Image
March 26th, 2017
Purpose: To remind the teens that they are made in God’s image.
Reminders before class:
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Cut the “10 Truths Middle Schoolers Should Know” sheets
Make sure videos are queued up and working
Be prepared for any emotional responses the teens might have. Tonight could be a sensitive subject for
some of the teens.
What Devyn Needs to Prepare:
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Put videos on the website
Notebook paper in all the rooms
Small slips of paper for the prayer boxes
Outline:
5:30-6:30pm: Youth Mass
6:30-7:00pm: Snacks, icebreaker, opening prayer in dining room
7:00-7:10pm: Gather Time in classroom
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Welcome the teens
Take attendance
Ask the teens if they have thought about the Virtus program from last week and if they have any new
insights on the issues
7:10-7:15pm: Introduction to the night
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Tell the teens that tonight we will be talking about how we are made in God’s image.
Pass out Bibles and have all the teens read Genesis 1:24-27.
o Then read the “In God’s Image” Pray It (purple box) on page 7 of The Catholic Youth Bible. If
you do not have the Catholic Youth Bible version then read the reflection below
 “God does not make mistakes; people do. Some people might be tempted to deny their
racial heritage, to even change their physical appearance in order to fit into the latest fad
or the dominant cultural image of beauty. We must remember that physical features are
not accidents. God planned for them- we are all made in God’s image.
 If we are to authentically love e ourselves, we must love our whole selves. This includes
a love for dark skin or light skin; straight hair or tight curly hair; wide nose or pug nose;
and all the variation in between. Whatever our appearance, we are all blessed of God.
 Dear God, I praise you for who I am on the inside and on the outside. Amen.”
Tell the teens that tonight we will be answering questions like:
o Why did God make me like I am?
o How can I be more self-confident?
o How can I remind myself that God made everyone in His image?
7:15-7:25pm: Be comfortable with who you are
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Discuss with the teens the following questions:
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o Who here would change something about your appearance? What would you change?
o Do you feel like your friends compliment you or criticize you more? What about you to your
friends?
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Who has a hard time looking into a mirror for an extended period of time? Why?
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At school are you more likely to be complimented or made fun of?
Watch the video “Dove Real Beauty Sketches\ You’re more beautiful than you think” by Dove US
[6:35]
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=litXW91UauE
Discuss the following questions:
o Why do you think it’s harder to describe yourself nicely?
o How do you think people would describe you?
o Is it easier for boys or girls to feel better about themselves? Why do you think one way or the
other?
7:25-7:40pm: Standards
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Tell the teens that we will be talking about standards that society has for different people.
o Write the words “boys/men” on the left side of your board and “girls/ women” on the right side
of the board.
o Have the teens yell out different standards that each group is expected to uphold. For example,
men should have big muscles or girls should have pretty hair.
o Fill in your lists on the board.
Have the teens open their Bibles and find 1 Samuel 16:7
o Discuss that it means when the Lord says He looks into the heart, not the appearance
Have the teens take turns reading Psalm 139 out loud.
o Discuss what hope this Psalm gives them.
o Point out parts in this Psalm that show the teens are made with and for a purpose.
Tell the teens that you will be replacing each of the “standards” listed on the board with something that
God has in mind for us, not society. Have them brainstorm and yell out visions that God has for us.
o For example, erase “big muscles” and put “big heart.” Instead of “pretty hair” put peaceful.
Watch the video “Comfortable: 50 People 1 Question” by Jubilee Project [4:13]
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0tEcxLDDd4
Remind the teens that our imagination can be helpful and hurtful. We need to imagine and visualize the
good within ourselves!
7:40-8:00pm: Feel Good Activity
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Give each of the teens a piece of notebook paper. Tell them to write their name at the top of the list.
o Tell the teens that we are going to pass the list around the room and you are going to write one
nice thing about the person on the list.
o Remind the teens that we have been in class with each other for a long time now, so we should
be genuine and sincere and really tell each other what we see in them.
o Remind the teens that when the papers get all the way back around the room we will have over
15 things that are nice about us to remind us how special we are.
After each teen has their own list back give them a minute to read it over and then have them work on
the “In His Image” worksheet in their folders.
