Connued on page 2 The Big Picture HOW TO DISCIPLE • How to Be Jesus’ Disciple: A Vision for Discipleship Resource Understanding Jesus’ culture helps us understand what discipleship truly means. Our culture isn’t exactly friendly to the concept of discipleship. In a culture where friendships and communicaon can be said to be cheap, it is no surprise that a relaonship expensive in terms of me, energy, and care is difficult. In order to truly understand discipleship, we have to look beyond the current climate of our culture today. We need to discover the true meaning of discipleship in Jesus’ day in order to find out what it means for us today. To understand discipleship, you have to understand the ancient Jewish way of educang children. For the Jews, educaon was one of their highest values. It was the way that they passed on their faith to the next generaon. In parcular, their educaon centered on the study of the Old Testament. In fact, rabbis in Jesus’ day would argue about how early a child could begin memorizing the Bible. The Talmud, an ancient Jewish teaching document, states, “Under the age of six we do not receive a child as a pupil; from six upwards we accept him and stuff him (with Torah) like an ox.” Jesus would have started His educaon at a school called Bet Sefer or House of the Book, a Jewish equivalent of primary school for those who were 6 to 10 years old. From the ages of 6 to 10, educaon focused on one thing: memorizing the Torah— Genesis, Exodus, Levicus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. For people in an oral culture, memorizaon was much easier. Humans sll have this ability today—we just choose to memorize different subjects, the lines from popular movies and songs, for example. At the end of Bet Sefer, only the best of the best students would connue their educaon. Those who were the best at memorizing would go on to Bet Talmud or House of Learning from the ages of 10 to 14. Here, they would focus on memorizing the rest of the Jewish Scriptures. In fact, there are sll Jewish men and women who do this today. If you were the best of the best at the end of Bet Talmud, you would present yourself to a Rabbi and enter Bet Midrash. The students here would be elite students similar to Ivy League students today. The rabbi would ask you quesons to see if you were really the best of the best. This was extremely important for
Transcript
Continued on page 2
The Big Picture
HOW TO DISCIPLE • How to Be Jesus’ Disciple: A Vision for Discipleship
Res
ou
rce
Understanding Jesus’ culture helps us understand what discipleship truly means.
Our culture isn’t exactly friendly to the concept of discipleship. In a culture where friendships and communication can be said to be cheap, it is no surprise that a relationship expensive in terms of time, energy, and care is difficult. In order to truly understand discipleship, we have to look beyond the current climate of our culture today. We need to discover the true meaning of discipleship in Jesus’ day in order to find out what it means for us today. To understand discipleship, you have to understand the ancient Jewish way of educating children. For the Jews, education was one of their highest values. It was the way that they passed on their faith to the next generation. In particular, their education centered on the study of the Old Testament. In fact, rabbis in Jesus’ day would argue about how early a child could begin memorizing the Bible. The Talmud, an ancient Jewish teaching document, states, “Under the age of six we do not receive a child as a pupil; from six upwards we accept him and stuff him (with Torah) like an ox.” Jesus would have started His education at a school called Bet Sefer or House of the Book, a Jewish equivalent of primary school for those who were 6 to 10 years old. From the ages of 6 to 10, education focused on one thing: memorizing the Torah—Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. For people in an oral culture, memorization was much easier. Humans still have this ability today—we just choose to memorize different subjects, the lines from popular movies and songs, for example. At the end of Bet Sefer, only the best of the best students would continue their
education. Those who were the best at memorizing would go on to Bet Talmud or
House of Learning from the ages of 10 to 14. Here, they would focus on memorizing
the rest of the Jewish Scriptures. In fact, there are still Jewish men and women who
do this today.
If you were the best of the best at the end of Bet Talmud, you would present
yourself to a Rabbi and enter Bet Midrash. The students here would be elite
students similar to Ivy League students today. The rabbi would ask you questions to
see if you were really the best of the best. This was extremely important for
Resource
the rabbi. Rabbis had a particular way of interpreting and teaching of the Scriptures called their “yoke.” Jesus refers to this in the Gospels when he says, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” In order to spread this yoke, the rabbi would want only the best disciples. He would ask them questions like, “How many times does the word well appear in the book of Genesis?” or, “How many times does Habakkuk reference Deuteronomy 17?” Off the top of their heads, the disciples would recall the memorized words and count them. These were the law school or GMAT questions of their day. If the rabbi believed that you had what it takes, he would say the two words in Hebrew every disciple would want to hear, “Lek Hackeri”—“Come follow me.” Upon hearing these words, the disciple would leave his family and his village and follow the rabbi wherever he went. A blessing developed: “May you be covered in the dust of your rabbi.” The hope is that the disciple would follow behind the rabbi so closely behind that the dust from the rabbi’s sandals would cover him. If the rabbi prayed a certain way, then the disciple also prayed that way. If a rabbi told a certain story, then you learned how to tell the story. If the rabbi ate a certain way, well, you get the picture. Now, if you didn’t have what it takes, the rabbi would say: “You know the Torah well, but you don’t have what it takes. Go back to your village. Go and make babies and hope they become rabbis. Go and ply your trade.” How does this system relate to the Scriptures we know? Turn to Matthew 4 and read about the time when Jesus calls His first two disciples, Peter and Andrew. Sometimes we can read the Gospels as if they were about another world. We don’t question them. We just assume instead that this is just the way things work. If we stop and imagine that the disciples are normal people, it is pretty odd that they drop their nets and follow Jesus just because He says, “Come follow me.” But if you understand their system of discipleship, the scene makes a whole lot more sense. Jesus, as the rabbi, says the two words every Jewish boy would want to hear, “Lek Hackeri”—“Come follow me.” But, Jesus is not your typical rabbi. Peter and Andrew aren’t in Bet Midrash. They are plying their trade. They were not the best of the best of the best. And yet, Jesus still calls them. They follow because a rabbi thinks they are good enough. The rabbi thinks that they can be like Him. What does this following by the disciples of Jesus look like in the Gospels? When do
the disciples try to be like Jesus? Turn to Matthew 14 for one example. There, the
disciples encounter a pretty odd sight—Jesus is walking on water. The disciples have
seen a lot of really crazy things, but this one has to be the
2
We cannot let our own imperfections and inadequacies hold us back from following after Jesus.
