“What’s So Different About These Christians?” - 3 Evangelization Hacks You Can Use Today
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- čas přidán 6. 09. 2024
- To seriously engage in evangelization we have to be provocative. We have to get people to ask why we’re not like everyone else, and then:
“Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence” (1 Peter 3:15).
Three simple - but not easy - ways to get people to ask why you live differently are to cut out:
cursing (“cussing”) and swearing
gossiping
complaining.
This isn’t just a list of things not to do. It takes a proactive effort to live this way today, and doing so is in itself provocative in a good way.
When you don’t curse or swear, people notice. They start to see that you are all in about being a disciple of Christ. This may draw their attention and lead them to ask questions about why you live this way. Then you can tell them about Jesus.
If there is a conversation where there is gossip, either don’t participate or mention something to honor the person they’re gossiping about, which dissipates the overall gossiping of that person. It also helps others gain trust in you, because they will know you won’t gossip about them either. When they confide in you in this way, it is then much easier to tell them about Jesus.
Not complaining is hard, but it is possible. Complaining is a violence against hope. It’s saying God cannot pull you out of whatever it is you’re complaining about. But:
“We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
If you don’t complain, it’s going to be refreshing for the people around you. If you are a small refuge of faith, hope, and light, this will attract people. And they may ask you how you manage to not complain. Then you can tell them about Jesus.
To live as a disciple of Christ means to live differently. These three provocative but gentle ways to be different, Fr. Mark-Mary has found, are incredibly effective ways to evangelize.
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Could you please pray for me? My cat went missing 10 days ago and he has been with me my whole life...I’m heartbroken. Please pray for his safe return / for me to find out what happened, and please pray that I could give this situation to God. Thank you 🙏🏻
I just did!
Matthew Garnes thank you 💓
You're situation is unbearable , I know I've been there. May God guide your little one home safely.
🙏 🙏
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"Complaining is violence against hope." What an incredible quote. Thank you, Father!
Need a video on this - please.
Loved this quote!!!
That quote caught my ear as well. I will be using this message going forward.
I learned from a dear Mormon friend to always focus on the “good” of other people. It stops gossip in its tracks...
The devil only sees what's bad in others - good tip.
@taylorrowe2002yes but it's actually like tips that you learn from Mormons.
Something I started recently and noticed a change is whenever people around me take the Lord's name in vain, especially our Lord Jesus' name, I'll add, "Blessed be His Holy Name" and that usually stops it...at least around me.
Thanks Tony. I have a friend who says GD way too often, but for some time now I glare at him when he does and he sheepishly apologizes. It's a start. But I am going to employ this! He'll probably get so tired of me saying it that hopefully stop saying GD around me
When I hear someone use Jesus name in vain, I loudly announce “Jesus I Love You”. That seemed to stop that person in their tracks.
Complaining is only fruitless and dishonorable when the one(s) doing so are not seeking a resolution to the problem and are not willing to pursue that solution. We can not fix problems that are left unknown, but we should only seek to discuss them in complaint for the right reasons. In Christ, Andrew
I've experienced this. When I started to stop complaining and live joyfully, people actually started to notice and asked me what's up. Our joy in Christ gets rid of the insecurities, despair, and desire to bring others down
So true. We should have 100% control of our attitude and effort. God bless y'all.
I don't have much to say here, but i want to say a prayer for you Fr.
Lord God almighty, you've given us Ascension Presents as a wonderful ministry that reaches out to all of us to spread your love and your Word and we give you thanks for it, we bless your name and in this occasion we give thanks specially for Fr. Mark Mary, that you might reach out with your holy hand and bless His heart that he may continue in this ministry unto your holy Church and the unreached. Bless his vocation and grant us that we may follow your example of love and truth forever, unto eternity, amen.
Amen!
"Complaining is a violence against hope" - Fr. this is the second time you have blown my mind!
Whenever I get frustrated, sometimes I make up my own words that are really ridiculous, and I end up just laughing instead at those words
I, myself, can and need to work on all three of these things. Thanks Fr Mark for the inspiration to live more provocatively! Great message!
