The Covenant Orientation Weekend Manual - 2019 Edition

CFC SINGLES FOR CHRIST
COVENANT ORIENTATION
WEEKEND MANUAL
2019 EDITION
CFC SINGLES FOR CHRIST COVENANT ORIENTATION WEEKEND MANUAL
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.
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
PASTORAL FORMATION MANUAL 2019 EDITION Page | 2

session shows it is possible to live out our Christian values and still be excellent workers and
leaders in our chosen fields.
Session 6: 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 session’s 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
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
06:00 Arrival and Registration
07:00 Dinner and Recreation
08:00 Worship
08:30 Orientation
09:00 Session 1: Our Covenant and the Mission and Vision of SFC
09:45 Personal Reflection
10:15 Lights Out!
Day 2: Saturday
06:00 A.M. Wash-up and Personal Prayer Time
07:00 Breakfast
08:00 Teaching of Songs
08:30 Worship
09:00 Session 2: Prayer, Scripture, and Sacraments
09:45 Personal Reflection
10:15 Break
10:45 Session 3: Strengthening Family Life
11:30 Group Activity: Family Dynamics
12:00 Lunch and Rest
01:30 Teaching of Songs / Afternoon Prayer
02:00 Session 4: Our Christian Culture in Singles for Christ
02:45 Group Activity: Cultural Fashion Show
03:30 Break
04:00 Session 5: Being a Christian in the Workplace
04:45 Activity: Small Group Sharing
05:15 Preparation for Lord’s Day
Lord’s Day
Dinner
07:45 Fellowship
09:30 Light’s Out
Day 3: Sunday Morning

06:00 A.M. Wash-up and Personal Prayer Time
07:00 Breakfast

07:30 Preparation for Holy Eucharist

08:00 Holy Eucharist
09:00 Gathering/Teaching of Songs
09:15 Worship
09:30 Session 6: Loving and Serving the Poor
10:15 Praisefest
10:45 Sharing
11:15 Lunch, Pack-up and Go!
For any inquiries and feedback, please email us at sfcpfo@sfcglobal.org

SESSION 1: OUR COVENANT AND THE VISION & MISSION OF SFC

Objectives:
1. Develop an understanding of what the SFC covenant is, why it is important and how this
applies to their personal life
2. Strengthen the SFC members’ desire to deepen their relationship with God through the
3. Singles For Christ Covenant
4. Lead the members to have a sense of ownership of the SFC Vision and Mission and desire
to make it a reality
Speaker’s 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
Expanded 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 God’s 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
What is a covenant?
A. A covenant is a solemn agreement between parties through which they commit
themselves to certain relationships, tasks, obligations or ways of living.
B. 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.

C. The covenant was a lifetime or long-term agreement.
The Old Covenant and the New Covenant

A. 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 God’s
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.
B. 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 God’s love by observing His laws.
1. More and more rules were added; rules became more and more strict.
2. 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 God’s invitation of love.
C. 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.
Our Covenant Commitment in SFC
A. 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.
B. 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 God’s love and forgiveness. Rather, as God intended in His
covenant with His people, they are our way of responding to God’s love for us by striving
to grow in our relationship with Him and with one another, and make Him known by all.
C. Elements of this commitment

1. 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
2. We are to live our lives in loving service to God and to one another.
D. Our covenant includes specific commitments to help us grow in our relationship with God,
made explicit in the SFC Covenant card.
1. Deepening our relationship with God is our first priority as an SFC.

2. From this will naturally follow:

i. The deepening of our relationship with others
ii. Our desire to make ourselves available for the Lord’s service
E. Our covenant is an ideal.

1. Not necessarily already in place. This is precisely why we need mutual ongoing
support.
2. What is important is that we understand the covenant, agree with it, and try to live it
out.
Why is Our Covenant Important to us as Members of SFC and as Christians in general?

A. After completing the CLP and becoming members of SFC we need a constant reminder of
the new life the Lord is giving to us.
B. Covenant allows us to live a common life as a community.
C. 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.
D. 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.
i. Have I scheduled a daily prayer and scripture reading time?
ii. Do I pray regularly as scheduled?
iii. Do I read scriptures regularly as scheduled?
iv. 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 God’s glory.
i. How have I begun to witness in my family and my workplace?
ii. Do I contribute to the unity in our family?
iii. Do I do my best in my work?
iv. 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.
i. 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.
ii. Am I punctual in all meetings?
iii. Do I intercede for my brothers and sisters in the community?
iv. 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.
i. Have I invited anyone or told anyone about SFC?
ii. Have I been asked to serve, even through simple tasks, in any SFC activity?
Do I accept these assignments with a joyful heart?
iii. Am I open to supporting the work of CFC-SFC with my finances? (More on this in
the succeeding talks.)
iv. 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.
i. 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?
ii. Do I practice what I learn in all the teachings, retreats, and conferences?
iii. Do I seek to be formed? Am I willing to be formed in this ministry?
iv. Do I seek to be holy? Do I desire to be holy?
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 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 16th 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)
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
God’s Kingdom. If this is the spirit, we can sincerely picture being united
under Christ.
2. SINGLE
 Our ministry’s 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.
 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.
 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

