Pathways to Discipleship: Serving Jesus

Session 3: Sharing Our Faith

Serving Jesus: Sharing Our Faith

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Come, Holy Spirit!

Jesus taught, “You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything but is thrown out and trampled under foot. You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.

(Continued…)

OPENING PRAYER

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Serving Jesus: Sharing Our Faith

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In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”

Lord Jesus, as salt brings flavor to food, help us to bring goodness to the world.

As light enables vision, help us to reveal Your truth, which glorifies our Heavenly Father.

We pray this in Your name.

Amen.

Pathways to Discipleship

Serving Jesus: Sharing Our Faith

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Our hope for this session:

• Learn what Jesus taught about sharing our faith in him
• Learn practical ways to share our faith with others

In this session we learn how we may live the 10^th Habit of a Disciple:

Shares faith and encourages others

in their spiritual growth

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Serving Jesus: Sharing Our Faith

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Pathways to Discipleship

Serving Jesus: Sharing Our Faith

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SHARING OUR FAITH

“Go into all the world and proclaim the good news

to the whole creation.” - Mk 16:15

• Help others discover their true identity
• The Holy Spirit inspires and empowers us

“…let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” Mt 5:16

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Serving Jesus: Sharing Our Faith

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SHARING THE GOSPEL

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“…if I do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal” 1Cor 13:1

• Be respectful of others’ faith journeys
• Be open and prepared to minister
• Listen, ask clarifying questions
• Share truth with love
• Be willing to be vulnerable

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• Reflect on the opening video. What is your response to the testimony?
• In which realms of your life do you find it more difficult to speak about or share faith? Why?
• What are some other ways to lovingly share our faith with others? Share a time when you felt comfortable speaking about faith with another person. What qualities in the person allowed you to feel comfortable?
• Share an especially powerful encounter with Jesus.

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Sharing the Gospel with Words

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• Ask questions, as Jesus did on the road to Emmaus
• Be attentive to promptings of the Holy Spirit
• Find quiet ways to witness

“Do not worry about …what you are to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what you ought to say.” - Lk 12:11-12

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SHARING THE STORY OF THE GOSPEL

Serving Jesus: Sharing Our Faith

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“Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence.” 1Pt 3:15-16

Sharing our faith is a time for gentleness, vulnerability, and compassion.

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WAYS OF EVANGELIZING

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• Nature, sacred art, and music
• Testimony of God’s work in our life
• Witness by our life
• Pray for courage
• Receive grace from Mass and the sacraments

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ST. PEDRO CALUNGSOD (1654-1672)

Serving Jesus: Sharing Our Faith

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• Filipino youth catechist
• Boldly shared his faith
• Martyred protecting a missionary priest in the Marianas
• Patron saint of POP Youth Ministry

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• Share effective ways you have observed or used to initiate discussions about faith. How might you prepare yourself to respond with love and mercy to negative reactions?
• Reflect on someone in your life who has left the faith or does not know that God loves them. How might you share your faith with them?
• How might you use works of art, music, literature or media to share the Gospel?
• Where or how is God sending you to evangelize?
• How can you follow St. Pedro’s example of courage in sharing your faith?

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PRACTICE TOGETHER

Read 1 Cor 9:16-23, reflecting on what the Lord is saying to you in how this applies to your life today. How does St. Paul’s attitude inspire you? Discuss in your group.

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DISCIPLESHIP NEXT STEP

Contemplate and perhaps journal about your faith journey and where God has been active in your life. You may choose to include personal encounters of God, how you first learned to practice your faith, how your discipleship journey has changed you, and what fruits these changes have brought.

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REMINDERS FOR NEXT SESSION

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Serving Jesus: Sharing Our Faith

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• Read or listen to Session 4: Generosity before our next session.
• Thank you to those who brought snacks this time.
• If you would like to go deeper on Sharing Our Faith, check out our additional resources here:

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CLOSING PRAYER

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Almighty Father, you gave Pedro Calungsod the strength and the courage to faithfully live and proclaim the Gospel up to the point of shedding his blood.

By his example and prayers, may we also give witness to our Christian faith, even in the face of dangers and difficulties.

St. Pedro Calungsod, you inspire us by your fidelity in times of trial and adversity, by your courage in teaching the faith in the midst of hostility, and by your love in shedding your blood for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus.

(Continued…)

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We ask you to intercede for us before the throne of Mercy and Grace, so that we may experience the help of Heaven and be encouraged and strengthened to proclaim and live the Gospel here on earth.

All of these we ask through Jesus Christ. Amen.

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St. Pedro Calungsod, pray for us.

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