Japan Trip

Apart from my wedding day as the greatest day of my young adult life, in 2019 i was given one of the most fun opportunities of my young adult life, to go to the nation of Japan.

As a graduation gift for my sister and I, my uncle decided to take her and I on a week trip to Japan. I was so stoked because I’m a huge fan of nintendo, fashion, the themed cafe’s, as well as their amazing food.

It was our first day on arrival and I was excited for a

It was a beautiful trip, but it lacked intentionality

On the surface the trip itself was fun and had its moments of

I think the problem isn’t that we dont’ want to grow, i think the problem is that our version of growth is more rooted in busyness and less on inentionality. Often we find ourselves unfocused, distracted and spiritually unconcious.

“Many of my friends and church members aren’t undone by poor theology or a lack of biblical information. Instead, we often fail to grow spiritually because we haven’t planned and made space for a deep, abiding fellowship with God. We often fail to grow spiritually because we haven’t planned and made space for a deep, abiding fellowship with God. The lack of spiritual planning may be rooted in a lukewarm heart toward Christ, but at other times, we genuinely want to go deeper with God but don’t know how to make time and space to simply be with him and gain spiritual strength for each day’s challenges.” - The Gospel Coalation, Jeremy Linneman

a compelling vision of the destination

a plan of how we get there

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We need an intentional plan to keep us planted and rooted to make space for Christ to transform every part of our lives

Rule of Life

Rule = Trellis (Pattern or Model)

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The word for Rule in the latin translates to the word Regula which is often associated with the word Trellis. It’s a structure such as those designed to help grapevines grow upward, to help it becoem more fruitful and productive

Similarly with the rule of life, it has a similar function and objective.

“Intentional, conscious plan to keep God at the center of everything we do” - Peter Scazzero

The Rule is a way to “begin with the end in mind”

It’s an eternal plan that sees the end goal in mind, life with Jesus for eternity. As you cutlivate your own rule of life, you’re keeping eternity and the love of God at the forefront of everything you do and you putting intentionality towards your whole life plan til the day you meet Jesus.

The Rule of Life is not…

Obligation

Dos and Donts

Checklist

“This rule doesn’t mean a list of rules. It’s more of a set of practices, relationships, and commitments that is inspired by the Spirit for the sake of our wholeness in Christ.” - Rich Villodas

“It is a support structure that helps us to grow in Christ.”

it’s an intentional plan centered around the pratices of Jesus that enable us to pay attention to God and remain in Jesus regardless of whatever the world or wht’s around us trys to pull away from Him.

John 15:1–5 ““I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

Exterior Framework for an interior Journey

Building a Fire place

What makes a fire burn is space between the logs, a breathing space. Too much of a good thing, too many logs packed in too tight can douse the flames almost as surely as a pail of water would.

So building fires requires attention to the spaces in between, as much as to the wood. When we are able to build open spaces in the sam way we have learned to pile on the logs, then we can come to see how it is fuel, and absence of the fuel together, that makes fire possible.

We all have a rule of life whether we know it or not

Morning

Brush Your Teeth

Make Breakfast

Drive to Work/School

Afternoon

Eat Lunch

Scroll Through Social Media

Workout

Night

Eat Dinner

Watch a Netflix Show

go to Sleep

LIFE

Learning The Word

Investing in Relationships

Following the Ways of Christ

Engaging Our World

Believe it or not we all have a rule of life. The question is not that if you have a rule of life. the real question is

Do you know what your rule of life is?

Is it giving you the life you want? Is it working ofr you or against you?

History

This ancient term of rule of life predates in the early 3rd century with early christians who went into desert the roman province of egypt to practice the ways and teachings of Jesus.

In the 6th century, the roman empire was going through a diffuclt period where it was still full of pagonistic religions and the christians of this time were going through immense persecution.

Benedict

In the 6th century, a man by the name of Benedict of Nursia, early church father. He was a student in Rome and witnessed the outpour of paganism and downfall of the early Christians due to persucution. As a result, he withdraws into the cave to escape the dangers of Rome of the time. It was in this cave he followed and practicted the teachings of Jesus Christ.

With the christians that was with him at this time, Benedict helped developed an agreed upon plan between him and his church, to follow the ways of Christ in a way that was different from the world. This plan would be the trellis or structure that would liberate them towards freedom when they would head back into the city of Rome.

They lived by a strict rule: they started in the desert following the ways of jesus and eventually had to go back into the city to serve their people there. They became the service providers (education, libraries, manuscripts).

