LIFE NIGHT OVERVIEW
LOST ARK
A LIFE NIGHT ON SIN AND SALVATION
GOAL
The goal of Lost Ark is to understand Jesus as Savior and
Redeemer through the lens of Mary, the New Ark.
KEY CONCEPTS
• In the Old Testament, the Jewish people believed that
the Ark of the Covenant held the presence of God. Since
God is pure and holy, the Ark too had to remain pure and
untouched by sinful man. The purity of God could not mix
with the impureness of man.
• In the New Testament, we have a new ark, the Blessed Mother.
The new ark holds God Himself, Jesus. Mary would fittingly be
free from all sin to be a worthy vessel to bear God.
• Unfortunately, we all have sinned and are therefore
impure and unable to live in complete union with God. So,
God sent His Son to take on our punishment for sin.
ABOUT THIS LIFE NIGHT
The Life Night begins with a Gather dynamic that
demonstrates that some things just don’t mix. This leads
into the Proclaim, which teaches that holiness and sin do
not mix and that we must be made clean, through Jesus,
to be in perfect union with God. The Life Night concludes
with the opportunity for the teens to go to the Sacrament
of Reconciliation, be cleansed of sin, and restore their
relationship with God in a combined Break and Send.
ENVIRONMENT
Creatively set up tables around the room with different
things that don’t mix well. For example, set up tables with
white laundry and a red sock, socks and sandals, Pop
Rocks and soda, a Superman action figure and a rock that
is painted green (kryptonite), and a Yankee Baseball Cap
and a Red Socks baseball cap. Invite the teens to take a
photo of their favorite combination and post it on Twitter
or Instagram with the caption, “Some things just don’t
mix. #NewArk #Immaculata @LifeTeen.”
Display an image of Mary, the New Ark, in a central location.
Have fun, upbeat music in the background.
MEDIA SUGGESTIONS
“Examination of Conscience,” Life Teen Video Support 16.
KEY TERMS:
Ark of the Covenant
New Ark
Mercy
SCRIPTURE:
Genesis 3:15
2 Samuel 6:6-8
Romans 3:23
2 Corinthians 5:21
CATECHISM:
580
592
602-604
Roshan Jonah: “You, Sin, and the Christ – Simple Illustration.”
(youtube video)
“Oh The Deep, Deep Love Of Jesus,” Inheritance, Audrey
Assad, Fortunate Fall Records, February, 2016
“Simple Pursuit,” Passion, Melodie Malone, Sparrow
Records, January, 2016
“All We Sinners,” Passion, Crowder, Sparrow Records, January, 2016
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IMMACULATA SERIES
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SOCIAL MEDIA HASHTAGS: #NewArk #Mercy
LIFE NIGHT: LOST ARK
AS YOU GET STARTED...
For a simpler Gather, choose one “unfortunate mixture”
and make enough for every contestant.
For the Break and Send, if there are not enough priests for
the Sacrament of Reconciliation, guide the teens through
an Examination of Conscience and encourage them to go
the Sacrament of Reconciliation during the week. Be sure
to announce or even handout the Reconciliation schedule
or teach the teens how to access that information online.
HISPANIC INCULTURATION
By Ivan Garcia
“Diosito te va castigar” or “God will punish you” is a familiar
phrase for Hispanic children. “Don’t sin! If you sin, God will
punish you.” Another well-known phrase is, “Look at Jesus
on the cross. You did that to Him.”
Unfortunately, many Hispanic teens associate punishment
with God. This makes confessing sin and going to the
Sacrament of Reconciliation difficult. Teens expect
punishment, not mercy.
Be sure to address this, stressing that God does not desire
to punish us, but to show mercy to us. He wants to make
us clean. He wants the relationship between us and Him to
be restored. We should not be afraid of punishment, but
expect to receive mercy and reconciliation in the Sacrament
of Reconciliation.
Notes: ___________________________________________
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IMMACULATA SERIES
GATHER
Welcome and Prayer (5 min)
Gather the teens into the main meeting space. Welcome
them to the Life Night and begin in prayer.
A Series of Unfortunate Mixtures (15 min)
In advance, make the following “unfortunate mixtures.”