Well said Fr Mark Mary! The blatant blasphemy used is so disgraceful. Constant taking of God's Holy Name in vain! Now they are starting to use the F word with Our Lord God's Name! Heartbreaking!!!
I don't have too much problem with complaining as I have too much experience of how God can bring good things from bad. Working on the other two.
👍🏻Cutting the three useless indulgence does make sense when it comes to upgrading serious evangelization🕊😇
I literally haven't said a single swear word in my entire life, and it weirds ppl out when I tell them that lol.
Technically, I have sworn...but only times when I've been bored and started rhyming incessantly...until something comes out of my mouth that I had no intention of saying.
Congratulations! That's amazing! If you have the time, please would you be kind enough to provide a few suggestions for exclamation words that you use instead of swear words. God bless you 🙏
lillight4JC I like to come up with my own words- ones that make no sense at all to people listening. Then I just end up laughing instead and I end up actually being way less frustrated at whatever it is.
@@lillight4JC Yeah I do the same thing as Amanda, a few years ago I said "snicker doodle" a lot, and "falafel" might also come in handy every once in a while. Most of the time, I'll say "heck" bc it really isn't a cuss word and it can work in various contexts (though I am trying to use it less lol).
Tbh I don't really understand why some words are considered swear words and then there's others that mean the exact same thing but aren't so frowned upon... humans are weird.
@@Amanda-xd8ic What a great idea!! Thanks!!! 😊👍
That's how Brother Isaiah lived when he was in high school. Even at that age, everyone completely respected him and knew why he was doing it.
Gossip IS truly evil. We do really have to make an active stand against it - not doing it ourselves and standing up for others who might unfairly be gossiped about. The tongue kills.
I CAN do this
Amen, Amen! Thank you, Fr. Mark-Mary for sharing these steps! 👍😀👍
I needed to hear what you said about complaining. That is good.
I agree. Great words for all of us to live by. I will personally strive to do all three
Amen! Can’t agree with you more Father. Our generation made swearing and gossip normal and “cool”. 😔 We are all guilty. Please pray for us. Can you also talk to us about this thing called “Illumination of Conscience”? What is it exactly? A lot of Catholics are talking and sharing videos about this these days.
Glory be to Jesus Christ. Thank you Father.
Thank you Father! What a wonderful life if no one complained! Definitely worth trying- with God's help!
Peace 🙏
Thank you. These are excellent points. I needed to hear this. We need more hope and light. We are capable of doing hard things. God bless you!
Ask questions : even I deeply repent, made my confession from heart, I can't forgive myself, it's turning , turning my mind goes crazy. And what?
Violence against hope...hang that griping! Yes, indeed, as if God cannot use the situation for the good of those who love him! Amen!
God bless you father. Please pray for me
Praise the Lord Jesus Christ 🙏 Mother Mary Pray For Us 🙏Abba Father Bless us and we Adore You 🙏
Thank you for practical ways to continue to advance in evangelism to provoke positive results 🙏🏾
Amen beautiful thank you father
Thank you Father this is what we need today
I’m not one to cuss, but I realize that other people do it, and I don’t condemn them or try to force them not to every time they do. But when somebody says GD, I always tell them not to say that. One time a kid said to me, “you act like it’s worse than the Fword.” I told him that it is because you’re taking the Lords name in vain. That’s one simple way that I feel that I can stand up for Jesus.
When kids say, "OMG-D" in the classroom I ask them to say, "gosh" instead. In the public schools we teachers have invisible gags over our mouths concerning religion. One time I asked an elementary student to say gosh instead and he asked me why. Another student immediately let him know why! I was delighted.
@@lyndavonkanel8603 I'm actually a student :) I was telling one of my peers
Great advice thank you father
Thank you, Father! God bless you for this video!
So gooooood! 👊🏻👊🏻👊🏻
Simple and no non-sense. Love the idea of a culture of not complaining 🤔🤩🎉
Amazing! Best advice ever. Creates trust and approachability. Love this!
God bless you Father. Your videos are so helpful. Keep it going, we need to hear these words. Thank you so much.
COMPLAINING is not accepted!!! That's a new one AND makes the most sense !!!!! Trust in what The Lord is doing in your life!!!! Helps to be on the present !!!!
