Small Groups

February 25 thru March 2

The Way of the Chosen

Week 2

Go As Jesus Sends You

 

OPENING PRAYER

Loving God, we want to be those who stand on the side of truth.  We want everything about our lives to sing out praise to You and to bring worship that You so rightfully deserve.  Lord, would You open up doors for us to share Your Word?  Give us the boldness today to speak forth the mystery of Christ. We pray that when You do, You will make it clear exactly what we should say and how we should say it.  Help us today to seize every opportunity You give.  Use us Lord in ways we have never been used before.  Amen

“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.  And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’”  Matthew 28:18-20

“Sometimes we forget the disciples were real people. His followers seem flat and distant, disconnected from our twenty-first-century reality.  Their lives were simpler, we tell ourselves.  But that didn’t make their plans any easier to abandon.  The followers of Jesus had families. They had ambition, hope, and plans for the future.  But Heaven had come to earth and Jesus’ followers knew it.  How could they refuse to go when and where and how He sent them?  How could we?  As it turns out, the disciples saw people healed, body and soul.  And just like them, when we offer ourselves to Jesus, He faithfully works through us to accomplish what we could never accomplish in our own power or wildest dreams.  But it starts with being sent. 
 
(Chosen Study Guide Pg 34-38)
 
 
 

WATCH THE VIDEO

Chosen Season 3

Episode 2
Two By Two
 
Click the following link to watch on The Chosen website.
 
 
 
 

 

THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY ORDERS

“So, I now say to you: You are Peter, and on this Rock, I will build My Church.  And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it.  I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven:  whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven, whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.”  Matthew 16:18-19

“Be the shepherds of the flock of God that is entrusted to you…Be an example that the whole flock can follow.  When the chief shepherd appears, you will be given the crown of unfading glory.

TO THE FAITHFUL:  To the rest of you I say:  do what the elders tell you, and all wrap yourselves in humility to be servants of each other…”  1 Peter 5:2-5

Catechism of the Catholic Church – “This sacrament configures the recipient to Christ by a special grace of the Holy Spirit, so that he may serve as Christ’s instrument for His Church.  By ordination one is enabled to act as a representative of Christ, Head of the Church, in his triple office of Priest, Prophet, and King.”  CCC 1581

“The whole Church is a priestly people.  Through Baptism all the faithful share in the priesthood of Christ.  This participation is called the “common priesthood of the faithful…”   CCC 1591

 “Jesus came up and spoke to them…’Go, therefore, make disciples of all the nations; baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all the commands I gave you…’”  Matthew 28:18-20

Pope Francis reflects: “Dear Brothers and Sisters; Jesus entrusted His Apostles with the care of His flock and in every age the ordained make present in the Christian community the one Shepherd who is Christ.  Following the Lord’s own example, they lead the community as its servants.  Today, let us pray for all the Church’s ministers, …and ask the Lord always to grant His Church holy, generous and merciful pastors after His own heart.”   General Audience 3/27/2014

 
Before leaving this earth Jesus gave us His beautiful gift of Holy Orders – Leaders chosen and anointed by God, through His apostles and those ordained to follow them.
 
 

Almighty Father, You have created for us some definite purpose. 

Grant us the Grace to know the path You have planned for us in this life

and to respond with a generous “Yes.”

 

Make our Parish, Homes and Hearts fruitful ground for Your gift of vocations.

 May our young people respond to Your call with courage and zeal. 

Stir among our people a desire and the strength to be good and holy priests. 

 

Bless us with consecrated religious

and those called to a chaste single life, and permanent deacons.

 

Bless faithful husbands and wives, who are a sign of Christ’s love for His Church. 

 

We commend our prayers to You, Father,

through the intercession of Mary, our Mother,

in the Holy Spirit, through Christ, our Lord. 

 

Amen

 
 
GO AS JESUS SENDS YOU
 
 

 

THOUGHTS TO SHARE WITH OUR GROUP

 

  1. What, or Who, impacted you most in this video today, and why? And what new insight did you receive from the Sermon this Sunday?
 
 
  1. “Jesus took Peter; James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves.” Mark 9:2Question – What are your feelings about this Sacrament – surprise, amazement?  What do you wonder about?
 
 
  1. “I know the plans I have in mind for you – it is Yahweh who speaks – plans for peace, not disaster, reserving a future full of hope for you.” Jeremiah 29:11
    Question – When it comes to your plans, are you hoping God blesses what you want to do?  Or has what you want to do been authored by God?  Question – Page 37 How can you tell the difference?
 
 
  1. “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood…God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9
    Question – Page 40  What new thing are you sensing God wants to do in and through you today?  Are there any people or places you think God may be sending you to with the gospel message?
 
 
 

AT HOME

PRAYER FOCUS:  Praise God for including you in His kingdom plans.  Thank Him for promising to provide the food, money, power, and words you’re going to need to do the work.  Ask Him to grow your faith so that when, where, and how He sends you, you’ll willingly go.