− Tuna in Jell-O
− Peanut butter and mayonnaise toast
− Hot sauce on a donut
− Milk and soda
− Anchovies on a cinnamon raisin bagel
Ask for five volunteers and welcome them to the front of
the room. Explain that they will be asked a question from
the previous Life Night and if they get the answer wrong
they will have to eat the “unfortunate mixture.” If they get
the question right, they get to choose who will eat the
“unfortunate mixture.”
For tuna in Jell-O the questions is…
What does Protoevangelium mean?
A: First Gospel
For peanut butter and mayonnaise toast the question is…
God said the serpent would strike at what part of the body?
A: Heel
For hot sauce on a donut the question is…
Who said the following quote, “The knot of Eve’s
disobedience was loosed by the obedience of Mary.”
A: St. Iraenaeus
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For milk and soda the question is…
True of False – Catholics worship Mary?
A: False
I invite you to be open to a genuine confession. Prayerfully
examine your conscience and faithfully turn back to Jesus
in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
For anchovies on a cinnamon raisin bagel the question is…
What do we mean when we say we can ask for Mary’s
intercession?
A: We ask her to bring our intentions to Jesus
“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was
bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement
that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed.”
(Isaiah 53:5)
PROCLAIM
Have Core Members pass out the Examination of
Conscience, found on the May 2016 Life Teen USB and
online at lifeteen.com under Life Support: May 2016,
and writing utensils. Then guide the teens through the
process of going to the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
“Lost Ark” Teaching (15 min)
The teaching for this Life Night is found on pages 34 to 40.
BREAK/SEND
Sacrament of Reconciliation (45 min)
Transition into the Send using the following:
Unfortunately, we all have sinned and fallen short of the
glory of God. I am a sinner. You are sinner.
(Romans 3:23)
Saint Paul in his letter to the Romans teaches, “the wages
of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in
Christ Jesus our Lord.”
(Romans 6:23)
We are going to have an opportunity to receive that
free gift. We are concluding this Life Night with the
opportunity to go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
During the Sacrament of Reconciliation we acknowledge
and ask for forgiveness of our sins and, through the power
of the graces won on the cross by Christ Jesus, receive
forgiveness and restore our relationship with God.
Going to confession can be difficult, especially if we feel
like we are confessing the same sins over and over. Be
assured – God never tires of forgiving us.
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IMMACULATA SERIES
Consider playing the songs recommended in the Media
Suggestions during this time. These are prayerful songs
that focus on God’s mercy and love.
After the teens receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation,
instruct them to go to the chapel to do penance and
pray. Have Core Members in the chapel available to talk
and pray with the teens.
In advance, ask your parish priest(s) to come and
administer the Sacrament of Reconciliation and inform
them of the content of the Life Night. If you have a large
youth group, ask your priest if they are willing to stay
past the normal end time of a Life Night. You could also
ask him to invite neighboring parish priests to assist him
in administering the sacrament.
When the parents drop off their teens, or in the
announcements after Mass, let them know that their teens
may want to stay late to participate in the Sacrament of
Reconciliation.
At the appropriate time, gather the teens together to
conclude the Life Night by praying the Memorare.
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PROCLAIM OUTLINE
LOST ARK
KEY TERMS
Ark of the Covenant: Contained the presence
of God, symbolized by the Manna, the Ten
Commandments, and Aaron’s Rod.
New Ark: The Immaculate Mary, Mother of God.
Mercy: The loving kindness or compassion shown to
one who offends.
TEACHING POINTS
THE ARK OF THE COVENANT
• In the Old Testament, God made a covenant (a promise)
with His children. He promised blessings to them and
their children if they obeyed His laws; but He also
warned of despair, punishment, and dispersion if they
were to disobey.
• As a sign of His covenant, God had the Israelites make
a chest from acacia wood, overlaid with gold, and
decorated with figures of angels. It was placed in the
innermost, most sacred dwelling, in the Temple that
only one selected high priest could enter once a year.
• It was not the outside of the Ark that made it holy,
but what was inside it. It contained the Manna, the
Ten Commandments, and Aaron’s Rod, all of which
symbolized God’s presence.
• Because the Ark of the Covenant contained the
presence of God, it had to be pure and untouched
by sinful man. The pureness of the divine could not
mix with the impureness of man.
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IMMACULATA SERIES
• In the New Testament, we have a new ark, the Blessed
Mother.
