Embracing Everyday Rhythms for Spiritual Growth
Summary
In today's gathering, we explored the concept of "everyday rhythms" as a means to draw closer to Jesus and live a life of intentionality. Mike and Rochelle Jones shared their journey of integrating these rhythms into their family life, highlighting both successes and challenges. Their transparency underscored the importance of authenticity in our spiritual walk, reminding us that we are a "messy church for messy people." This openness allows us to embrace our imperfections while striving to grow in our relationship with Christ.
The idea of everyday rhythms is not about achieving perfection but about creating a blueprint for our spiritual lives. Just as a house requires a solid plan, our spiritual journey benefits from intentional practices like spiritual disciplines, church engagement, and missional living. These rhythms are not static; they evolve as our lives change, much like how a house plan might be adjusted to better suit the needs of its inhabitants.
We were encouraged to trust God as the ultimate builder of our spiritual house. Psalm 127 reminds us that unless the Lord builds the house, our efforts are in vain. This means that while we are responsible for setting our intentions and taking steps towards spiritual growth, it is God who ultimately shapes and sustains our journey. Trusting Him allows us to release the pressure of perfection and embrace the process of growth.
The session concluded with a call to action: to write down our everyday rhythms and begin implementing them. Whether it's through spiritual disciplines like prayer and Bible study or through intentional family activities, these rhythms help us walk closer to Jesus. The goal is not to have a perfect plan but to start somewhere and allow God to guide us along the way.
Key Takeaways:
- Authenticity in Community: Embracing our imperfections and being transparent about our struggles fosters a genuine community where everyone can grow together. This openness allows us to support one another on our journey towards Jesus. [08:06]
- Intentional Spiritual Practices: Everyday rhythms are about creating intentional practices that draw us closer to God. These can include spiritual disciplines, church engagement, and building intentional relationships. The key is to start with a plan and adjust as needed. [19:17]
- Trusting God as the Builder: Psalm 127 teaches us that unless the Lord builds the house, our efforts are in vain. Trusting God to guide our spiritual journey allows us to release the pressure of perfection and embrace the process of growth. [29:11]
- Adapting and Evolving: Just as a house plan might be adjusted, our spiritual rhythms should evolve as our lives change. This flexibility allows us to remain aligned with God's will and continue growing in our faith. [32:52]
- Taking Action: The call to action is to write down our everyday rhythms and begin implementing them. Whether through spiritual disciplines or intentional family activities, these rhythms help us walk closer to Jesus. The goal is to start somewhere and allow God to guide us. [38:13]
Youtube Chapters:
[0:00] - Welcome
[02:16] - Introduction of Mike and Rochelle
[05:33] - The Importance of Counseling
[08:06] - Embracing Messiness in Community
[16:12] - Everyday Rhythms in Family Life
[19:17] - Spiritual Discipline of Solitude
[24:22] - Intentional Relationships
[26:50] - Personal Story of Trusting God's Plan
[28:02] - Building a Spiritual Blueprint
[29:11] - Trusting God as the Builder
[30:20] - Adjusting the Plan
[31:37] - Trusting the Builder's Expertise
[32:52] - Adapting and Evolving
[34:10] - Designing Your Spiritual Life
[35:21] - Encouragement to Take Action
[36:47] - Invitation to Begin a Relationship with Jesus
[38:13] - Closing Prayer and Call to Action
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Psalm 127:1 - "Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain."
Observation Questions:
1. What are some of the everyday rhythms that Mike and Rochelle Jones have integrated into their family life, and how have these rhythms impacted their spiritual journey? [02:16]
2. How does the sermon describe the concept of a "messy church for messy people," and why is this important for community authenticity? [08:06]
3. What role does intentionality play in the spiritual disciplines and practices mentioned in the sermon? [19:17]
4. How does the sermon illustrate the idea of trusting God as the ultimate builder of our spiritual house? [29:11]
Interpretation Questions:
1. How might the concept of "everyday rhythms" help individuals and families grow closer to Jesus, according to the sermon? [16:12]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that authenticity and transparency can foster a supportive community? [08:06]
3. How does the sermon use the metaphor of building a house to explain the process of spiritual growth and development? [28:02]
4. What does it mean to trust God as the builder of our spiritual journey, and how can this trust alleviate the pressure of achieving perfection? [29:11]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current spiritual practices. Are there any everyday rhythms you would like to establish or adjust to draw closer to Jesus? [38:13]
2. How can you embrace authenticity in your spiritual community, and what steps can you take to be more transparent about your struggles? [08:06]
3. Identify one spiritual discipline you would like to incorporate into your daily life. What practical steps can you take to begin this practice? [19:17]
4. Consider a time when you felt pressured to achieve spiritual perfection. How can trusting God as the builder of your spiritual journey help you release this pressure? [29:11]
5. How can you adapt your spiritual rhythms to align with changes in your life, and what might this look like in practice? [32:52]
6. Write down your own everyday rhythms. What is one small step you can take this week to start implementing them? [38:13]
7. Think about a specific area in your life where you need to trust God more. How can you actively practice this trust in the coming week? [31:37]
Devotional
I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:
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Day 1: Embracing Imperfection in Community
Authenticity in community is about embracing our imperfections and being transparent about our struggles. This openness fosters a genuine environment where everyone can grow together, supporting one another on the journey towards Jesus. In a world that often values perfection, acknowledging our messiness allows us to connect more deeply with others and with God. By sharing our vulnerabilities, we create a space where grace can abound, and healing can occur. This is the essence of being a "messy church for messy people," where authenticity is not just encouraged but celebrated. [08:06]
"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." (James 5:16, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life can you be more open and honest with about your struggles? How can you take a step towards deeper authenticity in that relationship today?
