Objective:
The goal of this session is to empower the middle school youth to live out their faith beginning in prayer and community.
Overview:
In his letter to the Romans, St. Paul tells us:
Do not conform yourself to this age, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect (12:2).
When we make the commitment to living the life of a Christian, our lives have to change. Our character, our actions, our words and our thoughts have to be different from those of the world. We evangelize by letting people know that there is another way, and that is the way of Christ. The Good News is more than a simple message that tells us to do good and avoid sin; it is a powerful message that challenges us to something greater, something radically different. Jesus paved the way in teaching us how to live radical lives. The things he said and did were radically different than what anyone was expecting or than what anyone had ever heard before. Paul followed in Jesus’ footsteps and after his life changing conversion, set out on a journey of evangelization that changed the world. Paul challenges us, “Be imitators of Christ as I am an imitator of Christ,” (1 Corinthians 11:1). We too must find a way to be radical in the way we live out our faith. In the book of Revelations we are warned about being indifferent about our faith:
[…] The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the source of God’s creation, says this: “I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth” (3:14-16).