Adult Faith Formation

The Church's catechetical mission aims to help the faithful of all ages to grow in both human and
Christian maturity, enriching the whole of life with the leaven of the Gospel. Consequently,
appropriate goals and content will embrace all the faith dimensions of an adult life—for example,
understanding and communicating the faith, skills needed for personal growth, the experience of
family life, relationships, public service, and concern for the common good.

Our adult faith formation ministry must engage the particular needs and interests of the adults in
each local community. To be faithful and effective it will offer, over time, a comprehensive and
systematic presentation and exploration of the core elements of Catholic faith and practice—a
complete initiation into a Catholic way of life. It will do so in a way that is accessible to adults and
relates to their life experiences, helping them to form a Christian conscience and to live their lives in
the world as faithful disciples of Jesus.

This integration of actual life experience, diverse adult learning needs, the study of Scripture, and
the teaching of the Church's tradition will create a vibrant learning environment. It will also
challenge the creativity of those who establish the direction, plan the content, and provide programs
of adult faith formation. Meeting the challenge will be both demanding and rewarding. For
guidance, we offer the following goals, principles, content, and approaches.

Three major goals guide and direct efforts in adult faith formation:

1. Invite and Enable Ongoing Conversion to Jesus in Holiness of Life.

In response to God's call to holiness, our faith and life as adult disciples are grounded in developing a
personal relationship with Jesus, "the Holy One of God" (Jn 6:69, Mk 1:24). Accordingly, "'at the
heart of catechesis we find, in essence, a Person, the Person of Jesus of Nazareth. . . .' Catechesis
aims at putting 'people . . . in communion . . . with Jesus Christ.'"

As its first goal, faith formation helps adults "to acquire an attitude of conversion to the Lord." This
attitude fosters a baptismal spirituality for adults. It leads them to recognize and repent of sin in
their hearts and lives, to seek reconciliation through the sacraments, and to embrace the invitation
and challenge of an ever deepening faith in Jesus. It means putting on the mind of Christ, trusting in
the Father's love, obeying God's will, seeking holiness of life, and growing in love for others.
Deepening personal prayer is a significant means toward growth in holiness in daily life.

2. Promote and Support Active Membership in the Christian Community.

As adult believers, we learn and live our faith as active members of the Church. Our response to
God's call to community "cannot remain abstract and unincarnated," but rather, "reveals itself
concretely by a visible entry into a community of believers . . . a community which itself is a sign of
transformation, a sign of newness of life: it is the Church, the visible sacrament of salvation." People
find this community of faith in the parish and diocese, as well as in their families, small church
communities, personal relationships, faith-based associations, and in the communion of saints of all
times and places.
Accordingly, faith formation helps adults make "a conscious and firm decision to live the gift and
choice of faith through membership in the Christian community," accepting "co-responsibility for the
community's mission and internal life." Adults not only receive the ministries of the Christian
community, they also contribute to its life and mission through the generous stewardship of their
gifts.

3. Call and Prepare Adults to Act as Disciples in Mission to the World.

The Church and its adult faithful have a mission in and to the world: to share the message of Christ
to renew and to transform the social and temporal order. This dual calling to evangelization and
justice is integral to the identity of the lay faithful; all are called to it in baptism. Accordingly, faith
formation seeks to help each adult believer become "more willing and able to be a Christian disciple
in the world." As salt of the earth and light for the world (cf. Mt 5:13-16), adult disciples give witness
to God's love and caring will so that, in the power of the Spirit, they renew the face of the earth.

—excerpted from Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us: A Pastoral Plan for Adult Faith Formation in
the United States

For more information about Adult Faith Formation opportunities in your area, please contact your
(Arch)Diocese. Many dioceses and other Catholic organizations also offer classes in the areas of
theology, ministry, spirituality and religious education.

EXTRA! Ideas for Adults – Living by Faith: Women Who Trusted God – Session 2

May 28, 2019 By Brian Gass 5 Comments

Date: June 9, 2019

Deborah: Encouraging Faith

The Point: Use your influence for God’s kingdom and for His honor.

Get Into the Study

Share the following story as an alternate introduction to today’s session.

