Repent and Believe! Lesson Plan

Pathway to Change

“Pathway to Change” is an engaging opening game designed to kickstart this Repent and Believe lesson in a dynamic and reflective way. Set up as an obstacle course, this activity physically represents the spiritual journey towards personal transformation and closer alignment with Jesus’ teachings. The course challenges participants with physical obstacles, each accompanied by reflective prompts on index cards, encouraging them to ponder changes they wish to make in their lives, habits they aim to let go of, and beliefs they hold dear.

This game not only serves as an icebreaker but also deepens participants’ understanding of repentance as a proactive journey, inviting introspection and discussion on personal and spiritual growth. Teams work together to navigate the course, symbolizing the communal aspect of faith and the support of the Christian community in each individual’s journey of faith.

Learn more about the Pathway to Change game or print the instructions.

Post-Game Discussion Points

• Reflect on a moment during the game where you felt challenged or hesitant. How does this reflect your personal experiences with change or repentance?
• Discuss how the act of sharing beliefs and intentions with others can impact your faith journey.
• How does the concept of overcoming obstacles relate to the process of repentance and belief in the Gospel?
• In what ways can acknowledging and acting upon the need for change bring us closer to understanding God’s love and grace?
• Consider the role of community in our spiritual lives. How can we support one another in our paths to repentance and belief?

This game and the subsequent discussion aim to underscore the lesson’s theme that repentance and belief are integral to spiritual renewal, emphasizing that both are ongoing processes that require reflection, action, and the support of our faith community.

Mark 1:12-15 (The Temptation in the Desert) – the Gospel Reading for the 1st Sunday of Lent – Year B

The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him.

After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

Mark 1:12-15

It is interesting that this mentions that John had been arrested. Jesus knows his message will not be well received by those in power. Jesus steps forward to proclaim a message that is equally confrontational and liberating. This moment underscores not just the radical nature of Jesus’ teachings but also His commitment to His mission, despite knowing the potential backlash from the powerful. It’s an example of courage and faithfulness in the face of adversity.

Most people do not want to be told to repent. It is like saying “The way you are living now is not right. You need to change.”

According to the dictionary, repent means

To feel or express sincere regret or remorse about one’s wrongdoing or sin

The call to repentance is an invitation to acknowledge our shortcomings and to realign our lives with God’s will. This process of repentance isn’t merely about feeling guilty; it’s about a sincere desire to change, to turn away from sin and towards God. It’s a journey from acknowledgment of sin to the embrace of grace, a path marked by genuine remorse and a commitment to a new way of living.

And there is a second part to this message. Believe!

Jesus pairs this call to repent with another: to believe in the gospel. In a world that frequently encourages self-reliance and self-belief, Jesus redirects our focus to something greater than ourselves. The belief He speaks of isn’t rooted in our abilities or worthiness but in the transformative power of the gospel—the good news of God’s unconditional love for us.

So often the world tells us to believe in ourselves. But this is not the “believe” Jesus is inviting us to. Jesus is telling us to believe in the gospel, the good news.

• What is the “good news”?

The good news is that we are God’s beloved children. We do not earn His love. He gives it to us freely. But our actions often show that we don’t really believe this 100%.

If we really absolutely knew that God loved us, and if that were enough for us, then the things which drive us to sin would become less important in our lives.

• How might our lives change if we really lived in the complete freedom of knowing that we are God’s beloved children?
• How would this impact your relationships with others?

This knowledge, if fully embraced, has the power to reshape our lives. It challenges the very motivations behind our actions and the desires of our hearts. When we understand and accept that we are loved unconditionally by God, the need for external validation diminishes. The pressures to conform, to impress, or to compete for human approval lose their grip on us. Our actions and choices begin to reflect not a quest for acceptance but a response to the love and grace we’ve received.

Our need to impress others and to boost our own image at the expense of others would go away. Because if God loves us, why do we spend so much time and effort seeking the approval of others. If we really thought that God cares for us and wants what is best for us, then we would not be so anxious.

Living in the freedom of this truth can profoundly impact our relationships with others. Freed from the need to prove ourselves, we can engage with others more authentically, with generosity and kindness rather than competition or envy. Recognizing ourselves as beloved children of God enables us to see the same dignity and worth in others, transforming our interactions and relationships.

The journey of Lent invites us to consider these truths deeply. As we reflect on our need to repent and believe, we’re called to examine not just our actions but the attitudes and beliefs that drive them. How might our lives look different if we truly lived in the freedom of God’s love? How might our relationships change if we saw others through the lens of this divine love? This Lenten season, let us explore these questions, allowing the dual call to repentance and belief to guide us toward a deeper, more authentic expression of faith.

