Evangelization 101
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This document discusses evangelization and the process of bringing people to faith in Christ. It begins by providing statistics on common programs in US Catholic churches and identifies evangelization as the essential mission of the Church. It then explores what evangelization means and its importance. The document outlines five stages of pre-discipleship that non-believers may go through - trust, curiosity, openness, seeking, and intentional discipleship. It provides suggestions for how Christians can foster each of these stages. Finally, it discusses establishing an intentional process for evangelization with clarity, movement between stages, alignment within a parish, and focus.
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Evangelization 101
- 1. Evangelization Defining the Mission Jason Simon The Evangelical Catholic
- 12. “ We talk about evangelization but in fact do very little to empower people in the exercise of this ministry.” ~Bishop Samuel Jacobs, Chairman of the US Bishops Committee for Evangelization
- 13. So How DO we evangelize?
- 21. Boundary Experiences Death, suffering, saying goodbye, accepting new opportunities, moving away from home to college, or changing grades Limit Questions Arise out of our normal, everyday lives (unlike boundary experiences). Where is my life going, what is my purpose, do my friends really like me, etc.
- 22. Break?
- 27. Â
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- 44. Front Porch Living Room Dining Room Kitchen
- 45. Front Porch Living Room Dining Room Kitchen
- 46. Front Porch Living Room Dining Room Kitchen
- 47. Front Porch Living Room Dining Room Kitchen
Editor's Notes
- If someone is really hungry – they haven’t eaten for 2 days – and you can tell that all is not right with them. The first thing that comes to your mind is that they must be worried about how the Green Bay Packers are going to do this year in their 3rd year without Brett Favre. So, thinking that this is their fundamental need - you say you have good news for them – the Green Bay Packers are going to be really good this year! Then they no longer seem interested in your good news. But you start to say it louder – THE GREEN BAY PACKERS ARE GOING TO BE REALLY GOOD THIS YEAR!
- Suggests that speaking to the problem of being separated from God by sin might not be the most effective message.
- - Meaning Purpose - Though feel connection to transcendent power, still a large portion of the students not conceiving God according to the Good News of Christian Revelation. - “Still haven’t found what they’re looking for.”
- An omnipotent God in control of their life God understands and shares in one’s suffering God gives strength to confront and overcome injustice Nothing can separate you from the love of God
- Doorways for experiencing God. Boundary experiences – suffering, angst, great joy, ultimate is death Limit questions – everyday life – questions that transcend and often contradict the life situation
- This is not revelation – talking about pastoral observation that has led to these categories which we feel are helpful for ministering to our culture. People really do fall into these and we hope that you’ll resonate with these as we unpack.
- This is not revelation – talking about pastoral observation that has led to these categories which we feel are helpful for ministering to our culture. People really do fall into these and we hope that you’ll resonate with these as we unpack.
- In one word – fear. We are held captive by fear – if we admit that something’s wrong, our lives will fall apart – credibility, strength, worth, self-concept might all come crashing down if I admit a chink in my armor. Our society perpetuates this myth – have to have everything together – skinny, athletic, smell good, social, confident, clean, perfect. Resume’ – pressures to live a life of building a resume’ – experience, classes, volunteering, leadership roles, etc.
- Can you picture this person? Trust in a person – not in a set of beliefs or a system. That’s inaccessible to people – so against the grain of how a relationship would normally be built. Do you have a trusting relationship with an unbeliever? If so, you’re one stage into helping someone to be a disciple of Christ and follow God intentionally.
- Think about people who are going to Mass. Most of them have a trusting relationship with Christians (parents, youth worker, friend, relative). Many non-practicing don’t have that – they don’t have ONE trusting relationship with Christians. It’s a problem. OUR problem – not their problem.
- We are not an unchurched society – almost every american has some exper with a church or some xians – a lot of times it leaves them either wanting or burned. Uninspired by the witness – feel like a project – or burned. Formindable task to rebuild trust – how many of you have a story of someone who has lost their trust in xians. Trust takes time – how long does it take for you to really trust people? I have friends who don’t even know who I am. Not a quick endeavor. Post-modern mind suspicious of systems or categories – you just want to insert me into your system. People are allergic to this.
