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THE CHRISTIAN LIFE PROGRAM v 2.0

MODULE 2: AN AUTHENTIC AND SPIRIT-FILLED CHRISTIAN LIFE

OVERVIEW OF THE SESSION

ANCHOR VERSE: (Galatians 5:25 NAB)

GOAL: To teach the basic tools needed for our growth and maturity as Christians

CORE MESSAGE:

The Christian life can be pictured as a wheel that has three components: the outer rim, the hub,
and the spokes. The outer rim represents the daily Christian life; the hub, our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the spokes, the tools through which the Holy Spirit is transmitted from the hub (Jesus
Christ) to the outer rim (our daily life). There are five spokes which corresponds to the five tools
that we can make use of to grow in the Holy Spirit: prayer and study, service and fellowship,
and the Sacraments. Our prayer must be faithful, led by the Holy Spirit, and centered on Jesus.
We study to know more about God by reading the Scriptures and Christian publications, and
attending teachings. We serve by making ourselves and our resources time, talent, and
treasure avail
are brothers and sisters belonging to one family and doing things together. The sacraments,
particularly the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the Sacrament of Holy Communion, are the
most important means to grow in the Spirit. If we are faithful in using these tools, we will grow
in the Holy Spirit and be more blessed in our family life.

TENOR: Enlightening

DYNAMICS:
1. Introduction segment by the speaker (Part 1)
2. Speaker facilitates the activity: The Hub of our Life
3. Sharer
4. Play CFC Primer video.
5. Continue with the remaining talking points. (Part 2)
6. Reflection and silent prayer
7. Discussion group
Note: These dynamics are applicable to both online or physical set-up.

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A CFC brother or sister who continuously grow in the faith recognizing that it is brought about
by the fuller release of the Holy Spirit in his/her life and with the assistance of the tools for
Christian growth.

A CFC brother or sister who can testify on the value of these Christian tools necessary for
.

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THE EXPANDED TALK OUTLINE

FOR THE USE OF THE SPEAKER

INTRODUCTION
For the speaker: Ask the participants to recall the past session briefly and ask how they feel
now. Then proceed to the talk proper.

I. THE HUB OF OUR LIFE

Activity instructions are part of the session. Have a paper and pencil for each
participant.

1. Draw a circle about the size of your paper. What do you see? An empty space,
meaningless? Nothing, a curved line that meets? Does it elicit any feeling? Do you
sometimes feel that way? Empty, your life devoid of meaning? Disconnected?

2. Now at the very center of the circle, draw a small circle. In that circle write the word
CHRIST. Now close your eyes and imagine that the circle is your life. Previously empty,
but now because of the CLP, Christ has been introduced as the center of your life.
Picture Him at the center of that circle that is your life. How do you feel? What emotions
and what images come to your mind?

3. Now draw a bigger circle nearer the biggest circle. This is like the rim of the circle.

4. Now draw 2 vertical spokes. One connects the small circle to the top of the rim, and
another one that connects the small circle to the bottom rim. On the lower spoke, write
The Word. On the upper spoke, write Prayer. These vertical spokes connect us to God.
The Word is the foundational spoke. The word of God keeps us from sin. Prayer spoke
allows the very life of God to flow into our lives just like a straw.

5. Now draw 2 horizontal spokes. To the right is Fellowship and to the left write
Witnessing. Fellowship is not socialization alone. It means allowing us to grow together
in our relationship in Christ as members of a faith community.

The first 3 spokes help us to grow in our relationship with God, allowing him to grow more into
our lives. The 4th spoke is witnessing. We are not meant to keep the goodness that the Lord
allowed us to experience, but we need to share it with others. When they see how we are

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growing and changing for the better, they will be interested to find out what happened and it
becomes an opportunity for us to introduce them to a life with Christ.

Draw one more spoke and write Sacraments. For Catholics, the sacraments are the main
channels of God's grace for our lives.

You have actually drawn something like a wheel. Try to imagine your own Christian life as a
wheel of a cart.

The outer rim. This is the part of the wheel that meets the road. This
represents daily Christian life.
The hub. This is the part of the wheel from which the power emanates to
the rim. It holds the wheel together. The hub is our Lord Jesus Christ, who is
at the center of our lives. The power is that of the Holy Spirit.
The spokes transmit the power and direction from the hub to the rim. In
Christian experience, the spokes are the means of putting our whole life in
contact with Christ, so that our life can be transformed by his power and
direction.
a. Do you like to read and study scriptures? Why or why not?
b. How do you pray? How often do you pray? What is the content of your
prayer?
c. Would you like to fellowship with the people you have met here? What
were your experiences during the CLP?
d. Would you like to share Christ with others?
e. Would you like your life to be directed by Christ and empowered by the
Holy Spirit?

This CLP, your commitment to Christ, the in-filling of the Holy Spirit through the pray-over--all
these are just the beginning of a new life. We are "babies in Christ" and we need to grow by
making use of the tools provided by God, and we need encouragement from a community of
like-minded believers.

II. COUPLES FOR CHRIST

The Vision of Couples for Christ (Read together.)

STATEMENT OF VISION

Moved by the Holy Spirit,

one with the Catholic Church,

blessed to

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Couples for Christ

is a united global community of family evangelizers

that sets the world on fire with the fullness of

Can you relate to the CFC Vision? Call 1 or 2 to answer.

