Discussion starters on 6 topics with a youth group

In place of a talk or video to launch a session of reflection, these sets of questions are a good way to stimulate teenagers to share their views and for an animator to guide them to truth having listened to them

Discussion starters on 6 topics with a youth group

JUST HOW CATHOLIC / CHRISTIAN ARE YOU ?!

1. It is possible to be a good Christian without belonging to any particular parish. Yes No ?

2. The faith taught in the Catholic Church is the most authentic of the Christian faiths. Yes No ?

  1. The Church is too authoritarian and not democratic enough. Yes No
  2. I am happy to have the Pope as a leader and guide.   Yes No ?

 5. I depend on the Church to help me interpret scripture correctly. Yes No ?

 6. You don't have to be a Christian/Catholic to go to heaven but it is an advantage. Yes No ?

 7. Being Catholic means that I am already "born again"! Yes No ?

 8. I would be prepared to suffer and even die for my beliefs. Yes No ?

 9. Our happiness in the afterlife will depend on the kind of life we will have 

                                                                       lived while on earth.                Yes  No   ?

  1. We are able to further the salvation both of the living and the dead by acts 

                                                of penance and sacrifice, and by prayer.         Yes No   ?

  1. Even if I don't feel like it, l need to make the effort to attend Mass every Sunday. Yes No ?
  2. Children should be baptised soon after their birth.  Yes No ?
  3. In the Eucharist what I receive is the actual body and blood of Christ. Yes No ?
  4. Catholics are fortunate to have the sacrament of reconciliation (confession). Yes No ?
  5. It is important to me that if possible I should receive the last rites

                                                (anointing of the sick) shortly before I die.                              Yes No ?

  1. It is in accordance with God's law that the Catholic Church forbids divorce and remarriage.                                                                     Yes No ?
  1. The Church is right in its teaching regarding artificial contraception.                           Yes No ?
  2. I cannot understand why or agree with the rule that priests and nuns can not marry.    Yes No ?
  3. What makes Catholic Bishops and priests special ministers is that they can trace their ordination all the way back to the apostles.                                                                                        Yes No ?
  1. Devotion to Mary is of importance to my faith                                                           Yes No ?

21.The Church is not strict enough regarding smoking, drinking, dancing, gambling, dating…Yes No ?

22. Abortion is never justifiable and is definitely murder.                                         Yes No ?

23. I believe that women should also have access to ordination as priests.              Yes No ?

24. My catholic “culture” is more important to me than my national / ethnic culture.    Yes No ?

25. The seven sacraments are key steps to my salvation.                                          Yes No ?

 

Just How committed to the CHURCH are you?

 Y  N  ?  - The church is gradually being led to the perfect/complete truth.

 Y  N  ?  - The church like any organization exists for the good of its members.

 Y  N  ?  - The church is Christ still alive in the world today.

 Y  N  ?  - Every Christian shares responsibility for the guidance of the Church.

 Y  N  ?  - Being born into a catholic family makes one a Christian

 Y  N  ?  - Conversion must continue to take place everyday of one’s life.

 Y  N  ?  - A Christian must always follow his/her conscience.

 Y  N  ?  - Loving one another is not as important as worshipping God sincerely.

 Y  N  ?  - A Christian is one who cannot live for him/her-self only.

 Y  N  ?  - A very good moral life can take the place of a faith-filled life.

 Y  N  ?  - Faith can be measured by how much we act on God’s word.

 Y  N  ?  - We can get faith simply by studying a course in theology.

 Y  N  ?  - Reading the bible automatically increases one’s faith.

 Y  N  ?  - Faith is a gift of God which must be asked for in prayer.

 Y  N  ?  - Without receiving the Holy Spirit, it is impossible to be a full Christian.

 Y  N  ?  - It is by his/her own efforts that a Christian manages to love God and neighbour.

 Y  N  ?  - If we listen to the Holy Spirit, we will know what to really ask for in prayer.

 Y  N  ?  - Our attitude to suffering is a good indication of what kind of faith we have.

 Y  N  ?  - The pope knows all the answers.

 Y  N  ?  - The scriptures tell us nothing about the intercession of the saints.

 Y  N  ?  - It is no use praying for those who have died.

 Y  N  ?  - Anything in the church can eventually change.

 Y  N  ?  - Changes in church law endangers the faith of catholics/christians

                                                 

Just How Committed are You to your Faith?

[If you agree, circle the YES; if you disagree, circle the NO; if you are unsure, circle the ?]

 I have a deep relationship with Jesus and he plays an important role in my life. Yes No  ?

