The Covenant Orientation Weekend Manual - v2011

Stage 1 Formation
Covenant Orientation Weekend v.2011 Page 1

CFC SINGLES FOR CHRIST
Stage 1 Formation

Covenant Orientation
Weekend
Manual v.2011

Stage 1 Formation


The Covenant Orientation Weekend
Manual Version 2011
About the Weekend
The Covenant Orientation Weekend is the first weekend retreat that SFCs will undergo after
graduating from the Christian Life Program. It is to be conducted at least 3 months after the
participants finish the CLP.
This weekend has the following goals:
1. Familiarize SFCs with their covenant as Singles for Christ and lead them to commit to
fulfilling this in their day-to-day lives
2. Lead SFCs to desire a deeper relationship with God through a committed prayer life,
Scripture reading, and receiving of the Sacraments
3. Inspire participants to live out their calling as SFCs in their family, workplace, and in
community despite challenges and difficulties
4. Introduce participants to the culture of Singles for Christ and inspire them to make this a
way of life
5. Empower SFCs to begin to live out the SFC vision and mission.
The Sessions
The CO Weekend consists of 7 sessions:
Session 1: Our Covenant and the Mission and Vision of SFC. This session introduces them to
what the covenant of SFC requires of them and how this will help them have a deeper
relationship with God and work towards fulfilling the SFC vision and mission. This session hopes
to inspire the participants to have a sense of ownership of the SFC vision and mission that they
may be led to desire to make it happen in their own lives and in the lives of others.
Session 2: Prayer, Scripture and Sacraments. Life in SFC is first and foremost a loving
relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. This talk emphasizes the importance of prayer,
Scripture reading, and the sacraments in nurturing and deepening this relationship.
Session 3: Strengthening Family Life. Before we are members of SFC we are members of our
families: sons and daughters to our parents, brothers and sisters to our siblings. This session
stresses on the value of being an instrument of love, unity, and harmony in the family for the
home is our first area of evangelization.
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Session 4: The Culture of Singles for Christ. Being in Singles for Christ entails a certain way of
life, centered on the Lord, in relationship with brothers and sisters with whom we journey
together towards holiness. This session familiarizes the participants to the SFC lifestyle and the
values we uphold.
Session 5: Being a Christian in the Workplace. The workplace is oftentimes the most difficult
place to evangelize or witness to others, but as Singles for Christ we strive for unity of life. This
session shows it is possible to live out our Christian values and still be excellent workers and
leaders in our chosen fields.
Session 6: Financial Stewardship. Our being in community makes us stewards of both our
material resources and of Gods work of evangelization and mission, to which our ministry is
called. This session explains the importance of tithing and empowers SFCs on how they can be
good stewards of the resources given to them by God in very practical and relevant terms.
Session 7: Loving and Serving the Poor. Our life in Singles for Christ will not be complete if we
are not able to embrace our mission of Building the Church of the Poor. This session helps the
participants realize why loving and serving the poor is not only a duty but a privilege and a
source of blessing.
The Team
The team comprises of a Team Leader, Servants, Facilitators, Music Ministry, and Logistics.
Although they may be familiar with the contents of the talks, the service team members,
especially the Team Leader, should go over the outlines, know them by heart, and be ready to
answer questions from the participants if necessary.
Discernment of speakers, although speaker profiles are provided in each sessions outline,
should be done prayerfully. Speakers should be given enough time to prepare for the talks.
Facilitators moderate the group activities and group sharing. They also make themselves
available to the participants in case they have questions or concerns.
The Dynamics
Although some activities are suggested in this manual, the team may modify these based on the
needs of their participants and in consultation with their SFC elders in their area. Sufficient
time should be allotted for personal reflection and group discussion.
Although the retreat is intended for a 2- or 3-day weekend, the schedule may also be modified
to suit the specific situations of the area (e.g., conducted as 2 whole days on separate
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weekends). The leaders must make sure though, that the participants are able to attend all 7
talks.
The Schedule
Recommended Three-Day Retreat Schedule
(May also be modified to fit a two-day schedule beginning early Saturday morning and ending Sunday
lunch time. Saturday will cover Sessions 1 to 5; Sunday will be for Sessions 6 and 7. Sharing portion
after praisefest on Sunday may be omitted for the two-day schedule.)
Day 1: Friday Evening
Time Activity
6:00 - 7:00 P.M. Arrival and Registration
7:00 - 8:00 Dinner and Recreation
8:00 - 8:30 Worship
8:30 - 9:00 Orientation
9:00 - 9:45 Session 1: Our Covenant and the Mission and Vision of SFC
9:45 - 10:15 Personal Reflection
10:15 Lights Out!

Day 2: Saturday
6:00 - 7:00 A.M. Wash-up and Personal Prayer Time
7:00 - 8:00 Breakfast
8:00 - 8:30 Singing Practice
8:30 - 9:00 Worship
9:00 - 9:45 Session 2: Prayer, Scripture, and Sacraments
9:45 - 10:15 Personal Reflection
10:15 - 10:45 Break
10:45 - 11:30 Session 3: Strengthening Family Life
11:30 12:00 Group Activity: Family Dynamics
12:00- 1:30 P.M Lunch and Rest
1:30 - 2:00 Singing Practice and Afternoon Praise
2:00 - 2:45 Session 4: Our Christian Culture in Singles for Christ
2:45 - 3:30 Group Activity: Cultural Fashion Show
3:30- 4:00 Break
4:00 - 4:45 Session 5: Being a Christian in the Workplace
4:45 - 5:15 Activity: Small Group Sharing
5:15 - 6:00 Lords Day Preparations
6:00 - 7:30 Lords Day and Supper
7:30 - 8:00 Gathering/Teaching of Songs
8:00 - 8:45 Session 6: Financial Stewardship
8:45- 9:15 Activity: Pie Chart
9:15- Lights Out! Good Night.

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Day 3: Sunday Morning
6:00 - 7:00 A.M. Wash-up and Personal Prayer Time
7:00 - 7:30 Breakfast
7:30 - 8:00 Preparation for Holy Eucharist
8:00 - 9:00 Holy Eucharist
9:00 - 9:15 Gathering/Teaching of Songs
9:15 - 9:30 Worship
9:30 - 10:15 Session 7: Loving and Serving the Poor
10:15 - 10:45 Praisefest
10:45 11:15 Sharing
11:15 Lunch, Pack-up and Go!

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CFC Singles for Christ
Covenant Orientation Weekend v.2011
TALK No. 1: Our Covenant and the Vision & Mission of SFC
Objectives:
Develop an understanding of what the SFC covenant is, why it is important and how this
applies to their personal life
Strengthen the SFC members desire to deepen their relationship with God through the
Singles For Christ Covenant
Lead the members to have a sense of ownership of the SFC Vision and Mission and desire to
make it a reality

Speakers Profile:
An SFC leader who lives out the SFC covenant in the different aspects of his/her life; someone
passionate about fulfilling the SFC vision and mission

Speakers Outline
I. INTRODUCTION
A. As members of SFC we enter into a covenant.
After the CLP, we were invited to enter into the "Covenant of the CFC Singles for
Christ".
B. We need to understand more about this covenant with the Lord because:
1. Through it we respond to Gods invitation.
2. Our covenant helps us to live out our calling as members of SFC.
3. Living out our covenant with the Lord will allow us to grow more in our
relationship with Him and with one another.
4. It is between us and our God and therefore it is of utmost importance.
C. We need to appreciate how the SFC covenant helps us to live out our faith in
concrete situations in our day-to-day life.
II. THE COVENANT AND THE SFC
A. What is a covenant?
1. A covenant is a solemn agreement between parties through which they commit
themselves to certain relationships, tasks, obligations or ways of living.
2. In the time of the Old Testament, a covenant was a treaty not between equals,
but between a greater or more powerful person (or group of people, tribe) and a
lesser, less powerful person (or group). It was usually the more powerful person
who initiated the covenant.
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3. The covenant was a lifetime or long-term agreement.

B. The Old Covenant and the New Covenant
1. In the Old Testament, God initiates a loving relationship with the Israelites when
He frees them from slavery in the hands of the Egyptians. The Israelites,
recognizing Gods goodness and love in this act of salvation, respond to His love
with gratitude by obeying the 10 commandments, a way of living that expresses
their love for God in this relationship.

2. Unfortunately, the essence of this covenant, which is the mutual exchange of
love between God and His people, was distorted when the Jews began to think
that they had to earn Gods love by observing His laws.
a. More and more rules were added; rules became more and more strict.
b. Thus, the covenant became reduced to a set of rules that had to be
followed in order to please God, no longer as a way of responding
to Gods invitation of love.
3. In the New Testament, Jesus restores the covenant to its original meaning of
being a relationship based on love and forgiveness between God and His people,
rather than merely following countless rules and rituals. He summarizes the 10
commandments into the 2 greatest commandments, love of God and love of
neighbor. These commandments allow us to respond to God in love.

C. Our Covenant Commitment in SFC
1. In SFC, we enter into a covenant with God. Our commitment is to the Lord as His
people, to live as a people of God.

2. Our covenant is not a set of rules that we should follow in order to remain active
members of SFC, or in order to earn Gods love and forgiveness. Rather, as God
intended in His covenant with His people, they are our way of responding to
Gods love for us by striving to grow in our relationship with Him and with one
another, and make Him known by all.

3. Elements of this commitment
a. We are to live our lives in righteousness and holiness.
Like obedient children, do not act in compliance with the desires of your
former ignorance but, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in
every aspect of your conduct, for it is written, "Be holy because I (am)
holy." 1 Peter 1:14-16
b. We are to live our lives in loving service to God and to one another.

