St. Patrick — A Large Group Lesson

A favorite blogpost is back – the Large Group Lesson on St. Patrick. We thought we’d post it again in case you would like to use it for your club (or just have the facts about this misunderstood March holiday). The world thinks of this day as a time for drinking and wild partying – but those have nothing to do with Mr. Sucatus. (That’s St. Patrick’s real name.)

Because in the middle of several holidays rooted in things not Christian – St. Patrick’s Day definitely has Christian roots. In fact, St. Patrick’s Day may be one of the most Christian holidays we have – in honor of a man whose goal was to bring the gospel to the people of Ireland –

Why not teach your clubbers the real story?

Here are 10 things you might not know about St. Patrick.

1. Patrick wasn’t Irish. He was British and born in Great Britain.

2. He had nothing to do with getting the snakes in or out of Ireland.

3. He was born into a wealthy Christian family in 390 A.D.

4. His father was a deacon in the Celtic (not Catholic) Church of Britain, which at that time had a reputation for teaching the gospel, studying the Bible and sending members on missionary endeavors.

5. His real name was Patrick Magonus Sucatus.

6. He had a happy childhood, but when he was 14 years old, he was captured by pirates and sold as a slave to Ireland.

7. His years in Ireland were terrifying. He saw the people around him worship idols without any knowledge of the true God. The slave years were not good ones and Patrick was treated cruelly.

8. His father had taught him about God and while he was alone in a strange country, he trusted Christ as Savior.

9. He escaped (after 6 years in captivity) and went back to England at age 20.

10. He couldn’t forget the idol-worshiping people of Ireland. So, he left his comfortable home and went back to Ireland to tell the people about Christ. He served there as a missionary for 30 years.

11. He died on March 17th which is why we celebrate him on that day.

12. Here is an excerpt from a hymn written by Patrick, often called Patrick’s Breastplate. (This can be found in many church hymnbooks.)

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the Name,
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.
By Whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.

Your clubbers may think of March 17th only as a day to wear green without knowing the true story of St. Patrick himself. Teach your kids what this day is really about.