The next day John was there again with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon. Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus. He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed). Then he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).
4 – 12 mins
Privately consider the following questions:
Reflect on the people in your life and experiences you’ve had that have built bridges of trust to Christianity, Jesus, and the Church. Who or what are they?
Have you had an experience that has hindered your trust in Jesus or the Church? Reflect on what happened.
What or who helped you to rebuild trust?
Pair up with someone, go for a walk or find a private place to talk, and discuss the following questions:
What stood out to you from the video or from your personal verification time?
Where are you seeing God at work in your life? What are you thankful for?
Where are you struggling right now? What do you need prayer for?
Pray out loud for your partner. You can pray a prayer you know or pray from your heart.
What images in the video connect with building bridges of trust?
What about Andy’s testimony was striking to you? Who or what played a role in Andy’s progression through these early thresholds of discipleship?
What does Andy say was a struggle for him in his journey? How can we learn from this to avoid making similar mistakes in our work with others?
What motivates you to share the Gospel with others?
How does the Gospel story we prayed with earlier relate to building bridges of trust and the early thresholds of discipleship?
Are there any conclusions you have come to regarding ministry in your setting?
Is there anything you feel called to put into practice, either in your personal life or as a parish staff/team?
If so, what and how will you implement it? Who will hold you accountable?
Mary, Mother of the Church and our Mother, present our prayer of thanksgiving to your Son. Beg from Him the graces we need to be faithful disciples who follow Him with enthusiasm and joy. May our witness to the love of God bear fruit in our archdiocese, parishes, homes and hearts. Teach us to be God’s joyful witnesses, to radiate Christ in all we do, so that all people might know, love and follow your Son through this life and into the next. Amen.
Learn more about the thresholds of Pre-Trust, Trust, and Curiosity by reading pages 12-15 in the PED Info Packet. Take notes or mark any questions you have and bring these to the next session.