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4. Our covenant includes specific commitments to help us grow in our relationship
with God, made explicit in the SFC Covenant card.
a. Deepening our relationship with God is our first priority as an SFC.
b. From this will naturally follow:
The deepening of our relationship with others
Our desire to make ourselves available for the Lords service

5. Our covenant is an ideal.
a. Not necessarily already in place. This is precisely why we need mutual
ongoing support.
b. What is important is that we understand the covenant, agree with it, and
try to live it out.

D. Why is our covenant important to us as members of SFC and as Christians in
general?
1. After completing the CLP and becoming members of SFC we need a constant
reminder of the new life the Lord is giving to us.
2. A covenant allows us to live a common life as a community.
3. Sincerely living out our covenant with the Lord has a major impact in our
personal growth as a person and in our faith journey as a Christian.
4. Living out our covenant helps to bring us closer to the vision of our ministry
(which will be discussed later).

III. EMBRACING OUR COVENANT
A. If we look closely at the SFC covenant, we will see that it was designed by the Lord to
help us grow in the different aspects of our lives.
1. Our personal relationship with GOD
2. Our family and work life
3. Our life as a member of the SFC community
4. Our service
5. Our growth as a Christian person

B. What does the SFC covenant ask of me? How have I begun or am I beginning to live
out this covenant since the time I graduated from the CLP? (Refer to the SFC
Covenant at the end of this outline.)

1. In my personal relationship with God the SFC covenant includes devoting time
for communicating with God through a deeper prayer, scripture, and
sacramental life. It goes to follow that this must reflect in my private and family
life, as I stive to live in righteousness, not living a double life but one consistent
with what the Lord teaches us.
a. Have I scheduled a daily prayer and scripture reading time?
b. Do I pray regularly as scheduled?
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c. Do I read scriptures regularly as scheduled?
d. Do I regularly go to Church?

2. My family and work life the SFC covenant asks me to bring the Lord and His
message of love wherever I am (family, work, society) and that I use my
resources responsibly and for Gods glory.
a. How have I begun to witness in my family and my workplace?
b. Do I contribute to the unity in our family?
c. Do I do my best in my work?
d. Do I use the resources (financial an otherwise) given to me responsibly?

3. My life as a member of the SFC Community the covenant unites me with the
rest of the members of SFC in that it allows me to be a faithful and caring
member and at the same time a brother/sister to others.
a. Do I attend the weekly household meetings, monthly chapter prayer
assemblies and other SFC gatherings? This is an important element of my
life in SFC which I must begin to give priority to.
b. Am I punctual in all meetings?
c. Do I intercede for my brothers and sisters in the community?
d. Am I critical about the life and order of the body?

4. My service the SFC covenant asks that I allow myself to be used by the Lord for
His mission, in whatever way I may be called to serve. This makes me a part in
allowing God to do His work through SFC.
a. Have I invited anyone or told anyone about SFC?
b. Have I been asked to serve, even through simple tasks, in any SFC
activity? Do I accept these assignments with a joyful heart?
c. Am I open to supporting the work of CFC-SFC with my finances? (More on
this in the succeeding talks.)
d. Am I aware of the work of Couples for Christ and its other ministries? Am
I open to supporting them?

5. My growth as a Christian person the SFC covenant asks that I take seriously my
formation as a Christian through the various avenues for formation that SFC
provides. In this way I will grow in my love for God and for others.
a. Have I attended any teachings, retreats, and conferences of SFC since I
became a member? Am I willing to invest my time and resources on
these formation activities?
b. Do I practice what I learn in all the teachings, retreats, and conferences?
c. Do I seek to be formed? Am I willing to be formed in this ministry?
d. Do I seek to be holy? Do I desire to be holy?

6. In the succeeding talks in this Covenant Orientation weekend, we will come to
know better how we can live out our covenant in the different aspects of our
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life: in our spiritual life, our family, our workplace, in the SFC community, even
in the way we handle our finances and serve the poor.

C. As members of SFC, we are encouraged to accept the NEW life the Lord is offering us
and to use the SFC Covenant as a tool that will help us take care of this NEW life.

D. The Lord is asking us to decide to make the SFC Covenant our personal covenant
agreement with HIM.

E. The SFC Covenant reminds and guides us in our journey towards the fulfillment of
the SFC Vision and Mission. At the end of the day, we are to live our lives with the
pursuit of the SFC Vision as the ultimate goal and with the SFC Mission as our
means.

IV. THE SFC VISION AND MISSION
A. The SFC Vision
Every Single Man and Woman all over the World Experiencing Christ
The SFC vision was re-stated and unveiled to the general membership in the 16
th

SFC International Conference in 2008 in Cebu City, Philippines. It is important
that as SFCs we understand this vision and that we desire to make it happen in
our personal lives and in the lives of others. The following describes the
meaning of each word and phrase in the re-stated SFC vision.
1. EVERY
a. The call to Christ is not exclusive only to certain groups (e.g. not only to
Christians, Catholics, or members of renewal groups).

b. It is for everyone without exception. As Christ did not choose to exclude
those whom He would touch, we should also work to make others
experience Him regardless of who they are.
i. It is for believers and non-believers
ii. It is for both the good and the bad

c. The desire to include all people must be rooted in a genuine desire for
everyone to experience Christ and in the belief that everyone deserves to
experience Christ.
i. We have to believe that Christ can transform anyone and
everyone (e.g., Saul converted to become St. Paul the Evangelist)
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ii. We have to believe that it is not too late for anyone to come to
Christ (e.g. the thief in Calvary)

d. We believe that the world can be united in Christ. We are united under
one God.
i. Before we think about the world, we know that Christ can bring
reconciliation and unite our families, other communities, broken
friendships and relationships.
ii. We must adopt the spirit of humility that Christ loves all people
equally and that no one is favored more than another or is
unworthy of being included in Gods Kingdom. If this is the spirit,
we can sincerely picture being united under Christ.
2. SINGLE.
a. Our ministrys primary focus in on the single person by helping him/her
experience Christ, but we believe that everyone around us should be
experiencing Christ through us.

b. Single: the Life Stage
i. We envision a world wherein the single person fully experiences
Christ.
ii. We work to help create that world by doing our part in renewing
the world of the single person.

c. Single: Each and every person we interact with, touch, and can influence
i. Our experience of Christ leads us to be Christ experiences to
everyone we are around (i.e,,it is wrong for us to claim to be
experiencing Christ when others around us do not experience
Christ through us)
3. MAN and WOMAN.
a. We uphold Gods unique design for Man and Woman.
b. We respect, honor, and uphold Gods design and unique roles for both
Man and Woman most especially how this design leads to life.
i. We will work to help Men and Women understand and live out
their real and original role as designed by God.
c. We build and defend the fruits of the union between Man and Woman:
We are and will continue to be Pro-Family and Pro-Life.
i. This supports the values of CFC and the Catholic Church
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4. ALL OVER THE WORLD.
a. We are a missionary and evangelistic community as a response to the
Great Commission.
b. We are guided by the Great Commission (Mt. 28: 19-20)
c. We do not only create a presence (e.g. merely setting up in another area
or country) but rather we work to build strong and dynamic Christian
communities everywhere
5. EXPERIENCING CHRIST.
a. We are part of an active and ongoing experience of Christ that leads to
transformation, service, and the pursuit of holiness.
b. Experience vs. Experiencing: God wants us to be experiencing Him
through Jesus Christ
i. Experience is a one-time occurrence.
ii. Experiencing is a continuous experience.
iii. This is what God wants for us--a relationship that is an ongoing
experience of His love.
c. Experiencing Gods love through Jesus Christ leads us to transformation
i. Our lives are a happy response to Gods immense love for us
The reason behind our actions (going to household, serving in
Ancop and the Social Ministries, loving others even if it is
difficult and inconvenient, etc.) is love for God.
ii. We are compelled to share and proclaim God to others through
both word and witness
It is not merely giving talks or quoting Scripture but a life that
reflects God working in us
It is living out our faith

B. The SFC Mission
"Building the Church of the Home and Building the Church of the Poor"
The SFC mission is taken from the mission of Couples for Christ. This is the
expression of the Mission in the SFC Ministry.
1. BUILDING THE CHURCH
First, be good and faithful members, who are committed to growing in love,
personal holiness, and knowledge of the foundations of our faith.
Be defenders of the Church and life by opposing worldly beliefs and
movements that undermine the very things our faith holds sacred.
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Work for justice, equality, and the dignity of life.
Actively serve and participate in our parishes.

Second, we build the Church by bringing more people to knowing Christ
through active evangelization and by being strong witnesses to Christ living in
our lives.
We strive for both holiness and excellence in all aspects of life that Christ
may be known and glorified.
We are passionate to go to the ends of the earth to proclaim Christ and
we are just as passionate to do the same where we are right now.

2. BUILDING THE CHURCH OF THE HOME
We take the lead in creating a family atmosphere where there is love,
openness, forgiveness, happiness, and unity under Christ.
We are reflections of Christ in our own homes as we support the families we
are born into (as members) as well as prepare ourselves for the families we
will start in the future (as heads). We do this by living a life of purity,
holiness, and selflessness.