Bart was an up-and-coming high school football player when he broke both ankles. This injury forced
Bart to quit football and find an alternate elective credit. He begrudgingly joined the school choir.
When Mrs. Fletcher, the choir director, heard Bart sing a duet with a friend, she added him to the
show choir. Bart protested, but Mrs. Fletcher glared at him and said, “You can and you will. And
there will be no further discussion about it.” The following year, Bart was cast in the lead role of
Curly in the musical Oklahoma, despite the fact that he did not audition.

When Bart belted out the opening song of the musical, his grandmother whispered to his girlfriend,
“Mercy me! That can’t be his real voice!”

Bart said of Mrs. Fletcher: “It’s one thing to believe in yourself, but when others around you start to
join in and encourage you, it’s a totally different dynamic…I owe her a great debt for sticking to her
guns to force me to overcome my fear and step out of my comfort zone to sing a solo.”

Perhaps you’ve heard of one of Bart Millard’s songs, RIAA certified triple platinum“I Can Only
Imagine”, and the Dove award-winning group, MercyMe.

Follow up by asking Question #1.

Information for this post was gleaned from Chapter 4 of Bart Millard’s autobiography I Can Only
Imagine.

Toni Sanders provides technical support and training and is a graduate of Southwestern Baptist
Theological Seminary. She and her husband lead a senior adult Bible study group in Orlando, Florida.

Get Into the Study [Additional Option]

Use the following optional activity after you ask Question #1 (Adult Leader Guide, p. 29).

In advance, prepare to show a video clip from a movie or TV show that demonstrates the kind of
leadership that influences others.

Ask the group what made the leader’s words or actions so influential.

Live It Out

Use the following story as you wrap up today’s session.

Officials in Iceland have been forced to close off public access to the Fjadrárgljúfur canyon due to the
influence of Justin Bieber. The Environment Agency of Iceland estimates that over 1 million people
have visited the area since the release of Bieber’s video, “I’ll Show You” in 2015, putting the natural
landscape at risk. Bieber’s video, which has been viewed over 400 million times as of May 2019,
shows Bieber exploring the canyon. The area has now been closed off to protect the delicate
landscape. Nonetheless, Bieber fans continue to sneak past fences and attempt to bribe the rangers
for access to the canyon.

You may not have a Twitter account with over 100 million followers like Bieber does, but you still
have an area of influence. This week, be on the lookout for areas where you have influence, and
seek opportunities to use that influence for God’s kingdom and for His honor.
Nikki Wilbanks is a stay-at-home mom, writer, Bible study teacher, and commercial real estate
appraiser/investor. She is a graduate of Pepperdine University. She lives with her husband and two
children in Murfreesboro, TN.

Additional Questions

Icebreaker

Which brands or corporations do a great job of leveraging influencers?

When has someone else seen potential in you?

When have you discovered a new talent by stepping out of your comfort zone?

Judges 4:1-5

How can we know when God is calling us to a specific task?

How can our group help each other discover our callings?

How can you tell Deborah understood her calling from the Lord?

Judges 4:6-9

What are some specific ways that you could encourage others to take on more leader
responsibilities in your circles of influence?

What makes it so hard to let others lead sometimes?

When have you needed encouragement from someone to help you do the task assigned to you?

Judges 5:1-5

How can we honor God through the ways we lead others?

What are the benefits of pausing to celebrate spiritual victories?

When was the last time you praised God for something He has done?

Member Extra

Send the following link to your group members as either a teaser before the group meets or as a
follow-up thought:

With Just a Little Encouragement …

Video

Here’s a brief video giving you an overview of this session: Living by Faith, Session 2.

Magazine Article
This article complements the study. Share this link with your group members.

Mature Living – The Prayer Cup

Tips for Leading Bible Study Groups

Boosting Discussion in Your Bible Study Group

Groups Matter

Adult Faith Formation

Adult Faith Formation at Spirit of Life is open to anyone who is seeking to deepen their relationship
with God and explore the abundance of insights and knowledge offered by the Catholic Faith. It is
primarily focused on deepening understanding of the faith for those who are already Catholic, but
anyone is welcome.

Any adults who wish to enter the Catholic Church should go through the process known as RCIA —
the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.

