In pursuit of unity and our mission to live and love like Jesus, while leading others to do the same, we have adopted a Community Rule of Life.

A Rule of Life is an intentional plan and schedule of Spiritual Practices (taken from a Latin word meaning trellis) that keeps us connected to Jesus. Like a trellis, it indexes our heart to be attentive to and intentional about growing in our love for Jesus and others, in every season of life. The goal is to walk daily in the ways of Jesus, in order to be transformed into His image, and unified as a community of Jesus followers.

We all have a rule of life (ingrained habits, routines, rituals) that is forming us into the image of something. The question is, “What are we being formed into?” Monterey Church’s Community Rule of Life is comprised of Spiritual Practices that combat some of the most prevalent (and often deforming) forces in our current cultural context (individualism, careerism, materialism, etc.), by recalibrating our lives to the ways and presence of Jesus, to thereby be formed into His image.

A commitment to this Rule of Life is an intention to observe 7 Core Practices, and to explore other “Reach Practices” pursuant to God’s leading. While we ask all Leaders of Monterey Church (“MC”) to make this commitment, everyone is encouraged to make the decision to adopt the Rule of Life described herein (even if you will be in our community for a relatively short period of time due to military/school/vocation). Our Rule of Life is undertaken as a collective community, in the belief that we need help from one another to live the lives God meant for us.

1.  PRAY.  This specific Rule of Life is an invitation (that all are encouraged to accept!). As you consider whether you are being called to be part of MC, and your personal needs for growth and discipline, is this an invitation to which God wants you to say yes? If no, what practices might God be calling you to adopt (or eliminate) as part of your Rule of Life?

2.  TRY IT.  Consider adopting the 7 Core Practices on a trial basis for a month. At the end of that period, have a discussion with some of the people who know you best (and that make up your closest circle of accountability and discipleship), and consider whether you should make this Rule of Life an ongoing part of your discipleship.

3.  COMMIT.  If you decide to say yes, we invite you to confirm your commitment to practice this Rule of Life by completing a Commitment Card (just for your personal use), and to submit yourself to at least one other trusted person who can remind you of God’s grace when you fall short, who will lovingly encourage you to continue growing, and with whom you can review your progress on a quarterly or biannual basis.

THE “WHY.”  As we incorporate these Practices, we cannot lose sight of their purpose, which is to routinely put ourselves in a posture where we can connect with God, and be transformed by His Spirit. Although we cannot change our own hearts, we can be faithful to do what Jesus did, and to abide in Him (spend time with Jesus). The Holy Spirit does the hard part of changing us from within, in order to do what we can’t do without Jesus - live in obedience and abundance.  

PRAYER.  Prayer isn’t a separate Core Practice below, because prayer is in integral part of all of the Spiritual Practices. In other words, prayer is woven into the fabric of each Practice, and ensures that we are connecting with God and relying on His power instead of our own. While there are so many different ways and types of prayer (the ways we talk and listen to God), we have highlighted one style of prayer for each Practice that may assist you in connecting with Jesus.

MEASURING PROGRESS.  We measure progress in our spiritual transformation by evidence of growth of the Fruits of the Spirit* in our lives, with the most important of them being love. In other words, a good measure of our progress is to ask the question: “Am I growing in my love for God and others, especially those that are hard for me to love?”
*Galatians 5:22-23 - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

OTHER PRACTICES.  MC’s Community Rule of Life is not meant to replace the ordinary practices of faithfulness to which all members of the Church are called (routinely attending the Sunday Gathering to worship together, celebrating communion, etc.), or other spiritual disciplines that you have adopted, but are not referenced herein.

PRACTICE DOESN’T MAKE PERFECT.  Making the commitment to adopt MC’s Community Rule of Life doesn’t mandate perfection. In fact, there is a reason that Spiritual Practices are called “practices” - they are disciplines that we practice but never master! And while we strive to establish healthy habits and rhythms of connecting with God, there is grace when we fall off track but then seek God and other’s encouragement to keep growing in our commitments.

The prevailing ideologies in our postmodern, pluralistic society, allows for no absolute or universal truth. Additionally, we are constantly being told (implicitly and explicitly) lies about God and ourselves through media, advertising, culture, etc. We need to be immersed in Scripture so that we can know what is true and not true, and The Truth will set us free!

Listening Prayer is a type of prayer where we make time to listen to God. We sit and simply listen with a posture of seeking what God would have us do in response to the truth revealed in Scripture. Journaling can be a helpful tool for listening and responding to God’s Word!

Silence & Solitude

Morning Routine of “Scripture before Screens"

Fasting

Scripture Memory; Bible Study

Establish structured limits for our use of screens, and our consumption of entertainment (including the quantity, frequency, and moral character of such consumption).

While living life with a small group of disciples is often the source of much joy and support, it can also be extremely challenging. As part of a community, we are often forced to work through conflict, practice forgiveness, overcome hard feelings, identify our “blind spots,” be accountable to one another, and rely on God to help us practice the characteristics of love as described in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.

Being in community with others requires great humility (countering pride), and fights against the lie that we don’t need others, and are better off on our own (countering autonomy).

Intercessory prayer is essentially lifting up the needs and concerns of others to God. When we feel a burden for someone else, we can be encouraged to bring that to God, to “stand in the gap" on their behalf, and seek God’s will for their lives. Interceding in prayer reaches beyond ourselves and our own needs, in order to petition and contend for someone else’s needs.