3. BUILDING THE CHURCH OF THE POOR
Because we see and experience Christ in the poor, we serve the poor
through a committed and loving dedication to provide for their needs with
urgency through love and a personal sacrifice of our time, our resources,
efforts and talent. We understand that we cannot build God's kingdom here
on earth without the poor.
We are FOR Christ and we live like the Apostles as His disciples in the present day
(empowered and led by the Holy Spirit to passionately and unceasingly proclaim
Christ to all nations, establishing a brotherhood of love and sharing, and serving the
poor, the captives, the blind, and oppressed). The totality of our lives is a reflection
of Christ.
V. CONCLUSION
What is the Lord telling us?
The SFC Covenant is a reminder of our commitment to the Lord in our loving
relationship with Him. Our faithfulness to this covenant will prepare and enable
us to pursue our ultimate goal, which is to live out the SFC Vision in our lives with
the SFC Mission as the means to achieve this.
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Living out our covenant individually and as a community allows us to to be one in
love, one in heart, one in life. In this way we begin to make the SFC vision a
reality.

Reflection Questions
1. Am I ready to commit to having a loving relationship with the Lord through SFC?
2. What specific action steps will I take to deepen my relationship with the Lord?
3. What does the SFC vision mean to me?
4. What is the SFC vision requiring of me?
5. How can I begin to live out the SFC vision in my own life?

THE COVENANT OF THE CFC SINGLES FOR CHRIST

Trusting in the Lords help and guidance:
I. I shall live as a follower of Christ.
Pray daily for at least 15 minutes.
Study scriptures daily for at least 15 minutes.
Live a righteous life and avoid situations which are occasions for sin.
Put good order into my private life and support my parents in building a Christian
family.
Participate regularly in the worship life of my church.

II. I will work towards the evangelization and transformation of my work place, my family
and my community.
Put good order in my work situation.
Be a witness of the love and power of the Lord Jesus in my work and in my family.
Be a good steward of all resources entrusted to me.
Be a good citizen of my country, obeying its laws and protecting its environment.

III. I will be a committed and active member of the CFC Singles for Christ.
Attend my small group meetings regularly and support the good order of the
meetings.
Faithfully participate in all the activities of the group.
Relate in love, loyalty to and respect for all my brothers and sisters in the Lord.
Interceded daily for the group and its mission.

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IV. I will make myself available to the Lord for service.
Bring other single men and women to Christ.
Give generously of my time and resources to the Lords service, whenever I am
called and follow directions of those who responsibility for any service .
Support the work of Couples for Christ and its Ministries.

V. I will study and seek to grow as a Christian person.
Attend all teachings, retreats, seminars and conferences of the CFC SINGLES FOR
CHRIST.
Diligently study all materials given to me.

May the Lord Jesus Christ help me to be faithful in living out this commitment every day for His
greater honor and glory and for the good of my brothers and sisters.

______________________________
Signature

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TALK No. 2: Prayer, Scripture, and Sacraments
Objectives
1. Develop a greater understanding on the importance and power of prayer, scriptures,
and sacraments in ones faith journey.
2. Move SFCs to commit to strengthen their relationship with God through faithfulness in
prayer, scripture reading, and receiving the sacraments.

Speakers Profile
Someone who can share the joy of having a deep and intimate prayer life, his/her experiences
in knowing and hearing the Lord speak through His word in Scripture, and how the sacraments
have helped him/her in his faith journey.

Speakers Outline

I. Introduction
A. Prayer, scripture and sacraments are crucial tools to growth in the Christian life.

B. We grow in our relationship with God by communicating directly with Him (through
Prayer), by studying His word (through regular reading of the Scriptures) and by
encountering Him (through the sacraments).

C. Prayer, scripture, and sacraments draw us closer to God and help us to understand
His will for us.

D. In SFC, we commit to a daily personal prayer time, to a daily reading of the Bible and
to regular participation in the sacraments. These are an integral and essential part
of our being a single FOR Christ.

II. Prayer
Prayer is a form of communication, a means of talking to God. As SFCs, we need to have
a daily personal prayer time.
A. Why should we have a personal prayer time?
1. To develop an intimate relationship with God
a. Just as our relationships with those we love are nurtured and deepened by
regular communication and time spent together, so God desires that we
spend time alone just to be with Him.

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b. Attending mass daily, praying the Rosary, reciting novenas are important in
helping us grow in our prayer life but we also need to nurture a personal
prayer time, a time set aside to dialogue with God and just be in His
presence.

c. Prayer is more than knowing and reciting prayers, more than asking God to
answer our hearts desires. It is about communicating with Him and getting
to know His heart and mind, and falling more deeply in love with God.

2. To grow in humility.
a. Bowing before the Lord in prayer is acknowledging our littleness before Him
and expressing to Him our gratitude for His mercy and love despite our
unfaithfulness. This allows us to humble ourselves before Him and recognize
His greatness.

b. Every day, we need to go before the Lord with our sins and failures, and
restore our relationship with Him. We are unworthy but we are forgiven
through Jesus blood.

c. God desires us to pray, most especially in our feelings of unworthiness,
because He seeks a contrite and humble heart.

d. When we increase in our humility, we are more able to resist the devil who
seeks to feed on our pride.

e. The more time we spend in prayer with God, we grow in humility, and we are
able to hear Gods voice. For one who is proud and who is so full of himself
will certainly find it difficult to hear the voice of Someone greater than
himself.

3. To strengthen ourselves in fighting temptation.
a. Our hearts weaken with temptation when we do not pray because we lose
our focus on the Lord.

b. Remember that seven days without prayer makes one weak Prayer is our
main weapon in the fight against evil.

c. When we pray, our whole being is protected from the devil. If we lose one
day of prayer, we let our guard down and become less vigilant.

4. To help us become more attuned to Gods will for us.
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a. Regular prayer helps us become more attuned to Gods voice and His
direction. It helps us understand who He is in our lives and what He wants
for us.

b. The more we go deeply in our prayer life, and the deeper our relationship
with God, the more we are able to surrender ourselves completely to Him.
We soon reach the point that we no longer seek to have Him do what we
desire but rather we seek to desire what He wants for us.

B. What should we do to improve our prayer life?
1. Make a commitment to pray at a scheduled time. Choose a time when you are
alert and not too tired from the days work.

2. Start with a short time of prayer, then gradually increase it.

3. Find a place where you will not be distracted. If you can have the chance to pray
in front of the Blessed Sacrament, try to do so.

4. Be open to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

a. Techniques, like ACTS, are good, as long as we are not locked into them.

b. Be open to how the Holy Spirit will lead you.
i. Quiet vs expressive prayer Prayer allows us to bare ourselves to the
Lord and express to Him what is deep in our hearts. At the same
time, sometimes we are led to just be quiet and bask in the Lords
presence and love.
ii. Different physical postures It is good to be in a relaxed position but
not too comfortable as to be induced to sleep.
iii. Speaking and listening We allow time to both speak to the Lord and
listen to Him in the silence of our hearts or through His word. After
all, what He has to say is more important than what we have to say.
iv. Praying in tongues - This is not limited to communal worship.
Praying in tongues can also deepen our prayer as we allow the Holy
Spirit to express our praises and prayers to God.

c. The goal is not to pray well, but to enter into communion with God. Its not
what we can do for God; its what God can do for us when we put our trust in
Him.

5. Dealing with obstacles to prayer.
a. Anxieties and concerns that distract us.
i. Have faith that God will provide for your needs.
ii. Intercede for your concerns and surrender them into His hands.
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b. Too much concern about your prayer quality.
i. God is only concerned about your desire to be with Him.
ii. Prayer is as simple as a child running toward his Father.
iii. The Holy Spirit will lead us. (Romans 8:26)

c. Dryness.
i. Spiritual dryness in prayer and Christian life happens.
ii. It might come from God. He seeks to find out if our faithfulness
comes from the consolation we experience in prayer or from being in
His presence.
iii. Therefore, we need to persevere in prayer during periods of dryness.
Prayer is a commitment, not an emotional experience.

d. Difficulty in listening to or hearing the Lord.
i. Prayer is both talking and, most especially, listening to God. We listen
in the silence of our hearts.
ii. Prayer is not only petitioning to God; it is allowing Him to form our
hearts and minds as wait on Him patiently and with humility.
iii. We trust that if we seek Him, we will find Him. (Jeremiah 29:13)
iv. Oftentimes we see the fruits of our prayer after we have prayed, in
the way we live our lives day to day.

III. Scripture Reading
A. Aside from daily personal prayer, we also need to read and meditate on the Word of
God.
1. The Bible is our guide to a life in the Holy Spirit, filled with wisdom and counsel.
2. The Bible has power to convict us and change our lives. (Hebrews 4:12-13)
3. It allows us to know God and His plans for us.
4. The Bible can inspire and strengthen us as we face difficulties of life.
a. Reading the Bible could lead us to passages that speak directly and
personally to our situation.
b. The Bible is truth and its Word is consistent from age to age.

B. We can incorporate our Bible reading into our daily personal prayer time.
1. It could assist us in hearing Gods voice and what messages He wants to share
with us, where He wants to lead us.
2. A useful tool is to use a scripture-based daily prayer guide like In His Steps.

C. We need to study the Bible so we may grow in knowledge of God.
1. We understand ourselves better when we read Scripture. We begin to see who
we are in Gods eyes.
2. It helps us to understand Gods heart and mind; therefore we become more
attuned to Gods purpose and His plans.
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3. When we understand God and the Truths that He teaches us, we are able to
fight the lies the devil spreads around us.

D. We should read Christian books.
1. Through Gods inspiration, writers are able to write about the heart and mind of
God, helping us to understand Him at this present time.
2. Reading about the saints inspires us to persevere in our faith through our trials
and sufferings.
3. We need to be discerning though of the books that we read, especially those
written by non-Catholic writers. When in doubt, we may consult a priest or
trusted elder or research about the book.

