CHAPTER 7

Chapter 7
Friends and
Disciples of
Jesus
Becoming a Disciple
 Why are there false beliefs about the Church?

Let your religion be less of a theory and more of a love

affair. G.K. Chesterton

There are not one hundred

people in the United States The Church is not a museum for saints, but a hospital
for sinners. Abigail Van Buren
who hate the Catholic
Church, but there are
millions who hate what
they wrongly perceive the Becoming a Disciple
Catholic Church to be.
 Learning from Jesus
teaching by getting to
know Jesus well
A deep and loving
commitment to Jesus
answering his call
Responding to Jesus call
to share his message

BEING A DISCIPLE OF JESUS IN

THREE STEPS Becoming a Disciple
Wealth
Do not lay up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moth
and rust consume and where
thieves break in and steal, but lay
up for yourselves treasures in
heaven . . . do not be anxious
about your life, what you shall
eat or what you shall drink, nor There is great gain in godliness with contentment; for we
about your body, what you shall brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out
of the world . . . those who desire to be rich fall into temptation,
put on. Is not life more than food, into a snare, into many senseless and hurtful desires that plunge
men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root
and the body more than clothing? of all evils. . . (1 Tm 6:6-10)

(Mt 6:19-20; 25)

Becoming a Disciple
Precepts of the Church
Basic obligations all Catholics are called to follow to help
them become good and moral people. They include
attending Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation,
confessing their sins at least once a year, receiving Holy
Communion at a minimum during the Easter season,
observing days of fasting and abstinence, and providing
Becoming a Disciple
Commitment to Jesus is Associated with Friendship
 Friendships in the Bible
God and Moses Covenant between God and Moses. God spoke to Moses face to face
as a man speaks to his friend (Exodus 33:11).
David and Jonathan When [David] had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was
knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul (1
Samuel 18:1).
Elijah and Elisha As the LORDlives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you (2
Kings 2:2).
Job and friends (Eliphaz, Then they sat down upon the ground with him seven days and seven
Bildad, Zophar) nights, but none of them spoke a word to him; for they saw how
great was his suffering (Job 2:13).
Jesus and John, son of Jesus entrusted the care of his mother to John (John 19:27).
Zebedee
Jesus and Mary and Martha Jesus wept with the sisters over the death of their brother Lazarus
(John 11:35).
Jesus and Mary Magdalane Mary Magdalene traveled with Jesus and is identified fourteen times
in the Gospels.
Jesus and the Twelve No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what
Apostles his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have
heard from my FatherCommitment
I have madetoknown
Jesus istoAssociated
you (Johnwith Friendship
15:15).
No one has greater love than this, to
lay down ones life for ones friends.
You are my friends if you do what I
command you. I no longer call you
slaves, because a slave does not know
what his master is doing. I have called
you friends, because I have told you
everything I have heard from my Father.
It was not you who chose me, but I who
chose you and appointed you to go and
bear fruit (Jn 15:1316). Commitment to Jesus is Associated with Friendship
To be friends with Jesus
Believe in Jesus
Invite Jesus into your life.
Love God
Put the Son of God First
Love Others
Serve Others
Forgive Others
Witness to Jesus without
fear
Commitment to Jesus is Associated with Friendship
TRUE VINE Remain in me, as I
remain in you. Just as a
branch cannot bear fruit
on its own unless it
remains on the vine, so
neither can you unless
you remain in me. I am
the vine, you are the
branches. Whoever
remains in me and I in
him will bear much fruit,
because without me you
can do nothing (Jn 15:4
5).
Commitment to Jesus is Associated with Friendship
Evangelization
The bringing of the Good
News of Jesus Christ to
others through words and
actions

Committed Disciples Help to Spread the Gospel

Communion of Saints

The unity among

members of Christs
body, living and
deceased, made
possible by Baptism.
The Communion of
Saints is the Church
on earth, in heaven,
and in Purgatory.

Committed Disciples Help to Spread the Gospel

 Give Drink to the Thi

Clothe the Nak

Bury the De
Corporal

Feed the
Works of

Hungry
Mercy
In 1504 the
Master of Alkmaar

Shelter the Traveler

Ransom the Captive

Comfort the Sick
created this panel
depicting
the 1500slife
andin illustrating
Christians performing works of
mercy.
Christ is present in the midst of
each frame.

Committed Disciples Help to Spread the Gospel

 MEDITATION

Reflection on Scripture readings

Reflection on traditional prayers
PRAYER
Entering into a sacred space with the Lord

VOCAL PRAYER
Spontaneous prayer CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER
Songs Spending time in wordless silence while
Reciting traditional prayers remaining conscious of the Lords presence
Feeling the presence of the Lord
while making time to relax and listen
Jesus Taught His Disciples How to Pray