The Kitsap House Common Rule
A “Rule of Life” is an ancient practice, a way of intentionally setting out the things that help you be with Jesus, be like Jesus, and do what Jesus did. When someone commits to our community, they also commit to how we seek to do community together and follow Jesus, our “Common Rule.” This Rule is a set of values, practices, and rhythms that we hope shape our community.
Practices are the things we do individually that help us stay close to Jesus. These are represented by the branches of the tree.
Rhythms are the regular practices of community, the ways we live, learn, and worship together. They’re represented by the trunk of the tree, the part of the tree that holds the branches together.
Values undergird everything we do and shape our culture. These values are represented by the roots of the tree.
Our “pathway to community” is a series of courses we offer throughout the year that help people grow in their faith and be introduced to life with Jesus, which you can see here.
Read on below for more about the values, practices, and rhythms that make up our common rule.
They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.
Jeremiah 17:8 (NIV)
Practices
-
Memorize Scripture
Memorizing Scripture is about letting important truths sink into our hearts, not rote recall. As our hearts hear who Jesus is, we grow in our trust. Find simple ways to begin this practice HERE.
-
Sabbath
As the pace of life and the demands of culture bring increasing pressure in shaping us, the practice of Sabbath reclaims our humanity and helps us stay connected to God. Learn how to shape your weekly rhythm HERE.
-
Daily Lord's Prayer
The prayer Jesus taught his followers has shaped generations of people to see how he is at work in their lives. Praying this daily gives opportunities for Jesus to interrupt our busyness to see his Kingdom on earth, as in heaven. For a structured walkthrough of this prayer begin HERE.
-
Simplicity
Simplicity is about reducing our possessions, spending, and schedule - for the sake of our neighbors. By saying “no” to more, more, more, we make room in our time and wallets to be more generous to those around us. Some practical ways to move towards simplicity are HERE.
Rhythms
-
Weekly Worship
As prosaic and “churchy” it may be, weekly worship on Sunday remains an important rhythm for our community. Our aim in worship at Kitsap House is rooted in our heart’s need to be reminded of how Jesus is worth of our trust and love every week through the voices and faces of other Jesus followers. See more about what worship at Kitsap House is like HERE.
-
Pattern Groups
Pattern Groups are small groups of 3-4 people who seek encouragement and accountability for their individual Rule of Life. At Kitsap House, Pattern Groups form out of our Practicing the Way course (which helps people begin to form their own rule), but anyone can form or join one. If you’re curious to learn more, check out the resources Kings Cross Church (who came up with the idea) provide HERE.
-
Family Dinners
Our weekly Family Dinners seek to help us live out Jesus’ commands to love God, love one another, and love our neighbors. After a dinner, we might learn or study something, but we do so while listening to one another, listening to God, and listening for our neighbors . See where the closest Family Dinner is to you HERE.
-
Feasts
Inspired by the feasts of the Old Testament, our Feasts are celebrations of abundance that also remember the poor. We hold them quarterly, on dates that help us remember the things that God has done for Kitsap House specifically. They’re great events to invite neighbors to, full of joy and meaning. Keep track of when our next Feast happens on our calendar HERE.
Values
-
Trust in Jesus
We seek to elevate Jesus as King, worthy of our trust and worship, worthy to be followed and sought after.
-
Live With Intention
We seek intention in our daily lives, being informed by the words of Scripture and the wisdom of the church in practices and rhythms that draw us close to Jesus so we become like him.
-
Tune Into God's Activity Where We Are
We seek to recognize God’s rule and reign in all parts of our lives, from the mundane and regular to the profound and rare. We expect to see God’s work of restoring shalom (wholeness and peace) in all places and ready our hearts to pursue this work.
-
Create Space For Our Neighbors
We seek a lifestyle of radical hospitality and service for the sake of our neighbors, opening up our hearts and homes.
Make your own “rule”
You can think through what values, practices, and rhythms you want to shape your own life with Jesus. Practicing the Way offers a tool that helps individuals craft their own unique and intentional Rule.