IV. Sacraments
A sacrament is an outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace. There are seven
sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick,
Matrimony and Holy Orders.
A. We encounter God through the sacraments. It gives us a physical sign of Gods
presence in our lives.
B. Christ instituted the Sacraments to give grace.
1. This grace, an unmerited favor, is a supernatural help of God.
2. The power of Christ also lives in the Sacraments, therefore when we participate
in the Sacraments, we receive Christs power.
C. Sacraments we can frequently participate in:
1. Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist
a. CCC 1384: The Lord addresses an invitation to us, urging us to receive Him in
the sacrament of the Eucharist: Truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh
of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Jn:6:53

b. The Holy Eucharist is so great a sacrament because, in this and in no other
sacrament, we receive the very body and blood, soul and divinity of Jesus
Christ. Innumerable, precious graces come to us through the reception of
Holy Communion.

c. When we celebrate Holy Mass and receive Jesus through the Eucharist, we
become more like Him and obtain Gods favor.

d. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink
his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood
has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real
food, and my blood is real drink. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood
abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of
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the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me. This is the bread which
came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats
this bread will live forever" (John 6:5358)

2. Sacrament of Reconciliation
a. When we sin, we are unable to see God. It is our pride that inhibits us from
asking forgiveness.
b. God wants us to be reconciled with Him so we receive the fullness of His
sanctifying grace.
c. The sacrament of Reconciliation restores to us the merits of our past good
works if these have been lost by mortal sin.
d. The sacrament of reconciliation fortifies us against a relapse into sin.

V. Conclusion
A. Having a regular prayer and Scripture reading time, as well as living a Sacramental
life, helps us remain faithful to the Lord.
B. When we nurture our prayer time, our Christian lives will be filled with power, peace
and we will be able to follow more closely Gods direction for our lives.

C. When we pray and read the Bible, we tap into Gods mind and heart, which gives us
knowledge. This knowledge helps us overcome lifes struggles.

D. Prayer, Scripture, and the Sacraments are our weapons against the devil who will try
to sidetrack us from our desire to follow God. Our lives will be enriched and our
faith in God grows stronger when we are consistent in developing an intimate
relationship with Him.

E. God gave us these three tools to draw us closer to Him that He may sustain us in our
spiritual journey.

Reflection Questions
1. What makes it difficult for me to have a consistent prayer and Scripture reading time?
2. What inhibits me from participating in the sacraments (Holy Eucharist and Confession)
regularly?
3. What will I commit to do to develop a relationship with God?

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TALK No. 3: STRENGTHENING FAMILY LIFE
Anchor Verse:
Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you
may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
(Deuteronomy 5:16)
Objectives:
1. Develop an understanding of the importance of a solid, Christ-centered family life
2. Empower SFCs to be a source of unity and harmony in their families
3. Move SFCs to desire to bring the love of Christ in their families and lead their families to
Christ

Speakers Profile:
Someone who can inspire others with his/her family life, possibly someone whose family
members are also in community; one who can explain clearly the importance and the Churchs
view of the family.

Speakers Outline
I. Introduction: The Catholic Churchs View of the Family
To gain a greater appreciation of the importance of family, we need to be made aware of
the Churchs view of the familys role especially in the world today. In his 1981 Apostolic
Exhortation, Familiaris Consortio (FC) On The Christian Family in the Modern World, Pope
John Paul II lists four general tasks of the family. As members of our own family and of the
community of Singles For Christ, we also have a duty to take up, commit to and apply in our
own lives these tasks.
A. To form a Community of Persons
1. The family is a symbol of Trinitarian love: free, total, faithful and fruitful which is the
essence of Gods love. He asks us to image this same love in our families where each
member has specific and appropriate roles which they are called to exercise. Just as
the 3 divine persons of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit work together in
harmony but remain distinct in a way appropriate for each, so does each member of
the human family have his own role to play to express this love.

2. It is founded on and given life by love, consisting of a husband and wife, of parents,
of children, of relatives. This love becomes the soul of the community of marriage
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and family, which sustains and leads the family to an even deeper communion with
each other. It translates into mutual service every day, and a sharing of each other.

3. In situations of conflict, the Church calls on the family to practice a great spirit of
sacrifice, which requires from each family member an openness to understanding,
forgiveness and reconciliation. This spirit of sacrifice is a reflection of the sacraments
of Reconciliation (the familys unity is restored when we choose to lower our pride
and take steps to resolve conflict and reconcile feuding members of our family); and
the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist (where Christ continues to offer us His Body and
Blood, and shows us Gods infinite love for us).

4. The roles of father and mother, husband and wife complement each other. They are
not simply functionally interchangeable. Even within families where spouses are
separated or are away from their family, the need for fathers and mothers to
develop character in their children and to nurture their spiritual growth remains.

5. As a member of our family, we, Singles for Christ, have a specific calling to
contribute to the growth in virtue of our siblings and to deepen our parents
understanding of who we are called to be. We have our own special individual
vocation within our own family community of love and life.

6. The family is a domestic Church (CCC 2204). It is an example of Living Christianity
living and breathing the Commandments (Deut 6:7). It teaches children that they
are loved equally unconditionally.

B. To Serve Life
1. More than ever, God calls for us to be brave enough to stand up for Him and what
He stands for, starting with our own family. As members of Singles for Christ we
stand for:
a. the dignity and sanctity of every human life, from conception to natural
death;
b. Gods design of our sexuality as male and female created in His image and
likeness;
c. the sacredness of marriage and our participation in building the Christian
family; and
d. our freedom to practice our family and life values based on our Catholic
faith.

2. In our families, we are responsible for each other, and so we must strive to assist
our parents in educating our siblings and showing them by example how we live out
such a lifestyle.

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a. We encourage ouf families to support programs that educate the public,
especially the Catholic faithful on the moral responsiveness on the different
aspects of pro-life and pro-family issues. Relatedly, we stand against any
form of coercion that forces people to agree on practices that violate the
dignity of the human person, the sanctity of the human life and the
sacredness of marriage and family.

b. We value our bodies as a temple of the Holy Spirit that our bodies do not
exist only for pure individual physical pleasure but to be Gods vessels in
creating and preserving life. We encourage our families to be advocates of
living a Pure and Free Lifestyle: free of drugs and other addictive substances
and by living a life of chastity.

c. We work to strengthen the bonds within the Christian family, between
husband and wife, between parents and children, among siblings starting
with our own family.

C. To Participate in the Development of Society
CCC 2207: The family is the original cell of social life. It is the natural society in which
husband and wife are called to give themselves in love and in the gift of life. Authority,
stability, and a life of relationships within the family constitute the foundations for
freedom, security and fraternity within society. The family is the community in which,
from childhood, one can learn moral values, begin to honour God, and make good use
of freedom. Family life is an initiation into life in society.
1. Being the first community we are exposed to, the family environment is where we
first learn from our parents how to deal with people around us with respect, justice,
dialogue and love. It is where we learn to distinguish right and wrong behaviour.
The way we were taught in the home is a reflection of how we carry ourselves
outside of the home.

2. These are the same values we bring to the society outside our families. This will
include our work places, our social networks, and our community. These are the
values we use when we relate with our employers, our subordinates, our co-
employees, our friends and all the other people we come into contact with..

3. On the other hand, as we are faced faced with a society that is becoming more
depersonalised and dehumanised with various forms of escapism such as drugs,
alcohol, and even terrorism, the family can continue to instil and remind one other
of his own personal dignity, humanity and uniqueness that would strengthen him
amidst such an envorinment.

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4. What we learn from our community Singles for Christ, we can also share with our
own family. Walk the talk at home just like what we share during households, in
the way we serve and treat brothers and sisters in the community, how willing we
are to make time for people in the community and its activities. If anything, with
CFC and its family ministries being focused on family renewal and building a Church
of the Home, our life as an SFC would be able to help us become a uniting factor in
our family and in other social groups we belong to.

D. Share in the Life and Mission of the Church
1. The Christian familys faith and evangelizing mission runs in the same vein as the
Great Commission: Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to the whole
creation (Mark 16:15).

2. The sacrament of marriage takes up the task of defending and spreading the faith in
their family, just as we are all tasked to do from Baptism and Confirmation.

3. As a member of a family, we are also called to contribute and play a significant role
in this mission. The best thing we can do to bring members of our family closer to
God is to pray it expresses our dependence upon God, it expresses our love for our
family, it expresses our desire for them to be saved which is also Gods desire. God
can do it and will do it if he wants.

4. If a member of our family does not have the faith or does not practice it with
consistency, we can also be lliving witnesses of our own faith by encouraging and
supporting the family member along the path towards the acceptance of Jesus as
our saviour. The Church of the Home is called to be a luminous sign of Christs
presence and his love for those who no longer live in accordance with faith that they
once received. (FC)

II. What does it really mean to be Single in our families?
Let us not discount the support and life we can get from our family, who will always be
there to fall back on. We must never take them for granted and loving them should always
be a priority.
As Singles, we are in a unique situation with regard to our time. We have more time than
we will ever have! Being single for our families means:
A. A time of generosity for the family
1. Its about helping out let us appreciate the VALUE OF GIVING and letting our
parents know we are there for them.

2. A time to serve our parents to repay the kindness of parenthood, e.g. footing some
bills, take them out occasionally, simple gifts, spend time with them as well as our
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siblings and extended family, keep in touch, take charge of health concerns
especially when there is a serious condition or illness in the family.

3. Constantly pray for our family

B. A time to bond with our brothers and sisters
1. Spend time with our siblings rather than be pre-occupied with the TV or the
computer.

