Are horoscopes actually dangerous? What should I do if a family member or friend is exploring the occult? Why is the occult against Catholic teaching? Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle share information on popular occult practices we should avoid and what to do if you or someone you know has been involved in the occult.
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\nThere is only goodness and the distortion of goodness. There is only God, and God has no infinite opposite.
Did you know that temptation is one of the biggest battles of spiritual attack? How can we avoid temptations? What should we do when we give in to temptation? Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle discuss these questions and outline practical solutions for resisting temptation and repenting from temptation.
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\nWe don't have to completely abandon society. We have the power of the Holy Spirit to challenge these things.
Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle reveal how the saints can help us in our battles of spiritual warfare. They share why honoring the saints does not detract from God and explain how you can draw closer to your patron saint. Dave also shares a personal story of how a saint saved his life.
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\n Let the saints be the saints and do their saintly thing. They want to be our allies for a reason because we are in Christ.
What’s the difference between a sacrament and a sacramental? How can we use the sacraments to fight evil? Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle explain the incredible power of Baptism and Confession and how to use sacramentals to overthrow the powers of darkness. In this episode, they explore the history of the sacraments.
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\nBaptism is an absolute revolution in the life of the soul. You remove from it its current tyrannical leader, and you place it under the lordship of Jesus Christ, our merciful Savior.
The term “Apotropaic” means seeking Christ’s warrior presence. In this episode, Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle discuss more weapons of warfare and how we can seek his warrior presence in spiritual warfare. They teach us how truth and love can be used to fight the devil and the best ways to live out the corporal works of mercy.
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\nTruth and love are probably the most exorcistic things on Earth. Those two things are incredibly powerful in warding off the devil.
In this episode, Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle offer practical guidance on two of the most powerful spiritual weapons: prayer and fasting. They explain how you can fast from almost anything, offering it up to the Lord for any intention. They also explain how to pray in a way that focuses on your relationship with God. Finally, they finish off the episode with a 7-day challenge for you to obtain spiritual benefits.
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\nPenance is a powerful, powerful spiritual hammer that will break down strongholds.
Why are the sins of the flesh the weakest? Do you have strategies for fighting the world, the flesh, and the devil? Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle reveal how most people may not have strategies for fighting the world, discuss using intentionality when consuming media, and how to conquer the world instead of avoiding it.
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\nThe devil is trying to create a symphony that will crescendo into a life of dissipation and despair.
What are the origins of spiritual warfare? Why don’t we get to live in the Garden of Eden when it was Adam and Eve who sinned? What’s one of the best practical tips for avoiding sin? Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle wrestle with these questions and more in this episode of Every Knee Shall Bow as they explore the Fall in Genesis 3.
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\nYou've been co-crucified with Christ and you have risen in Christ's Resurrection because of the sacrament of baptism…so that you can actually overcome.
Where did angels come from? Should you name your guardian angel? What can your guardian angel do for you? Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle share teachings from St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas on the origins of angels, the angelic fall, and the nature of angels. They also share some practical tips on how you can enlist your guardian angel’s help in your own life.
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\nBring the ministry of angels into your life, incorporate them into your prayer, and invoke them for their protection because that's why God gave you your angel.
We are in a spiritual battle. Do you know how to fight? Drawing from Dave's years of experience assisting exorcists, Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle start off a new season of Every Knee Shall Bow by discussing how much weight Catholics should give to the topic of the devil and spiritual warfare. They discuss how temptation is one of our biggest battles and how we can fight back.
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\nThe Catholic Church was given the grace of triumph and we can avail ourselves of that.
What sorts of movies and books do people like Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle enjoy? In this casual, but very entertaining, conversation, Mike and Dave share some of their favorite movies, television shows, and books. They also explain the impact some of them had on their lives.
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\n"I taped it off of the television and watched it so many times that it broke!"
Have you ever wondered how Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle prepare their talks and teachings? Wonder no more! Mike and Dave discuss some of their suggestions for how to structure talks and keep an audience engaged from the start. They also share how they prefer to evangelize: one on one, in a classroom, or to a large group.
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\nThere was a time where beauty could easily lead a person to God. However, now it is far more common that it is hurt and woundedness that leads someone to God.
Is there a right way to study theology? In order to communicate the truths of our faith, it is essential to study it well. Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle give their recommendations for how to approach theology so that you can help others know God better. They also share some of the books and writings they are currently reading.
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\nKnowledge is the first step of love. To love God, you need to know him.
Are you ready to strengthen your devotion to Mary through the Rosary? Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle are joined by Mark Hartfiel to discuss the Mysteries of the Rosary Series from Paradisus Dei. They share about the creation of the series and its content. They also discuss the power of Marian devotion.
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\nOur Lady goes before us as an icon of hope.
It’s that time again! Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle take the time in this episode to answer some of your questions! These questions range in topic from Heaven and Hell to the occult to Međugorje.
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\nWe forget that for Saint Paul, the end game of Christianity is the resurrection of the dead, the resurrection of our bodies.
The Church presents the Annunciation as the model for all transmission of faith. As Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle dive into this topic, they also take a step back and discuss the work each person needs to do with God before they can go out and effectively proclaim the Gospel. They emphasize the transformative power of suffering and darkness.
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\nFaith in the darkest moments of life is when Christianity becomes relevant and transformative.
The family is under attack. There is so much in the world today that is in opposition to the family. How do we combat this? Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle take up the topic of the Holy Family and how essential they are as both examples and intercessors. They also talk particularly about the role of St. Joseph and the role of fathers today.
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\nThe family is under attack and we need the Holy Family to protect us.
An apparition of Mary is a big deal no matter what, but are you aware of the particular significance tied to Our Lady of Lourdes? Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle go through the details of this apparition and the life of St. Bernadette. They also discuss why this apparition was so significant for the time and place in which it occurred.
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\n“I do not promise you happiness in this world, but in the next.” -Our Lady of Lourdes
What do you know about Our Lady of Fatima? You may know some things, but maybe not as much as Dave VanVickle. Join Mike Gormley as he learns from Dave all about the apparitions and what was revealed to the children of Fatima. Mike and Dave also discuss some of the common criticisms and how to respond to them.
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\n“Jesus wishes to establish devotion to my Immaculate Heart in the world. I promise salvation to those who embrace it; and these souls will be beloved of God like flowers arranged by me to adorn His throne.” -Our Lady of Fatima
What exactly are Marian apparitions? What category of revelation do they fall into? How are they verified? Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle dive into the topic of Marian apparitions and provide explanations for how they are verified and what purpose they serve in the Church. They also share some of the details surrounding the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
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\nOur Marian devotion is always meant to lead us deeper into the mystery of Christ.
Mary is incredible. She plays a massive role in salvation. She is good and loving. However, is there a chance that we could show her too much devotion or love her too much? Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle take up this question as they discuss consecration to Mary. They explain what consecration to Mary means and what it could do for your life.
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\nMary’s whole life radiates Christ. So, to be consecrated to Mary means that we are also consecrated to Christ.
Mary is victorious over the devil. She overcomes all evil. How is this possible? In what ways should we look to Mary in our own battle with sin? Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle discuss the answers to these questions and highlight the victory over sin and death that was granted to Mary by her Son.
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\nMary shows up to win spiritual battles. She wants to join you in your fight to overcome sin.
Mary does not say much in Scripture. There is a lot of her life that remains unknown. However, there are nods to Mary from the very beginning of the Bible all the way to the end. Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle share and explain some of the typology of Mary that can be found throughout the Bible.
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\nMary is the Ark of the Covenant. She crushes the enemy under our feet and plays a major role in the defeat of evil and in the future of the world.
The Rosary, the Miraculous Medal, the Brown Scapular - these are some of the most well-known Marian Devotions. But what is their origin? What is their purpose? How are they different from charms or magic? Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle discuss these Marian Devotions and respond to common questions about them. They share their experiences with Marian Devotions and how they have impacted their lives.
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\nOur chances of dying in a state of grace can be greatly heightened due to the prayers of Mary interceding for us.
Mary just plays the role that pagans had for female goddesses. Jesus only appeared to be human so Mary didn’t really conceive him or give birth to him. These are two common heresies that oppose the Church’s teachings on Mary. Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle explain the origins of these heresies and offer instruction on how to respond to them.
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\nIf you are a discipleship of Jesus Christ, you need to bring Mary into your home at this very hour.
Do Catholics worship Mary? Was Mary always a virgin? All of the Marian dogmas solicit a myriad of rebuttals and some can be difficult to respond to. In this episode, Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle address some of the common arguments against Mary’s perpetual virginity and devotion to Mary. They respond to these arguments by citing both Scripture and Tradition.
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\nWhen you look at our Lady, you see the masterpiece that God has painted with her life.
Why is Mary so important? How is Mary meant to be a part of our lives? Perhaps, you are someone who has struggled in your devotion to Mary or maybe you have a deep relationship with her. Wherever you fall, you are sure to enjoy and gain so much from this series on Mary from Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle. Learn, be inspired, and grow in your love for Mary.
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\n“From Mary, we learn to love Christ, her Son and Son of God.” -St. John Paul II
Do you know what Catholics actually believe about Mary? There can be a lot of misunderstanding when it comes to the Catholic Church's teachings on Mary. Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle go through the Marian dogmas and explain each one so as to better equip you in your evangelization.
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\nMary represents what the fullness of grace can do in the life of a creature.
There is a significant de-emphasis in American Christianity on the sacramental life. Instead, many Christians are more focused on their personal faith. What are the dangers of this? Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle take up these questions as a conclusion to this series on Mystagogy.
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\nAll of the sacraments are material, visible, sensible signs that communicate the invisible, the hidden power of God.
Priests were not first introduced in the New Testament. In fact, priesthood existed right at the beginning of the Old Testament. So, how can we understand the priesthood in the economy of salvation? How do we distinguish the Old Testament priesthood from the new? Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle answer these questions and more.
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\n“In the whole history of humanity, there is only one man who is both priest and victim. That is Jesus Christ.”
What is the purpose of a Catholic priest and what is it not? The Catholic priesthood can spark a lot of confusion. Are they a symbolic leader or a CEO? Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle answer many of the common questions associated with the priesthood and emphasize why it is such an essential part of the Catholic faith.
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\n“The priest is not a priest for himself. He does not give himself absolution, he does not administer the sacraments to himself. He is not for himself. He is for you.” -St. John Vianney
What is the best thing you can do for your marriage? In their final episode on marriage, Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle address the topic of marital spirituality. They share their own experiences of developing a prayer life with their spouse and the challenges they faced. Together, they encourage every person to prioritize prayer in their marriage.
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\nChoosing to love and choosing to build a marriage includes the decision to live a marital spirituality.
What does a truly Christian marriage look like? Continuing their discussion on the sacrament of marriage, Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle discuss the characteristics and traits of a truly Christian marriage. They also discuss what sort of impact a Christian marriage ought to have on those who have received the sacrament.
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\nYou should remind yourself every day of the vows you made on your wedding day.
Have you ever thought of marriage as a sacrament of communion? The heart of marriage is not emotional support within a domestic relationship, but rather the mutual giving of two entire lives. Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle compare and contrast how society and the Church view marriage and remind those partaking in and preparing for the sacrament that, when you serve your spouse and your children, you are truly serving Jesus Himself.
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\nMarriage is truly a crucible in the service of the people that you love.
Do you know what happens after you die? What does the Church tell us about what will occur after our death? Dave VanVickle and Michael Gormley take up these questions and explain the Church’s teachings. They explain how judgment works and why it is so important for those on earth to do penance for the dead.
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\n“Death proves also that life has meaning, because it reveals that the virtues and goodness practiced within time do not find their completion except in eternity.” -Ven. Fulton Sheen
What is Anointing of the Sick? This sacrament can receive a lot of misunderstanding and confusion. Who can receive it? Is it for spiritual or physical ailment? What does it actually do? Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle respond to these questions and offer their personal experiences of witnessing the sacrament.
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\nThe Anointing of the Sick completes our conformity to the death and resurrection of Christ just as Baptism began it.
How do you make a good confession? How do you cope with a bad confession? Going to confession is a very vulnerable thing. It can be a great experience, but occasionally, it can be a negative one. Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle discuss some of the common reasons why people may have a negative experience in confession. They offer advice on how to respond and how to potentially avoid them all together.
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\n"The priest is not a priest for himself; he does not give himself absolution; he does not administer the Sacraments to himself. He is not for himself. He is for you." -St. John Vianney
Confession can feel uncomfortable, intimidating, and even burdensome. However, the sacrament of confession is one of the greatest gifts from God. How can we understand that better? Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle explain the joy and goodness of confession. They share their own feelings about the sacrament and how they have worked to overcome sin in their own lives.
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\nIf you truly understand confession, you will realize how freeing it is.
Why is the Eucharistic theme so central to the Catholic life? Perhaps, you have heard the term “Eucharistic people” and wondered what it means and what that might look like. Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle discuss the impact of the Eucharist on our lives. They also offer advice on how to prepare well for receiving the Eucharist.
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\nRemember that you are encountering the living God. There is no reason that you should walk away the same.
What is the high point in life? Where ought everything to lead? Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle continue their conversation around mystagogy as they discuss the Eucharist. They explain its importance and why everything ought to point to the Eucharist.
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\nEvery bit of our life ought to be oriented towards encounter with Jesus Christ.
Is Confirmation really important? What does it do that Baptism doesn’t already do? For many, Confirmation can seem like an afterthought or some rite of passage. However, Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle share why it is so much more than that. They explain its incredible significance and why it is essential for someone striving for salvation.
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\nThe most underplayed sacrament of the life of the Church is one of the most important.
Is there anything pointing to Baptism in the Old Testament? Are there shadows of it that come into the light in the New Testament? Mike Gormley is here with a bonus episode to dive into this very topic. Enjoy this bonus content looking at typology of the Old Testament and Baptism.
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\nThe sacramental life of the Church communicates the life of Christ to us.
Baptism is not just something to check off on the “To Do” list of the Christian life. So, what is it and what does it do? How can we understand the mystery of Baptism? Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle tackle these questions and encourage believers to share the truth about Baptism.
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\nBaptism is salvific because it communicates the very life of God.
How important are the sacraments? Are they just steps in the Christian life or do they bear a lot more weight in our journey towards salvation? Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle continue their series on Mystagogy by addressing the importance of the sacraments. They discuss the mystery of the sacraments and why they are truly a matter of life and death.
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\nThe sacraments are a matter of life and death: eternal life and eternal death.
Every Knee Shall Bow is back for another season! Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle are addressing the topic of Mystagogy. In this episode, they explain what Mystagogy is and why it is such an important part of the Christian life.
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\nThe Lord wants to give you a deeper hunger for the divine life.
What is happiness and how do you get it? This question has been at the forefront of humanity since the beginning of time. Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle are joined by Dr. Jennifer Frey to discuss happiness and the role virtue plays in attaining it.
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\nThe reason why sin must be avoided at all costs is because it prevents you from being totally fulfilled with God.
There are a lot of opinions on liturgy in the Catholic Church. So, it is understandable to wonder, “Is there a right way to do liturgy?”. Mike Gormley is joined by Fr. David Hust to discuss the purpose and goodness of liturgy. They explain why it is so important to understand liturgy and all the ways that the faithful can participate in the liturgies of the Church.
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\nIf we’re meant to be the light to the nations, we better get liturgy right.
How much do you know about Venerable Fulton Sheen? Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle are joined by Bonnie Engstrom to talk about this incredible man. Not only does Bonnie offer a wealth of knowledge on his life, but she also shares her experience of an incredible miracle through his intercession. Her story will leave you speechless.
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\n“For six months I had been asking Bishop Sheen to pray for my son on a daily basis, and in that moment that is who I called on.”
Do you believe that prayer makes a difference? Is it obvious what kind of difference prayer makes? Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle are joined by Dr. Edward Sri to discuss the importance of prayer. They observe the importance prayer has in our relationship with God and how it affects every other part of our spiritual lives.
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\nOur daily prayer cannot simply consist of reciting prayers or reading spiritual books. It must involve meditation and opening our hearts and minds to God.
What is a woman? It is a simple question. However, the answer to this question has become a topic for debate in the culture today. Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle are joined once again by Dr. Abigail Favale in order to discuss the different sides of the debate and to answer the question “What is a woman?”.
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\nIf I don’t speak the truth in love, am I participating in other people’s destruction?
Gender, feminism, equality, etc. are all prevalent topics in the culture today. However, it can sometimes feel difficult to gain a thorough understanding of these issues and engage in conversation about them. Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle are joined by professor and author Dr. Abigail Favale to discuss some of these issues.
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\n“Whoever controls the narrative, who controls language, they decide what is real, what is knowable, what is good, what is bad.”
What does it mean to think Christologically? How do you put Christ at the center of all thought? Intimacy with Christ is a goal in the Christian life, but the how and why for this goal are not easily understood. Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle are joined by Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P. to discuss the difference between thinking about Christ and thinking with Christ.
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\nIn all things, seek the face of God.
The cross of infertility is one that many people bear. Many of these people suffer in silence and are unsure what to do in the face of their infertility. Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle are joined by Emily Chapman to discuss her own challenges with infertility and how it affected her on a deeper level. Together, they address what people can do in the face of infertility and why the Church does not permit IVF, surrogacy, or contraception.
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\n "We are all called to trust God with our fertility. This is true for people who can have babies and this is true for people who can’t."
What does pro-women healthcare look like? In the culture today, women’s healthcare fails too often to address the actual needs of a woman’s body. There is a lack of understanding and respect when it comes to hormonal health and true fertility care. Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle are joined by Teresa Kenney to discuss why this is the state of women’s healthcare and what pro-women healthcare should look like.
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\nThe reality of the human body is amazing. It is such a beautiful design when it is working well. And when it isn’t working well, we need to be attentive to those signs.
Here’s where it gets sticky: contraception. Contraception may be one of the most talked about and most difficult topics when it comes to evangelization. It is personal, it is polarizing and it can be difficult to understand. Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle discuss the origins of contraceptives, the Church’s teachings on them, the harm they cause and how you can talk about it with others.
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\nContraception limits the gift of one person to another.
Welcome to a special bonus episode with Michael Gormley…on a different podcast! Enjoy this conversation between Gomer and Ryan O’Hara, the host of the Better Preach podcast. Together they discuss how to teach and preach so as to actually make disciples.
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\nYou can’t make a disciple if you’re not a disciple.
Moving in together is a common “step” that many couples see as necessary and normal in a relationship. Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle discuss why cohabitation can have such negative effects on a relationship. They also share how to talk with a couple who is cohabitating and how to encourage them towards something different.
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\nCouples who do not live together prior to marriage are more likely to have happy marriages.
Transgenderism, or gender dysphoria, is a very relevant topic in our world today. So, what is it? And more importantly, how are we supposed to respond to it? Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle are joined by Jason Evert to discuss transgenderism, gender dysphoria, gender stereotypes, and more. Together, they share how we can respond to all of it with Christ-like love.
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\nTry to listen to gender dysphoria with reverent curiosity. A person’s story is often a roadmap to their healing.
Theology of the Body teaches the positive and beautiful message of sexuality within the context of human and divine love. How do we communicate this good news to our children? How do we reject and avoid the pornographic culture while not instilling fear of sexuality or hatred of the body? And what is chastity, really? Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle answer these questions and more.
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\nProtecting our children’s innocence is not the same as keeping them naive.
What does it mean to fall in love? How do we stay in love? St. John Paul II addresses this in his great “ethical analysis of love” chapter in Love and Responsibility. Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle address some of the chapter’s key topics: sexual urge, love as attraction, love as desire, love as benevolence, and reciprocity.
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\n“You have to possess yourself in order to give yourself.”
Men and women are the same! Men are from Mars and women are from Venus! We hear contradictory messages about men and women all the time. “They are the same.” “They are radically different.” Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle address these contradictions by looking at Scripture and sharing the wisdom of the Church.
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\nFatherhood and motherhood are the perfection of masculinity and femininity.
Every Knee Shall Bow is back with a brand new season! Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle are returning to explore the great work of St. John Paul II: The Theology of the Body. Using St. John Paul II’s wisdom, Mike and Dave will be discussing many of the challenges we face today and how we can grow in greater love with God, one another, and ourselves.
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\nThe simplest easiest way to end Satan’s kingdom is marriage.
Guess who’s back?! Mike “Gomer” Gormley is joined by Dave VanVickle for a special bonus episode to wrap up this season of Every Knee Shall Bow. Dave shares a bit about his life from the past three months. And together, Dave and Mike wrap up this season of Every Knee Shall Bow on the essential elements of discipleship.
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\nThe only gift greater than knowing Jesus is to love him.
What are the essential elements of Catholic Discipleship? Mike "Gomer" Gormely has been answering this question for the last few weeks and today he puts it all together. Mike outlines the traps a disciple can fall into. He also shares how we can continue to grow in intimacy with Christ.
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\nAt the end of the day, each day, you are only one act of honest repentance away from undoing the works of Satan, exposing his works to the light of Christ, and returning home.
Do you know what it means to be restored by Christ? Christ is always offering us a newness of life. However, what does that look like? Mike “Gomer” Gormley continues his discussion on the essential elements of Catholic Discipleship moving from the Purgative Way to the Illuminative Way.
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\n“If the soul is to make progress, there must be a gradual reclothing of her with the graces in which Christ desires to see her.”
What happens when we become disillusioned with Christ? In today's show, Gomer walks through the different stages of friendship with Christ. He addresses why a disciple might become disillusioned with Christ and where one ought to go from there.
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\n “The object of religion is that the soul should serve God, not that God should serve the soul."
What does it mean to repent and convert? As disciples, it is our desire to live in conformity with Christ. Mike “Gomer” Gormley shares how in order to be in conformity with Christ, we must repent and we must convert. It is repentance and conversion that lie at the heart of ongoing growth in Christ.
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\nIt takes courage to admit when you are lost and are in need of God’s grace and mercy.
What is the cost of being a disciple? Jesus makes it very clear that carrying our crosses is a condition of being a disciple. Mike “Gomer” Gormley examines the importance of suffering and explains why the cross is essential to discipleship.
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\nYou cannot follow Christ without denying yourself and embracing suffering.
Do you need miracles in order to have faith? Using the story of the Woman at the Well, Mike “Gomer” Gormley helps deepen our understanding of what should be the foundation of our faith and how essential it is that we allow Christ into our hearts.
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\nMiracles do not guarantee faith. Belief and acceptance of Christ’s word does.
Why does Jesus seem to aggressively confront the Pharisees throughout the Gospels? In this episode, Mike Gormley explains why Jesus appears to goad the Pharisees by what he says and does. Mike shares what this reveals about Christ’s mission and how Christians are meant to live today.
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\nConversion might mean leaving behind old sins, but it is principally the getting of a new heart.
Are the beatitudes a big deal or are they just nice life advice? Last episode, Mike “Gomer” Gormley shared the importance of aligning our values with Christ’s values. But what are Christ’s values? Today, Mike explains how the Beatitudes are the truest representation of Christ’s values and how they are essential to the life of a disciple.
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\nIf my values or priorities do not match up with Jesus’, then I am the one who needs to change, not Jesus and not the Gospel.
Our world today is noisy and there is a lot that clamors for our attention. How do we break free of this? We need to align our priorities with the priorities of Christ. But what are Christ’s priorities? Mike “Gomer” Gormley dives into answering that question in today’s show.
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\nIf you are trying to determine what to value and what to prioritize, look to Christ. He is the standard.
How did Jesus himself pray and how did he teach his disciples to pray? In this episode, Mike “Gomer” Gormley cuts through the confusion of Christian prayer and focuses on how Jesus prayed and how he taught others to pray so that each of us can form a strong prayer life that brings us into greater intimacy with God.
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\nOur relationship with God is only as strong as our prayer life.
Are you aware of Christ’s presence? As disciples, it is essential that we have a connection to Christ. We must always be aware of his presence. So, what makes that difficult? What are problems in the modern world that make it difficult to see the reality of Christ? Mike “Gomer” Gormley tackles these questions and more in today’s episode.
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\nThe world obscures our vision of the Church and of Christ.
Do we really understand what discipleship is? Just how important is it? Today, Mike Gormley begins a brand new series on discipleship and many of the themes found within discipleship. Join Mike to go beyond apologetics and evangelization so as to become a disciple of Christ.
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\nWe have the conversion of so many people in the world today because of the missionary spirit of the Church.
What do we believe as Catholics? That is a big question and it can feel overwhelming to try and answer it. Today, Mike and Dave are joined by Dr. Marcellino D’Ambrosio to talk about his new study titled What We Believe. They talk about the new study and also the process of becoming disciples and learning the faith.
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\nBeing a Catholic doesn’t mean just fulfilling the requirements. The whole point is to become a saint.
Are women religious just nice to have around or are they essential to the Church and to the world? Mike and Dave are joined by special guest Fr. John Burns to discuss the status of women’s vocations to the consecrated life and why it is a major crisis. They offer reasons for why it is so important to have women religious and how we can introduce more people to their way of life.
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\nThe consecrated woman reminds the Church what it means to be espoused to Christ.
In order to fully comprehend what Christ did for us, it is essential that we also understand the Old Testament. Today, Mike is joined by Dr. Andrew Swafford to discuss the importance of studying the Old Testament in order to deepen our knowledge of Christ and become more effective in evangelization.
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\nYou’ll never fully appreciate Jesus until you see him as bringing about the fulfillment and culmination of this great story that has gone on since the beginning of time.
Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle are back for a brand new season of the podcast. This episode, they welcome Sherry Weddell, the best-selling author of Forming Intentional Disciples. Sherry shares her extensive knowledge of evangelization and discipleship. She encourages everyone to discern what gifts they have been given in order to build the Kingdom of God.
