Apologetics Skit for Teens?

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FutureSaint

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I have a teen in the 2-year confirmation program at our local parish. The program is very touchy-feely—I guess I have Jesuit streak in me—with lots of activities in the meeting room but little that’s specifically Catholic. (It’s a wide mix. From those like my son who went to 8 years of Catholic school to a girl who didn’t know what the Trinity was. Sad.)

I’m concerned that these kids are woefully unprepared for the questions that will be coming at them in college from protestant students. (Atheists may be a bigger challenge.) I think the confirmation participants would probably benefit from a 5-minute apologetics skit at the end, even if it’s just two presenting kids sitting down facing each other and reading from a script.

Are there any programs already developed for such a thing, or do I have to make up my own program? (I must have an apologetics book kicking around somewhere.)

Probably 75% of these kids in 5 years won’t be going to mass. If we can keep even one more going and make the rest think just a bit more, it’d be worth it.
 
Trust me on this: If you try to focus on the love of god for these kids in college, the atheists will destroy their faith.

As much as I hate to say this, focus on doing good. Ignore God to a certain extent and focus on being good and doing good things via their faith.

If you focus on skits that talk about the love of god or someone finding Christ, it won’t do them a lick of good when they move out.
 
How old are these students? When you say your son has had 8 years of Catholic school, it sounds like they might be 9th/10th graders? If so, I am not surprised they aren’t ready for College. Give them a couple of years to mature and grow up.

For skits, there are cards available called “Friendly Defenders.” They are question and answer cards designed for children but would be great to use as skits for anyone preparing to defend the faith.

I would hand one out to each student, have them research and be ready to defend that question. The card gives Bible and Catechism references, so they would have a place to start.

On the day of the skit, any child could play the role of questioner. But the person assigned would have to defend the belief/teaching.
 
Thanks for the suggestions, I will check out the videos and cards.

Yes, they are 9th and 10th graders.

TheFlipSide, curious, how would you implement what you suggest?
 
Don’t water down ANYTHING. At that age I wanted something to Believe in, I wanted something to LIVE for… I wanted something worth DIEING FOR!

Don’t treat them different than college kids. Tell them strait out that statistics show that 85% of them will become non-Catholic in a few years.

TELL THEM WHY THAT IS BAD! Then Tell them why it is GREAT to be a Catholic!

Get “Why Be Catholic” by Tim Staples

Tell them that the Enemy will attack them from every direction (sex, objectifying others, greed, materialism, appathy, secular humanism, RELATIVISM!!!,)

But most of all teach them HOW to have a relationship with Jesus! Teach them that the Sacraments, the 3 levels of prayer, that the Corporal Works of Mercy and the Spiritual Works of Mercy, Scripture ( and Lectio Divina), the Catechism, the Church documents, the Early Church Fathers, The communion of Saints (militant, suffering and Triumphant!)… ARE ALL WAYS TO EXPERIENCE JESUS!

Our Catholic youth are in a dual crisis: a Crisis of Catechesis (they don’t know what the Church teaches) and of EVANGELIZATION! (Our youth don’t know Jesus or how to experience Him!)

Don’t treat them as “kids”. Talk to them as Adults. Teach them as Adults. Don’t shy away from any of the “Extra Catholic” stuff either. Tell them about the Eucharistic Miracles, Teach the Rosary, icons, veneration of Saints, relics etc etc etc.

Look to Catholic Answers for the respose to those questions you’re going to get: “If God is all Good and All Powerful, why would He allow suffering?” Etc…

This is a huge opportunity to plant the seeds of a future Oak-tree-sized faith!

God Bless :signofcross:
 
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