Forming Intentional Disciples through the New Evangelization: The Circle of Practice and Invitation.

evangelizationdoing what Jesus does

Forming Intentional Disciples through the New Evangelization:

The Circle of Practice and Invitation

I flirt with the worldIt steals my love for youMy fear grips my faithAnd I am left unmovedBut your gaze stops my heartYour voice fills the darkYour love is the spark that lights this lifeAnd so we rise

Sing Over Your Children by Matt Maher

Out of the depths you cryCome and be satisfiedFather you singFather you sing over your childrenLet us see through your eyesWe are your great delightFather you singFather you sing over your children


You quiet the stormInside my shipwrecked soulYour Spirit will leadIt calls the wayward homeAt the sound of your nameOur sin is washed awayIn Christ we’re crucifiedIn you we dieIn you we rise

And we’re singing alongYour daughters and sonsWe’re singing your songWe are your children


“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. But how can they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? And how can people preach unless they are sent?” (Romans 10: 13-15)

Prayer for the New Evangelization

Heavenly Father,Pour forth your Holy Spirit to inspire me with these words from Holy Scripture. Stir in my soul the desire to renew my faith and deepen my relationship with your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ so that I might truly believe in and live the Good News. Open my heart to hear the Gospel and grant me the confidence to proclaim the Good News to others.


Pour out your Spirit, so that I might be strengthened to go forth and witness to the Gospel in my everyday life through my words and actions. In moments of hesitation, remind me:If not me, then who will proclaim the Gospel?If not now, then when will the Gospel be proclaimed?If not the truth of the Gospel, then what shall I proclaim?


God, our Father, I pray that through the Holy Spirit I might hear the call of the New Evangelization to deepen my faith, grow in confidence to proclaim the Gospel, and boldly witness to the saving grace of your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.(http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/prayers/new-evangelization-prayer.cfm)


http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/prayers/new-evangelization-prayer.cfm



evangelizationdoing what Jesus does

Forming Intentional Disciples through the New Evangelization:


The New Evangelization:

Putting Jesus at the Center of Our Lives

The purpose of evangelization: “The purpose of evangelization is not

waking up a generic ‘faith.’

Evangelizers seek to bring people to an encounter with the person of Jesus of Nazareth, born of the Virgin Mary, crucified under Pontius Pilate, and risen from the dead”

(“Forming Intentional Disciples,” Sherry Weddell, OSV 2012, page 202).

The New Evangelization: Putting Jesus at the Center of our Lives

The central unifying principle of evangelization:

Putting the Good News of Jesus at the center of our lives and…responding accordingly with a life of

intentional discipleship in the Church. This is an ongoing process of growth through a lifelong series of conversion thresholds.


The goal of evangelization: Creating a “culture” of Gospel-based

intentional discipleship…

on both the personal and parish levels, such that discipleship is normative,

and others are invited to become disciples.


A Culture of Gospel-based Intentional Discipleship on the Personal Level:

A parish where each person is encouraged in their personal faith journey of knowing Jesus, being changed by him, and following his ways.

The focus is always on Jesus as Good News and the invitation to follow him as an intentional disciple.


A Culture of Gospel-based Intentional Discipleship on the Parish Level:

A parish where the language, values, and practices communicate a consistent and integrated commitment to Gospel-based intentional discipleship.

The faith journey is openly talked about. The teaching of the Gospel is central. People discover the Good News for their lives.

The parish is structured to form and call disciples.


The New Evangelization:


Whether the target of evangelization is… active Catholics, sleepy Catholics, Catholics who have left, or those who have never heard of Christ, the process of evangelization is the same.

The New Evangelization happens through a “Circle of Practice and Invitation.”

The New Evangelization: The Circle of

Practice and Invitation

The Circle is the repeating process of…

Doing What Jesus Does through the…

Practice of Becoming Disciples of Christ and the

Invitation of Calling Intentional Disciples



This is the Biblical model for forming, strengthening, and growing the Church

This is the succession plan of Jesus.



The Circle…

:Practice leads to Invitation leads to deeper Practice leads to deeper Invitation leads to…etc.

All evangelization initiatives need to be modeled

on the Circle of Practice and Invitation.



The New Evangelization

Doing What Jesus Does throughthe Circle of Practice and Invitation

The Practice: Becoming Disciples of Christ Practice walking the journey of faith in servant obedience to the Father’s will

The Invitation: Calling Intentional Disciples

Invite others to take a faith journey as disciples of Jesus starting where they are


The Practice: Becoming Disciples of Christ Practice dwelling in deep personal relationship with the Father in personal and communal prayer


Invite others to discover a personal relationship with Jesus as disciples

The Circle ofPractice and Invitation

The Practice: Becoming Disciples of Christ

Practice a life centered on the ways of God’s Good News Kingdom (Gospel)


Invite others to discover the Good News of Jesus and his message in the Gospel


The Practice: Becoming Disciples of Christ Practice speaking about God’s Good News in your personal faith journey


Invite others to discover how Jesus is Good News for their personal lives


The Practice: Becoming Disciples of Christ Practice bringing God’s Good News to the lost, least, and outcast


Invite others to seek out and serve the lost to encounter the living presence of Christ


The Practice: Becoming Disciples of Christ Practice equipping a community of intentional disciples to lead the Church


Invite others to grow as intentional disciples in the community of the Church


Formed and equipped disciples now move into the practice of becoming disciples of Christ and the circle repeats…

Disciples make new disciples!

The mission of the Church: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations” (Mt. 28:19)



Applying the Circle of Practice and Invitation in the Parish Setting

Remember that evangelization is not a “program,” it is a “culture” practiced through personal relationships and parish paradigms.

We need to foster a “culture of evangelization and intentional discipleship” by applying the Circle of Practice and Invitation in ways that are “new in ardor, methods, and expression.” (John Paul II)

Applying the Circle of Practice and Invitation

The Circle of Practice and Invitation provides the necessary components for a parish culture of evangelization and discipleship.

Here is one possible process that can be used and adapted to foster the culture of evangelization and discipleship in the parish setting with staff, council, committees, ministries, and small groups.

Applying the Circle ofPractice and Invitation

This process can be simplified or expanded depending on the situation and goal.

The various components can be done one at a time or the process can be embellished for a day or weekend retreat.

All components are essential and build in order.

Applying the Circle ofPractice and Invitation


A Parish Process for Practicing/Inviting Gospel-based Intentional Discipleship

Begin and End with Prayer

Share Personal Faith Journeys

Create and Share Personal Faith Timelines

Tell the Good News Story of Jesus

A Parish Process for Practicing/Inviting Discipleship

Find Your Personal Good News Elevator Speech

Share Your Elevator Speech

Tell the Story of Jesus’ Commitment to the Lost


Find Your Personal Mission to the Lost

Share Your Mission to the Lost

Explore How the Community Can Support and Encourage the Mission to the Lost


Invite People to Join Intentional Discipleship Small Groups for Prayer, Gospel, Catechism, and Service to the Lost

Recruit, Form, and Equip Small Group Leaders

Resource the Small Groups for Growth in and Conversion to Discipleship in the Church


Invite Formed and Equipped Disciples to Become Leaders of New Groups

Form new small intentional discipleship groups

Continue the Circle of Practice and Invitation to Build a Culture of Evangelization and Intentional Discipleship in the Parish


Forming Intentional Disciples through the New Evangelization: The Circle of Practice and Invitation.

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