Episode Details

When I hear the word "rule," my mind often goes to the classroom, courtroom, or ball field. I tend to think of legal restrictions imposed upon us not to be broken without penalty. Yet the ancient meaning of the word "rule" isn't so much about restriction, but support. The old Latin word "regula" literally means "straight stick." A regula could be a cane you lean on to help you walk, or it could be a trellis to help your plants grow tall. There is an ancient Christian practice sometimes called "A Rule of Life" that prescribes sets of spiritual disciplines and commitments not as a set of handcuffs, but more like a pair of crutches. The Apostle Paul says it is the rule of grace that, "teaches us to live godly and upright lives" (Titus 2:11).

This week as we wrap up our sermon series on spiritual disciplines, we'll do a quick survey of some additional historic Christian practices like simplicity, service, and silence and also consider what it means to keep a "rule of life".