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\nYou’re not fully a disciple until you are also an evangelist.
How do you make sacramental prep effective both in preparing individuals for the sacraments and in forming them into disciples? Mike and Dave respond to a listener’s question regarding Baptism prep and discuss sacramental prep as a whole. They share common challenges and primary goals for sacramental prep.
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\nIn order to make disciples, you must catechize and evangelize.
Do you have questions about evangelization and sacramental prep? Dave and Mike answer questions on evangelizing to atheists and what sort of parameters exist for requirements in sacramental prep.
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\nWe need to constantly interject the Kerygma into all of our evangelization.
It can be difficult to see the point of our suffering. Sometimes, it can be an even greater struggle to help someone else through their suffering. Mike and Dave are joined by Jeff Cavins to discuss evangelization, but especially, how to share a message of hope when it comes to suffering.
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\nTo be comforted is to experience Jesus Christ.
What are some of the keys in doing women’s ministry successfully? To help answer this question, Mike and Dave are joined by Jenna Guizar and Beth Davis from Blessed Is She. Jenna and Beth share about the ministry of Blessed Is She as well as some of the wisdom they have learned in their work.
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\n"We don’t want the Lord, the Church, or her teachings to feel out of reach for anyone."
We cannot underestimate the spiritual depth that youth are capable of. In this episode, Mike is joined by Mark Hart to discuss the importance of bringing youth to the very heart of God. They also discuss Mark’s new study series for high school students: Venture.
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\nWe have a God who loves us so much that he would rather die than spend Eternity without us.
How do we overcome some of the primary obstacles in discipleship? Dave and Mike are joined by Annie Grandell from YDisciple to discuss some of the obstacles in discipling young people and how to overcome them.
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\nPrograms do not make disciples. People make disciples.
How important is the domestic church? Do we really understand what it is meant to be? Dave VanVickle is joined by guests David Niles and Adam Minihan to discuss these questions as well as their new book Living Beyond Sunday: Making Your Home a Holy Place.
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\nFaith ought to be experienced primarily in the home.
What is the purpose of freedom? What is the relationship between conscience and truth? In this episode, Mike and Dave discuss these questions as they wrap up their examination of St. John Paul II’s Splendor of Truth. What we can learn from this encyclical can make us better missionaries for Christ.
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\nWe are called solely to live for the glory of God.
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.
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\n“The moral life is a response to the love that God has already shown us.”
Maybe you know what a missionary should be like, but is that how you live your life? In this episode, Dave and Mike explain what St. John Paul II teaches about missionary activity and spirituality. It isn’t enough to know how mission works. You must actually live it.
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\nChrist loves the Church and gave himself up for her, so why don’t we?
Are you prepared to proclaim the Gospel with words? In this episode, Dave and Mike share why it is essential that in evangelization, we actually verbalize our witness. They also explain how the Holy Spirit is the primary mover of evangelization.
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\nIf you love Jesus, you are going to share Jesus.
Did you know that you are called to be a missionary? In this episode, Mike and Dave begin their examination of the document Mission of the Redeemer. They explain the call of every Christian to be a missionary and what that might look like for each of us.
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\nEvery Christian, everyone who has been baptized, is called to be a missionary.
In this special bonus episode, Dave and Mike talk with authors of the new book Solemnities: Celebrating a Tapestry of Divine Beauty. Denis McNamara, Chris Carstens, and Alexis Kutarna share about their new book and how we can more fully celebrate all seventeen solemnities in the Church.
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\nIntentionally participating in the solemnities can help us to open ourselves up more fully to the graces available.
We are not called to just teach the faith. We must profess and live it! Mike and Dave explain how to make evangelization more than just teaching apologetics. They explain how to help people actually find themselves in Christ.
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\nAfter helping individuals find themselves in Christ, we need to help society become Christo-centric.
Mike and Dave continue their deep dive into John Paul II’s encyclical Redeemer of Man. How can we help someone know who they are? How essential is evangelization? What has replaced virtue? Find the answers to these and other questions in this week’s episode.
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\nAnytime you try to change the world without evangelization, it is not going to work.
Welcome back! In this season, Mike and Dave are taking us through a masterclass from a master evangelist: St. John Paul II. In this episode, they dive into his encyclical Redeemer of Man. Learn why the Incarnation matters, why evangelism is all about Jesus Christ and why we can’t get caught up in programs and events.
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\nWe should be in awe of what we are in Christ.
How should people in ministry spend their summers? Dave and Mike share ideas on how to structure your summer to best benefit your ministry and your well-being.
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\nInvesting time in your spiritual development is one of the greatest ways to benefit your ministry.
Who can receive Anointing of the Sick? What does Anointing of the Sick do? Dave and Mike are joined by Dr. Roger Nutt to discuss the purpose and effects of this important sacrament. Dr. Nutt also shares about his new book on this very topic.
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\nThe sacramental life of the Church is meant to prepare us to receive Christ for all Eternity.
In this episode, Mike and Dave answer your questions! Some of the questions involve searching for good apologetics resources, looking for clarification on Mary's reaction to the Resurrection, understanding how to evangelize the socially uninformed, and more.
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\nHuman formation really excellerates the adoption of spiritual practices.
How do we pursue unity with people of every nation, race, and tongue? Mike and Dave are joined by Fr. Josh Johnson to talk about how we are called to pursue unity with all people through discipleship and what we can do to accomplish this.
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\nWe are called to pursue unity with all nations through discipleship.
How do you define prudence? Better yet, how does prudence work in your life? Mike is joined by Fr. Gregory Pine to discuss the virtue of prudence and its importance in the moral life.
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\nBy the grace of God, prudence is the virtue that allows you to be the protagonist of your own life.
What is the state of young people and religion today? A big step in reaching youth today is to understand where they are at. Dr. Josh Packard joins Mike and Dave to share the research around this very question.
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\nTrust is rebuilt through relationship.
What is the Catholic moral life? In this episode, Mike continues the conversation with guest Dr. Matthew Minerd on all things Catholic morality.
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\nHumility is seeing your absolute dependence on God without whom you can do nothing.
How do you explain Catholic morality? In this episode, Dave and Mike welcome guest Dr. Matthew Minerd to discuss Dr. Minerd’s new book Made by God, Made for God: Catholic Morality Explained.
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\nThe truths of the faith are truths we live.
What is practical universalism? Dave and Mike explain what practical universalism is and its negative effects on Christianity and the world. With personal experiences and practical steps, they give instruction on how to combat it.
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\nPractical universalism can only be overcome when we take sin and salvation seriously.
What are men seeking in their faith? Mike and Dave discuss different ways to approach men's ministry and what men need in ministry. Offering practical advice and some of their own experience, Mike and Dave leave you with some clear steps forward for men's ministry.
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\n"We are all one act of repentance away from being restored fully to God."
How did our youth culture become what it is today? In this episode, Mike "Gomer" Gormley walks through the many prevalent points in history that have affected youth, culture and the family to make it what it is today.
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\nIf we want to evangelize our youth today, we have to understand who they are.
What is the feminine genius? Why is it important for women to be active in their parishes? Dave and Mike with guest Lisa Cotter discuss the questions and much more on today’s show. Lisa also shares about her new book Reveal the Gift: Living the Feminine Genius.
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\n "The world doesn't need what women have, it needs what women are." -St. Edith Stein
Giving testimony is one of the most important parts of the Christian life, but putting your conversion story into words can be a daunting task. We should always be prepared to give testimony to what God has done in our lives. In this throwback episode, Mike and Dave talk about why Christian testimony is important, and practical tips on how to actually do it. Grab your Bible, a pen, and a piece of paper and get ready to write.
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\nYour testimony is your journey with God, your lived relationship with Jesus, and how it all started.
Are you ready for Lent? How do you explain the importance of correct form in Baptism? How do you make allowances for economic situations in regards to liturgy? Dave and Mike discuss these questions and more in today’s episode.
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\nBecause the Gospel is anti-sin, it is always counter cultural.
Are our churches still sacred places? Dave and Mike discuss the idea of restoring the sacred, helping our churches be places where the presence of God is encountered and known. They also give some ideas on how to communicate this message to your parish.
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\nThe sacred is meant to make God’s presence known.
Do you ever pause to evaluate your spiritual life? As evangelists, it is easy to get caught up in all the urgent matters that we fail to take time for our own spiritual recollection. In this episode, Mike Gormley discusses the importance of taking stock of our spiritual lives and maintaining the goal of eternity with God.
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\nWe spend a lot of time on things that are urgent and often neglect those things that are not urgent but still important.
Dave VanVickle answers listeners' emails regarding how to evangelize and make disciples of parish staff as well as how to collaborate with co-workers in the mission of evangelization. Listen to the entire episode for practical tips for your mission in evangelization.
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\nWe are called to faithfulness, not success.
Dave “the Soul of the New Media” VanVickle and Mike Gormley complete their discussion of the church document “The Reciprocity Between Faith and Sacraments.” This discussion is primarily concerned with the nature of faith. What is faith? What are the different aspects of faith?
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\n“When we talk about the dogmas, we are revealing the full face of Christ. We are revealing who he is. He is the Truth.”
Dave "The Ariana Grande of Sacramental Evangelization" VanVickle and I continue with the fifth part of our series on the relationship between faith and the sacraments by discussing the role of the Church in God's plan of salvation. We explain why the Church is the universal sacrament of salvation, and why it is called to always be on mission.
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\n\nThe visible Church is not an “add-on”, it’s fundamental to how Christ wants to change the world.
\n\nDave "Not the KFC one" VanVickle and I answer your questions about our series on faith and the sacraments.
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\n\nAs Catholics we are called to both uphold the dignity of the sacraments and evangelize all souls who to come us.
\n\nOur modern world sees symbols with skepticism because it only values what can be empirically demonstrated. However, symbols are a key part of any culture, including Catholicism, because they communicate truth. Today, I summarize the significance of the document we’ve been reading in our series on faith and the sacraments. I explain how the sacraments are outward symbols that communicate the inward grace and power of God, and why we are called to preserve the symbols of our faith rather than manipulate them.
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\n\n"The Church is the living body of Christ that communicates the dying the rising of our Lord through the power of the Holy Spirit. Its sacraments are outward symbols that communicate the inward power and grace of God."
\n\nWhy did God create? Today we continue with the third part of our series on the relationship between faith and the sacraments by unpacking the sacramentality of creation. We discuss why creation is sacramental, what makes human beings particularly unique within creation, and why the humanity of Jesus is the reason we have a sacramental Church.
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\n\nThe words and deeds of Jesus sanctified creation, time and human history.
\n\nDave "The Dialogical Nature of the Sacramental Economy" VanVickle and I continue our discussion about the relationship between faith and the sacraments, diving into how the Trinity reveals itself to us sacramentally and how that embodied revelation requires a tangible response from us.
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\n\n"The angels don't use the senses in order to come to knowledge but we human beings need the senses. When God reveals himself, he always does it in a mode we can receive him. Therefore, the gateway to heaven is that humanity the Christ assumed."
\n\nDave "The Turkey" VanVickle and I share a brief Thanksgiving message and express our gratitude for all of our listeners!
\n\nPersonal faith cannot be separated from the sacramental life of the faith. Today, Dave "The Baptizer" VanVickle and I begin our series on the relationship between faith and sacraments. We break down the first few sections of the Vatican document, The Reciprocity between Faith and Sacraments, and explain how salvation is given through the inter-relationship between faith and sacraments.
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\n\n"The Catholic Church uses the story of the hemorrhaging woman as a paradigm to explain what the sacraments can do in the Body of Christ."
\n\nDave "The Crisis of Reciprocity" VanVickle and I get real about the struggles we are facing in our parishes as we learn how to navigate sacramental and faith formation programs in a culture impacted by the pandemic. We discuss the relationship between renewal and reform in the Church, and explain how in the next couple of episodes we'll be diving into an important recent Vatican document- The Reciprocity between Faith and Sacraments.
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\n\n"The Holy Spirit does the renewal in the Church, and people docile to the Holy Spirit then reform the Church."
\n\nDave "The Pew Sitter" VanVickle and I answer more of your questions today. We talk about the rise in popularity of the Latin Mass, how to discern the charism of evangelization in a parish setting, and how to teach your little ones to behave at Mass.
\n\nThis episode was sponsored by Chews Life. Chews Life’s mission is to equip all Catholics with Rosaries for life.
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\n\n"The Mass is first and foremost the prayer of the Son of the Father, and we get to enter into it by the power of the Holy Spirit."
\n\nBaptism is the epic beginning of our participation in the Paschal Mystery of Christ. Today, I share an example of a Baptism class I recently gave which explains the biblical context behind the sacrament of Baptism, and how this powerful sacrament prepares us to live Christ's mission incarnationally.
\n\nThis episode was sponsored by Chews Life. Chews Life's mission is to equip all Catholics with Rosaries for life.
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\n\nThe sacraments are the Church’s ministry of the incarnation throughout time and place, and tangible means through which we live the Paschal Mystery of Christ.
\n\nThere are often many obstacles to evangelization and discipleship. Today, we answer some listener questions about balancing discipleship and parish programs, how to draw someone into the Church if the liturgy at your home parish isn't done well, and how to make Catholicism less intimidating for those hesitant to learn more.
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\n\n"Very few times in the Christian life is prayer always consoling or emotional. It is our dedication to God, and him above all, that sanctifies us and draws us into deeper communion with him."
\n\nDave VanVickle shares with us ten powerful books that will shape our intellects and help us survive the philosophical and spiritual chaos in our culture, hold onto the truth of Christ, and conquer the world with the Gospel.
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\n\n"The Theology of the Body will show you what is wrong with the culture that we are living in, what the path forward is, and how Jesus Christ is the answer to the biggest questions that our world is asking right now."
\n\nAsking questions about God, suffering, and love, has been part of the human condition since the beginning of time. Dr. Michael Dauphinais joins me to talk about about how his new book shows us that the Bible answers many of the perennial questions that have led countless Catholics away from the faith in recent decades.
\n\nMichael Dauphinais, Ph.D., serves as the Fr. Matthew Lamb Professor of Catholic Theology at Ave Maria University, Ave Maria, Florida and holds degrees from Duke University and the University of Notre Dame.
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\n\n"What is man that you are mindful of him, and a son of man that you care for him?" - Psalm 8:5
\n\nTrue discipleship is not just about believing in Christ, it's about following Christ in a concrete way. Dave "The Coach" VanVickle and I walk you through the four phases of training every disciple of Christ must go through in order to consistently be a witness of Christ.
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\n\nThe Cross is at the heart of the Christian life, suffering is the rule not the exception of a true disciple of Christ.
\n\nWhat is the role of parents in the faith formation of their kids? Dave " I Am the Weapon" VanVickle and I share five critical questions parents must answer when it comes to forming their kids them into lifelong disciples of Christ.
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\n\nDo you personally model the type of Catholic you want your child to be? Don't just tell them about God, show them what it looks like to follow Christ.
\n\nHow do we feed disciples in the parish and also make new disciples? Dave VanVickle explains how to foster deeper relationships with current disciples in the parish while also running programs that can draw new disciples into the parish no matter where they are in their faith.
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\n\nRemember that trust strengthens the path of discipleship, and trust is built slowly and intentionally.
\n\nMany of us know what the Catholic Church teaches but we don't understand the Church's reasoning behind its teachings. Today we conclude our series evangelizing your loved ones by sharing a final parish talk about how to answer the most common objections to the Catholic faith.
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\n\n“Most of us hear conclusions of what the Church teaches but we don’t understand the reasoning process behind it.”
\n\nToday we break down the apostolic exhortation from Pope Francis, Christus Vivit, or “Christ is Alive”. This 9-part document addresses the Pope’s response to the 2018 synod on the topic of youth group and young adults and can be grouped into three parts:
\n\n1.) Putting Christ at the Center
\n2.) Applying a Christocentric Worldview to Youth Group
\n3.) Discernment and Vocation
We each share our number one practical takeaway from the document, and discuss the need for youth ministers to be mentors, brothers, and teachers—not friends.
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\n“Satan’s youth group is so much bigger than ours”
Have you ever wanted to talk about the faith with someone, but didn't know where to start? Today, we continue our series on evangelizing your loved ones based on my recent live parish talks. I discuss how to start and navigate conversations about the faith in a way that softens the hearts of people and helps them receive the Gospel in a fruitful way.
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\n\nAsking intentional questions is they key to unlocking a hardened heart to the Gospel.
\n\nToday, I share an important update about what's been going on in my life and in Dave's life recently. Thank you for your patience and support during these difficult times for our families.
\n\nIf you cry out to God day and night, God will not turn his face away from you. I continue to share another parish talk I recently gave as part of a series on evangelizing your loved ones. Today I share about the power of persistent prayer and the different types of prayer the Catholic faith offers us to intercede for our loved ones.
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\n\nSt. Monica persistently prayed and waited for God to move in her son’s life. When God finally moved, Augustine converted. We don’t always perceive the mystery of God’s will and working, but we need to surrender to his time table and trust that he is always on time.
\n\nWithout empathy for the outsider, we can’t get very far in evangelization. Today, I share part three of a talk I recently gave at my parish about bringing your loved ones back to Christ. I talk about five mistakes that will keep them away, and five ways to lovingly draw them back.
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\n\n"The most important part of evangelization is radical, unbending charity. Your child, spouse, friend, sibling, neighbor, or other loved one needs to be listened to and treated with respect."
\n\nWhat are the common reasons Catholics are leaving the Church? Today, I share part two of a talk I recently gave at my parish about bringing your loved ones back to Christ. I discuss the main reasons people are leaving the Catholic Church according to a new survey, and what we can do in response to this crisis in the Church.
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\n\nWhen Christianity is reduced to simply a moral system, we forget that good people don't go to heaven, forgiven people go to heaven.
\n\nCatholicism is one of the most rapidly declining faiths in the United States. Today, I share part one of a talk I recently gave at my parish about the six main types of fallen away Catholics so we can better understand why people are leaving the Catholic Church, and how to bring them home.
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\n\nIf you ache for the salvation of your loved ones’ souls, remember that the grace of Jesus Christ is bigger than your plans and more powerful than your words. Place your loved ones in his hands, and he will call them home.
\n\nDave "The Conversationalist" VanVickle and I answer your listener questions today! We answer questions about HR practices in parishes, how to have a fruitful and successful career in ministry, and what to do when you're a Catholic in a non-denominational Bible study.
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\n\nWorking in ministry is not just about serving the Church, it's about engaging in battle for the salvation of souls.
\n\nGuiding others through the path of inner healing is an essential part of the journey of discipleship and evangelization. Today, Dave VanVickle explains why as evangelists it’s important to help others recognize the wounds that are limiting their freedom to respond to God’s love. He provides us practical ways to help navigate others on their path of inner healing towards freedom and wholeness in Christ.
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\n\n"Lord Jesus, you know my burdens. I lay them all on your Good Shepherd’s Heart. I beseech you, by the merits of the great, open wound in your heart, to heal the small wounds that are in mine."
\n\nWe can't understand Jesus as the Savior if we don't acknowledge that we have something to be saved from- our sin. Dave “Prideful Self-Exaltation” VanVickle and I discuss why we need to face the reality of sin if we truly want to live in the freedom of Christ.
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\n\n"Every offering of grace is a promise that your sin does not define you eternally."
\n\nThe call to evangelization and discipleship starts with the way you onboard and train the new hires at your parish, apostolate, or non-profit organization. Today, Dave "Digital Shabbat" VanVickle and I continue our discussion about hiring and training mission driven employees who will change the world. We provide you with more concrete advice so you can successfully onboard your new hires.
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\n\nThe call to evangelization and discipleship starts with the way you onboard and disciple the new hires at your parish, apostolate, or non-profit organization.
\n\nParishes need employees ready for mission and eager to change the world. Today, Dave “The HR-Man” VanVickle shares his expertise and tips hiring successful and reliable parish employees that will transform your parish.
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\n\nWorking for the Church is not just a job, it’s calling to a mission rooted in prayer and discipleship.
\n\nDo you feel like you are getting comfortable in your faith? There is no plateau in the Christian life, for it is an ongoing pilgrimage of constant learning and conversion. Today, Dave "The Saint" VanVickle and I guide you through the five pillars of metanoia or lifelong conversion, to help you keep running towards Christ.
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\n\nThe saints show us the marvelous things God is capable of doing through us when we run towards Christ, knowing we can only stop when we have crossed the finish line into his glorious heavenly Kingdom.
\n\nHow do we evangelize our young children? Dave “The Ransom Is Paid” VanVickle and I share our experience raising young kids in the faith and give you practical ways to share Christ with them so they grow up with a strong faith.
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\n\n“Don’t isolate your children from the world out of fear. Teach them to be the salt and light of the world, not to escape the world.”
\n\nHow do we properly understand Jesus’ death and sacrifice on the Cross? Today I am joined by Dr. Edward Sri to continue our discussion of Catholic atonement theology. Dr. Edward Sri explains why Jesus’ sacrifice was ultimately a gift of love offered to the Father, and how that gift is made present to us in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
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\n\n"The Father never turned his face away from Jesus. Even in his death, Jesus still saw the beatific vision."
\n\nYour child or grandchild has fallen away from the faith, what should you do? Today, Dave "The Man" VanVickle and I are joined by Brandon Vogt from Word on Fire to discuss his approach rescuing fallen away family members. He discusses the cultural roadblocks in evangelization we face today, and gives us practical ways to engage in conversations with our loved ones who have turned away from Christ.
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\n\n"You cannot diminish the power of a parents persistent prayer."
\n\nAre we searching for eternal things in a temporary world? Today, Dave “The Original Man” VanVickle and I continue our discussion on atonement, specifically talking about the hold death has on us, and our longing for the eternal. We also talk briefly about obstacles to our sanctity, and how to respond to them.
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\n“The only real immortal thing is our soul, and that’s what we need to focus on.”
How did Jesus actually accomplish our salvation? Dave "The Mercy Seat" VanVickle and I talk about atonement theology, a fundamental topic that is often overlooked in evangelization. We dive into the complexity of atonement theology, and look at how Christ's life as a whole is salvific.
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\n\nThe entire life of Christ communicates the saving love of the Father for humanity.
\n\nWe live in a society that defines the goodness of life by the experience of pleasure and the absence of pain. However, we all know it’s impossible to avoid suffering, pain, and tragedy on this side of heaven. So how do we suffer well? Today, Dave “The Mystery of Redemption” VanVickle and I discuss the mystery of suffering from a Christian perspective and what we’ve learned in our own trials. We provide you with practical guidelines to help you navigate your sufferings with the hope of Christ.
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\n\nWhile we cannot avoid suffering, we don’t have to be corrupted by it, for Christ's story did not end with the crucifixion.
\n\nLife has been pretty crazy for Dave and I, but I'm here to share a quick update, and remind you about the evangelization boot camp coming up!
\n\nA quick announcement on behalf of Mike and Dave--we'll be back with a regular episode in two weeks!
\n\nHow do we come back to our parishes after a year of so much chaos and change? Today, I share a recent talk I gave to young adults about returning to a new normal, where the laity is no longer passive, but rather on fire with the Holy Spirit to spread the Gospel and transform society.
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\n\nIt's time to stop walking towards our salvation and start running towards Christ with our whole hearts like never before.
\n\nPart of being an evangelist is learning from your mistakes. Today, Dave “Carry Your Cross After Me” VanVickle and I share our top 5 mistakes we have made over years in evangelization. These mistakes remind us that we are limited and God is ultimately in control.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n\nDont' take the place of God in a person's life, there is only one Savior.
\n\nThe devil wants the evangelist to forget about the salvation of his own soul because he is so preoccupied with the salvation of other souls. Dave “Almost the Strongest Man in Pittsburgh” VanVickle and I answer a listener’s question about struggling with grave sin while being in a position of leadership in the faith. We discuss the spiritual battle all evangelists face and how to find freedom from sin and shame.
\n\nThis episode contains adult themes that are not suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n\nBefore we help others fight their spiritual battles, we must first face the battles in our own soul.
\n\nThe concept of Divine filiation is at the heart of the Christian mystery. Dave “The Power” VanVickle and I, explain the powerful reality that in Christ, we are sons and daughters of the Father. We provide you with a thorough understanding of this theological concept that harmonizes all the doctrines of the Catholic faith, and reminds us of the goal of all our practices.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n\n"Heaven does not begin when we die, it begins the moment we are baptized in Christ and brought back home to the Father as his adopted children."
\n\nDo you want to evangelize but don’t know where to start? No matter where we are in life, we can all share the power of the Kerygma. Today, Dave “Drill Instructor” VanVickle and I, talk about our new evangelization boot camp coming up that will equip you to be a confident evangelist in today’s world.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n\nNo matter what our vocation, we can all cry out from our hearts the Good News- that powerful reality that Jesus saves.
\n\nBiblical knowledge is key when it comes to understanding morality. Today, Dave “Brave New” VanVickle and I discuss why depriving young people of Biblical stories negatively affects their moral reasoning skills as they grow up. We brainstorm ways we can revive Biblical morality in a culture that has disconnected morality from the Bible, and reduced it to pure emotions.
\n\nAscension is proud to partner with authentically Catholic institutions and organizations committed to spreading the Gospel. Learn more about the sponsor of this episode, Ave Maria University.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n\n“We need to revive Biblical morality in a culture that has disconnected morality from the Bible and reduced it to pure emotions."
