Developing a Rule of Life

Welcome to the Journey

We recognize many definitions exist explaining how we embody what it means to do spiritual formation. At Johns Creek Baptist Church, we define our spiritual formation through words borrowed from John Mark Comer in his study Practicing the Way. That is, we believe our aim in life is “to be with Jesus, become like Jesus, and do what Jesus did.” To do this, we believe it is important for every follower of Jesus to develop a Rule of Life.

In the information that follows, we will provide resources to understand what we mean by a Rule of Life. As you become familiar with what we believe is a core need in our faith journey, you are invited to explore the resources provided to support you in both creating a Rule of Life and living into it.

What is a Rule of Life?

A Rule of Life is an intentional, personalized, and flexible set of daily, weekly, and monthly practices designed to arrange your life around being with Jesus, becoming like him, and doing as he did. It acts as a “trellis” that provides structure for spiritual growth in a busy and distracted world.

As you begin this journey, we encourage you to participate in an 8-week seminar on Practicing the Way. The goal at the conclusion of the study is to develop a Rule of Life. Click here to find out about the next time it meets and to indicate your interest. However, you do not need to wait to begin to engage in a Rule of Life. Some helpful resources already exist to help you begin to build your own “trellis.”

With each of the spiritual practices, you will find additional resources and recommended reading. We also suggest the following resources on the general topic of Rule of Life.

Recommended Reading

The Spiritual Practices

As you build a rule of life, you will become familiar with and begin to engage the spiritual practices. Though many exist, we provide descriptions of 9 basic practices along with resources on where to get started.

We become a community of communion with God in a culture of distraction and escapism through the practice of Prayer.

We become a community of courageous fidelity to orthodoxy in a culture of ideological compromise through the practice of Scripture.

We become a community of peace and quiet in a culture of anxiety and noise through the practice of Solitude.

We become a community of holiness in a culture of indulgence and immorality through the practice of Fasting.

We become a community of rest and celebration in a culture of hurry and exhaustion through the practice of Sabbath.

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

We become a community of contentment in a culture of consumerism through the practice of Generosity.

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

We become a community of justice, mercy, and reconciliation in a culture of injustice and division through the practice of Service.

We become a community of communion with God in a culture of distraction and escapism through the practice of Prayer.

And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like the pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. ~Matthew 6:7-8

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We become a community of courageous fidelity to orthodoxy in a culture of ideological compromise through the practice of Scripture.

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. ~Romans 15:4

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We become a community of peace and quiet in a culture of anxiety and noise through the practice of Solitude.

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went out to a solitary place, where he prayed. ~Mark 1:35

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We become a community of holiness in a culture of indulgence and immorality through the practice of Fasting.

When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. ~Matthew 6:16-18

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We become a community of rest and celebration in a culture of hurry and exhaustion through the practice of Sabbath.

There remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. ~Hebrews 4:9-10

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

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ~Romans 12:4-5

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We become a community of contentment in a culture of consumerism through the practice of Generosity.

Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ~Luke 12:32-34

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

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. ~Matthew 5:14-16

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We become a community of justice, mercy, and reconciliation in a culture of injustice and division through the practice of Service.

…whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. ~Mark 10:43-45

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