Rules of Life according to Benedict

Prayer

Work

Study

Hospitatlity

Renewal

Prayer

ordering our day around communal prayer, as well as regular silent prayer/ meditation on the scriptures. Talk about lecto…

Work

includes not only paid employment, but also work in our faith communities,  and the work we do to contribute to our family life. 

Benedict ‘s rule of life was that all work has value and brings dignity to each human being.  This is especially true as long as our work honors God by serving the community.

Study 

can include reading Holy Scripture, reading the Rule, reading wisdom writings, or studying with others in order to deepen our spiritual and intellectual lives.

Hospitality 

can include inviting the stranger into our lives as well as being hospitable to those who are already in our lives. Having a right approach to how we treat one another, and welcoming each person as Christ himself, is key to creating a healthy sense of hospitality.

Renewal

the discipline of keeping a sabbath, cultivating interests that remind us of the presence of God, or taking time to notice beauty and love in our daily life. Renewal is the time to remember that our lives are still centered on the Divine, and that God is the ultimate center of our Rule of Life.

All of these ryhthms of life all contained at the core the very love of Christ. It’s not a strict set of rules just for the sake of obligation. It’s an inentional structure that allows us to grow in a way that centers our focus on what matters most: His love for us.

“The goal of the rule of life is its goal of regulating our entire lives in such a way that we truly prefer the love of Christ above all things.”

Peter Scazzero

“Your way of acting should be different from the worlds way. The love of Christ must come above all else.” - Benedict of Nursia

The Action Gap

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Examples of Rules of Life in Scripture

Matthew 4:1-11

Before Jesus started his public ministry, he went into the desert alone to pray. According to matthew 4, Jesus expressed a life of solitude to be alone in the father for 40 days. It was in these 40 days he lived a life

Fasting (Matthew 4:2)

Praying (Matthew 4)

Enduring Temptation (Matthew 4)

Obedience (Matthew 4:4,7,10)

Matthew 5-7

One can argue that Jesus gives the foundation of what it means to have a rhythym of life. In these very famous passages of scripture, Jesus delivers one of the most iconic messages throughout his ministry journey: the sermon on the mount.

Matthew’s audience from his perspective speaks to the Jewish Christians who understand the Penatuch or the first five books of the bible (OT). So Jesus gives a new way of living, or a rule of life, for those who were familiar with the old law to now live towards the life of Christ.

“The composer and author of the Sermon had taken sayings of Jesus and arranged them in such a way that the whole amounted to a kind of manual for the instruction of disciples”

Resistance to

Our Spiritual Rythyms are resistance to the distractions of the world

These commands and disciplines that Jesus offers are not only invitaitons for deep spiritual growth, but present as resistance to a life marked by of hurry, shallowness, &

My central claim is that we become like Christ by doing one thing-by following Him in the overall style of life He chose for Himself. If we have faith in Christ, we must believe that He knew how to live. We can, through faith and grace, become like Christ by practicing the types of activities He engaged in, by arranging our whole lives around the activities He Himself practiced in order to remain constantly at home in the fellowship of the Father. - Dallas Willard

Acts 2

Context

Jesus is risen! He’s risen indeed. He’s now ascended towards heaven and Peter and the remaining disciples were now following jesus’s last command: to make disciples of all nations. This comes in the most supernatural way possible and it was on the day of pentecost.

Pentecost

This particular event happened 50 days right after the day of Passover in jewish culture. It was on this celebratory day that was remembered as the day the Holy Spirit came within the walls of the upperroom and indwelled within these men and woman of God.

The Boldness of Peter

a few verses later then showcase the power of the Holy Spirit using a man like Peter who was first so ashamed for what He did to Jesus to now being filled with the Holy Ghost to speak God’s gospel to the every people group. According to Chapter 2 verse 9-10, there was a total of 15 types of people group

Acts 2:41 “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.”

What an amazing revival. Literally this whole week at our missions week at Cru, we say close to 300+ students indicating a decision to start a relationship with Jesus.

Imagine now, 3000 new believers. From every nation, every background, every demographic, all coming together under the gospel. Now it came down to a simple task:

How can we be intentional to follow the ways of Jesus together as a community

Acts 2:42 “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

#1 The Word of God

Devoted (to attend constntly; to attatch oneself to)

“We become a community of courageous fidelity to orthodoxy in a culture of ideological compromise through the practice of scripture”

John Mark Comer, Practicing The Way

orthodoxy is a big word but it simply means proper teaching or sound docrtrine that aligns with scripture

Psalm 119:105–106 “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. I have sworn and confirmed That I will keep Your righteous judgments.”

If this is part of your rule of life, i want to encourage you to having portion of reading the word from a slown down and contemplative perspective.

