Children's Liturgy Guide

1st Sunday of Lent

Year C · Lent

Jesus Says No to Tricks

Reading: Luke 4:1-13

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

After Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit led him into the desert for forty days. The devil tried to trick Jesus three times, but Jesus said no each time by remembering God's words.

Key Points

  • Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the desert to pray and prepare for his mission
  • The devil tempted Jesus three times with food, power, and testing God
  • Jesus responded to each temptation by quoting Scripture
  • Jesus shows us that we can say no to bad choices by remembering what God teaches us
  • Lent is our time to practice saying no to things that pull us away from God

Background

This Gospel presents the three temptations of Christ in the wilderness: turning stones to bread (appetite and self-reliance), receiving worldly kingdoms by worshiping Satan (power and idolatry), and throwing himself from the Temple (testing God's faithfulness). Each temptation represents a fundamental human weakness, and Jesus counters each with Deuteronomy passages, modeling obedience to the Father. Theologically, this passage establishes Jesus as the New Adam who succeeds where the first Adam failed, and as the faithful Israel who obeys where the chosen people disobeyed in their wilderness wanderings. The forty days echo Israel's forty years in the desert. For children, emphasize that Jesus shows us how to say no when something wrong looks fun or easy, and that remembering God's words helps us choose what is right. Set aside the complex typology and focus on Jesus as our helper and example in making good choices.

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 do what is right. Help us to be strong and to say no when something tries to pull us away from 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.

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.

Has anyone ever tried to get you to do something you knew was wrong, maybe by making it sound really fun or easy?

Example: One time my friend wanted me to take extra cookies when Mom said only one, and he said nobody would find out, but I knew it was wrong.

Bridge to the reading: Sometimes people try to trick us into doing wrong things by making them sound good. In today's reading, we will hear about when the devil tried to trick Jesus three different times, and we will see what Jesus did to stay strong.

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 the Holy Spirit lead Jesus?

    Example: The Holy Spirit led Jesus out into the desert, which is a dry empty place with no food or water around.

  2. How many times did the devil try to trick Jesus?

    Example: The devil tried to trick Jesus three different times, and each time Jesus said no to him.

  3. What did Jesus use to answer the devil each time?

    Example: Jesus used words from the Bible, words from God, to answer the devil and say no to his tricks.

  4. Why do you think Jesus kept saying no even when the devil made things sound good?

    Example: I think Jesus kept saying no because he loved God so much and he knew the devil was trying to trick him away from God.

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 feel inside when you know something is wrong but it looks really fun?

    Example: I feel kind of mixed up inside, like part of me wants to do it but another part knows I should not do it.

  2. What could you do at school if a friend tries to get you to be mean to someone else?

    Example: I could say no thank you and walk away, or I could tell my friend that it is not nice to be mean to people.

  3. This week at home, how could you remember what is right when you feel like doing something wrong?

    Example: I could stop and think about what Jesus would do, or I could ask God to help me be strong like Jesus was.

Recap

Today we heard how Jesus went into the desert and the devil tried to trick him three times. Each time, Jesus said no by remembering God's words. Jesus shows us that we can be strong too. When something wrong tries to trick us, we can say no and remember that God helps us choose what is right.

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 are trying hard to make good choices this Lent, that God will give them strength to say no to what is wrong, we pray to the Lord.

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 we are tempted. Help us this week to say no to wrong things and to remember your words. 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 Tricks

Luke 4:1-13

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.

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

Words to find

  • Jesus
  • desert
  • devil
  • tempted
  • strong
  • words
  • Spirit
  • Lent
  • pray
  • Bible
  • forty
  • trust

ChildrensLiturgy.org