Guidelines and suggestions for witnessing to people of the Catholic faith.
Instructions:
In sharing the gospel with people from a Catholic background, we can use the Bible--but we must remember that the Bible in and of itself may not be seen as a strong source of authority. They respect the words of Jesus, but when Mary (the mother of Jesus) is involved, it will likely capture their attention and carry even more weight.
Here are some Scripture passages pertaining to Mary that you can use as you witness to Catholics:
In Matthew 2.11, the wise men saw both Mary and Jesus, but they only gave honor to Jesus: And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered Him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh
In Mark 3.32-35, they were seeking Him, but Jesus directed attention to obedient people rather than Mary: And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.” And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”
In Luke 2.48, Mary was seeking Him but didn't understand His purpose: And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?”
In Luke 11:27-28, someone tried to elevate Mary's place--but Jesus redirected this to our obedience to God: “As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!””
In John 2.5 we see the last thing ever recorded that Mary said: His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
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