Opening Game
Start with a game of Pictionary. This game is similar to charades, but instead of acting out clues, players draw them. For full instructions, check out Pictionary Game for Youth Ministry. You can also use Sculptionary or Talent Comm as alternatives.
Here are some ideas for phrases to use in the game:
- Lip service
- Letter of the Law
- Heart of God
- Wash dishes
- Ten Commandments
- Wash hands
- Eating
Alternatively, you can use random, silly words and phrases.
Scripture Reading
In the Old Testament, God gave the Isrealites many laws. These laws were intended to bring the people closer to God and to keep them safe. But the Pharisees were more focused on the law than their relationship with God.
Let’s read the gospel of the day:
Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 (Jesus speaks about the law) – the Gospel Reading for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year B
When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands.
– For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves.
And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds. –So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?”
He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts. You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.”
He summoned the crowd again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.
“From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.”Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
Discussion
In the Gospel reading, the Pharisees accuse Jesus and his disciples of not following the law closely enough. They point out that the disciples eat without washing their hands, which was a strict tradition among the Jews. But Jesus doesn’t just defend his disciples—he turns the conversation around and tells the Pharisees that they are the ones missing the point.
The Pharisees were very strict about following the law, down to the smallest details. They made sure to obey every rule as they understood it. But here’s the problem: they expected everyone else to do the same, and they looked down on those who didn’t. They acted like they were better than others because they followed the rules so perfectly. In doing so, they used the law to feel superior, rather than to grow closer to God.
Tradition itself isn’t bad. It helps keep us connected to our community and our past. Tradition reminds us of who we are and where we come from. But it can become a problem when we get so attached to it that we forget about what really matters—our relationship with God. If we let tradition become more important than loving God and others, we’re missing the point.
Jesus calls the Pharisees out for only giving the law lip service. They said they loved the law, but their actions and attitudes showed something different. They were more concerned with looking good on the outside than with what was going on inside their hearts. Jesus reminds them that all these rules and traditions are just external things. What matters most is what’s happening in our hearts.
So let’s talk about loving God with our hearts. It’s easy to fall into the habit of going through the motions without really thinking about what we’re doing. We might go to Mass every Sunday, but are we really paying attention? Are we just sitting there, or are we actively participating and trying to connect with God? It’s easy to let our minds wander or think about what we’re going to do after Mass instead of focusing on the prayers, the readings, and the Eucharist.
The same thing can happen when we pray. Take the Rosary, for example. It’s a beautiful and powerful prayer, but if we’re just reciting the words without thinking about them, we’re missing out. Are we reflecting on the mysteries of Jesus’ life, or are we just trying to get through the prayers as quickly as possible? It’s important to remember that the point of these prayers is to bring us closer to God, not just to check them off our to-do list.
There are other things we might do in our faith that become routine. We might follow certain Church teachings or practices simply because that’s what we’ve always done, without really thinking about why we do them or how they’re supposed to help us grow in our relationship with God. It’s good to take a step back and reflect on these things. Are we doing them as lip service, out of habit, or are we really trying to live out our faith and grow closer to God?
Another important thing to remember is not to look down on others who aren’t practicing their faith the same way we are. It’s easy to fall into the same trap as the Pharisees, thinking we’re better than others because we follow the rules more closely or because we do certain things that they don’t. But that’s not what Jesus wants from us. He wants us to love others and encourage them as they try to grow in their faith. Walking the path of discipleship is difficult for all of us, and we’re all at different places on that journey.
Instead of judging others, we can be examples of God’s generous and loving heart. When we show kindness, patience, and understanding, we’re helping others see what it really means to follow Jesus. That’s usually much more helpful than pointing out where they’re going wrong or making them feel bad for not being as “perfect” as we think we are.
In the end, what Jesus wants from us is a heart that’s turned toward God, not just lips that say the right words. He wants us to live out the spirit of the law—to love God and others with everything we have. When we do that, we’re not just going through the motions; we’re truly living our faith.
Small Group Reflection Questions
Sharing in small groups gives youth a chance to explore our faith together. It’s a time to be open and honest about thoughts and experiences. For small groups for the Lip Service Lesson Plan on the Spirit of the Law, focus on how we can live out our faith in a way that goes beyond just following rules. We want to avoid giving lip service and instead aim to follow the spirit of the law, which means loving God and others with all our hearts.
Here are some questions to guide the discussion:
- Reflect on your own faith journey. Are there areas where you might be giving lip service? How can you deepen your relationship with God and truly live out the spirit of the law?
- What does “lip service” mean to you? How do you see this happening in your own life or in the world around you?
- Why do you think Jesus criticized the Pharisees for focusing too much on the letter of the law? What can we learn from his response about how to live out the spirit of the law?
- Have you ever found yourself just going through the motions in your faith? What can you do to make your prayers and religious practices more meaningful?
- How can we show love for God and others in a way that goes beyond just following rules? Can you think of any examples where you’ve seen someone live out the spirit of the law?
- In what ways might we be tempted to judge others, like the Pharisees did? How can we shift our focus from judgment to encouragement and support?
- What are some traditions or practices in our faith that might become routine? How can we approach these with fresh intention and heart?
- How does focusing on the spirit of the law help us grow closer to God? What changes might you make in your own life to better live out this teaching?
- What does it mean to love God with all your heart? How can we put this into practice in our daily lives?
- How can we encourage others to live out the spirit of the law without coming across as judgmental? What are some practical ways to show God’s love to those around us?
Challenge
This week, challenge yourself to go deeper in your observance of the faith. Start by choosing one area where you can focus more intentionally on your relationship with God. For example, when you attend Mass, try to pay better attention to the readings, prayers, and the homily. Instead of letting your mind wander, ask the Holy Spirit to help you stay present and open to what God wants to say to you during the liturgy.
If prayer is an area where you struggle, consider trying something new to help you connect more deeply with God. If your current method of prayer feels routine or dry, explore a different approach, like Lectio Divina, where you meditate on Scripture and listen for God’s voice in the passages. You could also learn a new prayer, such as the Divine Mercy Chaplet or a novena, and focus on the meaning of the words as you pray. This can help refresh your prayer life and bring new insights into your faith.
Remember, deepening your relationship with God is a journey, and it’s okay if you don’t get it perfect right away. If you find yourself getting distracted or struggling to stay focused, don’t be too hard on yourself. The important thing is to keep trying. Every effort you make to go beyond lip service and live out the spirit of the law brings you closer to God. When you fall short, simply ask for God’s grace, and try again the next day. Perseverance is key in growing your faith.
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for guiding us today as we explored the importance of living out the spirit of the law. Help us to go beyond just saying the right words and instead fill our hearts with true love for You and for others. Give us the grace to follow Your commandments with sincerity and devotion. When we fall short, remind us of Your mercy and give us the strength to try again. May we always seek to honor You in our thoughts, words, and actions. We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
More Resources
More Youth Ministry Lesson Plans and Reflections
For more resources and information, see https://young-catholics.com/10805/lip-service-lesson-plan/