F.

THE ORIENTATION SESSION

1. Chronology is as follows:
a. Teach participants some songs while waiting to start formally.
b. The team leader introduces himself, welcomes the participants, and invites everyone to stand.
c. A song is sung, after which the team leader says a short opening prayer.
d. The participants are asked to be seated. The team leader may say a little bit more
about SFC, the team, the facilities, what to expect this evening, etc. However, keep it short.
􀁹 In a parish setting, you may invite the parish priest to welcome the CLP
participants.
e. The speaker is introduced and gives his talk.
f. The speaker or the team leader calls on the sharers for the evening.
g. The team leader or the speaker presides over an open forum.
h. Closing remarks.
i. Bless the food and have the fellowship.
j. Closing prayers by the team leader.
k. Team meeting.

2. Guidelines for sharing.

a. Normally, it should be a single who will share.
b. The time should not exceed 20 minutes (approximately 10 minutes each).
c. The sharing should focus on the CLP and/or SFC, how these have made a difference in the life of the
person. Such sharing would normally involve a "before" and "after" situation.
d. The sharing should not be a teaching.
e. The sharing should normally be screened by the team leader and/or the single’s Unit or Chapter Head.
Note: The team leader makes sure that the above guidelines are followed.

3. Guidelines for the open forum.

a. It is suggested that blank sheets of paper be given to the participants for them to write their questions
on. We find that participants are shy in having to stand up to ask their questions.
b. It there is no initial response to our offer to answer questions, do not close the Open Forum portion
immediately. It might be premature. The participants may just need to warm up. The team leader or
speaker at this point could bring up questions on their own and answer them.
c. Avoid getting into any theological or intellectual discussions. You could offer to take up such a
question during the fellowship, but stress the nature of the CLP which precludes such directions.

4. Guidelines for the closing remarks.

a. Thank the participants for being there and exhort them to return for the next session.
b. Say that we are only asking them to commit to the first module, that is, the next 4 sessions. However,
it is also all right if they cannot make such a commitment, and just go on a session-to-session basis. It is
entirely their choice whether to go on or to stop.
c. Exhort them to bring their Bibles to the sessions. If they have none, suggest Bibles such as the New
American Bible, the New Jerusalem Bible, or the Good News Bible.
d. Give details for the next meeting — venue, time, etc. Encourage them to come on time.
e. You may decide to have the closing prayers and blessing over the food together at this time, so the
participants can just have an open-ended fellowship and leave when they want to.
5. Team meeting after the session.
a. Evaluate the whole session — the mood of participants, the atmosphere, the various elements
involved. Address what needs to be addressed.
b. Inform the team that there will be a team meeting prior to the start of session 1 and they should be
there at least 30 minutes earlier.
c. End with a prayer of thanksgiving for the potential harvest and a prayer of petition for the "success" of
the CLP.
CFC Singles for Christ
Christian Life Program
First Session

ORIENTATION SESSION
GOAL : To present a relationship with Jesus as the only way out of the sorry state of the world today and
to offer the audience a concrete way of entering into that relationship through the CLP and ultimately
an ongoing involvement in CFC Singles for Christ.
EXPANDED OUTLINE
I. Introduction.
A. Why should we take time and effort to participate in a program such as this? To answer that, we have
to consider first why Jesus himself came into this world.

B. Luke 4:16-21. Jesus proclaims his mission.

1. The salvation promised by God was to be fulfilled in and through him. He was to announce the good
news of God's reign (Luke 4:43).
2. His mission is for all. His proclamation is timeless. The promise applies to us too.

II. Do we understand Jesus' message? If for us, how have we received his offer of salvation?
a. Jesus refers to four kinds of people. Do we recognize ourselves among them?

1. The poor. These are those who live lives apart from God.
2. The captives. We can be in captivity to things, desires and ideas of no real worth. We can be slaves to
money, power, work, achievements – those things the world values.
3. The blind. We can be blinded by prejudices, pride, wrong self-image, false ideals and ideologies. We
often do not recognize the things that are of real value.
4. The oppressed. We can be oppressed by our bondages – to unrighteous relationships; to hatred or
intolerance; to greed and immorality in business; to fears, worries, anxieties, insecurities; to alcohol,
drugs, illicit sex.

b. But Jesus came precisely to bring salvation to us in all these areas.

