The Common Rule
Habits of Purpose for an Age of Distraction
- Prayer & Spiritual Formation
- Publisher: InterVarsity Press
- Published: 2023
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Publisher's Description
Over 100,000 Copies Sold! Christianity Today Book Award – Christian Living/Discipleship Create a Gospel-Centered Rule of Life Habits form us more than we form them. The modern world is a machine of invisible habits, forming us into anxious, busy people. We yearn for the freedom of the gospel but remain shackled by our screens and exhausted by our routines. How can we truly break free, find rest, and form a life that aligns our habits with our foundational beliefs? According to Justin Earley, the answer is a rule of life. The Common Rule's four daily and four weekly habits transform frazzled days into lives of love for God and neighbor. In The Common Rule, you'll find doable, life-giving practices to find freedom and rest for your soul, expanded content including study guide questions for individual reflection and group discussion, and practical, accessible resources for building habits that bring life. Take the first step toward a life of intentionality and discover how simple, meaningful habits can transform your everyday moments into a rhythm of peace and purpose. "Full of glimpses of the life we were made for, and the simple choices that can take us in that direction. The habits described here, and the wisdom they embody, are the path toward sanity in a frenetic world." – Andy Crouch, author of The Tech-Wise Family and Culture Making “With his precise plan, Earley instructs Christians on how to create an environment for a healthy spiritual life." – Publishers Weekly Review, February 2023
Endorsements (10)
“Justin Earley offers a lifeline to every busy, smartphone addicted, distracted person on earth. In his deeply personal and immensely practical book, he inspires us to find a rhythm that will support our most life-giving relationship of all—our friendship with Jesus.”
“Creation is full of holy rhythms of life. There is a way to live that honors and embodies these rhythms. The Common Rule is a beautiful, inviting resource that helps us do just that. It is an important guide to living more deeply rooted in God's life-giving kingdom.”
“Books are not meant to be just read. The good ones move you. The great ones change you. I'm now a fan of Justin Whitmel Earley. He's done something that is not so common: he teaches us eight habits that not only change our own lives but more importantly change the lives of those who choose to follow us.”
“Habitually choosing what is best over and above what is loud and urgent has never been more difficult than in a culture of perpetual distraction. 'But where do I begin?' people ask. In this book, Justin Earley offers the answer. Follow his lead, and you will find much of your life handed back to you.”
“When someone asks how you're doing and you always find yourself answering, "So busy and crazy," it might be time for a change. The Common Rule offers practical wisdom on how to slowly but deliberately restructure our lives, and it shows us that when we embrace limitations, we paradoxically gain the freedom we long for.”
“In the spirit of Richard Foster, Eugene Peterson, and so many other reflective authors, this book on the common rule is an exciting contribution to the family God. Each of us needs and longs for a path to deepen our sense of being in this world. So many Christian writers just give us one more self-help book. The Common Rule breaks that mold and serves as a call to deeper intimacy with God.”
“One of the biggest problems among believers today is their lack of discipline. Consequently, they do not live up to the expectations of Jesus as we can see in the decreasing morality in our country. The Common Rule presents a common-sense discipline that any follower of Jesus could use to become a joyful missionary disciple.”
“It is encouraging to see a new generation of Christians wrestling with the formative power of habits and rituals. Our patterns of life shape our attitudes and actions more than we may realize. The Common Rule urges us to consider our habits in a new light and to embrace a new way of life in which we self-consciously limit ourselves in order to pursue what is best for us and for our neighbors.”
“Although I'm a church leader who has known the Lord for decades, I struggle to find space in my days to actually abide in Christ. Instead, I'm tethered to the demands that barrage me through my smartphone. The Common Rule offers a practical way back—not only for individuals but also for churches and small groups.”
“Justin Whitmel Earley's honest walk through anxiety gives hope to anyone who needs a new way. The Common Rule becomes an accessible way to move forward in your walk with Christ, whether battling anxiety or simply wanting to find Christ at the center of your life. Earley's fresh look at a liturgical life comes off the page and into your daily life. This book is a refreshing reminder that community, shared meals, fasting, praying, silence, and rest all have deep effects on our lives. In a society of fast food and split families, the return to the table is more important than ever. Earley lived the fast-paced world of no margin where everyone has free access to his life, yet in the pages of this book, we see he has found anotherway–another way for us all.”
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