2. Share our stories of victories and trials with our siblings and whatever we are going
through.

3. Be available to our siblings when our parents are not.

C. A time to enhance the family or being a family
1. Initiate family outings or gatherings.
2. Help keep traditions alive in the family.
3. Make sure you remember special occasions make them important and take the
time to greet family members on these occasions.
4. Encourage our family to be more expressive of our love for one another.
5. Encourage our family to have its own mission and vision.

D. A time to share what youve learned or are learning
1. For parents to hear what their children are doing is enough for them to be proud of
us.

2. Share with them how we respond to challenges and how we deal with things
through what we learn. In this way, we also affirm to our parents that they have
raised us well.

E. A time to share in adult decisions and let your voice be heard during family discussions
1. If applicable, introduce our family members to our love interest. Once that person is
exposed to our family, its an invitation for them to welcome and bring the person
into the family. But if something happens, the family can be our wall of support.

2. Share with the family the deliberate and serious life-changing decisions on where we
want our life to head. Share the goals we set for ourselves.

III. Conclusion
John Paul II: The future of humanity passes by way of the family. (FC)

We will always end up with family: the family we come from, and the family we will
build in whichever vocation we choose to go into.
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Being more aware of the role of families in todays world, let us make the most of the
time we have now while we are Single to prepare ourselves for when we build a family
of our own. There is no better way of preparation than committing ourselves to God, to
loving our own parents, siblings and extended family, and to all the existing bonds of
friendships and relationships we have outside the boundaries of our smaller family
community, including SFC.

You reap what you sow:
If you sow a Christian family, you reap a Christian community.
If you sow a Christian community, you reap a Christian city.
If you sow a Christian city, you reap a Christian nation.

Lets take it one step at a time with God, this vision is possible! For our part, lets start
in our own homes, as a vital ingredient to the life of our family.

References:
Familiaris Consortio (John Paul II, 1981)
Catechism of the Catholic Church (2000)
Love, marriage and Family (Chris and Mary Clare Meney)
Christian Courtship in an Oversexed World: A Guide For Catholics (T.G. Morrow)

Activity: Family Dynamics
Form groups of 4 to 5 members, consisting of at least 2 males and 2 females per group. Assign
males to stand as father or brother in the group, and females as mother or sister in the group.
Extra males or females can play other roles as needed (grandparents, other relatives).
Each person in the group takes turns choosing one family member in the group he/she would
like to address. He/She will then talk to this family member as if this were her own parent or
sibling (or other relative) and express to him/her things that he/she has long wanted to tell this
family member (e.g., asking for or expressing forgiveness for this family member, honoring,
thanking, asking for help, seeking to be understood, etc.). The family member and the others in
the group will simply listen.
When the person has finished talking, the family member chosen may want to respond (e.g.,
ask or accept forgiveness, thank the person, express willingness to help). Others in the group
may also choose to express support for the person through words of affirmation, honoring, or
advice.
Make sure to start and end the activity with a prayer.
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TALK No. 4: OUR CHRISTIAN CULTURE IN CFC SINGLES FOR CHRIST

Objectives
1. Inspire a desire and empower the SFCs to live out the Christian culture of CFC-Singles for
Christ.
2. Develop an appreciation for a common culture in the community that is full of passion, life
and grace.

Speakers Profile
Someone who is very familiar with the culture of the community and of the ministry, who lives
out the SFC culture as a way of life, and who will have many experiences to share about this.

Speakers Outline

I. Introduction
A. We have a covenant with God and with one another. We are to be His people, and our
lives are to reflect our intimate relationship with Him.

B. As part of Gods people, we are to live out a common life as Christians.

C. More specifically, we are called together in SFC to live out a culture. Part of this life is a
distinct culture as Christians in general and as Singles for Christ in particular.

II. What is culture?
A. Culture is the way of life of a people.
1. It is the sum total of attained and learned behavior patterns of a people, regarded as
expressing a traditional way of life. It is the sum total of what makes a people what
they are.
2. Culture includes a people's beliefs, values, social structures, customs and
expressions.

B. Christianity is a culture.
1. As a natural consequence of Christian beliefs and values, Christians ought to have a
distinctively Christian way of life that reflects and supports such values and beliefs.

a. We ought to be distinguishable from other worldly cultures.
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b. Ours is a way of life inspired by Christs own life.
c. In fact, Christianity is becoming a counter-culture at times.

2. Our culture as a Christian may be different from our culture as a nation.
a. For example, we can be Christian and Filipino (or Indian, Australian, Americans,
etc.) and have unique cultural traits for each as a result of this.
b. But we should remember that we are Christians first and foremost.

III. Our Christian Culture in CFC Singles for Christ
A. SFC is a Christian community with distinct beliefs, values and patterns of life.
1. Our basic Christian beliefs and values are those held in common by all orthodox
Christians.
a. Beliefs: Jesus is Lord, life after death, etc.
b. Values: What we consider desirable, e.g., loyalty, dependability, dignity of life,
etc.

2. In addition, we stress the importance of marriage and family life.

B. Our "vision and mission" provides the direction and the rationale for our existence. (SFC
Vision and Mission were discussed in Talk 1 so may just be briefly mentioned here.)
1. SFC Vision Every single man and woman all over the world experiencing Christ.
a. We are to bring singles and families back to the plan of God
b. Our lives will be centered on the fulfillment of this vision

2. SFC Mission Building the Church of the Home and Building the Church of the
Poor
a. The family is the creation of God and God wants us to rise in defense of His work
b. God desires that we love and care for the poor (more on this in the last talk)

C. We are an evangelistic community. We desire to bring Christ and His love to the ends of
the earth. Our formation, activities, and goals reflect this desire.
D. Our "statement of philosophy" contains the beliefs and ideals of SFC, which governs our
vision and mission. This was discussed with you during the CLP. (See Annex 1 for details)

IV. Expressions of Christian Culture in CFC Singles for Christ
A. The way we build our lives as part of a body
1. We are one body, with a common life with brothers and sisters
a. We are not individualistic but brethren to one another
b. We do not pursue holiness just individually, but also corporately

2. The household is the core of building our lives a body
a. The household is a concrete manifestation of the family in our community life
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i. It is a support system that helps us live Christian lives.
The purpose of the household group is to build an environment for the
support of the Christian life of singles and to provide a means of
encouraging and hastening growth in the Christian life. (From the SFC
HH Heads Manual)
It is where we give and receive the support and encouragement we
need in our Christian journey. It is where we can share joys and
sorrows, knowing we are surrounded by brethren who care for us.

ii. It is a safe place to be ourselves: broken but trying.
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your
old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new
in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be
like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24

iii. It is strong, trusting, and lasting relationships founded in Christ.
We will meet some of our closest friends for life in our households.
These friendships are special because they are bound together by a
common love for Christ and the desire to love one another as Christ
did.
Our friendships continue to expand because of our households.
Do not resist household changes/re-shuffles.
Look at them as opportunities to meet more people.
iv. It is an environment of love. It is where true love is learned and shared.

b. We meet regularly in the household, with the Lord together with our
brothers/sisters.
i. Thus, we should keep our household meetings sacred.
ii. We set the specific days of the month when we meet as a household
beforehand so that we can block this off in our calendars.
iii. We do not miss our household meetings except for extreme cases (e.g.,
sickness) because we know the Lord awaits us and it is there that we can give
of ourselves to our brothers/sisters.

3. The teaching nights, assemblies and conferences edify our formation.
a. Avenue for deepening the formation through the teachings and sharing of
experiences by brethren
b. Opportunity to experience the bigger SFC family beyond the household or the
chapter in communal worship and prayer
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c. Members/leaders should not forego the households and just attend these
gatherings. The household remains to be the foundation of our relationships
and these teachings/assemblies support this foundation.

4. Respect for order and authority in the body
a. We need order and authority for the body to function effectively
b. The Lord places various people in authority. We are to obey and respect them.
Heb. 13:17
i. For those in authority, avoid the temptation to hang on to power. A
leaders anointing is not permanent nor irrevocable.
ii. For those who are called to take on leadership roles, do not be afraid.
God equips the leaders He chooses.
c. The order in the body is the same order designed for the family
i. The SFC structure mirrors the family
ii. Gods plan and order for the family: headship and submission (Eph 5:22-
25)
Single men should learn to take on responsibility and headship
while they are not yet wed
Single women should support and encourage the men in SFC to
take on responsibility and headship in the group and its activities.
B. The way we relate to one another.
1. Honor and respect.
a. We treat each one with dignity as a child of God.
b. We are one family, brothers and sisters in the Lord.

2. Loyalty and commitment.
a. We should be loyal and committed to one another and to the body. We are to
look out for the good of the other.
b. We should resolve conflicts in the Lord. We avoid taking sides but rather, work
towards peace and reconciliation.

3. Christian speech.
a. Our speech is of tremendous importance for the life of the body. Proverbs
18:21a.
b. We are to avoid slander, gossip and negative humor.
c. Our speech must be gracious. Colossians 4:6. Ephesians 4:29.
Express prase and affection.
Correct with meekness.
Communicate faith and joy.
Show courtesy.

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4. Our goal in the way we relate is to build one another up in love, and to build up the
body, SFC. Ephesians 4:15-16.

C. The way we relate to God (Note to speaker: The other talks in the Covenant Orientation
discuss these in more detail.)

1. Prayer - We are to have a daily conversation with God.
Ephesians 6:18. Colossians 4:2.

2. Scripture -We are to receive wisdom, guidance and life from God's Word.
Colossians 3:16a. Hebrews 4:12.

3. Faith. We are to be men and women of faith.

4. Christian finance.
a. We have a common responsibility to support God's work.
b. We are to make available to the Lord not just our time and our talents, but also
our treasure.

