Crafting a Rule of Life
Transformation is possible, but it’s not inevitable. That’s where building an intentional plan, or what the early Christians called a “Rule of Life,” can be extremely beneficial.
The word “rule” can have negative connotations for some people. We imagine a stern principal from our childhood who was always enforcing the rules. We think of an unyielding police officer who gave us a ticket for not coming to a full stop at an intersection, even when there were no other cars in sight.
For a moment, try not to let the word rule put you off.
The word “rule” actually comes from the Greek word that means “trellis.” A trellis is a support system for a vine or plant that enables it to grow upward and bear fruit. For a grapevine to produce good grapes, it must have a trellis to support and guide its growth or it will slump to the ground. When this happens, the fruit tends to rot before it ripens. Grapevines in the wild will use just about anything — a tree or even a rock — as a trellis. It is part of their nature to seek structure.
Like a trellis, a Rule of Life supports and guides our growth. It supports our friendship with Christ so that we bear the fruit of His character and are able to offer His nourishing life to others. The purpose of the rule, in this sense, is not to be harsh or confining. It is to cultivate fruit. It serves as a pattern for life that enables us to experience the presence of Jesus in each moment of our lives, empowering us to become people who embody his love to others.
Watch: Rule of Life
A Rule of Life is simply a schedule and a set of practices and relational rhythms that create space for us to be with Jesus, become like him, and do as he did. In this video from Practicing the Way, we’ll learn more about a Rule of Life and how to get started developing our own.
Rule of Life resources
The companion guide for this video contains instructions on how to craft a Rule of Life on the Practicing the Way website using their free tool. Download the guide at the link below and find the Practice section on page 10. Alternatively, you can download a blank Rule of Life template to print and fill out offline. Check out both options and decide which one fits you best as you begin your work on a Rule of Life:
More Practices
You can access all of the videos for this practice and all the other practices, along with all sorts of other useful discipleship materials, at practicingtheway.org (free account required).