Choosing Voices

Whose Voice Is It?

This is a fun and light icebreaker to help your group relax before getting into the deeper part of the lesson. It sets up the idea that we hear many voices in life, and it’s not always easy to tell which ones to follow.

Have everyone sit in a circle. Choose one person to be “It” and have them leave the room so they can’t hear or see anything. While they’re out, silently pick someone in the circle to be the “Mystery Voice.” When “It” returns, have them close their eyes or wear a blindfold to keep it fair. The Mystery Voice should say a short phrase like “Hello” or “Guess who I am” but in a disguised voice—change pitch, accent, or tone to make it tricky. “It” gets three guesses to figure out who the Mystery Voice was.

To keep it fun, let each person have a turn being “It.” You can also have the Mystery Voice say funny lines or Bible phrases in silly voices. This helps the group laugh and also gets them thinking about how hard it can be to recognize voices without seeing the person.

See the full instructions for the Whose Voice Is It? game here.

Follow-up Questions:

• Was it easy or hard to recognize the voice?
• Did anyone surprise you with how they changed their voice?
• What helped you guess right—or made you guess wrong?

That was a fun way to start, and it’s interesting how hard it can be to know who’s speaking when you can’t see them. Sometimes in life, it feels like that too. We hear different voices around us—some helping us, some pulling us away from what’s right. It can be confusing to know which ones to trust.

The story we’re going to hear today is about a moment like that. It’s about two people who were very close to Jesus, but they reacted in completely different ways. One mocked Jesus. The other asked for mercy. Both spoke, and both made a choice.

Let’s listen closely and think about which voice sounds more like the one we want to follow. And maybe more importantly—what voice are we speaking with in our own lives? Let’s read the Gospel and find out.

Read Luke 23:35-43 (Jesus and the Two Criminals), the Gospel for the Solemnity of Christ the King Year C:

The rulers sneered at Jesus and said, “He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God.”

Even the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to offer him wine they called out, “If you are King of the Jews, save yourself.”

Above him there was an inscription that read, “This is the King of the Jews.”

Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us.”

The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, “Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.”

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

He replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

Imagine standing there, at the foot of the cross. Jesus is in the middle, suffering, bleeding, dying. On each side of Him, there are two criminals. Both are being punished for their crimes. Both are in pain. Both can see Jesus, hear Him, and speak to Him. But they respond in two very different ways.

One of them looks at Jesus and mocks Him. He says, “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” He’s angry. He wants out. He doesn’t care about what he did or what Jesus stands for. He just wants to escape. And when Jesus doesn’t make everything better right away, he mocks Him. That voice is still around today. You might have heard it. Maybe even said it yourself.

That voice says things like:
“God doesn’t care about me.”
“If God is real, why is life so unfair?”
“I prayed, but nothing happened.”
“Why should I believe in someone who doesn’t fix my problems?”

It’s a voice that wants quick results. It doesn’t want change. It doesn’t want to admit guilt. It just wants an easy way out.

Now look at the other thief. He doesn’t argue. He doesn’t make excuses. He admits his wrong. He says, “We are getting what we deserve. But Jesus did nothing wrong.” Then he turns to Jesus and says, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

This man knows he can’t save himself. He’s not trying to make excuses or blame others. He just wants to be close to Jesus. He wants mercy. He knows he’s made mistakes, but he trusts that Jesus can still love him.

That voice also exists today. It says things like:
“I’ve messed up, but I don’t want to stay in that place.”
“I need help, and I believe Jesus can give it.”
“I know life is hard, but I’m not giving up on God.”

We all have those two voices around us. You’ve probably heard both. One says to walk away from God. The other says to turn toward Him, even when it’s hard.

Sometimes both voices come from inside you. Maybe you’re tired, angry, or hurting. Maybe you feel like no one understands. That’s when the mocking voice gets loud. It tells you to give up. But deep down, the other voice is still there. The one that says, “Jesus, help me. I need You. I trust You.”

Now here’s something important: Jesus didn’t take the Good Thief off the cross. He didn’t stop his suffering. But He gave him something greater. He said, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” The man still suffered. But he didn’t suffer alone. And his suffering wasn’t the end of the story.

That’s what Jesus offers you too. He might not take away your problems right away. But He promises to be with you. He promises eternal life. He promises that if you turn to Him, He will not turn you away.

So ask yourself: which voice are you listening to right now? When things get hard, do you mock or do you trust? Do you shut down, or do you reach out? You don’t need perfect words. You just need an honest heart.

Even a small prayer like “Jesus, remember me” can change everything. Jesus is always ready to hear you. He wants to welcome you. He wants to walk with you. Just like He did with the Good Thief.

You still have a choice. Every day. Every moment. Which voice will you follow?

For small group time, encourage everyone to listen with respect and speak honestly. Remind the group that this is a safe space to share. No one is forced to talk, but everyone is invited to join the conversation. Keep the focus on personal reflection, not on judging others. Let youth talk about how this scripture connects with their own lives. Be patient and give space for silence if needed.