8:00-8:15pm: 10 Truths Middle Schoolers Should Know
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Cut the 10 truths worksheets out and give to 10 different teens to read out loud.
Have them stand up and read them with confidence. Start with truth #10 and work your way down to 1.
You can take time to discuss them after each reading if you feel it is important.
These truths come from the Huffington Post article from 8/7/15 found here:
o http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kari-kubiszyn-kampakis/10-truths-middle-schoolers-shouldknow_b_7945386.html?te=ScaryMommy
8:15-8:30pm: Closing Prayer
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Show the video “Stethoscope” by Stephen Corbett [2:19]
o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYI_aOyCn9Y
Have 3 teens re-read the Bible passages we read earlier
o Genesis 1:24-27
o 1 Samuel 16:7
o Psalm 139
Hand out slips of paper to each of the teens. Have them write a prayer about their self-image on the slip.
o If you have time, and the teens are comfortable, have them read them out loud before putting
them in the prayer box. If not, just have the teens take turns putting them in the prayer box.
Say the following:
o “Lord, we know that we are made in your image and likeness. Help us to remember how loved
and beautiful we are. Help us to be like you and remember that you live within us. Help us to
see the good in others as well as ourselves. Give us the strength to trust in your plan and your
vision for us. Amen.”
Tell the teens to have a great week!
Truth #10: Today’s most awkward moments will be tomorrow’s funniest memories. Keep a
sense of humor whenever possible.
Those braces on your teeth that collect food? That acne on your face that miracle creams can’t cure?
That giddy rush you get when your crush walks by, and you can’t think, talk, or see straight? One day
these things will be really funny! They’ll be the memories you rehash again and again with your
siblings and oldest friends.
It takes time, but as you gain confidence, your awkward moments become fun to share. You’ll readily
admit yours and laugh at the comedy and conversation that result.
Eventually you’ll have a dazzling smile, clear skin, and someone to love. Your current problems will
have closure. So stay mindful of the big picture, and remember that even your worst experiences will
pass.
Truth #9: You don’t want to peak in middle school (or high school or college, for that
matter). The worst goal you can have is popularity. Because what often makes adolescents popular
— running with the fast crowd, dominating your peers, living a superficial lifestyle — eventually leads
to problems.
A truly successful person gets better with time. You go from being version 1.0 of yourself to version
2.0, 4.0, 6.0, and so on. But when you chase popularity, you peak early. You stop growing and
improving because you’re stuck in instant gratification mode, looking for quick fixes to satisfy your
needs.
Make it your goal to peak later in life. Make good choices that set you up for a bright future. If you’re
not a superstar now, that’s OK. This simply means there are better things ahead as you continue to
evolve and learn.
Truth #8: Technology makes it easier than ever to ruin relationships and reputations. We live in
an age where people post everything online — feelings, emotions, and pictures. I love technology
when it’s used wisely, but too often, it’s used impulsively. We let our fingers jump ahead of our brains,
and within seconds, we can trigger hurt, misunderstandings, and serious issues.
So please, think twice before texting, emailing, or posting on social media. Cool off before giving
someone a piece of your mind, venting, jumping to conclusions, reacting out of jealousy or anger,
embarrassing someone, or sending an inappropriate photo. Use the Internet for good, not as a
dumping ground.
And when you have an issue with a friend, call instead of sending texts. It’s easy to put in writing what
you’d never say in person, or to interpret a message the wrong way, and the tension this adds to a
relationship is hard to recover from.
Truth #6: What makes you different is what makes you great. Middle school is largely about
conformity. I see this firsthand because I live near a middle school, and over time I’ve noticed how all
the kids dress alike, walk alike, and act alike.
Meanwhile, at my children’s elementary school, I see authenticity and diverse personalities because
the kids don’t yet know how to be anything but themselves. It saddens me to know that they, too, will
eventually feel pressured to hide what makes them unique.
You’ll never influence the world by trying to be like everyone else in it. You’ll never find your calling by
following the crowd. God made you different for a reason, and what sets you apart plays into His plan
for you. So listen to that quiet voice inside you and remember yourself as a child. Cling to the
passions you had in your early years, because they hold more answers than you know
Truth #7: Surrounding yourself with good company is imperative. There’s an old saying that’s
particularly relevant to your age group: “Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future.”
