Develop a practical project to engage your age group in learning about the four Gospels and how to read them using the resources in this module and the following suggested resources. Design a demonstration project with children, adolescents, adults, or families. Your project can be a learning program, a Bible devotion or prayer service, a video presentation with discussion, an experience of Bible reading practices, and much more.

We have curated a list of “Teaching the Gospels Online Resources” that you can use to design a project. The list with links can be found on the last pages of the Downloadable Guide or on the Resources Page. 

Here are a few ideas to consider. Be sure to check-out the activities in the Downloadable Guide (pages 35 – 39) for more ideas.

Ways to Use the Gospels in Faith Formation

• Use the Gospels as part of a prayer experience and involve the participants in proclaiming Sacred Scripture.
• Use the Gospels as the focus of study. Dedicate sessions to learning about biblical people and events, or apply biblical stories and lessons to the faith themes being studied.
• Use the Gospels to make connections with the liturgy. Highlight any links between the Lectionary readings for the upcoming Sunday and the topic you are teaching.
• Use the Gospels to make a point. Mention favorite Bible stories or verses in your presentations and even in your casual conversation.
• Use activities that increase familiarity with the Gospels: Bible search activities, Bible games, Scripture scavenger hunts, and so on.
• Look to the Gospels for guidance when discussing life issues. Encourage the young people to read the Gospels and to reflect on the meaning for their lives.

Hints for Using Scripture Effectively

• Designate one Bible as the group Bible. The way you use this group Bible should convey the special nature of Scripture and should show reverence and respect for Sacred Scripture.
• Display the group Bible on a prayer table in a special way. Place it on a book stand with a candle, a cross, or other symbols, but do not clutter the display.
• Involve the young people in proclaiming Scripture. Practice with them in advance to ensure they are adequately prepared; Scripture can lose much of its power if read poorly.
• Make Bibles available for all the young people. Avoid making the participants feel too formal in their use of personal copies of the Bible. They should treat their personal Bibles as they would a treasured book for study and enjoyment.

Here are two additional activities that can be used regularly:

• One way to pray with Scripture is to connect the living word with our daily lives. Read the Gospel for the day (go to https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-readings) (Broken Link). Think about what the passage is saying. Read the Gospel again and reflect on a question such as, “Do I feel attracted or resistant to any part of the reading? Why?” or “With which character in this reading do I most identify? Why?” If you do this in a group, invite people to share their reflections.
• To pray with the Gospels, select a favorite passage from one Gospel. Try to imagine the place in which the event unfolds. Try also to imagine it as it would be today. Then put yourself in the position of one of the characters in the story. Make that person’s attitude or words your own and listen to Jesus’ response to you.

Here are the Gospel activities in the Guide that you can use to create learning experiences.

Activities in the Guide (also available as a Word file)

• A Bible Reading Method
• Studying a Biblical Text
• Reading the Bible with Heart
• Reflective Bible Reading 
• Lectio Divina
• Visio Divina

Children’s Activities in the Guide

• Reading the Bible in My Family
• Jesus Reads the Bible
• Reading the Bible
• Try It – Reading the Bible
• Try It – Reading Gospel Stories