Practices of our common life
At Third Church, we embody our mission and values through a set of practices that shape our common life together. These practices are patterned after the life of Jesus, as he is the source and center of our unity. His relationships and practices follow a simple threefold pattern: UP, IN, and OUT.
Jesus invested his life in three main relationships: life with God his Father, life with his brothers and sisters in his community of disciples, and life for the world in need. Upward with God, Inward with his spiritual community, Outward toward the world in need. While there are many ways to cultivate these relationships, we commend the six practices below as a simple set of practices we can commit ourselves to together.
This is an invitation into a way of life as a community, not a list of tasks.
For those who belong to this spiritual family, we invite you into the rhythms of Jesus which renew and transform us into those God calls us to become. For a deeper dive on what this means and why it's important, check out our Life with God, Life with Others, Life for the World sermon series. If you would like to know more about our vision for discipleship or how to discern your path within it, please contact your Parish Area Elders.
UP Practices:
Be fully present with the church every Sunday. What this could look like:
Be committed to show up every week to Sunday worship
Prepare for worship (subscribe to our Thursday email) and be engaged in body, mind and spirit
Engage in a class on Sunday morning
Be fully present with God every day. This might include:
Develop a daily practice of listening, prayer, Scripture reading and meditation.
Learn to practice ongoing communion with God in mundane rhythms of home, rest and work.
Commit to a habit of self-reflection, a daily examen, or a day of solitude and silence
IN Practices:
Regularly gather with your community. This might include:
Be involved in a smaller form of community, whether a Parish Group, bible study, or discipleship group. And pray for each other.
Cultivate at least one deep friendship where confession, accountability, vulnerability, and encouragement happen regularly.
Regularly meet up with another family to encourage and challenge each other in your family discipleship.
Regularly serve and give your gifts. This might include:
OUT Practices:
Love your neighbor. This might include:
Know and care for your actual neighbors and neighborhood.
Be involved in your Parish Area and being attuned to the needs in your local area
Sharing the good news of Jesus with your neighbors and work colleagues when God gives an opportunity
Love your city and world. This might include:
Be involved in the unity of the church in Richmond, the work of justice and mercy through your work, volunteering, or service with a local mission partner
Invest in the work of racial healing and repair in our city or within a community of global residents, immigrants, or refugees in our region
Be informed and involved with a global mission partner around the world
Relevant Resources
Relevant Conversations
Responding to Our Racial Crisis: A Pastoral Message With Q&A
Feb. Term 2021: Love and the Justice of God: What is Biblical Justice? with Corey Widmer
Feb. Term 2021: Love and the Justice of God: Justice for the Sake of the World with Bethany Hoang
Feb. Term 2021: Love and the Justice of God: Justice and the Public Sphere with Bill Mims
Feb. Term 2021: Love and the Justice of God: Becoming Communities of Justice with Derek Mondeau and Donnell Woodson
Feb. Term 2021: Love and the Justice of God: One Couple’s Justice Story with Jason and Katie Snook
Gospel-Centered Parenting in Crisis with Janet Carter
Gospel-Centered Parenting: Anxiety with Janet Carter
Gospel-Centered Parenting: Practical Tips for Parents with Janet Carter
Following Jesus In Uncertain Times: Spiritual Rhythms
Following Jesus In Uncertain Times: Life Together
Following Jesus In Uncertain Times: Soul Care in Crisis
Following Jesus In Uncertain Times: Redemptive Suffering