• Mary carried the fulfillment of the symbols found in
the Ark of the Covenant. Jesus is the true Bread from
Heaven replacing the Manna, the true High Priest
replacing Aaron’s Rod, and the fulfillment of the Law
replacing the Ten Commandments.
• The new ark contained more than the presence of God
but God Himself, Jesus. Mary accordingly needed to be
free from sin to be a worthy vessel to bear God in her
womb.
• To accomplish this, God applied the graces of
redemption, won for all humanity by Jesus on the cross
and transferred them to Mary, preserving her from
the stain of original sin. This is called the Immaculate
Conception.
THE PROBLEM OF SIN
• Just like Mary was preserved from the stain of sin,
immaculate, to be in union with Jesus, we too need
to be immaculate to live in perfect union with Him.
JESUS AND MERCY
• God the Father sent His son, Jesus. By Him, who
knew no sin, taking on our sin, we are made sinless,
immaculate.
• God is waiting for you to respond. You are face to
face with this Good News right now.
Notes: ___________________________________________
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PROCLAIM DETAILS
LOST ARK
TEACHING
THE ARK OF THE COVENANT
Like we saw in the Gather, some things just don’t mixoil and water, Yankee and Red Sox fans, Superman and
kryptonite. It just doesn’t work.
In the Old Testament, the Israelite’s Ark of the Covenant
demonstrates that the pureness of the divine could not
mix with the impureness of man.
The Manna: After being freed from their oppressors in
Egypt, yet still wandering in the desert in hopes of finding
the Promised Land, God’s people complained against
God, “at least in Egypt we had food to eat.” God heard
their cry and provided them with bread from heaven,
called Manna. The Manna is miracle bread sent by God
and represents God’s providence.
Exodus 16:4
The Ten Commandments: On this same journey, the leader
of God’s people, Moses, climbed Mt. Sinai and received
the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments were
inscribed by the finger of God and represent God’s law,
which guides us in living a peaceful life.
Deuteronomy 10:4-5
God made a covenant (a promise) with the children of Israel.
He promised blessings to them and their children if they
obeyed Him and His laws; but He also warned of despair,
punishment, and dispersion if they were to disobey.
Aaron’s Rod: Aaron was the first priest to lead God’s
people. Aaron’s rod represents the priestly office.
(Consider projecting an image of a replica of the Ark of
the Covenant.)
The presence of God in the form of a cloud also over
shadowed the Ark. This came to be known as the
“shekinah,” meaning Divine Presence or Divine Glory.
As a sign of His covenant, God had the Israelites make
a chest from acacia wood, overlaid with gold, and
decorated with figures of angels. It was placed in the
innermost, most sacred dwelling, in the Temple that only
one selected high priest could enter once a year; it was
more set apart than places we know we don’t belong
like the green room at a concert or the dugout at a
professional baseball game.
However, it was not the outside of the Ark that made
it holy, but what was inside it. It contained the Manna,
the Ten Commandments, and Aaron’s Rod, all of which
symbolized God’s presence.
Exodus 15:10-22
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(Consider projecting images of the Manna, Ten
Commandments, and Aaron’s Rod as they are being
explained.)
IMMACULATA SERIES
Hebrews 9:4, Exodus 30:30
Exodus 40: 35, 2 Chronicles 5:14
Because the Ark of the Covenant contained and was
surrounded by the presence of God, it had to be pure and
untouched by sinful man. If a person were to touch the
Ark, they would die. The pureness of the divine could not
mix with the impureness of man. When the Ark needed
to be moved, it was carried with long poles so human
hands never touched it. Only one occasion is recorded of
a person touching the Ark.
(Consider displaying the following passage on the projector
or having the teens open their Bibles and read along.)
When King David and his men were moving the Ark, “…
Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold
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of it, for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of the Lord
was kindled against Uzzah; and God struck him there
because he put forth his hand to the ark, and he died
there beside the ark of God.”
2 Samuel 6:6-8
Pastoral Note: A teen might ask, “Why would God strike down
someone who was trying to help?” Uzzah lacked faith that
God could take care of Himself. If he really believed the Ark
contained God’s presence, he would have trusted that nothing
bad would happen to the Ark and remained obedient to the
rules. We often make the same mistake.
THE NEW ARK
(Consider projecting an image of Mary, the New Ark, on the
projector.)