 We uphold God’s unique design for Man and Woman.
 We respect, honor, and uphold God’s 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.
 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
4. ALL OVER THE WORLD

 We are a missionary and evangelistic community as a response to the Great
Commission.
 We are guided by the Great Commission (Mt. 28: 19-20)
 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
 We are part of an active and ongoing experience of Christ that leads to
transformation, service, and the pursuit of holiness.
 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.
 Experiencing God’s love through Jesus Christ leads us to transformation,
i. Our lives are a happy response to God’s 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.
 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?
1. 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.
2. 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 Lord’s 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.
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 Lord’s 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

SESSION 2: PRAYER, SCRIPTURE, AND SACRAMENTS

Objectives
1. Develop a greater understanding on the importance and power of prayer, scriptures, and
sacraments in one’s faith journey.
2. Move SFCs to commit to strengthen their relationship with God through faithfulness in
prayer, scripture reading, and receiving the sacraments.
Speaker’s 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.
Expanded 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.

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 heart’s 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 God’s 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 God’s will for us.

a. Regular prayer helps us become more attuned to God’s 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 day’s 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 Lord’s 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. It’s not what
we can do for God; it’s 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.
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 God’s 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 God’s eyes.
2. It helps us to understand God’s heart and mind; therefore we become more attuned
to God’s purpose and His plans.
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 God’s 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 God’s 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 Christ’s 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.” (John 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 God’s 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 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
6:53–58)

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 God’s direction for our lives.
C. When we pray and read the Bible, we tap into God’s mind and heart, which gives us
knowledge. This knowledge helps us overcome life’s 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?

SESSION 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
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 Church’s
view of the family.
Expanded Outline
I. INTRODUCTION: THE CATHOLIC CHURCH’S VIEW OF THE FAMILY
To gain a greater appreciation of the importance of family, we need to be made aware of the
Church’s view of the family’s 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 God’s 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
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 family’s 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 God’s 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. God’s 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.
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 God’s 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 behavior. 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 environment.
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 family’s 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 God’s 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 living witnesses of our own faith by encouraging and
supporting the family member along the path towards the acceptance of Jesus as our
Savior. “The Church of the Home is called to be a luminous sign of Christ’s 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. It’s 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
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 you’ve 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, it’s 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.
Being more aware of the role of families in today’s 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.
Let’s take it one step at a time – with God, this vision is possible! For our part, let’s 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.

SESSION 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.
Speaker’s 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.
Expanded 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 God’s 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.

b. Ours is a way of life inspired by Christ’s 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"

It 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

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

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 leader’s
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. God’s 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 praise and affection.
 Correct with meekness.
 Communicate faith and joy.
 Show courtesy.

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.

a. Ephesians 6:18. Colossians 4:2.
2. Scripture -We are to receive wisdom, guidance and life from God's Word.
a. 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
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 people’s 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.

SESSION 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 Christian’s 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.
An inspiring SFC leader who is also a successful leader at work; showing excellence in the
different aspects of his/her life.
Expanded 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 God’s 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.
1. 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.

2. 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 that’s important at
work is getting the job done.
3. People at work don’t care if you’re a Christian. They care if you’re competent.
So why even bother being one?
Example:
 An SFC who is a wonderful brother/sister in the community but a ruthless boss or
co-worker in the office.
 An active SFC member / leader who is mediocre at work and always late justifying
that “I’m good where it counts (i.e. the community)”
B. “I was successful before God got here: Past success formulas didn’t 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.
1. 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).
2. 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:
 An SFC member who still uses bribes or cheating to gain favor for his business
believing that “it’s an industry norm to do these things”.
 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.
1. 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
2. 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 Christ’s.

Examples:
 An SFC member who uses office supplies for SFC materials without permission
from management.
 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.
B. We practice having double standards.

1. 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.
2. The practice of subscribing to double standards is dangerous because it can erode
one’s faith in God’s ability to provide for his faithful children
C. We do not give our best to our work.

1. 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 we’ve been blessed with and fail
to bless others with them. We shortchange God.
2. 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.