Continued on page 3
The Challenge
HOW TO DISCIPLE • How to Be Jesus’ Disciple
Resource
strangest. Again, the disciples are normal people. What would you think if you were in a boat and your teacher was walking on water? The disciples’ reaction was sheer terror (Matthew 14:27). But Peter’s reaction is much different. He asks, “If it is you, Lord, tell me to come out on the water.” Why would he do this? If his rabbi is able to walk on water, then Peter as a disciple can do this too. And sure enough Jesus says, “Come.” There is an interesting question in the midst of all of this: How old were these disciples? Usually, we think of them as grown men with beards. We know that Peter is older because he has a mother-in-law (Matthew 8:14). Jesus also discusses the temple tax with Peter. Only those 20 and older pay the temple tax, so Peter was most likely over this age. How old were the other disciples? Jesus worked within a particular context and culture. As we saw above, disciples were usually called around the age of 14 or 15. Some rabbis had a lead disciple who was older than the rest. He helped train the other disciples. If this scenario was the case for disciples, it would make sense that Peter, as the eldest, would be seen as the leader. Before we get too carried away, however, stop and think about whom Jesus chooses to be His disciples, to be people like Him—perhaps, 14 or 15 year old boys on the B team. They were young men who weren’t the best of the best. And yet, Jesus still believes in them. He still believes that they can be like Him. He still calls them out on the water. All of this background has radical implications for our own discipleship. First, we are all individually called to be disciples of Jesus. It is easy to shoot holes in our own character and talents. And yet, Jesus still believes in us. In return, He is asking for us to trust in Him. Will we drop our nets and follow Him? Second, it helps us understand what a discipleship relationship is supposed to look like. For those who disciple others, you don’t have to be the rabbi. Jesus is our rabbi. You’re not a doctor and they’re not the patients. You aren’t a therapist or a spiritual director. The disciples are not obedient to you. They are obedient to Jesus Christ and the Church. You are an older disciple helping other disciples to know how to follow the rabbi. The discipler lives out St. Paul’s words: "Imitate me as I imitate Christ" (1 Corinthians 11:1). You’re an older brother or sister helping them drop their nets. Third, discipleship is more than just teaching others, it is a way of life. Our culture is very much concerned with acquiring skills in order to perform tasks. Skills aren’t bad, but left on their own, they will not amount to much. More important than skills is the character we possess and the way we integrate our faith in Jesus Christ into everything that we do. Pope Benedict XVI once said, “To evangelize means…to teach the art of living.” Discipleship is not a one-hour lesson once a week. It is sharing our very selves (1 Thessalonians 2:8).
3
Continued on page 4
HOW TO DISCIPLE • How to Be Jesus’ Disciple
Resource
4
1. What stood out to you the most about Jesus’ method of discipleship?
2. Why do you think that
Jesus didn’t choose the best of the best?
3. Do you think the idea of
discipleship is difficult in our culture today? Why? Why not?
4. What element of
discipleship applies most to you today?
For Discussion
FOCUS Equip is based on Ephesians 4:12 “for the equipment of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for building up the
body of Christ.” These materials seek to equip you for lifelong Catholic mission. We would love to hear your feedback at: [email protected]
Finally, don’t underestimate the power of discipleship. Jesus was totally dedicated to
these 12 men for 3 years. As a result, 11 of them were willing to spread the Gospel all
over the world. Ten of them died as martyrs. While it is more difficult in our culture,
discipleship can nevertheless be even more powerful today because of its radical na-
ture. Never before has there been such a need to serve as examples for others. Disci-
pleship is crucial to carrying on the faith in our generation.
(Note: This whole concept of Jesus as rabbi isn’t a secret teaching. In fact, Jesus is called “rabbi,” sometimes translated “teacher,” several times throughout the Scriptures (for instance, John 20:16; 3:2; 3:26; 6:25). Because we don’t understand the culture, the meaning throughout the Gospels is lost on us. Much of this article was inspired by Rob Bell and a chapter called “Dust” in his book Velvet Elvis. For more on this subject, see the website: www.followtherabbi.com)
HOW TO DISCIPLE • The Concept of Spiritual Multiplication
Res
ou
rce
The concept of spiritual multiplication is rooted in Scripture and has proved to be effective in our world today.
