Weekly Practices
Weekly Practice 6/22/26
Make every effort to do or reflect upon this week’s practice with others.
Scripture
1 Peter 3:8-18 MSG
Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing.
Whoever wants to embrace life
and see the day fill up with good,
Here’s what you do:
Say nothing evil or hurtful;
Snub evil and cultivate good;
run after peace for all you’re worth.
God looks on all this with approval,
listening and responding well to what he’s asked;
But he turns his back
on those who do evil things.
If with heart and soul you’re doing good, do you think you can be stopped? Even if you suffer for it, you’re still better off. Don’t give the opposition a second thought. Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They’ll end up realizing that they’re the ones who need a bath. It’s better to suffer for doing good, if that’s what God wants, than to be punished for doing bad. That’s what Christ did definitively: suffered because of others’ sins, the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones. He went through it all—was put to death and then made alive—to bring us to God.
Practice
Witness
This week, watch or listen to this episode from Practicing the Way’s “Rule of Life” podcast: Witness 04: Share the Good News.
Peter says to be prepared to share, but preparation takes practice. So, this week, begin to practice articulating the gospel in your own words. You can do this by yourself, or with a friend. Practice saying, out loud, your version of the good news of Jesus.
Alpha
We hope to host an Alpha group at some point in the near future. You can learn more about it here.
Weekly Practice 6/15/26
Make every effort to do or reflect upon this week’s practice with others.
Scripture
1 Corinthians 14:1-4 NLT
Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy. For if you have the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking only to God, since people won’t be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will all be mysterious. But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them. A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church.
Practice
Witness
This week, watch or listen to this episode from Practicing the Way’s “Rule of Life” podcast: Witness 03: Partner with the Holy Spirit. Then, reflect on the following questions:
What do you think about the “thin line” between encouragement and prophecy?
Is “three-way listening” (listening to another person while also paying attention to God and to yourself) a new concept for you?
How might you like to grow as a listener?
Also, this week, spend time with someone and just practice listening attentively to them.
Weekly Practice 6/8/26
Make every effort to do or reflect upon this week’s practice with others.
Scripture
Matthew 9:1-13 MSG
Back in the boat, Jesus and the disciples recrossed the sea to Jesus’ hometown. They were hardly out of the boat when some men carried a paraplegic on a stretcher and set him down in front of them. Jesus, impressed by their bold belief, said to the paraplegic, “Cheer up, son. I forgive your sins.” Some religion scholars whispered, “Why, that’s blasphemy!”
Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, “Why this gossipy whispering? Which do you think is simpler: to say, ‘I forgive your sins,’ or, ‘Get up and walk’? Well, just so it’s clear that I’m the Son of Man and authorized to do either, or both. . . .” At this he turned to the paraplegic and said, “Get up. Take your bed and go home.” And the man did it. The crowd was awestruck, amazed and pleased that God had authorized Jesus to work among them this way.
Passing along, Jesus saw a man at his work collecting taxes. His name was Matthew. Jesus said, “Come along with me.” Matthew stood up and followed him.
Later when Jesus was eating supper at Matthew’s house with his close followers, a lot of disreputable characters came and joined them. When the Pharisees saw him keeping this kind of company, they had a fit, and lit into Jesus’ followers. “What kind of example is this from your Teacher, acting cozy with crooks and misfits?”
Jesus, overhearing, shot back, “Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? Go figure out what this Scripture means: ‘I’m after mercy, not religion.’ I’m here to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders.”
Practice
Witness
This week, watch or listen to this episode from Practicing the Way’s “Rule of Life” podcast: Witness 02: Practice Hospitality. Then, reflect on the following questions:
How might you slow down to allow more space for spending with others?
Are you a good listener?
What might hospitality look like “in the contours of your actual life”?
Wide Awake
As promised, our friends at Wide Awake have shared slides you can post as a carousel set on social media. This helps to shine a light on the work they do. You can also support them by:
Praying—For the Johnson family, for their team, for their work, for the boys and men they serve, for Ukraine.
Staying Connected—Sign up for their newsletter to learn more and get updates.
Donating—Consider supporting Wide Awake financially.