Confession

Slowing

Celebration

Community:
When the Church Was a Family by Joseph Hellerman 
Becoming a True Spiritual Community by Larry Crabb
The Good and Beautiful Community by James Bryan Smith 

Slowing

Confession

Celebration

The lie of entitlement can sneak into our hearts (often unconsciously), especially in seasons of dissatisfaction with our jobs, feelings of resentment towards superiors, financial strain, comparisons to others, etc. However, we will guard our hearts from the bitter roots of entitlement by working hard, striving for excellence and then trusting God as our ultimate provider.

Furthermore, we have been indoctrinated with the lies that we are in control, and that we can do it all (i.e. we are like God). For example, our technological advancements (Google, AI, social media, etc.) gives us the illusion that we can be omniscient (all-knowing), omnipresent (all-present) and omnipotent (all-powerful). Our weekly celebration of a Sabbath is not only a gift from God to be enjoyed, it is a declaration that we can’t do it all, but that we trust the One who can!

Whether we are in the middle of a challenging workweek, or celebrating the Sabbath, prayers of praise and adoration for who God is, and His steadfast provision in our lives, helps to keep entitlement and the illusion of control at bay.

No screens on Sabbath

Gratitude

Extended time immersed in God’s creation

Annual or Biannual Multi-Day Sabbatical Retreat (an extended period of rest, recreation, and reflection).

Our Western culture paints a picture of our home as a “castle” (a place that we retreat to and that is protected from the outside world), as opposed to a gift that we are called to steward for God’s Kingdom. And while we are called to be in community with other Jesus followers, we are not called to sequester ourselves, and live life exclusively in a Christian “bubble.” These are just a few examples of how our desires for isolation and comfort are often at odds with Jesus’ call to share the Gospel and make disciples.

Although there is a personal cost to hospitality (comfort, time, money, personal space), it recalibrates our lives to Jesus’ mission of seeking and saving the lost, and creates a bridge to invite strangers to become neighbors, and neighbors to join the family of God.

We ask God to give us His heart for those who are lost, to highlight at least one person that is not following Jesus, for an opportunity to connect (grab a coffee/come over for dinner/go on a walk/meet at a restaurant), for guidance in our conversations, for building trust in the relationship, for the person to feel loved, and for fine-tuned ears that are sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit to share our story of meeting Jesus and following Him in His Kingdom.

Meet your neighbors, and learn their stories (background, current aspirations/needs, etc.)

Open up your home to someone in need of temporary housing

Consider fostering, adoption, or partnering with organizations such as Safe Families, or International Students Inc.

We live in a fallen world, with a global economic system that often promotes a false narrative that happiness (i.e. the “good life”) is derived from accumulating material things, which promotes greed. However, we will take part in the countercultural practice of consistently and sacrificially investing our money into His church. This practice helps to cultivate our hearts to hold money loosely, to root our affections in the Kingdom of God and not in the systems of the world, and to guard against greed and materialism from stealing the freedom and abundant life that only Jesus’ Way can offer us.

Our prayers for freedom from worry about our money and preoccupation with possessions, should also include cries for justice and provision for those in the Majority World who are materially impoverished.  

Simplicity

Gratitude

Create margin in our budgets for special offerings/gifts as led by the Holy Spirit

Increase the percentage of our giving over time

As Americans, we live in the most individualistic country in the world. We are told that we aren’t primarily relational creatures, and therefore are encouraged to selfishly pursue our own interests without regard for the effects it might have on our relationship with God, self, others, or the rest of creation. Individualism has spread into the church, and is distorting our view of discipleship. When we see our faith as a strictly personal journey, and are only concerned with our own spiritual development, it stifles our personal growth and is contrary to the very meaning of being a disciple of Jesus. However, as we lead and pour into others, our own faith inevitably grows!

Contemplative or silent prayer is the practice of focusing our attention upon God through the simplicity of shared presence. It’s a surrender of our words to be present with Jesus. As we simply sit with Jesus, we avoid petitioning God, and let go of our expectation for an emotional feeling or experience. Contemplative prayer is the practice of refocusing our thoughts from ourselves onto Jesus.

Fasting

Explore leadership opportunities within the church

Silence

We are steeped in a consumer culture that effects every aspect of our life, and preys on our insecurities. Consumerism tells us that our worth and value are measured by what we have, rather than by who we are. This lie fosters a preoccupation with ourself, often at the expense of others (the marketplace is given more priority than our community). Another outworking of consumerism is the encouragement to evaluate everything through the lens of our own personal preferences (“What’s in it for me?”), and provide our personal criticisms and critique as professional consumers.

Consumerism (and its narcissistic tendencies) has lead to a view of church as something to consume. However, we are called to be active participants in building His Church, and not spectators, critics or simply recipients of its benefits. Every person is uniquely designed for and plays an integral role in the Body of Christ to help welcome people in, build them up, and send them out to make disciples.

We will not just pray for God’s Kingdom to come to earth as it is in heaven, but will take action as the hands and feet of Jesus in furtherance of those prayers. We pray for God to form us and mold us, so that we can go, and be people of mission and justice.

Fasting

Restrict all types of shopping (for non-essentials) for an extended period of time.

Simplicity

Pursue an opportunity to serve others (that does not accrue any status or significance), and don’t tell one person about it.