The Mission of Couples for Christ (Read together.)

STATEMENT OF MISSION

We are Couples for Christ.

evangelizing people through a life of love and service;

we shall work for the renewal of families that will serve God

and build generations of Christian leaders; and

we shall pursue Total Christian Liberation through social justice,

What is your impression? Call 1 or 2 to answer.

The Philosophy of CFC (Read together.)

STATEMENT OF PHILOSOPHY

The following embodies the beliefs and ideals of the Couples for Christ (CFC) as a movement,
from which flow its Christian attitudes, values and behavior, as well as its programs, teachings
and approaches to Christian renewal within the context of family relationships.

WE BELIEVE in marriage as an indissoluble institution as taught by our Lord Jesus Christ. (Mt.
19:6) That God created marriage primarily for love between man and woman, and for the
procreation and proper rearing of children.

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WE BELIEVE that God created man and wife with equal personal worth and dignity. That God
ordained order in the family by giving the man the role as head of the family and the woman as
helpmate and support, which best expresses their complementarity.

WE BELIEVE in the inalienable and irreplaceable right and responsibility of parents to educate
their children. That children need to be educated in essential human and Christian values for
them to become responsible and mature members of society.

WE BELIEVE that the family in practicing the gospel message shares in the life and mission of
the Church Through prayers, evangelization and service to men. We uphold and defend the
rights of the family as proclaimed in the chapter on family rights. (Familiaris Consortio)

And lastly, WE BELIEVE that Christian family renewal can best be achieved by inviting Jesus to
be the Lord of our homes and by allowing the power of the Holy Spirit to lead our family lives
and through the full use of all charismatic gifts at our disposal.

Do you think this philosophy is relevant today?

Couples for Christ allows us to grow our life in the Holy Spirit by providing opportunities
for us to practice the tools needed to live our Christian Life by the power of the Holy Spirit, as
illustrated in the activity we just did.

a) The family as the basic unit of society is God's plan. However, there are many forces
in the world today that seek to destroy the family. CFC has been raised by God to
defend his work. Our task is to strengthen family life. This is our reason for being.

b) How do we accomplish our mission?

* By working for the renewal of individuals, families and the Church on a global
basis.
* By providing a strong support environment for our members.

III. HOW CAN WE SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER IN CFC?

1. By our committed relationships

a) We believe that we have a responsibility to encourage and support one another in

the Christian life. Thus, we make a commitment to grow together as Christian
couples.

b) We have a 5-point commitment that is embodied in a small white card which we

carry with us.

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Read together "The Covenant of Couples for Christ" and explain briefly.

The Covenant of Couples for Christ

1. I shall live as a follower of Christ.

2. I dedicate myself to the task of building a strong family for Christ.

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

4. I will relate in love and loyalty to other families in Couples for Christ.

5. I shall study and seek to grow as a Christian person in understanding and

fulfillment of my marriage vocation.

2. Through households All members of CFC belong to cell groups that we call
"households". At the end of this CLP, if you make your commitment to CFC, you will be
assigned to a household.
a) The purpose of a household group is to have a smaller and more intimate
environment for personal support in the Christian life, and to provide a means for
encouraging growth as a Christian.

* Here you can share life experiences as God's practical wisdom.

* You can be helped to overcome obstacles in the Christian life.

* You will develop real friendships and true brotherhood/sisterhood, without

which our Christian life would lack joyful expression.

b) There are basically three ingredients in a typical household meeting: an extended

period of prayer and worship, a time for sharing or discussion, and some time for
fellowship.

3. By our ongoing teaching and formation

a) There is a formal first-year teaching program.

* Covenant Orientation (3 months after the CLP)
* Marriage Enrichment Retreat (6 months after the CLP)
* Evangelization Training (at the end of the year)

b) Beyond the first year, there are many other courses (name some) and various
training modules for those who will undertake services in CFC.

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c) Various teachings will also be given through our newsletter Ugnayan, in prayer
assemblies, and during other occasions. We also have books on evangelization,
marriage, working with the poor, etc.

4. By the other regular activities of our community

a) Monthly prayer assemblies (in lieu of the household meeting)
b) Lord's Day celebrations, anniversaries, Family Days, Evangelization Rallies, Leaders
Conferences, ANCOP Global Walk, etc.
c) Social activities

CONCLUSION

We are living in exciting times. As we see the deterioration of Christian values and family life all
around us in all parts of the world, we are also seeing God's loving and protective hand trying to
restore the Christian family back to His original plan.

a) We need to see this spiritual drama with the eyes of faith.

b) We are called to be part of God's work and we should gladly respond to His divine
efforts of restoring families back to His kingdom.

c) We are inviting you to be a part of God's work by being a part of us in CFC.

GUIDE QUESTION:

What tools to Christian growth have not been fully utilized in your life?

ASSIGNMENT:

1. Read again and try to internalize the Vision, Mission and Philosophy of CFC.
2. Think and pray about "The Covenant of CFC".
a) Look on the covenant as an ideal, not yet fully in place, but as what God calls us to.
b) What is important for you to be able to make the covenant is that:
* You understand it.
* You accept it as helpful and even necessary for Christian family living.
* You will try to live it out.
c) We precisely need one another in CFC in order to support each other in living out
the covenant.
If you decide that CFC is for you, come back next week, ready to make the covenant.

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