There will never come a time when we know everything there is to know about God and the way
God acts in the world. There will never come a time when we have our lives all figured out and know
exactly how to act and what to choose in every situation. We are all on a life-long journey of faith.

Adult Faith Formation enriches the faith lives of those who participate by offering a variety of topics
of interest in a way that accommodates many different learning styles. Check the bulletin and the
Spirit of Life website for announcements of upcoming events.

“The reason birds can fly and we can't is simply because they have perfect faith, for to have faith is
to have wings.”

― J.M. Barrie, The Little White Bird

tags: birds, faith, flying, inspirational, profound, wings

“Faith is not the belief that God will do what you want. It is the belief that God will do what is
right.”

― Max Lucado, He Still Moves Stones: Everyone Needs a Miracle

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Bible Study Guides

Series 1 - The Bible and You: Practical Answers, Real Hope

Series 2 - Bible Answers for...

Series 3 - The Great Teachings of the Bible and What They Mean for You

Series 4 - God's Plan for You and the Entire World

Series 5 - What God Wants for You

Lesson 1: Is God Calling You?

Lesson 2: What Is Faith?

Lesson 3: Repentance—A Permanent Change of Direction

Lesson 4: Should You Be Baptized?

Lesson 5: How to Receive God's Holy Spirit

Lesson 6: Growing in God's Grace and Knowledge

Lesson 7: Eternal Life as God's Sons and Daughters!

Series 5 - What God Wants for You

Hi, friends! In Lesson 1 we looked at how to know if God is calling you to a relationship with Him and
what that means. Let's continue this "What God Wants for You" series by looking at another gift
from God that allows us to grow closer to Him—faith. What is faith? How do we get faith? How does
faith grow? And how does it help us in the conversion process, in transforming us to be more like
our Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ?

Our modern world is so corrosive to faith that Jesus Christ asked, "When the Son of Man comes, will
He really find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8). But He also reveals what we need to know to
counteract those enemies of faith and to grow to be faithful believers in spite of our trials. He is
there to give us the gift of faith and to help us to grow in living faith that will last forever!
Lesson 2: What Is Faith?

The Bible says that without faith we can't please God and that the goal of our faith is salvation. God
wants us to have living faith so we can grow in our relationship with Him. So what is faith, and how
do we receive it and grow in it?

Acts 8 tells the story of the Ethiopian eunuch, a high official under Queen Candace, who was
confused by what he was reading in the book of Isaiah. He believed the Bible and strove to follow
God's way, but he didn't yet understand about Jesus Christ. God sent Philip to explain more of God's
truth to him and to help him take the next steps in his relationship with God.

After reading the Messianic prophecy in Isaiah 53:7-8, the Ethiopian official asked Philip, "'I ask you,
of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?'

"Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.

"Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, 'See, here is
water. What hinders me from being baptized?'

"Then Philip said, 'If you believe with all your heart, you may.' And he answered and said, 'I believe
that Jesus Christ is the Son of God'" (Acts 8:34-37).

The Ethiopian eunuch demonstrated his belief—his faith—in our Savior Jesus Christ and was ready
for the next step in his growing relationship with God.

Share Your Story

What Is Faith?

Faith is an essential part of our relationship with God. It is a prerequisite to beginning the conversion
process, which is a necessary step on the road to salvation and eternal life.

Without faith we can't please God (Hebrews 11:6), essentially because if we don't believe in Him and
believe Him, we won't really be trying to please Him! In the New Testament, both faith and belief
are generally translations of the Greek word pistis. People who live by faith as followers of Jesus
Christ are called "believers" (Acts 5:14).

"The main sense of the word 'faith' in the NT is that of trust or reliance... [Pistis] bears the sense not
of faithfulness alone, but of the reliance and trust that is the basis of man's faithfulness, i.e., the
faithfulness that expresses confidence in the faithfulness of God" (International Standard Bible
Encyclopedia, Vol. 2, 1982, article, "Faith").

How does the Bible describe faith?

Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Faith goes beyond what we can perceive with our physical senses, so it does not work by the rules of
science. Faith allows us to believe that the invisible God can do what is physically impossible. In that
sense, faith is built and grows on a spiritual plane, not a physical or scientific one. But that doesn't
mean observation, science and rational thinking aren't part of how we come to believe in our
miraculous Creator God in the first place. In fact, there is no contradiction or conflict between godly
faith and true science. After all, since God is the Creator of everything, science is the study of God's
creation.

