Do you struggle to address the moral teachings of the Church in evangelization? The Church’s moral teachings can be the hardest for people to accept. Dave and Mike explain, with the assistance of St. John Paul II, why it is necessary to accept the Church’s moral teachings in order to achieve union with Christ.
Snippet from the Show
“The moral life is a response to the love that God has already shown us.”
Shownotes
Have questions for Mike and Dave? Email them at eksb@ascensionpress.com.
What You Need to Know
In this season of Every Knee Shall Bow, Mike and Dave are looking at some of St. John Paul II’s greatest works on evangelization. They are looking at these works to help you become a better evangelist. This is a masterclass from a master evangelist: St. John Paul II.
The three works Mike and Dave are going through this season are Redeemer of Man, Mission of the Redeemer, and Splendor of Truth. In Redeemer of Man, we will come to understand why the Incarnation matters. Mission of the Redeemer examines the missionary impulse of the Church and how it shapes everything we do. Finally, in Splendor of Truth, we will learn what it looks like to pursue discipleship. It will teach us to move beyond the Kerygma to catechesis on Christian living.
Read through the documents and follow along with Mike and Dave so that you can deepen your love and knowledge of actually proclaiming the faith.
It was St. John Paul II’s hope to see the whole of humanity united to Christ.
In this episode, Mike and Dave begin their discussion of Splendor of Truth. This encyclical is meant to address and reflect on all the moral teachings of the Church. St. John Paul II is attempting to correct widespread denial of the role of the natural law. He also affirms that the Church does have moral authority.
Ponder These Things
“Ultimately, what we are asking when we are talking about moral goodness is we are asking about God. What does it mean to be in union with God?”
“We want to re-Christianate the moral question.”
“The moral life is a response to the love God has already shown us.”
“We desperately need the law. It is the first condition for following Christ.”
“You cannot say the commandments are an unattainable ideal”
“It is easier to obey someone you love.”
“Good works without grace are impossible.”
Practical Takeaways
- Discern the following: In your evangelizing relationships, are you avoiding any moral teachings? We must act in love, in true charity and remove this stumbling block.
- Take time for a thorough examination of conscience. What are the areas of the moral life that you struggle with the most? Why?
- If there is a moral teaching of the Church that you struggle to accept, take time to truly dig deep and try to understand why this is the Church’s teachings.
Resources
- Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com
- Text “EKSB” to 33-777 to subscribe and be added to the Every Knee Shall Bow email list.
- Visit Dave’s website www.thecatholictruthaboutangelsanddemons.com and www.artofevangelization.com
- Visit Mike’s website at www.layevangelist.com
Meet Your Hosts
Michael “Gomer” Gormley
Michael spent 17 years in full-time parish ministry and is now the Mission Evangelist for That Man Is You!, a men’s apostolate for Paradisus Dei. Michael is a frequent speaker at conferences, retreats, and parish missions all over the US and Canada.
He is the founder and creative director of LayEvangelist.com, and hosts two popular Catholic podcasts: Catching Foxes and Every Knee Shall Bow.
He is married to his college sweetheart, Shannon, and has four beautiful and hilarious children: Kateri, Cecilia, Noah, and Thomas.
Dave VanVickle
Dave VanVickle fell in love with the Lord at the age of fourteen and has since dedicated his life to bringing others into a radical relationship with Christ.
He is a speaker and retreat leader who focuses on proclaiming the universal call to holiness, authentic Catholic spirituality, spiritual warfare and deliverance. Additionally, Dave has over ten years of experience assisting Priests with their ministries of exorcism and deliverance.
Dave married his late wife Amber in 2010. He now resides in Pittsburgh with his five children: Sam, Max, Judah, Josie and Louisa.