1. He brings glad tidings to the poor. What is of real value is the good news of salvation and a real
relationship with God.
2. He proclaims liberty to captives. Jesus can free us from our captivity to worldly things that are of no
true and lasting worth.
3. He gives sight to the blind. With Jesus, we will never be in darkness, unable to see. John 8:12.
4. He lets the oppressed go free. Only Jesus can truly set us free from our bondages.

III. But are we experiencing today the salvation that Jesus offers? Do we have spiritual abundance, are
we living in freedom, do we see with God's eyes?
a. What do we see in the world today? Moral degeneration in all levels of society.

1. Upsurge in sexual promiscuity, homosexuality, and perversity.

2. Rampant greed and dishonesty.
3. Workaholics leaving no room for God.
4. Alarming break-up of families due to a lack of commitment of spouses.
5. Spiritual blindness, giving rise to man-made religions and cults.

b. Why are Christians behaving like this in the modern world?

1. Superficially, one may point to "economic hard times" as the reason. When times are hard, people
look for concrete things that can help them.

a. Bribing in order to win a contract.

b. Alcohol, drugs and illicit sex to cover up difficulties.
c. Turning to the occult for good luck.

1. Others point to sociological reasons.

a. If everyone is doing it, it must be OK.

b. In society today, there is a lack of objective moral norms for right conduct.

1. But these can only be partially correct. Because we see that throughout history, especially for the
early Church, Christians did not easily trade off their Christian values, even in the face of imprisonment,
pain and death.

2. Thus we can only conclude that the Christianity we know today is no longer the same brand of
Christianity as the one the early Christians knew. Our Christianity today is lacking in power and
effectiveness.

IV. Why are we lacking in spiritual power as Christians? There are a number of reasons.
a. Some are unwilling to give up sin.

1. Sin in our lives blocks the power of God.

2. Or there may be no serious sin, but many still live a split-level Christianity.

b. One may be a good person, but conversion to the Lord is not full. We may be satisfied with an
emotional experience and not allow our conversion to effect concretely the way we think, live, act and
relate to others.

c. Many do not have a personal relationship with Jesus.

1. For many Christians, Jesus is out of reach. He is God who is far away in heaven.
2. But in order for us to receive power, we must have a direct link-up with the source of power. John
15:5.

d. There are those who have no Christian support.

1. We are called to be part of a body, the body of Christ. We need the care and support of others in
order to become better Christians.
2. The world is a hostile environment for Christians. We can easily become assimilated into the values
and points-of-view of the world.

e. Some Christians are not living in the power of the Holy Spirit.

1. We believe in the Trinity and we know well the Father and the Son. But many Christians do not know
the Spirit nor understand his role.

a. Jesus affirms the Spirit's importance. John 16:7-8.

b. Before his ascension, Jesus told the disciples to wait for power from on high. Luke 24:49.
c. This power will be given when the Holy Spirit comes upon them. Acts 1:8.

1. And the Spirit did come, on the day of Pentecost.

a. The disciples were emboldened and empowered.

b. Christianity spread quickly. And within a couple of centuries, the whole Roman Empire was converted.

1. This was the power of the Holy Spirit at work.

▪ And this same spiritual power is available to us.

V. What then must we do about our situation?

a. To begin with, understand that we are not meant for this world but for a higher life with God.

1. Our stay in this world is transitory. Our true citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20).
2. If true, then we should not just invest ourselves in this world. We should invest for the next.

b. Investigate for yourself what Jesus is offering. Don't just pass it up. Right now, approach this in faith
and know that your God is extending to you an invitation. Revelations 3:20.

c. Concretely, what does this invitation mean for you?

1. Our Lord wants to offer you a personal, concrete expression of his reality in your lives in an ongoing
way.
2. The first step is to join this Christian Life Program.

a. The CLP has 3 modules of 4 sessions each.

b. You do not have to commit yourself to the whole CLP, but can take each of the sessions as they come.

1. At the end of the CLP, you will be invited to join CFC Singles for Christ so you can continue to receive
support for your Christian life.
2. All these will bring you to the doorway to spiritual freedom, maturity and power in Christian living.