Is our belief in God based on a rational foundation?

Romans 1:20

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the
things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse...

1 Thessalonians 5:21

Test all things; hold fast what is good.

God's way is rational, and He wants us to test it out and prove that it works. But there is more to
faith than what we process in our rational brains. There is a spiritual and emotional component that
is a gift from God and grows as our relationship with God grows.

Who is the source of faith?

Ephesians 2:8

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not
of works, lest anyone should boast.

As we saw in the last lesson, our relationship with God starts with God. He calls us and opens our
minds to understanding and believing. That initial seed of faith is a gift of God and, as we will see in a
future lesson, faith is also a fruit that comes through using God's Holy Spirit.

What can we do if we don't have enough faith?

Mark 9:23-24

Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."

Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"

Matthew 7:7

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."

Mark gives this poignant example of a father recognizing his lack of faith and asking for God's help.
God is pleased when we recognize our own inadequacy and seek His strength and encouragement.

How do you grow in faith?

Romans 10:17
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Hearing and studying the Word of God can help us see God's faithfulness in the past and His solid
promises for the future.

Is believing in God enough?

James 2:19

You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!

Hebrews 11:6

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is,
and that He is a rewarded of those who diligently seek Him.

God wants us to believe in Him. (For help in strengthening your belief in our Creator God, see our
booklet Life's Ultimate Question: Does God Exist?) God also wants us to believe what He says. (For
more on this, see is the Bible True?) He wants us to diligently seek Him, which is done through
prayer, Bible study, and meditation and fasting. (See these helpful articles: "The Privilege and Power
of Prayer", "Learn, Live and Love the Bible", "Meditation: What's on Your Mind?", "Fasting: A
Spiritual Power Tool!")

What did Jesus Christ tell us to believe?

Mark 1:14-15

Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of
God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the
gospel."

Gospel means "good news," and the news about the return of Jesus Christ to set up God's utopian
Kingdom is the best news this troubled world can hear! When we believe the gospel, we will be
motivated to share this good news (Matthew 24:14; 28:19-20). (For more, see The Gospel of the
Kingdom.)

What did Jesus Christ tell us to do?

John 14:15

"If you love Me, keep My commandments."

When we believe what God says, we should do what God says. (For more, see The Ten
Commandments.)

What is dead faith?

Matthew 7:21

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the
will of My Father in heaven."
James 2:20

But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

Just calling Jesus our Master isn't enough, and just saying we have faith isn't enough. Our growing
belief in God will motivate us to strive to obey God—to do His will and obey His law.

What is living faith?

James 2:17-18

Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works,
and I will show you my faith by my works.

Real, living faith motivates our actions. There is no conflict between James and Paul, as some
believe. When Paul said faith was a gift of God (Ephesians 2:8), he continued by saying we were
"created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in
them" (Ephesians 2:10).

When we believe in God and believe God, what will we be motivated to do?

Matthew 3:8

Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance...

Romans 2:4

Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the
goodness of God leads you to repentance?

As we saw earlier in Mark 1:15, Jesus commanded us to repent and believe the gospel. God's
goodness leads us to this next step in turning our lives toward God. And as John the Baptist
mentioned, repentance also involves fruits, or changes in our lives. We will cover repentance in
more detail in the next lesson.

Apply Now

"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17). One good way to
grow in faith is to study the examples of faith recorded in the Bible. The chapter "Examples of Living
Faith" from our booklet You Can Have Living Faith leads you through a number of inspiring biblical
examples that can strengthen your faith. Please read that chapter and read the related Bible
passages.

Especially focus on God's promises of love, protection and faithfulness in Psalm 33:4; 37:28; 97:10;
Proverbs 2:8; and 2 Thessalonians 3:3. Other favorite faith-strengthening scriptures include Romans
8:28; Philippians 4:7, 13; and Hebrews 13:5-6. Write out at least one of these scriptures and put it in
your wallet or somewhere else to keep it with you and reread occasionally
Next Lesson: Repentance—A Permanent Change of Direction

Questions about this lesson? Feedback about this lesson?