V. Conclusion
A. SFC is one body throughout the world, with one vision, one mission, and also one
culture.

B. God wants to create a new humanity, one that would live His life on earth. We are to be
witnesses to His work in our lives.

C. Our response will determine the effectiveness of our witness. Our positive response will
keep us united and will enable the Lord to use us for His mission.

SFC STATEMENT OF PHILOSOPHY
1. We believe that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit and we safeguard its
sanctity by being pure in thought, word and deed.
2. We believe in the sanctity of human life and the right of the unborn child.
3. Our gifts, talents and resources are given by God to serve and glorify Him.
4. Marriage is indissoluble and is created by God for love and procreation.
5. Both man and woman have equal personal worth and dignity. God's order for
the family is expressed in roles, with husband as head and wife as helpmate.
6. Family life is important in plan of God.
7. The family shares in the life and mission of the Church.

a. Prayers
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b. Evangelization
c. Service to others

8. Christian family renewal is best achieved through the power of the Holy Spirit and
the full use of all charismatic gifts.

GROUP ACTIVITY: CULTURAL FASHION SHOW
(Group participants into groups of 5 to 7.)

One of the aspects of culture is a peoples manner of dressing or their costume. Knowing the
Christian culture of SFC, its values, beliefs, and practices, design an SFC costume that will
reflect the important aspects of our culture. Use ordinary and recycled materials to create a
sample of this costume. Dress up one of the group members in this costume and present to the
rest of the body in a cultural fashion show. Each group explains the design of their costume.

Stage 1 Formation



Talk No. 5: Being a Christian in the Workplace

Goal:
To encourage SFCs to live one life for Christ by exercising being a good and true Christian in the
workplace

Objectives:
1. Make the participants reflect on the role of God in his or her work situation
2. Uncover misconceptions and pitfalls in the Christians attitude and orientation towards
his or her work situation
3. Guide the participant to take concrete action in making the workplace a place to glorify
God.
Speakers Profile:
An inspiring SFC leader who is also a successful leader at work; showing excellence in the
different aspects of his/her life.
Speakers Outline
I. Introduction
A. Many renewed Christians today still struggle to live a truly Christian life in the
workplace.
B. Several SFCs, after going through the CLP, find that one of the greatest challenges is
being able to practice at the workplace, what is practiced in the SFC community.
C. The workplace remains to be one of the places that lead Christians to be unloving,
self-serving, and to act with a lack of faith in Gods ability to provide.

II. Pitfalls of a Christian in the Workplace
A. Work is just work: Compartmentalized Living. Because the orientation towards
work is that it is an activity that merely gives us the means to live the life we want,
we do not see it as part of life and we apply a different set of standards (oftentimes,
looser) to it than the Christian standards we practice when we are in and around the
community.
We sometimes do not see the workplace as a necessary venue to be a
good Christian. We sometimes even think of it as an oppressive place
where people of faith will just be over-taken or taken advantage of.
We apply a different set of moral standards in the workplace and fail to see
the workplace as a necessary venue to be a good Christian because all
thats important at work is getting the job done.
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People at work dont care if youre a Christian. They care if youre
competent. So why even bother being one?
Example:
o An SFC who is a wonderful brother/sister in the community but a
ruthless boss or co-worker in the office.
o An active SFC member / leader who is mediocre at work and always
late justifying that Im good where it counts (i.e. the community)

B. I was successful before God got here: Past success formulas didnt include God.
Many renewed Christians have had success at work before their hearts belonged to
God making it difficult for them to introduce God into a business or career that is
already successful.
Many SFCs are successful in their fields or professions and find it difficult to
follow or even consider following Christian teachings for fear that it might
yield a different outcome (i.e. failure)
Some SFCs subconsciously do not believe that God understands their work
and their work situation thus intentionally cut God and prayer out of work-
related matters
Examples:
o An SFC member who still uses bribes or cheating to gain favor for his
business believing that its an industry norm to do these things
o An SFC household head whose commitment to his lower household
and to going to going to Mass takes lesser priority to the need to do
overtime

C. I do good works outside anyway: Justifying and rationalizing our actions and
attitudes in the workplace. Sometimes change is hard or inconvenient so we make
excuses to justify our reluctance to change.
There is a silent justification for not fully letting God into our life because it
is too difficult or scary to change how we are in the workplace
Or that there is a feeling of no one is watching anyway or people do not
know I am a member of SFC so it gives us a feeling that we can behave to
the standards of the world and not Christs
Examples:
o An SFC member who uses office supplies for SFC materials without
permission from management
o An SFC member who behaves like such a good person in community
but still goes to girlie bars after work with officemates

III. Negative consequences on our behavior (external effects)
A. We do not live one whole and Christian life.
We are only part-time Christians and we neglect that there is a lot of need
for witnesses and holiness at the workplace.
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B. We practice having double standards.
We compartmentalize life and make justifications for acting differently and
holding different moral and behavioral standards in different situations
instead of the teachings of Christ in all things without exception.
The practice of subscribing to double standards is dangerous because it can
erode ones faith in Gods ability to provide for his faithful children

C. We do not give our best to our work.
If we do not believe that God can be glorified through our work and our
workplace, we do not strive to do our best with the gifts weve been
blessed with and fail to bless others with them. We shortchange God.
We do not give our best to our work but we could also not be giving our
best to the people at work. Our outlook towards them might not
necessarily be as children of the same God.

IV. Negative consequences on our relationship with God (internal effects)
A. We do not put our full trust in God. And we deny ourselves the chance to
experience the real meaning of God is enoughto allow God to be truly a Father
and the greatest provider to us
We do not surrender some areas of our life to His kingship and command.
We are prone to fear because we put our trust in ourselves and in our
abilities or in the things of the world to gain what we believe is success

B. Our holiness is not whole.
We do not experience the fullness of life and we do not get to see the
extent of Gods transforming power in our life
Others who need you to be Gods witness or an example for them are
deprived of the chance to be evangelized. There are some people in the
workplace whom we have unique and strong influence over and they could
miss out on the chance to be influenced to consider a relationship with
Jesus because we chose not to be a true Christian at work.

V. The Urgent Need for Christians in the Workplace
There is a worldwide urgency to be Christians in the workplace. The workplace
has become a strong influence of adult behavior, a place where much sin and
wrongdoing happen, and a big source of anxiety in several forms.
There is a need to bring the Good News to the workplace that others may have
hope through Jesus Christ, including ourselves.

VII. Conclusion: The Christian Response
A. Entrust your whole life to God and live one life for Christ.
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Make your life belong to God that we may live out our true purpose for living: To
love God and to belong to God.
None of us lives for oneself, and no one dies for oneself. For if we live, we live for
the Lord,

and if we die, we die for the Lord; so then, whether we live or die, we
are the Lord's. Romans 14:7-8, NAB.

Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose hope is the LORD. He is like a
tree planted beside the waters that stretches out its roots to the stream: It fears
not the heat when it comes, its leaves stay green; In the year of drought it shows
no distress, but still bears fruit. Jeremiah 17:7-8, NAB

B. Be a witness.
Our relationship with God is a gift that is meant to be shared. Others have
touched us by their relationship with God and their example, we do the same to
others.
Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a
lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house.
Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds
and glorify your heavenly Father. Matthew 5:15-16, NAB

C. Re-orient our hearts to focus on faithfulness rather than success
Our motivation should be faith-oriented (a heavenly desire) rather than success-
oriented (which is often a worldly desire).
God promises to provide the best for those who are faithful. What we consider
our best might not even be close to the best God wants for us.
God hasnt called me to be successful. Hes called me to be faithful. Mother
Teresa

D. You do your best and by doing so, glorify God.
It does not mean that we should not dream to succeed at work, but rather to
succeed on Gods terms and to focus first on what God wants us to do.
Whatever you do, do it wholeheartedly, working for the Lord, and not for
humans. You well know that the Lord will reward you with inheritance. You are
servants but your Lord is Christ. Colossians 3:23-24 Christian Community Bible.

ACTIVITY: Small Group Sharing
Share in small groups of 4 your answers to the following questions. Suggest solutions for each
others difficulties and challenges.
What specific aspects of my work life are least Christian or most conflicting with being
Christian? What can I do to reverse this?
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Share two things you will commit to do when you return to work to help bring Christ to people
in your workplace.
Pray over each other at the end of the sharing. Ask for Gods help to conquer the challenges of
living out Christianity in the workplace. (Each one takes turns praying for the person on his/her
left or right.)

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Talk No. 6: Financial Stewardship
Objectives:
1. Develop an understanding of and appreciation for the principles of Christian finance and
tithing
2. Empower SFCs in wise stewardship of their resources, especially their finances, applying the
principles of Christian finance
3. Instill a desire to support the work of God in Couples for Christ through regular tithing
4. Inspire generosity and responsible stewardship

Speakers Profile
An SFC leader who is able to exemplify good financial stewardship, in tithing and in the way
he/she manages his finances and other resources; one who can inspire and exhort the
participants to give generously to the Lord.