• What stood out to you most in the story of the Good Thief?
• Have you ever felt like either of the two thieves? What was that like?
• Why do you think the mocking thief couldn’t trust Jesus?
• What does the Good Thief teach us about prayer?
• Have you ever heard those negative voices in your life? How do they sound?
• What helps you turn toward Jesus when things are hard?
• What do you think paradise means in this story?
• How can we be more like the Good Thief in our daily life?
• Is there something you want to say to Jesus today, like the Good Thief did?
• What do you think Jesus is saying to you right now?

This week, try to notice which voice you’re listening to. Are you hearing the one that tells you to give up, stay angry, or walk away? Or are you hearing the one that invites you to turn back to Jesus, even just a little? Make it a goal to choose the voice that leads you closer to God.

Here are a couple ways to live this out. First, say a short prayer each day like the Good Thief: “Jesus, remember me.” Say it when you’re stressed, tired, or just need to pause. Second, if you catch yourself complaining or feeling negative, stop and ask Jesus for help instead. If you’re brave, tell someone else about this story and what it meant to you. Let Jesus speak through you.

Let’s take a moment to quiet our hearts and talk to Jesus. You don’t need perfect words. Just be honest, like the Good Thief was. You can close your eyes if you want. I’ll lead the prayer, and you can pray in your heart along with me.

Jesus, we are here with You at the cross.
Sometimes we feel lost. Sometimes we mess up.
But we believe You are with us.
Like the Good Thief, we say, “Remember me.”
We want to choose the voice that leads to You.
Help us trust You, even when life is hard.
Help us speak up for what is right.
Help us believe that Your mercy is always there.

Thank You for loving us, even when we don’t feel worthy.
Thank You for hearing us, even when we only say a few words.
Be with us this week.
Walk with us.
And when we forget, remind us that You never stop loving us.

Amen.

Themes

• Mercy of Jesus: Jesus shows mercy to the Good Thief, even while dying. He forgives and offers paradise. This teaches that God’s mercy is always ready.
• Power of Repentance: The Good Thief admits his wrong and asks Jesus for help. This shows that true sorrow leads to forgiveness. God always welcomes a heart that turns back to Him.
• Jesus is King: Even from the cross, Jesus rules with love. He has power over life and death. He offers eternal life to those who follow Him.
• Choosing Good over Evil: The two thieves made different choices. One mocked Jesus, the other trusted Him. We also choose each day which voice to follow.
• Faith in Suffering: The Good Thief believed even while in pain. He trusted Jesus in the worst moment of his life. This teaches us to keep faith even when life is hard.
• Hope for Sinners: The Good Thief was a criminal, yet Jesus saved him. This gives hope to anyone who feels far from God. No one is too lost to be saved.
• Speaking Up for Jesus: The Good Thief stood up for Jesus when others mocked Him. He defended the truth. We are also called to speak for our faith.
• Eternal Life with God: Jesus promises paradise to the one who believes. Heaven is real and open to us through Him. This gives us something greater to hope for.
• Personal Relationship with Jesus: The Good Thief speaks directly to Jesus. He is not afraid to ask. We can talk to Jesus the same way, honestly and from the heart.
• God Sees the Heart: The crowd saw a criminal, but Jesus saw faith. He looks beyond appearances. What matters most is what’s in our hearts.
• Forgiveness at the End: The Good Thief turned to Jesus at the last moment. This shows it is never too late. God’s love reaches to our final breath.

Background Material

The story of the Good Thief in Luke 23:35-43 shows the mercy and love of Jesus, even in His final moments. As Jesus hangs on the cross, one of the criminals mocks Him. But the other speaks up. He admits his guilt and defends Jesus. Then he turns to Jesus and says, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus responds, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” This short exchange reveals deep truths about our faith. It shows that God’s mercy is always available, even at the end of life.

This fits closely with Catholic teaching on repentance and forgiveness. The Church teaches that no one is beyond God’s mercy. It is never too late to turn to Him. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says, “There are no limits to the mercy of God” (CCC 1864). The Good Thief did not have time to make things right in the usual way. He could not return what he stole or undo his crimes. But he showed sorrow and trust. Jesus accepted that simple act of faith and gave him eternal life.

This passage also reflects the Church’s teaching on the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The Catechism states, “Christ instituted the sacrament of Penance for all sinful members of his Church… to convert and recover the grace of justification” (CCC 1446). The Good Thief is an example of someone who is truly sorry for his sins. He knows he has done wrong. He turns to Jesus with an open heart. In return, Jesus shows him mercy. This shows that confession is not about perfect words or actions. It is about the heart.

The Church also teaches that we must not despair, even when we feel far from God. Saints and popes have spoken about the Good Thief as a sign of hope. St. John Paul II said that his story shows how God can bring good even from the worst moments. Young people especially need to hear this. They often feel pressure or shame. They might think their mistakes are too big. But this Gospel passage says clearly: God never gives up on us.

Teaching this story to youth helps them see that faith is a choice. Each day, they can choose which voice to follow. Like the Good Thief, they can turn to Jesus and say, “Remember me.” This lesson reminds them that Jesus always listens. He offers mercy, healing, and a place with Him forever.

Music Suggestions

• Jesus Remember Me by The London Fox Taize Choir
• Amazing Love / You Are My King by Newsboys
• Mighty to Save by Laura Story

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