Practicing the way of jesus in phoenix
As a church we want to become people who not only know about Jesus, but are intimately involved with him in our minute to minute existence. Spiritual disciplines are practices we take on that allow us to do what we cannot do by direct effort. In other words, spiritual practices enable us to abide in Christ, something that cannot be achieved by direct effort alone. Through our Rule of Life we are inviting our church family to try out new spiritual practices with the goal of becoming more like Jesus. By this we hope to be a non-anxious presence in our workplaces, schools, families, and our city. All of what you see below is invitation, not a requirement. We encourage you to adapt this to your current life situation and to practice these when possible with your community or family. We also included some helpful resources for diving in to each of these practices.
What is lent?
The season of Lent began in the early days of the Church as a time of preparation for those seeking to be baptized at the Easter Vigil. The forty days refer to our Lord’s time of fasting in the wilderness; and since Sundays are never fast days, Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the Lenten Fast.
Lenten Rule of LIfe
What is a rule of life?
A rule of life is a set of spiritual practices that help followers of Jesus arrange their everyday lives around abiding in Christ. Think of a trellis for a vine, the trellis provides support for the vine to grow and produce fruit. Similarly, a rule of life supports us in our discipleship to Jesus, holding us up and creating structure in our lives. Everyone already has a rule of life, a set of practices you do on a regular basis; the question is whether you have consciously chosen those practices.
Lent Meditations
We will be releasing weekly podcast meditations that reflect on traditional Lenten verses. Episodes release weekly during Lent.
Fasting
Experiment with a discipline of abstinence like fasting. Lent began as a fast similar to Ramadan where observers would fast for 40 days, eating only a small meal in the evening. If you have never fasted before, start with a 24-hour fast where after dinner on one night you skip breakfast and lunch the next day, ending your fast at the next dinner. A practice like this can help us break the power of the flesh– or our desires and cravings– and feed on the Holy Spirit.
Confession
A system of accountability in your life is a must-have for all followers of Jesus. When we confess our sins to those who are following Christ alongside us, it can not only take away guilt and shame, but also break habitual patterns of sin that control our lives. Find a trusted friend (preferably of the same gender and not your spouse) and begin a habit of sharing your struggles and sins.
Prayer
Lent isn’t just about giving up sins but it is best understood as a season of taking up the yoke of Jesus. Push yourself to pray at least once a day and with greater intimacy. Without prayer, Lent will feel empty and burdensome. But by taking ourselves up into Christ, we find a new strength to battle habitual sins and answer our call to follow Jesus.