Email Blog YouTube

A Spiritual House

The Centrality of Jesus

"All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be." (John 1:3)
- God has designed all of creation to center itself around Jesus Christ. The events of history lead to Jesus' coming into the world. Through Jesus' humanity, we are given the way to enter the Kingdom of God. Everything that lives reenacts the story of Jesus' life, passion, death, and resurrection. God has given mankind the choice to cooperate with his design and center every part of our life on Jesus so that through him, we can enter the Kingdom of God on earth and into heaven.
The Ten Pillars
of a Spiritual House

"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15)
- A spiritual family must first have a space in which to live and grow. A spiritual house can be the interior space of your heart, the dwelling place of your family, or the gathering place of your community or parish. Building up the ten pillars of your spiritual house develops your awareness of seeing ALL things in relation to Christ. Each pillar keeps your own heart and the heart of your spiritual family rooted in God's will, preserved in God's presence, and formed against worldly habits and mindsets.
- Prayer
  
  Friendship with Christ
  
  Prayer is an expression of our faith and a response to being in relationship with God. We recognize that God created us and gave us the free will to choose how to respond to the gift of life. As we give our life back to God, we becomes more aware of God's gifts, blessings, and love that are constantly poured out upon us.
- Liturgy
  
  Rhythm of Christ
  
  Liturgy is a participation in the life, passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We choose to respond to Jesus' invitation and enter the worship, sacrifice, and offering back to the Father through the forms of the Church and in the particular circumstances of our lives for God's glory and the sanctification of the world.
- Culture
  
  Christ in creativity and leisure
  
  Culture is developed by participating in what is true, good, beautiful, and unitive. We can join God in creating new things with Him which reveal Him, again, in a new way and communicates the mystery of His infinite being.
- Hospitality
  
  Christ the Guest
  
  Hospitality is the open disposition we have to those God brings to our door and the interdependence on others in our community. It is an act of faith to recognize Christ in our neighbor, serving with patience and kindness to ensure their rest and refreshment. Hospitality inspires generosity and gratitude as we give and receive without counting the cost or expecting a return.
- Formation
  
  Growing in Christ
  
  Formation is the molding of the whole person, body and spirit, to become who God has created us to be. With a teachable spirit, we can welcome opportunities given to us to heal what is broken and develop what is immature in our body, mind, spirit, and heart. Formation is oriented toward growing in union and communion with God, others, and oneself.
- Fellowship
  
  Body of Christ
  
  Fellowship is the experience of being seen, known, heard, and loved by others simply because we are created by God and we are good. It is a time to discover more about each other and to respond with respect for the unique gift that each person is. Fellowship is spiritual accompaniment, encouragement, enlightenment, correction, and enrichment on the journey to heaven.
- Stewardship
  
  Gift of Christ
  
  Stewardship is the sharing of our unique physical and spiritual gifts, charisms, desires, and talents for the building up of the community. These strengths are an indication of the channel through which Jesus intends to work through the individual as we offer our body to be the hands and feet of Jesus. As the community depends on each other to live their strengths, the work becomes easy and the burden light.
- Discipleship
  
  Christ the Way, Truth, and Life
  
  Discipleship is an experience of being embraced, trained, and empowered by a disciple of Jesus. Jesus first empowered His own disciples to go out and teach His message to others in His name. It begins when we are welcomed in, mentored, then given opportunities to practice leadership until we are sent out to disciple others.
- Inreach
  
  Christ in my Neighbor
  
  Inreach is providing for the needs of those within our own community and those who are in close proximity to us through word, deed, and prayer. It is Jesus who calls for aid through our neighbor as He said, "as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me" (Matthew 25:40).
- Outreach
  
  A Channel for Christ
  
  Outreach is when the flame of Christ moves us to collaborate with grace. By the Holy Spirit we go into the spaces of the world and hearts of people who are in need of or are waiting for an encounter with Christ. We are given a share in the nature of God and bear Christ into the world by our witness.
Practical Application

Developing A CHristocentric Life
- The Four Types of Spiritual Houses
  coming soon...
- Labor, Leisure, Love
- How to develop the pillars for your spiritual houses

A Spiritual House

The Spiritual Family Methodology by Annie Buehnerkemper