\n\nIn these times of pandemic, how do we prevent others from falling into a state of indifference to the sacraments? Today, Dave VanVickle and I answer a listener’s question about drifting away from the faith in these difficult times. We have a honest conversation about the urgency of returning to Church, and provide some concrete steps to overcoming the growing indifference to the sacraments.
\n\nAscension is proud to partner with authentically Catholic institutions and organizations committed to spreading the Gospel. Learn more about the sponsor of this episode, Ave Maria University.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n\n"Jesus is the vine and we are the branches, without him we will wither away."
\n\nHow do we fraternally correct people within and outside the Church who are preaching ideas contrary to Church teaching, or spreading theological errors? Dave “Tactical Pants” VanVickle and I, tackle this difficult issue many evangelists encounter today. We give you practical advice so you are prepared to navigate these confusing situations and defend the truth in a humble and charitable way.
\n\nAscension is proud to partner with authentically Catholic institutions and organizations committed to spreading the Gospel. Learn more about the sponsor of this episode, Ave Maria University.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n\n“We have a fundamental justice to our creator, and when God gives us a moral command we cannot soften the command because it offends us.”c
\n\nHow do we communicate God’s love to those we meet? Today, Dave VanVickle gives practical tips for spreading the love of Christ.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n“One of the most important things for an evangelist to understand is how to communicate God’s love for humanity.”
It’s not about bringing more people to mass, it’s about bringing more people the love of Christ. Today, Gomer and Dave “Teacher of Teachers” VanVickle explain why our parishes need disruptors in order to grow in evangelization.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n“Everything worth having takes effort to keep it going.”
You don’t have to be a FOCUS missionary to spread the Gospel. Today, Gomer talks to Anthony, a FOCUS Team Director about his work evangelizing the college campus through personal relationships.
\n\nFOCUS is a Catholic collegiate outreach whose mission is to share the hope and joy of the gospel with college and university students.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n“We can talk strategies, but it’s really the Lord that does the heavy lifting. He’s the first mover, and so much of what I get to do is work alongside him, and see him working.” - Anthony
Numbers don’t reform a parish, prayer does. Today, Gomer responds to a listener's email on building community in diverse parishes.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n“Pray for renewal, work for reform.”
Our culture needs an evangelization that finds light in sinful situations, without glorifying them. Today, Gomer and Dave “Unquestionably Non-Schismatic” VanVickle continue their thoughts from last episode, focusing on finding light in dark places.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n“Every person has a duty to continually evaluate what God is calling them to.”
Instead of deciding whether to talk about Jesus or culture, why not discuss both? Today, Gomer and Dave “No Friends, No Fear” VanVickle discuss how we can integrate evangelization with heavy cultural topics, instead of pitting them against each other.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n“Calling people to evangelization is not calling people to a warm and fuzzy feeling. The evangelist must be prepared to be crucified.”
How do you evangelize your family during Christmas? Today, Gomer and Dave “Pinball Wizard” VanVickle talk about their Christmas traditions and answer a listener’s question about balancing parish responsibilities.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n\n“To me, the sweep of salvation history is my favorite way to enjoy this season.”
\n\nThe sacrifice of Christ should be seen everywhere in our faith, especially in our parishes! Today, Gomer and Dave “Dead-Lifting the Devil” VanVickle answer a listener’s email about evangelizing through the true cross of Christ.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n“Preach the true cross, and watch people be resurrected.”
Rural communities have Catholic parishes too, and they should be celebrated! Today, Gomer shares a talk he gave to Omaha Archdiocesan "Rural Lead" program to help parishes become missional communities.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n“We worship God through the sacraments, so we wanna make sure people understand what it means to worship God at the mass. It doesn’t mean you sing really loudly, it means you worship from ever greater depths of the core of your being.”
New year, new role, new opportunities for evangelization. Today, Gomer and Dave “the taxman“ VanVickle talk about practical ways to kickstart evangelization at your parish in the new year.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n\n“Having solid relationships just means that the tasks and mission of the Church is going to flow that much easier. You’re investing in the people around you, so that they can be invested in the mission.”
\n\nThanksgiving is here, are you ready to navigate faith conversations with your family? Today, Dave “The Turkey”and I give you some quick evangelization pointers so you can navigate faith conversations smoothly and lovingly with your relatives.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n\n“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”- Mark 12:31
\n\nReaching out to adults looking to convert to Catholicism and guiding them through RCIA is a key part of parish ministry. Today, Dave “Not a Mouth Breather” VanVickle and I discuss different ways to run an RCIA program at a parish and offer helpful tips in preparing adults to enter the Catholic Church.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n\nConverting to Catholicism is a journey that must accompanied by the lives of the saints, community life, prayer and theology.
\n\nThere are ripe evangelization opportunities everywhere, we just have to be willing to notice them and bring Christ into them. Today, Dave VanVickle answers listener questions and offers us practical tools when it comes to evangelizing at bars, in schools, and at work.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n\nTo transform society, we must first reach those souls in our local spheres of influence. There are ripe evangelization opportunities everywhere, we just have to be willing to notice them and bring Christ into them.
\n\nThe New Age movement is on the rise in our culture and we have to understand how to reach those being drawn to its spirituality. Dave “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop” VanVickle and I answer a listener’s question about how to reach those involved in the New Age movement. We discuss the reasons behind the popularity of this spirituality today, and offer practical tools to evangelize those involved in this increasingly widespread spirituality.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n\nThe attempt in the New Age movement to get in touch with a power that is non-personal and non-rational does not succeed in satisfying our spiritual hunger because we were made for a personal God.
\n\nNavigating Confirmation preparation with teenagers in today’s times is not easy. Today, Colin MacIver and I discuss his newest book ,The Catechists Field Guide to Confirmation, how to reach the hearts of teenagers, and how to implement practical tools to create the best confirmation experience for candidates.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n\nThe main goal of Confirmation is not to check off a box in Sacramental preparation, it’s to reach the hearts of candidates and form them into lifelong disciples of Christ.
\n\nThere are two fundamental doctrines every Catholic needs to understand; the Trinity and the Incarnation. Today, I share a fun RCIA talk that I recently gave to help you understand the very identity of God. I delve into salvation history in Scripture to demonstrate how the incarnation shows us the eternal self-giving love of the Trinity.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n\nThe mystery of the Incarnation points us to the eternal self-giving love of the Trinity.
\n\nDave “I’m the Hurricane” VanVickle and I answer a listener’s question about practically guiding someone in the midst of a conversion, and also speak on the importance of leaving room for the dynamism of the Holy Spirit when we approach spiritual multiplication.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n\nEvangelization cannot be reduced to merely mechanics or processes, it must always leave room for the dynamism of the Holy Spirit.
\n\nDiscipleship with Jesus truly flourishes when we are faithful to a few basic disciplines. Today, Dave VanVickle dives into four disciplines that are key in the life of a new disciple in order to live a fruitful Christian life.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n\nDiscipleship with the Lord must eventually turn outward. Once our thirst for Christ is quenched, he will lead us into deserts where we can share his living water.
\n\nDave “Well Prepared” VanVickle and I chat about returning to Mass, the craziness in our lives, and continuing to evangelize and reach the faithful creatively during these uncertain and challenging times.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n\nIn times of isolation and uncertainty, we have the gift of the crucifix to gaze at and identify with.
\n\nIt is easy to get worn out when you work for the Kingdom of God. Today, Dave VanVickle shares a word of encouragement for all who feel weary and tired laboring for the Lord. Dave gives us practical advice to find rest when evangelization gets hard and tiring.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n\nWhen you feel overwhelmed by the weight of sin in the world, root yourself deeply in the peace of Christ and let him give you rest.
\n\nStorytelling is essential in evangelization. Today, Dave VanVickle and I discuss the importance of narrative and contextualizing Church doctrine with powerful stories when we share the Gospel.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n\nThe Gospel is an adventure story that we must not only live, but also share and pass down through generations like all great stories.
\n\nLife is messy, but we are sanctified through it. Today, Dave "How are you" VanVickle and I catch up on a bunch of random topics and the chaos in our lives. We chat about Dave's wife's cancer treatment, suffering at the parish, embracing the cross, and ideas for a discipleship think tank!
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n\nWhen life gets messy, there is incredible grace in not asking “why?” and just letting God carry you.
\n\nThe intercession of the saints and angels is life-changing in our work of evangelization. This time it’s just me, Dave VanVickle, and today I share how to engage these incredible groups of persons in your apostolate!
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n\nThe angels and the saints want to be involved in our work of evangelization, they are experts in loving Jesus.
\n\nDave “The Body” VanVickle and I reunite to discuss mission beyond the parish and the responsibility of being on mission that every disciple of Christ has. The laity must not be afraid to step out of their comfort zone and go beyond the parish to share Jesus Christ with others.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n\nWe desperately need a movement of lay evangelists who understand the urgency of mission, and aren’t afraid to bring Jesus into the world.
\n\nHow exactly does the death and resurrection of Jesus bring us salvation? Today, I’m not joined by Dave “Double Portion of the Spirit” VanVickle unfortunately, so this episode is a little shorter. In this episode, I dive into the art of sharing the Gospel and offer you the tools and resources you need so you can effectively share the powerful reality that Jesus saves!
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n\nIs our hope in ourselves or is it in Christ? Dave “I’ll lift weights in your living room” VanVickle and I discuss the importance of the theological virtue of hope as we journey towards Christ and help others encounter him as well.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n\nWe are pilgrims on earth and citizens of heaven, our ultimate hope is eternal life in Jesus Christ.
\n\nToday, Dave and I brainstorm ideas and share opinions on how to approach catechesis and faith formation during this upcoming year, when groups can’t meet in person or at parishes. As you, dear listeners, know, Dave and I have lots of thoughts, and sometimes they’re pretty controversial ones--this episode might contain more of those than normal. If nothing else, our major message is this--we both agree that the way forward is to strengthen the domestic church and focus on forming adults, so that they can in turn hand on the faith to their children. This will be an ongoing conversation, so please email us with your ideas, strategies for addressing this at your parish, and feedback.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n\n“ The faith cannot be given in a disembodied manner.”
\n\nDave “The Icon” VanVickle is back with me to continue our series on sin. Today, Dave shares his comprehensive devotional model as a tool to help us overcome sin in our lives. Inspired by the lives of the saints, this model offers us a practical routine and structure to concretely drive out sin in our lives.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n\n“You can’t have a new heart if you insist on returning to the same sin.”
\n\nSin is deadly, it reproduces and reinforces itself in our lives. In this episode, I continue our discussion of sin by delving into the deadly nature of sin. By understanding the way sin wounds our nature, and how we can combat temptation, we can experience true freedom and healing in Christ.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n\n“Christ doesn’t just want to get you to stop sinning, he wants to go to the root of the sin and bring healing.”
\n\nSin destroys the life of charity between us and God, but how do we talk about it? Dave “The Hope is Real” VanVickle and I discuss sin in our walk with Christ, and share helpful ways to talk about habitual sin in discipleship.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n\n“It’s in the confrontation with sin that the fullest flowering of mercy is made manifest.”
\n\nDave “Living Large”' VanVickle and I address a question sent in by one of our listeners, Dante, on the Catholic Church’s struggle to engage men. We discuss the importance of community for men, and share tactics on how to transform men’s ministry in your parish.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n\n“Every man wants a battle to fight, a beauty to rescue, and an adventure to live”- John Eldredge
\n\nDave “Do you even lift bro?”' VanVickle and I answer a question from a listener about how to guide your family in the Catholic faith without overdoing it.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n“It’s time to be a saint.”
We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your questions/comments and don't forget to text “EKSB” to 33-777 to get the shownotes right to your inbox!
\nYou can also find the full shownotes at www.ascensionpress.com/EveryKneeShallBow
Today, Dave “The Navy Seal of Sitting”' VanVickle and I sit down with a question from listener, Father Timothy, about how to make disciples and not social workers, focusing on works of mercy.
\n\nSnippet From the Show
\n“Christ wants to give us full and complete liberation that starts with feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and visiting the imprisoned and the sick. But it culminates in bringing your heart in silence before the throne of God.”
We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your questions/comments and don't forget to text “EKSB” to 33-777 to get the shownotes right to your inbox!
\nYou can also find the full shownotes at www.ascensionpress.com/EveryKneeShallBow
Today, Dave “It’s-not-delivery-it’s-Dave'' VanVickle and I talk about how we can bring people to the faith with beauty, from classic Christian films, to Lord of the Rings, to marriage prep.
\n\nSnippet From the Show
\n\nBeauty pulls us up out of ourselves, up into the realm of the transcendental. Eventually you will see what truly makes us beautiful, and that is God who is wild beauty. Throw yourself into excellence.
\n\nWe want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your questions/comments and don't forget to text “EKSB” to 33-777 to get the shownotes right to your inbox!
\nYou can also find the full shownotes at www.ascensionpress.com/EveryKneeShallBow
Today, Mike “I-drive-a-little-too-fast-but-I-like-it'' Gormley and I talk about what role the papacy and the kerygma play in our lives. Thanks to our listeners for inspiring this topic!
\n\nSnippet From the Show
\n> When preaching the kerygma around people (Evangelicals) who have spent their whole lives dedicated to preaching the gospel, I show them the Catholic Church is the home of the kerygma. The papacy safeguards the basic gospel message.
We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your questions/comments and don't forget to text “EKSB” to 33-777 to get the shownotes right to your inbox! You can also find the full shownotes at www.ascensionpress.com/EveryKneeShallBow
","summary":"Today, Mike “I-drive-a-little-too-fast-but-I-like-it'' Gormley and I talk about what role the papacy and the kerygma play in our lives. Thanks to our listeners for inspiring this topic! ","date_published":"2020-05-27T12:00:00.000-04:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/14291fdc-7ca1-4b7b-88f4-00b524e350c7/6f31db03-aad3-4d47-96fa-eca8a5b10bdf.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":19021838,"duration_in_seconds":684}]},{"id":"b5b20bae-c33f-4825-a409-b1927fff203f","title":"High School Apathy","url":"https://everykneeshallbow.fireside.fm/74","content_text":"Today, Dave “Slippery Slope'' Vanvickle and I address a listener’s email about teaching the faith to teens and heroic virtue. \n\nSnippet from the Show\n“Just as Dave said to unleash the saints, unleash Jesus.”\n\nWe want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your questions/comments and don't forget to text “EKSB” to 33-777 to get the shownotes right to your inbox! You can also find the full shownotes at www.ascensionpress.com/EveryKneeShallBow","content_html":"Today, Dave “Slippery Slope'' Vanvickle and I address a listener’s email about teaching the faith to teens and heroic virtue.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n“Just as Dave said to unleash the saints, unleash Jesus.”
We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your questions/comments and don't forget to text “EKSB” to 33-777 to get the shownotes right to your inbox! You can also find the full shownotes at www.ascensionpress.com/EveryKneeShallBow
","summary":"Today, Dave “Slippery Slope'' Vanvickle and I address a listener’s email about teaching the faith to teens and heroic virtue. ","date_published":"2020-05-20T12:00:00.000-04:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/14291fdc-7ca1-4b7b-88f4-00b524e350c7/b5b20bae-c33f-4825-a409-b1927fff203f.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":64581060,"duration_in_seconds":2585}]},{"id":"877c9241-bea7-4eb7-ab97-adc496be5dc1","title":"Quarantine Q’s: Teaching the Faith, Tithing, and Youth Groups","url":"https://everykneeshallbow.fireside.fm/73","content_text":"Today, Dave “Homefool” Vanvickle and I are answering questions from you! This week, we talk about how we can pass on the faith to our kids without forcing it on them, tithing, and how to do youth ministry during quarantine. \n\nSnippet from the Show\n“People don’t just want to belong, they want to contribute. Belonging makes people feel welcome, but contributing brings them into the mission.”\n\nWe want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your questions/comments and don't forget to text “EKSB” to 33-777 to subscribe!","content_html":"Today, Dave “Homefool” Vanvickle and I are answering questions from you! This week, we talk about how we can pass on the faith to our kids without forcing it on them, tithing, and how to do youth ministry during quarantine.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n“People don’t just want to belong, they want to contribute. Belonging makes people feel welcome, but contributing brings them into the mission.”
We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your questions/comments and don't forget to text “EKSB” to 33-777 to subscribe!
","summary":"Today, Dave “Homefool” Vanvickle and I are answering questions from you! This week, we talk about teaching kids at home, tithing, and how to do youth ministry during quarantine.","date_published":"2020-05-13T12:00:00.000-04:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/14291fdc-7ca1-4b7b-88f4-00b524e350c7/877c9241-bea7-4eb7-ab97-adc496be5dc1.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":53070957,"duration_in_seconds":2111}]},{"id":"a9354678-aaa2-4bb2-958c-4abf14733346","title":"Forming Intentional Disciples with Fr. Dave Pivonka","url":"https://everykneeshallbow.fireside.fm/72","content_text":"Dave VanVickle is joined today by Franciscan University President, Fr. Dave Pivonka. Together they share their thoughts on forming intentional disciples, including Father's decision to offer free tuition to incoming freshmen next year. ","content_html":"Dave VanVickle is joined today by Franciscan University President, Fr. Dave Pivonka. Together they share their thoughts on forming intentional disciples, including Father's decision to offer free tuition to incoming freshmen next year.
","summary":"Dave VanVickle is joined today by Franciscan University President, Fr. Dave Pivonka. Together they share their thoughts on forming intentional disciples, including Father's decision to offer free tuition to incoming freshmen next year. ","date_published":"2020-05-06T12:00:00.000-04:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/14291fdc-7ca1-4b7b-88f4-00b524e350c7/a9354678-aaa2-4bb2-958c-4abf14733346.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mpeg","size_in_bytes":60597471,"duration_in_seconds":2431}]},{"id":"3c559739-cdf0-421d-ae45-8051b4d567d5","title":"Strategic Comeback","url":"https://everykneeshallbow.fireside.fm/71","content_text":"Dave “Gym Shorts Only” Vanvickle and I give some recommendations and tips for picking up evangelization with limited resources after COVID-19 and the difficulties of a digital church.\n\n_Snippet of the Show\n“Your role in the kingdom of Heaven is to advance the Gospel in the world, and maybe this quarantine can reemphasize the power of the laity.”_","content_html":"Dave “Gym Shorts Only” Vanvickle and I give some recommendations and tips for picking up evangelization with limited resources after COVID-19 and the difficulties of a digital church.
\n\n_Snippet of the Show
\n“Your role in the kingdom of Heaven is to advance the Gospel in the world, and maybe this quarantine can reemphasize the power of the laity.”_
Today's show, is from a talk I gave at the Fullness of Truth Conference last year. It was a weekend long conference on Mary from an apologetics standpoint. My talk was on Mary and the spiritual warfare. Typically someone like Dave VanVickle would give this talk. In fact, Dave sorta did give this talk because in my preparation for this, while driving from Houston to San Antonio, I listened to Dave's Ten Principles of Spiritual Warfare in Every Knee Shall Bow and it helped me formulate my thoughts.
\n\nWe want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com and don't forget to text “EKSB” to 33-777 to subscribe! You can also go to [AscensionPress.com](media.ascensionpress.com) full shownotes.
","summary":"Today's show, is from a talk I gave at the Fullness of Truth Conference last year. It was a weekend long conference on Mary from an apologetics standpoint. My talk was on Mary and the spiritual warfare. Typically someone like Dave VanVickle would give this talk. In fact, Dave sorta did give this talk because in my preparation for this, while driving from Houston to San Antonio, I listened to Dave's Ten Principles of Spiritual Warfare in Every Knee Shall Bow and it helped me formulate my thoughts.\r\n\r\nText “EKSB” to 33-777 to subscribe and get the shownotes!","date_published":"2020-04-22T12:00:00.000-04:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/14291fdc-7ca1-4b7b-88f4-00b524e350c7/e871444e-4b0a-4b74-ac57-9fe58022d4cf.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mp3","size_in_bytes":79480004,"duration_in_seconds":3235}]},{"id":"06e24a24-f6ad-4de4-9994-29c8167436a7","title":"How Should We Approach Signs and Wonders?","url":"https://everykneeshallbow.fireside.fm/69","content_text":"Dave “the Luddite” VanVickle and I are eating meat and answering emails (not at the same time). We answer questions about the importance of signs, wonders, prophecy, and miracles when it comes to evangelization.\n\nWe want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com and don't forget to text “EKSB” to 33-777 to subscribe!","content_html":"Dave “the Luddite” VanVickle and I are eating meat and answering emails (not at the same time). We answer questions about the importance of signs, wonders, prophecy, and miracles when it comes to evangelization.
\n\nWe want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com and don't forget to text “EKSB” to 33-777 to subscribe!
","summary":"Dave “the Luddite” VanVickle and I are eating meat and answering emails (not at the same time). We answer questions about the importance of signs, wonders, prophecy, and miracles when it comes to evangelization.","date_published":"2020-04-15T12:00:00.000-04:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/14291fdc-7ca1-4b7b-88f4-00b524e350c7/06e24a24-f6ad-4de4-9994-29c8167436a7.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mp3","size_in_bytes":80331706,"duration_in_seconds":3265}]},{"id":"0e68cdcf-22bb-4436-b44c-e68127b808c7","title":"Our Number One Focus for Parish Ministry","url":"https://everykneeshallbow.fireside.fm/68","content_text":"If we could re-do our parish ministries knowing everything we know now, what would we do? Dave and I zero in on the number one thing we would focus on if we could go back in time.\n\nThis is a good exercise for parishes to do every year, to help focus in on the things that will have the biggest impact, and also a good idea to do right now, as many parishes will have to streamline programs in the coming year.\n\nText “EKSB” to 33-777 to subscribe and get the shownotes.","content_html":"If we could re-do our parish ministries knowing everything we know now, what would we do? Dave and I zero in on the number one thing we would focus on if we could go back in time.
\n\nThis is a good exercise for parishes to do every year, to help focus in on the things that will have the biggest impact, and also a good idea to do right now, as many parishes will have to streamline programs in the coming year.
\n\nText “EKSB” to 33-777 to subscribe and get the shownotes.
","summary":"If we could re-do our parish ministries knowing everything we know now, what would we do? Given that resources are running low at many parishes, Dave and I zero in on the number one thing we would focus on if we could go back in time.","date_published":"2020-04-01T12:00:00.000-04:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/14291fdc-7ca1-4b7b-88f4-00b524e350c7/0e68cdcf-22bb-4436-b44c-e68127b808c7.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mp3","size_in_bytes":47247610,"duration_in_seconds":1897}]},{"id":"cafa5fef-3f72-416d-be8d-98dbb5ddb2b7","title":"Early Church and Evangelization with Dr. Scott Hahn","url":"https://everykneeshallbow.fireside.fm/67","content_text":"Dave “The Vengeance” VanVickle and I are geeking out today, because we’re talking to Dr. Scott Hahn—yes, that Dr. Scott Hahn. \n\nText “EKSB” to 33-777 to subscribe and get the shownotes!","content_html":"Dave “The Vengeance” VanVickle and I are geeking out today, because we’re talking to Dr. Scott Hahn—yes, that Dr. Scott Hahn.
\n\nText “EKSB” to 33-777 to subscribe and get the shownotes!
","summary":"Dave “The Vengeance” VanVickle and I are geeking out today, because we’re talking to Dr. Scott Hahn—yes, that Dr. Scott Hahn. Text “EKSB” to 33-777 to subscribe and get the shownotes!","date_published":"2020-03-25T12:00:00.000-04:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/14291fdc-7ca1-4b7b-88f4-00b524e350c7/cafa5fef-3f72-416d-be8d-98dbb5ddb2b7.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mp3","size_in_bytes":70079932,"duration_in_seconds":2853}]},{"id":"29402aa2-2270-455c-be08-83fc18f14c3d","title":"Coronavirus, the Domestic Church, and 5 Practical Takeaways","url":"https://everykneeshallbow.fireside.fm/66","content_text":"Dave “Can’t Spare a Square” VanVickle joins me today, as well as our illustrious producer, Marisa Beyer, to talk about life as a Catholic during these crazy COVID-19 times. We reflect on the Catholic response we’re seeing so far, share ideas for making your home the domestic church, and round things out with a special Coronavirus edition of the 5 Practical Takeaways.\n\nCheck out the shownotes at AscensionPress.com or text EKSB to 33-777. ","content_html":"Dave “Can’t Spare a Square” VanVickle joins me today, as well as our illustrious producer, Marisa Beyer, to talk about life as a Catholic during these crazy COVID-19 times. We reflect on the Catholic response we’re seeing so far, share ideas for making your home the domestic church, and round things out with a special Coronavirus edition of the 5 Practical Takeaways.
\n\nCheck out the shownotes at AscensionPress.com or text EKSB to 33-777.