We deny ourselves the chance to experience the real meaning of “God is enough”—to
allow God to be truly a Father and the greatest provider to us.
1. We do not surrender some areas of our life to His kingship and command.
2. 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.
1. We do not experience the fullness of life and we do not get to see the extent of God’s
transforming power in our life.
2. Others who need you to be God’s 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.
VI. CONCLUSION: THE CHRISTIAN RESPONSE
A. Entrust your whole life to God and live one life for Christ.
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
“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
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
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 hasn’t called me to be successful. He’s 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
God’s 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
ACTIVITY: Small Group Sharing
Share in small groups of 4 your answers to the following questions. Suggest solutions for each
other’s difficulties and challenges.
1. What specific aspects of my work life are least Christian or most conflicting with
being Christian? What can I do to reverse this?
2. Share two things you will commit to do when you return to work to help bring Christ to
people in your workplace.
3. Pray over each other at the end of the sharing. Ask for God’s 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.)

SESSION 6: LOVING AND SERVING THE POOR

Objectives:
1. Help the participants see God’s 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
An SFC leader who has been actively serving in the ministry’s work with the poor; one who can
inspire the participants to share their time, talent, and treasure with the less fortunate.
Expanded Outline
I. INTRODUCTION: THE BIBLE ON THE POOR
The bible contains more than 800 verses on the poor, social justice and God’s deep concern
for both. From the history of God’s people to the Beatitudes of Jesus, the Bible clearly states
God’s 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.
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
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 God’s thoughts. The world sees the poor differently
and these attitudes are a world away from God’s 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 God’s 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:

A. The reluctant giver – giving but not wholeheartedly, with a frown rather than a smile on
your face.
God says, be cheerful in our giving:

“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 Cor. 9:17)
B. The chooser – chooses whom to give or to be generous to.
God says, share with anyone in need.

And all that believed were together, and had all things common (Acts 2:44)

“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.” (Is 58:7)
C. 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.
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. 3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand
know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be in secret. Then your
Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matt 6:2-4)
D. 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.

“I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should
love one another.” (Jn 13:34)
III. LOVING THE POOR: OUR RESPONSE TO GOD’S 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. God’s 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.
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.
(Deut 15:7)
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. (Deut 26:12)
“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;” (Is 58:10)

John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the
one who has food should do the same." (Luke 3:11)
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 community’s 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.
“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 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.” (Mt 25:34-36)
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.
“A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.”
(Prov 22:9)
“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.”
(Deut 15:10)

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. 13But when you give a banquet, invite the poor,
the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14and you will be blessed. Although they cannot
repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous. (Luke 14:12-14)
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.
A. 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.
B. Commit to give a portion of your allowance/salary to the various programs especially the
ANCOP Child Sponsorship Program.
C. Give Time for tutoring or values/spiritual enrichment in the different ANCOP areas.
D. Live Simply.
1. Give away things you don’t need.
2. Minimize expensive purchases/pleasures that are not really necessary.
3. What you might normally spend on luxuries (Starbucks coffee, branded clothing, etc.),
save for the poor.
E. 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.
F. 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.
G. Elevate the lives of the needy by giving them opportunities for work and thus bless his
family as well.
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. (Ephesians 4:28)

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
“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.’” (Mt 25:34)
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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CFC SINGLES FOR CHRIST

ABOUT THE WEEKEND

This weekend has the following goals:

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Day 1: Friday Evening

Day 3: Sunday Morning

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07:30 Preparation for Holy Eucharist

For any inquiries and feedback, please email us at sfcpfo@sfcglobal.org

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SESSION 1: OUR COVENANT AND THE VISION & MISSION OF SFC

A. As members of SFC we enter into a covenant.

II. THE COVENANT AND THE SFC

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C. The covenant was a lifetime or long-term agreement.

The Old Covenant and the New Covenant

Our Covenant Commitment in SFC

C. Elements of this commitment

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2. From this will naturally follow:

E. Our covenant is an ideal.

Why is Our Covenant Important to us as Members of SFC and as Christians in general?

III. EMBRACING OUR COVENANT

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IV. THE SFC VISION AND MISSION

A. The SFC Vision

i. It is for believers and non-believers

i. We have to believe that Christ can transform anyone and everyone

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 Single: the Life Stage

3. MAN and WOMAN

4. ALL OVER THE WORLD

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B. The SFC Mission

1. BUILDING THE CHURCH

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2. BUILDING THE CHURCH OF THE HOME

3. BUILDING THE CHURCH OF THE POOR

What is the Lord telling us?

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THE COVENANT OF THE CFC SINGLES FOR CHRIST

Trusting in the Lord’s help and guidance:

I. I shall live as a follower of Christ.

IV. I will make myself available to the Lord for service.

V. I will study and seek to grow as a Christian person.

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SESSION 2: PRAYER, SCRIPTURE, AND SACRAMENTS

A. Why should we have a personal prayer time?

1. To develop an intimate relationship with God

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c. God desires us to pray, most especially in our feelings of unworthiness,

3. To strengthen ourselves in fighting temptation

4. To help us become more attuned to God’s will for us.

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B. What should we do to improve our prayer life?

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

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

5. Dealing with obstacles to prayer

b. Too much concern about your prayer quality.

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i. Spiritual dryness in prayer and Christian life happens.