Practicing the Way

Nine Ancient Practices that root us & deepen our experience of God as we serve our world

Introduction

Practicing the Way is a teaching series that exploring nine ancient practices of the way of Jesus that promise to help root us in the faith and deepen our experience of God as we serve our world.

When practiced regularly these keystone habits can powerfully guide our journey of spiritual growth, creating a Rule of Life that helps us become more like Christ, transformed into the people we were created to be.

How the series will work

• The series will teach nine practices.

• Each practice has four parts taught over four Sundays and occasionally we will add a bonus fifth Sunday for Q&A.

• Table Groups will discuss the teaching each week explore ideas on how to put into practice.

• Want to go deeper? You can download the Digital Companion Guide (PDF) for each practice that contains lots of additional resources, reading and ideas for those wanting to explore each practice further.

Where to Begin

Begin with reading ‘A Rule of Life’ then select a practice below or simply scroll.

A Trellis for the Soul

The word “rule” may strike you as a strict or binding constraint but the Latin word we translate “rule” was originally the word for a trellis in a vineyard. In the same way a vine needs a trellis to lift it off the ground so it can bear the maximum amount of fruit, and keep free of predators and diseases, we need a rule as a kind of support structure to organise our life around “abiding in the vine,” ( John 15v1–8) as Jesus imagined.

In the same way a, followers of Jesus need a trellis, a support structure for our discipleship to Jesus that guards and guides our lives into transformation into union with God.

It’s been said that we achieve inner peace when our schedule is aligned with our values. A rule of life is simply a tool to that end. Rather than a rigid, legalistic to-do list, it’s an intentional way of living simply, slowly, lovingly…. a life-giving structure for freedom, growth, and joy.

 Sabbath

Our first practice is Sabbath — a day of rest by which we cultivate a spirit of restfulness in all of our life.

Teachings

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Prayer

Our second practice is Prayer, 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.

Teachings

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Fasting

Fasting is one of the most essential and powerful of all the practices of Jesus and, arguably, the single most neglected one in the modern, Western church. The Fasting Practice will train you in this ancient discipline, integrating your whole body into life with God.

As powerful as the mind is, because we are holistic beings, we can’t simply think our way into spiritual maturity. Our discipleship to Jesus must take seriously our body, as it is “the temple of the Holy Spirit” — a home where we make room for God to dwell. Most of us are used to approaching our spiritual formation and life with God through the door of our mind — by thinking, talking, praying, reading, or hearing teaching and preaching. But very few of us are comfortable approaching our spiritual formation through our stomach, or our body as a whole.

Our third practice is Fasting, one of the best disciplines we have to reintegrate our mind to our body, and offer our whole selves to God in surrender.

Teachings

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Solitude

In an increasingly distracted and noisy world, we need solitude more than ever. The practice of solitude mimics Jesus’ rhythm of retreat and return: retreat from people and distractions to be with God, in order to return to community in love and service.

Teachings

Additional Resources