76｜The Method of Practice

Jesus said: “The kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:21). This reveals that the path of practice lies not in external rituals but in the turning of the heart. True practice is not about "how many religious activities one has performed," but rather: how much of Jesus' life is lived out within our own.

(1) Practice Is Not Ritual, but an Identification of Life

Many believe that "participating in church activities" equals "faith." But Jesus never said: "You must frequently go to the synagogue to be saved." What He emphasized was: the renewal of the mind, the turning of life, and union with Christ. Therefore:

• Reading scripture is not "reading words," but "letting the Word read me";
• Prayer is not "speaking to God," but "letting the heart open to God";
• Faith is not an accumulation of knowledge, but the transfer of life's sovereignty. True spiritual practice is: not us researching the words of Jesus, but letting His words reflect us; not learning the letter, but learning His heart; not seeking performance, but learning obedience. The moment we truly say in our hearts, "Lord, You lead me," that is when practice truly begins.

(2) The Kingdom Is in the Heart, the Church Is in Relationships

It can be summarized in one sentence: "The Kingdom is in the heart, the Church is in relationships." Jesus said: “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:20). This means:

• The Church is not a building, not a system, and not a denomination;
• The Church is a relationship of mutual connection in Christ. As long as there are two or three people willing to support each other in love, remind each other in truth, and bear each other’s burdens in mercy—there is the Church. Therefore, the deepest practice is not "going to a place," but living out the likeness of Christ in every relationship.

(3) Practice Must Be Completed in Concrete Events, Not Abstract Concepts

Every teaching of Jesus occurred "within an event": doing what others were unwilling to do for the poor, the sick, and the marginalized; choosing forgiveness over revenge in conflict; choosing purity over compromise in temptation; choosing to rely on God rather than self-straining in pain. Therefore, the most authentic practice is "exercisory":

• Practicing forgiveness in anger;
• Practicing mercy when hurt;
• Practicing trust in lack;
• Practicing rest in anxiety;
• Practicing presence in relationships;
• Practicing obedience in choices. The Way of Jesus cannot be understood only in the mind; it must be experienced in destiny and life. The method of practice is: entering every event with awareness, experiencing, feeling, and finding God within it.

Summary｜Original Doctrine 76

1. Practice lies not in ritual but in life-identification: Reading scripture is letting the Word read me.
2. The Kingdom is in the heart, the Church is in relationships: wherever there is love and connection, there is the Church.
3. True practice is completed in concrete events: all life scenes are the training grounds (Dojo) for practicing the likeness of Christ.

In one sentence: Practice is not "going to a holy place," but becoming a new person—becoming the continuation of Jesus in your own life.