(Our Rule of Life)
A trellis for an unhurried life.
(Why practice?)
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in them bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”John 15:5
A rule of life is the trellis, not the vine. It doesn't make us grow. It gives the growing life of Jesus something to climb. We're a formation-centered church: we don't just learn about Jesus, we practice his ways together.
(Practice, not performance)
We don't show up to be perfect. We show up to practice, and we trust that Jesus is perfecting us in the process.
So we don't practice to earn an abundant life. We practice from abundance, out of the finished work of the cross. There's no test to pass. Show up humble, teachable, and unhurried, and let God do the growing.
We live from a place
of abundance, not for it.
(An unhurried life)
Be with Jesus.
(The rhythm)
The practices move with the shape of our mission. They help us be with Jesus day by day, become like Jesus week by week, and do what Jesus did in our city.
(01 · Daily)
Be with Jesus
3 practices
- 01
Start the day in prayer & Scripture
Make space to listen for God's voice before anything digital. Five minutes or fifty, quality matters more than quantity. The goal is to commune with the living God.
- 02
Take breaks through the day
Step outside, walk, or sit in silence. Give your body and mind room to breathe and enjoy God's creation. Use your commute to be with Jesus.
- 03
End the day in Examen & gratitude
Recap the day with God. Where did you see him? What are you grateful for? Name the moments of disconnection and walk with Jesus tomorrow.
(02 · Weekly & monthly)
Become like Jesus
4 practices
- 01
Keep the Sabbath
Aim for 24 hours, and modify as needed. Stop work and rest. Do what brings you life. Spend time with people you love, and with God.
- 02
Fasting
Starve your flesh and feed your spirit. Go without food for a time, or fast something else. Let the hunger remind you of your hunger for God.
- 03
Worship on Sunday
Gather in person every Sunday to worship together in the presence of God. Make it an essential part of your weekly rhythm.
- 04
Devote yourself to community
Show up and be present with one another. If you can't make a Community, connect with another believer to share your week and pray.
(03 · In the city)
Do what Jesus did
2 practices
- 01
Contribute to your community
To contribute is to add value. Join a New Culture team, and look for ways to be present with neighbors and coworkers.
- 02
Seek renewal for our city
Pray for renewal and bring it. Volunteer with local organizations, join service projects and donation drives, and use our pray297 guide to pray for your neighborhood.
(Order your whole life)
Seven areas to bring to Jesus.
If you don't craft a rule of life, your life will craft one for you. You'll be formed by whatever is loudest, most urgent, and most addictive. So we bring the whole of life to Jesus, one honest question at a time.
- 01
Personal & spiritual
When will you spend time with God?
- 02
Relationships & community
Who are your people?
- 03
Physical & body
How will you care for the body God gave you?
- 04
Emotional & mental
What are you telling yourself?
- 05
Work & vocation
How does your work fit God's design for you?
- 06
Service & outreach
How will you love your neighbor?
- 07
Recreation & rest
What brings you delight?
(Hear it preached)
Teaching on the Rule of Life.
Most every January we teach through the practices together. Sit with a whole series, one Sunday at a time.
(How to build one)
Four gentle steps.
There's no single right way. Start where you are, not where you wish to be.
Start small
Pick two or three practices, not twenty. Where can you give Jesus ten more minutes in a part of the day you're already awake to him?
Be specific
Not “pray more.” Pray for ten minutes at 7:30, and put it on the calendar. A practice you can name is a practice you can keep.
Write it down, share it
Sketch it in the workbook, then tell a friend, your spouse, or your community. Said out loud, it sticks. Come back to it in a couple of months.
Give yourself grace
This is a trellis, not a cage. When you miss a day, be kind to yourself, ask for help, and come back to it. You're practicing, not performing.
(Make it yours)
Build your own Rule of Life.
Build your rule right here in a few minutes, then save it as a PDF or add the reminders to your calendar. Prefer paper? Grab the one-page card, the workbook, or the DailyRhythms app.
Start slow, start small.