Couples for Christ Brunei

Christian
Couples LifeBrunei
for Christ Program (CLP)
Christian Life Program
Talk Number 10(CLP)
Talk Number 3

Growing in the Holy Spirit

The baptism in the Spirit is
only a beginning…
Basic Tools to grow in the Spirit:

Service
Prayer

Fellowship

Study
 The Seven (7) Sacraments:
Holy
Order

Reconciliation/
Holy Eucharist Confession

Anointing
Baptism Holy Matrimony of the sick
Confirmation
 The
Christian
life
can be
pictured as

Power
a wheel
of a cart.

1. The
Power Power outer
rim

2. The
Power

hub

3. The
spokes
The first tool: Prayer

a deep and loving

Prayer is the primary personal relationship
means for establishing between ourselves
and maintaining… and God.
A successful prayer life involves
three important principles:

1. Our prayer must

be faithful.
1. Decide to
spend time
with the Lord
everyday.

2. Decide on the
practical
details.

3. Decide on a
specific time
of the day,
which you can
then protect.
 Where?
Find a place
where you will
not be
disturbed.

Matthew 6:6
But when you
pray, go to your
inner room,
close the door,
and pray to your
Father in secret.
And your Father
who sees in
secret will repay
you.
How long?
Begin with 5 to 10 minutes, and
increase later….

Adopt a format to begin with.

ACTS. Adoration, Contrition,
Thanksgiving, Supplication.
Use daily prayer guides (e.g., God's Word Today,
Word Among US, RC net Meditations, etc.).
Our prayer
must be
led by the
Holy Spirit

Be open to
changing
your
format as
the Spirit
leads.
Our prayer must be centered
on a relationship with Jesus.

Concentrate
not on
prayer but
on the Lord.
In the Catholic tradition, the intercession
of Mary and the saints is a
powerful tool of Prayer.
The second tool: Study

圣
經

“We need to know God and

understand Him and His ways..”
Three ways we can learn more about God:

1. The Bible
• We should read the
Bible daily.

• Start with 10 to 15
minutes.

• Pursue a more
deliberate study of
portions of the Bible.
• We should make it a
goal to read the whole
Bible.
2. Spiritual reading
We can
draw on
spiritual
insights and
study
throughout
the life of
the Church.
3. Teachings and preaching.

Our teaching and formation program in CFC.

The word of God spoken in the Sunday homily, in
parish events, in conferences, etc.
The third tool: Service

Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, is at work in us, to equip

us for effective service for him and his people.
Matthew 20:26-28
But it shall not be
so among you.
Rather, whoever
wishes to be great
among you shall be
your servant;
whoever wishes to
be first among you
shall be your slave.
Just so, the Son of
Man did not come
to be served but to
serve and to give
his life as a
ransom for many.
As we put the Lord first in our lives, he
calls us to reach out also to others.
Ways we can serve:1. First we serve God
by the way we live.

Daily prayer and Pursuit of

Scripture reading. righteousness and
holiness.
2. We also serve by performing the basic
responsibilities God has given us in our daily lives.

As a parent

As a spouse As an employee
 3. Then we serve our fellow men by
recognizing the many built-in opportunities
for service in day today life.
4. We give witness to our faith in
Jesus by the way we live our lives.
5. Make ourselves and our
resources available for God's work.

Treasure

Time
Talent
Doing good works: James 2:14-17
What use is it, my
brothers, for a man to say
that he has faith, if he
does nothing? will such a
faith give him salvation?
If a brother or a sister is
without clothing and in
need of the day's food,
And one of you says to
them, Go in peace, be
warm and full of food; but
you do not give them the
things of which their
bodies have need, what
profit is there in this?
Even so faith without
works is dead.
 Support
through…

Financial giving sound

Christian ministries

Prayer That further the spread

of the gospel
Look for opportunities to give your….

Time Energy

..…to serve in a Christian group

The fourth tool: Fellowship

“We are brothers and sisters

belonging to one family.”
There is a
sharing of
Life…
We need the support of others…
We need to do things together.
3. Some ways to
experience
Christian
fellowship.

Prayer meetings

Worship in liturgies Conferences

Coming together for teaching and formation.
Social gatherings.
You are invited to be part of the family in…
The fifth tool (for Catholics): The Sacraments

Holy
Order

Reconciliation/
Holy Eucharist confession

Anointing
Baptism Holy Matrimony of the sick
Confirmation
Though confession is required only once a
year, we should avail of this more often.
We should receive communion
much more frequently, with the
proper disposition.
Holy Mass
 This CLP, your commitment to Christ,
the baptism in the Holy Spirit…
all these are just the beginning of a new life.
If you are faithful, you will
not be disappointed.
Video:
Story of a
Prayer….
The Challenge....

Question:
Will you
eagerly avail
of these tools
and strive to
be holy as
God is holy?