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Start with Jesus©
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Resource for Individuals
Start with Jesus: Reclaiming the Fire of Parish Life Chapter 1 page 1
Everyday EvangelizationEvangelization happens in one-on-one moments that are not planned or scripted. We might not be comfortable thinking that evangelization happens outside the parish, but it does, and it should! Evangelization aims at transforming hearts (internal change) and the world (external change). Too often, people think that going door-to-door and preaching on street corners are the only ways we can evangelize. But there are many ways that Catholics can evangelize. In Evangelii Nuntiandi, Pope Paul VI writes that evangelization includes the following:
• catechesis• preaching• liturgy• sacraments • popular piety• witness of the Christian life• mass media• personal contact
Evangelization seeks to transform the world one person at a time. You might be asking yourself, Where do I start with evangelization? You begin with yourself and then move to those closest to you, such as your family and friends.
Here are ten simple “Everyday Evangelization” ideas for you to consider.
1. Develop a love for Scripture. Set aside a few moments every day to reflect and meditate on the Word of God.
2. Pray to cultivate an awareness of how God is working in your life so that you can recognize those moments and share them with others.
3. Hold in prayer someone with whom you have a difficult relationship. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the grace to view this relationship in a more loving light and to recognize moments of opportunity to grow this relationship.
4. Pay attention to the homily at Mass and note one point that will help you grow as an evangelizer.
5. Pray for opportunities to share your faith.
6. Offer a word of encouragement to someone who is struggling. You could send a card, call the person, or post an encouraging note to the person on social media.
7. Make a point of saying “God bless you” rather than simply “Bless you” when someone sneezes.
8. Look people in the eye when speaking, including cashiers in the grocery store, waitstaff at restaurants, and door attendants.
9. Volunteer at your local food pantry or homeless shelter.
Start with Jesus©
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Start with Jesus: Reclaiming the Fire of Parish Life Chapter 1 page 2
10. Make a meal for a family or person who might need extra love and support, for example, someone who has just had a baby or is going through the adoption process, someone who has experienced the death of a loved one or a pet or who is transitioning into a new job or going through a divorce or an illness.
Growing as an Everyday EvangelistChoosing from the ten suggestions above, put a check mark next to the three that you do regularly.
Circle three that you need to work on.
What is your plan for “Everyday Evangelization” for the areas that you would like to grow in?
Who is going to help you grow as an “Everyday Evangelist”?
What two people might you help grow as “Everyday Evangelists”?
Start with Jesus©
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Start with Jesus: What Is the Good News? Chapter 2 page 1
Back to Basics: Encountering JesusThis printable resource can be used by an individual or adapted for a class, a retreat, or an in-service varying in length and depth. It includes suggested Scripture readings, images, music, reflection questions, and prayer. Depending on the audience, you might focus on one of the movements or go through it all at one time. I recommend that you not use the term kergyma in your advertising or marketing of the event because the people you want to attract to this experience will not understand the term. Other suggestions for titles include “Presence,” “Discover Jesus,” “Encounter,” or “The Core.” You can choose to substitute other images, music, reflection questions, or Scriptures as necessary.
Preparing to Receive the KerygmaThis may be your first time hearing this message, or it may be a message that you know well and have heard many times. Regardless of where you are in this process, prayerfully enter this experience, asking for a spirit of openness so that you can receive the message that God wants you to hear. Open your heart to the words from the Scriptures so that they can heal you and bring you new life.
Focus on the images in each movement of the kerygma, which will help you see in a new way.
Reflect on the questions that you are asked to consider and pay attention to your responses.
Listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit throughout this experience and be attentive to what the Holy Spirit is saying to you.
During this experience, you will have time for reflection during which, in the silence of your heart, you may feel obstacles or points of resistance. Don’t be afraid to confront these obstacles. God already knows them, and until you acknowledge their presence, you can’t get past them. This is an important time of reflection in which God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit will speak to you. Some people experience this speaking as words; others experience a sense of peace or of conviction; and some will experience emotion. Be sure to sit in silence, both in mind and heart, listening to what our loving God has to say to you.
Movement 1: God is love and has created me for relationship with him.• Scripture: Genesis 1:27–31
• Image: The Moment of Creation by Michelangelo
• Music Suggestions: “Our God Reigns,” “How Great Thou Art”
• Prayer: The Our Father
Suggested ReflectionRemember a day when you were flooded with happiness: the day you graduated, the day you got your first job, the day you fell in love, the day you got married, the day you held your first child. Then remember the day you realized that none of this was enough—the day you realized that you wanted more from life. We are made to love and be loved. We hunger for acceptance, we hunger for genuine relationship, and we hunger for a love that is eternal. This desire for God is written on our hearts. Only in God do we find the love and happiness we are searching for. We are created by God, for God: “Our hearts are restless until they rest in you, O God.”
