Props: Dark ash and oil, to mark a cross on your forehead

Lesson: (only a very light cross on forehead) Hey, guys, do you see this mark on my forehead? Can you tell what it is? It’s supposed to be a cross. I went to the Ash Wednesday service tonight, and the pastor put it on my forehead. But it’s so light you can’t even tell what it is. It’s not fair! Some of the other people got dark crosses, ones you could really see. But not me — how will anyone know I’m a good Christian now? What do you think? Do you think having a great big black cross on my forehead is important?

That question makes me think of the lesson we have today. Jesus says that if we’re really trying to do what God, wants us to do, we shouldn’t make a big deal out of doing it in front of other people. Like when we pray, we shou…