Comments on: Lesson 3 - EVANGELII NUNTIANDI http://catholicdr.com/e-Classroom/topics/3 Students of the CDR web courses discuss their answers to the e-class questions here Sat, 04 Feb 2012 17:29:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: njerufranklin http://catholicdr.com/e-Classroom/topics/3#comment-235 njerufranklin Fri, 17 Jun 2011 05:29:01 +0000 http://catholicdr.com/e-Classroom/topics/3#comment-235 1. Before I start any biblical discussion, I pray that God gives me understanding and knowledge and ask the Holy Spirit to guide me. To evangelize is to plant seeds, seeds that will produce fruits in the knowledge of who Jesus Christ is. To do this to non-believers, you need to be around them and build friendship with them. Then find a way to be involved with them in discussions. Start with general discussions and then slowly start guiding them towards faith as seen in 1Cor 3:10. For evangelization to take place, then I have to be: i) Creative- I have to think outside the box - I ask Holy Spirit for creative approaches to build trust in the lives of others. ii) Patient- it might take some time to develop my style of approach. The catch here is NEVER to give up. iii) Unique-my approach style to evangelization might be and will be different form every one else's (not necessarily what is learned or what others do). iv) Available- I present myself with the notion that I am not a recruiter but a responder and I develop a relationship with God and I prepare for encounter he brings in my path. This gives me hope not worry when conversation turns spiritual things. v) Aware of who the real enemy is- since people I try to evangelize have different background and beliefs than mine, I try to see them through God's eyes. vi) Involvement- by joining a volunteer organization that fulfills my passion, I reach out to people and this sometimes gives me natural topics for easy conversation. vii) Directional- in evangelizationI shift the direction of focus off myself and onto God. My role as an evangelizer is to point people's focus toward God. I facilatate to get people look in the right direction, the direction of Christ our Saviour. 2. To evangelize to non-practicing Christians sometimes is difficult because they think they know it all. It is not easy to work out a presentation of the Gospel in every conversation. But with the power of the Holy Spirit,we overcome. During conversation, start with other issues of life and at some time drop in some comments to show where you are coming from, eg. We cannot meet on Wednesday because I have a Bible study and discussion meeting, or there is this story I read in the Bilbl that says............ It changed my life style and I'm happy about it. Glory to God in the highest. After the hear this they might open to me why they fell off. From there I validate why they no longer practice, I aplogize on behalf of the Church and invite them back so that we can serve the Lord our God together. I invite them when we are serving in the Church and also in our Small Christian Communities(SCC). I keep praying for them and I let God do His work. 1. Before I start any biblical discussion, I pray that God gives me understanding and knowledge and ask the Holy Spirit to guide me. To evangelize is to plant seeds, seeds that will produce fruits in the knowledge of who Jesus Christ is. To do this to non-believers, you need to be around them and build friendship with them. Then find a way to be involved with them in discussions. Start with general discussions and then slowly start guiding them towards faith as seen in 1Cor 3:10.
For evangelization to take place, then I have to be:
i) Creative- I have to think outside the box - I ask Holy Spirit for creative approaches to build trust in the lives of others.
ii) Patient- it might take some time to develop my style of approach. The catch here is NEVER to give up.
iii) Unique-my approach style to evangelization might be and will be different form every one else’s (not necessarily what is learned or what others do).
iv) Available- I present myself with the notion that I am not a recruiter but a responder and I develop a relationship with God and I prepare for encounter he brings in my path. This gives me hope not worry when conversation turns spiritual things.
v) Aware of who the real enemy is- since people I try to evangelize have different background and beliefs than mine, I try to see them through God’s eyes.
vi) Involvement- by joining a volunteer organization that fulfills my passion, I reach out to people and this sometimes gives me natural topics for easy conversation.
vii) Directional- in evangelizationI shift the direction of focus off myself and onto God. My role as an evangelizer is to point people’s focus toward God. I facilatate to get people look in the right direction, the direction of Christ our Saviour.

2. To evangelize to non-practicing Christians sometimes is difficult because they think they know it all. It is not easy to work out a presentation of the Gospel in every conversation. But with the power of the Holy Spirit,we overcome. During conversation, start with other issues of life and at some time drop in some comments to show where you are coming from, eg. We cannot meet on Wednesday because I have a Bible study and discussion meeting, or there is this story I read in the Bilbl that says………… It changed my life style and I’m happy about it. Glory to God in the highest. After the hear this they might open to me why they fell off. From there I validate why they no longer practice, I aplogize on behalf of the Church and invite them back so that we can serve the Lord our God together. I invite them when we are serving in the Church and also in our Small Christian Communities(SCC). I keep praying for them and I let God do His work.

