What Is My Cross?

Start this lesson plan on service by playing Crossed Up Jam Up (see the complete instructions). Explain the rules clearly and keep the energy high. Encourage laughter and fun, but remind everyone to pay attention to the commands. The goal is to create a little bit of chaos, like trying to cross a busy street. Make sure everyone gets a turn and cheer them on, even when they get stuck. This is a great way to get them thinking about obstacles and challenges before moving into the Scripture reading.

Alright, that was fun! Now think about what just happened in the game.

• Which command was the most difficult?
• Why do you think that one tripped you up more than the others?
• Did you have a strategy for getting through the middle, or were you just making it up as you went?

Take a minute to share because everyone probably noticed something different.

Now, let’s think about this. Sometimes in life, we know exactly where we need to go, but it feels like there’s always someone or something in the way. Maybe it’s a person, maybe it’s a rule we don’t like, or maybe it’s just our own laziness. It can feel frustrating, just like in the game when someone blocked your path or you had to stop because of a command. That’s real life too.

Jesus faced something like this, but in a much bigger way. He knew he had to go to Jerusalem, even though he knew it would be hard and painful. People tried to stop him, even his own friends. But he kept going because he knew it was the right thing. Let’s read what happened and think about what that means for us.

Jesus was heading to Jerusalem, where he knew he would die. He did this willingly, out of love for us.

So, when Jesus talks about “taking up our cross and following Him,” it’s like he’s giving us a direction on the roadmap of life. He’s saying, “Hey, there’s something important here, let’s think about it.” Now, sometimes we get a bit tangled up in thinking that this “cross” stuff has to be huge, like a movie-worthy dramatic event. But, let’s get real – not all of us are facing those earth-shattering situations.

Think about it this way: We don’t always need to move to a new city or have someone we know pass away for it to be a “cross.” Those are big deals, no doubt, but not everyone goes through them. Our crosses can be these everyday moments that might not make the evening news, but they still matter.

Maybe it’s nailing that homework, even when Netflix is calling your name. Or switching gears when the gossip train starts chugging along. It’s even folding your socks when you’d rather toss them around like confetti. These little things, they’re like tiny crosses we carry around. It’s like doing the right thing when it’s kinda tempting to just do our own thing.

So, Jesus is saying, “Hey, it’s not just about the big stuff – it’s about doing the right thing, even if it’s not always the easiest thing.” It’s about showing that love and goodness can shine through in the small moments, not just the big ones. Got it?

Crosses can be little things also:

• Doing our homework
• Changing the subject when someone starts gossiping
• Getting chores done without being asked
• Staying calm when siblings are being annoying
• Staying away from inappropriate thoughts and words online

All of these things are difficult. But we know they are the right things to do. Jesus has shown us that love often involves sacrifice. We must let go of what we want to do in order to do what is most loving. That is what he means when he talks about dying to self.

When leading small group discussions, create a space where everyone feels welcome to share. Remind the group that there are no wrong answers. Each person’s thoughts and experiences matter. Encourage listening as much as talking. Give everyone a chance to speak, but do not force anyone to answer if they are not ready. Keep the conversation focused on how we can live our faith in daily life.

• What is one small “cross” you had to carry this week? How did you handle it?
• Why do you think Jesus asks us to take up our cross and follow him?
• Have you ever done the right thing even when it was hard? How did that feel afterward?
• What do you think it means to “die to self” in your everyday life?
• Who is someone you know who carries their “cross” well? What can you learn from them?
• How can small sacrifices, like helping at home or being kind when it’s hard, bring you closer to Jesus?
• What makes it easier for you to do the right thing when you don’t feel like it?
• How can we help each other carry our crosses as a group or community?
• Do you think carrying a cross can sometimes make us happier in the long run? Why or why not?
• What is one way you can take up your cross this week with love?

Themes

• Following Jesus Daily: Jesus calls us to follow him every day, not just on Sundays. This means making good choices in small things. Doing what is right shows our love for him.
• Sacrifice Shows Love: Jesus gave his life for us out of love. When we give up something we want for others, we are loving like him. Small sacrifices can show great love.
• Dying to Self: Jesus asks us to deny ourselves to follow him. This means putting others first, even when it is hard. It helps us grow in kindness and patience.
• Carrying Our Cross: Everyone has struggles, big or small. Carrying our cross means facing them with love and trust in God. Jesus walks with us when we do this.
• Faith in Daily Life: Faith is not just for church. It shows in how we act at home, school, and with friends. Every choice can be a way to live for God.
• Choosing the Right Way: Doing the right thing is not always easy. Sometimes we have to give up comfort or fun. Jesus asks us to choose what is good anyway.
• Serving Others with Joy: Helping others can feel like work, but it is a way to love like Jesus. When we serve without complaining, we bring joy to others. God sees and blesses these actions.
• Hope in Hard Times: Hard moments can feel heavy, but God uses them for good. Jesus promises to be with us when we struggle. We can trust him to help us.
• Love in Small Things: Great love is shown in simple acts. A kind word, patience with family, or helping at home are all ways to love. These little things matter to God.
• Living for Eternity: Jesus reminds us that life with God is the greatest reward. The choices we make now shape our hearts for heaven. Living with love prepares us for that joy.
• Encouraging One Another: We are not meant to follow Jesus alone. Helping others carry their crosses is part of being his disciples. A kind word or prayer can lift someone’s heart.

Background Material

The What Is My Cross? lesson plan is rooted in the words of Jesus. In Matthew 16:24, Jesus says, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” This call is at the heart of Christian life. Following Jesus means living with love and sacrifice, just as he did. It means letting go of selfishness and choosing what is good, even when it is hard.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains this well. It says, “The way of perfection passes by way of the Cross. There is no holiness without renunciation and spiritual battle” (CCC 2015). Holiness does not come from doing whatever we want. It comes from learning to love like Jesus, which takes effort and self-denial. Every time we choose kindness, patience, or honesty, we are saying yes to this way of the cross.

The idea of dying to self appears many times in Scripture. In Luke 9:23, Jesus repeats the same message. Saint Paul also writes about it. In Galatians 2:20, he says, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” Paul teaches that when we follow Jesus, we let him guide our lives. Our choices should reflect his love.

Catholic tradition reminds us that crosses are not always big, dramatic events. Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, who is known for her “little way,” taught that holiness is found in small acts of love. Folding laundry with patience, being kind when you are tired, or keeping quiet instead of complaining are all ways to grow closer to God. This is the same message this lesson plan gives to youth.

Jesus shows us that love involves sacrifice. His greatest act of love was his suffering and death on the cross. He gave himself completely for us. He asks us to love in the same way, even if our sacrifices are small compared to his. When we carry our daily crosses with love, we are joining our hearts to his.

The Catechism also teaches that our struggles have meaning when we unite them with Jesus. “The cross is the unique sacrifice of Christ, the ‘one mediator between God and men’” (CCC 618). But it also says we are invited to share in this sacrifice. By offering our challenges to God, we join our lives to his saving work.

This lesson plan helps teens understand these truths in a way they can live out. It connects big Catholic teachings to simple daily actions. Carrying our cross is not about sadness or punishment. It is about learning to love, even when it costs us something. This is the path Jesus gave us, and he promises to walk it with us.

Music Suggestions

• Lead Me to the Cross by Hillsong United
• I Am Yours (Consume Me, Completely) by Trevor Thomson & Danielle Rose
• Lift High the Cross Traditional
• I Will Choose Christ by Tom Booth & Ed Bolduc
• Take Up Our Cross by Curtis Stephen
• Take Up Your Cross by Jaime Cortez