The Evangelical Catholic Ministry - Amazed and Afraid: Discover the Power of Jesus

AMAZED AND AFRAID

Discover the Power of Jesus

A Catholic Guide for Small Groups

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Copyright 2017 by The Evangelical Catholic

All rights reserved.

Published by The Word Among Us Press

7115 Guilford Drive, Suite 100

Frederick, Maryland 21704

www.wau.org

21 20 19 18 17 1 2 3 4 5

ISBN: 978-1-59325-314-1

eISBN: 978-1-59325-496-4

Scripture texts are taken from the Catholic Edition of the Revised Standard Version Bible, 1965, 1966 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

Excerpts from the English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church for use in the United States of America 1994, United States Catholic Conference, Inc.Libreria Editrice Vaticana.

Cover design by David Crosson

Image on page 74, The Storm on the Sea of Galilee, 1633 (oil on canvas), Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn (160669) / Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston, MA, USA / Bridgeman Images.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the author and publisher.

Made and printed in the United States of America

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017941832

Contents

Introduction

People had strong reactions to Jesus of Nazareth as he traveled around Roman-occupied Israel preaching good news: The kingdom of God is really close! They either loved him or hated him so much that they wanted him dead.

What he did angered and frustrated people, even his friends. In every short account in this book, someone feels offended by the itinerant preacher from Galilee.

Lawyers were indignant: Who do you think you are?

Religious people were scandalized: Why is your rabbi doing what is not allowed!

His followers were beside themselves because he slept when they wanted him to rescue them: Dont you care?!

His friend resented him because she wanted him to be all about tasks, like she was, when he was about something else entirely: Tell her to help me!

Fishermen felt discounted because he asked them to push out to sea again when they knew the fish werent biting: Okay, weve already been out all night, but whatever.

His friends were frustrated and baffled when crisis was bearing down on them, and he said: Dont be troubled. But we dont know where youre going, they said. How can we know the way?

Everywhere you look in the New Testament, someone is asking, Who is this guy, and why is he doing that? A colorful group of characters followed him to find out: Roman collaborators who extorted money from other Jews to fatten their own wallets; fishermen who left behind their nets to become fishers of men; and women of all kindmarried, and single women and even prostitutes. The answer they found so engaged them that they left everything behind to follow him.

For the last two millennia, a lot of people have asked the question Who is this guy? Many now prefer to ignore the carpenter from Nazareth who changed the world, but that doesnt make him any less commanding, his ways any less confrontational, his life any less compelling, or his invitation any less insistent than it has always been.

I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him [or her], and he [or she] with me.

Jesus, Revelation 3:20

Dont accept anyone elses ideas about who Jesus is. The stories and questions in this book will help you get to know Jesus yourself, either on your own or with a small discussion group. Youll see what he did, hear what he said, and meet the riveting characters who chose to follow him. Whether youre someone who has never met Jesus before in any meaningful way or someone who attends church regularly, reading and discussing these stories of Jesus and his followers will help you make your own decision about who he is and what that means for you.

Jesus may frustrate you too by what he says and does or by not doing what you want. Or he may engage your heart as he did the tax collectors, prostitutes, and fishermen. No matter what happens, however, you will come to understand why he has perturbed or engaged so many for so long.

Take the risk. Read the stories, ponder the questions with a small group or on your own, and try the spiritual exercises that accompany each story. Open the door, see who is there, and dine with him. You may find a feast beyond words.

The Evangelical Catholic

How to Use This Small Group Guide

Welcome to Amazed and Afraid, a small group guide to help people get to know Jesus of Nazareth, and help those who already know Jesus to encounter him more deeply.

Weekly Sessions

The weekly session material includes opening and closing prayer suggestions; the Scripture passages to be discussed that week; questions to prompt discussion, ideas or action; and suggestions to help you continue encountering Jesus through the week.

Unlike some small group Scripture discussion guides that progress consecutively through a book of the Bible, each session in this guide is self-contained. That way, if you or a friend attends a small group for the first time on Week 3, there wont be a need to catch up. Anyone can just dive right in with the rest of the group. Instead of building sequentially, the sessions deepen thematically, helping you engage more with Jesus little by little.

The more you take notes, jot down ideas or questions, underline verses in your Bible (if you bring one to your small group, which we recommend!), and refer back to the previous sessions, the more God has the opportunity to speak to you through the discussion and the ideas he places in your heart. As with anything, the more you put in, the more you get back.

The best way to take advantage of each weeks discussion is to carry the theme into your life by following the suggestions in the Encountering Christ This Week sections. Your small group facilitator will talk about the recommendations during each session. You will have a chance to ask questions and share experiences from previous weeks.

If youre not in a small group, Amazed and Afraid can help you come to know Jesus on your own. Consider the questions asked of each Scripture passage and follow up with the suggestions in Encountering Christ This Week.

Appendices

Helpful appendices for both participants and facilitators supplement the weekly materials. Appendices A through C are for participants, and Appendices D through F are for group facilitators.

Prior to your first group meeting, please read Appendix A, Small Group Discussion Guide. These guidelines will help every person in the group set a respectful tone that creates the space for encountering Christ together. This small group will differ from other discussion groups you may have experienced. Is it a lecture? No. A book club? No. Appendix A will help you understand what this small group is and how you can help seek a Spirit-led discussion. Every member is responsible for the quality of the group dynamics. This appendix will help you fulfill your role of being a supportive and involved group member.