In the New Testament, we have a new ark. It is not an
inanimate object, but a person, the Blessed Mother. That
which made the ark holy, made the new ark even holier.
Mary carried the fulfillment of the symbols found in the
Ark of the Covenant. Jesus is the true Bread from Heaven
replacing the Manna, the true High Priest replacing
Aaron’s Rod, and the fulfillment of the Law replacing the
Ten Commandments.
Furthermore, the Holy Spirit overshadows Mary, like the
“shekinah” overshadowed the Ark of the Covenant.
Luke 1:34
The new ark contained more than the presence of God but
God Himself, Jesus. Mary accordingly needed to be free from
sin to be a worthy vessel to bear God in her womb.
To accomplish this, God applied the graces of redemption,
won for all humanity by Jesus on the cross and transferred
them to Mary, preserving her from the stain of original
sin. This is called the Immaculate Conception.
Think of it this way. You are walking down a path and
you fall into a deep, dark pit. Someone reaches in to pull
you out. The pit represents original sin and the action of
pulling you out saves you. Whoever pulls you out becomes
your “savior.” In Mary’s case, before she fell into the pit,
God intervened and lifted her over it. He preserved her
from the pain and the stain of sin. This was necessary to
bring Christ into the world.
THE PROBLEM OF SIN
The gravest consequence of original sin and our own personal
sin is that we have lost our ability to be in complete union
with God, which we are made for, both here on earth and for
eternity in Heaven.
Just like Mary was preserved from the stain of sin, immaculate,
to be in union with Jesus, we too need to be immaculate to
live in perfect union with Him. Unfortunately, we have all made
mistakes, sinned, and are therefore unable to live in perfect
union with God.
Romans 3:23
This is not only a problem for us, but also a problem for God
because He loves us and wants to be in union with us.
CCC 604
JUSTICE
Justice is giving one what is due to them. Law-breakers
deserve a punishment. It’s what is due to them.
A good and just judge is a judge who distributes justice.
For God to be a good and just judge, He can’t simply overlook
our sin. He loves us too much. He doesn’t want us to stay
in our filthiness. He wants us to be made clean, renewed.
Overlooking is the easy way. Addressing our sinfulness and
providing a way to be cleaned is the right, just way.
CCC 490, 492
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IMMACULATA SERIES
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JESUS AND MERCY
CORE TEAM OVERVIEW
So God sends His Son to take on what’s due to us, our
punishment for sin, which is death.
Romans 6:23, John 3:16, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
Jesus fulfills the law. He takes the just punishment upon
Himself. His death redeems the transgressions against the law.
CCC 580, 592
From this justice, comes our mercy. By His stripes, we are
healed. By Him, who knew no sin, taking on our sin, we
are made sinless, immaculate.
2 Corinthians 5:21, Isaiah 53:5, CCC 602-603
(Consider projecting Rembrandt’s “Christ on the Cross”
on the projector and taking a moment of silence to thank
Jesus for taking on the punishment of our sin.)
It is our calling to strive for holiness. We fall. We ask for
forgiveness. We get back up again. We keep turning back
to Jesus and He keeps welcoming us home. A saint is
only a sinner who gets up one last time.
This is our journey. This how we become saints and live
the great abundant life Jesus has for us. Far better to be
aware of our faults, feel that shame, be convicted that we
are made for more and turn to Jesus than live a numb life
void of meaning and purpose.
John 10:10
God is waiting for you to respond. He has sent His Son
who took on your sin and died so that you might live. You
are face to face with this Good News right now. Whether
it’s the first time you have heard it or the millionth time,
you are here today, confronting it now. How do you
respond? Will you be like Mary and say “yes” to God’s
will for your life? Will you say “yes” to the invitation to
return to the Lord and be made clean in the Sacrament
of Reconciliation?
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IMMACULATA SERIES
LOST ARK: A Life Night on Sin and Salvation
GOAL: The goal of this Life Night is to understand Jesus as
Savior and Redeemer through the lens of Mary, the New Ark.
GATHER (20 MINS):
Welcome and Prayer: _______________________________
A Series of Unfortunate Mixtures: _____________________
PROCLAIM (15 MINS):
“Lost Ark” Teaching: _______________________________
BREAK / SEND (40 MINS):
Sacrament of Reconciliation: _________________________
Notes: __________________________________________
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