Light the Fire Sacred Scripture says that our God is a consuming fire (see Hebrews 12:29), and Jesus Himself said, “I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled!” (Luke 12:49). The early Church Fathers taught that this passage referred to Christ’s desire to see the fire of divine love ablaze upon the earth. St. Dominic, the founder of the Dominicans, was a great evangelist in the thirteenth century. When he received his call from God to become an evangelist, he had a vision of a dog carrying a burning torch in its mouth. As the dog was running through a dry wheat field, the torch ignited a fire in the field. God told St. Dominic that he was to be like that dog, igniting fires in the hearts of the people he served. Making Disciples As we try to decide the best way to reach the world for Jesus Christ, we should look to His example. In order to reach the world with His saving message, Jesus came at a specific time, to a specific nation, to twelve specific men. Even among the twelve, he focused much of His time on three of His Apostles (Peter, James, and John). Yes, Jesus preached and healed the masses, but His lasting impact was realized through His Apostles. Jesus reaches the world through those who follow Him.
So, too, we can see in history that the Apostle John mentored St. Polycarp and St. Ignatius of Antioch, both bishops and martyrs in the early Church. St. Paul mentored St. Timothy and St. Titus; some of his instructions to them are found in the books of the Bible named after these men. In The Second Letter to Timothy, St. Paul shows us that he taught Timothy about Christ and also taught him how to teach others about Christ. “You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2). The role of discipleship is to light the fire of God’s love in our own hearts first and then in the hearts of those around us. In following St. Paul’s encouragement to teach, but even more, to teach others how to teach, we desire to raise up a generation of “spiritual pyromaniacs” who go about setting spiritual fires and teaching others to do the same.
Resource
Shotguns and Rifles When you shoot at a target with a shotgun, you will both hit and miss it. After the pellets leave the barrel of the gun, they spread out rapidly. If you look at your target, you will see that some of the pellets have hit the target and others have gone right by it. When you shoot a rifle at a target, you also either hit or miss it, but when you hit the mark, there is no doubt about it. The bullet from the rifle leaves a lasting impact. In our lives as disciples, we can take one of two strategies: we can try to be something to everybody or we can try to be everything to somebody. In this article, we will discuss the concept of “spiritual multiplication.” This effective method of evangelizing is about leaving a lasting impact on the lives of at least a few close friends and then encouraging them to do the same with others. Giving To Versus Giving Through The old adage “Give a man a fish and you have fed him for a day; teach a man to fish, and you have fed him for life,” is just the beginning. Imagine if you could also teach the man how to teach others how to fish. You would then have not just him but the whole village for a lifetime. With spiritual multiplication, we teach men and women how to “fish” spiritually and we teach them how to become teachers of teachers. We pass on the faith and we also pass on the vision and the tools to make future leaders, who in turn will go out and lead others. Life in Christ is meant to be shared. Jesus Himself challenges us in the Sermon on the Mount to pass on the faith to others: “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16). Our salvation in Jesus Christ is the greatest gift imaginable. To the degree that we recognize what Christ has done in our life, we will want to share Christ’s gift with others. We never want to impose the faith on anyone. We do want to propose it to others by sharing what God has done for us and letting them know that God’s grace is available for anyone who asks for it. A great way to express our gratitude for our new life in Christ is to share it with those we meet. In this way, we will not only go to Heaven but also invite others to join us. Growth by Addition Versus Growth by Multiplication Imagine that you were given the gift of an evangelist. For the rest of your life, you would be allowed to bring one million people to faith in Christ every year. One million new Christians would be added to the Church every year. Each of these people would live the rest of their lives as committed Christians. However, like many Christians, each of these converts would never become evangelists themselves.
2
We have to have the patience to know that our investment today in just a handful of people can provide a lifetime of fruit.
Continued on page 3
The Challenge
Resource
Now, imagine that you were given no special gift for evangelization but you were willing to live the model of “win, build, and send discipleship.” You would simply invest your life in leading two other people to Christ. Your time would be invested in efforts such as loving them, praying with and for them, sharing the ordinary aspects of daily life, sharing the fullness of the faith with them, and equipping them to go out and do the same for at least two others. “[T]he true apostle is on the lookout for occasions of announcing Christ by word, either to unbelievers... or to the faithful” (CCC, 905). Imagine that after these two, you never reached any other person directly for Christ. Imagine that you spent an entire year building up these two persons and the following year, they each followed your example and went out and spent an entire year investing their lives in the conversion of only two other persons each. This process of each Christian investing in the lives of two other persons for the sake of Christ would slowly but surely over the years begin to change the world. At the end of the first year, the “super evangelist” would have one million converts to Christianity and you would have only two disciples. At the end of the second year the super evangelist would have a total of two million converts. And you would have a total of six, the two people you mentored and the four with whom they had worked. For several years, it would appear that being a super evangelist was the only way to go. Eventually, however, an amazing thing would happen. Each year the group of people committed to discipleship would gain momentum and size. Slowly at first, but steadily, they would reach more and more people. Each person would turn to Christ and each would become a “mini evangelist” committed to reaching two other persons with the Gospel of Jesus Christ! In the nineteenth year, the discipleship model would actually begin reaching more persons! Exactly 1,048,574 new converts would be added that year. The following year, the “super evangelist” would reach another one million people but those ordinary Catholics who were committed to discipleship (the “mini evangelists”) would reach another 2,097,150! By the twenty-fourth year, the “super evangelist” would have reached 24 million people, but the discipleship group would have reached over 33 million people! And all of these Christians would know and live their faith in Christ; all would share it with others also. If This Is How Christians Are to Act, Why Doesn’t the Church Do It This Way? We might wonder why the faith does not grow this way. In a certain sense, we can say it has and it does. Certainly, in the early Church, “the first disciples burned with the desire to proclaim Christ: ‘We cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard’” (CCC, 425; Acts 4:20). And even today, “The disciple of Christ must not only keep the faith and live on it, but also profess it, confidently bear witness to it, and spread it: ‘All, however, must be prepared to confess Christ before men and to follow him along the way of the Cross, amidst the persecutions which the Church never lacks.’ Service of
3
Continued on page 4
Resource 4
FOCUS Equip is based on Ephesians 4:12 “for the equipment of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for building up the
body of Christ.” These materials seek to equip you for lifelong Catholic mission. We would love to hear your feedback at: [email protected]
and witness to the faith are necessary for salvation: ‘So every one who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven; but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven’” (CCC, 1816). Nevertheless, it seems there are many Catholics who do not even know the faith, let alone witness to it. We must caution that we should focus on what we can do rather than on what others do not do. If you have the knowledge and the talent to evangelize, let the process begin with you. Perhaps that evangelization will take place within the Church itself to poorly catechized Catholics. Also, we must be careful to recognize the structure of discipleship within the Church that must be understood and respected. The Pope works in union with the bishops, who in turn pastor their individual flocks, which are called dioceses. The bishops serve the Christians in their dioceses by working in union with their priests, who serve in local parishes. The priests care for us, and each of us in turn is called to care for our brothers and sisters in Christ through witness and discipleship.
