Rhythms
We practice three common Rhythms: Redistribution, Hospitality, and Communion. The rhythms were known by first-century Rabbi’s (like Jesus) as a “yoke” or in monastic orders as a "Rule of Life." Unlike a list of rules to follow, the word "rule" here derives from the Latin agrarian word "regula," meaning trellis; a support structure for plants to grow vertically and bear more fruit. Our “House Rule” as we sometimes refer to it, is our unique trellis characterized by a set of specific communal practices that nurture growth toward Christ. It’s how we practice the way of Jesus together. We practice these rhythms not in obligation but in celebration of what God has done in us and wants to accomplish in others.
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Practicing Hospitality means welcoming others as God in Christ has welcomed us (Romans 15:7). We recognize that our primary ministry is to welcome people into the body of Christ, and hospitality is one of the best ways of fulfilling our call. We practice that by providing emergency housing, befriending refugees, welcoming those interested in our community, and hosting our friends and families.
Learn about the concept of our "Christ Room".
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Practicing Redistribution means sharing resources with each other and the needy among us. For the early followers of Jesus, redistribution wasn’t a manufactured asceticism or an arbitrary ideal of simplicity, but rather the natural fruit of rebirth rooted in love. It wasn’t a prescription for community but a description of what happens when reborn people fall in love with God and their dysfunctional neighbors. Try as we may, we cannot legislate love. It’s a work of the Spirit that trades a heart of stone for one of flesh that, in full bloom, renders Capitalism impossible and Communism unnecessary (1 Corinthians 13:3). In our love, we share our money, we fight food insecurity in our city, we share our possessions, and we partner with churches in developing nations to ensure they have adequate medical care, food, clean water, and education opportunities.
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Practicing Communion means collectively abiding in Christ the vine. Abiding in Jesus, who calls himself our vine, is the only way that we, the branches, can produce fruit of eternal value. We commune by sabbathing together, studying scripture together, fasting together, dining together, retreating together, camping together, etc. If Jesus and his followers did it together, so do we.
Our Rhythms at a glance.
- Praying for one another weekly (and fasting on Fridays together if it blesses you) (James 5:16)
- Giving financially towards the needs of those in the House (Gal 6:2) and the missional work we do together. Each Neighborly House also supports a Church in a developing nation with clean water, medical resources, and access to education (1 Cor 16:1-4)
- Time in God’s word to study each week’s scripture (Acts 2:42)
- Participation in the Sabbath gathering (Acts 2:46, Eph 4:11-16)
- Hosting a guest in the Christ Room once a month. (Romans 15:7)
- Advancing the Kingdom once a month through participation in one of the three local Neighborly activities: Breakfast Brigade (fighting food, housing, and job insecurity), Welcome Party (refugee resettlement), Jubilee Marketplace (redistribution of possessions).
