Live Like Jesus
A truly balanced life: “UP, IN, OUT”
Jesus said “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. We believe that Jesus’ plan for changing our lives and the world was becoming a disciple that makes disciples. But…what is a disciple?
“Disciples learn from Jesus how to live like Jesus”
How do we live like Jesus, and discover true freedom? – by learning to live well in relationship to God, as we love God more; learning to live well in relationship as we love people more, and learning to live well in generosity and service to the world around us as we love more people.
Most would describe life as busy and unfulfilling. But what if our lives could be all about fulfilling our true purpose, escaping busyness, and winning at what matters most?
THE SIX RHYTHMS
Many Christians are frustrated with trying to fit discipleship and spiritual growth into their increasingly busy schedules. But what if God designed all of life as a perfect fit for discipleship?
Throughout the New Testament, followers of Jesus have recognized the power of putting discipleship practices and disciplines into place, in order to build some consistency into their everyday spirituality. Some people look at these kinds of rhythms with suspicion, thinking they can create a sort of legalism. This is backwards thinking. A discipleship rhythm actually frees you to become the person you were called to be. Our new life in Jesus is all about living out of our true identity or our“Get To” not “Got To“which implies duty, obligation and guilt that is often preached either explicitly or by implication.
We have found that healthy rhythms in following Jesus has to incorporate both as organized and organic elements. If everything you do in the church and with discipleship is organized it will feel very artificial, robotic, and removed from everyday life. If all you do is organic discipleship… taking things as they come up, you are probably not developing mature disciples.
It is our hope that this rhythm will give you a starting point along with a tangible way to follow Jesus in your everyday life. Three of the six UP, IN, OUT rhythms are me: which are focused on daily practices for you and your family. The other three UP, IN, OUT rhythms are we: which focus on weekly practices for you and your church family. We believe every person who is a part of C3 should try to incorporate these 6 rhythms into their lives.
UP – Loving God More
Jesus spent time with the Father. Many times, we read about Jesus praying. He spoke with the Father. He listened to the Father. And Jesus engaged regularly in worship and praise on his own and in formal gatherings at the synagogue and temple. In Acts, we see the apostles and the early church doing the same things wherever they went..
me: BIBLE
We have been given a wonderful gift from God in the form of the Bible. We press into it to learn about God, ourselves, our world and the mission Jesus modeled and passed onto each of us. We read, memorize and meditate on it daily.
Practice: Pray before reading the Bible each day (or CrossTraining) asking “What is God saying to me”, then do it.
Group Question: What have you read in the Bible this week? What did you learn and how has it impacted you and those around you?
TOOL: SPECK
we: GATHER
We gather as a community of faith each week in person or online to celebrate what God is doing and how we are designed for His family. We actively worship our God who loves us more than we could ever imagine.
Practice: We will celebrate and worship with our larger church family each week to be encouraged and challenged to figure out how we are designed for His family.
Group Question: Do we know how we fit into God’s family according to Ephesians 4 and are we being used to make the family healthier and stronger?
TOOL: APEST
IN – Loving People More
Jesus spent time very intentionally with a small group. He invested in a limited number of people in order that they would have a greater impact and at the same time, showed them a model for impacting others. He let them in and took them with him. They knew one another, served one another, and loved one another. They did life together like family. We see this implied in the life of the Jerusalem church and very clearly in the Apostle Paul’s journeys and letters.
me: BLESS
God told Abraham he was blessing him so he could bless others. We seek to pass God’s blessing on to others through words, actions or gifts.
Practice: Pray to start your day “Where can I bless someone”, then bless three people this week – at least one of whom is a non-Christian.
Group Question: Who have you noticed this week and how did you bless them through words, actions or gifts?
TOOL: SWAG
we: GROUP
We group together to live out our identity as a Family of Missionary Servants that make disciples that make disciples. Groups get together twice a month to eat and discuss the Bible, once a month to go serve people together, and once a month throw a party for others.
Practice: I will eat, discuss the Bible, party or serve others each week with our smaller church family A.K.A. Connect Groups each week
Group Question: Are we making disciples that make disciples by developing an apprentice to start and lead new groups?
TOOL: LADDER
OUT – Loving More People
Jesus also met the needs he saw in the world around him with the God’s love, grace, and power. At the same time, just like Jesus did, and like He sent His firrst disciples out to do, we are looking for People of Peace – those people whose hearts are already warm towards God, and who will welcome the message of Jesus. We hope we are then prepared to share what we know of His love and forgiveness, and be able to invite them to know Him for themselves.
me: BEGIN
Every follower of Jesus is a missionary SENT to carry the Hope we’ve found back to the places we live, work, study & play. We start by waving, smiling, talking and serving those closest in our relational circles.
Practice: Begin praying for 1-3 people on your MAP each day asking “What’s next God?” until you sense the next step you need to take.
Group Question: Who on your MAP have you intentionally been seeking to build a relationship with?
TOOL: MY MAP
we: GO
Sharing meals and attending gatherings and parties on a regular basis is one of the key ways that Jesus spent time reaching out to those who felt they were far from God. Through the simple act of eating together or hanging out, we show others what the family of God looks like.
Practice: I will eat at least 1 meal per week (or you can share coffee, dessert, etc.) with one person that is a non-Christian aka our People of Peace according to Luke 10.
Group Question: Do we know our PoP’s (People of Peace)? Are we regulary eating with them? Who can we invite to our next group party or hangout?
TOOL: PEOPLE OF PEACE
