Shine Online

Emoji Charades Showdown

This game is a fun and silly way to get everyone laughing and moving. It’s like charades—but with emojis! You’ll need index cards or slips of paper, each with 1–2 emoji combinations written on them. Make the emojis something that could be acted out. For example: 🐱🎸 (a cat playing guitar), 🍕🏃 (running for pizza), 🤖🕺 (robot dance), 🛏😴💤 (falling asleep). You’ll also need a timer and space for two teams to compete.

Divide the group into two teams. One person from a team comes up, draws a card, and acts out the emoji combo—no talking or noises! Their team has 30 seconds to guess. If they guess correctly, they get a point. If not, the other team can try once for a steal. Keep going until everyone has had a turn or until you run out of cards. You can make this extra funny by throwing in a few random combos.

Follow-up questions for fun:

• What was the weirdest emoji combo you had to act out?
• Was it harder or easier to understand people without words?
• How did your team know what you were trying to say?

Okay, that was hilarious. Some of those emoji guesses were totally out there—but you did a great job playing along. It’s fun how we can say a lot without even using words. Sometimes emojis are just silly, but sometimes they can show how we’re really feeling—especially when we’re online.

Now let’s shift gears for a bit. We spend a lot of time using emojis, photos, and captions to share things with others. And that’s a lot like what we’re going to talk about today—how we share who we are and what we believe, especially on social media. But we’re not just talking about filters and likes—we’re talking about faith.

Jesus actually had something to say about this kind of thing. He didn’t talk about TikTok or Snapchat, of course, but He did talk about how we’re meant to live in a way that helps others see God. Let’s take a look at what He says in Matthew 5:13-16.

Read Matthew 5:13-16 (Be Light and Salt), the Gospel for the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A.

Jesus said to his disciples: “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house.

Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”

Let’s take a look at what Jesus says in Matthew 5:13-16. You’ve probably heard this passage before: “You are the salt of the earth” and “You are the light of the world.” At first, that might sound like a strange thing to say. What do salt and light have to do with being a disciple of Jesus? Well, let’s break it down in a simple way.

Salt makes food taste better. Just a little bit of salt can bring out all the flavor in a dish. In the same way, Jesus is saying that you, as a follower of Christ, should make the world a better place. You should add something good to the world around you—kindness, love, truth, or peace. Light helps people see, especially when it’s dark. So when Jesus calls you the light of the world, He’s saying you should help people find their way. Your words and actions should lead others toward what is good, loving, and true.

Now let’s talk about where you spend a lot of your time—on your phone. Social media is a big part of your life. You post, share, scroll, like, comment, and message. It’s how you stay connected with friends, learn about what’s going on, and express yourself. But have you ever stopped to think about what it means to live your faith there? If Jesus is calling you to be salt and light, then that includes what you do online.

It’s easy to just blend in on social media. You see what others are posting and feel like you should do the same. Maybe it’s jokes that put people down. Maybe it’s pictures that make others feel left out. Maybe it’s comments that are rude or sarcastic. But Jesus is asking something different from you. He’s saying, “Don’t just follow the crowd. Be someone who shines. Be someone who brings flavor and light to the people around you.”

Being salt and light on social media doesn’t mean you have to fill your feed with Bible verses or talk about church all the time. That’s great if you want to do that, but it’s not the only way to show your faith. Sometimes, it just means not going along with what everyone else is doing. It means not reposting something cruel or laughing at a meme that puts someone down. It means not spreading drama or jumping into online fights. Being salt and light might mean posting something encouraging, something true, or something that brings joy.

It also means being real. You don’t have to pretend to be someone you’re not. Being a follower of Jesus doesn’t mean acting perfect. It means trying to love God and others, even when it’s hard. It means being honest and respectful—even when people around you are not. That’s how people will know something is different about you. That’s how your light will shine.

Jesus said to let your light shine before others so they may see your good works and give glory to God. That means people should be able to see that you’re trying to live your faith—even online. Your Instagram, TikTok, or Snapchat can be a place where you bring light. People are watching, even if you don’t realize it. And sometimes, just one kind post can make a huge difference in someone’s day. Maybe even in their life.

So ask yourself this: If someone looked at your social media today, would they know you follow Jesus? Would they see light or just more of the same stuff everyone else is doing? This lesson isn’t about making you feel bad or judging what you post. It’s about helping you see that you have a chance to do something good—even online. Jesus sees your heart. He knows your light. Let it shine.

When your group breaks into small groups, remind everyone that this is a safe space. Everyone should be kind and respectful. No one has to share if they don’t want to. Encourage the group to listen to each other and not interrupt. These questions are meant to help them think about how they live their faith, especially on social media.

• What do you think Jesus meant when He called us the salt of the earth and the light of the world?
• Can you think of someone who is a light in your life? What do they do that makes you feel that way?
• What do people usually post about on social media? Do you think those things help or hurt others?
• Have you ever seen something online that really encouraged you or helped you? What was it?
• Have you ever seen someone treated badly online? What did you do, or what could you have done?
• Do you think your social media shows that you are a follower of Jesus? Why or why not?
• What’s one small change you could make to be more like salt and light online?
• Why do you think it’s hard sometimes to be kind or honest on social media?
• What would you say to a friend who is being negative or mean online?
• How can we support each other in using social media in a way that shows our faith?