Yes, you’re called to love everyone, but not everyone deserves a place in your innermost circle.
Some people you love up close and personal, and others you love at arm’s length because inviting
them into your life invites disaster.
Sooner or later, a bad influence will rub off. You’ll either make choices against your better judgment
or wind up in a predicament. As a mom I know told her daughter, she once went out with a guy who
was very sweet to her but also wild. She didn’t see the issue until they had their first date — and he
took her to a drug dealer’s house.
She told her daughter, “Even though I was innocent, I would have gone to jail if the police had come. I
was guilty by association just by being there.” Good friends lift you up. They don’t put you in risky or
compromising situations. To become the best version of yourself, you need friends who hold
themselves to high standards and want you to reach your full potential, too.
Truth #1: You’re AWESOME. Truly, you are. All these crazy changes are leading to something
amazing. In the grand scheme of life, middle school is only a blip, so keep it in check. Have fun,
dream big, and make good choices. One day you’ll look back and laugh at the absurdities of this
stage, and, if you’re lucky, you’ll enjoy a lot of humor now.
Truth #5: It’s OK not to have your life planned out. It’s OK if you haven’t discovered your
“thing.” Chances are, you know kids with immense talent and drive. They’ve trained for years in their
area of expertise, and they know exactly what they want in life.
Deep down you may be envious and uncomfortable, because you fear you’re getting left behind. You
wonder why they have their act together — and you don’t.
But even the best-laid plans will face curveballs. Even the most driven kids will wind up on different
paths from those they had originally envisioned. So if your future isn’t mapped out by ninth grade,
take heart! You’re still young and have plenty of time to discover what you were born to do. Just set
goals for yourself, use your gifts, and head in a good direction. Set a positive trajectory so that when
you do discover your thing, you’re ready to soar.
Truth #4: Your uniform is not your identity. Labels are big in middle school, and there’s a
confidence that comes from wearing a football jersey, cheerleader uniform, or other type of team
attire.
But remember that having a uniform — or even designer clothes — doesn’t increase your worth.
You’re special because of who you are, not what you put on your body or what you achieve.
Overnight you can lose your place on a team. You can lose your talents, your wardrobe, your
relationships, even your Instagram account. But if you base your identity on the one thing you’ll never
lose — God’s love — your foundation is unshakable. You’ll still be standing even if you lose every
earthly trapping this world says is important.
Truth #3: Applause can be misleading. You can make a huge mistake and still get cheered on
wildly. Through social media, popularity is now quantifiable. You can gauge your performance by
how many “likes,” comments, and shares you get.
But remember, numbers alone can be misleading. To get the full picture, you need to measure
numbers against the truth. The best applause to live for is the quiet peace inside you. What makes
you feel good about yourself? What helps you rest easy at night? Criticizing someone to bring them
down or make people laugh won’t bring you peace. Neither will watching someone else beat up on a
kid as the crowd cheers him on.
You know the truth by how you feel deep down. And when you seek your applause from within, you
don’t need the applause of public approval.
Truth #2: There’s a difference between helpful advice and criticism that holds you back. Be
careful who you listen to. Some people want you to succeed. Others don’t. Develop a strong filter
for whose words you take to heart — and whose words you ignore.
Some questions to ask yourself are: Do I trust this person? Are they respectable? Do they practice
what they preach? Are they the kind of person I hope to become? Do they recognize my talent and
potential and encourage me, or do they drag me down by harping on where I fall short?
How others talk to you influences how you talk to yourself. And since that voice in your head impacts
your confidence, determination, and willingness to take risks, you want people in your life who speak
the truth in love and always with your best interest in mind.
I am Fearfully and Wonderfully
made.
On the left side of the table write down the criticisms that you or others have said of you.
On the right side of the table fill in the compliments that your classmates gave you or look up some Bible Verses
that speak about your self-worth.
Matthew 5:14-6, Matthew 6:26, Luke 11:28, John 8:31, Romans 8:16-17, 1 Corinthians 12:27, 1 Corinthians 6:16,
Ephesians 2:10, Philippians 2:15, 1 Peter 2:9, Psalm 139, Genesis 1:24-27, Samuel 16:7
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