]]> By: mawood http://catholicdr.com/e-Classroom/topics/3#comment-122 mawood Wed, 01 Oct 2008 01:26:31 +0000 http://catholicdr.com/e-Classroom/topics/3#comment-122 1. I begin all evangelization with the understanding that only God can bring about conversion. My cooperation in God's plan is simply to plant seeds. It is up to God what happens with those seeds. I also know that I may never know how things turn out in these situations. Seeds may lay dorment for years! My Catholic faith is so much a part of me that most everyone knows that I am a Catholic in very short order after meeting me. I feel it is important to "claim" as well as "proclaim". I am proud of my church. Just knowing that will often times bring up comments or attitudes. I can then gently and prayerfully take on those comments or attitudes. This is a very comfortable area for me. If I am met with negative response I leave the situation alone and say a prayer for that person. I think that how I live is also very important in evangelizing the non-believer. Just getting out of bed on a Sunday morning and going to Mass is a witness to my neighbors. 2. I seem to be called on more often to evangelize lapsed Catholics. I find that, as I said above, being proud of my Catholicism by wearing medals or displaying religious art in my home brings out the Catholic in those who have fallen away. They will almost always comment that they were once Catholic. That opens a door where I can discover why they no longer practice. Many times they have been hurt badly by a priest, nun or judgemental family member. I will always validate their hurt and apologize for the wrong behavior. In any case I always gently invite them to return when they are ready and I tell them we miss them. If it is a situation where I may see that person again I offer my services if they would like to talk or ask questions or even attend Mass with me. Of course I keep them in my prayers. 1. I begin all evangelization with the understanding that only God can bring about conversion. My cooperation in God’s plan is simply to plant seeds. It is up to God what happens with those seeds. I also know that I may never know how things turn out in these situations. Seeds may lay dorment for years!

My Catholic faith is so much a part of me that most everyone knows that I am a Catholic in very short order after meeting me. I feel it is important to “claim” as well as “proclaim”. I am proud of my church. Just knowing that will often times bring up comments or attitudes. I can then gently and prayerfully take on those comments or attitudes. This is a very comfortable area for me. If I am met with negative response I leave the situation alone and say a prayer for that person. I think that how I live is also very important in evangelizing the non-believer. Just getting out of bed on a Sunday morning and going to Mass is a witness to my neighbors.

2. I seem to be called on more often to evangelize lapsed Catholics. I find that, as I said above, being proud of my Catholicism by wearing medals or displaying religious art in my home brings out the Catholic in those who have fallen away. They will almost always comment that they were once Catholic. That opens a door where I can discover why they no longer practice. Many times they have been hurt badly by a priest, nun or judgemental family member. I will always validate their hurt and apologize for the wrong behavior. In any case I always gently invite them to return when they are ready and I tell them we miss them. If it is a situation where I may see that person again I offer my services if they would like to talk or ask questions or even attend Mass with me. Of course I keep them in my prayers.

]]> By: searcher http://catholicdr.com/e-Classroom/topics/3#comment-105 searcher Tue, 19 Aug 2008 05:41:19 +0000 http://catholicdr.com/e-Classroom/topics/3#comment-105 1. To evangelize someone, the first thing you need to do is prayer for them everday for a specific person at least 5 minutes. I like to pray the Ephesians prayers found in chapter 1 and 3 and the Lord's prayer found in Matthew 6. It takes about 6 months for the prayers to make the person's heart tender for the Lord. During this 6 month process, I show God's love (agape) by being kind and patient and giving them presents besided birthdays and Christmas. If you do not have much money, then you can volunteer to clean their house or do yard work; shovel their sidewalks and drive ways in the winter. 2. The best way is to pray and show love to them. Focus on the Catholic church's strengths; their rich history; their beautiful catechism, and their traditions. 1. To evangelize someone, the first thing you need to do is prayer for them everday for a specific person at least 5 minutes. I like to pray the Ephesians prayers found in chapter 1 and 3 and the Lord’s prayer found in Matthew 6. It takes about 6 months for the prayers to make the person’s heart tender for the Lord. During this 6 month process, I show God’s love (agape) by being kind and patient and giving them presents besided birthdays and Christmas. If you do not have much money, then you can volunteer to clean their house or do yard work; shovel their sidewalks and drive ways in the winter.

2. The best way is to pray and show love to them. Focus on the Catholic church’s strengths; their rich history; their beautiful catechism, and their traditions.

]]> By: kpofarrell http://catholicdr.com/e-Classroom/topics/3#comment-33 kpofarrell Fri, 01 Jun 2007 20:12:04 +0000 http://catholicdr.com/e-Classroom/topics/3#comment-33 <p>Evangelizing those who do not believe....<br /> I am sure that I don't know. I was thinking of how to evangelize the Muslim or the Jew. The Atheist is a different and just as difficult a question. Again I come back to witness of life is first. Prayer and the intercession of the Holy Spirit. Ultimately, it is God who does the evangelizing. I only pray that I may be an instrument. But how?<br /> 1. be available to clarify misunderstandings.<br /> 2. Listen to understand what it is that they believe.<br /> 3. Talk openly about the great things that God has done for me. What joy I receive through receiving the sacraments, etc.</p> <p>Does any one else have other ideas?</p> Evangelizing those who do not believe….
I am sure that I don’t know. I was thinking of how to evangelize the Muslim or the Jew. The Atheist is a different and just as difficult a question. Again I come back to witness of life is first. Prayer and the intercession of the Holy Spirit. Ultimately, it is God who does the evangelizing. I only pray that I may be an instrument. But how?
1. be available to clarify misunderstandings.
2. Listen to understand what it is that they believe.
3. Talk openly about the great things that God has done for me. What joy I receive through receiving the sacraments, etc.

Does any one else have other ideas?

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