✝️ Lesson 7 – Living as a Disciple: Faith in Action

---

📍 Lesson Goals

By the end of this lesson, students will:

• Understand what it means to be a disciple of Christ in the modern world.

• Learn how to live out their Catholic faith through choices, service, and love.

• Recognize the importance of moral conscience, virtue, and the works of mercy.

• Be challenged to create a personal faith mission — a way of following Jesus daily.

---

🕯️ 1. Opening Prayer

“Lord Jesus, You called Your disciples to leave everything and follow You. Give us the courage to do the same in our own lives. Teach us to love what You love, to serve as You served, and to walk in Your truth always. Amen.”

---

✝️ 2. What Is a Disciple?

A disciple is not just someone who believes in Jesus — it’s someone who follows Him.
The word comes from the Latin discipulus, meaning “student” or “learner.”

To be a disciple is to live like Jesus, think like Jesus, and love like Jesus — not only at church, but everywhere: at school, at work, online, and in your home.

📖 Luke 9:23

“If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”

💭 Reflection: Discipleship means not only believing in the Cross — but carrying it.

---

🔥 3. Living Faith, Not Just Knowing It

Faith is not meant to stay in your head; it must reach your hands and heart.
The world doesn’t need more people who know about Jesus — it needs people who live like Jesus.

📖 James 2:17

“Faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.”

This doesn’t mean we earn salvation — it means our love for God naturally overflows into loving others.

Examples of living faith:

• Helping a classmate who feels left out.

• Standing up for truth when it’s unpopular.

• Forgiving when others hold grudges.

• Praying for those who hurt you.

• Volunteering time for someone in need.

Faith becomes visible through your actions.

---

🧭 4. The Moral Compass: Forming Conscience

God has written His law in every human heart — that inner voice that helps you choose good and avoid evil. That voice is called your conscience.

📖 Romans 2:15

“They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts.”

But conscience must be formed — guided by:

• Scripture

• The teachings of the Church

• Prayer and reflection

• Confession

💬 The more you listen to God, the clearer your conscience becomes — like cleaning the glass through which light shines.

---

🌿 5. Virtue: The Habit of Holiness

Virtues are the spiritual muscles that make it easier to do good and resist evil.
There are four cardinal virtues and three theological virtues.

✧ The Cardinal Virtues (human virtues)

1. Prudence – Knowing what’s right and choosing it wisely.

2. Justice – Giving each person what they deserve.

3. Fortitude – Courage to do good even when it’s hard.

4. Temperance – Balance and self-control.

✧ The Theological Virtues (divine gifts)

1. Faith – Believing in God and His promises.

2. Hope – Trusting in His plan, even in darkness.

3. Charity (Love) – Loving God and neighbor above all.

📖 1 Corinthians 13:13

“And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

💭 Virtues aren’t rules — they are habits that make your soul free and joyful.

---

❤️ 6. The Works of Mercy: Love in Motion

Jesus showed that faith must express itself in compassionate action.
The Church teaches 14 Works of Mercy — divided into Corporal (physical) and Spiritual (soul-based).

✧ Corporal Works of Mercy

1. Feed the hungry

2. Give drink to the thirsty

3. Clothe the naked

4. Shelter the homeless

5. Visit the sick

6. Visit the imprisoned

7. Bury the dead

✧ Spiritual Works of Mercy

1. Instruct the ignorant

2. Counsel the doubtful

3. Admonish sinners

4. Bear wrongs patiently

5. Forgive offenses willingly

6. Comfort the sorrowful

7. Pray for the living and the dead

💡 Each act of mercy makes Christ visible in you — His hands, His heart, His eyes.

📖 Matthew 25:40

“Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of Mine, you did for Me.”

---

🌎 7. Evangelizing with Love

You don’t have to be a preacher to spread the Gospel — you can do it through your attitude, joy, and kindness.
Teens evangelize best not by arguing, but by shining.

St. Francis of Assisi said:

“Preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary, use words.”

💬 In a noisy, confused world, holiness itself is the loudest sermon.

---

🕊️ 8. Creating a Personal Faith Mission

Encourage each teen to create their own “Faith Mission Statement.”
It can be one paragraph or a few sentences beginning with:

“As a disciple of Jesus, I will…”

Example:

“As a disciple of Jesus, I will live honestly, forgive quickly, serve others before myself, and seek God’s will every day.”

This statement becomes their compass — a personal creed to guide decisions and purpose.

---

🫀 9. Reflection & Discussion

Reflect & Discuss:

1. What does “taking up your cross daily” mean to you personally?

2. Which virtue do you need to strengthen right now?

3. What is one small way you can serve or show mercy this week?

4. Write your own Faith Mission Statement.

---

🙏 10. Closing Prayer

“Jesus, You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Help us to walk in Your steps, to love as You love,
to forgive as You forgive, and to serve as You served.
May our words and actions bring Your light to others.
Strengthen our hearts to be true disciples — today and always. Amen.”

---

✅ Summary of Key Takeaways

• A disciple is not just a believer but a follower — one who lives the Gospel daily.

• Faith and works go together: love proves our faith is real.

• A well-formed conscience and strong virtues guide moral choices.

• The Works of Mercy are the practical way we imitate Jesus.

• Every believer has a personal mission: to bring Christ to the world through love.

---

🌟 End of 7-Day Catechism Series: "Rooted in Light" 🌟

You now have a complete Catholic Faith Foundation Course for Teens (16–18).
It covers:

1. Creation and purpose

2. Christ’s identity

3. The Church

4. The Sacraments

5. The Saints

6. Prayer and Scripture

7. Living Faith in Action