Lay people also fulfill their prophetic mission by evangelization, “that is, the proclamation of Christ by word and the testimony of life.” For lay people, “this evangelization... acquires a specific property and peculiar efficacy because it is accomplished in the ordinary circumstances of the world” (CCC, 905).
Our own work of evangelization must fit within the apostolic structure of the Church.
“Lay people who are capable and trained may also collaborate in catechetical
formation, in teaching the sacred sciences, and in use of the communications
media” (CCC, 906). We must be well-prepared to evangelize and must submit ourselves
to the Church in doing so, being careful that the Christ we proclaim is indeed the very
Christ proclaimed by the Church.
Have you ever felt lost with God? Not lost in that you are far from Him, but lost in that you don’t know what He wants you to do. You have a relationship with Him, you are praying daily, you are seeking His will, but you aren’t sure what God wants from you. What is the end goal? What is your next step in life? What pitfalls should you be looking to avoid?
While Jesus won’t give us specific directions for each step of our lives, He lays out a road map for what it means to accept His Word and live it out in the Parable of the Sower.
The Parable of the Sower The Catechism explains the role of the parables in Jesus’ ministry: “Jesus' invitation to enter his kingdom comes in the form of parables, a characteristic feature of his teaching. Through his parables he invites people to the feast of the kingdom, but he also asks for a radical choice: to gain the kingdom, one must give everything. Words are not enough, deeds are required. The parables are like mirrors for man: will he be hard soil or good earth for the word? What use has he made of the talents he has received?” (CCC 546).
Jesus uses the parables to teach us about the kingdom and our role in it. Let’s see what we can learn from Jesus’ Parable of the Sower:
"Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it had not much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil; and when the sun rose it was scorched, and since it had no root it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. And other seeds fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold." (Mark 4:3-8)
In this parable, Jesus uses agricultural analogies to tell us about the kingdom. Later in this chapter, he will go on to explain the parable (Mark 4:14-20): The seed is the word of God. The birds devouring the seed on the path are the devil. The grass with no depth that is scorched are those who fall away when tribulation or persecution comes. The ones among thorns are those who hear the word but are ultimately overcome by the cares of the world. The seed sown in the good soil are those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit.
HOW TO DISCIPLE • How to Use the Discipleship Road Map
Continued on page 2
The Big Picture
The Discipleship Road Map helps you understand the vision for rooting ourselves in Jesus Christ and living out His mission through incremental growth.
Res
ou
rce
Resource How to Use the Discipleship Road Map
Let’s look at how this can apply to our own lives.
The Discipleship Road Map: An Introduction In the parable, Jesus reveals His desire for those in the kingdom: that they would avoid pitfalls and bear fruit. How do we do this? FOCUS has developed a tool based on these principles to identify stages in the process: the Discipleship Road Map. To begin, go ahead and read about the different stages on the Discipleship Road Map tool attached to this article.
What’s with the Trees? You might notice the trees that accompany the stages on the Discipleship Road Map. These trees help illustrate Jesus’ agricultural analogies found in the Parable of the Sower by showing the growth that occurs as we accept God’s word more in our lives and spread it to others.
In nature, a seed has two distinct jobs when it first begins to grow; likewise, a Christian has two distinct jobs from the moment he begins his life of faith.
First, when a seed first begins to grow, it sends roots into the ground. These roots allow the plant to receive nutrients, provide stability as it grows taller, and protect it from being scorched by the sun, like Jesus talks about.
Just as a plant without roots will die, an evangelist without prayer is lifeless. In Dom Jean-Baptiste Chautard’s book The Soul of the Apostolate: The Interior life of Grace as the Key to Saving Souls, he states, “The entire success of the apostolate depends on one thing: An interior life centered on the Blessed Eucharist.”1 We must continually seek after a deeper and deeper relationship with God as we evangelize. It is only by the grace of God that we are able to grow, and only through the Holy Spirit that the work of evangelization can occur. Developing these roots is crucial in the Beginning Disciple and Growing Disciple stages, but they remain important in every stage.
