Getting Ready For The Week | Living A Devoted Life

Welcome to our new series, "Devoted," where we embark on a transformative journey through Acts 2, exploring the foundational practices of the early church. This series is inspired by the vibrant and dynamic community of believers described in Acts 2:42-47, who devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, prayer, and making disciples. These practices were not mere rituals but the lifeblood of a community that experienced the power and presence of God in profound ways. Over the next 14 weeks, we will delve deeply into each of these practices, seeking to understand how they can shape our lives as modern-day disciples of Jesus.

This week's reading plan serves as an overview, providing a glimpse of where we are headed. As we explore these spiritual practices, we will also introduce tools to help you discover your unique spiritual temperament—how you best connect with God. Understanding your spiritual temperament is crucial because it allows you to engage with these practices in a way that resonates with your soul, fostering a deeper and more authentic relationship with God. Whether you find God in the quiet of solitude, the beauty of nature, the study of Scripture, or the fellowship of community, this series will help you identify and cultivate those connections.

Our goal is not just to provide information but to inspire transformation. We want to equip you with practical tools and insights to build these practices into sustainable rhythms or habits that extend beyond this series. As you engage with each practice, you'll be encouraged to experiment, reflect, and adapt, finding what works best for you in your unique journey of faith. By the end of this series, our hope is that you will not only have a deeper understanding of these practices but also a renewed commitment to living them out as a devoted follower of Jesus.

As we begin this journey together, let's open our hearts to the possibility of transformation. The early church experienced incredible growth and impact because they were devoted to these practices, and we believe that the same can be true for us today. As we commit to being "Devoted," let's anticipate the ways God will move in our lives, our church, and our community. May this series be a catalyst for spiritual renewal, drawing us closer to God and to one another as we seek to live out our faith with passion and purpose.

If you haven’t downloaded our Compassion App we’d encourage you to do so now as it will be a helpful resource to engage the pathways available to you through our church to engage each of these practices.

Here is a list of resources that include books, podcasts, and videos that explore various aspects of spiritual formation, disciplines, and living a life devoted to God. Don’t be overwhelmed, you can pick and choose what’s helpful as we work our way through this series. These are meant to be tools you can revisit as the Holy Spirit reveals areas that He may invite you to go deeper.

Books

• "Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth" by Richard J. Foster. 

A classic work that explores the inward, outward, and corporate spiritual disciplines that foster spiritual growth.

• "The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives" by Dallas Willard. 

This book provides a theological framework for understanding the role of spiritual disciplines in the Christian life.

• "Sacred Rhythms: Arranging Our Lives for Spiritual Transformation" by Ruth Haley Barton. 

Barton offers practical guidance on developing a rhythm of spiritual practices that lead to transformation.

• "Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: It's Impossible to Be Spiritually Mature, While Remaining Emotionally Immature" by Peter Scazzero.

Scazzero addresses the integration of emotional health and spiritual maturity through spiritual practices.

• “Living the Resurrection: The Risen Christ in Everyday Life” by Eugene Peterson. 

Dive deep with Peterson into the Gospel stories of the Resurrection. Experience the wonder through the eyes of the biblical witnesses. Discover how the practices and perspectives of resurrection life transform your job, meals, and relationships.

Videos

• "The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry" by John Mark Comer (RightNow Media). Join pastor and author John Mark Comer in this five-part series as he addresses one of the greatest threats to our spiritual lives: hurry.

• "Practicing the Way Course" by John Mark Comer (RightNow Media). 

The Practicing the Way Course features eight sessions of teaching, guided conversation, and spiritual exercises designed to lay a foundation for lifelong apprenticeship to Jesus.

• "Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Course" by Peter Scazzero (YouTube). 

A series of videos that accompany Scazzero's book, offering practical guidance on integrating emotional health with spiritual practices.

Online Resources

• Renovaré Institute (renovare.org) - Inspired by the work and leadership of Dallas Willard this learning community offers resources, articles, and courses on spiritual formation and disciplines.
• Practicing The Way (practicingtheway.org) - Based on the works and writings of John-Mark Comer, this website offers resources and tools for spiritual practices and apprenticeship to Jesus including a Rule of Life builder. 
• Practicing Faith - BibleProject podcast series in three parts that explores the New Testament view of the "church" as the gathering of Jesus' followers into a community of support and worship.