Redemptive Poverty Work Student Workbook

L E S S O N 4 | R H Y T H M S O F L I F E A N D P O V E R T Y W O R K / 4 7

3. Shared Discipline. We share an identity centered around practicing the spiritual disciplines of the church consistently and fervently. We will strive for spiritual maturity and Christlikeness as we seek the Lord in our personal spiritual disciplines of sabbath, personal retreat, tithing, and fasting. 4. Shared Confession. We confess our faithfulness to the historic faith, the principles expressed in the Nicene Creed, and testimony that is anchored in the Scriptures regarding the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We hold fast our devotion to the truth of the gospel message as in connection with The Great Tradition of the Church.

B. Our Spiritual Practices: Along with our shared spiritual life together, we embrace the following spiritual practices:

1. Church Membership (Heb. 10.24-25). Our poverty work tempts us to view advocacy as the center of our work rather than the local church. Failing to participate in a local church may eventually lead to isolation from the Christian community and a weakening of our faith even to the point of deconversion.

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a. Instead of putting our trust in advocacy alone, we commit to active membership within a healthy, local church for the purposes of fellowship, teaching, prayer, service, and personal development.

b. Basic Commitment: Commit to finding a local church home and attending a weekly worship service.

c. Advanced Commitment: Commit to being an active member of a local church, attending weekly, sharing life with other church members through a small group, and participating in leadership.