Discussion-Oriented
50 results
Document
The Prophets
This small-group activity provides questions for students to answer about the different prophetic books of the bible.
Document
The Book of Exodus
This small-group project asks students to read a section from the Book of Exodus before acting out the passage and responding to discussion questions.
Document
Jigsaw Activity: Categories of Books in the New Testament
This activity asks small groups to answer questions about a specific section of the New Testament.
Document
Literal and Spiritual Senses of Scripture: The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37)
This small-group, discussion guide challenges students to read a familiar story using a different lense and perspective.
Document
Searching the Scriptures for the World of Jesus
Small-group activity that guides students to discover the culture of Jesus’ world by searching the Gospels
Document
Three Renewal Movements
Work with your group to complete the section of this handout that corresponds to your assigned topic.
Document
Handout: The Old Testament and the Gospel of Matthew
In each of the Scripture citations below, Jesus or the Gospel writer refers to a Scripture passage from the Old Testament that sheds light on the identity or mission of Jesus. Read the passages assigned to your group, and then …
Document
"The Fingerprints of God" Reflection Questions
A set of reflection questions on the song, “The Fingerprints of God” by Steven Curtis Chapman.
Document
The Sacrament of Holy Orders Graphic Organizer
A worksheet completed in groups about the symbolic words and actions that take place during the Rite of Ordination, as well as their meaning and effect.
Document
The Threefold Ministry of a Bishop
This resource is a group activity worksheet that has students list examples of the Bishop’s roles in the areas of teaching, governing, and sanctifying.
Document
Paul's Response to the Early Christian Communities
A group assignment on Paul’s response to the early Christian communities.
Document
The Apostles Peter and Paul
A series of questions on the Apostles Peter and Paul, to be answered in a small group.
Document
Old Testament Themes and Images in John's Prologue
A worksheet on the Old Testament themes and images in the prologue of the Gospel of John.
Document
Exploring John's Christology
A worksheet where the critical questioning method is used to explore John’s Christology.
Document
Comparing and Contrasting the Passion and Resurrection Narratives in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke
A group worksheet on comparing and contrasting the Passion and Resurrection narratives in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.
Document
Comparing and Contrasting Infancy Narratives
A group worksheet on comparing and contrasting infancy narratives in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.
Document
The Reign of God in the Gospel of Luke and Today
A group worksheet on how the Reign of God is presented in the Gospel of Luke and in today’s culture.
Document
The Reign of God in the Gospel of Luke
A group worksheet on how the Reign of God is presented in the Gospel of Luke.
Document
Sunday Lectionary Readings: God’s Ongoing Story of Love for Humanity
A group assignment on several sets of Sunday Lectionary readings.
Document
Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation (Dei Verbum, 1965)
A worksheet that examines several chapters of "Dei Verbum" using group discussion.
Document
The Disciples on the Road to Emmaus Part II
Discussion questions based on The Disciples on the Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35).
Document
Fiddler on the Roof
Questions for discussion for "Fiddler on the Roof" from "Christian Morality: Our Response to God's Love."
Document
Gospel Reflection on Sin and Salvation
A Gospel reflection on sin and salvation from "Christian Morality: Our Response to God's Love."
Document
An Examination of Conscience
This resource is part of the Living in Christ Series. It offers great reflection questions for going through an examination of conscience, dividing the questions into those referring to love of God, and those referring to love of neighbor. This …
Document
Reading Notes and Questions for Student Book Articles 9-12
This reading guide is part of the Living in Christ Series. Students can use it while reading other articles from the LIC Series to take important notes and answer significant questions.
