus is not saying that we should go out and spend all our money on something risky. He’s not giving us financial advice. What He is saying is that our relationship with God is worth more than anything else. It is worth more than money, popularity, success, or comfort. Sometimes we think we can give God just a little part of our lives. Maybe we pray when we need something or go to church when it’s convenient. But Jesus is calling us to something bigger. He wants our whole hearts.

Going all in means putting God first, even when it’s hard. That might mean choosing to get up for Mass on Sunday instead of sleeping in. It might mean praying when we’d rather scroll through our phones. It might mean standing up for someone at school who is being left out, even if it costs us popularity. These choices may feel small, but they show where our treasure is. They show that we are giving God everything.

Sometimes we hesitate because we’re afraid of what we might lose. We think, “If I follow Jesus, I won’t fit in,” or, “If I stand up for my faith, people might laugh at me.” But think again about those men in the parables. They weren’t worried about what they lost because they had their eyes fixed on the treasure. That’s the key. When you see the value of God’s love, nothing else compares. You realize that no sacrifice is too big.

Going all in doesn’t mean life will be easy. In fact, it might bring challenges. People may not understand you. You may feel left out sometimes. But it also means you will experience joy that the world cannot give. You will know what it feels like to have a purpose bigger than yourself. You will discover the freedom of living for something that lasts forever, not just for the moment.

Jesus is inviting you to risk it all for Him. That doesn’t mean recklessness. It means trust. It means putting your life in His hands and saying, “You are my treasure. You are worth everything.” The world may tell you to chase after money, likes, or success. But Jesus is telling you that those things will never fully satisfy. Only God’s love will.

So ask yourself: what’s holding you back? What are the things that keep you from being all in for Jesus? Is it fear of what others will think? Is it comfort? Is it pride? Whatever it is, know this: the treasure of the Kingdom is worth more. The pearl of following Christ is priceless. Don’t hold back. Don’t play it safe. Push all your chips in. Trust Him. Go all in.

When moving into small group discussions, encourage the youth to share openly and honestly. Remind them that everyone’s thoughts are welcome and respected. This is not about having the “right” answer but about exploring how these parables connect to our own lives. Make sure everyone has a chance to speak, and invite quieter members to share if they feel comfortable.

• What do you think it means to go all in for Jesus?
• Why do you think the man in the field and the merchant with the pearl were willing to give up everything?
• What are some things in your life that might make it hard to put God first?
• Have you ever had to make a choice that looked foolish to others but felt right in your heart? What happened?
• What “treasures” do people your age often chase after that might not really last?
• How do you think your life would change if you decided to be all in for Jesus?
• What is one step you can take this week to show God that you value His Kingdom above everything else?

This week, I want you to pay attention to the things you might be holding on to. What are the habits, fears, or distractions that keep you from going all in for Jesus? Maybe it’s the comfort of sleeping in instead of getting up to pray. Maybe it’s the desire to fit in with friends, even if that means staying quiet when you know you should speak up. It could be spending too much time on your phone or gaming instead of giving time to God. Whatever it is, try to notice it. Ask yourself, “Is this helping me get closer to Jesus, or is it holding me back?”

Now comes the challenge: take one step this week to let go and risk it all for Him. If you usually skip prayer, try setting aside just ten minutes a day to talk with God. If you’ve been nervous about showing your faith, wear a cross or say grace before meals, even in public. If you’ve been holding on to grudges, try forgiving someone instead. If you struggle to put others first, do one act of kindness for someone who won’t repay you. These small risks show that you’re willing to let go and trust God. Each time you take a step, you’re saying, “Jesus, you are worth it.” That’s what being all in looks like.

As we finish, let’s pray together with the words of St. Ignatius of Loyola. He wrote a prayer called the Suscipe, which means “Take, Lord, Receive.” It’s a prayer about giving everything back to God. St. Ignatius knew that everything we have—our time, our talents, even our struggles—comes from God. And he knew that the best way to live was to trust God with all of it. This prayer is about going all in, holding nothing back, and letting God guide our lives.

So let’s quiet our hearts and pray these words together:

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,
my memory, my understanding,
and my entire will,
all that I have and call my own.