- So, how do you build trust? (discuss) Your witness – removing the planks from your own eyes and being serious about your own faith. Taking Christ seriously yourself. Many people want everyone to be xians- but don’t want to be a committed xian themselves. Let your light shine brightly before men… Have you ever met someone who was just different – and it was attractive? Run through the others Last one – do you take the time to think about and pray for people in your life?
- Have Trust But JUST curious – not ready to change or even accept that they need to change – but curious – taking notice – even in a way that they want to know a little bit more about – why are you hopeful, at peace, or forgiving in the middle of trial. We can actually foster this curiosity – don’t have to just wait and hope that it comes – going to talk more about how. Curiosity usually includes the questions – they need to be able to express their opinions, however woefully misguided you think those questions are. Going to get some intellectual, emotional messiness – have to be able to engage it without correcting it. Uh-ha – ok – ask another question – dialog. They’ll walk away after having a great, open conversation with a xian about deep things – and not having felt put down or condemned.
- So – here’s how we can foster curiosity. Living it out in a way that you don’t have to apologize for it. Hide the fact that I pray or go to Mass. No – not in your face about it – but I do it. I pray, love, forgive, say God bless you, friendly to strangers – don’t do it for reaction – but don’t hide it. 2) You’re my roommate and you don’t believe anything – I’m going to invite you out to wings or broomball with a bunch of my Catholic buddies – we’re not going to gang-up on you and make you Catholic – just want to hang. They’ll walk away saying – man – those guys are all Catholic – they didn’t jam it down my throat. I’ve been living this way – and now they see my friends doing that in ways that I wasnm’t even able to do. They’ll experience the body of Christ. They’re expecting a bunch of old-fashioned, stuffy, traditionalists – they were awesome – athletic – I never expected… Nothing is more disarming than for a xian to expose how they messed up and how Christ has responded. Going to have a whole session next about this – we don’t stop talking about spiritual conversation if a person is an unbeliever. E.g. - Attributing blessings to God
- One of the hardest ones – big threshold They probably already have some trust/curiosity with some people in their lives – moving from there to openness is a major step. This is when you actually come to accept the fact that something in your life needs change – something wrong, missing, backwards, upside down, empty, etc. We have a lot of protective mechanisms that we use to protect us from the idea that we have to change – we do it with our wives/friends all the time – we know we’re wrong, we just don’t want to admit it – give example – so human With the unbelieving culture – there is a log of cynicism, bitterness, antagonism about belief it God – people just see the abuses – that are real – and react against the idea/belief in God because of them. Internal and external obstacles – abused by parents, misused by xian neighbor or co-worker (in ternal) – or outspoken xian in my life that’s really nasty (external obstacle to me ever being open). One has not yet made a decision to follow Christ – the defenses have dropped – experiential, emotionally, intellectually Some may never make the transition from trust and curiosity to openness. A lot of practicing Christians have not made this turn. You still continue to work and pray for this transition, but realize that many people won’t make this turn. Why is this such a big transition/stage? (discuss)
- In one word – fear. We are held captive by fear – if we admit that something’s wrong, our lives will fall apart – credibility, strength, worth, self-concept might all come crashing down if I admit a chink in my armor. Our society perpetuates this myth – have to have everything together – skinny, athletic, smell good, social, confident, clean, perfect. Resume’ – pressures to live a life of building a resume’ – experience, classes, volunteering, leadership roles, etc.
- You can actually foster this turn – how would we do this with a curious person? Here’s an idea; Just ask the question. In the context of a relationship, that’s a totally doable question. You’ll see God all over their life if you’re a believer – remind them of some of these things – how they’re learning to relinquish control – you were so afraid that things would come crashing down and you’re ok . Open about our need for change – they can be too. What are apologetics? Here’s a good place for them. Sometimes it’s more about I’m right and you’re wrong – not giving a healthy account. But for someone in this stage – they have all these questions and obstacles – they could be very reasonable. HAVE to be questions that they are actually asking. If you give a reason for something they’re not wondering about – then they’ll feel like you’re trying to cram them into a system again.
- Openness is not constantly pursuing knowledge/change. When I’m seeking – I start seeking out information – that’s when you’re seeking. I’m starting to read the Bible – I’m going to a talk to learn about Christian dating – I’m pursuing.
- When someone is seeking – they are seeking. WHAT DO WE GIVE THEM? (discuss) They don’t know where to turn for information – but they can absorb bad information. We have to be right on point and ready to give them good stuff.
- Do we typically move people through this path of discipleship well - sequentially?