Children, Catholic Home School, Children’s Liturgy of the Word, Catholic Home School
Children, Catholic Home School, Children’s Liturgy of the Word, Catholic Home School
August 30, 2026
Matthew 16:21–25
FOREVER TREASURE (4:01)
MARY JO COLE : Our Lady of Grace’s Liturgy with Children in Edina, Minnesota. (2020)
HEIDI WITTE : Kids’ Liturgy (2020)
UGANDA CATHOLIC TELEVISION: Children’s Liturgy (2023)
HOLY HEROES (2023)
BIG AL & FR. JOE: Big A is proud of his sister (2026)
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CHILDREN ACTIVITIES
BIBLE QUIZ
Non-profits have permission to use quiz (generated by AI for TWTW website).
WORD FIND
FOLLOWING THE LEADER
Theme: Choosing to follow Jesus through love, action, and putting others first
Format: 8.5″ × 11″ Printable Children’s Activity & Reflection Sheet
Header & Opening Game
The Mirror Game
Find a partner! One person is the leader, and one person is the mirror. When the leader moves, the mirror copies every single move.
- Reflection Question: Was it easy or hard to copy every single move? What made it challenging?
Discover: What Does It Mean to Follow?
- Leaders Around Us: Some leaders guide us because of their role—like teachers at school, coaches on a team, or parents at home.
- Choosing to Follow: Jesus is a leader we choose to follow. Nobody forces us to follow Him; people all over the world choose to follow Jesus because His words, love, and life are worth copying.
- Putting Others First: Following Jesus is not always easy. Sometimes it means helping someone else with their needs even when we want to do our own thing first.
Matching Activity: “Walking in Jesus’ Footsteps”
Connect each everyday choice below to the way Jesus showed us how to lead and follow:
Situation at School or Home | The Selfish Choice | The Jesus Follower Choice |
Sharing Toys or Games | Keeping the best toy for yourself | Offering the favorite toy to your friend |
A Classmate is Sitting Alone | Ignoring them to stay with your group | Inviting them over to join the game |
Cleaning Up a Mess | Leaving it for someone else | Lending a hand to pick it up together |
Someone is Unkind | Saying something mean back | Answering with kindness and patience |
The Action and Meaning of the Sign of the Cross
- Which hand do you use to make the Sign of the Cross?
- Can you show the four steps in order? (Forehead –> Chest/Stomach –> Left shoulder –> shoulder)
- What words do you say at each part of the movement?
- When during prayer do we usually make the Sign of the Cross?
Two Core Mysteries
- Why do we trace the shape of a cross instead of another shape?
- What two big truths (mysteries) about Jesus and God do we remember with this prayer?
- Who are the three Persons in the Holy Trinity?
- How many Gods are there, even though there are three Persons?
Connection to Baptism and Sacramental Life
- Which special sacrament are we remembering when we make the Sign of the Cross?
- Why do we dip our fingers in holy water before making the cross when entering a church?
- What does baptism do for us, and how does it make us a “new creation”?
- How does a sacramental prayer help get our hearts ready to receive God’s grace?
Living the Call of the Cross
How can making the Sign of the Cross each day help you act like a true helper and disciple of Jesus?
What did Jesus mean when he told his followers to “take up your cross”?
OSV Lifelong Catechesis
22nd Sunday
in Ordinary Time
Religion Teacher
22nd Sunday of Year A
The Action and Meaning of the Sign of the Cross The Sign of the Cross is an ancient Christian prayer used to open and conclude devotional moments. Traced with the right hand—from the forehead (Father), to the chest or stomach (Son), and across from the left to right shoulder (Holy Spirit)—the gesture engages the whole body to orient the believer toward God.
Two Core Mysteries of Faith The gesture physically and verbally expresses two foundational Christian doctrines:
- The Crucifixion and Resurrection: Tracing the cross recalls Jesus Christ’s sacrificial suffering, death, and resurrection.
- The Holy Trinity: Invoking the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit affirms belief in one God existing in a unity of three divine persons, echoing Christ’s Great Commission to baptize in the Trinitarian name.
Infographic generated by AI for TWTW website.
Non-profits have permission to use it in their ministry.
Videos for Children
Animated Bible Stories (Saddleback Kids)
Bible Crafts (Ministry to Children)
Object Lesson Sermons (Ministry to Children)
22nd Sunday of Year A
LESSON NOTES (PDF)
A Sacrifice Worth the Cost
In this children’s message, based on Matthew 16:21-28, children will hear some challenging words from Jesus regarding the cost of discipleship. The message describes the life and goals of an athlete to consider what it means to work hard for something. It is better to have Jesus than worldly treasures that pass away. Ultimately, He sacrificed everything for us! We already have the greatest reward, if we will only take hold of it.
QUESTIONS:
- What did Al love to collect, buy, and trade? Sports cards.
- What did Al do to earn money to buy new cards? He mowed his neighbors’ lawns and cleaned their yards on Saturdays.
- What did Al sometimes wish he could do on Saturdays instead of working? He wished he could have the day off to play with his friends, go camping, and just have fun.
- What did Al’s friend ask him to do when he stopped by? His friend invited him to go skateboarding.
- How did the friend react when Al said he had a job to do? His friend made a sarcastic comment asking if his parents didn’t give him money, then rode away laughing.
- What helped Al keep working even after his friend made fun of him? A little voice reminded him of the money he would earn and what he could buy with it.
- What choice did Jeremiah make when God called him? Jeremiah said “Yes” and chose to be God’s prophet.
- How was Jeremiah’s choice similar to Al’s choice? Both took responsibility for their choices and carried them out faithfully, even when other people criticized them.
22nd Sunday of Year A
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