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Day 2: Crafting Intentional Spiritual Practices
Everyday rhythms are about creating intentional practices that draw us closer to God. These can include spiritual disciplines, church engagement, and building intentional relationships. The key is to start with a plan and adjust as needed. Just as a house requires a solid blueprint, our spiritual lives benefit from structured practices that guide us towards growth. These rhythms are not about achieving perfection but about setting a course for our spiritual journey. As life changes, so too should our practices, allowing us to remain aligned with God's will. [19:17]
"Train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come." (1 Timothy 4:7b-8, ESV)
Reflection: What is one spiritual discipline you can incorporate into your daily routine this week? How will you ensure it becomes a consistent part of your life?
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Day 3: Trusting God as the Architect of Our Lives
Psalm 127 teaches us that unless the Lord builds the house, our efforts are in vain. Trusting God to guide our spiritual journey allows us to release the pressure of perfection and embrace the process of growth. While we are responsible for setting our intentions and taking steps towards spiritual growth, it is God who ultimately shapes and sustains our journey. By trusting Him, we can find peace in the knowledge that He is the ultimate builder of our spiritual house. [29:11]
"Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established." (Proverbs 16:3, ESV)
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to trust God more fully as the builder? What step can you take today to surrender this area to Him?
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Day 4: Adapting and Evolving with Life's Changes
Just as a house plan might be adjusted, our spiritual rhythms should evolve as our lives change. This flexibility allows us to remain aligned with God's will and continue growing in our faith. Life is dynamic, and our spiritual practices should reflect that dynamism. By being open to change and willing to adapt, we can ensure that our spiritual journey remains vibrant and relevant, meeting us where we are in each season of life. [32:52]
"Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." (Isaiah 43:19, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your spiritual life that needs to evolve? How can you begin to make adjustments to better align with God's current work in your life?
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Day 5: Taking Action Towards Spiritual Growth
The call to action is to write down our everyday rhythms and begin implementing them. Whether through spiritual disciplines or intentional family activities, these rhythms help us walk closer to Jesus. The goal is not to have a perfect plan but to start somewhere and allow God to guide us. By taking tangible steps towards spiritual growth, we open ourselves to the transformative work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. [38:13]
"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." (James 1:22, ESV)
Reflection: What is one specific action you can take today to begin implementing your spiritual rhythms? How will you hold yourself accountable to this commitment?
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Quotes
1. "What I love and what you heard is real transparency, right? Okay. It doesn't work. Always. I don't do the best job as a messy church for messy people. That's what we believe in. We don't want you to walk in here on a Sunday morning, feeling like you've got to put on a facade and have it all together because you've got problems. And I've got problems. You've got a mess and I've got a mess and we're all in this journey towards Jesus. Some people just starting some people on the outside, maybe not haven't even started that relationship with Jesus, but you're here today and bless God, we're a messy church for messy people, but we're not going to stay in our mess and those everyday rhythms help us walk towards Jesus closer and closer every day." [08:06] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Tell us spiritual discipline of it is. It's called the discipline of solitude. It is. Um, if you hear me talk about my intentional relationships, I do, I do dad, daughter dates. I have two daughters. Uh, they're both in high school now, went out yesterday with the youngest one and we went geocaching. Um, I'm not, man, I'm online about to get in trouble. There's GISD employees in here, snuck her out of school the other day for a dad, daughter lunch, ask for forgiveness later. I guess, um, doing things like that. So you hear other people's stories like, and we talk about your, your plan is yours. It fits your family. You heard people talking about dates with kids and things like that. Tried it. Didn't work. Talk about that and what you do for the intentionality." [19:17] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Which means the work that's going to be done is done by God himself. You just get a picture. God, here's where I want to go. God, here's what I want my spiritual house for the next 12 months to look like. God, I want to be closer to you. And God, I'm going to, I'm going to try some spiritual disciplines and maybe Bible prayer, maybe fasting, maybe what, God, I'm going to try this. I just want to walk towards you. And then you just turn it over to him and you let him build the house. You don't have to do it." [29:11] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "And part of that's trusting him. Here's what he says at the end of that verse. It says, unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with centuries will do no good. There's this idea for the Jewish people as they're reading that Psalm and singing it. That, hey, we've got a city that could come under siege and we can, we can put all of the soldiers and all of the military around and we can fortify the battle positions. And God says, hey, at the end of the day, it's about me, not you. You can do it all, but it's about me. And you just have to trust him." [30:20] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "And you start walking the plan as best you can and let the Lord lead you along the way. It's not rocket science. You just have to do your work and get the blueprint written, getting your everyday rhythms written out. And then along the way, adjust it. When we were building that house, the upstairs above the garage had a ton of storage, like in the blueprint. It literally had like waist high storage that went the length of our garage. This room is the size of our garage. It sits over our garage. And we're like, man, we've got storage down both sides of the wall, waist high, plus a walk-in attic. Like we could like store your stuff." [32:52] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "And here's the thing. Why don't you do it? That's an easy answer, because you don't have that kind of money. But the scripture also says that God owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He's got, he's got it all. So you design your blueprint for your spiritual life. Chase after him. Put it out there. Trust him. Let him do it. And along the way, here's the deal. If along the way you go, you know what? I want the closet for the, I've decided now I want the closet for the, for the Christmas tree. Great. Because he owns everything. And just let him adjust that. You adjust that. Change it on the fly and make it the best you can make it. And then just walk with Jesus every day." [35:21] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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