A Rule For Life

We have a lattice attached to our front porch, along which is growing Climbing Jasmine. Over the years, it has become quite a thick and substantial covering! We enjoy the fresh aroma of this vine in warm summer nights, and throughout the year, we have a natural privacy fence when we share meals and meetings on the front deck!

Just as this lattice helps the Jasmine grow in strength and in fragrance, when we keep a daily and regular set of habits in our spiritual life, we can grow stronger in our faith, and be more of a blessing to others. In other words, developing a personal "Rule For Life" is one way of helping us grow in our faith and daily witness. 

Over the past year, our fellowship ("The Table") has been developing our own "Rule For Life." These aren't legalistic rules, but guidelines - like the cross sections of a lattice - intended to help guide our growth, life, and health. 

Over the centuries, several "Rules" have been developed in the Christian Church, the most notable of which is the Benedictine Rule. So, this attempt by our fellowship is really nothing new; we're just trying to follow in the foot steps of ancient church leaders.

Here are our guidelines or "Rules." Take a look; we hope they will encourage you in your spiritual growth, and give you some ideas how you might develop some personal healthy habits. 

Daily Prayer and Study. We intentionally set aside time each day to be alone in prayer with God, to rededicate our lives to Christ, to pray for others by name, and to reflect on the Scripture long enough to hear what the Father is saying to us through his Word. We will memorize Bible verses that God is using in our lives to bring encouragement, wisdom, or guidance in our prayers. We will seek to “practice the presence” of Christ in our hearts and minds. (Ps. 119:11,164, Rom. 12:12, 1 Thess. 5:17, 2 Tim. 3:14-17)

Encouraging and caring for one another. We will seek to build others up through words and acts of love and support. When necessary, we will confess our sins to one another in order to seek cleansing and healing, comfort and freedom. As much as possible, we will live transparent lives with one another, being honest about shortcomings and humble about our successes. (1 Thess. 5.11, Phil.2.1-3, James 5.16)

Fasting and Prayer  We will be sensitive and obedient to the Holy Spirit’s leading about fasting, since we believe that fasting is a normal part of our Christian life. We will fast what and when God leads us, both personally and corporately, denying ourselves and spending extended time in prayer and intercession for spiritual healing, breakthrough and deliverance. Isaiah 58:6-14, Joel 2:12,13, Nehemiah 1:4, Mathew 6:16-18

Financial stewardship. We will make a personal plan for financial giving that is Biblical and Spirit-led. The Scriptures bear witness that giving 10% of one’s income towards the Lord's work is a normal starting place for financial giving, but we are open to the Spirit’s direction of how to give that, and how much more the Lord is leading us to give. (Gen. 14:19-20, Rom. 12:13)

 Gathering with the saints. We choose to meet with our brothers and sisters in Christ on a regular basis. We acknowledge that giving this gift of time and energy is necessary to our spiritual growth and the encouragement of others. In our gatherings, we will pray for one another, break bread together, study the Word together, and have time to enjoy the company of the household of Faith. (Ps. 22:22, Acts 2:42, Rom. 12:10)

 Holy living. We will daily turn from sin and turn to Christ in our thoughts, our words, and our actions.  We will not hold grudges or come to false judgments of others. We will not engage in gossip; we will not share in conversation or entertainment that is profane. We will be slow to anger, slow to speak, and quick to show mercy.  (Mark 7:20, Rom. 12:9, Phil. 4:8, James 1:19)

 Keeping relationships with care. When misunderstandings or hurtful experiences happen in our fellowship, we will be quick to seek reconciliation and forgiveness with one another. We will seek to be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also has forgiven us. With God’s grace, we will exhort one another to make amendments of life in the power of the Spirit. (Ephesians 4.32, Hebrews 3.13, Matthew 18,15-18)

 Living by the Spirit   We intentionally seek the gifts of the Holy Spirit in our life and ministry together. This means we will choose to ask the Lord for spiritual gifts that build one another up, that bring relief to suffering or sickness, and that empower our witness to others.  Our common life and personal lives will be “charismatic” in as much as we want to express the power and presence of God in word, actions, and prayer that bring glory to the Father. (Luke 24.48-49, John 16.13, Acts 1.4-8, Romans 12.4-8, Numbers 11.24-29, 1 Corinthians 12.4-7, 14.1, Galatians 5.25)    

Reaching out and welcoming in. We will identify whom the Lord is calling us to encounter with his love and Good News. We will reach out at work or school, in our neighborhood, in our families, or through ministries that extend the Kingdom. We will practice hospitality to those outside our fellowship, with the purpose of showing Christ's love to those whom the Lord has sent to us as well as those to whom we are sent. We will seek to serve the least and the vulnerable, and to share the Good News of the Kingdom in personal and practical ways. (Gen. 18:1-8, Mt. 28:18-20, Rom. 12:13)

Simplicity. We will look to the Lord for our provision, protection, and guidance, not seeking after the world's definition of blessing or progress, but rather contenting ourselves with what and how Lord has chosen to give. (Ex. 16:16-18, Prov. 30:7-9, Luke 3:14)

Work. We view work as a gift from God to glorify him and to worship him with our time and energy. Our work is an expression of our worship of our Lord. We do not define our worth by our work or our job. Rather, we gain worth in knowing the love of the Father for us. Therefore, in our work, we seek to love others.  (Mat 22.37-39; Eph 4.28; Col 3.17; 1 John 4.16).