Forming Intentional Disciples
through the New Evangelization:
The Circle of Practice and Invitation
I flirt with the world
It steals my love for you
My fear grips my faith
And I am left unmoved
But your gaze stops my heart
Your voice fills the dark
Your love is the spark that lights this life
And so we rise
Out of the depths you cry
Come and be satisfied
Father you sing
Father you sing over your children
Let us see through your eyes
We are your great delight
Father you sing
Father you sing over your children
You quiet the storm
Inside my shipwrecked soul
Your Spirit will lead
It calls the wayward home
At the sound of your name
Our sin is washed away
In Christ we’re crucified
In you we die
In you we rise
And we’re singing along
Your daughters and sons
We’re singing your song
We are your children
“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lordwill be saved. But how can they call on him inwhom they have not believed? And how canthey believe in him of whom they have notheard? And how can they hear withoutsomeone to preach? And how can peoplepreach unless they are sent?” (Romans 10: 13-15)
Heavenly Father,Pour forth your Holy Spirit to inspire me withthese words from Holy Scripture.
Stir in my soul the desire to renew my faith anddeepen my relationship with your Son, our LordJesus Christ so that I might truly believe in andlive the Good News.
Open my heart to hear the Gospel and grantme the confidence to proclaim the Good Newsto others.
Pour out your Spirit, so that I might bestrengthened to go forth and witness to theGospel in my everyday life through my wordsand actions.
In moments of hesitation, remind me:
If not me, then who will proclaim the Gospel?
If not now, then when will the Gospel beproclaimed?
If not the truth of the Gospel, then what shall Iproclaim?
God, our Father, I pray that through the HolySpirit I might hear the call of the NewEvangelization to deepen my faith, grow inconfidence to proclaim the Gospel, and boldlywitness to the saving grace of your Son, JesusChrist, who lives and reigns with you, in theunity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever andever. Amen.
Forming Intentional Disciples
through the New Evangelization:
The Circle of Practice and Invitation
Putting Jesus at the Center of Our Lives
The purpose of evangelization:
“The purpose of evangelization is notwaking up a generic ‘faith.’
Evangelizers seek to bring people to anencounter with the person of Jesus ofNazareth, born of the Virgin Mary, crucifiedunder Pontius Pilate, and risen from the dead”
(“Forming Intentional Disciples,”
Sherry Weddell, OSV 2012, page 202).
The central unifying principle ofevangelization:
Putting the Good News of Jesus at thecenter of our lives and…
responding accordingly with a life ofintentional discipleship in the Church.
This is an ongoing process of growththrough a lifelong series of conversionthresholds.
The goal of evangelization:
Creating a “culture” of Gospel-basedintentional discipleship…
on both the personal and parish levels,
such that discipleship is normative,
and others are invited to becomedisciples.
A Culture of Gospel-based IntentionalDiscipleship on the Personal Level:
A parish where each person is encouragedin their personal faith journey of knowingJesus, being changed by him, andfollowing his ways.
The focus is always on Jesus as GoodNews and the invitation to follow him asan intentional disciple.
A Culture of Gospel-based Intentional Discipleship onthe Parish Level:
A parish where the language, values, andpractices communicate a consistent andintegrated commitment to Gospel-basedintentional discipleship.
The faith journey is openly talked about. Theteaching of the Gospel is central. Peoplediscover the Good News for their lives.
The parish is structured to form and calldisciples.
The Circle of Practice and Invitation
Whether the target of evangelization is… activeCatholics, sleepy Catholics, Catholics who haveleft, or those who have never heard of Christ, theprocess of evangelization is the same.
The New Evangelization happens through a“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 Practiceleads to deeper Invitation leads to…etc.
All evangelization initiatives need to be modeled onthe Circle of Practice and Invitation.
Doing What Jesus Does through
the Circle of Practice and Invitation
The Practice: Becoming Disciples of ChristPractice walking the journey of faith inservant obedience to the Father’s will
The Invitation: Calling Intentional Disciples
Invite others to take a faith journey asdisciples of Jesus starting where they are
The Practice: Becoming Disciples of ChristPractice dwelling in deep personalrelationship with the Father in personaland communal prayer
The Invitation: Calling Intentional Disciples
Invite others to discover a personalrelationship with Jesus as disciples
The Practice: Becoming Disciples of Christ
Practice a life centered on the ways ofGod’s Good News Kingdom (Gospel)
The Invitation: Calling Intentional Disciples
Invite others to discover the Good News ofJesus and his message in the Gospel
The Practice: Becoming Disciples of ChristPractice speaking about God’s Good Newsin your personal faith journey
The Invitation: Calling Intentional Disciples
Invite others to discover how Jesus isGood News for their personal lives
The Practice: Becoming Disciples of ChristPractice bringing God’s Good News to thelost, least, and outcast
The Invitation: Calling Intentional Disciples
Invite others to seek out and serve the lostto encounter the living presence of Christ
The Practice: Becoming Disciples of ChristPractice equipping a community ofintentional disciples to lead the Church
The Invitation: Calling Intentional Disciples
Invite others to grow as intentionaldisciples in the community of the Church
Formed and equipped disciples now moveinto the practice of becoming disciples ofChrist 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 throughpersonal relationships and parish paradigms.
We need to foster a “culture of evangelizationand intentional discipleship” by applying theCircle of Practice and Invitation in ways thatare “new in ardor, methods, and expression.”(John Paul II)
The Circle of Practice and Invitation providesthe necessary components for a parishculture of evangelization and discipleship.
Here is one possible process that can be usedand adapted to foster the culture ofevangelization and discipleship in the parishsetting with staff, council, committees,ministries, and small groups.
This process can be simplified or expandeddepending on the situation and goal.
The various components can be done one at atime or the process can be embellished for aday or weekend retreat.
All components are essential and build inorder.
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
Find Your Personal Good News ElevatorSpeech
Share Your Elevator Speech
Tell the Story of Jesus’ Commitment to theLost
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 DiscipleshipSmall Groups for Prayer, Gospel, Catechism,and Service to the Lost
Recruit, Form, and Equip Small Group Leaders
Resource the Small Groups for Growth in andConversion to Discipleship in the Church
Invite Formed and Equipped Disciples toBecome Leaders of New Groups
Form new small intentional discipleshipgroups
Continue the Circle of Practice and Invitationto Build a Culture of Evangelization andIntentional Discipleship in the Parish