Read a Short passage of scripture Slowly

Reflect on the scritpure quietly

Allow the words to feed and transform you

Acts 2:42 “…and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

#2 Communion

It’s remembering the Lord’s death and ressurection together. The practice of communion is coming together

1 Corinthians 11:23–24 “For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.””

#3 Prayer

“Prayer is simply the medium through which we communicate and commune with God. The practice of prayer is learning to set aside dedicated time to intentionally be with God in order to become like him and partner with him in the world.”

John Mark Comer, Practicing the Way

I love how in verse 42 that there’s a unifying word that ties in with breaking bread and prayers. It says that the fellowship IN breaking bread & prayers.

Fellowship: sharing & participation

Its the word Koinoia. A term that conveys a sense of commonality, solidarity, and shared responsibility among households or individuals.

Acts 2:43 “Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.”

#4 Being in Awe and Wonder

I do believe that God does some amazing miracles that happen unexpectateldy in our world today. We have all been witnesses to God’s greatest miracles that has happened in our work places, families, and in the most mundane parts of our lives.

But I believe sometimes the miracles that we expect are often shadowing the miracles we often pass by. Let me explain.

The greatest miracles are witnessed when we pay attention to God’s greater beauty happening around us.

Sometimes the greatest practice of observing miracles doesn’t always show up in a gret flash of lightning or healing although I do believe God can, some of the greatest miracles are the quiet ones.

Putting yourself onto the path of oncoming beauty allows all of us like the apostles to have that reverance even if its as simple as a child hug your leg, a person affirming you in truth, or the birds chirping in the trees.

Psalm 27:4 “One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple.”

Acts 2:44–45 “Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.”

#5 Generosity

Imagine all these 3000 people of this church from all backgrounds all testimonies all nations and all tounges all shared the same heart together. This was supernatural that all these different people from all walks of life have the same heart, the same common ground, to put others before themselves. I believe that’s what happens when we are practicing of generosity.

When we are generous, we make room to remain free from worldy attachments instead…

“…let go of what is not necessary and to remain dependent on God as our security and source.” - Peter Scazzero

Imagine living a life of simplicity where our lives are less worried about what we need in this world and more about how can we give away in this world.

Matthew 6:21 NKJV

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Acts 2:46 “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,”

#4 Community (Church gathering and homes)

“We become a community of love and depth in a culture of individualism and superficiality through the practice of community.”

John Mark Comer, Practicing The Way

“…ask yourself about the kind of companions you need for this next stage of your journey.”- Peter Scazzero

Acts 2:47 “praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”

#5 Worship

“When people [worship] together, they evoke a sense of community that… helps them connect with each other in invisible, mysterious, and inexplicable ways.”

#6 Witness

We become a community of hospitality in a culture of hostility through the practice of witness

Acts 1:8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.””

My Rule of Life

Prayer

Scripture

Sabbath

Solitude

Fasting

Witness

Community

Generosity

Service

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Developing an intentional rule of life takes trial and error

Creating a rhythm centered around Christ will take steps of faith that will need to be tried and tested. Each discipline present as great opportunities to practice the way of Jesus and to draw more near to His heart.

But understand that once you develp your own rule of life, you will not have it down easily.

Start with Three!

I’ve heard it once said that “…following Jesus is not about doing more, but doing less.” Less is more if you will. And my heart’s desire is to practice all of the ways of Jesus, but I know for a fact that my learning capacity cannot learn to multi task everything at once. And I know that God is not dependent on my works for Him, but where my heart is.

And to get us all started on the right foot, I wanna challenge you to start with any three of the practices of jesus that was listed above. As a body, if you want a template of which practices to implement in your rule of life, we can start with these three:

Prayer

Scripture

Sabbath

#1 Prayer

Daily

Practice Gratitude Prayer

Pray through a Psalm

Weekly

Go On a Prayer Walk

Monthly

Host or attend of a small group Prayer Night

#2 Scripture

Daily

Read with a daily reading plan

Listen to Scripture

Weekly

Read with scripture with a loved one

Read books on biblical themes

Monthly

Host or attend of a small group bible study

#3 Sabbath

Weekly

Set aside time to enjoy beautiful things (poetry, art, nature, etc.)

Get Together with a close friend

Host or attend a Sabbath Feast

Seasonally/Annually

Go on a day or Weekend Retreat

Take a long annual vacation

“There is no formation without reptition”

I truly believe that what you put in is what you get out of. I believe often we wait for the miracle to happen and the blessing to just instantly appear when we want to. From what we see from the life of Jesus, I believe Jesus wants us to be part of that miracle. A participative miracle.

Where God uses an average, broken, sinful person like us to

“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 inexpressible delight of love.” - Benedict of Nursia