Following Jesus
What does it mean to follow Jesus?
In John 15 Jesus gives his followers a picture of what it means to follow him. He uses the image of a vine growing on a trellis. This image was clear in ancient times but is less familiar today. The basic idea is that we are made to experience the spiritual life of God by abiding in Jesus.
We want to create a culture where we respond to the grace Jesus has given us by taking ownership and responsibility for our growth. To do this, we seek to pursue 6 practices. Together and by God’s grace, we want these practices to act as the trellis that directs and supports our vine of spiritual growth.
The aim is that these practices will help us love God and love our neighbor and, in the process, fulfill all that Jesus calls us to.
John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
Over the centuries, the Church has sought to practically live out this image by living by a Rule of Life. A rule of life is a particular set of shared practices that a community of disciples actively lives by as they seek to abide in Jesus together.
Why these practices?
You may be asking yourself why we need to do this. Don’t we just need to “follow Jesus?”
Abiding in Jesus is active work. At the same time, it’s good to remember that we are made children of God by God’s grace alone. Nothing we do can save us. It is a gift of God. We are secure in Christ because of Christ. Now we actively follow Jesus out of love. As Dallas Willard wrote, “Grace is not opposed to effort, it is opposed to earning.”
As a community, we seek to actively abide in Christ through these 6 practices. This is a personal journey that is done in the context of our local church body.
Here is a resource to help you get started.
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We are a people who live unhurried through the practice of sabbath.
Theological Anchor:
When God made the world, he “blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work he had done in creation” (Gen. 2:3). This pattern of six days of work and one day of rest was established for Israel to follow on a societal level (Ex. 2:8-11). Jesus, as Lord of the Sabbath (Matt 12:8), fulfilled the Sabbath requirement, and called his people to come to him for rest and renewal (Matt. 11:28-30, Heb. 4:1-13).
Because of God’s wisdom in designing his creation with a pattern of work and rest, Christians have sought to live a life of rest in Christ through the practice of Sabbath. Historically, believers have often done this by taking a day to refrain from normal work to recentre their minds, bodies, and souls on Jesus and his life-giving presence.
Ways to practice:
Take a full day’s intentional rest or break from work each week
Consider a full 24-hour break from technology
Incorporate moments of rest into your daily life and go for a walk or take a nap
Mark the start of sabbath by gathering around a special meal with friends or family
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We are a people who experience communion with God through the practice of prayer.
Theological Anchor:
Often, prayer is thought of as a way to let God know what we want and need. While it is true that God wants to hear the cares and concerns of our hearts (Phil. 4:6), prayer goes deeper than only making requests of God. It is the very essence of our life with God, and the way we communicate and build our relationship with him.
In the Psalms, we see God’s people bear their hearts before him in joy, sorrow, anger, and trust. When the disciples asked Jesus how they should pray, Jesus responded with what we know as “The Lord’s Prayer” in Matthew 6:9-13, where both communion with God and communicating the needs and desires of our hearts to him are on full display.
Ways to practice:
Spend time in silence listening to God’s voice
Pray through a psalm
Pray throughout the day (in the morning, before work, lunch, and before bed)
Intercede for those at church and others in your life circles
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We are a people who live by the story of God as we practice intaking the Scriptures.
Theological Anchor:
We have been given the greatest story of all. The real account of all that God has done has been given to us through the Bible. These scriptures are inspired by God, and they help us understand who God is and what he is doing. We believe that to trust and reflect Jesus Christ in our lives, we must remain in the Bible. God has chosen to reveal himself to us in His Son, through His Word by His Spirit. He designed us to be fed and sustained by His very words.
As we take in His words the Scriptures have the power to change us and mold us into the image of Jesus. They are alive and active revealing our innermost thoughts (Heb. 4:12). From the Old Testament to the New, God has revealed himself to us and we find that all things find their fullness in Jesus (2 Cor. 1:20). To draw near to God is to take in his story.
Ways to practice:
Follow a daily reading plan
Take your Bible to church, take notes during the sermon, and study the content further during the week
Practice reading the Bible slowly and carefully
Memorize Scripture
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We are a people who live on mission together by practicing commitment to a faith family.
Theological Anchor:
Through Christ, we become one with all those who have put their trust in Jesus. This is true with all Christians around the world throughout history. But it’s also true that when we commit to a local church, those specific believers are our brothers and sisters in Christ. The Bible reminds us that we need each other (1 Cor. 12:14-20) and that our faith was never meant to be a solo endeavor.
Our commitment to this faith family leads to our growth in Christ, but it also shows the world God’s love (John 13:35). In this family, we have the support and love of others who are also seeking to follow Jesus and live in this world as faithful witnesses.
Ways to practice:
Start an intentional conversation with someone new to you at the gathering, and introduce them to others they may not know
Invite someone from the gathering over for a meal or coffee
Join a Missional Family
Listen well and offer prayer and support for other’s needs
Invite others into your life beyond church events
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We are a people who practice simplicity in order to be generous with our time, talents, and treasures as a result of grace.
Theological Anchor:
When God created the universe, he abundantly and generously filled it with his goodness and life (Gen.2:9). However, at the Fall, mankind’s view of God was broken and selfishness became the predominant way of life (Gen. 3:10). As a result, we now often choose to hoard the resources God has given us rather than share them with his creation.
However, Jesus displayed the generous heart of God through his life, death, and resurrection and has called us into a life and attitude of sacrificial giving (2 Cor. 8). While this practice includes being generous with our finances, it extends to being good stewards of our time, talents, and resources, as we seek to be people marked by giving and sharing, the same way God has given everything to us.
Ways to practice:
Simplify your possessions and schedule in order to create margin to be generous
Actively look for opportunities to be generous with your time, resources, and finances
Evaluate your finances and budget to prioritize giving
Set aside a specific amount for giving to the local church
Start supporting mission-focused work
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We are a people who live the gospel by sharing Jesus with others.
Theological Anchor:
God’s vision for his people is that they would be a city on a hilltop (Matt. 5:14). We are imperfect witnesses, but as we grow in holiness, our lives show the power of Jesus' presence in our life. We are called to bring good news (Rom. 10:13-15). Through word and deed, we invite others into a life-giving relationship with Jesus.
Being a witness is not something for only a few people to do. All Christians are called to make Jesus known. Therefore, we look with expectation for the opportunities around us. We also seek to see Jesus’ name magnified among every nation through global mission work. This work will not be finished until every last person has heard the good news.
Ways to practice:
Look for opportunities to listen to someone’s story
Build relationships with those who don’t know Jesus
Be hospitable with coworkers, neighbors, or strangers
Be prepared and ready to share the gospel