Start with Jesus©
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Start with Jesus: What Is the Good News? Chapter 2 page 2
Reflection Questions• Do you struggle with belief in God? If not, why not? If yes, why do you struggle with believing in God?
• When you think about love, what do you hunger for most? Who in your life has given you an experience of unconditional love?
Movement 2: I have broken my relationship with God by my sin.• Scripture: John 1:7–9
• Image: The Prodigal Son by Rembrandt
• Music Suggestions: “Come Back to Me,” “Lord Have Mercy,” “Kyrie”
• Prayer: The Confiteor
Suggested ReflectionWhen you are in a relationship with someone and you continually hurt that person, your relationship becomes broken. Refusing to admit any wrongdoing and refusing to apologize can break relationships seemingly beyond repair. Our relationship with God is broken because of sin. A sin is any choice that goes against God’s love. Sin is how we say no to God. Sin damages our relationships with God and other people, leaving a trail of destruction and sorrow in its wake. And yet, God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to give back to you—to us—an even more beautiful life, an eternal life.
Reflection Questions• What name can you give to the restlessness in your heart? What ache and hurt do you want to be free of?
• What is the one thing you want to let go of in order to be truly happy?
Movement 3: Jesus restores my relationship with God through his life, death, and resurrection.• Scripture: Acts 2:22–24, 32–3
• Image: Any image of Jesus on the cross
• Music Suggestions: “Were You There?”
• Prayer: The Apostles’ Creed
Suggested ReflectionBroken, beaten, spit upon, despised, taunted, battered, whipped, tortured, mocked, crucified. Died. Buried and rose again. All to bring you to new life. Jesus died so that you may live. He wants your whole heart—not just a small piece but all of you. He loves you and wants to be in an intimate and close relationship with you.
Reflection Questions• Place yourself at the scene of Christ’s death. What are you seeing?
• What are you hearing? Who is standing beside you? What are you feeling as you watch Jesus die in front of you?
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Start with Jesus: What Is the Good News? Chapter 2 page 3
Movement 4: Jesus invites me to trust him, to turn from sin, and to give my life to him.• Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1–14
• Image: An image of Jesus with the disciples or with other people. An image of an outstretched hand would also work.
• Music Suggestions: “Hosea,” “Suscipe”
• Prayer: The Suscipe of St. Ignatius of Loyola
Suggested ReflectionWhat have you heard people say about Jesus? Is he a good guy? A prophet? A teacher? God? Regardless of what others say, go right to the source. What did Jesus say about himself? He tells us, “I am the Savior. I am your Savior.” So, imagine that one day, while you are out walking, you stumble into quicksand. At first you try to pull yourself out, but the more you struggle, the faster and deeper you sink. What do you need at that moment? You need someone to save you! You need a person to grab you by the hand and pull you out of the quicksand. God’s answer to your struggle in quicksand is Jesus Christ. Jesus, as our Lord and Savior, intervenes for each one of us to save us from the quicksand we call sin. He died for you and lives for you. He wants you to place your trust in him, to place yourself in his hands.
Reflection QuestionsHave I handed over my entire life to Jesus? What areas of my life have I handed over? What have I not handed over? Why? What does my life look like today since I handed over my life?
Movement 5: Jesus has poured the Holy Spirit into my heart to bring me to new life in his Church and sends his Church on a mission so that others can experience new life.
• Scripture: Acts 2:1–21
• Image: Images of the Holy Spirit, Pentecost
• Music Suggestions: “Come, Holy Spirit,” “Holy Spirit, You Are Welcome Here”
• Prayer: Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Suggested ReflectionThe Holy Spirit remains with us and gives us the gifts of faith, hope, and love that make it possible for us to live as disciples. One cannot believe in Jesus Christ without sharing in his Spirit. The Holy Spirit reveals to us who Jesus is. For no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit. In that love we are called to proclaim the Good News to all creation, making disciples everywhere.
Reflection Questions• When I pray, which member of the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) do I pray to?
• How do I share the Good News with others?
• In what ways do I have a sense that the Holy Spirit is calling me to share my story and share in the Church’s mission?
