Creating a RULE of LIFE
A RULE OF LIFE is a set of practices focusing our worship in the hope that our love for God will grow deeper and wider, our love for ourselves will become clearer, and our love for others will become the defining mark of our apprenticeship to Jesus.
A RULE OF LIFE is not a way of earning God’s grace and mercy but a surrender to God through a consistent and committed set of practices.
One early RULE OF LIFE set the standard for others to follow: “In drawing up its regulations, we hope to set down nothing harsh, nothing burdensome. The good of all concerned, however, may prompt us to a little strictness in order to amend faults and to safeguard love. Do not be daunted immediately by fear and run away from the road that leads to salvation. It is bound to be narrow at the outset. But as we progress in this way of life and in faith, we shall run on the path of God’s commandments, our hearts overflowing with the inexpressible delight of love.”
The goal of this RULE OF LIFE is to provide tools that facilitate our participation in God’s mission: Love God and Love Others, and Teach All to Do the Same.
To make progress in this participation, every apprentice of Jesus must spend time with God, ourselves, and others.
Therefore, these practices are designed to spend time simultaneously with God, with ourselves, and with others. Solitary practices are helpful on occasion, but overall, God intends us to have a constant, close attachment to the Trinity and other humans.
Being a faithful apprentice of Jesus is a slow journey.
1. Start with one or two practices to create a rhythm.
a. Choose a practice based on your current desires or actions, or a tool that seems doable right now.
b. Invite at least one other person to join you in the practice.
c. Add one more practice per month or quarter.
RULE of LIFE Matrix
2. Put the practices on your calendar.
Example of a Personal Monthly Rule of Life Note: When there is a 5th Sunday in a month, take the opportunity to review your Journal. Fast from the practices and/or take a retreat for solitude.
Example RULE of LIFE Calendar
3. For maximum growth in Loving God and Loving Others, all practices should be conducted in groups of 2-4, never alone.
a. Groups do not need to be the same people for every practice.
b. Groups can be a nuclear family or a couple of families together.
c. As soon as possible, invite not-yet-apprentices of Jesus into the practice(s).
4. As much as possible, conduct the practices outside the church building in the places where you live, work, and play.
a. Be ready for any passerby who desires to interrupt and/or participate.
b. Openness to others is the first step to attaching love.
5. Being consistently present in a space is essential to communicate for and with others.
6. Accomplish the ATTACHING LOVE SELF-ASSESSMENT monthly or quarterly.
7. It is essential to reflect and contemplate. Each practice (except GROW Together: Listen) provides space for reflection and contemplation. It would be most helpful to keep a folder with completed practices or write in a separate journal to record your journey.
Here are some tips for journaling:
a. Journaling can be electronic or paper.
b. Any length of written response is helpful.
c. Journaling is an excellent tool for becoming honest with God and yourself.
d. Journaling helps you:
● Pay attention to God. It is a way of hearing and responding to God.
● Process what is going on inside. It slows you down enough to notice what is happening within.
● Listen to and learn about yourself and God, giving direction and insight to live a more authentic life.
● Understand your unfolding story and discover where God is in that story.
● Put feelings into words.
● Develop your thinking and lead to the generation of new thoughts, extending your knowledge in new ways.
● Record your growth into Christlikeness.
● Serve as marks on your spiritual wall, recording and denoting growth.
● Gain perspective, encouragement, and hope, and combat desolation.
Prompts for Contemplate/Journal