Here’s your challenge for the week: be salt and light on social media. That doesn’t mean you have to do something big or dramatic. Just pick one or two small ways to show your faith online. One idea is to post or share something positive—a quote, a prayer, or something that brings hope. Another idea is to send a kind message to someone who might need a little encouragement.

You can also live this out by choosing not to join in when others are being negative. If you see gossip, teasing, or rude comments, don’t add to it. You can scroll past, or even better, say something kind instead. These small choices matter. They show others that you follow Jesus, even in the digital world. Try it this week and see what happens. You might be surprised how much light you can shine.

Let’s take a moment to quiet our hearts and minds. Close your eyes if you’re comfortable, and take a deep breath. Let’s talk to God together.

Lord Jesus,
You called us the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Thank You for trusting us to share Your love with others. Help us to be kind, honest, and brave—especially when it’s hard.

Teach us to be gentle with our words and strong in our faith. Show us how to bring light to others, even online. Help us to stand up for what is right and walk away from what is wrong.

Remind us that You are always with us, even on our phones and screens. Fill our hearts with love so that we can shine for You.

We ask this in Your name,
Amen.

Themes for the Shine Online Lesson Plan

• Salt and Light: Jesus calls us to bring flavor and light to the world. This means we should make the world better through our actions. That includes how we act online.
• Living Faith Daily: Being Catholic is not just for church. It’s something we live every day, in every place—even on social media. Faith should guide how we treat others everywhere.
• Love Your Neighbor: Jesus teaches us to care for others. Online, this means no bullying, no gossip, and no cruel jokes. We should treat people with kindness and respect.
• Evangelization by Example: We don’t always need to preach with words. When we act with love and truth, others see Christ in us. Social media can be a place to quietly witness our faith.
• Choosing What Is Right: Catholics are called to make good moral choices. That includes the things we like, post, and share. We must ask if our actions reflect God’s love.
• Respect and Human Dignity: Every person is made in God’s image. We must respect others, even online. Hurtful comments go against this belief.
• Honesty and Truth: God wants us to be honest. Spreading lies or fake stories online can hurt people. We are called to share truth with care.
• Humility in Action: Jesus showed us how to be humble. Online, we don’t need to show off or seek attention. We can post with a heart focused on others, not ourselves.
• Peacemaking Online: Jesus blesses the peacemakers. When there’s a fight or mean post, we can choose not to join in. We can be the ones who bring peace instead.
• Discipleship Everywhere: Following Jesus isn’t limited to church or youth group. It’s something we do everywhere—even on our phones. Being a disciple includes how we act online.
• Guarding the Heart: What we see online can affect us. The Church teaches us to protect our minds and hearts. We must be careful about what we watch and follow.

Background Material for the Shine Online Lesson Plan

This lesson plan is based on Matthew 5:13-16, where Jesus tells his followers they are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. He tells them not to hide their light but to let it shine so others may see their good works and give glory to God. This is a message about living our faith in the open. It is about showing our love for God by how we treat others. This message does not only apply to what we do in person. It also applies to what we do online.

Social media is now part of everyday life. Teens often spend hours on their phones, posting, liking, and scrolling. The Church calls us to live as followers of Jesus at all times. That means we must be followers of Jesus in digital spaces, too. The same virtues we are taught in the Gospels should guide our actions on social media. Love, kindness, honesty, humility, and respect should be part of every post and comment.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us of our mission in the world. “The duty of Christians to take part in the life of the Church impels them to act as witnesses of the Gospel and of the obligations that flow from it” (CCC 2472). We are called to be witnesses of Christ everywhere. That includes social media, where our example can influence others for good—or for harm.

The Church also teaches us that every person has dignity. This dignity comes from being made in the image of God. Even behind a screen, we are called to treat others with that same respect. When we gossip, mock others, or post rude comments, we are going against that teaching. We must see every person as a child of God, even if we disagree with them or don’t like what they say.

In his World Communications Day messages, Pope Francis often speaks about how we use digital tools. He says the internet can be a gift when used with care. It gives us a chance to share truth and bring hope. But it can also become a place of division and hate. We must learn to use social media with wisdom and love. Our online habits should match our values as Catholics.

This lesson helps young people see that faith is not something we do only on Sundays. It’s something we live every day, in all parts of life. It invites them to think about how their online words and actions affect others. It shows that being salt and light means being different in a good way. When youth learn to live their faith on social media, they grow as disciples. They begin to see that every click and comment can shine the light of Christ.

Music Suggestions for the Shine Online Lesson Plan

• You Are the Light by Josh Blakesley & Ed Cash
• Shine Jesus Shine by Graham Kendrick
• Let There Be Light by Hillsong Worship

More Youth Ministry Lesson Plans and Reflections

Looking for more ways to help youth grow in their faith? We have a full collection of free youth ministry lesson plans and reflections. These lessons are based on scripture, Catholic teaching, and real-life situations teens face today.

Each one is written to be easy to use and flexible for your group. Whether you’re planning a youth night, religious education class, or retreat, you’ll find helpful ideas and resources here: Youth Ministry Lesson Plans and Reflections.