Second, when a seed germinates, it seeks to grow up above the ground. Many plants quickly spread high and wide in order to soak up the sunlight. When they grow strong, they won’t be choked by the weeds that Jesus talks about in the parable. This growth also gives them space to bear fruit.
Similarly, as we grow in Christ, we want to prepare ourselves to bear fruit as well.
Jesus’ goal for His disciples is that we would bear much fruit—thirtyfold and sixtyfold
and a hundredfold! When we grow in our love of the Lord, He is also asking us to share
this love more and more with others. In addition, He is asking that we would not only
share the gospel but teach others how to share it as well (2 Timothy 2:2). This is why
the trees not only bear fruit below them, but those new trees will bear fruit as well
(the Spiritual Multiplier stage).
1 J. Chautard, The Soul of the Apostolate (Tan: Rockford, IL., 1946), p. 192.
2
Continued on page 3
Resource How to Use the Discipleship Road Map
There is a beautiful relationship between the roots in the ground and the growth above
ground, between our relationship with God and our evangelization of others. Pope
Paul VI once said, “The person who has been evangelized goes on to evangelize
others” (Evangelii Nuntiandi, 24). Pope Francis assures us that the reverse is true as
well: “You will experience that the one who evangelizes is evangelized” (World Youth
Day, 2013). Following Jesus’ analogy and the words of our holy fathers, may we grow
deeper in our relationship with Him as we grow deeper in our outreach to others.
How to Use the Discipleship Road Map After outlining the different stages of discipleship, a series of questions included with the Road Map will guide readers through the tool. First, it asks, “Where do you place yourself right now on the Discipleship Road Map?” and “Why do you place yourself there?” Second, it asks, “Where do you feel God is calling you to be on the Road Map? Why?”2 Assuming that someone feels God is calling him to a deeper commitment, the rest of the questions help him to outline a plan for reaching this stage.
Principles in the Road Map This line of questioning is fairly straightforward, but it can produce some great results. These are some principles that will help guide your use of the Discipleship Road Map:
1. God’s Grace It bears repeating that the Road Map is simply a tool to help someone in his walk with Jesus; it is not meant to define someone’s entire relationship with God. This is not a how-to guide for pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps in your walk with Jesus. While our efforts are needed as well, all growth in the spiritual life comes from God’s grace.
2. Sharing the Vision of Spiritual Multiplication The Road Map allows someone to understand the importance of Jesus’ mission and the work of spiritual multiplication. Often, the mission of FOCUS or the Church can be reduced to Christian activities: leading a Bible study, helping the poor, or volunteering for a project, to name a few. The Road Map helps lay out the bigger picture of what we are called to do and how we get there. Some have asked, “When do we share the Road Map with others?” The best time to share it is when someone has made a commitment or recommitment to Jesus Christ and His Church. Remembering back to the seed analogy, a Christian has two goals: to be rooted in Jesus and to bear fruit. The Discipleship Road Map reminds them to grow deeper in their relationship with Jesus and in His mission.
2 Pope Francis asked a similar line of questions during his homily on the Parable of the Sower and Discipleship at the World Youth Day Vigil in Brazil in 2013. He asked, “Jesus tells us that the seed which fell on the path or on the rocky ground or among the thorns bore no fruit. What kind of ground are we? What kind of terrain do we want to be? For the full speech, see: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/francesco/speeches/2013/july/documents/papa-francesco_20130727_gmg-veglia-giovani_en.html. The Discipleship Road Map and use of the Parable of the Sower and questions were made prior to the pope’s speech.
3. Self-selection Don’t make assumptions about others; let them read over the Road Map and determine for themselves where they are and where they want to be. For instance, some who you thought were Disciple Makers might realize that they are only Beginning Disciples and are focused on becoming Growing Disciples. Without knowing this information, you might spend a year investing in these people, only to discover later that they were not prepared to invest in others. Maybe they met with you because they didn’t want to let you down, or they didn’t quite understand your expectations in the first place. The Road Map can help you avoid these mistakes.
4. Accountability Remember that the people you are working with are Jesus’ disciples, not yours. That being said, the Road Map can be a great tool for accountability. Once the people you are working with identify where they want to be, you can shape your relationship and conversation in this direction. Your discipleship is now centered on getting them to the next level in their walk with Jesus Christ and their outreach. If they initially desired to be a Disciple Maker, but later on don’t take time to evangelize, you can point to the Road Map and say, “You told me you want to be a Disciple Maker. A Disciple Maker has a heart for people and is willing to make any sacrifice for others. Do you think you are doing this right now?” Your main concern is to help them accomplish their goals; the Road Map keeps you from trying to drag disciples in directions they don’t want to go. Nothing could be more frustrating. Once you know where they are in their walk with Jesus, you can adjust your level of investment.
5. Incremental Growth
The Discipleship Road Map also allows for incremental growth. For someone who is starting off as a Beginning or Growing Disciple, the idea of becoming a Spiritual Multiplier might be daunting. But the Road Map lays out incremental steps that someone can take to get closer to their goal. At the same time, don’t be afraid to let the Holy Spirit guide that person in a new direction, if that’s where they feel God is calling them.
The Discipleship Road Map is only a tool, but it can be a highly effective one as we seek to follow the Holy Spirit and grow in our own holiness and evangelization efforts. May God bless you as you seek to do both!
4
FOCUS Equip is based on Ephesians 4:12 “for the equipment of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for building
up the body of Christ.” These materials seek to equip you for lifelong Catholic mission. We would love to hear your feedback at: [email protected]
Be willing to step out and present to others the Church’s vision for evangelization.