","summary":"Dave “Can’t Spare a Square” VanVickle joins me today, as well as our illustrious producer, Marisa Beyer, to talk about life as a Catholic during these crazy COVID-19 times. We reflect on the Catholic response we’re seeing so far, share ideas for making your home the domestic church, and round things out with a special Coronavirus edition of the 5 Practical Takeaways.\r\n\r\nCheck out the shownotes at AscensionPress.com or text EKSB to 33-777. ","date_published":"2020-03-18T11:00:00.000-04:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/14291fdc-7ca1-4b7b-88f4-00b524e350c7/29402aa2-2270-455c-be08-83fc18f14c3d.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mp3","size_in_bytes":57335947,"duration_in_seconds":2318}]},{"id":"26e2b3a4-13e2-4d63-8723-d942d5d683d7","title":"Aquinas, Apologetics, and Morality with Fr. Gregory Pine","url":"https://everykneeshallbow.fireside.fm/65","content_text":"Today I’m speaking with Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P., the Assistant Director for Campus Outreach at the Thomistic Institute. We mix apologetics, intellectual formation, campus ministry, and morality, and sprinkle a healthy dose of Aquinas on top.\n\nText “EKSB” to 33-777 to subscribe or email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com\n\nSnippet from the Show\n“What we’re experiencing in the last five years as concerns same sex attraction and transgenderism has a lot of people afraid. We’re nervous that if we were to treat those issues, we would be genuinely persecuted.”","content_html":"Today I’m speaking with Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P., the Assistant Director for Campus Outreach at the Thomistic Institute. We mix apologetics, intellectual formation, campus ministry, and morality, and sprinkle a healthy dose of Aquinas on top.
\n\nText “EKSB” to 33-777 to subscribe or email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n“What we’re experiencing in the last five years as concerns same sex attraction and transgenderism has a lot of people afraid. We’re nervous that if we were to treat those issues, we would be genuinely persecuted.”
Dave “He Must Increase, I Must Decrease” VanVickle is not joining me (Mike “Gomer” Gormley) today, but we’ve still got a great show.
\n\nFirst, I talk about the poverty of the Cross, how Jesus was stripped of everything, and suffered like no one else ever has or ever will and how that needs to be at the absolute center of everything we do.
\n\nNext, I read some glory stories from our audience (someone from Ireland wrote in, so we’re bonafide international now). It’s amazing to hear about the good things happening in parishes, since we’re constantly inundated with negative news.
\n\nFinally, I answer a couple questions about how to make meetings more Christocentric, and how to include the kerygma in training efforts.
\n\nWe want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com and be sure to check out the shownotes at ascensionpress.com/everykneeshallbow or text “EKSB” to 33-777 to subscribe!
","summary":"Dave “He Must Increase, I Must Decrease” VanVickle is not joining me (Mike “Gomer” Gormley) today, but we’ve still got a great show. First, I talk about the poverty of the Cross, how Jesus was stripped of everything, and suffered like no one else ever has or ever will and how that needs to be at the absolute center of everything we do. Next, I read some glory stories from our audience (someone from Ireland wrote in, so we’re bonafide international now). It’s amazing to hear about the good things happening in parishes, since we’re constantly inundated with negative news. Finally, I answer a couple questions about how to make meetings more Christocentric, and how to include the kerygma in training efforts. \r\nWe want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com and be sure to check out the shownotes at ascensionpress.com/everykneeshallbow or text “EKSB” to 33-777 to subscribe!","date_published":"2020-02-26T12:00:00.000-05:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/14291fdc-7ca1-4b7b-88f4-00b524e350c7/940f9c99-add1-4a3e-bcea-d95063bd789d.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mp3","size_in_bytes":71202905,"duration_in_seconds":2911}]},{"id":"f05ecf39-880d-4766-a82b-c00dbc68dfff","title":"What History Can Tell Us about Jesus with Dr. Marcellino D’Ambrosio","url":"https://everykneeshallbow.fireside.fm/63","content_text":"A thorough understanding of the world Jesus lived in is vital to a thorough understanding of Jesus himself. \n\nI’m talking to Marcellino D’Ambrosio, aka “Dr. Italy” founder of Crossroads Initiative and co-author of Jesus: The Way, The Truth, and The Life about the historical context of the Old Testament, the world in which Jesus began his ministry. ","content_html":"A thorough understanding of the world Jesus lived in is vital to a thorough understanding of Jesus himself.
\n\nI’m talking to Marcellino D’Ambrosio, aka “Dr. Italy” founder of Crossroads Initiative and co-author of Jesus: The Way, The Truth, and The Life about the historical context of the Old Testament, the world in which Jesus began his ministry.
","summary":"A thorough understanding of the world Jesus lived in is vital to a thorough understanding of Jesus himself. I’m talking to Marcellino D’Ambrosio, aka “Dr. Italy” founder of Crossroads Initiative and co-author of Jesus: The Way, The Truth, and The Life about the historical context of the Old Testament, the world in which Jesus began his ministry. ","date_published":"2020-02-19T12:00:00.000-05:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/14291fdc-7ca1-4b7b-88f4-00b524e350c7/f05ecf39-880d-4766-a82b-c00dbc68dfff.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mp3","size_in_bytes":62222424,"duration_in_seconds":2538}]},{"id":"bd4c2451-8c2e-426c-807b-1c1fb2bd2ae1","title":"Spiritual Direction, Church Scandals, and Religion at Work","url":"https://everykneeshallbow.fireside.fm/62","content_text":"\n\nDave “The Kangaroo” VanVickle and I are bouncing around (see what I did there?) answering your questions about spiritual direction, Church scandals, and bringing Jesus into secular work environments, like the medical field and academia.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSnippet from the Show\n\n\n\n\n\n“Every Catholic needs spiritual direction, but you don’t necessarily need a regular spiritual director.” \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSHOWNOTES\n\n\n\n\n\n*Please continue to pray for Dave’s wife and family during this difficult battle with cancer.\n\n\n\n\n\nJanet’s Email (7:57) - Using the Kerygma in the Medical Field\n\n\n\n\n\nJen’s Email (11:26) - Are Spiritual Directors Necessary? \n\n\n\n\n\nMatthew’s Email (21:04) - How to Encourage Parishioners Not to Leave after Scandal\n\n\n\n\n\nKiara’s Email Pt. 1 (28:22) - Prayer Request\n\n\n\n\n\nKiara’s Email Pt. 2 (33:39) - How to Call Our Colleagues to a Life with Jesus\n\n\n\n\n\n5 Practical Takeaways\n\n\n\n\n\nPray for the plenary council mentioned in Kiara’s emailPray for Janet and her group of nurses in Cincinnati Pray for Matthew’s parish, that God sends them healing and great leadersPray for Kiara’s PhD thesis Pray that God sends more spiritual directors to those who need them\n\n\n\n\n\nResources\n\n\n\n\n\nEmail us at eksb@ascensionpress.com Text “EKSB” to 33-777 to subscribe and get added to Gomer and Dave’s email list!Previous Episode: Prison Stories with GomerCatching Foxes Podcast with Gomer and LukeLearn more about Opus Dei and Regnum ChristiThe Activated Disciple: Taking Your Faith to the Next Level by Jeff CavinsJesus: The Way, the Truth, and the Life \n\n","content_html":"\n\nDave “The Kangaroo” VanVickle and I are bouncing around (see what I did there?) answering your questions about spiritual direction, Church scandals, and bringing Jesus into secular work environments, like the medical field and academia.
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n\n\n\n\n\n“Every Catholic needs spiritual direction, but you don’t necessarily need a regular spiritual director.”
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n*Please continue to pray for Dave’s wife and family during this difficult battle with cancer.
\n\n\n\n\n\nJanet’s Email (7:57) - Using the Kerygma in the Medical Field
\n\n\n\n\n\nJen’s Email (11:26) - Are Spiritual Directors Necessary?
\n\n\n\n\n\nMatthew’s Email (21:04) - How to Encourage Parishioners Not to Leave after Scandal
\n\n\n\n\n\nKiara’s Email Pt. 1 (28:22) - Prayer Request
\n\n\n\n\n\nKiara’s Email Pt. 2 (33:39) - How to Call Our Colleagues to a Life with Jesus
\n\n\n\n\n\n5 Practical Takeaways
\n\n\n\n\n\nResources
\n\n\n\n\n\nDave “The Meateater” VanVickle and I talk about the trap of thinking we need to earn God’s love. This idea is what leads us to that “holier-than-thou” attitude where we congratulate ourselves for not sinning, and then look down on those who are struggling with sin.
\n\nThe reality is that God is a loving father who will give us what we need to serve and love him (aka grace). It’s not through our own efforts that we earn God’s love, it is a free gift that we can respond to … or not.
","summary":"Dave “The Meateater” VanVickle and I talk about the trap of thinking we need to earn God’s love. This idea is what leads us to that “holier-than-thou” attitude where we congratulate ourselves for not sinning, and then look down on those who are struggling with sin. The reality is that God is a loving father who will give us what we need to serve and love him (aka grace). It’s not through our own efforts that we earn God’s love, it is a free gift that we can respond to … or not.","date_published":"2020-02-05T12:00:00.000-05:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/14291fdc-7ca1-4b7b-88f4-00b524e350c7/3d2a5ff0-049a-42ff-b866-5d92caa03955.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mp3","size_in_bytes":78072004,"duration_in_seconds":3208}]},{"id":"99724830-c128-40d7-aa27-682fea519897","title":"Online Evangelization with Brandon Vogt","url":"https://everykneeshallbow.fireside.fm/60","content_text":"Today, I’m talking to the one and only Brandon Vogt, Content Director at Word on Fire, and expert in all things online evangelization. We talk about Bishop Barron, debating with atheists, proving the existence of God, and how to read more books.\n\n\nEmail us at eksb@ascensionpress.com \nText “EKSB” to 33-777 to subscribe and get added to Gomer and Dave’s email list!\n","content_html":"Today, I’m talking to the one and only Brandon Vogt, Content Director at Word on Fire, and expert in all things online evangelization. We talk about Bishop Barron, debating with atheists, proving the existence of God, and how to read more books.
\n\nDave “The Exception for Every Rule” Van Vickle is back with me, Mike “Gomer” Gormley, as we talk about the ups and downs of prison ministry.
\n\n\n\n5 Practical Tips for Prison Ministry
\n\n\n\n\n\nEmail us at eksb@ascensionpress.com or text “EKSB” to 33-777 to subscribe and get the shownotes!
","summary":"Dave “The Exception for Every Rule” Van Vickle is back with me, Mike “Gomer” Gormley, as we talk about the ups and downs of prison ministry.","date_published":"2020-01-22T12:00:00.000-05:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/14291fdc-7ca1-4b7b-88f4-00b524e350c7/128891a8-4c33-4d33-a7f8-017943497ab2.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mp3","size_in_bytes":69917383,"duration_in_seconds":2871}]},{"id":"44e140d2-7007-4dfd-a4cc-f346e8252d62","title":"From the Archives: Spiritual Warfare in Everyday Christian Life ","url":"https://everykneeshallbow.fireside.fm/58","content_text":"First off, I want to thank you all for your pouring of prayers, concern, and even money to the VanVickle family as his wife battles cancer. He wanted me to tell you that he has been uniquely blessed by your love and support and he is praying for you all.\n\nToday we are pulling an episode from the archives about spiritual warfare, becuase it's a hugely important topic.\n\nQuite literally, spiritual warfare is a struggle between two kingdoms—a battle between man and that which draws man away from God.\n\nThis fighting and resisting evil is a common experience, yet many don’t believe they are at war. Therefore they come unprepared to fight the battle.\n\nWe discuss the Church Fathers’ understanding of spiritual warfare, the context behind the Church’s teachings on the subject, and practical ways you can resist evil and equip yourself with the best possible resources.","content_html":"First off, I want to thank you all for your pouring of prayers, concern, and even money to the VanVickle family as his wife battles cancer. He wanted me to tell you that he has been uniquely blessed by your love and support and he is praying for you all.
\n\nToday we are pulling an episode from the archives about spiritual warfare, becuase it's a hugely important topic.
\n\nQuite literally, spiritual warfare is a struggle between two kingdoms—a battle between man and that which draws man away from God.
\n\nThis fighting and resisting evil is a common experience, yet many don’t believe they are at war. Therefore they come unprepared to fight the battle.
\n\nWe discuss the Church Fathers’ understanding of spiritual warfare, the context behind the Church’s teachings on the subject, and practical ways you can resist evil and equip yourself with the best possible resources.
","summary":"First off, I want to thank you all for your pouring of prayers, concern, and even money to the VanVickle family as his wife battles cancer. He wanted me to tell you that he has been uniquely blessed by your love and support and he is praying for you all.\r\n\r\nThis week’s show is from our archive. Episode 10 of Season 1 of EKSB is our most popular episode so far because it shows the cosmic dimensions of evangelization, that is, spiritual warfare. As Dave reminds us, the ordinary way the Devil attacks us is through temptation and the ordinary means by which we destroy the works of the devil is evangelization.","date_published":"2020-01-15T13:00:00.000-05:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/14291fdc-7ca1-4b7b-88f4-00b524e350c7/44e140d2-7007-4dfd-a4cc-f346e8252d62.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mp3","size_in_bytes":58331016,"duration_in_seconds":2428}]},{"id":"c6f8542f-5cd7-429e-b5e2-fc58ae87350b","title":"The Christian Meaning of Generosity","url":"https://everykneeshallbow.fireside.fm/57","content_text":"Dave “Brother from the Blessed Mother” VanVickle is unfortunately not with us today. Just before Christmas, Dave’s wife was diagnosed with stage four cancer, so please storm heaven with your prayers for Amber VanVickle and their family!\n\nToday is a short episode about the meaning of generosity in the Christian life. We don’t usually hear about generosity until tithing time, but generosity extends far beyond dollars. We need to practice generosity at all times, especially when it comes to our prayers and participation in the Church.\n\nSnippet from the Show\nGenerosity is not God asking too much of us, it is God asking for a fraction of what he has already done for us.\n\nSHOWNOTES\n2 Corinthians 8:9 - For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. \n\nPhilippians 2: 5-8 - Have this mind among yourselves, which was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. \n\n\nGoFundMe for the VanVickle family\n","content_html":"Dave “Brother from the Blessed Mother” VanVickle is unfortunately not with us today. Just before Christmas, Dave’s wife was diagnosed with stage four cancer, so please storm heaven with your prayers for Amber VanVickle and their family!
\n\nToday is a short episode about the meaning of generosity in the Christian life. We don’t usually hear about generosity until tithing time, but generosity extends far beyond dollars. We need to practice generosity at all times, especially when it comes to our prayers and participation in the Church.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\nGenerosity is not God asking too much of us, it is God asking for a fraction of what he has already done for us.
SHOWNOTES
\n2 Corinthians 8:9 - For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.
Philippians 2: 5-8 - Have this mind among yourselves, which was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.
\n\n","summary":"Dave “Brother from the Blessed Mother” VanVickle is unfortunately not with us today. Just before Christmas, Dave’s wife was diagnosed with stage four cancer, so please storm heaven with your prayers for Amber VanVickle and their family! Today is a short episode about the meaning of generosity in the Christian life. We don’t usually hear about generosity until tithing time, but generosity extends far beyond dollars. We need to practice generosity at all times, especially when it comes to our prayers and participation in the Church.","date_published":"2020-01-08T12:00:00.000-05:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/14291fdc-7ca1-4b7b-88f4-00b524e350c7/c6f8542f-5cd7-429e-b5e2-fc58ae87350b.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mp3","size_in_bytes":16974533,"duration_in_seconds":675}]},{"id":"9809b7bf-6ebd-4900-87c1-d05c03d0bb3b","title":"5 Resolutions for Catholic Evangelizers","url":"https://everykneeshallbow.fireside.fm/56","content_text":"Happy New Year! We’ve got five resolutions for Catholics who want to continue to spread the Good News in 2020.\n\n5 Resolutions for Catholic Evangelizers\n\n\nRead a Gospel a week.\nRead The Soul of the Apostolate by Jean-Baptiste Chautard.\nBegin the practice of mental prayer.\nLook for one chance each day to evangelize by listening first, and then maybe speaking.\nPray the Memorare each day asking Mary to bring people to you, so you can introduce them to her Son.\n\n\nWe want to hear from you! Text ESKB to 33-777 to subscribe and email us at eksb@acensionpress.com with your comments and questions—or if you’ve got a new nickname for Dave.","content_html":"Happy New Year! We’ve got five resolutions for Catholics who want to continue to spread the Good News in 2020.
\n\n5 Resolutions for Catholic Evangelizers
\n\nWe want to hear from you! Text ESKB to 33-777 to subscribe and email us at eksb@acensionpress.com with your comments and questions—or if you’ve got a new nickname for Dave.
","summary":"Happy New Year! We’ve got five resolutions for Catholics who want to continue to spread the Good News in 2020.","date_published":"2020-01-02T15:00:00.000-05:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/14291fdc-7ca1-4b7b-88f4-00b524e350c7/9809b7bf-6ebd-4900-87c1-d05c03d0bb3b.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mp3","size_in_bytes":4824580,"duration_in_seconds":171}]},{"id":"db1bb26c-3273-42f8-923e-c829b5deb747","title":"How the Light of the Christ-Child Conquered Herod’s Darkness","url":"https://everykneeshallbow.fireside.fm/55","content_text":"On this glorious Christmas day, I, Gomer, give an abbreviated recap of King Herod’s dark, violent, and corrupt history. It was in the face of this proud ruler who did anything to secure his worldly power and wealth that God sent the most humble Christ-child. This Christmas, remember that no matter how small and insignificant you might feel, your “yes” to God will allow Christ to be born into this proud and haughty world in which we live. As a practical takeaway, meditate on this reality while praying the words of Mary’s Magnificat:\n\n“My soul magnifies the Lord\nAnd my spirit rejoices in God my Savior;\nBecause He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaid;\nFor behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed;\nBecause He who is mighty has done great things for me,\nand holy is His name;\nAnd His mercy is from generation to generation\non those who fear Him.\nHe has shown might with His arm,\nHe has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.\nHe has put down the mighty from their thrones,\nand has exalted the lowly.\nHe has filled the hungry with good things,\nand the rich He has sent away empty.\nHe has given help to Israel, his servant, mindful of His mercy\nEven as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity forever.”\n\n**Snippet from the Show\n**God always works through the hidden, the small, and even the despised things of this world. \n\nResources\nText “EKSB” to 33-777 to get on our email list!\nDaniel 9: Daniel’s Prayer for the People\n1 Maccabees and 2 Maccabees","content_html":"On this glorious Christmas day, I, Gomer, give an abbreviated recap of King Herod’s dark, violent, and corrupt history. It was in the face of this proud ruler who did anything to secure his worldly power and wealth that God sent the most humble Christ-child. This Christmas, remember that no matter how small and insignificant you might feel, your “yes” to God will allow Christ to be born into this proud and haughty world in which we live. As a practical takeaway, meditate on this reality while praying the words of Mary’s Magnificat:
\n\n“My soul magnifies the Lord
\nAnd my spirit rejoices in God my Savior;
\nBecause He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaid;
\nFor behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed;
\nBecause He who is mighty has done great things for me,
\nand holy is His name;
\nAnd His mercy is from generation to generation
\non those who fear Him.
\nHe has shown might with His arm,
\nHe has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
\nHe has put down the mighty from their thrones,
\nand has exalted the lowly.
\nHe has filled the hungry with good things,
\nand the rich He has sent away empty.
\nHe has given help to Israel, his servant, mindful of His mercy
\nEven as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity forever.”
**Snippet from the Show
\n**God always works through the hidden, the small, and even the despised things of this world.
Resources
\nText “EKSB” to 33-777 to get on our email list!
\nDaniel 9: Daniel’s Prayer for the People
\n1 Maccabees and 2 Maccabees
Dave “The Wolf of Main Street” VanVickle and I wrap up our Advent series on repentance. We talk about interior repentance and how that shows up through things like fasting, keeping Fridays a day of penance, forgiving others, serving the poor, and constantly reorienting our lives towards Christ.
\n\nWe can’t buy heaven with these acts, (the cross of Christ is our salvation) but true repentance will always show up in our words and deeds.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n“Penance is not about paying for sin, it’s about being more free to surrender to what God is doing in your life.”
Get the shownotes! Text ESKB to 33-777 to subscribe or email us at eksb@acensionpress.com
","summary":"Dave “The Wolf of Main Street” VanVickle and I wrap up our Advent series on repentance. We talk about interior repentance and how that shows up through things like fasting, keeping Fridays a day of penance, forgiving others, serving the poor, and constantly reorienting our lives towards Christ. We can’t buy heaven with these acts, (the cross of Christ is our salvation) but true repentance will always show up in our words and deeds.","date_published":"2019-12-18T12:00:00.000-05:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/14291fdc-7ca1-4b7b-88f4-00b524e350c7/6b95d929-ee35-479e-8649-916540905be8.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mp3","size_in_bytes":63472575,"duration_in_seconds":2616}]},{"id":"c165ecce-9917-41da-931e-a31ccf4b0b76","title":"Repentance Is for Sinners—Just Ask Zacchaeus","url":"https://everykneeshallbow.fireside.fm/53","content_text":"I, (Dave VanVickle), have no nickname today, because sadly Gomer isn’t here. (He’s OK, he’s just been sick.) So I’m continuing our conversation about repentance solo. I want to talk about what repentance looks like in Scripture, especially Zacchaeus’ repentence in Luke 19, and how we can incorporate continual repentance and conversion in our day-to-day lives. \n\n_Snippet from the Show\n“God is not just calling us away from sin, but also to accept this beautiful new life in the kingdom; to see the world, the poor, and our brothers and sisters through the eyes of Jesus Christ.” _\n\n\nGet the shownotes! Text EKSB to 33-777 to subscribe!\n","content_html":"I, (Dave VanVickle), have no nickname today, because sadly Gomer isn’t here. (He’s OK, he’s just been sick.) So I’m continuing our conversation about repentance solo. I want to talk about what repentance looks like in Scripture, especially Zacchaeus’ repentence in Luke 19, and how we can incorporate continual repentance and conversion in our day-to-day lives.
\n\n_Snippet from the Show
\n“God is not just calling us away from sin, but also to accept this beautiful new life in the kingdom; to see the world, the poor, and our brothers and sisters through the eyes of Jesus Christ.” _
Dave “The Giraffe” Van Vickle and I (Mike “Gomer” Gormley) start off nice and easy by talking about the darkness in the Church right now … and then we ease into our main topic for this Advent season—repentance.
\n\nThe repentance aspect of Advent is highly neglected but extremely important. Most people like to focus on the love of God made man (which is huge, don’t get me wrong) but what is the proper response to this great love? Repentance.
\n\nSo, how do we repent, why do we repent, why is Advent a season of repentance?
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\nOur entire Theology revolves around repentance because it’s not Jesus overlooking our sins, it’s him dying for us so that we may be transformed.
Text ESKB to 33-777 to subscribe and get added to Gomer and Dave’s email list!
","summary":"The repentance aspect of Advent is highly neglected but extremely important. Most people like to focus on the love of God made man (which is huge, don’t get me wrong) but what is the proper response to this great love? Repentance. ","date_published":"2019-12-04T12:00:00.000-05:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/14291fdc-7ca1-4b7b-88f4-00b524e350c7/187562ed-32ab-444d-a121-fc82ed961189.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mp3","size_in_bytes":65852711,"duration_in_seconds":2724}]},{"id":"c3ccc7c4-fb57-42c5-80a9-2102326fdd61","title":"The Dangers of Misdefining Evangelization","url":"https://everykneeshallbow.fireside.fm/51","content_text":"You’ve probably heard people say that evangelization is proclaiming the gospel and using words when necessary. Well, Dave “Roaring Lion” VanVickle and myself (Mike “Gomer” Gormley) have a problem with this phrase—it only covers one aspect of evangelization. There’s a whole other big part of evangelization where you use words. \n\nA big reason we reduce evangelization to the interior life is because there is fear involved with proclaiming the Gospel and talking about Jesus. We’re afraid of saying the wrong thing, of being rejected, so we just say, “well as long as you’re living like a disciple, you’re good.” \n\nBut we’re not. \n\nIntroducing people to the Gospel of Jesus Christ takes many, many different forms. You don’t have to do all of them all the time, but we’re pretty sure both words and actions will be involved. \n\nSnippet from the Show\n“There were all kinds of people who were not apostles who followed Jesus. We’re called to encounter Christ in others”\n\nSHOWNOTES\n\nSaint Francis of Assisi - “There’s no use walking somewhere to preach unless your walking is also your preaching.”\n\nEvangelii Gaudium, 165 - “We must not think that in catechesis the kerygma gives way to a supposedly more “solid” formation. Nothing is more solid, profound, secure, meaningful and wisdom-filled than that initial proclamation. All Christian formation consists of entering more deeply into the kerygma, which is reflected in and constantly illumines, the work of catechesis, thereby enabling us to understand more fully the significance of every subject which the latter treats.”\n\nFrank Sheed - “It’s the union of man with God and Christ Jesus.”\n\nJesus Visits Martha and Mary (Luke 10:38-42) - “Now as they went on their way, he entered a village; and a woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving; and she went to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her.”\n\nSaint Mother Teresa - “Do you want to change the world? Go home and love your families.”\n\nFive Practical Takeaways\n\n\nTalkie-talkie: Pick a person and tell them about a change Christ has made in your life.\nWalkie-walkie: Don’t gossip this week. At all. Literally.\nTalkie-talkie: Invite a co-worker or acquaintance to grab a coffee and get to know them better.\nWalkie-walkie: Fast for one day and donate the money to charity or your parish.\nTalkie-talkie: Ask a person what Christ has done in their lives.\n","content_html":"You’ve probably heard people say that evangelization is proclaiming the gospel and using words when necessary. Well, Dave “Roaring Lion” VanVickle and myself (Mike “Gomer” Gormley) have a problem with this phrase—it only covers one aspect of evangelization. There’s a whole other big part of evangelization where you use words.
\n\nA big reason we reduce evangelization to the interior life is because there is fear involved with proclaiming the Gospel and talking about Jesus. We’re afraid of saying the wrong thing, of being rejected, so we just say, “well as long as you’re living like a disciple, you’re good.”
