TEXAS

What is CLS?

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE SEMINAR OF THE COUPLES FOR CHRIST - FOUNDATION FOR FAMILY AND LIFE

What is the Christian Life Seminar (CLS) ?

Rationale:

In this time and age, there are many Christians (Catholic and non-Catholic) who can be labeled as nominal since they are engaged in the worship life of their church and yet appear to live lives that are contrary to the principles espoused in the congregations they attend in at least every week. There is a need to bring these Christians into a gradual exposure and yet non-intimidating introduction to Catholic doctrine and into a renewed and personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Apart from bringing these people into a renewed experience of their faith, it is necessary to provide a support environment to sustain the new found relationship and the gradual discovery of the other facets of their faith. This seminar is meant to be such an initiation. However, more than that, and in a more subtle way, it is a step-by-step living out of the way of life in the Couples for Christ community.

General Objectives:

The CLS is intended to achieve the following:

1. Bring the participant to repentance and a renewed faith in Jesus.
2. Empower the participant in the Christian life through baptism in the Holy Spirit.
3. Integrate the participant into a strong environment of support and ongoing formation.

Participants:

Participants may be any Christian individual or couple.

Seminar Description:

The Christian Life Seminar (CLS) is an integrated course intended to lead the seminar participants into a renewed understanding of and response to God’s call to them as Christians. The seminar has a total of 9 separate sessions, usually held once a week. The CLS has three modules of three sessions each. The first module presents the absolute basics of Christian life. The second module presents the kind of life that God calls us to, and helps individuals, whatever status they are in, to make a reorientation of their lives around Jesus. The third module helps these individuals to appropriate for their lives the power of the Holy Spirit, and provides the basis for continuing spiritual growth.

The topics of the sessions are:

Module 1: THE BASIC TRUTHS ABOUT CHRISTIANITY

1. God's love
2. What it means to be a Christian
3. Repentance and faith

Module 2: THE AUTHENTIC CHRISTIAN LIFE

4. The Christian ideal: loving God
5. Loving your neighbor
6. Life in the Holy Spirit

Module 3: LIVING A SPIRIT-FILLED CHRISTIAN LIFE

7. Receiving the power of the Holy Spirit
8. Growing in the Spirit
9. Transformation in Christ

Methodology:

The standard format of the CLS is the following, with variations on certain sessions depending on the specific objectives:

Introduction and opening prayer/worship*: 30 mins
Talk: 30-45 mins
Discussion: 30-40 mins
Closing remarks and prayer: 5 mins

Note: 30 minutes is usually given for snacks after the discussion.
*As per manual, full worship is only in the 3rd module