Children's Liturgy Guide

1st Sunday of Lent

Year A · Lent

Jesus Says No to Temptation

Reading: Matthew 4:1-11

Leader Prep

Don't worry about doing this perfectly. If the children hear one good idea about God, Jesus, prayer, kindness, forgiveness, or the Gospel, this time has been worthwhile.

Summary

Jesus went into the desert and was very hungry. The devil tried three times to get Jesus to do the wrong thing, but Jesus said no each time by remembering God's words.

Key Points

  • Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the desert to be tested
  • The devil tempted Jesus three times with food, power, and showing off
  • Jesus answered each temptation by quoting Scripture
  • Jesus shows us that we can say no to wrong choices by trusting God
  • Lent is a time when we practice saying no to things that pull us away from God

Background

This Gospel presents the three temptations of Christ following his forty-day fast in the wilderness. The temptations represent the threefold pattern of human weakness: appetite (stones to bread), presumption (throwing himself from the Temple), and worldly ambition (kingdoms of the earth). Jesus counters each temptation with Scripture from Deuteronomy, modeling perfect obedience to the Father's will. Theologically, this passage establishes Jesus as the New Adam who succeeds where the first Adam failed, a theme echoed in today's second reading from Romans. The number forty recalls Israel's forty years in the desert, Moses's forty days on Sinai, and Elijah's journey to Horeb. For children, emphasize that Jesus was hungry and tired but still chose to do what was right, and that we can ask Jesus to help us when we want to do the wrong thing. Set aside the complex typology and focus on the concrete example of saying no when something wrong looks appealing.

Session Flow

Opening Prayer

Invite the children to pray with you, then read the opening prayer below. If many don't know the sign of the cross, teach the whole group.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Dear God, thank you for sending Jesus to show us how to be strong when we want to do the wrong thing. Please help us listen to your words and choose what is good, just like Jesus did. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Warm-up

Ask the warm-up question before the reading. There are no wrong answers; this is just to help the children connect today's reading to their own lives.

Have you ever really, really wanted something, like a cookie or a toy, but someone told you to wait? What was that like?

Example: One time I really wanted a cookie before dinner and my tummy was so hungry, but my mom said I had to wait until after we ate.

Bridge to the reading: It can be so hard to wait or say no when we really want something! In today's reading, we will hear about Jesus in the desert. He was very, very hungry, and someone tried to get him to do the wrong thing. Let's listen to find out what Jesus did.

Read the Scripture

Read the day's selected passage aloud. The full Scripture text is not included here. Use a Children's Lectionary if your parish has one available. A children's Bible may also be helpful for younger children. Otherwise, read from a standard lectionary, Bible, or USCCB.org. Read slowly, with short pauses.

Reading Questions

Ask the questions conversationally. You do not need to use every question if time is short. The example answers are for leader preparation, not scripts or required answers.

  1. Where did Jesus go, and how long was he there?

    Example: Jesus went to the desert and he stayed there for forty days and forty nights without any food.

  2. Who came to talk to Jesus and try to get him to do wrong things?

    Example: The devil came to Jesus and tried to trick him into doing things that were wrong and not what God wanted.

  3. What are some of the things the devil asked Jesus to do?

    Example: The devil told Jesus to turn stones into bread, to jump off the Temple, and to bow down and worship him.

  4. How did Jesus answer the devil each time?

    Example: Every time the devil tried to trick him, Jesus said words from the Bible that reminded him what God really wants.

Application Questions

Use these questions to help the children connect the reading to their own lives this week. Simple, concrete answers are best.

  1. How do you think it feels when you know something is wrong but you really want to do it anyway?

    Example: It feels kind of hard inside, like part of me wants to do it but another part knows I should not do it.

  2. If a friend wanted you to be mean to someone else, what could you say or do?

    Example: I could tell my friend that I do not want to be mean because it would hurt that person's feelings and make them sad.

  3. This week at home, what is one thing you could say no to, to be more like Jesus?

    Example: I could say no to grabbing toys from my little brother even when I really want to play with them right now.

Recap

Today we heard about Jesus going into the desert where he was very hungry. The devil tried three times to get Jesus to do the wrong thing, but Jesus said no each time by remembering God's words. Jesus shows us that we can be strong and say no to wrong choices too, especially when we ask God to help us.

Prayer of the Faithful

Before returning to the assembly, invite the children to share their own prayer intentions. Their prayers may be serious, simple, funny, or very specific. After each child's prayer, the group may respond: "Lord, hear our prayer." Lastly, include the suggested prayer below.

For all children who find it hard to say no when they are tempted to do something wrong, that Jesus will give them strength, we pray to the Lord.

Mass Connection

If time allows, point out this connection just before returning to Mass. This helps children see that Children's Liturgy is still part of the Mass.

During Lent, many parishes remove the 'Alleluia' before the Gospel and replace it with a simpler acclamation. This change reminds us that Lent is a special time of preparing our hearts, just as Jesus prepared in the desert.

Closing Prayer

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Lord Jesus, thank you for showing us how to be strong when it is hard to choose what is right. Help us to remember your words and to say no when we are tempted. Be with us this week as we try to follow you. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

ChildrensLiturgy.org

Jesus Says No to Temptation

Matthew 4:1-11

Word Search

Optional activity: use the word search after the discussion if you have time, or send it home with the children. The words relate to today's Children's Liturgy Scripture passage.

K E J T E N F E B R Y O L I Y
O R M R K S R O U S S Y V I T
N P M U Q U V I I X Z V H W R
S C W S T S O S H O H H V E O
C U S T D E S E R T L M U E F
R Y A R P J J F I S Z L K S W
I W E J G T E M P T A T I O N
P U J V S S Y X B Y X P E R R
T S R Q D T L M L E N T Y Z E
U A W A L F R X D S G P O N Y
R N E X Y A B O K A E J M N J
E R B M X Q I N N S T T P N L
B P V W B N A W H G N R X H P
K S T O N E S S G K W H L M K
G X C P C X V N D E V I L N Y

Words to find

  • Jesus
  • desert
  • temptation
  • devil
  • bread
  • stones
  • trust
  • Scripture
  • Lent
  • strong
  • pray
  • forty

ChildrensLiturgy.org