\n\nBut we’re not.
\n\nIntroducing people to the Gospel of Jesus Christ takes many, many different forms. You don’t have to do all of them all the time, but we’re pretty sure both words and actions will be involved.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n“There were all kinds of people who were not apostles who followed Jesus. We’re called to encounter Christ in others”
SHOWNOTES
\n\nSaint Francis of Assisi - “There’s no use walking somewhere to preach unless your walking is also your preaching.”
\n\nEvangelii Gaudium, 165 - “We must not think that in catechesis the kerygma gives way to a supposedly more “solid” formation. Nothing is more solid, profound, secure, meaningful and wisdom-filled than that initial proclamation. All Christian formation consists of entering more deeply into the kerygma, which is reflected in and constantly illumines, the work of catechesis, thereby enabling us to understand more fully the significance of every subject which the latter treats.”
\n\nFrank Sheed - “It’s the union of man with God and Christ Jesus.”
\n\nJesus Visits Martha and Mary (Luke 10:38-42) - “Now as they went on their way, he entered a village; and a woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving; and she went to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her.”
\n\nSaint Mother Teresa - “Do you want to change the world? Go home and love your families.”
\n\nFive Practical Takeaways
\n\nDave “The Perpetual Penitent” VanVickle and I (Mike “Gomer” Gormley) are talking about something we all know, but few people truly understand—God’s love. We’ve heard, “God loves you” just enough to make us content with the thought of it, and totally unfamiliar with the radial depth of that reality.
\n\nBy looking at some passages in the Bible (the woman at the well, the Good Samaritan, the conversion of Zacchae′us the tax collector) we discover the beautiful truth of God’s love: that he knows us through and through, and loves us more deeply than we can comprehend in this life. (Something to look forward to in death, am I right?)
\n\n_Snippet from the Show
\nWhat we desire most of all is to be known, and loved. Because if you are loved, but not known, that’s superficial and weak. If you’re known, but not loved, that’s our greatest nightmare. _
Get the shownotes! Text ESKB to 33-777 or email us at eksb@acensionpress.com
","summary":"Dave “The Perpetual Penitent” VanVickle and I (Mike “Gomer” Gormley) are talking about something we all know, but few people truly understand—God’s love. We’ve heard, “God loves you” just enough to make us content with the thought of it, and totally unfamiliar with the radial depth of that reality.","date_published":"2019-11-20T12:00:00.000-05:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/14291fdc-7ca1-4b7b-88f4-00b524e350c7/1cc4a01d-dd2f-4fea-b60e-66a691ec2550.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mp3","size_in_bytes":53444219,"duration_in_seconds":2217}]},{"id":"8283db8c-495b-4f31-8337-a0b256db5037","title":"Natural Happiness: A Philosophical Approach to Evangelization","url":"https://everykneeshallbow.fireside.fm/49","content_text":"Dave “The Dandy” VanVickle and I are talking about a different approach to evangelization: philosophy. A lot of people respond to the kerygma alone, but some really need a rational argument to understand the reason for belief in God. So today we dig into natural happiness. To be brief, the idea is that nothing in the world can completely satisfy us, because we were made for something eternal, which is God.\n\nWe also talk a bit about parish bureaucracy and the hierarchy of the Church. Let’s just say you should pray for your parish. \n\nWhat do you think about philosophical approaches to evangelization? Do they work? Are they helpful? Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your story, question, or comment—or if you’ve got a new nickname for Dave.\n\nSnippet from the Show\n“Your spouse is not sufficient to make you happy. They are a human person and your heart has an infinite longing that only an infinite God can fulfill. So if you demand your husband or wife to complete you, you are asking them to be God for you. That’s unrealistic.”","content_html":"Dave “The Dandy” VanVickle and I are talking about a different approach to evangelization: philosophy. A lot of people respond to the kerygma alone, but some really need a rational argument to understand the reason for belief in God. So today we dig into natural happiness. To be brief, the idea is that nothing in the world can completely satisfy us, because we were made for something eternal, which is God.
\n\nWe also talk a bit about parish bureaucracy and the hierarchy of the Church. Let’s just say you should pray for your parish.
\n\nWhat do you think about philosophical approaches to evangelization? Do they work? Are they helpful? Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your story, question, or comment—or if you’ve got a new nickname for Dave.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n“Your spouse is not sufficient to make you happy. They are a human person and your heart has an infinite longing that only an infinite God can fulfill. So if you demand your husband or wife to complete you, you are asking them to be God for you. That’s unrealistic.”
Dave “He Stole My Eggo” VanVickle and I are coming up with answers faster than the dusty magic 8-ball that’s probably still in your attic somewhere. We’re addressing your quick questions about parish life and evangelization including:
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n“It’s easier to give money than it is to give your whole life.”
Five Practical Takeaways
\n\nWe want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your story, question, or comment—or if you’ve got a new nickname for Dave.
","summary":"Dave “He Stole My Eggo” VanVickle and I are coming up with answers faster than your magic 8-ball that’s probably still in your attic somewhere. We’re addressing your quick questions about parish life and evangelization including: What’s the deal with stewardship parishes (parishes where your salary is on record so they’re sure you’re tithing fully)? How can I make discipleship tracks in my parish? How can I talk about Jesus when talking in general is hard enough? And how can I be a good witness when the first contact I have with someone is about sexual morality?","date_published":"2019-11-06T12:00:00.000-05:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/14291fdc-7ca1-4b7b-88f4-00b524e350c7/0d4b2bd6-c9cf-4257-bcb4-e9d784701f8f.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mp3","size_in_bytes":65720354,"duration_in_seconds":2732}]},{"id":"5f6c91c4-9705-4ed5-a8cc-71c15cfb3bb7","title":"7 Common Evangelization Mistakes","url":"https://everykneeshallbow.fireside.fm/47","content_text":"Dave \"Skull Crusher\" VanVickle and I talk about seven common pitfalls of evangelization that we see at parishes around the country. Recognize any? ","content_html":"Dave "Skull Crusher" VanVickle and I talk about seven common pitfalls of evangelization that we see at parishes around the country. Recognize any?
","summary":"Dave \"Skull Crusher\" VanVickle and I talk about seven common pitfalls of evangelization that we see at parishes around the country. Recognize any? ","date_published":"2019-10-30T11:00:00.000-04:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/14291fdc-7ca1-4b7b-88f4-00b524e350c7/5f6c91c4-9705-4ed5-a8cc-71c15cfb3bb7.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mp3","size_in_bytes":70901874,"duration_in_seconds":2953}]},{"id":"6c053e1b-0f04-49a7-977f-7d20488a360a","title":"How to Develop a Parish Evangelization Plan: 8 Things to Consider ","url":"https://everykneeshallbow.fireside.fm/46","content_text":"Dave “The Dutch Shnauzer” VanVickle and I (Michael “Gomer” Gormley), tell you how to start catalyzing parish evangelization and how not to make the kinds of mistakes we made when we were but young, eager, parish evangelization greenhorns. \n\nSnippet from the Show\nThis is not the time for good priests, good bishops, and good Catholics; it is a time for heroic priests, heroic bishops, and heroic Catholics. \n\nShownotes\n\nListener Feedback from Amanda\nLast week I met with a local parish priest to talk about the possibility of creating an evangelization position at his parish. I'm a former campus missionary (Brew City Catholic, I think Gomer spoke at one of our annual conferences!) and Father wanted to invite me to help him convince his parish and finance councils that creating a dedicated Director of Evangelization position would benefit the parish. In order to do this, he asked if I'd be able to develop something like a 5 year plan. As soon as I left that meeting I searched \"Parish evangelization podcasts\" which is how I came across the two of you! In the past week, you've become my favorite podcast. I love the practicals! My question for you is this: where should I start? Do you have any resources that I could explore as I begin to develop this plan? My \"Step One\" as it were is simply to start an intercessory prayer group, but I'm rather intimidated by what is a very daunting task. If we succeed in convincing the council that this position is worth it, I would in fact be the only full time person on staff. Our religious education program is through a different parish. It would be the pastor and I starting almost essentially from scratch. This is a vague request, but I appreciate any wisdom you can share!\n\n8 Things to Consider When Developing a Parish Evangelization Plan\n\n\nADULTS NEED CONVERSION: Most Catholic parish employees and volunteers do not think adult Catholics need evangelization, but they desperately do. Evangelicals convert adults. They target adults and they get them. We don’t because we just make assumptions about faith and conversion.\nSTUDY OF EVANGELIZATION: Your parish council and finance council needs to understand the Church’s vision of evangelization and Catholic discipleship. You need to study the heck out of this so it becomes second-nature to you and you can educate the staff, the councils, and any key stakeholders.\nSTART AT THE END OF CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP: List the qualities of a Catholic disciple in your parish. What are the different aspects of following Christ that matter most. Then ask yourself, “What do we currently offer and what new things need to come into being that will lead people to this end goal of discipleship?”\nTHE PITCH NEEDS A TIMELINE: Your councils want practicals. Your case becomes stronger when you offer a timeline and your strategic initiatives to them to consider.\nSOW THE SEEDLINGS YOUR FIRST YEAR: Councils want to see the sizzle, “What are you offering us now?” They want to see where the money goes quickly, but you need the time to build up discipleship. So, create seedling programs that are short and sweet that will perhaps later be developed into full-blown ministries or processes. This demonstrates your are building something and you take away their anxiety.\nTHE FORMALIZED GOAL OF ONE-ON-ONE MINISTRY: Part of my job is meeting one-on-one with people and working with them. Start with the classes and funnel them down to the small group. From the small group, try to connect with them one-on-one. Also, the people in the office and the pastor and the councils and any other stakeholders need to see that meeting one-on-one is an essential part of your ministry. Others will gossip incessantly that you aren’t doing your job because you aren’t in your office. But meeting with people is your job.\nPARTNER WITH ALREADY EXISTING MINISTRIES: The lowest hanging fruit is partnering with the ministries and groups that already exist at your parish. Your job will be to change the culture toward evangelization, constantly holding evangelization up to them and showing them how central it is to the Catholic life. Offer retreats, days of reflection, brief talks, testimonies, whatever it takes to these groups to spread the gospel.\nTAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE PARISH’S CULTURE: Do not, for the love of Christ, try to put a round peg in a square hole. Understand your parish’s culture and specific ministries’ cultures before you start imposing your approach onto them. Realize culture is expressed through things like schedules and priorities at the parish. Do your best to work within the culture to change the culture, but don’t think you'll be successful if you blindly start throwing things around. Nothing will stick. Nothing will change, unless you’re patient! \n\n\nFive Practical Takeaways\n\n\nPray for the Councils who will make these decisions. And listeners, let’s all pray a Hail Mary right now for Amanda, her pastor, and her parish.\nMeet regularly with a group of like-minded people in the parish to pray and discuss the missionary nature of the Church and the parish.\nCome up with your top three essential tasks of a director of evangelization and email them to us. We will figure out what to do with them. \nList five things besides going to Mass that makes someone a practicing Catholic.\nDo something daring for the gospel.\n\n\nResources\nSteubenville Discipleship Quad\nModels of the Church by Cardinal Avery Dulles\nThe 99: An Evangelization Mission Series\nPocket Guide to the Rosary by Matt Fradd","content_html":"Dave “The Dutch Shnauzer” VanVickle and I (Michael “Gomer” Gormley), tell you how to start catalyzing parish evangelization and how not to make the kinds of mistakes we made when we were but young, eager, parish evangelization greenhorns.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\nThis is not the time for good priests, good bishops, and good Catholics; it is a time for heroic priests, heroic bishops, and heroic Catholics.
Shownotes
\n\nListener Feedback from Amanda
\nLast week I met with a local parish priest to talk about the possibility of creating an evangelization position at his parish. I'm a former campus missionary (Brew City Catholic, I think Gomer spoke at one of our annual conferences!) and Father wanted to invite me to help him convince his parish and finance councils that creating a dedicated Director of Evangelization position would benefit the parish. In order to do this, he asked if I'd be able to develop something like a 5 year plan. As soon as I left that meeting I searched "Parish evangelization podcasts" which is how I came across the two of you! In the past week, you've become my favorite podcast. I love the practicals! My question for you is this: where should I start? Do you have any resources that I could explore as I begin to develop this plan? My "Step One" as it were is simply to start an intercessory prayer group, but I'm rather intimidated by what is a very daunting task. If we succeed in convincing the council that this position is worth it, I would in fact be the only full time person on staff. Our religious education program is through a different parish. It would be the pastor and I starting almost essentially from scratch. This is a vague request, but I appreciate any wisdom you can share!
8 Things to Consider When Developing a Parish Evangelization Plan
\n\nADULTS NEED CONVERSION: Most Catholic parish employees and volunteers do not think adult Catholics need evangelization, but they desperately do. Evangelicals convert adults. They target adults and they get them. We don’t because we just make assumptions about faith and conversion.
STUDY OF EVANGELIZATION: Your parish council and finance council needs to understand the Church’s vision of evangelization and Catholic discipleship. You need to study the heck out of this so it becomes second-nature to you and you can educate the staff, the councils, and any key stakeholders.
START AT THE END OF CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP: List the qualities of a Catholic disciple in your parish. What are the different aspects of following Christ that matter most. Then ask yourself, “What do we currently offer and what new things need to come into being that will lead people to this end goal of discipleship?”
THE PITCH NEEDS A TIMELINE: Your councils want practicals. Your case becomes stronger when you offer a timeline and your strategic initiatives to them to consider.
SOW THE SEEDLINGS YOUR FIRST YEAR: Councils want to see the sizzle, “What are you offering us now?” They want to see where the money goes quickly, but you need the time to build up discipleship. So, create seedling programs that are short and sweet that will perhaps later be developed into full-blown ministries or processes. This demonstrates your are building something and you take away their anxiety.
THE FORMALIZED GOAL OF ONE-ON-ONE MINISTRY: Part of my job is meeting one-on-one with people and working with them. Start with the classes and funnel them down to the small group. From the small group, try to connect with them one-on-one. Also, the people in the office and the pastor and the councils and any other stakeholders need to see that meeting one-on-one is an essential part of your ministry. Others will gossip incessantly that you aren’t doing your job because you aren’t in your office. But meeting with people is your job.
PARTNER WITH ALREADY EXISTING MINISTRIES: The lowest hanging fruit is partnering with the ministries and groups that already exist at your parish. Your job will be to change the culture toward evangelization, constantly holding evangelization up to them and showing them how central it is to the Catholic life. Offer retreats, days of reflection, brief talks, testimonies, whatever it takes to these groups to spread the gospel.
TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE PARISH’S CULTURE: Do not, for the love of Christ, try to put a round peg in a square hole. Understand your parish’s culture and specific ministries’ cultures before you start imposing your approach onto them. Realize culture is expressed through things like schedules and priorities at the parish. Do your best to work within the culture to change the culture, but don’t think you'll be successful if you blindly start throwing things around. Nothing will stick. Nothing will change, unless you’re patient!
Five Practical Takeaways
\n\nResources
\nSteubenville Discipleship Quad
\nModels of the Church by Cardinal Avery Dulles
\nThe 99: An Evangelization Mission Series
\nPocket Guide to the Rosary by Matt Fradd
Have you ever wondered how to go about training Catholic lectors or how to inspire teens as they begin preparing for confirmation?
\n\nIn this special episode of_ Every Knee Shall Bow,_ hear two practical applications where Michael Gormley preaches first to Confirmation teens and then to lectors at his parish.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n"We shall not approach the text of the Word of God so casually when we are in the midst of the Liturgy. This is not a performance. This is a proclamation."
\nShownotes
Inspiring Teens Who Are Preparing for Confirmation
\nIn this first talk, Michael "Gomer" Gormley uses humor and personal testimony to relate to teens as they embark on their journey towards Confirmation. During his presentation, he holds up one of the Church's newly canonized saints, St. Cardinal Henry Newman, as a model for Catholics who question and seek:
Training Catholic Lectors
\nIn this second talk given to Catholic lectors in training, Michael "Gomer" Gormley explains the gravity and beauty of proclaiming God's word. Listen to how he connects a lector's role with personal spirituality and the goal of conversion. Here are the quotes he references during this presentation:
Resources
\n1 Corinthians 15
\nRomans Bible Study
\nThe Bible Timeline Chart
\nEphesians 1
Dave “The Angelic Doctor” VanVickle (he’s really uncomfortable with that one) and I break down ten things you need to know to go out into the world right now and start evangelizing your family, friends, coworkers, and the random people you meet on the street.
\n\nWe’ve made all the evangelization mistakes through our years of talking to people about Jesus and the Church so that you don’t have to.
\n\nWe want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your story, question, or comment—or if you’ve got a new nickname for Dave.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n“Real evangelization takes place within a trusting relationship. That means listening to the story they want to tell so that you actually understand where they’re coming from. Only then can you truly offer a response to the yearning of their soul.”
Five Practical Takeaways
\n\nThe phrase “personal relationship with Jesus Christ” has become so synonymous with Protestant spirituality that many Catholics seem to think it’s not that important. This is a huge problem. Dave “The Cheddar” VanVickle and I talk about why having a personal relationship with Jesus is absolutely vital for Catholics.
\n\nIt’s not about just having an emotional reaction, it’s about knowing the God we claim to love and allowing that intimacy to draw us ever deeper into the sacraments and mysteries of the Catholic Faith.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n“Having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ ignites and amplifies the sacramental reception of him.”
SHOWNOTES
\n\nCatechism of the Catholic Church, 2558 - "Great is the mystery of the faith!" The Church professes this mystery in the Apostles' Creed (Part One) and celebrates it in the sacramental liturgy (Part Two), so that the life of the faithful may be conformed to Christ in the Holy Spirit to the glory of God the Father (Part Three). This mystery, then, requires that the faithful believe in it, that they celebrate it, and that they live from it in a vital and personal relationship with the living and true God. This relationship is prayer.
\n\nTHE SOUL OF THE APOSTOLATE - If I do not believe the active presence of Jesus is within me, and if I did not try to make this presence within me a vital reality, I would be depriving my interior life of Jesus. . When Jesus, in this manner, becomes my light, my ideal, my counsel, my support, my refuge, my strength, my healer, my consolation, my joy, my love, in a word, my life, I shall acquire all the virtues.
\n\nOn Spiritual Perfection - The measure of a man’s love for God depends upon how deeply aware he is of God’s love for him.
\nSt. Theresa of Avila - “Mental prayer in my opinion is nothing else than an intimate sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with Him who we know loves us.”
Pope St. John Paul II - “Conversion means accepting, by a personal decision, the saving sovereignty of Christ and becoming his disciple.”
\n\nGalatians 2:20 - “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
\n\n2 Timothy 4:7-8 - “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.”
\n\nSt. John Paul II, speech to bishops of Southern Germany, Dec. 4, 1992 - “It is necessary to awaken again in believers a full relationship with Christ, mankind’s only Savior. Only from a personal relationship with Jesus can an effective evangelization develop.”
\n\nPope Benedict, Deus Caritas Est 1 - "Being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction."
\n\nPope Benedict XVI, May 2004 - "Many people perceive Christianity as something institutional -- rather than as an encounter with Christ -- which explains why they don't see it as a source of joy."
\n\nJohn 15:15 - “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.”
\n\nMarriage Analogy: If a couple has a great friendship, but refuses intimacy. If a couple has intimacy, but refuses to have a close friendship. Catholics are the latter, Protestants are the former. Neither is healthy!
\n\nFive Practical Takeaways
\n\nResources
\nThe 99 - now shipping!
\nRomans: The Gospel of Salvation
I’m your host, Mike "Gomer" Gormley but I am not joined by my illustrious co-host, Dave “The Bearded Fox” Van Vickle because of life. Yes, life.
\n\nFor two weeks we kept trying to record a show together, but my daughter ended up in the hospital (she’s home now) for a few days and threw everything off. Prayers appreciated! Dave was flying all over the country talking about Catholic spiritual warfare (like a gentleman ought) so instead I’m bringing you another example from my own ministry of how I preach the gospel.
\n\nThis talk was given to the men's group at my parish (even though some people don’t like those cough Dave cough) and focuses on the message of salvation through Genesis up to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and points to the responsibility this puts on Christians to spread the good news.
\n\nWe will be back with a regular show next week so you can hear the wonderful vibrato of “The Bearded Fox” himself.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n“The very spirit of Christ is breathed out upon us, giving us the ability to overcome sin, death, and darkness in our own lives. The Holy Spirit is the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ unleashed into the human heart.”
SHOWNOTES
\n\nMatthew 28:16-20 - “Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.’”
\n\nDr. Scott Hahn - “The moment I’m more outraged at another person’s sin than my own is the day I need a reality check, because their sins don’t send me to hell the last time I checked.”
\n\nGenesis 3:15 - “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
\n\nGK Chesterton on Original Sin - “The only doctrine of the church that’s empirically verifiable”
\n\nSt. Paul - “I do the very thing I don’t want to do, and I don’t do the very thing I want to do. Who will deliver me from this wretched body?”
\n\nTwo questions to ask yourself
\n\nResources
\n\nThere’s a lot more to being a Catholic speaker than what you see. Dave “Extreme Narcissist” VanVickle and I discuss the little-known problems and behind-the-scenes difficulties of people who talk about the Faith for a living.
\n\nFrom bringing kids to RCIA to feeling guilty about a paycheck, we talk about balancing family life, parish life, full-time jobs, and time on the road.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n“The life of a professional traveling speaker is not what most people think it is.”
SHOWNOTES
\nMoney and Guilt
Family Values
\n\nMissional Continuity
\n\nFive Practical Takeaways
\n\nWelcome to EKSB, your weekly Catholic podcast on evangelization. I’m your host, Mike “Gomer” Gormley, and I’m joined, as always, by my co-host, Dave “The Masked Pamphleteer” Van Vickle.
\n\nToday we’re answering questions and handing out sweet sweet nicknames. We talk about how to make men’s groups less painful, what to do if your parish has little to no money, our essential reading list for people who want to evangelize, resources for introducing kids to Adoration, and the Pew Research study on the True Presence in the Eucharist.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n“If you can teach what the Church actually believes about the True Presence, and then set up an encounter in Adoration, you will bring people to Jesus in droves.”
SHOWNOTES
\n\nChaz The Man writes: Hey guys! Love the podcast. I have been asked to start/lead a men’s group at our parish. We have a mini retreat this weekend and I spoke to the guy leading about what were we going to do following the retreat to keep and engage the men coming. In turn he said great idea.....so now I have the reins on it which I’m pumped about but I don’t want it to be your typical old guys drinking coffee and talking about surface topics.
\n\nMy idea was to first give my testimony to show them how God can polish a turd:) Then I was thinking about something light to build trust and something that doesn’t require much from them except to show up! I was thinking just reading the Gospel for the coming Sunday in the same small groups every week and talking about it. How it applies to our life, what we take from etc. Then maybe do a book study. Thoughts?
\n\nLuke the Seminarian writes: Dear Gomer and Dave ‘too hot to handle, too cold to hold’ VanVickle, I’m an English Seminarian preparing for ordination to the diaconate this coming year and I just wanted to say thank you for the great work your doing on the podcast and to ask a question. In the UK we face a lot of the same problems as you do in the states, our people generally aren’t well formed and we struggle for volunteers; but on top of that our weekly collections tend to be so low that paid employees aren’t typically realistic for most parishes. We can’t afford to pay a director of religious education or evangelisation and these things tend to fall (along with everything else) on the Priest.
\n\nSo I suppose my question is, what would you guys suggest as the absolute basics to start building from for a priest to get in place that he can manage reasonably alongside all of his other duties? I realise that it’s a big question, sometimes it seems a little overwhelming!
\n\nI’ve read a lot of the books, Divine Renovation etc, but a lot of the time their starting position is so radically different from our average parishes that it’s difficult to think how you would even start to implement them. Please be assured of my prayers and keep up the great work.
\n\nAaron the Book Nerd writes: Hey fellas, love the podcast. Can't get enough. Was hoping you could help me out with a few things. First off, you make a ton of books recommendations on the podcast, but was hoping you could narrow it down a bit for me.
\n\nI am a cradle Catholic who recently went through sort of a conversion experience where I feel I am being called to evangelize and bring the Gospel to people to advance the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth; however, I am extremely knew to evangelization and so was looking for one or two key books that you believe every evangelist should read.
\n\nSecondly, our Parish asked for anyone interested in prison ministry to reach out to them. This is another area where I feel I am being called, but it seems like I may be the only at my Parish called to do so, as I seem to be the one now leading the charge to start the prison ministry at my Parish while getting advice from another Parish with an already established prison ministry.
\n\nSo my question is ....any advice? God Bless.
\n\nAaron the Adorer writes: Hello, Michael Gormley and Dave “Milk and honey” Van Vickle! First off, thank you. I have been listening to your podcast since day one and, while I haven’t always been faithful to the 5 practical tips each week, they have stretched me in ways I was afraid of in the past. In fact, the tips stretched me enough to take up a position in July at a local parish collaborative (2 parishes sharing resources) up here in Massachusetts as the Director of Lifelong Faith Formation. Your insights, challenge and resources (especially Sherry Weddell’s book) has been transformative for me and my family. I cannot thank God enough for the ways your podcast has prepared me for a deeper commitment as a disciple.