Thank you, Fr. Mark Mary
Thank you Father Mark-Mary. I need to work on all three of these.
Thank you father. I needed to listen to this great video ❤️🙏🙏
Thank you!
Wow thanks for this
Wow, complaining is violence against Hope, that's so good and inspiring! It's so good to have these three tips on ways to live radically different in our world.
So so awesome
Thanks Father. You have put some wind in my sail.
Question: Is it gossip when you talk about your frustrations about a friend with another mutual friend but in a constructive way? I think sometimes, such things have to be said in order to solve problems.
They have a video on dis on their channel aswell
Good question!
Thank you Father. I need to change. Please pray for the repose of the soul of a Franciscan priest Fr. Johannes Evangelista Yamamoto Haruka whom I just learned that he passed 5 days ago. Thank you again.
I need to work the swearing ....thank you Father 🙏
Great advice, I learned from the Army, "Lead from the front".....
Great video. God bless you Padre
It is good to be reminded of these! Thank you!😃♥️🙏🏻
Love what you said about complaining working against hope!
You are so right I’ve been on and off with my bad language and sometimes complaining as well as gossip I basically try not to do such at this point I think I fall sometimes because I tried to use it example of something I went through to make somebody feel better so now I must apologize
One of my workplaces has a big bulletin board reserved for memes and statements and one of them is a list of milder, inoffensive exclamations as alternatives to modern day profanity or taking the Lord's name in vain, i.e. "gadzooks...rats...good grief...what the hey/heck...etc". It's not a Catholic workplace by any means, but I'm super grateful to have found it. Not only does it not go into sinful territory (for the most part), it's also much more creative and fun than anything vulgar language can deliver.
You're right, I do all three frustration the great enemy. But it can be done I have to pray on God help me focus being a better person
Awesome video thank you 😊
Little by little! Thank you father Mark
Thank you for the inspiring words.
I agree with your message and points Fr. Mark-Mary. If all Catholics can practice those three points everyday the Church would be a true lighthouse for others, but I also believe we are called to be more than just not cursing, complaining, and gossiping, but to reach holiness we can't do those.
Great words! Simple solutions! Thank you Fr. Mark Mary! I always enjoy your practical was of implementing Christian values for regular people! Amen to this video!!!!
Very good words🙌🏻🙌🏻
YES
Frances Bernard here. Thanks for the encouragement and good advice. I too feel it hard to trust anyone who is gossiping and complaining during identity politics too. Identity politics and only gossip for example about soon to be divorced in order to survive and already divorced women too along with gossip about all those who have ever been victimized in any way like after having to be born into a war zone. Like saying an as usual over generalized identity politics statement like, "The sad truth is that if anyone offers help to a woman experiencing domestic violence is taking the chance that it will lead to her leaving the church altogether." Whoever complains in an air of self-importance constant looking for admirers that any woman among many who flees a domestic violence scene while no longer it being practical to attend worship services in the same building close by that scene has automatic according to him and all of his admirers must have for sure like so many left the church altogether is only a complainer too. If you do not answer a fool according to his folly he may continue to assume you are going along with his plans.
Keep up the great work may God bless you and your family 👉 ✝
It's been the opposite for me, people think I think highly of myself or dont want to interact.
No matter what tho, I stay me, with the Lord.
One thing I'd recommend is while of course staying away and being absolutely opposed to complaining, gossip, and swearing, do engage with others at least when that stuff is not going on and be loving and friendly. That creates an even greater contrast when you stand opposed to such things. If you are very winsome regularly but make very clear you stand opposed to sin, then people will see the contrast. But if you are typically more back in the shadows all the time, then people may simply see you as unsocial or something like that.
Also just in those moments, a quick prayer is good. Rest assured, God has his victory! Sometimes things may take time for people to convert. Usually their hearts need softened by prayer.
God be with you! I will hold you as an intention in our group rosary tonight. Remain steadfast my friend!
Thank you.
Awesome!! Yes!!
I gave up complaints for Lent along with many other things and I slipped a few times but overall it’s just a better life.
I love you brother and thank you for your work
I love all!