Start with Jesus©
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Start with Jesus: How Did Jesus Form Disciples? Chapter 3 page 1
The 10 Ds of DiscipleshipYou might be wondering if you have the necessary qualifications for discipleship and to form others as disciples. Wonder no more. Your qualifications as a missionary disciple flow from the graces of the sacrament of baptism, which is the core and catalyst for the disciple’s life. Baptism imparts us with the grace necessary to share the gospel, and there are some key actions that continue to help us grow as disciples and form others into disciples. These actions are not to be understood as happening in a linear progression; they may happen concurrently and at different intensities according to the pace that the Holy Spirit wills. What are these keys? Below are what I call my 10 “D” keys of discipleship.
1. Desire. We began our journey as a disciple in baptism, but we must continually affirm our desire to grow in relationship with Jesus and his body, the Church. Without this desire, we can become disconnected and apathetic.Questions: What is the date of my baptism? How do I continually affirm my desire to live out my baptismal call?
2. Discern. Being a disciple means that we must make the time to reflect on our lives. Just as Jesus went away to pray about and discern whom to choose as his disciples, we must also discern what it means to be a disciple. Discernment and prayer are at the heart of the disciple’s life.Questions: How do I understand and practice the steps of discernment? Who helps guide my discernment?
3. Decision. At some point in our lives, we recognize more fully that we need to set aside those distractions and habits that lead us away from Christ. This decision, or series of decisions, to say no to the things of the world and yes to Jesus Christ is at the heart of our ongoing conversion.Questions: When did I decide to follow Jesus Christ? Was it a specific time or a season in my life? What was going on in my life at that time?
4. Discipline. Saying yes to Christ involves personal sacrifice and discipline. Time is the currency of discipleship; if we want to grow as disciples, we must be disciplined in spending time with Christ and learning from him.Questions: How disciplined am I at setting aside time to grow as a disciple? How can I grow stronger in relationship with Jesus? With the Church? Choosing one area, what will I do to become more disciplined?
5. Dwelling in the Word. The Word of God holds the power to form and transform us. God speaks to us in his Word. A disciple cannot grow and be nourished apart from the Word of God. Dwelling in the Word of God is essential for growth in the Christian life.Questions: How do I integrate God’s Word into my daily life? In what ways can I be more faithful to the Word of God in thought, deed, and action?
6. Dependence on the Holy Spirit. All the good that we do in life depends on the action or animation of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who awakens in us the desire to follow Jesus and to grow in holiness; the Holy Spirit shines through us. We must become more dependent on listening to the promptings and “nudgings” of the Holy Spirit.Questions: How would I describe my relationship with the Holy Spirit? How does the presence of the Holy Spirit manifest in my life?
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Start with Jesus: How Did Jesus Form Disciples? Chapter 3 page 2
7. Denial. Saying yes to God means saying no to the habits, beliefs, and practices that pull us away from him. Denial of self so that we can carry the cross helps us develop reliance on God and resilience for the journey ahead. Jesus reminds us that “if any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Mark 8:34).Questions: What would I give up right now to be truly at peace and free to walk with Jesus?
8. Dedication. Being a friend and follower of Jesus involves daily dedication to living a virtuous and moral life. Dedication involves sacrificing our time and ourselves to give to others and to work with God in redeeming the world.Questions: What sacrifices do I make to grow in my discipleship? In what areas am I most dedicated? What areas need more prayer and work?
9. Deliberation. Intentionality is necessary for the disciple. Like all practices, growth in discipleship is the result of small daily actions that help us conform ourselves even more to Christ. This is not happenchance; it takes time and effort to plan and center our lives around our relationship with Christ. In the words of John, “he must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).Questions: How intentional am I in my journey as a disciple? What is one specific change I can make to be more deliberate in my walk of faith?
10. Do. Discipleship is not a program but a process, a way of life. The entire discipleship process is an apprenticeship in faith, in the living out of the Christian life. We must move from being hearers of the Word to “doers.” We are nourished to be doers by Jesus’ very body and blood. He urges us to “do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19).Questions: Do I “do” too little or too much? What areas of my life do I need to reassess so that I can be a doer of the Word and not a doer of the world?
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Start with Jesus: The Parish That Prays Together Stays Together Chapter 4 page 1
Prayer: Our Daily BreadThe saying is true: “We are what we eat.” Neglecting to eat a wide array of foods will result in a nutritional imbalance within our bodies, and these imbalances can be quite serious. A balanced diet, on the other hand, contains a healthy array of foods to sustain us. This is also true for our spiritual diet. The Catholic Church offers a wide variety of spiritual foods to give us hope and sustain us on our journey of faith so that we can be spiritually well balanced. As you go through the following list of common Catholic prayer practices, take a mental inventory of the practices that nourish you regularly and the ones that do not. Which practices would you call the “staples”? Which ones do you not currently practice? Which ones could you add for a more balanced diet?
