TWELVE SPIRITUAL PRACTICES
PRACTICES
A lifetime of becoming.
Catacombs follows an annual rhythm of twelve spiritual practices drawn from the life and teachings of Jesus.
Each practice is explored over approximately one month through Scripture, theological reflection, discussion, contemplative exercises, testimony, and acts of service.
The goal is not merely to learn about these practices but to become the kinds of people who naturally embody them.
01_Repentance
“Turn around and enter the Kingdom.”
Discipleship begins with metanoia: a fundamental reorientation of our lives toward God. Repentance becomes not a moment of guilt, but a lifelong posture of joyful transformation.
02_Forgiveness
“Receiving mercy so that we may become merciful.”
Forgiveness is not forgetting injustice or excusing evil. It is releasing the debt that binds both victim and offender.
03_Acceptance
“Belonging before becoming.”
Jesus consistently welcomed people before they understood Him. Transformation grows best in an atmosphere of grace.
04_Humility
“Learning to decrease.”
Humility is freedom from the constant need to defend, justify, impress, or elevate ourselves.
05_Empathy
“Learning to see through another’s eyes.”
Empathy trains us to listen before speaking, understand before correcting, and remain present before attempting to solve.
06_Compassion
“Love that participates.”
Compassion moves beyond feeling and towards action.
07_Hope
“Practicing the future in the present.”
Christian hope is not optimism. It is confidence that God’s Kingdom is already breaking into the world.
08_Reconciliation
“Healing what sin divides.”
Followers of Jesus become ministers of reconciliation: restoring relationships wherever possible while practicing courageous truth-telling, confession, forgiveness, and peace-making.
09_Integrity
“Wholeness between belief and practice.”
Integrity means our public lives, private lives, worship, work, and relationships increasingly tell the same story.
10_Resistance
“Learning to say no.”
Jesus resisted every power that distorted God’s Kingdom.
11_Prayer
“Learning to remain with God.”
Prayer is not primarily asking God for things. It is learning to dwell in God’s presence.
12_Devotion
“Giving our whole lives to God.”
Devotion means loving God with heart, soul, mind, and strength—not merely during worship, but through every aspect of ordinary life.