You have given all to me.
To you, Lord, I return it.
Everything is yours; do with it what you will.
Give me only your love and your grace.
That is enough for me.

A printable copy of the Suscipe is available here.

Themes

• Treasure of the Kingdom: Jesus shows that the Kingdom of God is the greatest gift we can find. It is worth more than money, power, or fame. Following Him gives us joy that lasts forever.
• Trusting God Fully: The men in the parables risked everything because they trusted what they found was worth it. In the same way, God asks us to trust Him with our whole lives. True faith means holding nothing back.
• Letting Go of Comfort: It is hard to give up things we enjoy or rely on. But God calls us to let go when those things get in the way of our faith. Choosing Him over comfort shows real love.
• Discipleship is Costly: Being a follower of Jesus is not always easy. It may cost us popularity, time, or comfort. But what we gain is far greater.
• Joy in Sacrifice: Both parables show people giving up everything with joy. They were happy to risk it all for something better. This reminds us that sacrifice for God brings peace and gladness.
• God’s Love is Priceless: The pearl and treasure remind us that God’s love cannot be measured in money. It is beyond value. Nothing else can compare to it.
• Living with Courage: Risking it all requires courage. It means choosing Jesus even when others do not understand. God gives us the strength to be brave.
• Focus on Eternity: The world offers short-term rewards, but they fade away. God offers eternal life with Him. That is worth everything.
• Making Daily Choices: Following Jesus is not just about big sacrifices. It is also about small choices every day. Each choice shows if we are all in.
• God Deserves Our Best: The parables remind us that halfway faith is not enough. God asks for all of us because He has given us everything. Giving Him our best is the right response.
• True Success in Christ: The world says success is wealth, fame, or power. Jesus shows that true success is found in Him. Living for Christ is the only success that lasts.

Background Material

The lesson plan “All In” is based on the parables of the treasure and the pearl in Matthew 13:44-46. These short stories remind us that the Kingdom of God is worth more than anything else we could ever have. Both men in the parables sell everything they own to gain something greater. This may seem extreme, but Jesus is showing us what true discipleship looks like. He is not asking for part of our lives. He is asking for all of it.

The Bible often teaches about the value of giving everything to God. In Mark 10:21, Jesus tells the rich young man, “Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” The young man walks away sad because he cannot let go. This shows how hard it is to give up what we cling to. But it also shows that the call of Jesus is clear. He asks us to follow Him with our whole hearts.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church also speaks about this. It explains that the Kingdom of God is worth giving everything for. “Through his parables he invites people to the feast of the kingdom, but he also asks for a radical choice: to gain the kingdom, one must give everything.” (CCC 546). This is a direct reminder that the parables are not just nice stories. They are a call to live differently. They challenge us to change our priorities and trust God fully.

Catholic tradition has always stressed that discipleship is costly but joyful. The saints show us what it looks like to be all in. St. Francis of Assisi gave up wealth and comfort to follow Jesus. St. Ignatius of Loyola offered his famous Suscipe prayer, surrendering his memory, understanding, and will to God. Their lives remind us that being all in does not mean losing everything, but gaining what matters most.

This teaching also connects to the Eucharist. At Mass, we bring ourselves to God. We offer our time, our struggles, and our joys. In return, He gives us His very self. This is the greatest treasure. It shows us that God has already gone all in for us. He gave us His Son on the cross, holding nothing back.

For young people, this lesson helps them see that faith is not just one more activity or part of life. It is the center. It means putting God first, above comfort, popularity, or success. It means trusting that the treasure of God’s love is worth every sacrifice.

The parables of the treasure and pearl are simple, but their meaning is big. They remind us that God is not asking us to gamble recklessly. He is inviting us to trust Him completely. The Catholic faith teaches that this trust leads to joy, peace, and eternal life. To risk it all for Jesus is the wisest choice we can ever make.

Music Suggestions

• “All In” by Matthew West
• “Hold Us Together” by Matt Maher
• “Find Us Ready” by Tom Booth
• “Build Your Kingdom Here” by Rend Collective
• “Bring Forth the Kingdom” by Marty Haugen
• “Thy Kingdom Come” by Rory Cooney