The Challenge
The Challenge
For Discussion
1. Where would you place yourself right now on the Discipleship Road Map? Why do you place yourself there?
2. Where do you feel God is calling you to be on the Road Map? Why?
3. What things do you need to do, change, or sacrifice to make strides toward your goal?
4. Do you know anyone whom you could walk through the Discipleship Road Map?
DISCIPLESHIP ROAD MAPBeginning Disciple
NOTE: Each section below describes a stage within discipleship with Jesus Christ. Each section builds on one another. The overall goal in the Christian life is sanctification; all growth in the Christian life is done through God’s grace.
BEGINNING DISCIPLE • Acts 2:37-38; CCC 1427; CCC 1 • Change of attitude towards Jesus Christ and the Church He established (favorable) (Romans 10:8-10)• Change of attitude towards sin (unfavorable) (1 John 1:5-9)• Has made a verbal profession of commitment to Jesus Christ to others (Mark 5:18-20)• Desires to grow spiritually (Philippians 4:8)• Has received the sacraments of initiation or has gone to Confession if already a Catholic (Acts 2:37-38)
GROWING DISCIPLE • James 1:19-25; CCC 1694• Has developed a heart for God that motivates his/her attitudes and actions• Is willing to make any sacrifices to grow, even change his/her schedule• Observable changes in attitudes and actions can be seen• Is committed to chastity, sobriety, and excellence in their state of life.• Consistent in continually growing in the basic habits of the Christian life, including but not limited to:
• Seeks interior growth through daily prayer with Scripture and spiritual reading (John 1:1-18; Ephesians 6:18)• Grows in sanctification through the reception of the sacraments (Acts 2:42)• Builds character through the virtues and the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-16)• Accepts suffering and uses it to unite him/her to Christ (Colossians 1:24)• Practices the spiritual and corporal works of mercy (Matthew 25:31-46)• Is open to the Holy Spirit (John 16:7; 12-13)
COMMISSIONED DISCIPLE • Matthew 28:18-20; CCC 905• Has decided to answer the call to take part in the mission of the Church • Is actively striving to win people over to Jesus and His mission, to build them up in small-group Bible studies and to send them
out to spiritually multiply (John 15:8)
DISCIPLE MAKER • 1 Thessalonians 2:8; CCC 1816 • Led someone to commit his/her life to Jesus Christ and His mission and is helping them engage in the work of evangelization,
disciplemaking and friendships through a mentoring relationship (2 Timothy 2:2)• Has developed a heart for God’s people and is willing to make any sacrifice to help another grow, even change his/her schedule (1
Thessalonians 5:11) • Makes life decisions (vocation, location, relationships, etc.) based upon how he/she can most effectively fulfill the Great
Commission
SPIRITUAL MULTIPLIER • 2 Timothy 2:2; CCC 3• Has been the major influence in helping others
become disciple makers (has produced a strong third generation)
• Has been trained and equipped to go to another location and remain active in lifelong Catholic mission in which this process is repeated
• Regular participation in personal prayer and sacramental life of the Church; Fulfills Vocational commitments; Leading a life of evangelization and discipleship through small groups; Lives an influential life of faith, parish, community, and workplace
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus sends His twelve apostles two by two to cast out demons and to heal the sick (5:7-13). They are successful to some extent, until one day they run into a problem: Jesus, Peter, James, and John return from the Transfiguration to hear that some of Jesus’ disciples are unable to heal a possessed boy. After Jesus casts out the demon, His disciples ask Him, “Why could we not cast it out?” Jesus’ response: “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting” (9:28-29).
This was just the first step for the disciples. Eventually, they were given an even bigger task than casting out demons and healing the sick; they were told to make disciples of all nations. The task they began almost 2,000 years ago remains the task for the Church and for us today. It is easy for someone to look at a campus, a parish, or a neighborhood and think, “How are all of these people going to come to know and love Jesus Christ?”
Ultimately, the task of evangelization must begin with prayer. Pope Francis said, “Evangelization is done on one’s knees…. Without a constant relationship with God, the mission becomes a job. The risk of activism, of relying too much on structures, is an ever-present danger…. And the more the mission calls you to go out to the margins of existence, let your heart be the more closely united to Christ’s heart, full of mercy and love. Herein lies the secret of the fruitfulness of a disciple of the Lord!”1
As Pope Francis beautifully notes, prayer is an integral part of evangelization. The more we seek to evangelize, the more we need to pray! So how do we pray for others in our evangelization efforts? Let’s look to the apostle Paul for inspiration.
St. Paul, a Model for Prayer and Evangelization St. Paul preached the gospel to all kinds of cities and peoples in the Roman Empire. As he spread the gospel, he continued to pray for those he met, but he prayed for each in different ways according to their needs. In Paul’s letters, he describes the issues these groups face and the prayers that he offers for them.
First, he prayed for the lost. There are people who did not grow up with the Faith and who do not know God or Jesus Christ. St. Paul met a lot of these people; in his Letter to the Romans, he writes, “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved” (10:1). This should be our prayer for them as well.
1 Pope Francis, Holy Mass with Seminarians, Novices, and Those Discerning Their Vocation. July 7, 2013.
HOW TO DISCIPLE • Spiritual Multiplication Depth Chart
Uniting Prayer and Evangelization
Res
ou
rce
The Big Picture
Prayer needs to be at the heart of our evangelization.