Habits of Prayer Part of My Life (staples) Not Part of My Life Practices I Would Like to Add
Morning Prayer
Mealtime Prayer
Daily Scripture Reading
Lectio Divina
Adoration
Daily Mass
Contemplative Prayer
The Spiritual Exercises
Examination of Conscience
Corporal Works of Mercy
Spiritual Works of Mercy
Liturgy of the Hours
Novenas
Pilgrimages
The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that “prayer and Christian life are inseparable” (CCC 2745) and that “prayer is a vital necessity” (CCC 2744), but sometimes we need a little help establishing a more prayerful routine to help others pray. Establishing a daily prayer routine can be difficult if you don’t know where to begin. The following template can serve as a guide for you.
Start with Jesus©
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Start with Jesus: The Parish That Prays Together Stays Together Chapter 4 page 2
Begin with where you are.List the times during the day/week when you currently pray.
Keep realistic expectations.What is one thing you can do to strengthen your prayer life at this time?
Try new things.Pick two or three new prayer practices to try.
Don’t go it alone.Who can help you become more well-rounded in prayer? List their names here.
How will you achieve your goals?
When evangelizers rise from prayer, their hearts are more open; freed of self-absorption, they are desirous of doing good and sharing their lives with others.
Evangelii Gaudium, #282
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Start with Jesus: Hope, Healing, and Hospitality: The Hinge Points of Discipleship Chapter 5 page 1
Hope, Healing, HospitalityIn the Gospels, we read that Jesus spent a good amount of time healing the blind, the lame, the paralyzed, the hard-hearted, the angry, and the despairing. Jesus never turned anyone away who needed healing. We, and, by extension, our parishes, should be spaces of healing love and mercy. Pope Francis reminds us that what the church “needs most today is the ability to heal wounds and to warm the hearts of the faithful. . . . I see the church as a field hospital after battle.”
Healing, hope, and hospitality are the hinge points of conversion for those in pre-evangelization. It is important for us to connect these three elements in our own lives so that we help others discover and follow Jesus. We clearly see this in the story of the Roman centurion who begs Jesus for healing—not for himself but for his young servant, in Matthew 8:5–11:
“Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.”Matthew 8:8
As you think about your awakening to faith and the joy and challenges that have come with it, reflect on the following:
Healing: “ in what I have done, and what I have failed to do” (Confiteor)
As you think about a particularly difficult experience or pattern of experiences in your own life, what did you ask the Lord to heal?
Hope in your journey: “therefore I ask. . . .”
What did the Lord do for you during this time? How did he provide consolation?
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Start with Jesus: Hope, Healing, and Hospitality: The Hinge Points of Discipleship Chapter 5 page 2
Hospitality: “blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.”
Who came alongside you to help you see what the Lord had healed in your life?
May God the Father who made us, bless us.May God the Son send his healing among us.May God the Holy Spirit move within us and give us eyes to see with,ears to hear with, and hands that your work might be done.May we walk and preach the word of God to all.May the angel of peace watch over us and lead us at last, by God’s grace, to the Kingdom.
St. Dominic
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Start with Jesus: The Art of Accompaniment Chapter 6 page 1
My Story of Faith
God’s Story
My Story
Our Story
When My Story encounters God’s Story and becomes Our Story, we begin to see our lives within the grand story of Salvation History.
Tom McGrath
This methodology, adapted from The Catechist’s Backpack, cowritten by Joe Paprocki and Julianne Stanz, invites you to discover and unpack your story through a simple acronym.
S- Structure
T- Trial
O- Openness
R- Redemption and Renewal
Y- You-nique
StructureStructure your story by choosing a special experience or incident that has impacted you. The following questions may help.
List three reasons why you love your faith.
1.
2.
3.
Name two moments from your life when you felt very clearly the presence of God before, during, or after a particular experience.
1.
2.
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Start with Jesus: The Art of Accompaniment Chapter 6 page 2
Which of these moments do you think others would relate to most? Why?Choosing one experience or incident to focus on, what quote from the Scriptures most speaks to you through this experience?Scripture Quote:
TrialNow that you have a specific experience in mind to help structure your story of faith, focus on the aspect of “trial” in your story.
What happened during this time? What pattern of sin emerges from this period?
Name two things that helped you persevere during this time of trial.
1.
2.
OpennessAt some point during your experience, darkness turned to light and you began to be more open and accepting of your situation.Identify the turning point in your story. What happened?Who or what helped you become more open to God’s presence in and through this experience?
