Just Teach Sheet – Teens December Week 2 2025

Teen Track – Just Teach Sheet

December Week 2 (2025)
Theme: Advent & Preparation
Focus: John the Baptist – Conversion of Heart
Audience: Teens (13–18) — Faith Formation / Confirmation

Weekly Goal

To help you understand that Advent is a call to conversion, not just preparation for Christmas.
John the Baptist teaches that meeting Christ requires honesty about sin, courage to change, and a life that shows real fruit.

What You’ll Need

This sheet

A Bible

A quiet place for reflection

Optional: Advent candle

Opening Prayer (Daily)

Lord Jesus,
You send prophets to wake us up.
Give me the courage to hear the truth,
to turn away from sin,
and to prepare my heart for You.
Help me not just to look ready,
but to be ready.
Amen.

Day 1 – A Voice That Wakes People Up

Teaching
John the Baptist didn’t try to be popular.
He lived simply, spoke clearly, and told people what they needed to hear — not what they wanted to hear.
He called people out of comfort and into conversion.

Luke 3:4 – “A voice crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord.”

Mini Homily Reflection
Sometimes God speaks through people who disturb us.
John reminds us that real love doesn’t flatter — it tells the truth so we can change.

Ask yourself

When have I ignored truth because it was uncomfortable?

Who challenges me to be better rather than just feel good?

Practice
Spend five minutes in silence today. Ask:

“Lord, what are You asking me to change?”

Day 2 – What Conversion Really Means

Teaching
The word repent means “to turn around.”
Conversion isn’t about guilt or fear — it’s about choosing a better direction and walking toward Christ.

Luke 3:8 – “Bear fruits worthy of repentance.”
CCC 1428: “Jesus’ call to conversion continues to resound in the lives of Christians.”

Mini Homily Reflection
God doesn’t ask us to pretend we’re perfect.
He asks us to be honest — and then He gives us the grace to change.

Ask yourself

What habit or attitude pulls me away from God?

What would turning around look like in real life?

Practice
Write one concrete change you can make this week. Keep it realistic and specific.

Day 3 – Faith Must Show in Action

Teaching
When people asked John what to do, he gave practical answers:
share, be honest, stop abusing power.
Faith that doesn’t change how we live isn’t real faith.

Luke 3:10–14

Mini Homily Reflection
God doesn’t measure faith by emotions, but by obedience.
Small acts of justice and charity prepare the road for Christ.

Ask yourself

Does my faith change how I treat people?

Where am I tempted to be selfish or dishonest?

Practice
Choose one act of generosity this week that costs you time, comfort, or pride.

Day 4 – “He Must Increase, I Must Decrease”

Teaching
John knew his role: he wasn’t the Messiah.
His joy was pointing others to Jesus, even when it meant stepping aside.

John 3:30 – “He must increase; I must decrease.”

Mini Homily Reflection
Humility isn’t thinking less of yourself — it’s thinking less about yourself.
Advent teaches us to make room for Christ, not our ego.

Ask yourself

Where do I want attention instead of pointing to God?

What would it mean to let Christ take centre stage in my life?

Practice
Today, deliberately let someone else go first — in conversation, credit, or choice.

Day 5 – Preparing for a Real Meeting

Teaching
John prepared people for a real encounter with a real Person.
Jesus isn’t an idea or tradition — He is Lord.
Meeting Him changes everything.

Matthew 3:11 – “He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

Mini Homily Reflection
Fire doesn’t destroy what is good — it burns away what doesn’t belong.
Christ’s coming is meant to purify, not to punish.

Ask yourself

If I met Jesus today, what would I want to change first?

Am I actually preparing, or just going through the motions?

Practice
End today with this prayer:

“Jesus, burn away what keeps me from You.”

Weekend Wrap-Up – What We Learned

John the Baptist calls us to conversion, not comfort.

Repentance means real change, not just words.

Faith must show itself in action.

Humility makes room for Christ.

Advent prepares us for a real encounter with Jesus.

Reflection prompts

“One change I need to make this Advent is…”

“John the Baptist challenges me by…”

Journal Prompts

“What does honesty with God look like for me?”

“What kind of person do I want Christ to find me becoming?”

Apologetics

“Why talk about sin at Christmas?”
→ Because grace heals what sin wounds. Real joy needs a clean heart.

“Isn’t repentance negative?”
→ No — it’s freedom. Turning toward Christ is always a step toward life.

“Why does the Church repeat this every year?”
→ Because conversion isn’t a one-time event. We grow by returning again and again.

“Why John the Baptist?”
→ He’s the last prophet and the first witness — bridging the Old and New Covenants.

Catechism Extension

CCC 523–524 – John the Baptist prepares the way of the Lord.

CCC 1427–1433 – Conversion and repentance.

CCC 2547 – Humility of heart.

Further Reading

YouCat 91–95 – Conversion and repentance.

Pope Benedict XVI, Jesus of Nazareth: Infancy Narratives.

St John Henry Newman, Parochial and Plain Sermons (on repentance).

Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus,
give me the courage of John the Baptist.
Help me to hear the truth,
to change what needs changing,
and to prepare my heart for You.
Let my life point to You
so that when You come,
I am ready.
Amen.