Continued on page 2
Resource Spiritual Multiplication Depth Chart: Uniting Prayer and Evangelization
Second, he prayed for recent converts. Paul traveled from city to city, gaining converts and writing them letters to encourage them. The Corinthians are a great example: They’ve converted, but Paul wants to make sure they don’t fall back into their old ways. In his First Letter to the Corinthians, Paul writes, “I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus…. He will also keep you firm to the end” (1 Corinthians 1:4:7). Paul is thankful and, through prayer, trusts that they will not fall away.
Third, he prayed for faithful disciples who are working through adversity. We can see Paul’s encouragement for the Church in Thessalonica, too. They are disciples of the Lord, living in community and seeking to make disciples. St. Paul prays for them in this way, “We give thanks to God always for you all, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 1:2-3). Rather than correcting them, Paul prays for their labor of love to spread the gospel.
Fourth, he prayed for his co-laborers, those who are making disciples. We have two letters from Paul to St. Timothy. In his second letter, Paul writes, “You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:1-2). In order to accomplish this task, Paul writes, “I thank God whom I serve with a clear conscience, as did my fathers, when I remember you constantly in my prayers.” (2 Timothy 1:3). Paul prays constantly for Timothy to reach and equip others who will in turn lead others to do the same.
What’s in the Spiritual Multiplication Depth Chart? Just like Paul, you probably know someone in each of these stages. Paul shows us that
prayer was the heart of his evangelization, and FOCUS has created a tool called the
Spiritual Multiplication Depth Chart to help prayer be the heart of your evangelization
as well.
The Depth Chart contains five different stages so that you can pray for these people in different ways. These five stages closely match the different groups of people Paul was praying for. (The Depth Chart is attached to this document.) Here are the five stages from left to right: New Contacts Meaningful Contacts Beginning/Growing Disciples Commissioned Disciples Disciple Makers At the top of the Spiritual Multiplication Depth Chart, you will find the words “Win, Build, Send” with different phrases underneath. “Win, Build, Send” is a model that FOCUS uses to reach out to college students on campus. The phrases before each word are a part of FOCUS’ Main Thing to help describe what each stage of the model looks like, as well as how to help people in each stage.
2
Continued on page 3
Resource Spiritual Multiplication Depth Chart: Uniting Prayer and Evangelization
How to Use the Spiritual Multiplication Depth Chart To get started, divide the people in your life into these stages. Keep in mind that placing people in stages doesn’t define their relationship with God; it merely helps you to pray for them in the best way you know how. It may be self-explanatory, but New Contacts are people you meet. You want to pray that you are able to connect with them again. Meaningful Contacts are people you have seen at least a few times. You probably know their names and some information about them. The final three stages match up with the Discipleship Road Map. The biggest difference between a Meaningful Contact and a Beginning/Growing Disciple is that a Beginning or Growing Disciple has made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ as the center of his life. Don’t just assume someone fits in one of these last three stages; if you are able, sit down with that person and walk him through the Discipleship Road Map. (For more, go to FOCUSEquip.org and read the article “How to Use the Discipleship Road Map.”)
After you have placed at least five people on the Depth Chart, you will want pray for them each day during your prayer time. Prayer will be the fuel for any of the evangelization you will have. Ask God to help them grow deeper in their love of Jesus and His mission, and to give you guidance as you help them reach their goal. As you continue praying, people might move into and out of different stages, which you can track on your Depth Chart.
The Spiritual Multiplication Depth Chart can be used in a number of different ways. It can be as informal as outlining the chart by hand on a sheet of scrap paper, or you can use the chart attached to this document. In addition, FOCUS has a program called Acts 2:47 that can help you keep track of your groups online; just go to acts.focus.org to find out more. (If you are at a FOCUS campus or are working with the Digital Campus, ask your missionary how you can access this website.)
We hope that the Discipleship Road Map can help you make prayer the heart of your evangelization. We will be praying for you as you seek to reach people for the gospel.
3
FOCUS Equip is based on Ephesians 4:12 “for the equipment of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for building
up the body of Christ.” These materials seek to equip you for lifelong Catholic mission. We would love to hear your feedback at: [email protected]
SENDBUILDWINInviting college students into a growing relationship with Jesus
Christ and His Church.
Inspiring and equipping them for a lifetime of Christ-centered evangelization, discipleship and
friendships.
In which they lead others to do the same.
DISCIPLE MAKERS
COMMISSIONED DISCIPLES
MEANINGFUL CONTACTS
NEW CONTACTS
We must be wise stewards of our time, energy, and talents. This is especially true with discipleship: Jesus preached to the masses, but He also had a group of 70 disciples. Of those 70, he narrowed the group down to 12 apostles—and even among these 12, He further narrowed the group down to three: Peter, James, and John. How do we determine whom we should invest in?
Prayer Prayer is our first step in choosing a disciple. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI offers some valuable insights: “Jesus had to acquire the disciples from God. The same is always true. We ourselves cannot gather men. We must acquire them by God and for God. All methods are empty without a foundation of prayer. The word of the announcement must always be drenched in an intense prayer life.” It is noteworthy that Jesus Himself prayed all night long before choosing His apostles. A great way to begin this process of prayer and discernment is to use the Spiritual Multiplication Depth Chart. For more, see the article, “Spiritual Multiplication Depth Chart: Uniting Prayer and Evangelization” on FOCUSEquip.org.