To delve deeper into the theme of Repent and Believe, it’s beneficial to engage in more personal and intimate discussions within small groups. These smaller settings provide a safe and supportive environment for sharing insights, challenges, and personal reflections. Breaking into small groups allows for a closer examination of individual and collective spiritual journeys, encouraging openness and mutual support.

• Personal Reflection on Repentance: Reflect on a time when you felt called to repent. What prompted this realization, and how did you respond? Share how this experience impacted your relationship with God and others.
• Understanding God’s Love: Discuss how the realization that we are God’s beloved children can change our view of ourselves and our need for external validation. Can you recall a moment when this truth particularly resonated with you?
• Challenges to Belief: What are some obstacles you face in fully believing in the gospel and living according to its teachings? How do you overcome these challenges, and what support do you seek?
• Actions Reflecting Belief: How do your actions and choices reflect your belief in the gospel? Consider aspects of your life where you feel called to more closely align your actions with your faith.
• Impact on Relationships: How has your journey of repentance and belief affected your relationships with others? Share examples of how understanding yourself as beloved by God has influenced your interactions.
• Living in Freedom: What does living in the “complete freedom of knowing that we are God’s beloved children” look like in practical terms? Discuss ways you can more fully embrace this freedom in your daily life.
• Lenten Commitments: Reflect on your commitments this Lent. How do they serve to deepen your repentance and strengthen your belief in the gospel? Share any new commitments you feel called to make based on our discussion.

Remember that each journey is unique but also part of the broader tapestry of our faith community. Through small group discussions, youth find encouragement, insight, and a renewed sense of purpose on the Lenten journey. After small group discussions, let some teens share with the larger group if appropriate.

As we stand at the threshold of Lent, you’re likely pondering over your commitments for this sacred season. It’s a time for reflection, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, but let’s anchor these practices in the profound dual message of today’s gospel: to repent and believe. This isn’t just about giving up chocolate or spending a few more minutes in prayer; it’s about a deep, transformative journey towards aligning our hearts and actions with the teachings of Jesus.

Ask yourself, do your plans for Lent truly reflect a desire to turn away from the things that distance you from God and to deepen your faith in the Gospel? If your current commitments feel more like routine than genuine spiritual renewal, it’s time to reconsider.

Consider committing to acts that not only challenge you but also bring you closer to the essence of the Gospel. Maybe it’s reconciling with someone you’ve been at odds with, or perhaps it’s dedicating time to volunteer, reflecting Jesus’ call to serve the least among us. It could also be diving deeper into the Scriptures to truly understand the “good news” of God’s unconditional love and mercy.

This Lent, let’s aim for a transformation that doesn’t just last the forty days but reshapes our lives. Let your Lenten journey be one that truly embodies repentance and belief, drawing you closer to the heart of God and reflecting His love in your actions and interactions.

As we conclude our lesson today, let’s gather our hearts in prayer, reflecting on the journey of Lent through the lens of fasting and feasting. This prayer, found in various traditions, guides us not only to abstain from certain attitudes and behaviors but to embrace those that draw us closer to Christ and to one another. It serves as a beautiful reminder of the balance between letting go and taking in, between emptying ourselves of what holds us back and filling our lives with virtues that propel us forward in faith.

Let us pray together, mindful of the areas in our lives where we can fast from negativity and feast on the goodness of God. Each line of this prayer invites us to consider what we can relinquish for the sake of something far greater. As we recite this prayer, may it inspire us to embark on a Lenten journey to repent and believe, fostering a spirit of hope, love, and compassion in our hearts.

Conclude with the Fasting and Feasting prayer. A printable copy is available here.

Themes for the Repent and Believe Lesson Plan

• The Nature of True Repentance: Exploring what it means to truly repent, recognizing the need for personal change, and understanding repentance as the first step in drawing closer to God.
• The Power of Belief in the Gospel: Delving into the significance of belief, not just as an intellectual assent but as a deep trust in the good news of Jesus Christ and His teachings.
• Transformation Through Repentance and Belief: Examining how the dual process of repentance and belief can lead to profound personal and spiritual transformation.
• The Call to Action: Understanding “repent and believe” as a call to action that prompts us to live out our faith through concrete actions in line with Gospel values.
• Overcoming Resistance to Change: Discussing the natural human resistance to change and how the message of “repent and believe” challenges us to overcome it for spiritual growth.
• God’s Unconditional Love: Reflecting on how the call to repent and believe is rooted in the understanding of God’s unconditional love for us and how this love invites us to conversion and faith.
• Living in Freedom as God’s Beloved Children: Considering how Jesus’ message of “repent and believe” invites us into a life of freedom, knowing we are loved by God, and how this knowledge impacts our self-perception and actions.
• Community and Support in Faith: Highlighting the role of the Christian community in supporting each individual’s journey to repent and believe, emphasizing communal prayer, encouragement, and accountability.
• Lenten Practices and Commitments: Focusing on how the Lenten season is a particularly apt time to engage with the theme of “repent and believe” through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
• Impact on Relationships and Social Interactions: Analyzing how a repent and believe mindset influences our relationships with others, encouraging forgiveness, compassion, and a more authentic connection with those around us.
• Facing Temptation and Challenges: Addressing how a repent and believe attitude equips us to face temptations and challenges with faith, resilience, and a reliance on God’s grace.
• The Continuous Journey: Emphasizing that answering the call to repent and believe is not a one-time event but a continuous journey of growth, learning, and deepening one’s relationship with God.