Speakers Outline
I. Introduction
Our Lord Jesus Christ wants all the dimensions of our lives, including our financial
responsibilities and resources, to be directed and guided by the Holy Spirit. The Lord asks
that we open our hearts to the Spirit and allow Him to give us a Christian outlook on our
possessions and money and on how to manage them wisely.
II. Principles of Christian Finance
A. Everything belongs to God.
Scripture Readings
a. Psalm 24:1 "The Lord's are the earth and its fullness; the world and those who
dwell in it"
b. Haggai 2:8 "Mine is the silver and mine the gold, says the Lord of hosts"

God created everything. And everything the heavens, the earth, and all that they
contain belongs to God.
God is the owner of everything without exception. This includes what we normally
call our own: our house, our car, our clothes, our investments, and our money.
B. We are merely stewards of what belongs to God.
1. We are stewards (or managers) and not masters over the things God has entrusted
to us.
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2. We are to manage what has been entrusted to us wisely, unselfishly and in
accordance with God's plan.
C. It is God who enables us to acquire wealth.
1. Scripture Readings
a. Proverbs 10:22 "It is the Lord's blessing that brings wealth, and no effort can
substitute for it"

b. Ecclesiastes 5:18 "Any man to whom God gives riches and property, and grants
power to partake of them, so that he receives his lot and finds joy in the fruits of
his toil, has a gift from God"

2. Without God's blessings, we would not have the good things we have.
a. 1 Corinthians 4:7 "Name something you have that you have not received. If
then, you have received it, why are you boasting as if it were your own?"

3. Our minds, our education, business opportunities, "good luck", all are ours only by
God's grace.
a. Sirach 11:14 "Poverty and riches are from the Lord"
b. Sirach 11:21 "It is easy with the Lord suddenly, in an instant, to make a poor man
rich"

4. We should use our finances (wealth and possessions) to glorify God and participate
in the spread of His Kingdom.
a. Proverbs 3:9 "Honor the Lord with your wealth."
b. Though God allows us to enjoy our possessions, these are not exclusively for our
benefit. We need to see how we can use our possessions to serve God and to do
His work on earth.
III. Tithing
A. Definition
1. The tithe consists of ten percent (10%) of an individual's income after taxes from
whatever source, i.e., wages, rents, investments, business, etc.
2. The tithe is given to the immediate body of Christ of which one is a part, and where
one draws support for one's Christian life. For us, that basically means SFC and our
parish.
3. It is given to support the work of the Lord.
In SFC, your tithes will be used for: evangelization, members' formation,
community activities, administrative expenses, etc.

B. Scriptural basis: Malachi 3:7b-10.
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1. We rob God if we don't tithe. Simply because the money is His in the first place and
He's just asking us to turn over 10% of it.
2. We tithe so that there may be "food in God's house." Food is life-giving. The tithes
support our work for the Lord, which work gives life to many couples.
3. "open the floodgates": God can never be outdone in generosity. We will always
receive more than we give (not necessarily in terms of money).

4. Other Scripture Readings
Genesis 14:20
Leviticus 27:30
Numbers 18:26-29
Deuteronomy 14:22-27
Proverbs 3:9
Matthew 23:23
Luke 18:12
Hebrews 7:4-9

C. Tithing is not part of our covenant in SFC. But it is certainly an essential part of our life as
a growing Christian. However, we understand tithing as part of the life of a maturing
Christian. Thus, we encourage tithing as a means of moving our members forward in
their growth in the Lord.

1. The only source of income of CFC Singles for Christ is from contributions, basically
from its members. As such, the extent by which SFC is able to carry out its mission of
global evangelization, family life renewal, Church renewal and building Christian
communities depends very much on the amount of funds it can raise.
2. SFC uses its income from tithes and contributions to pay for the following:
Evangelization
Support for missionaries
Formation of members
Community activities
Administration (salaries and wages, transportation, repairs, office supplies,
communication, licenses, etc.)
Donations (for needy members)
Purchase of assets as needed
International mission

3. SFC members are encouraged to be generous in supporting financially the work of
the Church, both in the parish as well as the CFC mission.
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4. SFC members are encouraged to remit their tithe monthly. (Speaker should mention
mechanics for collection of tithe in that particular chapter; e.g., that their household
heads will set up a system to collect tithes regularly.)
5. Let us not lose the proper perspective.
a. It is important to give not because of the need for our money, but because it is
just the right thing to do.
b. In fact, while we see that God's work needs money, God Himself does not! He
owns the universe.
c. The practical need for money is just His way of giving us the privilege of being His
co-workers in Kingdom-building.
Focus not so much on the 10%, but on the 90% we keep for ourselves!
Remember, it is God's money. He owns it all, but He allows us to keep the
bulk of it for our own uses.
6. What if I do not have enough
a. Relate story of the widows mite. Luke 21: 1-4. She gave out of her poverty.
b. No one has too little that he has nothing to give. We trust in the Lords
providence and that He honors our faithfulness.

IV. Roadmap to Financial Stability
Financial stability allows us to share more with others and in Gods work. Proper
stewardship of our finances includes managing and using it wisely.

A. Remember that God desires our abundance
God wants us to be blessed abundantly. However, we sometimes do not realize that we
are blessed because we measure abundance differently.
1. We use different units Some people equate abundance only with pesos or dollars
when we can also have an abundance of friends or good health.

2. We use different standards Some people believe they can only be abundant when
they have billions while others already feel abundant when they have thousands.

B. Trust God for Provisions

God asks us not to worry about the material, rather to concentrate on seeking His
kingdom, then all else will follow. (Luke 12:22-34)
C. Do our part
Financial stability can be approached in two ways. First is to increase our source of
income. Second, is to decrease our expenses. In both approaches, we end up with
Stage 1 Formation


having more resources to share and to give back to God and still have enough for our
own needs.
The following are practical tips you can use to improve your financial independence:
a. Increase our sources of funds
a. Salaries
There is NO easy way to make money unless it is a scam or it is illegal. Learn
to earn money the old-fashioned way which is through hard work, innovation
and resourcefulness. Do not be afraid to start from the bottom and work
your way up.

b. Passive Income
Augment your salary with passive income which is defined as income earned
without working for it actively. Some forms of passive income include
money market investments, stock market, rental income, etc. Invest in
education (study, read, enroll, consult) to discover which passive source of
income is best for you.

c. Business
Cultivate the entrepreneurial spirit in you. Identify market needs and come
up with innovative ideas to meet the needs. Remember that there is always
a better way of doing things.
If capital is a problem, start with something small and sustainable. Strive to
be an employer rather than an employee. Beware however, that not
everyone is cut out for business.

d. Debt
Beware of debt. Do not borrow with the notion that eventually you will earn
enough to pay for what you borrowed. Instead, if you need to borrow, based
the amount on what you are able to pay now with your current capacity to
pay.

Beware of credit cards. The interest rates of most banks are exorbitant,
especially if you opt to pay for your credit card purchases in terms. Avoid
paying the minimum amount only as interest will be charged on the interest
you have not paid, exponentially increasing your over-all charges.

Think of the card as cash you left a home or cash that is in the bank. If you
have none, dont use your card. Do not fall prey to free credit cards; you are
just opening yourself up to temptation. Thus, it is important to always live
within your means to avoid the use of credit cards.

Stage 1 Formation


Not all debt is bad. Some loans are given at preferential rates such as loans
from cooperatives or company benefits. Just have the discipline to know
when and how much to borrow.

b. Decrease our uses of funds
a. Simplify your lifestyle
o Live simply and within your budget. Identify what is important to you and
spend accordingly. Remember that what looks good on others will not
necessarily look good on you. Do not have the urge to "keep up with the
Joneses."

o Our closet and storage rooms are the best place to find out what we do not
need in life. Let us try not to fill them up by purchasing more.

o There are two ways to get enough or to be satisfied: one is to continue
accumulating more, other is to desire less. The second option is easier and
more economical to do.

o Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trap and
into many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge them into ruin and
destruction (1 Timothy 6:9)

o Do not believe that material things will keep you satisfied.
Their silver and gold cannot save them on the day of the LORD'S wrath.
Ezekiel 7:19

o We need not spend to enjoy. Laughing, walking, talking, taking a bath in the
rain are cheap ways of having fun. Instead of meeting up with brothers and
sisters in coffee shops, meet up at someones house to enjoy inexpensive
coffee in the company of good friends.

b. Learn how to save
The formula should be:
Income expense = savings, and not
Income savings = expense.

This means always put aside a certain amount of income as savings already.
How can we save? Put money in a piggy bank or put money in a bank. The
bank will always be a better option than putting your money in the piggy
bank.

If possible, open two accounts. One account is only for depositing. The other
account is your working account, where you will get your daily expenses.
Stage 1 Formation


Look for bank products which reward investors with higher interest if they do
not withdraw their funds. Do not be afraid of banks. Some banks accept
small amounts as initial deposit and still earn interest. Remember that the
money you put in the bank is the money you will use in the future.

For the more financial savvy person, know what investment products there
are (money market, stock market, etc.). Always diversify, meaning never put
all your eggs in the same basket.

Similarly, avoid bandwagon. If everyone else you know is investing in the
same product, beware especially if you do not really understand the product.

Know your investment horizon (short term, long term) and your risk profile
(risk taker, risk averse). This will determine what types of investments you
should be making.

The general rule is, higher risk means high return. If you cannot afford to lose
your investment, stay away from high risk investments.

There are other forms of savings outside the bank. This includes insurance,
pre-need plans, memorial plans, etc.)

c. Make a budget
A budget enables you to keep track of your spending. It allows you to see
where you can cut down on costs.

Always compare budget with actual expenses to know where you have been
remiss or if you need to adjust your budget especially if it is no longer
enough. This also makes you see the trend which can be a good indicator of
future expenses. (e.g., summer months, tendency to spend more)

Beware of one-time purposes; they are recurring albeit in another form.
How often do we hear ourselves justifying purchases even if it is beyond the
budget by saying it will not happen again? When the following month
comes, we repeat the same justification until the one-time purchase
becomes regular and permanent.

Beware of unexpected purchases like sales. 0% spent is still better than 50%
off, or even 90% off. We may end up buying things we do not need.