\n\nThe other reason I am e-mailing you is in reference to something Dave mentioned in one of the recent podcasts: guiding kids through an experience of Adoration. After the most recent Pew poll that just came out on Catholics and their understanding (or lack-there-of) of the Eucharist, I am wanting to focus the efforts of our religious ed and faith formation on the Real Presence and Adoration. I am hoping to have each grade level have an experience of one hour of Adoration over the course of the year. Do you have any resources that you have used that would help make this a success for the various age groups? You mentioned just doing this with 4, 5 and 6 year olds. Do you avoid adoration with the older kids? If so, why? Do you have any other ideas of how to ignite the older kids’ hearts for love of the Eucharist?
\n\nAlso, better yet, I am wondering if, in light of the recent Pew research poll on Catholics and belief in the Eucharist, you were planning on focusing in on the Eucharist as a jumping off point for evangelization? It seems to be something people struggle with accepting nowadays (though I suppose one could say people have always struggled to accept this teaching, as they did in Jesus’ own earthly ministry!). It is easy for the modern relativistic-thinking Catholic to pick and choose themselves away from this HARD teaching of Jesus. It seems like an area that needs some doubling-down on in our Church here in the US. In any case, know of my gratitude and prayers.
\n\nFive Practical Takeaways
\n\nResources and Events
\n\nDave “Wolfsbane” VanVickle is … not here today. It’s just me, Gomer, with a special episode where I recorded a talk I gave to my catechists about how to become excellent teachers of our Faith. This talk is the past two episodes of EKSB put into practice.
\n\nIf you are a catechist, thinking about becoming a catechist, or work with catechists in any way, this episode will be extremely helpful.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\nWhat is catechesis? It’s about giving growth to a faith that already exists because of evangelization that has already happened. But if evengalization hasn’t happened, what are we maturing?
5 Practical Takeaways
\n\nCALLING ALL DIRECTORS OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND CATECHISTS! This one’s for you. Dave “Cucumber Melon” VanVickle and I talk about the qualities that make for bad catechists vs. great catechists and how to find the right people for your program. This is a huge issue for religious education that is so important because the immortal souls of kids depends on it.
\n\nWe also have storytime with Dave on why Kenny Baldwin is A MONSTER (just kidding) and extend an extra-special welcome to long-time listener Ralph “The Party” VanVickle!
\n\nWe want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your story, question, or comment—or if you’ve got a new nickname for Dave.
\n\nSHOWNOTES
\n\nWhat makes a good catechist?
\n\nWhat makes a bad catechist?
\n\nHow to find good catechists
\n\n5 PRACTICAL TAKEAWAYS
\n\nRESOURCES AND EVENTS
\n\nDave “Biker for Christ” VanVickle and I are talking about Catholic schools again (because that worked out so well last time.) We received a lot of feedback from our episode on making Catholic schools evangelizing powerhouses, so we wanted to talk more about what teachers can actually do to be powerful witnesses for Christ.
\n\nFirst we talk about hitchhiking for Christ (because that’s a thing) and then we get into some ways teachers can talk to students about the Faith and infuse it into everything they do in and out of the classroom.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n“One of the most powerful things we can offer kids is to replace the false labels that our culture imposes on them.”
SHOWNOTES
\n\nTips to Evangelize Students
\n\n5 Practical Takeaways
\n\nRESOURCES
\n\nDave “Velvet Fog” Van Vickle and I dive into history, culture, and politics (oh my!). We talk about three types of culture—pre-Christian, Christian, and post-Christian—and what Catholics can do to navigate the current political climate and evangelize in the culture without getting swept up in it.
\n\nWe want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your story, question, or comment—or if you’ve got a new nickname for Dave.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n“When you get rid of religion, all you have left is politics, and so politics becomes religion.”
SHOWNOTES
\n\nMark Sayer, evangelical pastor and social commentator - “Post-Christianity is one where the Christian project is continued, but forgetting its sources, a Kingdom without a King.”
\n\nSherry Weddell, Forming Intentional Disciples - “God has no grandchildren”
\n\nMark Sayer - “Every generation can forget God and every generation can remember Him.”
\n\nSt. Pope John Paul II, Memory and Identity: Conversations at the Dawn of a Millennium - “One of the most important tasks that we all share is to remember what happened to the 20th century.”
\n\n5 Practical Tips
\n\nResources: Evangelii Nuntiandi
","summary":"Dave “Velvet Fog” Van Vickle and I dive into history, culture, and politics (oh my!). We talk about three types of culture—pre-Christian, Christian, and post-Christian—and what Catholics can do to navigate the current political climate and evangelize in the culture without getting swept up in it.","date_published":"2019-08-14T12:00:00.000-04:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/14291fdc-7ca1-4b7b-88f4-00b524e350c7/74720046-c5a5-4ca5-a29c-d5e73019d277.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mp3","size_in_bytes":49312708,"duration_in_seconds":2039}]},{"id":"2c1c853a-b553-456f-b650-3a175a0eaeca","title":"Making Catholic Schools an Evangelizing Powerhouse","url":"https://everykneeshallbow.fireside.fm/35","content_text":"Dave “Milk and Honey” VanVickle and I are talking about Catholic education, and the opportunities we have to evangelize in and out of the classroom.\n\nWe love Catholic schools, but so many students who attend leave without any inclination to practice the Faith. Dave and I attempt to identify the root of this problem and talk about what leaders, teachers, and parents can do to evangelize their students and create lifelong disciples. \n\nSnippet from the Show\n“The greatest tendency of our Catholic schools is to teach faith like history—just another liberal arts thing to memorize facts, figures, and dates to get a good grade on the test.”\n\nCheck out this episode and the shownotes (including the 5 Practical Tips and instructions on how to get Gomer's FREE program) at media.ascensionpress.com","content_html":"Dave “Milk and Honey” VanVickle and I are talking about Catholic education, and the opportunities we have to evangelize in and out of the classroom.
\n\nWe love Catholic schools, but so many students who attend leave without any inclination to practice the Faith. Dave and I attempt to identify the root of this problem and talk about what leaders, teachers, and parents can do to evangelize their students and create lifelong disciples.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n“The greatest tendency of our Catholic schools is to teach faith like history—just another liberal arts thing to memorize facts, figures, and dates to get a good grade on the test.”
Check out this episode and the shownotes (including the 5 Practical Tips and instructions on how to get Gomer's FREE program) at media.ascensionpress.com
","summary":"Dave “Milk and Honey” VanVickle and I are talking about Catholic education, and the opportunities we have to evangelize in and out of the classroom. We love Catholic schools, but so many students who attend leave without any inclination to practice the Faith. Dave and I attempt to identify the root of this problem and talk about what leaders, teachers, and parents can do to evangelize their students and create lifelong disciples. ","date_published":"2019-08-07T12:00:00.000-04:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/14291fdc-7ca1-4b7b-88f4-00b524e350c7/2c1c853a-b553-456f-b650-3a175a0eaeca.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mp3","size_in_bytes":61196385,"duration_in_seconds":2534}]},{"id":"f796060b-b7f7-4503-9501-1a65ebb9ecb1","title":"Maturing in Your Faith","url":"https://everykneeshallbow.fireside.fm/34","content_text":"So you’ve got the kerygma down … now what? Dave “I’m Kind of a Big Deal” VanVickle and I talk about how to mature in your faith after an initial proclamation of the gospel.\n\nThe kerygma is not the end of evangelization, it’s just the beginning. It’s how someone takes the first step to becoming a disciple of Jesus, but we can’t stop there, we have to make sure that we’re preaching, but also teaching.\n\nSnippet from the Show\n“An initial proclamation of the kerygma is not enough. It is the doorway to faith, but once you cross that threshold, you are in the house of faith, and now you must conform your life to Christ.”\n\nSHOWNOTES\n\nCatechism of the Catholic Church, 89 - “There is an organic connection between our spiritual life and the dogmas. Dogmas are lights along the path of faith; they illuminate it and make it secure. Conversely, if our life is upright, our intellect and heart will be open to welcome the light shed by the dogmas of faith.”\n\nPope St. John Paul II in Catechesi Tradendae - “The Church has always considered catechesis as one of her primary tasks … very soon the name of catechesis was given to the whole of the efforts within the Church to make disciples, to help people to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, so that believing they might have life in His name, and to educate and instruct them in this life and thus build up the Body of Christ.”\n\nCatechism of the Catholic Church, 89 - “The mutual connections between dogmas, and their coherence, can be found in the whole of the Revelation of the mystery of Christ. ‘In Catholic doctrine there exists an order or hierarchy of truths, since they vary in their relation to the foundation of the Christian faith.’\n\nSt. Teresa of Avila - “If you want to hear God speak to you, read scripture. If you want to see a miracle, receive the Eucharist.”\n\nSt. John the Baptist - “Bear fruit that befits repentance” (Matthew 3:8).\n\n5 Practical Tips\n\n\nRead the Catechism, paragraphs 74-95.\nPick a dogma to enter into more deeply.\nConnect dogma to the kerygma.\nFor your spiritual life, ask Jesus to be Lord of your life, ask where you need him to assert his lordship over you, and conform.\nPray for the USCCB.\n","content_html":"So you’ve got the kerygma down … now what? Dave “I’m Kind of a Big Deal” VanVickle and I talk about how to mature in your faith after an initial proclamation of the gospel.
\n\nThe kerygma is not the end of evangelization, it’s just the beginning. It’s how someone takes the first step to becoming a disciple of Jesus, but we can’t stop there, we have to make sure that we’re preaching, but also teaching.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n“An initial proclamation of the kerygma is not enough. It is the doorway to faith, but once you cross that threshold, you are in the house of faith, and now you must conform your life to Christ.”
SHOWNOTES
\n\nCatechism of the Catholic Church, 89 - “There is an organic connection between our spiritual life and the dogmas. Dogmas are lights along the path of faith; they illuminate it and make it secure. Conversely, if our life is upright, our intellect and heart will be open to welcome the light shed by the dogmas of faith.”
\n\nPope St. John Paul II in Catechesi Tradendae - “The Church has always considered catechesis as one of her primary tasks … very soon the name of catechesis was given to the whole of the efforts within the Church to make disciples, to help people to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, so that believing they might have life in His name, and to educate and instruct them in this life and thus build up the Body of Christ.”
\n\nCatechism of the Catholic Church, 89 - “The mutual connections between dogmas, and their coherence, can be found in the whole of the Revelation of the mystery of Christ. ‘In Catholic doctrine there exists an order or hierarchy of truths, since they vary in their relation to the foundation of the Christian faith.’
\n\nSt. Teresa of Avila - “If you want to hear God speak to you, read scripture. If you want to see a miracle, receive the Eucharist.”
\n\nSt. John the Baptist - “Bear fruit that befits repentance” (Matthew 3:8).
\n\n5 Practical Tips
\n\nDave “Thunderclap” VanVickle and I are talking to the one and only Mark Hart—author, speaker, and Executive Vice President of Life Teen. We talk about the struggles parishes have to organize a movement of evangelization and the difficulty of training and empowering individuals to spread the gospel.
\n\nInstead of just telling people to evangelize, Mark is on a mission to teach people to evangelize with a new program—The 99. Featuring Fr. Mike Schmitz, Fr. Josh Johnson, Leah Darrow, Sr. Miriam James Heidland, and more, the program will help parishes start a movement of evangelization in their communities. See more at evangelization.com.
\n\nSnippet from the Show - “The Church is an organized religion, but we’re painfully disorganized on a parish level.”
\n\nSHOWNOTES
\n\nQuote attributed to St. Francis of Assisi - “Preach the gospel at all times, when necessary, use words.”
\n\nMark’s 4 Practical Tips
\n\nOne last tip from Gomer and Dave: Buy The 99!
","summary":"Dave “Thunderclap” VanVickle and I are talking to the one and only Mark Hart—author, speaker, and Executive Vice President of Life Teen. We talk about the struggles parishes have to organize a movement of evangelization and the difficulty of training and empowering individuals to spread the gospel. Instead of just telling people to evangelize, Mark is on a mission to teach people to evangelize with a new program—The 99. Featuring Fr. Mike Schmitz, Fr. Josh Johnson, Leah Darrow, Sr. Miriam James Heidland, and more, the program will help parishes start a movement of evangelization in their communities. See more at evangelization.com.","date_published":"2019-07-24T12:00:00.000-04:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/14291fdc-7ca1-4b7b-88f4-00b524e350c7/7b12c997-031f-43b8-954f-000952d8badf.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mp3","size_in_bytes":68460816,"duration_in_seconds":2838}]},{"id":"d13a31cd-63a0-4d40-8707-7d0c301b3456","title":"The Role of Laity in Evangelization","url":"https://everykneeshallbow.fireside.fm/32","content_text":"Dave “Too Hot to Handle, Too Cold to Hold” VanVickle and I are focusing on the role of the laity in the Church when it comes to explicit word and deed evangelization. \n\nThe Church needs the voice of the laity to speak up! Priests can’t go into your office and nuns can’t go into your friend’s house (probably). We are the ones that must carry the Gospel into our homes, schools, jobs, and public places. \n\nSnippet from the Show\n“Catholics were attempting to be modest and self-critical instead of being triumphant … We went from being triumphant and engaging in apologetics to just being apologetic.”\n\nCheck out the shownotes for today's episode at ascensionpress.com/everykneeshallbow","content_html":"Dave “Too Hot to Handle, Too Cold to Hold” VanVickle and I are focusing on the role of the laity in the Church when it comes to explicit word and deed evangelization.
\n\nThe Church needs the voice of the laity to speak up! Priests can’t go into your office and nuns can’t go into your friend’s house (probably). We are the ones that must carry the Gospel into our homes, schools, jobs, and public places.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n“Catholics were attempting to be modest and self-critical instead of being triumphant … We went from being triumphant and engaging in apologetics to just being apologetic.”
Check out the shownotes for today's episode at ascensionpress.com/everykneeshallbow
","summary":"Dave “Too Hot to Handle, Too Cold to Hold” VanVickle and I are focusing on the role of the laity in the Church when it comes to explicit word and deed evangelization. The Church needs the voice of the laity to speak up! Priests can’t go into your office and nuns can’t go into your friend’s house (probably). We are the ones that must carry the Gospel into our homes, schools, jobs, and public places. ","date_published":"2019-07-17T12:00:00.000-04:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/14291fdc-7ca1-4b7b-88f4-00b524e350c7/d13a31cd-63a0-4d40-8707-7d0c301b3456.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mp3","size_in_bytes":60918075,"duration_in_seconds":2523}]},{"id":"bdcc10be-9b9a-4871-ac18-2fe133be0764","title":"Is Jesus the Defining Characteristic of Your Life?","url":"https://everykneeshallbow.fireside.fm/31","content_text":"Dave “Don’t Fear the Reaper” Van Vickle and I are talking about how to keep Jesus at the heart of your ministry and your life. \n\nToday’s totally made up middle name for Dave is brought to you by listener Lina., who also asks the questions that we are answering in this show - thank you Lina! \n\nWe’re talking about the vine, the branches, and the backyard … (Dave bought a new house). We start with how to open your home to engage the culture and build community and then get to a question from Lina who asks, “What are the practical steps to stay grafted onto the vine when you’ve been sent to work out in the vineyard?” \n\nIn other words, how do we keep Jesus as the defining characteristic of our life when we feel called to go off and do great things on our own or within our parish?\n\nSnippet from the Show\n“The presence of suffering and persecution is the way that God makes you better, stronger, and woven even tighter with Christ the vine.”\n\nCheck out the shownotes for today's episode at ascensionpress.com/everykneeshallbow","content_html":"Dave “Don’t Fear the Reaper” Van Vickle and I are talking about how to keep Jesus at the heart of your ministry and your life.
\n\nToday’s totally made up middle name for Dave is brought to you by listener Lina., who also asks the questions that we are answering in this show - thank you Lina!
\n\nWe’re talking about the vine, the branches, and the backyard … (Dave bought a new house). We start with how to open your home to engage the culture and build community and then get to a question from Lina who asks, “What are the practical steps to stay grafted onto the vine when you’ve been sent to work out in the vineyard?”
\n\nIn other words, how do we keep Jesus as the defining characteristic of our life when we feel called to go off and do great things on our own or within our parish?
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n“The presence of suffering and persecution is the way that God makes you better, stronger, and woven even tighter with Christ the vine.”
Check out the shownotes for today's episode at ascensionpress.com/everykneeshallbow
","summary":"Dave “Don’t Fear the Reaper” Van Vickle and I are talking about how to keep Jesus at the heart of your ministry and your life. Today’s totally made up middle name for Dave is brought to you by listener Lina., who also asks the questions that we are answering in this show - thank you Lina! We’re talking about the vine, the branches, and the backyard … (Dave bought a new house). We start with how to open your home to engage the culture and build community and then get to a question from Lina who asks, “What are the practical steps to stay grafted onto the vine when you’ve been sent to work out in the vineyard?” In other words, how do we keep Jesus as the defining characteristic of our life when we feel called to go off and do great things on our own or within our parish?","date_published":"2019-07-10T12:00:00.000-04:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/14291fdc-7ca1-4b7b-88f4-00b524e350c7/bdcc10be-9b9a-4871-ac18-2fe133be0764.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mp3","size_in_bytes":52826215,"duration_in_seconds":2187}]},{"id":"33a7baab-4361-475e-afee-a9d753b4f0c6","title":"We Don’t Need Christianity to Be Popular, We Need to Make Disciples","url":"https://everykneeshallbow.fireside.fm/30","content_text":"We want people to convert to the Catholic Church not because it’s a popular thing to do, but because they have a genuine experience of God’s love and truth through the Church. This means we can’t water down the gospel. \n\nDave “Lay Assistant to Exorcists” VanVickle and I talk about this vital aspect of winning hearts for Christ, as well as the importance of repentance. On a practical note, we also talk about how to start intercessory prayer groups. \n\nCheck out today's shownotes at ascensionpress.com/everykneeshallbow","content_html":"We want people to convert to the Catholic Church not because it’s a popular thing to do, but because they have a genuine experience of God’s love and truth through the Church. This means we can’t water down the gospel.
\n\nDave “Lay Assistant to Exorcists” VanVickle and I talk about this vital aspect of winning hearts for Christ, as well as the importance of repentance. On a practical note, we also talk about how to start intercessory prayer groups.
\n\nCheck out today's shownotes at ascensionpress.com/everykneeshallbow
","summary":"We want people to convert to the Catholic Church not because it’s a popular thing to do, but because they have a genuine experience of God’s love and truth through the Church. This means we can’t water down the gospel. Dave “Lay Assistant to Exorcists” VanVickle and I talk about this vital aspect of winning hearts for Christ, as well as the importance of repentance. On a more practical note, we also talk about how to start intercessory prayer groups. ","date_published":"2019-07-03T12:00:00.000-04:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/14291fdc-7ca1-4b7b-88f4-00b524e350c7/33a7baab-4361-475e-afee-a9d753b4f0c6.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mp3","size_in_bytes":67008018,"duration_in_seconds":2775}]},{"id":"7dca0669-1401-4758-ab42-3ebe6e7ea140","title":"Waking the Dead: Transforming a Heart of Stone","url":"https://everykneeshallbow.fireside.fm/29","content_text":"Dave VanVickle (that’s right, no nickname today) and I are waking the dead! We’re talking about how to really reach people through evangelization. Not just a short moment of emotional connection that fades the next day, but a true conversion where a person reorients their life to God. \n\nSnippet from the Show\n“Taking someone’s heart of stone to a heart of flesh is a supernatural act. You are making them alive in Christ Jesus. That is a bigger miracle than resurrecting a deceased corpse to natural life.”\n\nCheck out the shownotes at ascensionpress.com/everykneeshallbow","content_html":"Dave VanVickle (that’s right, no nickname today) and I are waking the dead! We’re talking about how to really reach people through evangelization. Not just a short moment of emotional connection that fades the next day, but a true conversion where a person reorients their life to God.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n“Taking someone’s heart of stone to a heart of flesh is a supernatural act. You are making them alive in Christ Jesus. That is a bigger miracle than resurrecting a deceased corpse to natural life.”
Check out the shownotes at ascensionpress.com/everykneeshallbow
","summary":"Dave VanVickle (that’s right, no nickname today) and I are waking the dead! We’re talking about how to really reach people through evangelization. Not just a short moment of emotional connection that fades the next day, but a true conversion where a person reorients their life to God.","date_published":"2019-06-26T12:00:00.000-04:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/14291fdc-7ca1-4b7b-88f4-00b524e350c7/7dca0669-1401-4758-ab42-3ebe6e7ea140.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mp3","size_in_bytes":48122031,"duration_in_seconds":2003}]},{"id":"0ddbf0f4-0eaa-426a-b415-4216018f6ba0","title":"Preparing a Talk for High School Students","url":"https://everykneeshallbow.fireside.fm/28","content_text":"Public speaking to teens: a favorite pastime of … no one. But somebody has to do it, and with some prayer and preparation, your talk can be a great opportunity to change hearts and minds—just look at the fruits that come from Steubenville Conferences. \n\nDave “Father of Wildlings” VanVickle and I go over how to prepare a talk for high school students that will bring the house down.\n\nWe want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your story, question, or comment—or if you’ve got a new nickname for Dave.\n\nSnippet from the Show\n“Christ is the one who destroys the walls of hostility that we keep building up. Every new barrier we put up, Christ is the one who tears them down. God is pursuing us.”\n\nSHOWNOTES\nHow to prepare a talk for high schoolers\n\n\nSelect a piece of Scripture: The Word of God is the only thing that gives real clarity in the world.\nBe yourself: teens appreciate authenticity \nSpeak to their experience.\n\n\n5 Practical Tips\n\n\nFind three narratives where Jesus pursues (or talks about) going after someone outside and brings them in. Write down your thoughts and observations.\nTake a half page and try to write a tract that you think would be compelling to bring someone to the Lord.\nAsk someone in your life to pray for you and your call to evangelize.\nReach out to someone in your life and compliment them on some part of their life.\nPray for the RCIA team and the adults to be baptized in your parish.\n\n\nResources from the Show\nThe Great Adventure Bible\nBroken and Blessed: An Invitation to My Generation - Fr Josh Johnson\nAscension’s soon-to-be-released program for evangelization, The 99, at evangelization.com","content_html":"Public speaking to teens: a favorite pastime of … no one. But somebody has to do it, and with some prayer and preparation, your talk can be a great opportunity to change hearts and minds—just look at the fruits that come from Steubenville Conferences.
\n\nDave “Father of Wildlings” VanVickle and I go over how to prepare a talk for high school students that will bring the house down.
\n\nWe want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your story, question, or comment—or if you’ve got a new nickname for Dave.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n“Christ is the one who destroys the walls of hostility that we keep building up. Every new barrier we put up, Christ is the one who tears them down. God is pursuing us.”
SHOWNOTES
\nHow to prepare a talk for high schoolers
5 Practical Tips
\n\nResources from the Show
\nThe Great Adventure Bible
\nBroken and Blessed: An Invitation to My Generation - Fr Josh Johnson
\nAscension’s soon-to-be-released program for evangelization, The 99, at evangelization.com
It’s difficult to spread the gospel if you haven’t read it. Dave “Too Hot to Handle, Too Cold to Hold” VanVickle and I talk about why it’s vital to regularly read Scripture and how to immerse yourself in the Word.
\n\nWe want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your story, question, or comment—or if you’ve got a new nickname for Dave.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n“The most effective evangelists are those who are steeped in the Word. Evangelization is the fruit of encounter, meditation, and study of Sacred Scripture. It’s an overflow of what’s in your heart because of your total commitment to the Word of God.”
SHOWNOTES
\n\nIf using Scripture to prepare a talk:
\n\nIf worried about misrepresenting Scripture or using it the wrong way:
\n\n5 Practical Tips
\n\nResources from the Show
\n\nCheck out this podcast at ascensionpress.com/everykneeshallbow to browse the shownotes for every episode!
","summary":"It’s difficult to spread the gospel if you haven’t read it. Dave “Too Hot to Handle, Too Cold to Hold” VanVickle and I talk about why it’s vital to regularly read Scripture and how to immerse yourself in the Word. We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your story, question, or comment—or if you’ve got a new nickname for Dave.","date_published":"2019-06-12T12:00:00.000-04:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/14291fdc-7ca1-4b7b-88f4-00b524e350c7/72909df4-6948-4017-adaa-3c6550309dad.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mp3","size_in_bytes":55934215,"duration_in_seconds":2328}]},{"id":"d049811f-64d5-4719-b60d-461a783d4fa6","title":"How Do You Evangelize an Atheist?","url":"https://everykneeshallbow.fireside.fm/26","content_text":"It’s hard to start proclaiming the kerygma, “God loves you and has a plan for your life”, when someone doesn’t believe in God. Dave “All Thriller No Filler” VanVickle and I wade into the world of apologetics as we address a listener's question about how to evangelize an atheist. \n\nOur faith is rational. Don’t fear questions about what we believe, because at some point over the past two thousand years, that question has already been asked and answered. We just have to find it. \n\nWe want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your story, question, or comment—or if you’ve got a new nickname for Dave.\n\nSnippet from the Show\n“Catholic students need to understand that faith is not irrational. We don’t leave our minds at the door. That’s the Catholic tradition, it’s OK to question.”\n\nSHOWNOTES\n\n\nChristianity has reasons for its beliefs. Start with Jesus as a man, his birth and resurrection.\nPray and ask others to pray with you for conversion.\nAsk: What is your moral absolute? What do you base your morality on?\nLook into metaphysics. Teaching even a little bit of it helps people look into things and start thinking.\nKeep the conversation about their relationship with God, but also learn about apologetics.\nHave material around that they can “stumble on.”\nMake sure they understand we welcome and encourage questions about our faith.\n\n\n5 Practical Tips\n\n\nThink about how you would change your testimony if you knew there was an atheist in the audience.\nMemorize names and facts about your community members to show that you care about them.\nPray with us for the conversion of the boys at this high school.\nBuild a database of online answers to atheism.\nPractice reverse mentoring. Ask someone younger than you to teach you something.\n\n\nResources from the Show\nThe Handbook of Christian Apologetics - Peter Kreeft\nThe Handbook of Catholic Apologetics - Peter Kreeft, Ronald Tacelli \nFundamentals of the Faith - Peter Kreeft\nMore than a Carpenter - Josh McDowell\nApologetics and Catholic Doctrine - Archbishop Michael Sheehan\nMere Christianity - C.S. Lewis\nThe Reason for God - Timothy Keller\nMaking Sense of God - Timothy Keller\nMemorare Prayer\nMagis Center website- Fr. Robert Spitzer","content_html":"It’s hard to start proclaiming the kerygma, “God loves you and has a plan for your life”, when someone doesn’t believe in God. Dave “All Thriller No Filler” VanVickle and I wade into the world of apologetics as we address a listener's question about how to evangelize an atheist.