Redemption and RenewalDuring every experience, whether it be good or bad, there comes a time when we feel redeemed and renewed.Identify the moment when you finally felt at peace about your experience. How did this happen? What factors contributed most to this feeling of peace?Which Person of the Trinity did you feel the presence of most powerfully through this experience? Why?
You-niqueWhat makes your story unique from your point of view?What do you believe to be the moral or central message of your story?What impact are you hoping this story will have on others?
Our StoryWho in your life needs to hear your story?How might you relate some part of your reflection to a person with whom you have a bridge of trust but who is not practicing the faith?What areas of the “Great Story” that showed up clearly in your life would you emphasize to this person?How would you invite him or her into your story and to reconsider and reflect on God’s story?
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Start with Jesus: Missionary Discipleship and Culture Change Chapter 7
Discern, Purify, ReformIf we want to move from a low or medium commitment to being on fire for our faith, then we must be bold, innovative, and creative! This means taking a fresh look at our lives so that we can examine what is helping us grow in faith, where we need to concentrate our efforts so that we can continue to move forward, and what we need to let go of. This three-part process of discernment, purification, and reform can help you decide what opportunities are presenting themselves and where the challenges lie as you are called to be a missionary disciple.
Discernment. Discernment is an ancient art and practice in the Christian tradition that honors God’s will and vision for our lives. It is an interior search that seeks to align what we hope for and our plans and dreams with how God is calling us to live and what he wants for our lives. Discernment is not shorthand for “Let me think about it” but instead “Let me converse with God and listen for his voice and direction.”
Reflect: “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).
Do you believe that the Lord has plans for you? As you spend time in discernment, what plans that come from the Lord are revealing themselves to you?
Purification. After you have discerned some areas of your life in need of renewal, be ready to begin the process of pruning so that new life can occur. What you “cut away” can include relationships you might be engaged in that are no longer life-giving or projects or events that are no longer bearing fruit. Not everything we do bears fruit, so we must take the time to distill the essential elements of what we will keep going forward. Examine what is outdated or no longer working. Take the time to grieve, give thanks for all that was, and look at options for the future.
Reflect: “Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart” (1 Peter 1:22).
What areas of your life are you called to prune so that you can love more deeply from the heart? How might you continue to purify your soul in obedience to the truth?
Reform. Simplify and streamline areas of your life that have gotten overly complicated and unnecessary. Reform or let go of processes, relationships, and programs that are not in total alignment with this goal.
Reflect: “Abide in me as I abide in you. . . . I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:4–5).
What is your biggest hope at this point in your life? As you move into a new way of being, how might your relationship with Jesus deepen and grow?
Using the outline provided in this chapter to discern, purify, and reform, revisit the three questions in regard to your personal life.
What do I need to START doing?What do I need to KEEP doing?What do I need to STOP doing?
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Resource for Individuals
Start with Jesus: Start with Who and Why Chapter 8
Sow, Grow, and GoSt. Urban of Langres and St. Botolph of Ikenhoe often referred to the spiritual life as a living organism, like a garden, that the Lord cultivates as we grow in holiness. Sometimes our spiritual garden is blooming with flowers, and other times there are many weeds threatening its growth. As we grow in faith, here are three principles to reflect on: Sow, Grow, and Go.
Sow. In the parable of the sower (Matthew 13:3–8), Jesus reminds us that the farmer scattered seed indiscriminately. Some of the seeds ended up taking root in fertile soil, others were eaten by birds, and some fell on rocky ground. But the sower was relentless in the work and kept on sowing and scattering seeds everywhere he could. Jesus tells us that the seeds that fell on good soil produced a bumper crop: a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown.
Reflect: At this time, how are the seeds that Jesus is scattering in your life taking root?What are some of the rocky places in your heart that the Lord is helping you work through?At this time, where are you in the parable of the sower? Are you the sower? The seed? The farmer? The tiller of the group? Or somewhere else?
Grow. During winter, when the earth seems silent and there is an absence of vegetation, we mistakenly believe that nothing is growing or moving. We get excited when we see the first shoots of green popping up from the earth, but we forget that the tulip bulb pushed into the darkness of the earth is still growing in winter, even though we cannot see it. Growth, especially growth in the spiritual life, often happens unseen, in the silent recesses of the heart. We cannot always see our own progress as we grow in faith, but that does not mean that the shoots of new life are not waiting to burst forth.
Reflect: What are some of the signs of new life that you see emerging right now?What places in your life are still growing in silence?Who is helping you in this process?
