Scripture & Tradition: The Boundaries of Discipleship (Building a Better Disciple Part Two)

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Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition – passed on through the biblical authors, the apostles, and their successors – form the deposit of our faith. As the basis for all of the Church’s teaching they also provide the boundary lines for discipleship by illuminating the path that followers of Christ must follow. This is the second in a five-part webinar series on Christian discipleship. Slides and other handouts can be found at http://bit.ly/BetterDisciple.

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Jonathan F. Sullivan

• Director of Catechetical Services, Diocese of Springfield in Illinois• Originally from Kansas City• Married, 6 (+1) children• www.JonathanFSullivan.com

Who are you?

A few reminders…

• This series will not just be “information delivery”• More personal, reflective• Opportunities to respond – so

please participate!

Overview

10/13: Jesus10/20: Scripture & Tradition10/27: Christian Community11/3: Liturgy & Prayer11/10: Vocation & Mission

Rembrandt, “The evangelist Matthew and the angel”

God

Special Revelation

GeneralRevelation

Sacred Scripture

Natural Law

Creation

Sacred Tradition

Apparitions

Prayer

Public Revelation

Private Revelation

Revelation implies…• Some things are

revealed• Some things are not

revealed

Kerygma• “preaching”• Shorthand for the

basic Christian message• E.g., John 3:16

• Focus of Christian revelation is Jesus Christ• Both Old and New

TestamentsCarl Heinrich Bloch, “The Sermon

on the Mount”

How would you restate the kerygma in 2-3 sentences?

Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition• Sources which help us

from falling into error• Tell us what we should

believe (orthodoxy)• Tell us how we are to

act (orthopraxy)• Lay out the “boundary

lines” of discipleship

Photo by George Groutas under a CC-BY license.

Rules: Oppression vs. Freedom

Sovereignty of Christ• Jesus as Lord• St. Paul and Christian

Freedom• Freedom from• Freedom for

Modern Culture and “Rules”• Restrict personal

autonomy• Exercise of

oppressive power

Aids in Discerning the Boundary Lines• Liturgical Rites• Lex orandi, lex

credendi

• Catechism of the Catholic Church• Local catechisms

(USCCA, YouCat)• Natural Law• Personal Experience

What aids or resources have you found helpful in learning about the Christian faith?

Called to Share

• Christianity is not a self-centered religion• Preaching implies the preacher and those

who hear the preaching• “How beautiful are the feet of those who

bring the good news!”• New Evangelization

Old Evangelization• Overseas missions• Raising money for

“pagan babies”• Enrolling in the Church

New Evangelization• Proposed by Paul VI,

enacted by St. John Paul II, Benedict XVI, Francis• New historical

situation• Relentless focus on the

person of Jesus Christ

Disciples

Seekers

Marginals

Inactives

Culture

Jesus

No participation in the faith; may or may not be actively hostile to religious faith

Occasionally participate in faith activities; irregular Mass attendees

Intentional and regular participation in their faith life

The (largely secular) institutions and communities in which lay people participate

Regular participants; may or may not be actively seeking to become disciples

The Kerygma Demands a Response

James Tissot, “The Exhortation to the Apostles”

Q&A

bit.ly/BetterDiscipleVideo and slides available tomorrow at

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