People of the Way  - Exploring the ministry of all disciples in Lent ’12

 The Diocese of Johannesburg is studying the “People of the Way” Lent course in 2012.

 People of the Way is a 7 session course of study material and DVDs. The study material is designed to be used with small groups, youth groups, confirmation and groups and Sunday school.

The first session starts the week before Lent with a celebration of community and an affirmation that we are disciples of Jesus.

Sermon and liturgy ideas for all the Sundays in Lent and for Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Day are included.

 The study sessions consist of a DVD and study material.  Each episode of the DVD consists of teaching around the theme of discipleship and a story which shows an example of how the teaching on discipleship is lived out in practice.

 The inspiration for calling this series  “People of the Way” comes from the Gospel of Mark where from the moment of his baptism Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem.  Throughout the Gospel Jesus calls people to follow him, to travel with him on the way to Jerusalem, the way to the cross.  Mark uses the word “way” or “road” to mean not simply the physical road that Jesus and his disciples walked, but to signify the very purpose for which Jesus came into the world, and the path of discipleship for those who would follow Jesus. “The Way” is nothing less than the journey of discipleship, the road Jesus calls us to travel with him. This idea of the “Way” was so significant for early Christians that some of them called themselves “People of the Way”. So in this Lent course we affirm the fact that, as Christians, we are People of the Way, followers of Jesus Christ.