THE NINE NEW POSTURES FOR LIFE LEARNING LAB is an experiential journey through the Beatitudes, the nine sayings spoken by Jesus at the beginning of “the sermon on the hill.” It uses the Beatitudes to explore key themes in the Sermon on the hill, or what Dallas Willard described as the “curriculum for Christlikeness.” It’s Jesus “manifesto” for a new way of being and living. The Nine New Postures For Life Learning Lab is designed to help you (1) be honest with yourself and connect with others; (2) explore what is most real and true; and (3) experiment with new actions and practices that can change your life (and our world).
This 9 session “Beatitudes boot camp” invites participants to explore core themes from the Beatitudes and take on weekly practices to live in a new way. Since we learn by doing and not just by thinking, each session includes interactive group exercises and three suggested homework practices: (1) a journal entry; (2) a daily habit (based on classical spiritual disciplines); and (3) a risk-taking experiment.
THE NINEFOLD PATH was developed over a 3 year period by Mark Scandrette, Danielle Welch and a global collective of practitioners. It is part of NINE BEATS COLLECTIVE, an international project exploring the ancient wisdom of the Beatitudes. Pilot groups were initiated at The Practice at Willow Creek, with at-risk Youth in London, and in drug and alcohol recovery programs in California. It has been utilized in school chaplaincy programs in the U.K. and South Australia and has been enthusiastically received by leaders and churches in South Asia and East Africa.
Mark’s newest book, The Ninefold Path of Jesus, is based on the Ninefold Path Lab. It utilizes principles of group spiritual formation described in Practicing the Way of Jesus. The Ninefold Path Lab can help you put those principles into action in a small group setting.
BUY THE LEARNING LAB GUIDE to lead a group through the practices described in The Ninefold Path of Jesus. The Learning lab and participant notebooks are available in both print and digital formats and ship from the U.K. in just under a week.
SIGN UP FOR AN ONLINE NINE NEW POSTUREs FOR LIFE facilitated by Mark Scandrette and a trained team of co-facilitators. Many people sign up for this experience to prepare to lead a Nine New Postures For Life lab of their own. If your interested in being trained let us know.
Here’s what participants are saying about their experience in online Nine New Postures For Life Lab groups:
“The Nine New Postures For Life Lab brings the Beatitudes to life and in Technicolor. It's experiential learning at it's best!"
"The Nine New Postures For Life Lab really made an impact on me. I would really like to spread these tools and knowledge to others."
“The Nine New Postures For Life Lab is practical, relevant and challenging. It allows you to explore how to live in a way that is more like Christ, in an environment that is open, safe and accountable.”
“A practical experience of the Christian life —not for the faint hearted but well worth it.”
“A practical scriptural process that provided accountability AND allowed us to be creative about how to apply to our context.”
“I've been consistently challenged to not just hear the words of Jesus but to put them into practice in every area of life.”
“The most meaningful thing I have EVER been part of. Life-changing. It helped me get in contact with my spiritual longings.”
You can schedule a lab series for your group facilitated by Mark and a team. Contact us for details.
Listen to A New Liturgy produced meditation on the Beatitudes created by Aaron Niequist, featuring words by Mark Scandrette and vocals by Kate Gungor. A New Liturgy is a project from Aaron Niequist & friends designed to create a moveable, sonic sanctuary. Each liturgy is a 25 minute journey of music, prayer, scripture, and space that helps open us to The Almighty in any location, season, community, or emotion. For more information, and to purchase, visit https://www.anewliturgy.com/
THE WAY OF TRUST. “Blessed are the poor in spirit.”
Where in your life do you feel like you don’t have enough or are not enough?
THE WAY OF LAMENT. “Blessed are those who mourn.”
When you look at the world, what breaks your heart? What’s broken in you? Where do you feel loneliness, sadness, pain or disappointment?
THE WAY OF HUMILITY: “Blessed are the meek…”
How do you tend to get caught in the trap of competition and comparison, of feeling greater than or less than other people?
THE WAY OF JUSTICE. “Blessed are those who hunger for justice…”
What’s the hunger for justice that is inside of you? How would you finish the sentence: I hunger and thirst for a world where…
THE WAY OF COMPASSION: “Blessed are the merciful…”
For what in your life do you need mercy?Who is in need of your forgiveness? What resentments can you need to let go?
THE WAY OF RIGHT MOTIVE. “Blessed are the pure in heart…”
What masks do you wear? What’s important to you about how you present yourself to the world?
THE WAY OF PEACEMAKING: “Blessed are the peace makers…”
Who do you tend to place on the other side of us and them? What groups or kinds of people have you made into “the other”?
THE WAY OF SURRENDER: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for justice…”
What is the good you hesitate to do, knowing what it might cost you?
THE WAY OF RADICAL LOVE. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against …”
How would you live if you weren’t afraid to die? What is worth giving your life for? What might it look like for you to live fearlessly?