\n\nOur faith is rational. Don’t fear questions about what we believe, because at some point over the past two thousand years, that question has already been asked and answered. We just have to find it.
\n\nWe want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your story, question, or comment—or if you’ve got a new nickname for Dave.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n“Catholic students need to understand that faith is not irrational. We don’t leave our minds at the door. That’s the Catholic tradition, it’s OK to question.”
SHOWNOTES
\n\n5 Practical Tips
\n\nResources from the Show
\nThe Handbook of Christian Apologetics - Peter Kreeft
\nThe Handbook of Catholic Apologetics - Peter Kreeft, Ronald Tacelli
\nFundamentals of the Faith - Peter Kreeft
\nMore than a Carpenter - Josh McDowell
\nApologetics and Catholic Doctrine - Archbishop Michael Sheehan
\nMere Christianity - C.S. Lewis
\nThe Reason for God - Timothy Keller
\nMaking Sense of God - Timothy Keller
\nMemorare Prayer
\nMagis Center website- Fr. Robert Spitzer
There’s good news and bad news. Bad news: Gomer is out today, so no fun nicknames. Good news: this episode is all about equipping you for spiritual warfare and fighting the kingdom of evil.
\n\nSpiritual warfare and evangelization go hand-in-hand. Turns out the devil doesn’t like it when you try to win souls for Christ. Acknowledging the reality of spiritual warfare is an important first step. Once we realize that we’re fighting battles everyday, we can use these principles to guide the way.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n“Spiritual warfare is more than a metaphor for the spiritual life, it’s a reality ... We’re all at war with the world, the flesh, and the devil.”
10 Practical Principles of Spiritual Warfare
\n\n1 Practical Tip
\nIf you’ve never thought of yourself as a spiritual warrior, take some time to see how you have entered into the spiritual battle.
See more at ascensionpress.com/everykneeshallbow
\n\nWe want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your story, question, or comment—or if you’ve got a new nickname for Dave.
","summary":"There’s good news and bad news. Bad news: Gomer is out today, so no fun nicknames. Good news: this episode is all about equipping you for spiritual warfare and fighting the kingdom of evil. Spiritual warfare and evangelization go hand-in-hand. Turns out the devil doesn’t like it when you try to win souls for Christ. Acknowledging the reality of spiritual warfare is an important first step. Once we realize that we’re fighting battles everyday, we can use these principles to guide the way.","date_published":"2019-05-29T12:00:00.000-04:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/14291fdc-7ca1-4b7b-88f4-00b524e350c7/3619ee32-e5e9-4dce-a05d-7b78aa2448b8.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mp3","size_in_bytes":32356789,"duration_in_seconds":1346}]},{"id":"511c0405-0922-4f7e-95ee-71aa83023987","title":"Leading When Not in Charge","url":"https://everykneeshallbow.fireside.fm/24","content_text":"Today Dave “Open Book, Closed Heart” VanVickle and I talk about extraordinary and ordinary means of fighting the devil, which leads (naturally) into a conversation on evangelization and how to lead when you’re not in charge.\n\nSnippet from the Show\n“One person can bring about dramatic change at a parish.”\n\nWe want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your story, question, or comment—or if you’ve got a new nickname for Dave.\n\nSHOWNOTES\n\nHow do you lead when you are not in a leadership position?\n\n\nTry to be close friends with the current staff on evangelization teams.\nTry to win the front of “what is the truth” and make sure everyone is on the same page on what they believe.\nGive talks on what the life of catechists and parish workers should look like.\nEncourage the use of Scripture and the new Catechism for formation.\nGive talks on how to have a personal relationship with Jesus in the context of the Catholic Church.\nOffer a talk on the history of the Catholic Church in America since Vatican II.\nPray for the leaders and with them.\nWork with your priest to prioritize and organize an annual staff retreat.\nHave a “ministry leader summit.”\nIf people are refusing or rejecting evangelization, work with your pastor to make sure the appropriate people are in the right positions. \nGo in trying to win souls for Christ, not fight them.\nRemember to always be praying for these people.\nWhen confrontation has to occur do not do it out of hate for people but in service to people who are missing out on the gospel.\nYou need to have the courage to stand up for the truth and gospel when needed.\n\n\n5 Practical Tips\n\n\nGo to NewAdvent.org and search the name of a church father (St. Ignatius of Antioch, St. Athanasius … )\nPray for the CCD staff (or another staff group) and their openness to the gospel.\nListen to Mike’s talks on the kerygma at Soundcloud.com/AMDGomer.\nMeet once a week with your pastor and discuss the kerygma.\nSend this podcast to your CCD Staff.\n\n\nCheck out the resources from this episode at ascensionpress.com/everykneeshallbow","content_html":"Today Dave “Open Book, Closed Heart” VanVickle and I talk about extraordinary and ordinary means of fighting the devil, which leads (naturally) into a conversation on evangelization and how to lead when you’re not in charge.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n“One person can bring about dramatic change at a parish.”
We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your story, question, or comment—or if you’ve got a new nickname for Dave.
\n\nSHOWNOTES
\n\nHow do you lead when you are not in a leadership position?
\n\n5 Practical Tips
\n\nCheck out the resources from this episode at ascensionpress.com/everykneeshallbow
","summary":"Today Dave “Open Book, Closed Heart” VanVickle and I talk about extraordinary and ordinary means of fighting the devil, which leads (naturally) into a conversation on evangelization and how to lead when you’re not in charge. Have a question or comment for us? We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your story, question, or comment—or if you’ve got a new nickname for Dave.","date_published":"2019-05-22T12:00:00.000-04:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/14291fdc-7ca1-4b7b-88f4-00b524e350c7/511c0405-0922-4f7e-95ee-71aa83023987.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mp3","size_in_bytes":52531954,"duration_in_seconds":2185}]},{"id":"dfa4244d-857e-4221-bd21-25e785fe9ece","title":"Being a Leader in Evangelization","url":"https://everykneeshallbow.fireside.fm/23","content_text":"We need leaders in the Church. If you want ministries at your parish, that aren’t happening (or aren’t going very well) this may be your que to step up as a leader in evangelization.\n\nIn this episode, we talk about how priests, lay employees, and volunteers can be leaders in their own right, and you don’t have to wait for someone to formally empower you to lead others.\n\nWe want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your story, question, or comment—or if you’ve got a new nickname for Dave.\n\nSnippet from the Show\n“The word ‘leader’ can be intimidating, but the Holy Spirit is the primary agent of evangelization. You’re just the lead follower of the Holy Spirit.”\n\nSHOWNOTES\n\nPriests\n\n\nThe homily needs to be kerygmatic.\nGive a call to action every homily.\nWin your staff.\nMake sure your staff is on board with the mission.\nThe parish priests need to be available to the people, especially for sacraments.\nTry to imitate St. John Vianney.\n\n\nLay Employees\n\n\nIt is poor form to give a class or workshop on something you are not willing to do.\nModel what you are teaching.\nSet up regular meetings with your parish priest.\nWitness to your fellow employees the same as your parishioners.\nDon’t view working at the church as a chance to make money.\n\n\nVolunteers\n\n\nContinually discern how God is calling you to lead in your parish.\nDon’t grow comfortable with someone as a leader just because they have been doing a good job.\nHelp onboard new leaders before they are needed.\nBe a good disciple outside of your volunteer position.\n\n\n5 Practical Tips\n\n\nPriests: Ask yourselves honestly, and ask others “how is your leadership holding back the parish?”\nKerygma: Explicitly share the gospel with someone.\nEmployees: Are you waiting for empowerment or permission to serve the gospel? Identify areas where you can be more active in the kerygma and come up with an action plan to start implementing this.\nPrayer: Prayerfully read Acts 14 and read the kerygma from Paul and Barnabbas.\nVolunteers: Spend more time praying for those people God has placed in your ministry.\n\n\nResources from the Show\n\n\nDouglas Hyde\n","content_html":"We need leaders in the Church. If you want ministries at your parish, that aren’t happening (or aren’t going very well) this may be your que to step up as a leader in evangelization.
\n\nIn this episode, we talk about how priests, lay employees, and volunteers can be leaders in their own right, and you don’t have to wait for someone to formally empower you to lead others.
\n\nWe want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your story, question, or comment—or if you’ve got a new nickname for Dave.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n“The word ‘leader’ can be intimidating, but the Holy Spirit is the primary agent of evangelization. You’re just the lead follower of the Holy Spirit.”
SHOWNOTES
\n\nPriests
\n\nLay Employees
\n\nVolunteers
\n\n5 Practical Tips
\n\nResources from the Show
\n\nDave “Thunderdome” Van Vickle and I are talking about the importance of digital evangelization. If we are trying to meet people where they are, we need to be online.
\n\nWe cover best practices for parishes and individuals to spread the Word on the web, as well as examples of things we’ve seen work really well (like this podcast).
\n\nWe want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your story, question, or comment—or if you’ve got a new nickname for Dave.
\n\nCheck out the shownotes and resources at ascensionpress.com/everykneeshallbow
","summary":"Dave “Thunderdome” Van Vickle and I are talking about the importance of digital evangelization. If we are trying to meet people where they are, we need to be online. We cover best practices for parishes and individuals to spread the Word on the web, as well as examples of things we’ve seen work really well (like this podcast). We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your story, question, or comment—or if you’ve got a new nickname for Dave.\r\n","date_published":"2019-05-08T12:00:00.000-04:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/14291fdc-7ca1-4b7b-88f4-00b524e350c7/395d7331-809a-452c-a504-4fff97f84801.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mp3","size_in_bytes":62166953,"duration_in_seconds":2588}]},{"id":"b0e6097f-8e2d-491a-97c6-ba4e0e25f7ad","title":"Tools for the Newly Converted","url":"https://everykneeshallbow.fireside.fm/21","content_text":"We have a great show today. Not that we don’t usually, but today is especially good. We start with a question from a parish leader about intercessory prayer groups (Dave’s group is #goals). Then we cover what individuals and parishes can do for the newly converted and what tools we have for someone after their initial “yes” to Jesus.\n\nWe want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your story, question, or comment—or if you’ve got a new nickname for Dave.\n\nSnippet from the Show\n“Walking alone is the greatest way for the devil to destroy your newfound faith.”\n\nSHOWNOTES\nQuestions from our listeners:\nHow do you start an intercessory prayer group? What resources are there?\n\n\nStart by finding the people who are already praying.\nGive each intercessor a job description (example: one Memorare a week, holy hour a month).\nAdd fasting and prayer days with sign-ups (daily, weekly, monthly).\nPlan a monthly holy hour where we pray for the parish.\nBoost prayer life through monthly conferences.\n\n\nWhat Happens After They Say “Yes” to Jesus?\n\n\nTeach them to communicate with God. \nDevotional Prayers\nMental Prayer\nMeditative Prayer\nCreate a community outreach to interact with new parishioners.\nIntroduce them to reading Scripture.\nMoral and intellectual formation - there is a huge difference between knowing your faith and living it.\n\n\nFor our 5 Practical Tips, as well as a list of resources from this episode, check out the shownotes at ascensionpress.com/everykneeshallbow","content_html":"We have a great show today. Not that we don’t usually, but today is especially good. We start with a question from a parish leader about intercessory prayer groups (Dave’s group is #goals). Then we cover what individuals and parishes can do for the newly converted and what tools we have for someone after their initial “yes” to Jesus.
\n\nWe want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your story, question, or comment—or if you’ve got a new nickname for Dave.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n“Walking alone is the greatest way for the devil to destroy your newfound faith.”
SHOWNOTES
\nQuestions from our listeners:
\nHow do you start an intercessory prayer group? What resources are there?
What Happens After They Say “Yes” to Jesus?
\n\nFor our 5 Practical Tips, as well as a list of resources from this episode, check out the shownotes at ascensionpress.com/everykneeshallbow
","summary":"We have a great show today. Not that we don’t usually, but today is especially good. We start with a question from a parish leader about intercessory prayer groups (Dave’s group is #goals). Then we cover what individuals and parishes can do for the newly converted and what tools we have for someone after their initial “yes” to Jesus.","date_published":"2019-05-01T12:00:00.000-04:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/14291fdc-7ca1-4b7b-88f4-00b524e350c7/b0e6097f-8e2d-491a-97c6-ba4e0e25f7ad.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mp3","size_in_bytes":56595028,"duration_in_seconds":2357}]},{"id":"58bd7356-6a12-4da2-aae5-9743daa11976","title":"Easter, Discipleship, and the Resurrection","url":"https://everykneeshallbow.fireside.fm/20","content_text":"Hallelujah! It's the Easter Octave and I for one am glad Christ rose from the dead. This week it's just me, Mike \"Gomer\" Gormley, your humble co-host of EKSB. I wanted to offer you fine folks an Easter message on discipleship and the Resurrection.\n\nOur regular show will return next week!\n\nHappy Easter!","content_html":"Hallelujah! It's the Easter Octave and I for one am glad Christ rose from the dead. This week it's just me, Mike "Gomer" Gormley, your humble co-host of EKSB. I wanted to offer you fine folks an Easter message on discipleship and the Resurrection.
\n\nOur regular show will return next week!
\n\nHappy Easter!
","summary":"Hallelujah! It's the Easter Octave and I for one am glad Christ rose from the dead. This week it's just me, Mike \"Gomer\" Gormley, your humble co-host of EKSB. I wanted to offer you fine folks an Easter message on discipleship and the Resurrection. Our regular show will return next week! Happy Easter!","date_published":"2019-04-24T12:00:00.000-04:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/14291fdc-7ca1-4b7b-88f4-00b524e350c7/58bd7356-6a12-4da2-aae5-9743daa11976.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mp3","size_in_bytes":12800268,"duration_in_seconds":532}]},{"id":"bcd12254-4b2c-44ab-a79f-4ebdac58fdac","title":"Kerygma and Parish Touch Points","url":"https://everykneeshallbow.fireside.fm/19","content_text":"Calling all DREs, catechists, youth ministers, and parish volunteers! Have we got a show for you. (Yes, that was a VeggieTales reference.) \n\nWe start off today answering some tough questions about the kerygma, and then pivot to ways you can infuse evangelization into programs your parish already has like baptism prep, marriage prep, and religious education. \n\nOur advice isn’t the only way to do it, but it is a (pretty darn good) way to do it. How do you evangelize at your parish? \n\nWe want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your story, question, or comment—or if you’ve got a new nickname for Dave.\n\nSnippet from the Show\n“People aren’t going to surrender their life to Christ if we’re hitting them over the head with moral issues and their failure … but there is no gospel without repentance.”\n\nCheck out this episode at ascensionpress.com/everykneeshallbow for shownotes and resources from the show. ","content_html":"Calling all DREs, catechists, youth ministers, and parish volunteers! Have we got a show for you. (Yes, that was a VeggieTales reference.)
\n\nWe start off today answering some tough questions about the kerygma, and then pivot to ways you can infuse evangelization into programs your parish already has like baptism prep, marriage prep, and religious education.
\n\nOur advice isn’t the only way to do it, but it is a (pretty darn good) way to do it. How do you evangelize at your parish?
\n\nWe want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your story, question, or comment—or if you’ve got a new nickname for Dave.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n“People aren’t going to surrender their life to Christ if we’re hitting them over the head with moral issues and their failure … but there is no gospel without repentance.”
Check out this episode at ascensionpress.com/everykneeshallbow for shownotes and resources from the show.
","summary":"Calling all DREs, catechists, youth ministers, and parish volunteers! Have we got a show for you. (Yes, that was a VeggieTales reference.) We start off today answering some tough questions about the kerygma, and then pivot to ways you can infuse evangelization into programs your parish already has like baptism prep, marriage prep, and religious education. Our advice isn’t the only way to do it, but it is a (pretty darn good) way to do it. How do you evangelize at your parish? We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your story, question, or comment—or if you’ve got a new nickname for Dave.","date_published":"2019-04-17T12:00:00.000-04:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/14291fdc-7ca1-4b7b-88f4-00b524e350c7/bcd12254-4b2c-44ab-a79f-4ebdac58fdac.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mp3","size_in_bytes":56284345,"duration_in_seconds":2343}]},{"id":"0de630c0-2fb2-47b3-b2f8-ca982d5227c5","title":"Evangelization FAQ’s: Plan B, Skipping Mass, and Non-Catholic Family Weddings","url":"https://everykneeshallbow.fireside.fm/18","content_text":"You’ve got frequently asked questions, we’ve got infrequently given answers. We tackle questions about what to do when you encounter someone purchasing the Plan B pill, what to do when people (especially family members) give dumb reasons for why they don’t go to church, the role of Mary in evangelization, and talking to family members about having a sacramental wedding when they’re angry with the Church and you’re long distance. (Whew.)\n\nWe want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your story, question, or comment—or if you’ve got a new nickname for Dave.\n\n_Snippet from the Show\n\n“We so desire the conversion of our friends and relatives and neighbors that we feel disappointed when the outcomes haven’t happened. But the success is in the evangelizing. The conversion is up to Jesus. One sows the seed, the other waters, God alone gives the growth.”_\n\nCheck out the show on ascensionpress.com/everykneeshallbow to browse the resources from the show.","content_html":"You’ve got frequently asked questions, we’ve got infrequently given answers. We tackle questions about what to do when you encounter someone purchasing the Plan B pill, what to do when people (especially family members) give dumb reasons for why they don’t go to church, the role of Mary in evangelization, and talking to family members about having a sacramental wedding when they’re angry with the Church and you’re long distance. (Whew.)
\n\nWe want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your story, question, or comment—or if you’ve got a new nickname for Dave.
\n\n_Snippet from the Show
\n\n“We so desire the conversion of our friends and relatives and neighbors that we feel disappointed when the outcomes haven’t happened. But the success is in the evangelizing. The conversion is up to Jesus. One sows the seed, the other waters, God alone gives the growth.”_
\n\nCheck out the show on ascensionpress.com/everykneeshallbow to browse the resources from the show.
","summary":"You’ve got frequently asked questions, we’ve got infrequently given answers. We tackle questions about what to do when you encounter someone purchasing the Plan B pill, what to do when people (especially family members) give dumb reasons for why they don’t go to church, the role of Mary in evangelization, and talking to family members about having a sacramental wedding when they’re angry with the Church and you’re long distance. (Whew.)","date_published":"2019-04-10T12:00:00.000-04:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/14291fdc-7ca1-4b7b-88f4-00b524e350c7/0de630c0-2fb2-47b3-b2f8-ca982d5227c5.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mp3","size_in_bytes":64659804,"duration_in_seconds":2692}]},{"id":"53950fb5-7a70-4740-9d3b-a743f8130b5e","title":"Becoming an Activated Disciple (with Jeff Cavins)","url":"https://everykneeshallbow.fireside.fm/17","content_text":"We’re talking to the one and only Jeff Cavins, Catholic speaker and author of the new book, The Activated Disciple. We’re pumped to interview him about discipleship and sharing the Faith (and so are our moms). \n\nJeff’s book really gets to the heart of discipleship. It gives us a practical roadmap to a path of discipleship and explains what it actually means to be a disciple. We also get Jeff to give us his practical tips for evangelization.\n\nYou can get Jeff's book at ascensionpress.com.\n\nWe want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your story, question, or comment—or if you’ve got a new nickname for Dave.\n\n_Snippet from the Show\n\n“There’s a difference between having a branch named Jesus on your vine vs. realizing that you are a branch on the true vine that is Christ.”_","content_html":"We’re talking to the one and only Jeff Cavins, Catholic speaker and author of the new book, The Activated Disciple. We’re pumped to interview him about discipleship and sharing the Faith (and so are our moms).
\n\nJeff’s book really gets to the heart of discipleship. It gives us a practical roadmap to a path of discipleship and explains what it actually means to be a disciple. We also get Jeff to give us his practical tips for evangelization.
\n\nYou can get Jeff's book at ascensionpress.com.
\n\nWe want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your story, question, or comment—or if you’ve got a new nickname for Dave.
\n\n_Snippet from the Show
\n\n“There’s a difference between having a branch named Jesus on your vine vs. realizing that you are a branch on the true vine that is Christ.”_
","summary":"We’re talking to the one and only Jeff Cavins, Catholic speaker and author of the new book, The Activated Disciple. We’re pumped to interview him about discipleship and sharing the Faith (and so are our moms). Jeff’s book really gets to the heart of discipleship. It gives us a practical roadmap to a path of discipleship and explains what it actually means to be a disciple. We also get Jeff to give us his practical tips for evangelization. We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your story, question, or comment—or if you’ve got a new nickname for Dave.","date_published":"2019-04-03T12:00:00.000-04:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/14291fdc-7ca1-4b7b-88f4-00b524e350c7/53950fb5-7a70-4740-9d3b-a743f8130b5e.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mp3","size_in_bytes":55316416,"duration_in_seconds":2303}]},{"id":"e9366fff-fb6e-4e52-9ce5-8c71c3b6ae1f","title":"Bringing the New Evangelization to Your Parish","url":"https://everykneeshallbow.fireside.fm/16","content_text":"The New Evangelization invites baptized Catholics to renew their relationship with Jesus Christ and his Church (according to the USCCB). Started by Popes Paul VI, John Paul II, and Benedict XVI, it’s a call for the Church (aka, you and me) to reach out to fallen away Catholics and bring them back to the sacraments.\n\nWe want to talk about how to bring this movement to your parish and community. Starting with Carole Brown’s Gems for the New Evangelization: Shamelessly Pilfered from Various Treasuries of Church Teaching, we then add some additional points that we’ve discovered along the way. \n\nThere are a lot of different things you can do, but the important thing is to start.\n\nSnippet from the Show\n“My favorite thing is to take every part of the Catechism and tie it back to the Cross and resurrection, because you can do it with everything.”\n\nWe want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your story, question, or comment—or if you’ve got a new nickname for Dave.\n\nSHOWNOTES\n\nThe Five Points for the New Evangelization\n\n\nRecover the importance of kerygmatic proclamation. \nBuild explicitly Christ-centered witness testimony into everything.\nTalk in the explicitly evangelical language of the New Evangelization popes.\nSaturate yourself in the world of God (Bible studies, lectio divina training…)\nEstablish a permanent discipleship track in the parish.\n\n\nDave and Mike’s added points for parish evangelization\n\n\nEstablish a formalized intercessory prayer group to bring about conversions.\nYou can’t do it alone.\nStart with the programs that people must attend, to draw in people who might not be involved otherwise.\nStart trying to meet everyone at your parish and learn their names.\n\n\nThe Five Practical Takeaways\n\n\nRead paragraphs 1- 21 of the Catechesi Tradendae by Pope John Paul II.\nConsider joining or starting a Bible study at your parish.\nBegin a conversation with the pastor, DRE, or director of religious evangelization about evangelization at the parish. \nLook for touchstone moments (baptism class, marriage prep class) and how you can be a volunteer in those ministries.\nBuy a Catholic Bible for someone who doesn’t have one in your life.\n\n\nResources Mentioned in the Show\n\n\nMichael Gormley – Radical Communities\nBible Studies from Ascension Press\nThe Great Adventure Timeline Catholic Bible\n","content_html":"The New Evangelization invites baptized Catholics to renew their relationship with Jesus Christ and his Church (according to the USCCB). Started by Popes Paul VI, John Paul II, and Benedict XVI, it’s a call for the Church (aka, you and me) to reach out to fallen away Catholics and bring them back to the sacraments.
\n\nWe want to talk about how to bring this movement to your parish and community. Starting with Carole Brown’s Gems for the New Evangelization: Shamelessly Pilfered from Various Treasuries of Church Teaching, we then add some additional points that we’ve discovered along the way.
\n\nThere are a lot of different things you can do, but the important thing is to start.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n“My favorite thing is to take every part of the Catechism and tie it back to the Cross and resurrection, because you can do it with everything.”
We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your story, question, or comment—or if you’ve got a new nickname for Dave.
\n\nSHOWNOTES
\n\nThe Five Points for the New Evangelization
\n\nDave and Mike’s added points for parish evangelization
\n\nThe Five Practical Takeaways
\n\nResources Mentioned in the Show
\n\nWe tackle the biggest, most complicated, stickiest moral issues–contraception and same-sex attraction. How is a Catholic evangelist to approach such a minefield when proclaiming the gospel?