Article
Paul: A Profound Conversion
[Saul] heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" (Acts of the Apostles 9:4) It was on his way to Damascus that Paul was struck down by God and blinded. A brilliant light from heaven …
Article
Paul: Persecutor of Christians
Saul was ravaging the church by entering house after house; dragging off both men and women . . . To prison. (Acts of the Apostles 8:3) Convinced that following the teachings of Jesus was wrong, Paul pursued the early Christians …
Article
Paul: Religious Zeal
I advanced in Judaism beyond many among my people of the same age, for I was far more zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. (Galatians 1:14) A tent maker by trade, Paul's Jewish name was Saul. But because Paul …
Article
Program aims to get youth excited about Bible
Young people in the diocese are getting excited about Scripture and it's all part of a national effort called "Yes! Youth Engaging Scripture." YES is a Catholic teen-to-teen Bible sharing concept and to date, some 1,800 young people have been …
Article
National Bible Week: Daily Reading - A Gift to Me
A Gift to Me He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. (Mark 8:34) Throughout this Gospel, Mark shows …
Article
Who Does the Movie Say Killed Jesus?
Much of the controversy about The Passion of the Christ centers around one question: Who killed Jesus? The Anti-Defamation League feels the movie lays the blame at the feet of the Jews. Mel Gibson, the movie's director, producer and cowriter, …
Article
Be At Peace Among Yourselves
"Be at peace among yourselves." (1 Thessalonians 5:13) "None of us is alone in this world; each of us is a vital piece of the great mosaic of humanity as a whole." (Pope John Paul II, Israel-Palestine) Think About That …
Article
Moral Decision Making and Real-Life Applications
If you have used the Saint Mary's Press textbook Growing in Christian Morality, then you're familiar with the LISTEN process for making moral decisions. The process is introduced in the textbook and is used throughout the companion student casebook. LISTEN …
Article
On the Frontier of Justice in Ghana
"Africa has been the land of hope, salvation, and redemption. Abraham had come to Africa, Joseph from slave to savior. It was the land of refuge for Jesus and helped to carry his cross. Will we continue to dismiss Africa …
Article
Wrestling with Diversity
How do we welcome non-Christians into our schools and our religion classrooms, and at the same time give witness to our own Christ-centered faith? How do we invite students to learn from and respect other faith traditions without sending the …
Article
Patch Adams - Movie Reflection
Patch Adams is a great movie to use with students! It is the fact-based story of Hunter "Patch" Adams, the founder of the Gesundheit Clinic. Robin Williams plays the lead character with grace and skill. Synopsis: After spending some time …
Article
Sacraments Outside the Box
I'm sure that one of the first things you did when you returned to school in September was to check your faculty mailbox. Most schools have a bank of neatly labeled cubbyholes. Get an image in your mind's eye: some …
Article
Catholic Youth and the Bible: Moving from Biblical Literacy to Biblical Spirituality
Developing one's biblical literacy As a college student back in the mid-seventies, I was invited to be part of an ecumenical student Bible study. Born and raised Catholic, I don't think I had cracked open a Bible more than two …
Article
Six Ways to be Truly Catholic
I always thought that I would have made a great archbishop in Salzburg during the time of Mozart. But instead I'm the archbishop of Milwaukee in the time of rock 'n' roll. That's the way life turns out. We live …
Article
Using Literature in Theology Classes
Editor's note: The author of our feature article, Kathleen Hodapp, was one of the participants in last summer's workshop "The Catholic High School As Faith Community," held here in Winona, Minnesota, as well as on the East Coast and the …
Article
A One-Day Retreat on Service in the Inner City
Our sophomore class day retreat focuses on finding spirituality in the inner city. It is a kind of "urban plunge" experience within a spiritual framework, and students go on this retreat during the same semester that they take a social …
Article
Helping Students Get the Most Out of Stories
For the past six years I have been researching the power of stories for communicating Catholic religious and moral values. At the same time, I have been experimenting with stories in my high school classroom (tenth- and twelfth-grade classes in …
Article
The Power of Parables
We all know that a good story will almost always act as an excellent springboard for reflection. Jesus' most effective teaching tool was the parable. He would gather his disciples and tell them a story with a message that moved …
Article
Expect Much, Praise Much, Be Present to Them
Course materials, such as the high school religion textbooks and teacher's manuals published by Saint Mary's Press, are a significant ingredient in the education of our young people. But we all know that the most important factor in a student's …
Article
A New Look at the Sower and the Seeds
This is the text of a reflection given at the opening prayer service of the school year. The concept is interesting and could work well in a classroom or retreat setting. Scattered them wildly about (see Matt. 13:1-53; Mark 4:1-34; …