Go. Inertia and complacency are anathema to spiritual growth. Consider the words of Pope Francis in Evangelii Gaudium, where he warns against a “tomb psychology” that slowly transforms “Christians into mummies in a museum” (#83). Surrendering to Christ, taking steps toward him, however small, is the key to spiritual growth.
Reflect: Which aspects of your faith do you feel most comfortable with?
Identify a place of inertia or complacency in your life. What factors have contributed to this situation? How might you address this?
We are all called to scatter gospel seeds as best we can and to nourish the seeds of new life in our own lives. Even neatly planting seeds in perfect rows doesn’t guarantee their growth! The spiritual life is not something that can be neatly planned because it is time intensive and can be messy. Some of the seeds that we plant will take root in a heart that is disposed to hear what we have to say, other seeds will fall to the ground unnoticed, and yet others will yield a crop that far surpasses what we could ever imagine. “Sow, Grow, and Go” on your journey of faith and watch those shoots of new life appear!
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Start with Jesus: From the Inside Out: Our People ARE the Program Chapter 9 page 1
Accompanying Others in DiscipleshipAs you think about the insights you have now gained about discipleship, it is time to choose two or three people who might be open to a discipleship relationship with you.
Think of a specific person, with whom you have a relationship, who has significant doubts about whether it is possible to have a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Write the person’s name here:
What are your hopes for this relationship?
What are your fears?
Where do you think this person is in the discipleship process?
• pre-evangelization
• evangelization
• beginning as a disciple
• growing as a disciple
Is this person open to a relationship with Jesus? (Circle any of the following or add your own.)Not open Somewhat open Open Very open
How does this person feel about the Catholic Church?Has rejected Hostile or indifferent Familiar withBears goodwill toward Curious about Accepting of
How well does this person know the basic gospel message? (Circle any of the following or add your own.)No familiarity with Indifferent/hostile A little Familiar with Understands Curious about Open to more Other:
List one to three barriers that this person might have at this time toward a personal relationship with Jesus Christ:
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Start with Jesus: From the Inside Out: Our People ARE the Program Chapter 9 page 2
List one to three barriers that this person might have at this time toward a personal relationship with the Catholic Church:
What are your shared interests and perspectives? How might they be a springboard for your conversation?
How might you begin a conversation with him/her? Where would this happen?
What points from your own journey would be helpful for you to share with him/her?
1.
2.
3.
As you accompany this person in the faith, what is your strategy for spending time with him or her and offering continual support?
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Start with Jesus: From the Inside Out: Our People ARE the Program Chapter 9 page 3
How will you be supported as you walk with this person? Who in your life is accompanying you?
What resources, persons, or information might be beneficial to help this person on the faith journey?
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Start with Jesus: Follow the Leader: Your Parish Process of Missionary Discipleship Chapter 10 page 1
The Daily DiscipleJesus invites us continually into a personal relationship with him. On our faith journey, each of us will grow and respond to the Holy Spirit in different ways and at varying times. It is important to remember that God is guiding the steps of each person’s journey of discipleship.
In the Scriptures, we see examples of disciples at different stages of their faith journeys. Each of these people had a particular encounter with Jesus Christ that transformed his or her life. The woman at the well, the man born blind, and Peter are all in different stages of relationship with Jesus.
Take some time to reflect on the following Scripture passages and where you are in your relationship with Jesus Christ. Growth in the Christian life happens through God’s grace, not our own effort or power, so it is important to remember that “you are where you are” right now. You always have the potential to grow as a disciple in your walk with Jesus. As a community of disciples, the Catholic Church offers us many ways to progress further and deeper in our discipleship walk with Jesus.
The woman at the well (John 1:1–42) develops an initial trust in the man who dares to speak to her, a Samaritan and a woman, clearly a marginalized person in society. She does not shrink, run away, or ignore him but instead is intrigued. Curious about what he is telling her but most importantly that he is listening to her (verbally and nonverbally), she becomes more open to what he is saying. The Samaritan woman becomes gradually open to the possibility of change when Jesus seems to know all about her situation but does not seek to judge or condemn her. There is something about Jesus that draws her to him. She wants to know more, and she wants to tell others what she has experienced and whom she has been with: Jesus. In doing so, she runs to share the Good News that she is loved, that we are all loved by Jesus. Her compelling testimony is now offered to those who have not met Jesus and yet can still encounter him in and through her story.