\n\nIn John 14:15, Jesus says, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” So we know that we have to tell people about moral issues, but we need to make sure we’re doing it in a way that actually helps.
\n\nWe talk about when, how, and why to bring these issues up, and examples of times these strategies have actually worked (we promise we’re not using you as guinea pigs).
\n\nWe want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your story, question, or comment–or if you’ve got a new nickname for Dave.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\nHoliness and happiness are coterminous in God. Me seeking my own happiness is what God made holiness to be–seeking union with him forever in Christ Jesus.
Mike and Dave give practical advice about how to get over that awkward feeling and share the Faith BOLDLY.
\n\nTelling someone the good news about Jesus isn’t hard ... if you really, truly believe it. You’re not imposing your arbitrary morality and spirituality on someone, you are proposing to them the truth of God’s love for them and their elevated status as creatures made in the image and likeness of God.
\n\nLike Mike says, “If you discovered the cure to cancer, and you kept it to yourself–you would be a monster ...We have even greater news, but so often we keep it quiet.”
\n\nMike also gives solid advice to a listener who asks about how to talk to her husband, who is a Muslim, about Christianity.
\n\nCheck out the shownotes at ascensionpress.com/everykneeshallbow to see practical tips on how to be BOLD when you share the Faith.
","summary":"Mike and Dave give practical advice about how to get over that awkward feeling and share the Faith BOLDLY. Telling someone the good news about Jesus isn’t hard ... if you really, truly believe it. You’re not imposing your arbitrary morality and spirituality on someone, you are proposing to them the truth of God’s love for them and their elevated status as creatures made in the image and likeness of God. Like Mike says, “If you discovered the cure to cancer, and you kept it to yourself–you would be a monster ...We have even greater news, but so often we keep it quiet.” Mike also gives solid advice to a listener who asks about how to talk to her husband, who is a Muslim, about Christianity.\r\n","date_published":"2019-03-13T12:00:00.000-04:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/14291fdc-7ca1-4b7b-88f4-00b524e350c7/b5a5337c-082e-4909-a046-266c86c5140c.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mp3","size_in_bytes":55600488,"duration_in_seconds":2315}]},{"id":"18bb4873-687b-4ef6-8fa7-93f25dd2ecf1","title":"Ask a Catholic Evangelist: How Can I Share the Gospel with My Family, Parish, and Community? ","url":"https://everykneeshallbow.fireside.fm/13","content_text":"Mike and Dave answer your questions about how to get programs going at your parish, how to share the gospel with fallen-away family members, and how to invest in Catholic evangelism as well as catechesis when funds are short.\n\nSnippet from the Show\n“You have a mission as a layperson ... To not proclaim Jesus Christ and just wait for a priest to do it is a fundamental corruption to your baptismal dignity. Christ is inviting you on this mission. You don’t need anyone else’s permission.”\n\nListener Questions:\n\n\n“My priest isn’t into evangelization, what do I do?”\n“I have three children, none are truly evangelized, except my oldest daughter who is now evangelical, but ‘at least she has Jesus.’”\n“I am a DRE who got caught up in the catechesis game. I now want to invest in evangelism, but am at a poor parish.”\n\n\nResources mentioned:\n\n\nChristifideles Laici, Chapter 3\nThe Great Adventure Bible Studies\nNo Greater Love by Edward Sri\nThe Life of Christ by Rev. Fulton Sheen\nTo Know Christ Jesus by Frank Sheed\nRadical Communities by Michael Gormley\nRedeemer of Man by Pope St. John Paul II\nCatechesi Tradendae, 19-20\n\n\n5 Practical Tips:\n\n\nKerygma: Refresh yourself on what the kerygma is and isn’t.\nCommunity: Meet up for Eucharistic Adoration and drinks.\nReading: Jesus Shock by Peter Kreeft.\nIntercession: Pray a decade of the Rosary every day for clergy who need conversion.\nLent: Don’t let Lent pass you by, be intentional! Prayerfully consider what God wants from you this Lent. Take an hour and figure it out.\n","content_html":"Mike and Dave answer your questions about how to get programs going at your parish, how to share the gospel with fallen-away family members, and how to invest in Catholic evangelism as well as catechesis when funds are short.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n“You have a mission as a layperson ... To not proclaim Jesus Christ and just wait for a priest to do it is a fundamental corruption to your baptismal dignity. Christ is inviting you on this mission. You don’t need anyone else’s permission.”
Listener Questions:
\n\nResources mentioned:
\n\n5 Practical Tips:
\n\nWhat does it mean to be in the world but not of the world and how does this affect evangelization?
\n\nMany people assume there are two ways to approach this notion.
\n\nOn one side is the thought of Christ against culture—that to be loyal to Jesus or the Church I need to run completely away from the world.
\nOn the other side is the Christ of culture—that Jesus is the peak and pinnacle of all culture’s greatest desires, aspirations, and hopes.
Which one is right? What balance should we strike?
\n\nToday, Mike and Dave take these two basic concepts and break them down into practical, real life situations. They explain what we should do in regards to the world around us and stress the importance of finding the distinctive Christ element that sets your life apart. We walk a delicate line being in the world and not of it, but Mike and Dave make this line a bit easier to see.
\n\nSnippet from the Show:
\n“We as Christians have to present some difference from the culture at large, the culture of the world. There has to be something different about our life.”
5 Practical Tips:
\n1) Spiritual Practice: Do an examination of conscience of a secularist mindset. What parts of your life have you brought in from the culture that you really should not have?
\n2) Read: Jeremiah 29 (the whole chapter).
\n3) Go Fishing: Do small pious acts in public.
\n4) Community: Become a regular at one restaurant.
\n5) Intercessory Prayer: Pray for the conversion of your favorite secular artist.
Resources Mentioned in the Show:
\nChrist and Culture a book by Richard Niebuhr
Spiritual warfare is more than just an analogy.
\n\nIt is a reality.
\n\nQuite literally, it is a struggle between two kingdoms—a battle between man and that which draws man away from God.
\n\nThis fighting and resisting evil is a common experience, yet many don’t believe they are at war. Therefore they come unprepared to fight the battle.
\n\nToday Mike and Dave approach this topic from the viewpoint of evangelists. They discuss the Church Fathers’ understanding of spiritual warfare, the context behind the Church’s teachings on the subject, and practical ways you can resist evil and equip yourself with the best possible resources.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n“This is a battle. This isn’t an analogy, it’s not an allegory … We are actually at war.”
Two mistakes we assume about spiritual warfare:
\n1) Looking at it as a personal faith issue, that the victory comes from you.
\n2) That this is just a small part of the Faith.
Resources mentioned in the show
\nGaudium et Spes
\n1 Peter 8
\nAnima Christi
5 Practical Tips:
\n1) Pray the St. Michael the Archangel prayer
\n2) Rekindle your relationship with your guardian angel
\n3) Read about St. Joseph terror of demons
\n4) Read Colossians 1-2
\n5) Do a Marian consecration. There are many different forms.
Do you want to evangelize in a post-Christian society? There are a few things you need to know.
\n\nWe all proclaim the same gospel, but we all need to use different methods. The methods that St. Paul used in Athens or Rome and the approach of a missionary in India, Southeast Asia, or parts of Africa will be different than someone who lives in a post-Christian society.
\n\nThere are, however, universal principles that stand the test of time. Today, Mike and David go through three ages of evangelization, explain how to overcome four hurdles in evangelizing, and also three different types of evangelizing.
\n\nSnippet from the Show:
\n\n“No matter how opposed someone is to Christianity, you have to understand that deep down, it is what they want. It is what they most desire. It is the answer to all their questions.”
\n\nSHOWNOTES:
\n\n*5 Practical Takeaways: *
\n1) Read Evangelii Nuntiandi
\n2) Fast for someone at your parish
\n3) Pray and reflect on St. Augustine’s Prayer to the Holy Spirit
\n4) Read 2 Timothy 4
\n5) Write down and reflect on this quote “She exists in order to evangelize.” What parts of your life exemplify this? What parts do not?
Resources Mentioned in this Podcast:
\nGaudium et spes
\nEvangelii nuntiandi (Paragraph 9 and 80)
\nRedemptoris Missio
\nPodcast, This Cultural Moment
\nIntroduction to Philosophy by Daniel Sullivan
Church teaching is an important part of our Catholic Faith. Today, Mike and Dave are going to show you how to incorporate the church into the kerygma.
\n\nThey explain how fellowship is not socializing and why the Church comes before the individual in the plan of God.
\n\n“Our love for Jesus and for our neighbor impels us to speak to others about our faith. Each believer is thus a link in the great chain of believers. I cannot believe without being carried by the faith of others, and by my faith I help support others in the faith.” (CCC 166)
\n\nSnippet from the Show:
\n\nYou have not given yourself faith as you have not given yourself life. The believer has received faith from others and should hand it on to others. (CCC 166)
\n\n5 Practical Tips
\n1) Meet someone at your parish that you have never met before. It can be as simple as introducing yourself.
\n2) Read 2Timothy 2.
\n3) Read CCC 176-184.
\n4) Pray for the staff of your parish all week long.
\n5) Look at the four steps of the kerygma below and compare them to your personal testimony. (You can also go to the shownotes on at ascensionpress.com/everykneeshallbow.) Pencil in what parts of your testimony line up with the kerygma. This will help you make the kerygma center stage of your testimony and not your personal story.
4 Steps of the Kerygma:
\n1) God has a plan for your life.
\n2) Sin interrupts that plan and separates you from God.
\n3) Jesus Christ died and rose so that you could be forgiven of these sins and be united to God in heaven.
\n4) Through faith and his Church, you can be united to God forever.
Recommendations
\n1) Fr. Spitzer’s book New Proofs for the Existence of God: Contributions of Contemporary Physics and Philosophy
\n2) Rev. Timothy Keller’s book The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism
\n3) C.S. Lewis’ book Mere Christianity
\n4) Dr. Peter Kreeft’s book Fundamentals of the Faith: Essays in Christian Apologetics
\nCCC #166
When evangelizing, there comes a moment in time when you will invite someone to completely give their life over to Christ and begin living a Christian life.
\n\nHow do you know what moment is right?
\n\nWhat does the invitation look like?
\n\nWhy is an invitation to Christian life so important?
\n\nUsing Scripture, contemporary faith formation tools, and personal experience, Mike and Dave explain the sometimes subtle art of inviting someone to live a fully authentic Christian life.
\n\nFor more information visit ascensionpress.com/everykneeshallbow
\n\nSnippet from the Show:
\n\n“If you read the Gospels, you are going to see constantly that the one man who could have demanded, is constantly instead inviting.”
\n\nTips on Invitation:
\n1) Invitation should be gradual
\n2) Invitation should be compelling but not forceful
\n3) Invitation should be loving and gentle
5 Practical Tips:
\n1) Create one gathering of friends doing some activity. Invite someone who is on the “outside” of your group to take part.
\n2) Acts 10:34/43 Peter is preaching the Kerygma. Take it line by line and pray through it.
\n3) Meet one of your neighbors that you haven’t met yet.
\n4) Start your own group of intercessors. Ask one person to specifically pray for the people you will encounter and that you and others be open to the Lord’s words.
\n5) Go to Adoration for thirty minutes and pray for those specific people you will encounter and evangelize.
Resources Mentioned:
\nThe Calling of Saint Matthew painting by Caravaggio
\nAnanias Training from the Catherine of Siena Institute
Mike and Dave, the hosts of Every Knee Shall Bow, take time to answer your questions and respond to your reviews. They also provide resource recommendations such as Alpha, Sherry Weddell, SEEK, and more! At the end of the podcast, they also provide five easy ways to observe effective evangelization in action!
\n\nSnippet from the Show:
\n\nThe beautiful thing about our Catholic faith is that when you conform yourself to a celebrity...you lose yourself. But what Christ wants in conforming to him, instead of losing yourself, you actually gain yourself back, and become who you truly are called to be.
\n\nResources Mentioned on this Show:
\n\n1) Alpha the Catholic Program
\n2) Sherry Weddell and the Catherine of Siena Institute
\n3) Divine Renovation a book by Fr. Mallon and Ron Huntley
\n4) SEEK 2019
\n5) Culture Making: Recovering our Creative Calling a book by Andy Crouch
\n6) The Rubin Report: “A Bishop and a Rabbi Discuss Religion”, a YouTube video
5 Practical Tips
\n\n1) Open up your computer and see what churches or movements in your area are doing well with evangelization.
\n2) Read Culture Making: Recovering our Creative Calling by Andy Crouch
\n3) Pray for a specific priest that they might be able to communicate the gospel well
\n4) Watch “A Bishop and a Rabbi Discuss Religion” from the Rubin Report on YouTube.
\n5) Start an evangelization journal. Get a notebook dedicated for growing as an evangelist. Write about who you are praying for, mistakes you made, things you want to try, talks you have given, basically anything to do with evangelization. Write our practical tips and how well you did. This will help you grow as an evangelist.
The phrase “Physician heal thyself” (Luke 4:23) references the often forgotten truth that one must solve their own problems before attempting to fix the problems of others.
\n\nBecoming a true Catholic evangelist requires more than just knowledge of the Faith, a certain style, or even success. Your life must reflect the fact that Jesus Christ is active, makes a difference, and has healed your heart. As an evangelist, you are held to a higher standard and your personal life needs to be a fitting witness to your evangelization.
\n\nHow can you do this?
\n\nThe answer is simple: prayer. Prayer creates a true Catholic evangelist because the Holy Spirit is the cause of conversion. Today Michael and David share ways you can incorporate prayer into your daily life and how that prayer will make you a true Catholic evangelist.
","summary":"The phrase “Physician heal thyself” (Luke 4:23) references the often forgotten truth that one must solve their own problems before attempting to fix the problems of others.\r\n\r\nBecoming a true Catholic evangelist requires more than just knowledge of the Faith, a certain style, or even success. Your life must reflect the fact that Jesus Christ is active, makes a difference, and has healed your heart. As an evangelist, you are held to a higher standard and your personal life needs to be a fitting witness to your evangelization.\r\n\r\nHow can you do this?\r\n\r\nThe answer is simple: prayer. Prayer creates a true Catholic evangelist because the Holy Spirit is the cause of conversion. Today Michael and David share ways you can incorporate prayer into your daily life and how that prayer will make you a true Catholic evangelist.","date_published":"2019-01-16T12:00:00.000-05:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/14291fdc-7ca1-4b7b-88f4-00b524e350c7/fa8880ab-ac70-4ace-9e6a-ff6a97124d4a.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mp3","size_in_bytes":50105411,"duration_in_seconds":2084}]},{"id":"61b191c6-3149-41df-acac-3090a199ac69","title":"The History of the Kerygma and the Power of the Gospel","url":"https://everykneeshallbow.fireside.fm/5","content_text":"Kerygma is a Greek word that means proclamation. We, as Catholic Christians, are called to share the gospel message as we evangelize: God loves you, has a plan for your life, but because of sin we have been separated from him, and the only one who can save us is Jesus Christ. Through our repentance and turning toward him we come back to life with him. This is the context in which all of our Catholic faith can be understood. In this episode, Michael and David provide a brief history behind the Kerygma, expound upon this basic gospel message, and give you five tips on how you can start proclaiming the gospel.\n\nSnippet from the Show\n\nFor most of us Catholics, we think repentance is the thing you do in the confessional. We don’t realize that in the Catechism, it is repentance, the interior sorrow, that sends us to the confessional.\n\n4 Steps of the Kerygma:\nGod has a plan for your life.\nSin interrupts that plan and separates you from God.\nJesus Christ died and rose so that you could be forgiven of these sins and be united to God in heaven.\nThrough faith and his Church, you can be united to God forever. \n\nFive Practical Tips to Help you Enter Into the Kerygma and Start Proclaiming it:\nIf you do not have a vital relationship with Christ, start with Mark’s Gospel. Read it as straight through as you possibly can. Ask yourself as you are going through it: “What do the words and deeds of Jesus reveal to me about God the Father’s heart?”\nIn the book of Acts there are eight different kerygmatic sermons that the apostles give. Prayerfully take one of them (we suggest Acts 2:14-36) and meditate on it. \nWrite down in your own words the basic gospel message.\nIntentionally go and ask someone if they have some need in their life that you can pray for. \nStart to build a relationship with a non-believer by inviting them to do something that is mutually enjoyable. ","content_html":"Kerygma is a Greek word that means proclamation. We, as Catholic Christians, are called to share the gospel message as we evangelize: God loves you, has a plan for your life, but because of sin we have been separated from him, and the only one who can save us is Jesus Christ. Through our repentance and turning toward him we come back to life with him. This is the context in which all of our Catholic faith can be understood. In this episode, Michael and David provide a brief history behind the Kerygma, expound upon this basic gospel message, and give you five tips on how you can start proclaiming the gospel.
\n\nSnippet from the Show
\n\nFor most of us Catholics, we think repentance is the thing you do in the confessional. We don’t realize that in the Catechism, it is repentance, the interior sorrow, that sends us to the confessional.
\n\n4 Steps of the Kerygma:
\nGod has a plan for your life.
\nSin interrupts that plan and separates you from God.
\nJesus Christ died and rose so that you could be forgiven of these sins and be united to God in heaven.
\nThrough faith and his Church, you can be united to God forever.
Five Practical Tips to Help you Enter Into the Kerygma and Start Proclaiming it:
\nIf you do not have a vital relationship with Christ, start with Mark’s Gospel. Read it as straight through as you possibly can. Ask yourself as you are going through it: “What do the words and deeds of Jesus reveal to me about God the Father’s heart?”
\nIn the book of Acts there are eight different kerygmatic sermons that the apostles give. Prayerfully take one of them (we suggest Acts 2:14-36) and meditate on it.
\nWrite down in your own words the basic gospel message.
\nIntentionally go and ask someone if they have some need in their life that you can pray for.
\nStart to build a relationship with a non-believer by inviting them to do something that is mutually enjoyable.
Merry Christmas from Every Knee Shall Bow!
","summary":"","date_published":"2018-12-26T12:00:00.000-05:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/14291fdc-7ca1-4b7b-88f4-00b524e350c7/6506fca8-4ec4-4de8-9f33-8c22428aced9.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mp3","size_in_bytes":4508519,"duration_in_seconds":159}]},{"id":"786d70a8-32d1-4c14-83ea-1e176c247c27","title":"The Reality of Religious Conversion: Stories, Failures, and Tips from Catholic Evangelists","url":"https://everykneeshallbow.fireside.fm/3","content_text":"What does it look like to help others move from placing a basic faith in Jesus Christ to having him as their Lord, the center of their life? Every religious conversion is unique. There is no step-by-step guide because, ultimately, it is God who changes their life. However, by listening to other evangelists’ stories, failures, and tips, you can better equip yourself to be an instrument in revealing God to others. \n\nSnippet from the Show:\nWhat we are getting into now is an era of time where people are totally comfortable with their children and grandchildren not being evangelized in any way whatsoever. \n\n5 Practical Takeaways:\n1) Evangelization is much more than a hobby, but just like a hobby, you need to invest in it. Take time to invest in yourself and read the book Forming Intentional Disciples. \n2) Read “Man’s Response to God” in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (paragraphs 142-175). It only takes 10 min. This is the best and most wonderful understanding of faith, as it lays out the individual and ecclesial dimensions of faith.\n3) We want to be comfortable with the basic Gospel message, so read Acts 4:8-12.\n4) To continually prepare your heart and engage in spiritual evangelization, go to your church, walk the whole perimeter, and pray the rosary for religious conversion.\n5) It’s important to know what we don’t know about our Faith. Take the Apostles’ Creed and prayerfully meditate on it. Work through the different tenets of the Creed. ","content_html":"What does it look like to help others move from placing a basic faith in Jesus Christ to having him as their Lord, the center of their life? Every religious conversion is unique. There is no step-by-step guide because, ultimately, it is God who changes their life. However, by listening to other evangelists’ stories, failures, and tips, you can better equip yourself to be an instrument in revealing God to others.
\n\nSnippet from the Show:
\nWhat we are getting into now is an era of time where people are totally comfortable with their children and grandchildren not being evangelized in any way whatsoever.
5 Practical Takeaways:
\n1) Evangelization is much more than a hobby, but just like a hobby, you need to invest in it. Take time to invest in yourself and read the book Forming Intentional Disciples.
\n2) Read “Man’s Response to God” in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (paragraphs 142-175). It only takes 10 min. This is the best and most wonderful understanding of faith, as it lays out the individual and ecclesial dimensions of faith.
\n3) We want to be comfortable with the basic Gospel message, so read Acts 4:8-12.
\n4) To continually prepare your heart and engage in spiritual evangelization, go to your church, walk the whole perimeter, and pray the rosary for religious conversion.
\n5) It’s important to know what we don’t know about our Faith. Take the Apostles’ Creed and prayerfully meditate on it. Work through the different tenets of the Creed.
Giving testimony is one of the most important parts of the Christian life, but putting your conversion story into words can be a daunting task. We should always be prepared to give testimony to what God has done in our lives. So today, Mike and Dave talk about the central importance of testimony, why it's important, and practical tips on how to actually do it. Grab your Bible, a pen, and a piece of paper and get ready to write your testimony.
\n\nSnippet from the Show:
\nYour testimony is your journey with God, your lived relationship with Jesus, and how it all started.
4 Basic Principles of Writing Your Testimony:
\n1) Remember your testimony is not actually yours. You do not own it, it is God’s story of what he has done in your life.
\n2) Being specific about the amount or gravity of sin, does not usually add to your testimony. Be careful not to glorify the sin, it robs the limelight from God.
\n3) Your testimony is about God’s pursuit, and your cooperation and surrender. Remember, he plays the primary role and you play the secondary role. We should try to showcase what God has done rather than on what we did to follow him.
\n4) Writing a testimony can be a bit like writing an examination of conscience. There may be a part of writing it that calls you to repentance.
Practical Steps to Prepare Your Testimony:
\n\n1) When you begin writing, start broad and then get specific. Write about everything from the first moment of your life up until the present day. Use words or sentences that would describe you before you became an intentional disciple of Jesus. Here are some questions you could ask yourself: Did you have a life philosophy that you lived by? What were the basic principles you used to govern your life? Did you have an unsatisfied inner need?
\n2) Describe your identity before you became a serious disciple of Jesus. This gets to the end goal of your conversion—be broad. Who did you want to become?
\n3) Focus on what made that conversion possible. What made you serious about following Jesus? Again, be broad.
\n4) Then focus on how you would describe yourself immediately after the conversion.
\n5) Then describe how you are different now. Write down five to ten sentences or words that describe who you are now as opposed to then.
\n6) Then write down any Scriptures, quotes, or stories that had particular meaning to you during your conversion process or that mean something to you now. This can sum up your story.
\n7) Then put it all together in a twenty-minute testimony. Only after you master the long testimony should you cut it down to a shorter version.
Remember: Don’t lie or exaggerate.
\n\n5 Practical Takeaways:
\n\n1) Read Acts 26 - Listen to the Apostle Paul giving his testimony.
\n2-5) Take a few days to write your twenty minute testimony using the four basic principles listed above.
Do you find making a good first impression to be awkward? Have you ever tried to say something inspiring but ended up saying the wrong things? Is the mere thought of evangelization too nerve-racking to even contemplate?
\n\nWelcome to the Every Knee Shall Bow podcast where hosts Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle discuss ways you can bring God’s kingdom to earth, so his will may be done as it is in heaven. Every week they will answer questions, explain Catholic teachings, and give you five practical takeaways, all centering around bringing people to Jesus Christ. Today, Mike and Dave explain what Season One is all about—being unashamed of the gospel. The world desperately needs the love of God, and who else will bring it to them except you?
","summary":"Do you find making a good first impression to be awkward? Have you ever tried to say something inspiring but ended up saying the wrong things? Is the mere thought of evangelization too nerve-racking to even contemplate?\r\n\r\nWelcome to the Every Knee Shall Bow podcast where hosts Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle discuss ways you can bring God’s kingdom to earth, so his will may be done as it is in heaven. Every week they will answer questions, explain Catholic teachings, and give you five practical takeaways, all centering around bringing people to Jesus Christ. Today, Mike and Dave explain what Season One is all about—being unashamed of the gospel. The world desperately needs the love of God, and who else will bring it to them except you?","date_published":"2018-12-05T10:15:00.000-05:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/14291fdc-7ca1-4b7b-88f4-00b524e350c7/417e919c-873e-4b47-8a8c-2af8b09a9a7c.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mp3","size_in_bytes":32802030,"duration_in_seconds":1204}]},{"id":"a3f64928-c927-4774-9f2c-ac67cb096fb8","title":"Introducing Every Knee Shall Bow: Your Catholic Evangelization Podcast","url":"https://everykneeshallbow.fireside.fm/0","content_text":"Michael Gormley announces a new Ascension podcast that will help you share your Catholic faith with your family, friends, co-workers, and even total strangers. ","content_html":"Michael Gormley announces a new Ascension podcast that will help you share your Catholic faith with your family, friends, co-workers, and even total strangers.
","summary":"Learn about a new Ascension podcast that will help you share your Catholic faith with your family, friends, co-workers, and even total strangers. ","date_published":"2018-11-26T10:00:00.000-05:00","attachments":[{"url":"https://aphid.fireside.fm/d/1437767933/14291fdc-7ca1-4b7b-88f4-00b524e350c7/a3f64928-c927-4774-9f2c-ac67cb096fb8.mp3","mime_type":"audio/mp3","size_in_bytes":954049,"duration_in_seconds":62}]}]}