Rule of Life: Part 2 (ft. Gavin Bennett) | Unforced Rhythms of Grace E12
Jun 21, 2024
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Gavin Bennett shares a vision for shaping communities into people of love through a Rule of Life, emphasizing resisting temptations and leaning into the Spirit's invitations. Discussions on Jesus' invitations, overcoming control and busyness, and yielding to God's love for transformation.
A Rule of Life must prioritize Spirit-invitations over control, busyness, and duty.
Bridgestown Rule of Life practices counter societal norms and refocus on intimacy with Jesus.
Deep dives
Practising The Way: Rhythm of Transformation through Rule of Life
Practising The Way shares a teaching series on a Rule of Life, emphasizing the why of living by introducing rhythms that cultivate ever-deepening communion with God. Examples of John and Sarah highlight the transformative power of solitude and Sabbath practice to rediscover true presence and celebration in daily life. Conversely, Chris's story reflects how rigidity and duty-led practices like reading the Bible and fasting, when devoid of spiritual depth, can lead to dread and estrangement.
Bridgestown Rule of Life: Nine Practices for Formation & Communion with God
The Bridgestown Rule of Life consists of nine practices that refocus life around intimacy with Jesus, embodying, and mirroring his transformative love. Each practice signifies a counteraction to societal norms, like cultivating prayer over escapism, engaging in solitude amidst busyness, and practising community in an age of individualism. The baseline practices for each, from daily prayer rhythms to monthly hospitality expressions, provide practical entry points for transformative engagement.
Discerning the Rule of Life: Temptations and Correct Pathways
Navigating the adoption of a rule of life requires discernment to avoid common pitfalls of control, busyness, duty, and misplaced enthusiasm. The summary warns against turning spiritual transformation into a rigid duty and stresses the need for organic, Spirit-led engagement with practices. Individual invitations to Bridgestown's Covenant Community underscore the gradual, intentional nature of formational processes, urging participants to align personal developmental journeys with the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
Formation Journey: Cultivating Love and Responding to the Spirit's Guidance
The culmination of the series prompts introspection into personal formational journeys, highlighting the need to allow practices to foster love rather than obligation or rigidity. Emphasizing a relationship-focused rule of life, the podcast steers listeners towards connecting with the Holy Spirit for guidance on their next steps in spiritual growth. The episode encourages contemplative prayer, reflection, and openness to the transforming power of God's love as the foundation for authentic and enduring discipleship.
How do we become resilient disciples of Jesus? Gavin Bennett shares a vision for how a Rule of Life can shape us and our communities into people of love. He challenges us to resist the temptations to make a Rule of Life about control, busyness, duty, or enthusiasm, and instead encourages us to lean into the invitations of the Spirit and Jesus's easy yoke.
Key Scripture Passage: John 15v1-5
This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: Spencer from New York, New York; Macy from Atlanta, Georgia; Jenni from Portland, Oregon; Todd from Fabius, New York; and Judy from Fort Worth, Texas. Thank you all so much!
If you’d like to pay it forward and contribute toward future resources, you can learn more at practicingtheway.org/give.
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