Core & Communal Practices
Open Table Community is committed to the development of healthy disciples who love God and others; to sharing the kingdom of God throughout our neighborhoods, communities, and into the world. Healthy discipleship involves personal and communal commitments to sharing the gospel with all people.
Core practices are practices we promote and pursue wherever we go. These practices are all expressions of God’s love for the world.
Communal practices are central to our worshiping community and we practice them as we gather together. These help us understand the shape of our discipleship together here.
Core Practices
Generosity
Generosity is not an amount, it is a posture of heart to share what God has given us for the sake of others.
Forgiveness
Forgiveness is the power bestowed upon the disciples upon Jesus’ resurrection. It is the way we go about changing the world and loving our enemies.
Hospitality
Hospitality is recognizing the dignity of every person; they are made in the image of God and have something worth sharing.
Risk Taking
Obedience to God may sound noble and clear and reasonable — but the reality is that to us, to obey God is going to feel like taking risks.
Communal Practices
Experimentation
If the substance is true, then the format can change; if the substance has become the format, then our purpose has become vanity.
Storytelling
Every believer has a story to tell and every good story reflects the great story of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Reconciliation
We are called to the ministry of reconciliation— to contribute to the repair of the brokenness of the world, even in small ways.
Participation
Participation is more important than performance. We all have a part to play.