Disciples Witness
Goal
An overview of Evangelization as individuals and as a Family of Parishes. Focusing on pre-evangelization, the session would share how calling others to the faith starts with a personal witness through friendship, listening, and accompaniment. This in turn further forms us as disciples who are good stewards and servants of others.
To facilitate this session:
- Print off the necessary number of handouts ahead of time
- Play the video below for your group, pausing when the video indicates, to share the appropriate handout and/or work with one another.
Lectio
John 1: 35-42
15 Minutes
Review for a few minutes then pair up and share with others.
The next day John was there again with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” The two disciples* heard what he said and followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon. Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus. He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed).Then he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).
Discussion
Radiate Christ Through Witness
15 Minutes
Reflecting on experiences of Jesus that have changed us and how we were personally called to be an apprentice of the master, proclaiming the gospel through personal witness.
“Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses”
– Pope Paul VI
Evangelii Gaudium
In virtue of their baptism, all the members of the People of God have become missionary disciples (cf. Mt 28:19). All the baptized, whatever their position in the Church or their level of instruction in the faith, are agents of evangelization, and it would be insufficient to envisage a plan of evangelization to be carried out by professionals while the rest of the faithful would simply be passive recipients. The new evangelization calls for personal involvement on the part of each of the baptized. Every Christian is challenged, here and now, to be actively engaged in evangelization; indeed, anyone who has truly experienced God’s saving love does not need much time or lengthy training to go out and proclaim that love. Every Christian is a missionary to the extent that he or she has encountered the love of God in Christ Jesus: we no longer say that we are “disciples” and “missionaries”, but rather that we are always “missionary disciples”. If we are not convinced, let us look at those first disciples, who, immediately after encountering the gaze of Jesus, went forth to proclaim him joyfully: “We have found the Messiah!” (Jn 1:41). The Samaritan woman became a missionary immediately after speaking with Jesus and many Samaritans come to believe in him “because of the woman’s testimony” (Jn 4:39). So too, Saint Paul, after his encounter with Jesus Christ, “immediately proclaimed Jesus” (Acts 9:20; cf. 22:6-21). So what are we waiting for? (EG, 20)
Personal Testimony
Fr Mike Schmitz
10 Minutes
Reflection
On-Going Conversation
15 Minutes
Reflect on your own story of on-going conversion. Our journey is often marked by significant experiences of growing in faith. Use the following prompts to write about one of your experiences in which you grew in your faith.
- An experience or season of life in which you decided to follow Jesus in a more intentional way.
- A person or persons who inspired you to grow in your faith. Why and How?
- An experience in prayer (personal or liturgical) in which God inspired you in a life-changing way
- An “a-ha!” moment in which a new understanding of the faith had a significant impact on your life.
- A time of trial or joy in your life in which God was present and caused new growth in faith.
Activity
Emmaus Walk
15 Minutes
Pair up with another person. Take a walk and share your personal stories with each other for approximately five minutes each. When done, return to the meeting room.
Conclusion
15 Minutes
The Church identifies two dimensions to evangelization, implicit and explicit, both of which are necessary for complete and effective evangelizing.
- Explicit evangelization involves the actual proclamation of the Gospel. “There is no true evangelization if the name, the teaching, the life, the promises, the Kingdom and the mystery of Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God are not proclaimed’” (Evangelii Nuntiandi, 22). This session has focused on one way to explicitly share the Gospel with others through your personal witness.Implicit evangelization has to do with the ways we preach the Gospel through our actions. Implicit evangelization is just as important as the explicit proclamation of the Gospel, lest we become “a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal” (1 Cor. 13:1).
- Implicit evangelization has to do with the ways we preach the Gospel through our actions. Implicit evangelization is just as important as the explicit proclamation of the Gospel, lest we become “a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal” (1 Cor. 13:1). The sessions Disciples Serve and Disciples Steward highlight two specific ways a disciple participates in implicit evangelization and radiates Christ.
Additional Resource
For in depth formation in Evangelization go to MissionaryParish.org for on-line and in-person formation and training in the Process of Evangelization and Discipleship.
Overview
15
Lectio
John 1: 35-42
15
Discussion: Radiate Christ Through Witness
Evangelii Gaudium
10
Personal Testimony
Video: Fr Mike Schmitz
15
Reflection: On-Going Conversation
15
Activity: Emmaus Walk
Pair up with another person and share your personal stories
15
Conclusion
Explicit evangelization & implicit evangelization
Disciples Witness
1 Hour
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Learn More
An overview of Evangelization as individuals and as a Family of Parishes. Focusing on pre-evangelization, the session would share how calling others to the faith starts with a personal witness through friendship, listening, and accompaniment. This in turn further forms us as disciples who are good stewards and servants of others.
Disciples Steward
1 Hour
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Learn More
An overview of Stewardship as individuals and as a Family of Parishes. Understanding that good stewardship is both an expression of discipleship and also forms us as disciples who share their faith and serve others.
Disciples Serve
1 Hour
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Learn More
An overview of the spirituality of service and how Love in Action forms us as disciples while witnessing to the love of Christ and his church, especially the poor and marginalized. Understanding how disciples who serve are also good stewards living out and sharing their faith.