Three Determining Factors Our intellects should also be used in our discernment process. What practical tools can
we use to help us choose someone to disciple? FOCUS uses three methods to help you
(and them) determine whether being in discipleship is a good fit: the Discipleship Road
Map, FACT, and the Big Three.
The Discipleship Road Map The most important factor for discipling someone is their response to the Discipleship Road Map. Because this tool is so helpful, we have created a separate article to explain the vision behind it and how to use it. (Check it out on FOCUSEquip.org under the title “How to Use the Discipleship Road Map.”)
This Discipleship Road Map lays out the vision for discipleship and spiritual
multiplication. You want to disciple people who are seeking to love Jesus Christ and to
live out His mission. The Discipleship Road Map explains this vision and helps people
identify where they are now and where they want to be. Without this exercise, you
might end up trying to steer parked cars—people who aren’t motivated to evangelize.
HOW TO DISCIPLE • Come Follow Jesus (with Me)
Inviting Others into Discipleship
Res
ou
rce
The Big Picture
Discipleship is a huge investment in the life of another person. What factors determine who you should disciple?
Continued on page 2
Resource Inviting Others into Discipleship
Rather, check the Discipleship Road Map to be sure that those you are working with have a relationship with Jesus and want to live out His mission. Are They FACT? As you are looking for someone in whom you can invest your very life, remember to look for someone who is FACT: Faithful, Available, Contagious, and Teachable.
Faithful A faithful individual is someone who believes in the Church and Her teachings. It does not mean that this person needs to know all of the Church’s teachings; the faithful person does, however, need to believe that the Catholic Church is the one true Church established by Christ and to trust in Her teaching authority. In addition to this, a faithful person is also someone who is faithful to commitments—for example, to attend weekly Bible study.
Available In order to live out His mission, someone has to be available to do it. Look for someone who has (or is willing to make) the time to live out Jesus’ mission. This doesn't always mean that they cancel all of their other activities or obligations. But, someone must look to integrate Jesus’ mission into these plans in a meaningful way.
Contagious In order to draw others to Christ, we need to be able to show the joy of living the Christian life. Look for someone who has a joyful spirit and can draw others into this same joy. Keep in mind that your disciple does not need to be an extrovert, but should have the social graces to effectively reach out to new people. The disciple does not need to be the coolest person on campus, but they should have a contagious joy that can actively influence a specific affinity group on campus.
Teachable As we mentioned before, the person does not need to know all of the Church’s
teachings in order to be asked into discipleship. At the same time, we need to make
sure that those in whom we are investing are open and willing and ready to learn more
about their faith. These individuals must also be willing to be held accountable and
open to the correction.
The Big Three As FOCUS student missionaries, we ask you to live as examples of moral authority in the Big Three: chastity, sobriety, and excellence. These are some of the toughest virtues to acquire on a college campus. By living as examples in these areas, we will be able to show others what a difference Christ has made in our lives. (For more on these virtues, see the FOCUS Bible studies titled “Christ-like Leadership for Men” and “Christ-like Leadership for Women.”)
Chastity God has made us to love and be loved, and we know that true love always seeks the good of the other. Unfortunately, because of our fallen nature, this love isn’t always expressed in the best way. Chastity is nothing more than choosing to love in the right
2
Continued on page 3
The Challenge
Earnestly ask the Lord who He is calling you to disciple.
Resource Inviting Others into Discipleship
Sobriety One of the biggest temptations during college life is the misuse of alcohol. As Catholics, we do not believe that alcohol is evil in itself; at the same time, we know that alcohol is often abused and used by those not of legal age. In 1 Peter 5:8, St. Peter tells us: “Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” It can be tough enough to make the right decisions when we are sober; we must therefore not allow ourselves to be weakened by misuse of alcohol or to use alcohol if not of legal age. Excellence So many people in our world today just do enough to get by. St. Paul challenges us to do more: “Whatever your task, work heartily, as serving the Lord and not men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you are serving the Lord Christ” (Col. 3:23-24). By striving for Excellence in all we do, we glorify God and sanctify our daily living. Our example of excellence can also call others to higher standards. As Pope Benedict XVI said, we are not made for comfort; we are made for greatness.
Meeting with Students versus Discipling a Disciple-Maker Finally, keep in mind that you can meet with students in a number of different ways. Some of those with whom we meet might be just beginning to explore the Faith and still need to make a basic commitment to Jesus Christ. We are there to walk alongside them one on one. At other times, students engaged in their faith might need advice: Maybe their relationship broke up, or they need help evangelizing others. Maybe they just want to learn more about the vision behind spiritual multiplication.
On the other hand, some of the students you disciple will be actively evangelizing on their own or equipping others as disciple-makers. This is an important distinction to make: You can be working with students at several different levels as you live out the FOCUS “Win, Build, Send” model. If you have disciples whom you are equipping, you want to make them your first priority. But even those in formal discipleship will still need help with continual conversion of their own lives, and those in informal discipleship can quickly have a conversion and reach out to others.
How to Ask Someone into Discipleship The Discipleship Road Map is an excellent place to begin a conversation about discipleship with others, which can in turn help you discern whom to disciple. For more information on the Discipleship Road Map, see the article “How to Use the Discipleship Road Map” on FOCUSEquip.org.
3
FOCUS Equip is based on Ephesians 4:12 “for the equipment of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for building
up the body of Christ.” These materials seek to equip you for lifelong Catholic mission. We would love to hear your feedback at: [email protected]