Stage 1 Formation


Most importantly, Include tithes as part of the budget. Tithes should not be
what will be left after all our expenses. Tithes should come first before the
things we need to buy.

V. Conclusion
A. Be generous - Give, Give, Give!
B. Pay the proper taxes. Even our Lord paid taxes.
When they came to Capernaum,the collectors of the temple tax approached Peter and
said, Does not your teacher pay the temple tax?
Yes, he said. (Mt 17:22-27)
C. Share with the Poor. Everything you give away will return to you with interest
God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having
all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work (2 Corinthians 9:8)
D. Remember the floodgates God promised us
Remember to store treasures not here on earth. God gives us abundance so we can
bless others.
I will bless you and make your home great, and upon you will be a blessing. (Gen
12:2)

Activity: Pie Chart
1. Make a pie chart of how you currently use up your annual pay after taxes. Group them
into categories (e.g., Food, Rent/Housing Amortization, Clothing, Education,
Entertainment, Transportation, Communication, Tithing, Outreach, Support for Family,
Others, etc.)
2. Identify how you can save up on each pie (e.g. for Food, bring packed lunch instead of
eating in the office cafeteria, softdrinks on weekends only, Clothing buy only once
every quarter instead of once a month
3. Estimate how much you save per year on each item you identified. Add up the
estimated total savings.
4. Make a revised pie chart, with the identified savings area. In the revised chart, it is
mandatory that you set aside 10% of income for tithing.
5. Discuss your work with your seatmate.
6. If time will allow, open the floor for 2 or 3 sharings.

Stage 1 Formation


CFC SINGLES FOR CHRIST

Talk No. 7: Loving and Serving the Poor

OBJECTIVES:
1. Help the participants see Gods concern for the poor through the biblical passages of
the old and new testament.
2. Lead to a desire to love and serve the poor as part of their mission as members of the
Church and of SFC
3. Exhort the SFCs to live a life of simplicity, compassion and generosity

Speakers Profile:
An SFC leader who has been actively serving in the ministrys work with the poor; one who can
inspire the participants to share their time, talent, and treasure with the less fortunate.

Speakers Outline:

I. INTRODUCTION: The Bible on the Poor
The bible contains more than 800 verses on the poor, social justice and Gods deep
concern for both. From the history of Gods people to the Beatitudes of Jesus, the Bible
clearly states Gods regard for the poor as His children and affirms to us that they are
always in His mind.

Deuteronomy 26:5-9
Then you shall declare before the LORD your God: "My father was a wandering
Aramean, and he went down into Egypt with a few people and lived there and became a
great nation, powerful and numerous.
6
But the Egyptians mistreated us and made us
suffer, putting us to hard labor.
7
Then we cried out to the LORD, the God of our fathers,
and the LORD heard our voice and saw our misery, toil and oppression.
8
So the LORD
brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror
and with miraculous signs and wonders.
9
He brought us to this place and gave us this
land, a land flowing with milk and honey;
Psalm 140:12 I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of
the needy
Psalm 10:14 But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand.
The victim commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.
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Isaiah 41:17 "The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are
parched with thirst. But I the LORD will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake
them.
Luke 6:20-21
20
Looking at his disciples, he said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours
is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed
are you who weep now, for you will laugh.
II. How the World Sees the Poor
A. With disdain or fear
1. People might see the poor as dangerous or different
2. Some may blame them for their poverty
3. Others may consider them as simply lazy and inferior
B. Pitiful
Many people look at the poor with pity, although sadly this does not often
translate to a committed form of concern and help
C. Restricted love is enough
1. Helping them once a year is enough
2. I will help them when I feel I can/when I have extra to give
3. I will help them if they are morally good/upright
4. I will help only those who are of the same race as mine or who speak my
language

These attitudes are far different from Gods thoughts. The world sees the poor
differently and these attitudes are a world away from Gods concern for the poor as
described by the verses mentioned previously. God loves the poor and He loves
everybody. Neediness arouses compassion in God to act. On our part, it is not so simple
to respond yet Gods character presents Himself as a model. If God values the poor, we
have to think about what this means for us.

We have different types of givers:
1. The reluctant giver giving but not wholeheartedly, with a frown rather than
a smile on your face.
God says, be cheerful in our giving:
2 Cor. 9:17 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to
give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful
giver.

2. The chooser chooses whom to give or to be generous to.
God says, share with anyone in need.
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Acts 2:44 And all that believed were together, and had all things
common
Is 58:7 Sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the
oppressed and the homeless; Clothing the naked when you see
them, and not turning your back on your own.

3. The show-off giving for others to see that you are generous.
God says, let your giving be done in secret and you will be greatly
rewarded in heaven
Matt 6:24 So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with
trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets,
to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their
reward in full.
3
But when you give to the needy, do not let your left
hand know what your right hand is doing,
4
so that your giving may be
in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will
reward you.

4. The compassionate giver gives out of a genuine concern and love for the
poor, without counting the cost; sees what they need and seeks to respond
to this need
Jesus asks us to love as He did, with a self-giving love.
Jn 13:34 I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I
have loved you, so you also should love one another.

III. Loving the Poor: Our Response to Gods Commands
As God values the poor, we have to think about what that means to us and our
community. We may be responding yet what is the state of our heart in doing so? What
moves us? What stirs our hearts?

It is a two-fold principle. Gods commands include an overflow of blessings, for He who
is gracious lends to the Lord (Prov 19:17). God tells us that if we help the poor He will
bless us.

A. From the Old Testament to the New Testament, we are called to love and care for
the poor.
Deut 15:7
7
If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of
the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or
tightfisted toward your poor brother.
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Deut 26:12 When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in
the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the alien, the
fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied.

Is 58:10 If you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted; Then
light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like
midday;

Luke 3:11 John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who
has none, and the one who has food should do the same."

1. Loving and serving the poor is an essential part of being a Christian and of
being part of the Church.
We know that Jesus gave preference to the poor. He Himself was
born poor, He ate and drank with the poor, many of His disciples
were poor. As Christians, we must take after our Master, giving of
ourselves to the poor. We must look upon everyone as our brother
or sister.

2. It is our communitys mission.
As SFCs, we are called to Build the Church of the Home and Build the
Church of the Poor. We need to do both for not one is greater than
the other. Both are essential to our mission in SFC and to fulfilling our
SFC vision.
Our community focuses on Christ, family, and poor. Not to include
the poor in our priorities would be to fall short in following what God
calls us to do.
Loving the poor should also be part of our personal mission. We must
be able to see them as brothers and sisters for whom we are
accountable.

3. We will be judged by how much we have loved and served others as Jesus
did, especially our poor brethren.

Mt 25:34-36 Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are
blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the
foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was
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thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and
you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.

B. God promises blessings to those who serve the poor.

1. Serving the poor may be the right thing to do but the Bible associates it with
material and spiritual reward.
Prov 22:9 A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with
the poor.

Deut 15:10 Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then
because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in
everything you put your hand to.

Luke 14:12-14 Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or
dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich
neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid.
13
But
when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,
14
and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be
repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.

2. Although we do not serve to receive the reward, we serve with gratefulness
and trust knowing that God takes care of our needs. We know we are
blessed that we may bless others.

IV. Embracing Our Mission to Love the Poor
What can we do as SFCs to help build the Church of the poor? Not all of us may be
called to give ourselves totally in service of the poor, as Mother Teresa did. But we are
all called to aim for the kind of love she had for the poor, a love that will get us out of
our comfort zones to actively do something to lessen their suffering and alleviate their
hardship.

Our vision, Every single man and woman all over the world experiencing Christ
includes the poor in a special way as we are called to bring Christ to them and
experience Christ in them.

Simple Steps we can take: A.C.T. L.O.V.E.
Stage 1 Formation


1. Be Advocates of loving and serving the poor. Be part of the marketing team/think
tanks of the various programs to present them creatively to various sectors for
possible partnerships/sponsorships.
2. Commit to give a portion of your allowance/salary to the various programs esp. the
Ancop Child Sponsorship Program.
3. Give Time for tutoring or values/spiritual enrichment in the different ANCOP areas.
4. Live Simply.
i. Give away things you dont need.
ii. Minimize expensive purchases/pleasures that are not really necessary.
iii. What you might normally spend on luxuries (Starbucks coffee, branded
clothing, etc.), save for the poor.
5. Organize events or activities at ANCOP areas like parties and anniversaries and let
your family, loved ones, friends and co-workers enjoy the spirit of sharing and giving.
6. Visit the prison, the aged, the sick, and the abandoned. Find opportunities to bring
love and joy to those who need to be reminded that they are loved.
7. Elevate the lives of the needy by giving them opportunities for work and thus bless
his family as well.
Ephesians 4:28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing
something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with
those in need.

Our Child Sponsorship Program allows us to give the gift of a good education to children
who cannot afford such. With this we also give them hope and a bright future, one
child, one community at a time.

(Speaker explains other Ancop and Work with the Poor programs in place in the area.)

V. Conclusion:
Mt 25:34 Then the King will say to those at his right hand, Come, O blessed of my
Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was
hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and
you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was
in prison and you came to me. Then the righteous will answer him, Lord, when did we
see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? And the king will answer
them, Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of my brethren, you did it to
me.
Stage 1 Formation


In this verse, God gave us a radical way of understanding the presence of the poor in our
midst. Jesus did not only take the side of the poor but He puts Himself in their place.
Jesus takes the issue of poverty personally and He also calls us to do the same.

Having the same heart and spirit, let our hearts be cheerful in giving. Let us allow
ourselves to be channels of blessing to others especially the needy. Let every single
man and woman all over the world experience Christ. Let us be a part of this great
revolution of LOVE.

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