Background Material for the Repent and Believe Lesson Plan

The call to repent and believe is deeply rooted in Catholic theology, reflecting a core aspect of Christian life and spirituality. This dual invitation from Jesus Christ is not only foundational to the Gospel message but also integral to understanding the process of conversion and salvation in Catholic teaching.

Scriptural Foundations

The Gospel of Mark introduces Jesus’ public ministry with the proclamation, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15). This succinct statement encapsulates the essence of Jesus’ mission and message.

Repentance (metanoia in Greek) implies a profound interior conversion, a turning of one’s heart and mind away from sin and toward God. Belief, or faith, in the Gospel signifies an acceptance of and trust in the Good News of Jesus Christ as the path to salvation. These concepts are echoed throughout the New Testament, illustrating their centrality to Christian life.

Catechism of the Catholic Church

The Catechism of the Catholic Church elaborates on the themes of repentance and belief, integrating them into the broader framework of Catholic theology. Repentance is described as the first step in returning to God from whom one has strayed by sin .

Interior repentance is a radical reorientation of our whole life, a return, a conversion to God with all our heart, an end of sin, a turning away from evil, with repugnance toward the evil actions we have committed. 

CCC 1431

It involves a radical reorientation of our whole life, a return, a conversion to God with all our heart, an end of sin, a turning away from evil, with repugnance toward the evil actions we have committed.

Sacramental Expression

In Catholic practice, the call to repent and believe finds a concrete expression in the sacraments, especially in Baptism and Reconciliation. Baptism initiates the believer into the Christian community, washing away original sin and symbolizing the believer’s death to sin and new life in Christ.

The sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) allows for the continual process of conversion throughout a Christian’s life, offering a means to repent for post-baptismal sin and to reconcile with God and the Church.

Those who approach the sacrament of Penance obtain pardon from God’s mercy for the offense committed against him, and are, at the same time, reconciled with the Church which they have wounded by their sins and which by charity, by example, and by prayer labors for their conversion.

CCC 1422

Theological Implications

Theologically, the exhortation to repent and believe encompasses the entire Christian moral life. It calls for an ongoing conversion that affects the believer’s actions, attitudes, and way of relating to God and others. This ongoing conversion is necessary for growth in holiness, a fundamental aspect of Catholic theology.

All Christians in any state or walk of life are called to the fullness of Christian life and to the perfection of charity.” All are called to holiness: “Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

CCC 2013

Holiness requires cooperation with God’s grace, a willingness to turn from sin, and a commitment to live according to the teachings of Christ and His Church.

Living Out the Call

In practical terms, living out the call to repent and believe involves daily decisions to reject sin and to embrace faith, hope, and love. It means seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit, participating in the life and sacraments of the Church, and serving others in love. The call to “repent and believe” thus becomes a path to true freedom and joy, as believers discover their identity as beloved children of God and members of the Body of Christ.

In summary, the call to repent and believe is a foundational element of Catholic theology, inviting believers to a life of continual conversion and deeper faith. Through Scripture, the sacraments, and the teachings of the Church, Catholics are encouraged to embrace this call as a journey toward holiness, guided by the grace and love of God.

Music Suggestions for the Repent and Believe Lesson Plan

• Turn Our Hearts Around
• 40 Days
• Lead Me to the Desert
• Change Our Hearts
• I Surrender

More Youth Ministry Lesson Plans and Reflections

This Repent and Believe lesson plan is a vital component of a larger collection designed to deepen understanding and practice of key Catholic teachings. Through exploring themes such as faith, hope, love, and the sacraments, each lesson interconnects, guiding learners on a comprehensive journey through the richness of Catholic spirituality. By focusing on repentance and belief, this specific lesson serves as a foundational pillar, emphasizing the importance of continual conversion and faith in the Gospel. Together, the collection forms a cohesive curriculum that nurtures a profound, living relationship with Christ and a deeper participation in the life of the Church.