The document outlines a series of presentations on Christian faith topics, including Jesus, scripture, community, liturgy, and vocation, led by Jonathan F. Sullivan. It emphasizes the importance of personal reflection and active participation in discussions about Catholic teachings, such as sacred scripture and tradition, the kerygma, and the role of evangelization in modern culture. Resources and historical contexts are provided to guide understanding and engagement with the Christian message.

4. Jonathan F. Sullivan
• Director of Catechetical
Services, Diocese of
Springfield in Illinois
• Originally from Kansas City
• Married, 6 (+1) children
• www.JonathanFSullivan.com

5. Who are you?

6. A few reminders…
• This series will not just be
“information delivery”
• More personal, reflective
• Opportunities to respond – so
please participate!

7. Overview
10/13: Jesus
10/20: Scripture & Tradition
10/27: Christian Community
11/3: Liturgy & Prayer
11/10: Vocation & Mission

9. Rembrandt, “The evangelist
Matthew and the angel”

10. God
Special
Revelation
General
Revelation
Sacred
Scripture
Creation
Natural
Law
Sacred
Tradition
Prayer
Apparitions
Public
Revelation
Private
Revelation

11. Revelation implies…
• Some things are
revealed
• Some things are not
revealed

12. Kerygma
• “preaching”
• Shorthand for the
basic Christian
message
• E.g., John 3:16
• Focus of Christian
revelation is Jesus
Christ
• Both Old and New
Testaments
Carl Heinrich Bloch, “The Sermon
on the Mount”

13. How would you
restate the kerygma
in 2-3 sentences?

14. Sacred Scripture and
Sacred Tradition
• Sources which help
us from falling into
error
• Tell us what we
should believe
(orthodoxy)
• Tell us how we are to
act (orthopraxy)
• Lay out the
“boundary lines” of
discipleship

15. Photo by George Groutas under a
CC-BY license.

16. Rules: Oppression vs. Freedom
Sovereignty of Christ
• Jesus as Lord
• St. Paul and Christian
Freedom
• Freedom from
• Freedom for
Modern Culture and
“Rules”
• Restrict personal
autonomy
• Exercise of
oppressive power

17. Aids in Discerning the
Boundary Lines
• Liturgical Rites
• Lex orandi, lex
credendi
• Catechism of the
Catholic Church
• Local catechisms
(USCCA, YouCat)
• Natural Law
• Personal Experience

18. What aids or resources
have you found helpful in
learning about the
Christian faith?

19. Called to Share
• Christianity is not a self-centered religion
• Preaching implies the preacher and those
who hear the preaching
• “How beautiful are the feet of those who
bring the good news!”
• New Evangelization

20. Old Evangelization
• Overseas missions
• Raising money for
“pagan babies”
• Enrolling in the Church

21. New Evangelization
• Proposed by Paul VI,
enacted by St. John
Paul II, Benedict XVI,
Francis
• New historical
situation
• Relentless focus on the
person of Jesus Christ

22. No participation in
the faith; may or
may not be actively
hostile to religious
faith
Occasionally
participate in faith
activities; irregular
Mass attendees
Intentional and
regular participation
in their faith life
The (largely secular)
institutions and
communities in which
lay people participate
Regular participants;
may or may not be
actively seeking to
become disciples

23. The Kerygma Demands a
Response
James Tissot, “The Exhortation to
the Apostles”

24. Q&A

25. Video and slides available tomorrow at
bit.ly/BetterDisciple