The man born blind (John 9:1–41) experiences a profound conversion that leads to his healing. The blind man does not initiate his healing; Jesus, the Divine Physician, does. Darkness and blindness are metaphors for sin. The formerly blind man turns away from the dark ditch of unbelief toward the glorious light of the Son of God. But as soon as his sight is restored, life becomes more difficult for him. Why is this? When we have a life-changing encounter, others around us wonder if we are the same person as before. We seem so different because of this encounter with Christ. Like the man born blind, we shed our former identity and recognize our own blindness without Christ because we can see differently now. Life becomes clearer than ever, and, indeed, we become a new person.
If you are living in darkness today, there is no reason why you cannot learn from the example of this formerly blind man. Will you be washed and receive your sight today? “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16).
Peter is asked by Jesus, “Do you love me?” This is a question not just for Peter but for all of us to ask on our journeys of discipleship. In this Gospel passage (John 21:15–17), Jesus asks, “Do you love me?” Three times Jesus asks Peter this question. He even asks Peter if he loves him more than the other disciples love Jesus. Jesus probably asked Peter this question three times because Peter had denied him three times. The same person who denied Christ is now given the opportunity to affirm his deep desire and great love for the Lord. Jesus is giving Peter a chance to “take it back,” so to speak. Peter—flawed and forgiven, just like each of us—gave his whole heart and life over to Jesus and his Church, becoming one of the greatest saints whose impact continues to be felt today.
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Start with Jesus: Follow the Leader: Your Parish Process of Missionary Discipleship Chapter 10 page 2
Questions for your reflectionWhich of the three Scripture stories above do you identify with most?Where do you place yourself right now on your spiritual journey? Why?Who is walking beside you at this time?Where do you feel God is calling you to be? Why?What do you need to STOP doing to grow as a disciple?What do you need to KEEP doing to grow as a disciple?What do you need to START doing to grow as a disciple?Do you have someone in mind who might help you grow in faith? Name that person.
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Start with Jesus: The Parish That Started with Jesus Chapter 11
Praying in the PewsThe disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray so that they could deepen their love for Christ and for one another. The Scriptures are clear: Jesus tells us to pray with others, for others, and over others. We may be part of a parish community whose pews are overflowing or one where the pews are empty week after week. Regardless of our parish experience, we can all pray that our parishes become places filled with people on fire for the Lord. Whether we sit in the same pew each week or sit somewhere different, we can uplift all those who have sat or will sit in the pews of our parish communities. A parish team can walk through the church and pause before each pew, praying for all those who have sat there and those who will sit there. You can also do this individually or with your family.
Here’s how it goes. Spiritually adopt the pew that you pray in, whether you sit there regularly or not. There are three ways to do this.
1. Pray for the people of the pew. Remembering that there are those who attend daily Mass or go to Mass at a different time than you, spiritually adopt your pew as a place of prayer for those who have sat there or who will sit there during the week. Include in your thoughts and prayers all those who will sit in this sacred space and offer their intentions to the Lord, who knows the deepest desires of our hearts.
2. While at Mass, look for those who are new. Consciously ask “Who’s new to the pew?” every time you sit in your pew. Make an effort to smile, introduce yourself (if possible), and be especially gracious during the sign of peace. Making a newcomer feel welcome at Mass is good for everyone but can be especially comforting for those who are lonely, hurting, or struggling.
3. Embrace the middle of the pew. There are valid and important reasons people decide to sit at the end of the pew. It is convenient for those who are elderly, for those who have children, and for those who have disabilities. But for those of us who like to sit at the end of a pew for convenience, try to scoot in and make room for new people. Trust me, families with young children or the elderly will be especially thankful for those who take the time to do this out of love and concern for others!
A Prayer from the PewHeavenly Father, with grateful hearts we thank you for all our parish family who have sat in these pews. Whether they are registered parishioners or treasured guests, they are all part of our family of faith who worship and glorify you. We thank you for their lives, their faith, and the gift of their presence. Uplift all whose hearts are filled with sorrow and burdens. Comfort those who face difficult challenges. Guide those who need the warmth of your reassurance. Strengthen us anew to continually seek the face of your Son, Lord Jesus Christ. We ask this in your name. Amen.
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Start with Jesus: It Also Starts with You! Chapter 12 page 1
The 15 DiseasesTaken from Pope Francis’s address to the Curia on December 22, 2014, the “15 diseases” can serve as an examination of conscience so that you can pray about your motivations and be aware of any unhealthy practices in your life. These temptations or diseases can be truly healed only by the Holy Spirit, according to Pope Francis. He also states that daily prayer; reception of the sacraments, particularly the Eucharist and reconciliation; daily contact with the Word of God; and a spirituality that translates into lived charity are vital nourishment for each of us. The 15 diseases and their corresponding cures are as follows:
Disease Cure
Feeling immortal, essential, or indispensable. Those who place themselves above others in their quest for power
Seeing ourselves for who we are: as sinners in need of God’s grace
The “Martha Complex” or disease of excessive activity and busyness
Rest, especially by spending time with family and friends
Mental and spiritual petrification. Those who would rather spend time with paper than people and have a heart of stone for the needs of others.