Yes,yes,yes,yes ive been trying reallly hard to do all the things you just said! I teu to live provocividly around my freinds but i onky manage to not sin as much. I need to start trying to acctaully talk about God though and this really helped! I am now a Jeusus freak!
A quote from Mother Teresa: "If you judge other people, then you have no time to love them" ❤
Thank you for that simple reminder - such a simple, but very real gem of advice
Thank you Fr Mark, really useful advice. I liked what you said about complaining as a hope destroying habit. Did not thought of it that way. God bless you, I love to watch your videos, I learn a lot. Regards from Honduras!
I could work on these and been thinking of “ complaining” specifically. Although isn’t some amount of complaint required to express frustration or pain for example? And if those complaints are never made than how would anyone know something needs work, which may be urgent in some cases.
I agree. I think productive venting and complaining is necessary. I think Fr. Mark is talking about casual or pointless complaining, the kind that people say in small talk or just complain as a routine part of their day. Complaining in the sense that it’s unproductive. I think it’s important to process negativity with close friends or people who we trust to help the situation, but stay away from petty and whiney “noise.” Expressing and processing negativity is healthy as long as it’s followed by faith and trust in the Lord to ultimately heal that situation. That was my understanding of Fr. Mark’s words. Hope I made sense 😀 God bless you brother!
The way I think of it is this. Avoid complaining with other people. Even close friends. Try to transform all complaining into asking for help and advice. Because the only thing we really have control over is our own selves, trying to take opportunities to improve ourselves is always good. Complaining always revolves around things outside of us (unless we are complaining about our own sinfulness, I suppose), so it's better to shift it over to how can I change me for the better rather than try to govern something outside of myself.
And I'd recommend if you're going to complain, complain in prayer! There's nothing that will come out of your mouth in prayer in solitude that God has already not read on your heart beforehand. We do not need to wear any masks in prayer because God probes the heart already. Heck, an hour ago I just got really frustrated in the basement and punched an object and yelled. But it's the Lord who I need to bring that stuff to.
My two cents ;) I'll keep you in the intention of our group rosary tonight
Check out "A Complaint Free World" by Will Bowen. Try and take up the challenge.
He describes complaining as verbalizing a discomfort/dislike to someone who does not have the power to change it. Going to someone other than that person is putting negativity out there.
In short, speak directly to the person who can resolve your problem ("complaint")
You are joy!🙏
This is great. Thanks
Very true.
👍🔥💖🇳🇿from New Zealand
Sweet 🌼
Blessings from 🇦🇪( UAE)
Blessings 🌷🌷🌷
I absolutely loved this, something I needed to hear.
Hello Father Mark Mary. Thanks for this it is timely. However, does talking subjects over with my friend anytime I am fed up with ongoings in my workplace complaining or venting? The thing is she is my only friend,and I tell her either to vent of get another perspective. However, I know that in her anger for my sake she does talk about it to her colleagues at work. And so, oftentimes I do feel like I have spoken too much.
Thank you for this video. Simple, not easy but simple and impactful.
Awesome learning for me today! Thank you Fr!
My parents having not allowed me to watch "Courage the Cowardly Dog" because the old man character always yelled "Stupid" is paying off XD!
Greetings Fr. Mark! I would like to see a video where you give your analysis of video gamer culture from a Catholic Perspective and if you know any priests who like playing video games. Thanks and God bless you!
So true bro, am witness to this!
I agree with that one shouldn’t complain. However, what do you say when there are real problems or issues that are bothering you?
Beautiful. Thank you!
Thank you this was really helpful. Sending some love from 🇲🇽
I don’t complain nor gossip
...but wow I’ve been struggling with cussing for YEARS, and I can never seem to overcome it. Anyone have practical advice? Thanks fam🤍
God bless you. Thank s.
Thank you! I needed that!
Not a matter Fray i'm not afraid i love Saint Domingo of Guzmán! God bless all!😇😇😇👼only i need Jesús Christ, Thank you so much!
I needed this video. Thank you.😁👍
During this whole video I was like
Yeah... YEAH! amen... AMEN!!!!
💙💙💙
Bravo! Good rules for living and incredibly relevant
Loved this video! Thank you
#AskAscension How do I know my repentance is true and not half-hearted?