  1. I attend mass every week even when I don't feel like it. Yes No  ?
  2. I would be prepared to suffer and even die for my beliefs. Yes No  ?
  3. I go to confession regularly. Yes No  ?
  4. When people see me, I remind them of Jesus Christ. Yes No  ?
  5. I am as keen to learn about my faith as even my best subject at school. Yes No  ?
  6. If I found myself in Church on Sunday with only a $10.00 note in my pocket,

            I would be ready to offer it at the collection time.                                                 Yes  No  ?

  1. I believe that God has a special purpose for me and I don't just ask myself-"What

            do I want to do?" but also-"What does God want me to do with my life?"          Yes  No  ?

  1. I would like to be a priest or sister or brother one day. Yes No  ?
  2. I am a Catholic just because that is how I was brought up at home. Yes No  ?
  3. I try to be a good example to my friends of what it means to be a Christian. Yes No  ?

  

                               Just what do you know about the Bible?

Y   N   ?   - The Bible is a record of humanity’s search for GOD.

Y   N   ?   - The Bible is like a scientific textbook when it describes the origin of the world.

Y   N   ?   - The Bible is primarily a factual history of the Jewish people.

Y   N   ?   - The Bible contains detailed answers to all human questions.       

Y   N   ?   - The Bible needs to be interpreted literally.

Y   N   ?   - The main thrust of the Bible is the description of what is right and what is wrong.

Y   N   ?   - Every part of the Bible has the same level of importance as every other part.

Y   N   ?   - One needs to read the Bible as a spectator rather than as a participant.

Y   N   ?   - The Bible was dictated by God to various prophets and assembled over a few years.

Y   N   ?   - All the writings in the Bible are a response to GOD's activity and concern for his people.

Y   N   ?   - The Bible can prove the existence of GOD

Y   N   ?   - A person's job in studying the Bible is to learn to ask the right question's.

Y   N   ?   - The Bible is a record of history without interruption.

Y   N   ?   - There is no other truth about GOD than what is disclosed in the Bible.

Y   N   ?   - The Old Testament has no relevance for today.

Y   N   ?   - The Bible is basically one story - that of GOD's search for communion with us.

 

                              Just How SEXY are you?

 [Circle YES if you agree, NO if you disagree, the ? if you think it is either or neither!]

 1. I'm embarrassed to talk about sex with my parents.                            Yes  No  ?

2. Good looks and sex appeal are more important to me than personality and values in my boy/girl friend.                                                                                                                      Yes  No  ?

3. Girls have different expectations of their boyfriends than boys have of their girlfriends.                                                                                                       Yes  No  ?

  1. Guys have a far more casual attitude to sex than girls.                Yes  No  ?
  2. Masturbation is wrong and it is unhealthy.                                      Yes  No  ?
  3. You don't have to be in love to have sex with someone just as long as it is safe.                                                                                                                                       Yes No  ?
  1. It is important for me that until our wedding day my fiancé(e) and I should be virgins.                                                                                                                                  Yes  No  ?
  1. AIDS is God's way and nature's way of warning us that the laws of morality must be obeyed.                                                                                                                     Yes  No  ?
  1. A life without sex is a life without love and is very dull.                   Yes No  ?
  2. Priests, brothers and nuns have hang-ups about sex.                     Yes No  ?

 

Just how good a leader are you?

 Y  N  ?  -  I acknowledge my mistakes and I assume responsibility for their consequences

Y  N  ?  -  I can adapt to sudden program changes

Y  N  ?  -  I can take criticism

Y  N  ?  -  I can defend my values

Y  N  ?  -  I can identify the needs of others in the team

Y  N  ?  -  I am able to communicate clearly

Y  N  ?  -  I do not have favourites

Y  N  ?  -  I encourage shy members to participate

Y  N  ?  -  I enjoy spending time among the youth

Y  N  ?  -  I contact the parents of the members of the group

Y  N  ?  -  I have a good sense of humour

Y  N  ?  -  I make an effort to make new members feel welcome

Y  N  ?  -  I understand each one of my team members

Y  N  ?  -  I am prepared to sacrifice my agenda for that of the team

Y  N  ?  -  I do not expect any member to do anything which I’m not prepared to do myself

Y  N  ?  -  I am open to advice

Y  N  ?  -  I consult team members and involve them in decision making

Y  N  ?  -  I make allowances for differences in team members

Y  N  ?  -  I am self-disciplined and I can inspire discipline to the team

Y  N  ?  -  I lead by example

Y  N  ?  -  I can solve / resolve conflicts which arise between team members

Y  N  ?  -  I am punctual and keep appointments

Y  N  ?  -  I am able to maintain proper records of happenings

Y  N  ?  -  I am trustworthy and reliable

 

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