Practicing humility, detachment (from material things), generosity, and unselfishness
Over-planning and functionalism. Those who would seek to plan out everything and who try to control the direction of the Holy Spirit.
Abandonment to the Holy Spirit
Poor coordination. Those who do not function harmoniously as a team and thus create scandal and disunity.
Working together in true spiritual fellowship and communion with others
Spiritual Alzheimer’s. Those who have lost the memory of their personal salvation history.
Encounters with the Lord, who renews and sustains us
Rivalry and vainglory. Those who value appearances and titles over other people.
Humility and seeking to put the needs of others above your own needs
Existential schizophrenia. Those who live a double life filled with hypocrisy and a spiritual emptiness, preferring to occupy themselves with bureaucracy rather than people.
Conversion
Gossip and backbiting. Those who sow seeds of discord in conversation or who attack others rather than having the courage to speak honestly and directly with those they speak of.
Honest, open, and clear dialogue
Deifying the leaders. Those who selfishly court the opinion of their leaders and are careerists and opportunists.
Honoring God above all others
Indifference to others. Those who think only of themselves and lose the warmth and sincerity of human relationships.
Taking joy in helping and encouraging others
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Start with Jesus: It Also Starts with You! Chapter 12 page 2
Disease Cure
The funeral face: those who treat others, especially those they consider beneath them, with rigor, brusqueness, and arrogance
Cultivating a joyful, humorous, and self-deprecating spirit that radiates infectious joy
Hoarding. Those who focus on the consumption and accumulation of material goods.
Divesting ourselves of the need to accumulate excessive material goods and instead traveling lightly through life
Closed circles: those who wish to belong to a circle or clique more than to the Body of Christ
Unity in Christ
Worldly profit and exhibitionism: those who turn service into power and power into a commodity to gain greater power
Justice and transparency for all people
Examination of Conscience Based on the 15 Diseases from Pope Francis Yes No Sometimes
Do I feel that without my work, the overall ministry would not be as good, as positive, as impactful? Why/Why not?
Do I cultivate “business” and busyness in my ministry with excessive activity?
Am I afraid to try new things, make changes, and work differently?
Do I call on the Holy Spirit in my work? Does my work bring surprises?
Do I fail to regularly acknowledge the debt I owe to my mentors and to others?
Do I take too much satisfaction in my perks and privileges?
Do I prefer to work alone rather than as part of a team?
Do I denigrate the motives and accomplishments of others?
Do I put my leaders/supervisors on platforms and exalt them to such a degree that I am overly docile?
Do I put my own success ahead of the success of others?
Am I stingy with reward and praise for the work of others?
Do I chatter and gossip about others?
Do I follow through on every project assigned and complete my work in a timely fashion?
Do I encourage parochialism rather than community?
How do I behave in ways that seem egocentric to those around me?
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Start with Jesus: Bonus Resource for Individual or Parish Group
Discipleship Review1. We are disciples of a person.
The name of that person is Jesus. Stay close to the person of Jesus.How do I stay close to the person of Jesus each day?
2. We are not teaching a subject but introducing people to a way of life.Make friends with people and share life with them.Outside of the parish, what civic organizations or community activities am I involved in where I can be close to people?
3. Disciples make disciples.Programs, events, and opportunities do not make disciples; we do.Do I rely more on programs and events in disciple making than on the person of Jesus and my relationship with him? If so, how can I change that?
4. You can lead others only as far as you have gone yourself as a disciple.If you are a beginning disciple, you will lead others to where you are. If you are a missionary disciple, you will be able to help people move through the stages of discipleship from beginning to growing and, finally, to maturing discipleship just as you were helped.What stage of discipleship do I believe I’m in? What stage of discipleship would I like to grow into?
5. You never “graduate” from being a disciple.As we deepen and grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ and the Church, we never stop growing—we never graduate from discipleship. When we look at the horizon, it seems far away but is always just beyond our reach. Part of our growth as children of God means continually growing in friendship with God our Father.How do you avoid a “graduation” mentality when it comes to your faith? How do you help others see that discipleship continues to grow and evolve the closer we move toward Jesus Christ?
